Normal microspore production after cell fusion in Brachiaria jubata (Gramineae)

Cytogenetic studies were carried out on 22 accessions of Brachiaria jubata from the Embrapa Beef Cattle Brachiaria collection. One accession was diploid (2n = 2x = 18) and the remaining 21 were tetraploid (2n = 4x = 36). Among five tetraploid accessions, a specific and constant pattern of cell fusion involving only two microsporocytes was recorded. Meiosis proceeded normally from prophase I to the end, giving rise to an octad with normal microspores that developed into fertile pollen grains. Regular octad formation was possible because each cellular chromosome set was maintained in its proper domain, spindles were correctly positioned, and cytokinesis planes were formed in the correct places. Such behavior of meiosis in syncytes has never been reported in any other plant species.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Mendes-Bonato,Andréa Beatriz, Risso-Pascotto,Claudicéia, Pagliarini,Maria Suely, Valle,Cacilda Borges do
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedade Brasileira de Genética 2003
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1415-47572003000400016
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