Karyomorphology of three succulent species: Gasteria Batesiana, Haworthia Limifolia Var Longiana and Aloe Jucunda (Family Asphodelaceae)

In the present investigation, karyomorphological details of Gasteria batesiana Rowley, Haworthia limifolia var. longiana Marloth and Aloe jucunda Reynolds has been carried out to establish a affinity among the species. The study revealed that, the species of Gasteria and Aloe are diploid with 2n=14 chromosomes whereas Haworthia with 2n=18 chromosomes. Among the species maximum chromatin length was observed in Haworthia limifolia var. longiana Marloth with 74μ. Along with this, chromosomes were classified on the basis of its centromeric positions with the help of arm ratios in accordance with Levan et al. Karyotype symmetry was carried out with the help of Stebbins (1971) classification. Various other parameters, such as total chromatin length, disparity index, gradient index, symmetry index were used to determine the advanced and primitive nature among the considered species.