Meiotic Studies in Sarcococca Species (Buxaceae) from Western Himalayas

Abstract

The present paper deals with the meiotic studies carried out on 2 species of Sarcococca from 2 different states, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh of India from Western Himalyas. Both the species uniformly exist at x=14. Interestingly, inter-bivalent size difference was seen in both the species. The meiotic course was abnormal with the appearance of bridges, laggards and cytomixis leading to an overall effect on microsporogenesis in the formation of diads, triads and tetrads either with or without micronuclei. Consequent to the meiotic anomalies, pollen fertility was reduced and pollen grains of variable sizes were produced. This is first report of cytomixis in S. pruniformis and the first chromosome count with B-chromosomes (0–2 B) for Sarcococca saligna.