Certation between euploid and aneuploid pollen grains from a tertiary trisomic of rye, Secale cereale L.

Abstract

Male transmission of the translocated extra chromosome 5R3R was studied in a tertiary trisomic of rye (Secale cereale L.) using two pollination densities. With abundant pollen, male transmission reached 4%. When a mean of four pollen grains were brought on every stigma (restricted pollination), a transmission rate of 20% was obtained. Seed set, mean seed weight, germination percentage, and the percentage of plants finally surviving were lower in the case of restricted pollination. It was concluded that certation between euploid and aneuploid pollen grains plays a decisive role in male transmission of the translocated chromosome. Although it was previously shown that aneuploid microspores have a delayed development, a large proportion must have reached maturity before anthesis. Therefore, genetic factors determining male transmission rate will primarily be expressed during pollen germination and tube growth rather than before anthesis. Key words: rye, tertiary trisomic, euploid pollen grains, aneuploid pollen grains, certation.