Report of Intraspecific Polyploidy (2x, 6x) in Rorippa palustris, Brassicaceae from Cold Deserts of Ladakh Division (J & K), India

Abstract

The present communication reports the meiotic analysis on three wild populations of Rorippa palustris collected from Ladakh division, Jammu & Kashmir and records the existence of first ever intraspecific euploid cytotypes, the diploid (2n=14) and hexaploid (2n=42). Beside chromosome number, the two cytotypes also differ in morphometric parameters such as flower color, plant height, size of leaf and number of leaves per plant. The 6x plants grow much taller and robust compared to those of 2x and size of stomata and pollen grains are also significantly larger in the 6x compared to the 2x. Both cytotypes exhibit normal meiotic behavior characterized by normal chromosome pairing, regular segregation of chromosomes and nearly perfect pollen fertility.