Karyotype Analysis of Ocimum basilicum in South-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Ocimum basilicum is widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, with greatest varia-bility in Africa and India. It is valued in many countries for its culinary, medicinal, industrial and religious im-portance. Although cytogenetic entries on the plant have been made in other geographical locations of the world, in Nigeria, such entries, prior to this report, have been limited if not completely unavailable. In this analysis, axillary buds, obtained from growing plants, were used to conduct mitotic study. Results from this study showed chromosome counts of 2n = 48 and 60, thus bringing to light the existence of chromosome number variation and the possibility of polyploidy at different levels in the plant species in this agro-ecological zone. This research has, therefore, established that at least there are two cytotypes in the population of Ocimum basilicum growing in the humid forest vegetation zone of Nigeria. Analysis of the two cytotypes revealed asymmetrical karyotypes, indica-tive of advancement in the evolutionary trend of the plant species.