Variable Chromosome Number and Ploidy Level of Five <i>Phyllanthus</i> Species in Bangladesh

Medicinally important five Phyllanthus species viz. P. acidus (L.) Skeels, P. emblica L. (small fruit form), P. emblica L. (large fruit form), P. niruri L., P. reticulatus Poir. and P. urinaria L. were cytogenetically studied through orcein-staining for authentic characterization. This genus showed variation in somatic chromosome numbers such as 2n=2x=26 (x=13) in P. acidus, P. niruri and P. reticulatus, 2n=6x=48 (x=8) in P. urinaria and 2n=10x=100 (x=10) in P. emblica (both small and large fruit forms), represented with multi-basic chromosome number. Formation of bivalents in addition to several multivalents at metaphase-I of P. emblica (both forms) indicated that this species has the possibility of being auto-allopolyploid or segmental-allopolyploid that are going through the process of diplodization.