Karyomorphological Studies in Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Linn.) Taub.)—An Important Gum Yielding Plant of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Karyomorphological studies have been conducted in 10 different accessions of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Linn.) Taub., an important gum-yielding grain legume belonging to family Fabaceae. All the root tip cells analysed had shown the 2n number of chromosomes as 14. Characteristic differences among accessions have been observed in karyotypes which were characterized by the presence of mostly either metacentric (V) or submetacentric (L) chromosomes. Only 4 accessions were characterized by the presence of telocentric (I) chromosomes too. An odd number of V, L, and I types were observed in a few accessions. The significance of karyotypic variation among accessions and its relevance in speciation and evolution of the genus Cyamopsis has been discussed in detail.