Chromosome Investigation of <I> Eulophia graminea </I> Lindl.

Abstract

Root-tip preparation techniques for somatic chromosome investigation of Eulophia graminea Lindl. were studied. The studies comprised of 1) root-tip sampling at 8.00, 9.00, 10.00, 11.00 and 12.00 am, 2) pre-treatment durations in para-dichlorobenzene (PDB) of 0, 30 minutes, 1, 2 and 3 hours and 3) staining durations in carbol fuchsin of 1, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours. The results showed suitable technique of root-tip preparation for chromosome investigation being root tip sampling at 11.00 am followed by fixation without PDB treatment then stained with carbol fuchsin  for 1 hour. Chromosome counts from squashed cells revealed the root tip chomosome number of E. graminea Lindl. as 2n = 56.