K. N. Kaul, “The Origin, Distribution and Cultivation of Ashwagandha the so Called Withania somnifera of Indian Literature,” Symposium on the Utilization of Indian Medicinal Plants, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1957, pp. 7-8.

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Meiotic Studies in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal.: A Threatened Medicinal Herb of Indian Thar Desert

  AUTHORS: Hardev Ram, Arun Kumar, Santosh Kumar Sharma, Archana Ojha, Satyawada Rama Rao

  KEYWORDS: Withania; Medicinal; Meiosis; Chromosome Behavior

  JOURNAL NAME: American Journal of Plant Sciences, Vol.3 No.2, February 27, 2012

  ABSTRACT: Withania somnifera recently categorized as threatened plant of Rajasthan and known for its high medicinal value has been studied for existing genetic variations in four accessions collected from four different locations. From the present studies it is apparent that the gametic number of W. somnifera is n = 24 and 2n = 48. From the combined information generated by present author and earlier workers, it is tentatively believed that W. somnifera might be of allopolyploid origin with basic number of x = 12. In this case also precocious separation of rod bivalents but not structural hetrozygosity might be the reason for occurrence of univalents. From the detailed meiotic analysis, it is concluded that the species diversification is brought out by polyploidy in W. somnifera. Multidisciplinary approach for genome diagnostics with use of various marker systems might through more light on existing intra-specific genetic variation in W. somnifera.