Meiotic behavior during microsporogenesis of Alchornea triplinervia (Sprengel) Müller Argoviensis

Abstract

The Alchornea triplinervia specie belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family, one of the main families of the Brazilian flora. In order to contribute to a better understanding of the specie, a counting of chromosome number and the microsporogenesis analysis of A. triplinervia were done. The inflorescences were collected in the municipalities of Paranavaí and Diamante do Norte, State of Paraná, Brazil, and the slides were prepared by squashing technique and staining with 1% acetic carmine. The analysis were performed using an optical microscope and showed a chromosome number for the specie equal to 2n=8x=72. Irregularities in the chromosome segregation process were the main meiotic abnormalities, presenting typical polyploid behavior. Other irregularities were observed; however, at low frequency without compromising the pollen grain formation of the analyzed plants.