CHROMOSOME NUMBER IN Piper spp

Abstract

Cytological studies in nine Piper spp. were conducted to find out the chromosome number of these species. The procedure for mitotic 'studies in Piper spp. was standardized. Chromosome number of 36, 52, 32, 32, 24, 25, 32, 52, 52 and 32 was observed in P. argyrophyUum, P. attennuatum, P. bababudani, P. betie, P. chaba, P. colubrinum, P. longum, P. nigrum (Panniyur-l), P. nigrum (wild) and P. pseudonigrum respectively. Except for the South American species, P. colubrinum, all the species studied possessed chromosomes in multiples of four, suggesting a basic number of four for the Indian Piper