Cytogenetics of Five Edible Species of the Genus <i>Kaempferia</i> (Zingiberaceae) from Thailand

Abstract

Five edible species of the genus Kaempferia—K. minuta, K. phuphanensis, K. sisaketensis, K. takensis, and K. udonensis—in Thailand were cytologically studied by their root tips. The somatic chromosome numbers of all species were found to be 2n = 22, and the FNs of all species were revealed to be 44. The karyotype of all five rare and endemic species was provided: 10m + 12sm with three satellites for K. minuta, 12m + 10sm with six satellites for K. phuphanensis, 18m + 4sm with four satellites for K. sisaketensis, 6m + 10sm + 6st with three satellites for K. takensis, and 14m + 2sm + 6st with two satellites for K. udonensis. This research identified all new karyological information regarding the chromosome number, FN, karyotype, and ideogram of all the species. They all had a symmetrical karyotype. The chromosome structures and karyotype formula of five edible Kaempferia species from Thailand can be used for species identification.

Keywords

• cytogenetics
• <i>Kaempferia</i>
• edible
• rare species
• endemic species