Karyomorphological Studies on Three Species of Kaempferia L.

Abstract

Detailed karyomorphology of three species of Kaempferia from South India has been studied, namely K. angustifolia (2n=36), K. rotunda (2n=44) and K. galanga (2n=54). Karyomorphological data indicate that karyotypes of all the three species are moderately asymmetrical (2A). Karyotype asymmetry has been more through structural rearrangement resulting in shift of centromere position.
Chromosomal evolution in the genus is discussed in the light of available cytological findings. The data show that species of the genus constitute different basic series such as x=11, 12, 13 and 14 of which x=11 is most predominant. Polyploidy and aneuploidy at polyploid levels have been most operative among x=11 species. The present karyomorphological data showed that structural alternation of chromosomes also have played some role along with polyploidy in the evolution of the genus.