Cytology and Exceptional Pollen Development in Mussaenda Linn

Abstract

Meiotic studies of four species and three hybrid varieties of Mussaenda have been made. The chromosome number was found to be n=11 in all the cases. Meiosis was found to be normal in the four species The hybrids examined showed various abnormalities and high pollen sterility.
Two species, M. glabrata and M. flava showed exceptional pollen development in which the vegetative nucleus breaks up and the nuclear fragments are included in “pollen buds” which are subsequently shed from the pollen.