Abstract
Alnus Mill. (alder) is an ecologically valuable tree genus. It is essential to study its genetic makeup in order to use alder trees to their full potential. Five specimens from four Alnus species (A. mandshurica, A. pendula, A. sibirica, and A. sieboldiana), found in northeastern Asia, were subjected to karyotype analysis. The analysis showed that these tree samples could be divided into three categories based on chromosome numbers or ploidy levels: viz., 2n = (4x) = 28, 2n = (8x) = 56 and 2n = (16x) = 112. The differences in chromosome number and karyotype parameters among Alnus species and even within the same species possibly resulted from natural polyploidization. Comparing the chromosome numbers of Alnus species in China with those in Japan showed that there appear to be only two categories in China, whereas there are up to five categories in Japan. The earliest fossil records of Alnus pollen were also discovered in Japan. We conclude that the center origin of Alnus spp. is Japan rather than China.