ABSTRACT
The conifers (Order Pinales = Coniferales, Division Pinophyta) consist of at least fi ve families and approximately 600 species (Whetton 2005;
1US Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Southern Institute of Forest Genetics, Forest Tree Molecular Cytogenetics Laboratory, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA; e-mail: nfaridi@tamu.edu 2US Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Southern Institute of Forest Genetics, Harrison Experimental Forest, Saucier, Mississippi 39574, USA. *Corresponding author
Gymnosperm Database 2010) within more than 60 genera. Of these families, Pinaceae Lindl. is the most widespread ecologically and the most important economically. In addition, most of the genetics, genomics and cytogenetics research have been carried out in this family. In view of this, this chapter will concentrate on the cytogenetics of the Pinaceae conifers.
