Cytogenetical Assessment of Apiaceae Lindl. From District Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh, India

During the present study, population-based meiotic studies were carried out on 10 species of Family Apiaceae from selected localities of district Sirmaur of Himachal Pradesh in the Western Himalayas (India). New chromosome counts in Heracleum canescens (2n=22) and Pleurospermum brunonis (2n=22) have been reported for the first time on world-wide basis. Furthermore, meiotic course was noted to be normal in Bupleurum lanceolatum, B. longicaule, Heracleum brunonis, Sanicula elata, Selinum tenuifolium, S. vaginatum and Vicatia coniifolia, it varied from normal to abnormal in the populations of Bupleurum hamiltonii and Heracleum canescens whereas it was invariably found to be abnormal in all the populations of Pleurospermum brunonis. These anomalous taxa were marked with meiotic abnormalities in the form of cytomixis, chromosomal stickiness, unoriented bivalents, formation of laggards and bridges resulting in abnormal microsporogenesis, and production of heterogeneous-sized fertile pollen grains along with reduced pollen fertility.