Abstract
Cytological studies have been carried out on four different species of Agave, distributed in different parts of India. They revealed triploid to hexaploid numbers ranging from 2n=90 to 180. A distinct bimodal karyotype with very long and very short chromosomes in a definite proportion of 5:25 ratio and a constant base number of n=30 chromosomes are the most significant characteristics. However, structural alterations, principally involving the nucleolar chromosomes of both long and short types, have been recorded. Clear absence of distinct multiples in the karyotypes rules out the absence of autopolypoloidy. Total chromosome length and volume do not necessarily represent direct multiplication along with the multiplication of the chromosome number. All these factors suggest the role of structural alterations along with differential degrees of coiling of chromosomes and allopolyploidy rather than autopolyploidy in the evolution of the different taxa.
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