Meiotic irregularities in hexaploid oats IV. Hybrids between Avena sativa (spring and winter varieties) A. fatua, A. sterilis, A. byzantina and A. nuda

Abstract

1. Pollen mother cells with irregularities of meiosis were rare in the parent species and varieties, being usually less than 0·5% and the highest found being only 1·57% in the variety Grey Winter.2. F1A. fatua C.S. 473 (from Afghanistan) × Grey Winter had 33·5% of pollen mother cells with irregularities. On the other hand, the F1 hybrids of A. fatua (C.S. 46 (from Asia Minor) × both spring and winter varieties of A. sativa showed between 2·45 and 12·81% of irregular cells and were thus more regular than F1 spring variety of A. sativa × Grey Winter.3. F1A. sterilis × spring and winter varieties of A. sativa showed between 5·56 and 6·67% of cells with irregularities of meiosis.4. F1A. fatua C.S.46 × A. sterilis and F1A. nuda × A. sterilis had 5·65 and 7·60% of irregular cells respectively, but F1A. nuda × A.fatua C.S. 46 had 46·05%.5. All F1 hybrids with A. byzantina as one parent had high frequencies of pollen mother cells (from 59·12 to 88·45%).6. The commonest irregularity of meiosis was the occurrence of univalents. Multivalents were found at a high frequency only in the A. byzantina hybrids. Bridges and fragments were uncommon, occurring in not more than 2% of cells.7. The limitations of the cytological results in assessing the relationships between the different hexaploid species of oats are discussed. It would, however, appear that there is a close relationship between A. sativa (both spring and winter varieties), A.fatua (C.S. 46) and A. sterilis, but that A. byzantina is not closely related to that group.8. The importance of the results to the plant breeder is briefly indicated.