Induced Polyploidy in Legumes

II. Glycine max (L.) Merr

Abstract

Seeds and seedlings of Glycine max variety Biloxi and C. max variety UPI have been treated with aqueous solution of colchicine. Seedling treatments have been found to yield tetraploid plants in both the varieties.
In the tetraploids, deformed, thick and dark green leaves, stunted growth, delayed flowering, changes in size and frequency of stomata and pollen grains and reduced fertility have been observed and discussed with reference to previous observations. More than three leaf-lets have been observed in the tetraploids and the size of the leaf-lets has increased. C₁ generation has also been studied.
Meiotic studies in the tetraploid revealed different combinations of uni-, bi-, tri- and quadri-valents with tetraploid number of chromosomes. Exact doubling of chromosomes was observed in comparatively few cells. PMCs with complete set of chromosomes involving quadrivalent formation have not been observed. Occurrence of high frequency of bivalents has been discussed. Maximum number of quadrivalents has been found to be six.