HYBRIDIZATION, PGLYPLGIDY AND APOMIXIS IN ANDROPOGON TECTORUM SCHUM. AND THONN. (GRAMINEAE)

Abstract

Natural populations of Andropogon tectorum from various parts of Nigeria have been investigated and found to contain diploid and triploid chromosome races. Intraspecific hybrids were obtained between two morphologically and cytologically distinct diploids. Meiosis in the triploids was characterized by a high frequency of univalents in one collection and of multivalents in another. At meiosis in the diploid hybrid, multivalents and non‐disjunction ‘bridge‐and‐fragment’ configurations were discovered. The triploid collections and the hybrids were observed to reproduce apomictically. The relationship between hybridization and polyploidy on the one hand and apomixis on the other is examined in the light of the available information. Copyright © 1983, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved