Abstract: This study aims to determine the genome size of Halocnemum strobilaceum, a halophyte plant by flow cytometry method. The assimilating branches of Halocnemum strobilaceum were used as materials to extract nuclei using a modified Otto two-step method, and nuclei were stained with propidium iodide. Meanwhile, the Beta vulgaris which the genome size was known was selected as an internal reference plant. Based on the observation both of cell size, we made sure the same plant weight and sample loading. Then, these samples were detected by flow cytometry and their DNA contents were calculated as the ratio of mean flurescence of the G0/G1 peak between Halocnemum strobilaceum and Beta vulgaris. The results showed that the determined genome size of Halocnemum strobilaceum was 663.25 Mbp, or 0.678 pg.

Key words: Halocnemum strobilaceum, Beta vulgaris, flow cytometry, genome size