The duration of meiosis in pollen mother cells of wheat, rye andTriticale

Abstract

The duration of meiosis and its stages at 20 °C has been determined in wheat (Triticum aestivum2n= 6x= 42), in rye (Secale cereale2n= 14) and inTriticale(2n= 8x= 56) by sampling methods and by timing the intervals between the pre-meiotic DNA synthesis and meiotic stages following the incorporation of tritiated thymidine. The results from all the methods used were in general agreement. Meiosis takes about 24 h in wheat, 21 h inTriticaleand about 51 h in rye. The lengths of the meiotic stages relative to that of the division correspond reasonably well in the three forms studied but zygotene and pachytene were much longer in rye than in wheat andTriticale.