Meiotic Aberrations Underlying Pollen Sterility in Cultivated Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Abstract

Meiotic behaviour of plant chromosomes is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The present paper shows the effect of abnormal meiosis on pollen fertility. Meiotic restitution is considered to be a common mechanism of polyploidization in plants and hence is one of the most important processes in plant speciation. Pollen mother cells (PMCs) of cultivated potato from anthers at different stages of meiotic process were analyzed for their chromosomal behaviour and irregularities. Various meiotic irregularities; univalent and multivalent formation, chromosome bridges, lagging chromosomes, etc. were reported for the first time in India.