Cytology, Pollen Stainability and Yield in Desynaptic Autotetraploid Capsicum

Abstract

Autotetraploidy was induced in the genus Capsicum annuum L., an economically important spice crop of considerable local importance. A few plants produced wrinkled fruits in the first generation with very few seeds in them and turned out to be desynaptic autotetraploid plants after cytological analysis. Pollen mother cells of the desynaptic autotetraploid showed either all or an overwhelming number of univalents. The bivalents included rod type and ring bivalents were very infrequent. The total absence of tri- and tetravalents was noteworthy. Failure of pairing between homologous chromosomes at prophase and metaphase I has been ascribed to desynaptic condition. Laggards were frequent and often formed small, supernumerary nuclei. © 1984, Japan Mendel Society, International Society of Cytology. All rights reserved.