The influence of temperature on meiosis and microspores development in Dasypyrum villosum (L.) P. Candargy

Abstract

In order to characterize the reproductive biology of Dasypyrum villosum (an allogamous Graminease, 2n=14) and to establish its tolerance to temperature variability, the duration and regularity of meiotic process and microspore growth, in natural and controlled condition, have been examined. We have investigated meiosis behaviour in a temperature range from 5 to 35°C and we observed that high temperatures reduce meiosis duration while low temperatures increase its duration over five days; the meiotic process shows few abnormalities in both conditions with production of non-reduced gametes after low temperature treatments and contracted chromatin after heat treatments. In our experimental conditions the growth of the microspores is directly correlated to the temperature and no reduction of fertility has been observed.