Karyomorphological Studies in the Genus Curcuma Linn.

Abstract

Karyotypes of 6 species of the genus Curcuma Linn. have been reported for the first time. Somatic chromosome numbers are found to be diploid with 2n=42 in some species while triploid with 2n=63 in the remaining species. The karyotypes are found to be symmetrical in all these species. However, considerable variation exists in chromosome morphology and structure among the species studied. The precise chromosomal measurements were utilized for computing karyomorphology indices. Various karyomophological data indicate that both numerical and structural variations have operated in the evolution of the genus Curcuma.