Meiotic studies in some species of Pedicularis L. from cold desert regions of Himachal Pradesh, India (North-West Himalaya)

Abstract

The chromosome numbers, meiotic course with pollen fertility and pollen size measurement of five species of Pedicularis were assessed: P. gracilis, P. hoffmeisteri, P. pectinata spp. bipinnatifida, P. porrecta and P. punctata. All the five species studied were diploid with 2n=16. The chromosome counts were the first report for P. pectinata spp. bipinnatifida, P. porrecta and P. punctata. Also the phenomenon of cytomixis was reported in these three species. All the chromosome counts reinforced x = 8 as the basic chromosome number for them.