Cytotaxonomical Studies in South Indian Araceae

Abstract

Cytotaxonomical studies pertaining to 21 species of South Indian Araceae have been made. First record of chromosome number has been made in Scindapsus aureus, Arisaema wightianum, Alocasia macrorrhiza var. variegata, Cryptocoryne retrospiralis and Syngonium albolineatum. Chromosome numbers determined in the present study range from 2n=14 to 2n=68. Karyotypes in the family also show differences in absolute chromosome size indicating changes in nuclear DNA in evolution and mostly acentric chromosomes showing a derived feature.
As evidenced by the present investigation, it is concluded that both aneuploidy and euploidy play important role in the origin and evolution of the species studied.