Meiotic studies in some selected members of Gamopetalae from Kashmir Himalaya

The present study is part of our research project on cytomorphology of gamopetalous flora of Kashmir Himalaya, a zone with rich biodiversity. Out of 134 species of Gamopetalae meiotically investigated, chromosome numbers for 30 accessions belonging to 17 species and six families are new or varied reports. Euphrasia paucifolia (n = 22), Lactuca decipiens (n = 8), Saussurea albescens (n = 17), Saussurea roylei (n = 16), Saussurea taraxacifolia (n = 16) and Veronica deltigera (n = 8) are first cytological reports for these species. Anaphalis nepalensis (n = 28), Codonopsis rotundifolia (n = 16) and Hieracium vulgatum (n = 27) are new euploid chromosome reports for these species suggesting potential speciation through chromosomal evolution. Besides, Androsace mucronifolia (n = 10), A. sempervivoides (n = 10), Cicerbita lessertiana (n = 8), Dracocephalum nutans (n = 5), Erigeron patentisquama (n = 9), Galium pauciflorum (n = 11), Onopordum acanthium (n = 17) and Xanthium spinosum (n = 8) are the first chromosome reports to Indian accessions of the species. Out of the 17 species, 9 species (52.9 %) viz. A. nepalensis, C. lessertiana, C. rotundifolia, D. nutans, E. patentisquama, Euphrasia paucifolia, L. decipiens, O. acanthium and V. deltigera show abnormal meiosis/microsporogenesis of one or other type, thereby leading to pollen anomalies.