Meiotic Studies in Two Cultivars of Cicer arietinum L. after Gamma Irradiation

Abstract

Dry dormant seeds of two cultivars i.e., CSIMF and FlO of Cicer arietinum L. were irradiated with gamma rays. The doses were 20, 35, 60, 75, 110 and 150 KR. Meiotic studies were carried out in the control as well as in irradiated material. The meiotic abnormalities observed were stickiness of chromosomes, univalents, multivalents, Anaphase-I bridges, laggards and unequal segregation of chromosomes. Multivalent formation at metaphase-I and bridge formation at anaphase-i were observed in maximum cells. In general the meiotic abnormalities increased with the increase of radiation dose in both cultivars. However, cultivar F10 showed more chromosomal abnormalities as compared to cultivar CSIMF at the same dose.