Karyotype Analysis of Four Zingiberaceae Species and their Taxonomic Significance in Systematic Botany

Background and Objective: Karyotype analysis among the Zingiberaceae is an important parameter in systematic botany. Karyotype analysis of four species of the family Zingiberaceae and their taxonomic relevance in systematic botany were investigated in this study. Materials and Methods: Herbarium specimens and living plants were collected, preserved, and identified using standard botanical protocols. Cytogenetic analysis involved mitotic chromosome preparation from root tips and detailed karyotype assessment. Measurements included chromosomal lengths, centromeric indices, and asymmetry parameters for taxonomic evaluation. Results: Aframomum melegueta has 2n = chromosomes with one metacentric, two submetacentric, and four subtelocentric chromosomes. The length of long arm chromosomes (LA) ranged from 1.56 to 3.50 μm length of short arm chromosomes (SA) ranged from 0.71 to 1.31 μm. Curcuma longa has 2n = chromosome with three submetacentric and four sub telocentric chromosomes. The length of long arm chromosome LA ranged from 2.5-4.48 μm. For E. cardamomumchromosome number was 2n = with three metacentric, three submetacentric, and one sub t elocentric chromosomes. The length of the long arm chromosome (LA) was between 1.80 and 3.77 μm, and length short arm (SA) was between 0.60 and 2.3 μm. In Z. officinale, chromosome numbers were 2n = with one metacentric, three submetacentric, and three subtelocentric chromosomes. The length of the long arm chromosome (LA) was between 1.73 and 3.75 μm, and the length of the short arm (SA) was between 0.51 and 2.70 μm. The Karyotype analysis of the four Zingiberaceae species studied can be used to taxonomically differentiate as well as relate them. Conclusion: Therefore, the confusion and controversies over the taxonomic relationship among some species in the family Zingiberaceae have been reduced, but there is still a need for more taxonomic studies and re-characterization of the species using other lines of taxonomic studies.