Comparative Meiotic Chromosome Studies in Nine Accessions of Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem., Threatened Tree of Indian Desert

Meiotic studies were carried out in nine different accessions of T. undulata collected from three districts of Rajasthan, India. Data collected on chromosome associations, chiasma frequency and their distribution pattern concluded that the somatic chromosome number of T. undulata is 2n = 2x = 36 which is at variance with published literature. The high frequency of 18:18 chromosome distribution at anaphase I and an overwhelming percentage of stainable pollens observed are indicative of overall genomic stability as supported by complete absence of accessory chromosomes (B) and supernumerary nucleoli. Numerical alteration of chromosomes might have played an important role in origin and adaptation of T. undulata to the adverse climate conditions of Indian desert.