Meiotic studies in genus Withania Pauquy, from Indian Thar Desert

Abstract

Detailed male meiosis has been made in two species of genus Withania collected from desert regions of Rajasthan, India. The study revealed 2n=48 for both the species. The meiotic analysis of W. somnifera is reported to be normal whereas, W. coagulans showed abnormal meiosis with the presence of abnormalities like spindle irregularities, chromatin transfer, laggards and irregular microsporogensis with the presence of monads, dyads, triads, polyads and tetrads with micronuclei which further lowered the pollen fertility and giving rise to varying size pollen grains. Both the species are widely used for various medicinal purposes by local/tribal people of the state.

Keywords

• Withania
• Medicinal plant
• Abnormal meiotic behavior
• Indian Thar desert