Karyotype of Aloe barbadensis Mill.: A reinvestigation.

Abstract

1. A revised and accurate picture of the karyotype of Aloe barbadensis Mill. (a member of the tribe Aloineae, family Liliaceae) is presented.2. The species is diploid with 2n=2x=14, comprising of 8 long and 6 short chromosomes. The karyotype is bimodal.3. Employing Adhikary's method to determine the centromere position, the chromosomes show nearly median, nearly submedian and nearly subterminal primary constrictions. Two long chromosomes, the L, and the L4, show a satellite each on their long arms.4. In meiosis, only one long chromosome, probably L1, is seen in association with the nucleolus. During pollen-mitosis the chromosomes do not show satellites.