Cytological study on chromosome behaviour and new report on nature of mode of pollination ofSwertia chirayita, a high value endangered medicinal plant of North Eastern Himalayan region

Abstract

Abstract Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex. Fleming) is a high value medicinal plant due the presence of various alkaloids used in different medicinal purposes. It is already declared as one of the critically endangered plants in the whole world. Its slow rate of seed germination also triggers the problem of danger of its near extinction. In view of that, cytological study and bagging experiment in the field were done in order to find the nature of pollination. Whole set of experiments were carried out in the year 2007 to understand its reproductive biology, floral biology and breeding behaviour. Flowers were taken as unopened and opened form for the experiment from different plants and pollen viability study was done at the laboratory to observe its different chromosomal stages. One observation clearly shows matured pollen having long pollen tube configuration along with distinct vegetative nucleus in the proximity of the pollen cell. It represents self pollination because pollens along with stigma were taken ...