Reduction in chiasma frequency and pollen fertility due to multiple chromosomal associations and univalents in Saxifraga diversifolia from alpine regions of northwest Himalayas (India)

Abstract

Two varieties of Saxifraga diversifolia, diversifolia and parnassifolia, collected from the moist alpine slopes around Gauri Kund, 3930 m (Manimahesh Hills, Himachal Pradesh, India), are studied for detailed male meiosis, chiasma frequency and pollen fertility. Both varieties exist at diploid level (based on x = 8), and show a meiotic chromosome count of n = 8 at diakinesis and metaphase-I, and regular chromosome distributions at anaphases-I/II. The meiotic chromosome count of n = 8 ascertained here represents a new aneuploid cytotype, supplementing the earlier report of a diploid cytotype with 2n = 20 from the north-west Himalayas in India and the Nepal Himalayas. Of the two varieties, var. diversifolia showed the presence of multiple chromosomal associations and univalent chromosomes at diakinesis and metaphase-I of meiosis-I. On the other hand, var. parnassifolia does not have multivalent formation but showed only 2-4 univalent chromosomes at diakinesis and metaphase-I. Occurrence of univalents in pollen mother cells of var. diversifolia and parnassifolia reduced the chiasma frequency significantly and also caused some pollen sterility (7-8%). The paper herein discusses for the first time the occurrence of structural heterozygosity and univalent chromosomes and their apparent affect on chiasma frequency and pollen fertility in S. diversifolia. © 2013 Copyright Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica, Università di Firenze.