Here we present two recently created electronic databases of interest for plant cytogenetic researchers. The first is the “GSAD: a genome size database in the Asteraceae”; launched in uly 2010, it is the first to be focused on the nuclear DNA amounts in a specific botanical family, considered the largest plant family (≈23,000 species), with many of its representatives being of economic and ecological interest. The GSAD is available on the internet at www.asteraceaegenomesize.com. With the first release having 1,780 entries, the database deals with all the research done in this field, containing genome size information for 110 genera, 820 species and 185 infraspecific taxa, data coming from around 100 publications. The second is the “Plant rDNA database” a resource accessible at www.plantrdnadatabase.com and launched in February 2012, which compiles information on number, position and structure of the 5S and 18S-5.8S-26S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) loci in plants (angiosperms, gymnosperms, and few bryophytes). Current knowledge regarding chromosomal rDNA sites is provided for more than 1,000 plant species (including more than 1,400 different accessions). The data come from fluorescent in situ hybridisation experiments (FISH) reported in more than 300 publications. With a similar layout, both web pages are intuitive and user-friendly, including basic and advanced search options. We expect these databases to be used for comparative and evolutionary studies, by quickly supplying a type of information otherwise scattered in a variety of sources.

Trabajo presentado al I Congrés Internacional de Biologia de Catalunya: Global questions on advanced biology, celebrado en Barcelona del 9 al 12 de julio de 2012.-- et al.

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