Cytomorphological Studies in an Induced Polyploid of Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg

Abstract

The cytomorphological investigations of an induced polyploid of Hevea brasiliensis are given. The induced polyploid showed morphological variations like more leaf thickness, prominent veins and veinlets, varied number of leaflets and large floral parts. Mitotic studies have confirmed that the plant is a tetraploid with 2n=72 chromosomes. At metaphase I, besides bivalent formation, univalents, trivalents and quadrivalents were also observed. It supports the view of amphidiploid origin of Hevea brasiliensis.