Morpho-cytology and its impact on seed viability in Vitex negundo (Linn) an unexplored wild shrub from Jammu division, J&K (India)

By : Nisha Bhagat, Mamata Jamwal, Arun Kumar Khajuria, Rupali Nanda

Page No: 139-149

Abstract :
Vitex negundo Linn. (Lamiaceae) is a wild aromatic shrub of immense medicinal utility. It is largely used to cure various fungal diseases, inflammations, hepato-protective and antioxidant disorders. Bearing in mind its worldwide distribution, medicinal potentialities and an unexplored position in J&K (India), present work embodying morpho-cytological details and its influence on pollen and seed viability was carried out on plant populations identified and localized from five districts of Jammu division of J&K, India (area of study). Morphological studies in these populations revealed non-significant difference between the mean of various parameters studied, whereas cytological studies affirms a stable diploid chromosome number of 2n=34. Despite of several abnormalities in the form univalents, multivalent (quadrivalents and hexavalents), chromosome stickiness and Bchromosomes, regular segregation during anaphase results in high pollen viability ranging from 81% to 95.7% in the plant species. From above observations it can thus be concluded that meiotic system has no role in determining the seed viability of the species. Various other factors such as physiological (hard seed coat) or maternal (role of genes) may be responsible for poor propagation of the species in natural conditions, which further needs detailed probing.

Authors :
Nisha Bhagat : Department of Botany, Government Degree College (Boys), Kathua, J&K, India-184104
Mamata Jamwal : Department of Education, J&K, India-181133
Arun Kumar Khajuria : Department of Botany, Cluster University Jammu, J&K, India-184001
Rupali Nanda :  Department of Botany, Government Degree College (Boys), Kathua, J&K, India-184104

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPSR.2020.36.1-2.19