Abstract
In two wholly unrelated populations of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke), four spontaneous triploids (3n=21) and in the progenies of triploids, one hypertriploid (3n=22) and two hypotriploids (3n=20) were found. Cytological studies were made at meiosis on PMCs. In all these, trivalents, bivalents and univalents were found in varying frequencies. In the hypertriploid, however, besides a quadrivalent expected, associations of 6 and 5 chromosomes were also found indicating the presence of a reciprocal transolcation between non-homologous chromosomes. In one hypotriploid, a chromosome of the nucleolar set and in the second some other chromosomes in the complement were missing. While the triploids produced a few seeds, on crossing with diploid or on open pollintation, no seed set was found in hyper- and hypotriploids.
