Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

KARYOTYPE ANALYSIS OF SOME INDIGENOUS CULTIVARS OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE ROSC

Jinu Devi Rajkumari and Sourav Bhattacharjee

Abstract

Chromosome characterization and Karyotypic analysis of four (4) indigenous cultivars of Zingiber officinale Rosc. of Assam, India was carried out. These cultivars are widely cultivated among the farmers of Assam and are rich source of gene pool. Genetic diversity exists in Zingiber officinale Rosc. of Assam and all these cultivars have economic importance. Karyotypic analysis is considered as one of the dependable criteria to find out the genetic background and to access the evolutionary status of the species..The present study reports 2n=24 and 2n=26 mitotic chromosome number in four (4) cultivars. The cultivars showed differences with respect to their total chromosome length, length of Long and short Arm of chromosome, relative Length percentage, Arm ratio, Centromeric Index etc. Chromosome asymmetry was accessed by considering several asymmetry measures and all four cultivars showed symmetric karyotype but with variable TF% value, Ask%, CVCL index, CVCI index etc. Among the cultivars CV2 was found to have most symmetric karyotype.