Chromosomal Biotypes of Andrographis paniculata in India and Bangladesh

Abstract

Andrographis paniculata an well known indigenous drug plant of the whole Indian subcontinent, attracted attention for the diversity of ecological conditions of its abodes. Discovery of genetically distinct types, if chemically distinct, would certainly help in the selection of best strains. The simplest and quickest way of detecting genetical difference is the cytological techniques and study of chromosome morphology. Of course these cytological methods could detect only such genotypes which had structural alterations of chromosomes, but not pure genic changes or point mutations.
The chromosomal biotypes differed only in structure suggesting the occurrence of cytotypes within this species, brought about by translocation, deletion etc. These chromosomal changes probably made the cytotypes best suited to their environments, where they normally grew.
As in reports, many such cytotyes of other taxa, differ in micro- and macromorphological characters and chemical contents, these cytotypes were also suitable for analyticl study of quantitative anatomy, morphology and of the active principle available in this species.