Different Intensity of the Action of Desynaptic Genes on Micro- and Macrosporogenesis

Abstract

The meiotic behaviour of 7 X-ray induced weakly fertile desynaptic mutants of Pisum sativum was studied with regard to the number of univalents and the number of microspores per pollen mother cell. The genotypes can be subdivided into two groups according to the degree of desynapsis. If we consider the high degree of meiotic irregularities in microsporogenesis, an extremely low seed production should be expected in the first group whereas the genotypes of the second group should be completely sterile. Both groups, however, produce essentially more seeds than expected. The dfindings demonstrate that the 7 ds-genes studied influence microsporogenesis much stronger than macrosporogenesis.