Vicia sativa has a confused taxonomy and it is considered to be in active evolution. This species is morphologically and
karyologically variable which makes its taxonomy difficult. In this paper we reported, for the first time in Tunisia, the
presence of the subsp. sativa based on cytological characterization. This new identification was based on the presence of one
metacentric chromosome marker pair in all the complements. All the accessions are diploids with 2n=2x=12 chromosomes.
The karyotype revealed one metacentric (m) and five subtelocentric (s) chromosome pairs and in one a SAT-chromosome
was observed. The identification of the subspecies of Vicia sativa based on cytological characterization has a great
importance in Tunisian flora. Therefore, to complete this pertinent idea the research of correlation between karyological
marker and morphological traits is our future aim which serves as important data base for further hybridization programs.
