Genetic Diversity in Different Populations of Artemisia absinthium Linn. from Kashmir Himalaya

Abstract

The present study revealed the varied frequencies of natural chromosomal abnormalities in 4 populations of Artemisia absinthium Linn. collected from different altitudes of Kashmir Himalaya. All the populations are diploid showing n=9 with abnormal meiotic behaviour like quadrivalent formation at diakinesis, cytomixis at early prophase-I and laggards at telophases, resulting into reduced pollen fertility. Besides the heterogeneous sized pollen grains, occasionally inter pollen channels were also observed.