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New chromosome number counts and karyotype analyses in three important genera of Zingiberaceae

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Abstract

Zingiberaceae has reportedly undergone frequent polyploidization and hybridization events. Here we describe the new chromosome counts and karyomorphological details for the three important members of the family. Root tip cells of plants of Alpinia zerumbet (earlier reported to be 2n = 48, 40) and Globba marantina (reportedly 2n = 44 to 2n = 96) showed 2n = 52 chromosomes, both being aneuploids, Hedychium spicatum plants (2n = 34 according to previous reports) were found to be tetraploid with somatic chromosome number of 2n = 68. Detailed karyomorphological analyses performed using various parameters revealed that all the three novel cytotypes had moderately symmetrical karyotypes with low levels of intra– and interchromosomal variation in terms of both chromosome lengths and centromeric indices.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by CAS, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, India towards this research work. The authors would also like to acknowledge National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, India for providing plant materials for the research work, and, Prof. Abhaya Prasad Das, Department of Botany, North Bengal University, India for allowing the submission of voucher specimen in NBU-Herbarium.

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  1. Plant Molecular Cytogenetics Laboratory, Centre of Advanced Study, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, West Bengal, India

    Sreetama Bhadra & Maumita Bandyopadhyay

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  1. Sreetama Bhadra
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  2. Maumita Bandyopadhyay
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Correspondence to Maumita Bandyopadhyay.

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Bhadra, S., Bandyopadhyay, M. New chromosome number counts and karyotype analyses in three important genera of Zingiberaceae. Nucleus 59, 35–40 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13237-016-0162-7

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