Meiotic Abnormalities in a Sterile Clone of Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de fuss.) Muell. Arg

Abstract

Meiotic abnormalities in a spontaneous sterile clone of Hevea brasiliensis were investigated. During metaphase I varying degrees of bivalents and univalents were noted indicating desynapsis. This is the first report of desynapsis in Hevea. Anaphase I was typified by unequal disjunction, absence of active polar movement and varying degree of laggards. At telophase II, instead of normal tetrad formation, 3-9 microspores were found. There is total degeneration of cytoplasm and nuclei resulting in complete sterility. Megaspores also showed sterility.