Adiantum lunulatum Burm.—Naturalized Triploid Apomicts from Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh

抄録

Adiantum lunulatum Burm. of family Adiantaceae locally known as Hansraj is commonly found only in district Kangra rather than other parts of Himachal Pradesh. The entire plant is utilized for medicinal purposes. The focus of the current study was to elucidate the cytological status of this fern but its occurrence was not as common compared to its other family members such as Adiantum capillus-veneris L. or Adiantum caudatum L. from Himachal Pradesh. Specimens from 16 different populations of the species from Kangra valley were investigated for detailed meiosis. The apogamous mode of reproduction is an established phenomenon in fern. Two types of sporangia were found one with normal meiotic course (32 spores) and other one with abnormal (64 spores). Meiotic analysis revealed that some accessions with 32 well developed spores showed n=90 bivalents while others showed meiotic abnormalities such as stickiness, unoriented bivalents, laggards, bridges, micronuclei, and polyads with 64 spores per sporangia. Presence of univalents and trivalents at M-I were reported. Thus, failure of the species to produce viable spores due to meiotic abnormalities is an obvious consequence. Heterogenous, empty, and shriveled spores of different shapes and sizes were also present.