[01] S. Singh, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur (HP), India. [02] D. Dhyani, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur (HP), India.

Gerbera gossypina (Royle) Beauved is a wild plant of Western Himalayan origin. G. gossypina may be used as an ornamental pot plant due to its compact plant size, small flowers of light pink colour (RHS 76D) and green foliage with woolly fibers on the under surface. The wild gerbera species is free of diseases such as powdery mildew and grey mould which are prevalent in cultivated gerbera. These traits are not present in the cultivated species of gerbera. Besides, G. gossypina may be considered as a source of important traits which can be utilized for improvement of cultivated gerberas through a breeding programme. The chromosome number of the species is 2n = 46 and based on the asymmetry of the karyotype it is classified as type 3B. Morphologically the species exhibits adaptive features such as woolly fibers on the under surface of leaves, forms small light purple coloured flowers and is free of prominent diseases in cultivated gerbera viz., powdery mildew and grey mould. The species is not commonly distributed in Himalayas and is being domesticated for its conservation and sustainable utilization as an ornamental pot plant.

Gerbera gossypina, Domestication, Chromosome Count, Gerbera jamesonii, Karyotype Asymmetry

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