Karyotype diversity in four Terminalia L. species and its taxonomic implications

Abstract

AbstractFour Terminalia L. species namely, T. arjuna (Roxb.) Wight and Arn., T. bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb., T. chebula Retz. and T. catappa L. were studied to evaluate the chromosomal relationship corresponding with their taxonomic characters. Analysis of mitotic metaphases showed that the somatic chromosome numbers and the centromeric formulas of these species were 2n = 24 (16m + 8sm) for T. arjuna, 2n = 48 (36m + 12sm) for T. bellirica, 2n = 48 (46m + 2sm) for T. chebula and 2n = 24 (24m) for T. catappa. Two pairs of satellites were found in T. bellirica and T. catappa. Based on different karyological data, T. chebula was positioned in 1A, T. arjuna and T. catappa in 1B and T. bellirica in 2B. Based on comparative karyomorphological data, T. bellirica and T. arjuna presented more advanced features in comparison with T. chebula and T. catappa, which also correlated with the taxonomic characters in respect of the evolutionary point of view. Therefore, the present investigation effectively evaluated chromosomal relationships with morphological implications that conferred upon evolutionary changes among these four Terminalia species.