A Case of Spontaneous Cytomixis Coupled with Desynapsis in Capsicum annuum L.

Abstract

Cytomixis, the spontaneous migration of chromatin material between adjacent PMCs was recorded in a sterile plant screened in the population of Sindhur variety of C. annuum. In 36.5% of cells cytomixis was effected through cytolpasmic bridges resulting in PMCs with variable number of chromosomes ranging from 4 to 36. Interestingly here, the phenomenon of cytomixis was associated with medium strong type of desynapsis. It was also observed that cytomixis has some sort of negative effect on desynapsis resulting in increased pairing in the cells involved in cytomixis. The cytogenetic manifestations of cytomixis and desynapsis are described and discussed.