Abstract
Anomalus meiotic behaviour was recorded in two plants of P. axillaris (Lam.) B.S.P. (2n=14). Meiotic irregularity was associated with diploid chromosome number in one plant, while in the other, chromosome instability and aneuploidy prevailed. Abnormalities such as persistent stickiness of chromosomes from late diplotene stage onwards, diffused arrangement of chromosomes at first metaphase, multipolar spindle abnormality, extreme variability in size of pollen mother cells and pollen grains, and syncyte formation were recorded. Chromosome stickiness observed in one category was attributed to a recessive gene, the expression of which was influenced by temperature, while variation in chromosome number and multiple meiotic anomalies recorded in the other may be due to spindle abnormalities at premeiotic mitotic cell divisions and at meiosis I.
