Association of Homologous Chromosomes in the Somatic Cells of Ornithogalum virens

Abstract

Homologous chromosomes were found to associate in pairs to a varying ex-tent in the root tip cells of Ornithogalum virens (2n=6). In approximately 2 per cent cells, meiosis-like behaviour, viz; bivalent configurations and 'pseudo-chias-mata' were seen. It is proposed that somatic association of homologous chromo-somes may be more prevalent in species with low chromosome number and having vegetative propagation.