Karyomorphological studies on five varieties of clitoria ternatea L

Abstract

Detailed karyomorphology of five garden varieties of Clitoria ternatea (2n=16) namely blue single, blue double, violet single, violet double and white single have been studied. They shared many karyotype features in common. In finer details of karyomorphology, some recognizable differences were noticed among the five varieties such as total chromosome length, total short arm length, TF%, number and distribution of secondary constriction and especially the position of centromere on certain individual chromosomes. In the absence of gross structural chromosomal changes it is suggested that gene mutations or cryptic structural changes of chromosomes have played a role in the evolution of morphologically distinct varieties in the species. © 1989, Japan Mendel Society, International Society of Cytology. All rights reserved.