Meiotic Studies in Two Species of Cicer and Their Hybrids

Abstract

Two species of Cicer and their hybrids were studied meiotically to draw a valid conclusion on their relationship. Meiosis was found to be normal except some irregularities such as lagging chromosomes, fragments, bridges etc. with a low frequency. However, the frequency of irregularities in the hybrids were somewhat high than that of their respective parents. Cytokinesis was found to take place at the end of second telophase and the arrangements of microspores were tetrahaedral. Data on chromosome association and chiasma frequency were recorded from diakinesis as well as from prometaphase. Both the parents and hybrids indicated a preponderence of rod bivalents. Univalents and quadrivalents were observed only in the hybrids. A remarkable similarity was observed between the genomes of the hybrids and their respective parents, and it indicated C. reticulatum rather in the range of C. arietinum primary gene pool and free gene exchange between them. This study also reflected C. arietinum as wild progenitor of cultivated C. arietinum.