New reports of chromosome number and genome size in eight mangroves from coastal Orissa

Abstract

Detailed karyotype analysis and cytophotometric estimation of 4C DNA amount as well as inter-phase nuclear volume (INV) were carried out in eight mangrove associates found in Bhitarkanika mangrove forest of coastal Orissa, India. Somatic chromosome number of Sarcolobus carinatus (2n=22), Lumnitzera racemosa (2n=24), Tylophora tenuis (2n=24), Sphaeranthus indicus (2n=30), Cerbera manghas (2n=40), Sesuvium portulacastrum (2n=48), Syzygium cumini (2n=66), and Hibiscus tiliaceous (2n=86) were recorded for the first time. Karyotype analysis revealed numerical and structural alterations of somatic chromosomes in different species. Significant variations of 4C DNA content was noted among the species ranged from 5.31pg in T. tenuis to 27.83pg in C. manghas. Genome size varied about five fold among the taxon of different familiesfrom 1301 Mbp in T. tenuis to 6818 Mbp in C. manghas. Chromosome length, volume and INV showed significant correlation between them. ANOVA analysis confirmed the variation in nuclear DNA content in the interspecific as well as intergeneric level. © 2003 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.