Cytogenetic Study of Five Rare Species in the Genus Amomum, Meistera, and Wurfbainia (Zingiberaceae) from Thailand

Five rare species from Thailand in the genus Amomum, Meistera, and Wurfbainia belonging to the tribe Alpineae, subfamily Alpinoideae, and family Zingiberaceae were cytologically studied. Chromosome numbers of all species were 2n=50. The karyotypes of all species are provided, namely Amomum repoeense Pierre ex Gagnep. (karyotype formula=22m+18sm+10st), Meistera koenigii (J.F.Gmel.) Skornick. & M.F.Newman (32m+12sm+6st with two satellite chromosomes), Wurfbainia schmidtii (K.Schum.) Skornick. & A.D.Poulsen (30m+8sm+12st), W. uliginosa (J.Koenig) Giseke (22m+20sm+8st) and W. villosa var. xanthioides (Wall. ex Baker) Skornick. & A.D.Poulsen (20m+18sm+12st with four satellite chromosomes). All karyotypes of all species are symmetric, consisting of metacentric, submetacentric, and subtelocentric chromosome pairs. The chromosome numbers of A. repoeense, M. koenigii, and W. schmidtii were reported for the first time. The karyotypes of all five species were determined for the first time. Karyotype formulas and chromosome structures of all species can be used for the identification of species.