Meiotic Studies in Pilocarpus pennatifolius Lem. (Rutaceae)

Abstract

Pilocarpus pennatifolius shows a high frequency of fruits with abortive carpels. In order to verify the causes of the undevelopment of these carpels, seven wild specimens were analysed for their meiotic process. Meiotic abnormalities such as irregular chromosome segregation were observed in six specimens. Three specimens showed cytomixis in less than 1% of the analysed cells. This phenomenon was observed from the initial phases of meiosis to telophase I. These irregularities may have contributed, partly at least, to the reduction of pollen viability. However, they cannot justify for themselves the high rate of abortive carpels in this species. It is possible that other factors, not related to meiotic abnormalities, may be affecting the fertilization process.