Abstract
The genus Saussurea comprises many species with highly medicinal, religious or other economical values. The chromosome number in the genus ranges from 2n = 24 to 108, based on x = 12, 13, 16, or 17, but the primary base number is still not clear. The present meiotic study cover 8 species (14 populations) of Saussurea from the Northwest Himalayas, and add new or varied cytotypes, as an attempt to solve the enigmatic cytogenetic variations in the genus. The chromosome numbers in Saussurea auriculata (n = 16) is new to the world, while S. costus (n = 17), S. jacea (n = 17) and S. roylei (n = 17) reveal the varied cytotypes at world level. Besides, S. taraxicifolia (n = 16) is a first ever report for Indian populations. The meiotic studies on different populations reveal a substantial amount of meiotic abnormalities in the form of chromosome stickiness, un-oriented bivalents, cytomixis, laggards, etc. leading to the meiocytes with less (aneuploidy) or more (polyploidy) chromosome numbers. These abnormalities may produce unreduced pollen grains and adversely affect pollen viability. The high number of these meiotic abnormalities may be responsible for the chromosome number variation in the genus.
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