Abstract
Chiasma frequency and nucleolar behaviour in four species of Salvia e. g. S. farinacea, S. glutinosa, S. coccinea and S. splendens were studied. Out of four species, S. glutinosa showed the highest chiasmata per bivalent (1.18). S. farinacea and S. glutinosa formed both ring and rod bivalents although the number of ring bivalents were less. S. coccinea and S. splendens formed only rod bivalents. Variation in nucleolar number and behaviour was noted in three species of Salvia, e. g. S. farinacea, S. glutinosa and S. splendens. The number of nucleoli varied from PMC to PMC and also the number of bivalents attached to the nucleolus varied. Various causes of low chiasma frequency as well as variation in the nucleolar number and behaviour were discussed in detail. Studies on chiasma frequency were correlated to recombination and evolution among the four species of Salvia.
