Karyological and Palynological Observations on Amorphophallus titanum (Becc.) Becc. ex Arcangeli (Araceae)

Abstract

The karyotype of Amorphophallus titanum is reported. Cytological preparations were obtained by Feulgen technique. A. titanum showed 2n-26 (2msc+14m+6sm+3st+lsts) with chromosome length varying from 8.5 to 3.5 μm. The intrachromosomal and interchromosomal asymmetry indexes were calculated. The possible relationships with other species of the same genus are analysed and discussed together with some hypotheses on the general mechanism involved in the karyotypic evolution of the species for which the karyotype formulas are known in the literature. Pollen and stigma were investigated for the first time by means of TEM and SEM. The pollen grains were also measured in water and glycerin under LO. © 1999 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.