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Cytotaxonomy of the Family Bromeliaceae

1971; International Society of Cytology; Volume: 36; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1508/cytologia.36.237

1348-7019

Arun Kumar Sharma, Ira Ghosh,

Plant Diversity and Evolution

Detailed karyotype studies have been carried out on 15 different species and varieties belonging to 7 genera of Bromeliaceae, viz. Ananas, Bilbergia, Caraguata, Cryptanthus, Dyckia, Neoregelia and Pitcairnia.Although gross homogeneity in the karyotype among the members of the 7 genera is noticed, yet a critical analysis shows that each species and variety is characterised by the distinctive karyotype of its own, particularly in nature of secondary constriction-so structural alteration of chromosomes has been the prime factor in evolution within the family.Out of the 4 tribes within this family, in Tillandsieae, the prevalent chromosome series is 8 or 16; in Bromelieae it is 9, 18 and 25 and in Pitcairnieae it is 25. It has been suggested that 8 represents the basic set for this family from which other numbers might have been derived. On the basis of past report and present investigations a rearrangement of different tribes is suggested-Tillandsieae with its basic set of 8 should represent primitive whereas Pitcairnieae with a series of 25 forms the present climax of evolution. The intermediate stages are possibly represented by Bromelieae some of which are common to Tillandsieae and others with Pitcairnieae.