Five wild populations belonging to three species of
Rauwolfza viz.,
R. serpentina,
R. vomitoria and
R. canescens have been studied for their chromosome constitution, nuclear DNA and reserpine content. Populations of
R. serpentina and
R. vomitoria showed diploid chromosome number
i. e. 2n=22 while
R. canescens showed 2n=66 chromosomes. The diploid populations were distinguishable on the basis of chromosome size and number of nucleolar chromosomes.
Reserpine content varies at the intra- and interspecific levels of
Rauwolfia. Highest and lowest amounts were recorded in the diploid species
R. serpentina population I and in hexaploid
R. canescens, respectively. In
R. serpentina the highest nuclear DNA content was recorded in the population I which has highest percentage of reserpine, while population II having lowest nuclear DNA also showed lowest reserpine content. The hexaploid species
R. canescens showed significantly low amount of reserpine. The association of karyotype vis-à-vis genotypic difference with difference in reserpine content has been discussed.
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