2017, Vol. 5, Issue 2, Part C

author(s)
Sree Latha K, Vijayalakshmi TN, Shiva Kameshwari and Thara Saraswathi KJ

abstract
The Genus Cymbopogon is a major aromatic grass belonging to the family Poaceae. It produces essential oil of commerce and utilized in aromatic and pharmaceutical industries. It consist of more than 180 species, sub species, varieties and sub varieties worldwide. During the present investigation morphological and cytogenetic investigations in Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats were carried out. Most of the species of Cymbopogon hitherto reported have shown difference in ploidy levels ranging from diploid (2n=20 Chromosomes) to hexaploid (2n=60 Chromosomes) types. The karyomorphotypic studies showed that the presently studied C. martinii is of diploid type. The species also showed significance by the occurrence of B- chromosomes (2n=20+2). The present study revealed that the B-chromosomes studied were structurally homologous during pairing depicting the polysomic condition.