REDUCTION OF CHROMOSOME NUMBER IN ROOT TIP CELLS OF MEDICAGO

Abstract

Cytological studies on progenies obtained from intercrosses between colchicine-induced octoploid (2n = 8x = 64) plants of alfalfa showed normal, haploid and aneuploid chromosome numbers in cells of the same root tip. Critical observations on cells at different divisional stages revealed the occurrence of meiosis-like mitotic divisions, resulting in a reduction of chromosome number. The frequency of cells showing reductional divisions appeared to vary with the ploidy level of the material. The possible significance of chromosome reduction in plant evolution is indicated.