Meiosis in Mesostoma ehrenbergii ehrenbergii (Turbellaria,Rhabdocoela)

At metaphase I of meiosis in spermatocytes of Mesostoma ehrenbergii ehrenbergii [2n=10] three bivalents and four univalents form. The same two chromosome pairs always form the univalents. Analysis of metaphase I, anaphase I and metaphase II configurations in fixed testis material suggested that the distribution of the four univalents is not a random process but the correct segregation of one member of each pair to each pole is actively achieved before the end of metaphase I. In live preparations of testis material univalents were observed to move between the poles of metaphase I cells, eventually reaching the correct segregation. All cells observed to enter anaphase I had the correct segregation of univalents. It is proposed that the univalent movement during metaphase I is directed towards obtaining the correct segregation of univalents before the cells enter anaphase.     

Meiosis in a triploid hybrid of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium</Emphasis>: high frequency of secondary bipolar spindles at metaphase II

Studies on meiosis in pollen mother cells (PMCs) of a triploid interspecific hybrid (3x = 39 chromosomes, AAD) between tetraploid Gossypium hirsutum (4n = 2x = 52,AADD) and diploid G. arboreum (2n = 2x = 26,AA) are reported. During meiotic metaphase I, 13 AA bivalents and 13 D univalents are expected in the hybrid. However, only 28% of the PMCs had this expected configuration. The rest of the PMCs had between 8 and 12 bivalents and between 12 and 17 univalents. Univalents lagged at anaphase I, and at metaphase II one or a group of univalents remained scattered in the cytoplasm and failed to assemble at a single metaphase plate. Primary bipolar spindles organized around the bivalents and multivalents. In addition to the primary spindle, several secondary and smaller bipolar spindles organized themselves around individual univalents and groups of univalents. Almost all (97%) of the PMCs showed secondary spindles. Each spindle functioned independently and despite their multiple numbers in a cell, meiosis I proceeded normally, with polyad formation. These observations strongly support the view that in plant meiocytes bilateral kinetochore symmetry is not required for establishing a bipolar spindle and that single unpaired chromosomes can initiate and stabilize the formation of a functional bipolar spindle.     

Meiotic studies in Acanonicus hahni (Stål) (Coreidae,Heteroptera) I. Behaviour of univalents in desynaptic individuals

Male meiosis was studied in a population of Acanonicus hahni (Stål), and nine of the sixteen individuals analyzed showed desynapsis. The frequency of univalents varied from one to seven percent in eight of them, while in the ninth the percentage of cells with univalents was higher (12%). The univalents auto-orientate at metaphase I in the center of the ring formed by autosomal bivalents and divide equationally at anaphase I; at metaphase II they show touch-and-go pairing, and lie in the center of the ring of autosomes.A desynaptic origin of the univalents is proposed, and the arrangement of the chromosomes in the first and second metaphase plate in the normal and desynaptic individuals is compared and discussed. The meiotic characteristics of these desynaptic individuals are also compared with those described in other insects with holocentric and monocentric chromosomes. It is suggested that any achiasmatic chromosome, whether a univalent, m or sex chromosome, will induce the formation of a ring and with some or all of them lying in its centre.     

Diploidisation ofLotus corniculatus L. (Fabaceae) by elimination of multivalents

Lotus corniculatus L. (Fabaceae) is a natural tetraploid of probably hybrid origin, which regularly forms bivalents at metaphase I of meiosis. Whole-mount surface-spreading of synaptonemal complexes (SCs) under the electron microscope reveals that diploidisation of this spccies is achieved not by exclusive pairing of homologues during meiotic prophase, but by the elimination of multivalents in favour of bivalents before metaphase I. Observations show that 43% of multivalents are eliminated between zygotene and pachytene, presumably by dissolution and reassembly of SCs between homologous chromosomes. A further 63% are eliminated between pachytene and diakinesis, with a commensurate increase in the number of univalents. Elimination ensures few multivalents reach first metaphase and effectively diploidises this tetraploid.     

Meiotic chromosome structure. Kinetochores and chromatid cores in standard and B chromosomes of Arcyptera fusca (Orthoptera) revealed by silver staining.

The behaviour of two chromosome structures in silver-stained chromosomes was analyzed through the first meiotic division in spermatocytes of the acridoid species Arcyptera fusca. Results showed that at diakinesis kinetochores and chromatid cores are individualized while they associate in bivalents of metaphase I; only kinetochores and distal core spots associate in the sex chromosome. Metaphase I is characterized by morphological and localization changes of both kinetochores and cores which define the onset of anaphase I. These changes analyzed in both autosomes and in the sex chromosome allow us to distinguish among three different substages in metaphase I spermatocytes. B chromosomes may be present as univalents, bivalents, or trivalents. Metaphase I B univalents are characterized by separated cores except at their distal ends and individualized and flat sister kinetochores. At anaphase I sister kinetochores of lagging B chromatids remain connected through a silver-stained strand. The behaviour of cores and kinetochores of B bivalents is identical with that found in the autosomal bivalents. The differences in the morphology of kinetochores of every chromosome shown by B trivalents at metaphase I may be related to the balanced forces acting on the multivalent. The results show dramatic changes in chromosome organization of bivalents during metaphase I. These changes suggest that chromatid cores are not involved in the maintenance of bivalents. Moreover, the changes in morphology of kinetochores are independent of the stage of meiosis but correlate with the kind of division (amphitelic-syntelic) that chromosomes undergo.     

Desynapsis and spontaneous trisomy in jute (Corchorus olitorius L.)

Summary Cytological studies in desynaptic plants, isolated at the F₆ generation of an intervarietal cross of Corchorus olitorius L., have shown variable numbers of bivalents and univalents in the PMC's at metaphase I, resulting in irregular distribution of chromosomes at anaphase I. The progenies of the desynaptic plants consisted of 9.24 percent of all possible primary trisomies except trisomie 6. The desynaptic condition is controlled by a pair of simple recessive genes.     

CHROMOSOME ANALYSIS OF HYBRIDS BETWEEN 4N GRINDELIA CAMPORUM AND 2N G. GRANDIFLORA (COMPOSITAE)

Morphology and meiosis are described in four progeny plants resulting from tetraploid Grindelia camporum Greene (2n = 24) from California pollinated by diploid G. grandiflora Hook. (2n = 12) from Coahuila, Mexico. Three of the four progeny were tetraploid, morphologically like the pistillate parent, and had metaphase I chromosome configurations which included quadrivalents and a complementary number of bivalents. They are considered to have resulted from selfing. The fourth plant was triploid (2n = 18) andmorphologically intermediate between the parents. Chromosome configurations in the triploid were variable with univalents, ring and rod bivalents, trivalents and pentavalents. These two species are considered related through an ancestor with a basic genome, but are separated cytologically by polyploidy and by two distinct chromosomal interchanges that explain the configurations observed in the triploid hybrid.     

Low glucosinolate Brassica juncea breeding line revealed to be nullisomic.

The low glucosinolate Brassica juncea breeding line 1058 was derived from a BC1F3 plant of an interspecific cross between high glucosinolate Indian B. juncea (genome AABB, 2n = 36) line 60143 and B. rapa (genome AA, 2n = 20) canola strain CZY. Line 60143 had 2n = 36 chromosomes (18 bivalents at metaphase I) and strain CZY had 2n = 20 chromosomes (10 bivalents). Line 1058 was nullisomic, with 2n - 2 = 34 chromosomes, with 17 bivalents formed at metaphase I and an even chromosomal segregation of 17:17 at anaphase I. In F1 hybrid plants of the cross 1058 x CZY, 98.3% of the pollen mother cells had 10 bivalents and seven univalents. This is evidence that plants of line 1058 are nullisomic, missing one pair of B-genome chromosomes.     

Chiasma distribution in asynaptic Locusta migratoria

The formation of chiasmata in six full sib male partially asynaptic individuals of Locusta migratoria has been studied. The mean chiasma frequency per cell was 2.3 both at diplotene and metaphase I. Chiasmata tended to be distributed evenly among the bivalents. The frequency and distribution of the chiasmata in each type of bivalent (L, M, or S) depended on the level of asynapsis and on interference between the bivalents. Short bivalents were the most affected by interference, while M bivalents associated independently of L and S bivalent behaviour.     

Introgression of chromosomes of Festuca arundinacea var. glaucescens into Lolium multiflorum revealed by genomic in situ hybridisation (GISH)

An F₁ hybrid (n=4x=28) between the tetraploid species Festuca arundinacea var. glaucescens (GGG′G′) and a synthetic tetraploid Lolium multiflorum (LmLmLmLm) was backcrossed to diploid L. multiflorum to produce triploid (2n=3x=21) BC₁ hybrids (LmLmG). At metaphase I of meiosis the triploids had a preponderance of ring bivalents and univalents with some linear and frying-pan trivalents. Genomic in situ hybridisation (GISH) differentiated the Festuca chromosomes from Lolium and revealed that the bivalents were exclusively between Lolium homologues, while the univalents were Festuca. Despite the limited amount of homoeologous chiasmata pairing in the triploids, some recombinant chromosomes were recovered in the second backcross when the hybrids were further crossed to diploid L. multiflorum. The progeny from the second backcross was predominantly diploid. Genotypes with recombinant chromosomes and chromosome additions involving an extra Festuca chromosome were identified using GISH. Changes in plant phenotype were related to the presence of Festuca chromatin. Received: 20 September 2000 / Accepted: 05 January 2001     

Nature and role of accessory chromosomes in silver-gray foxes. IV. The behavior of accessory chromosomes in meiosis

Comparison of chromosome number at somatic and spermatogonial mitoses has demonstrated the increase in the number of additional chromosomes in cells of germinal tissue. This may evidence a mechanism of B-chromosomes accumulation in foxes. B-chromosomes may lag as univalents, may form bivalent associations, or occasionally form trivalents at the stage of diakinesis-metaphase I, and they may associate with macrobivalents (A-chromosome bivalents). The analysis of metaphase II has shown that the distribution of B-chromosomes in the second metaphase is random resulting in gametes with various numbers of B-chromosomes.     

Differential meiotic behaviour of diploid and tetraploid cells in a partially asynaptic mutant

A partially asynaptic individual of the grasshopperEuchorthippus pulvinatus (2n = 16 + X) was analysed at meiosis, using a Giemsa C-banding technique. Long chromosomes formed univalents less frequently than did medium and short ones. Homologues which succeeded in forming bivalents showed reduced chiasma frequency, the long chromosomes being affected by most. Changes in chiasma distribution were also observed. The presence of univalents at metaphase I seems to affect the function of the spindle, since most cells at the second division were unreduced. Cytokinesis was also subsequently suppressed in a great number of these products of restitution, resulting in the formation of diploid and tetraploid spermatids. Fifteen tetraploid metaphase I cells were also found in which pairing level and chiasma frequency were almost twice the average value in normal diploid individuals. The nature of this mutant is discussed.     

Meiosis,SC-formation,and karyotype structure in diploidPaeonia tenuifolia and tetraploidP. officinalis

The meiosis of the diploidPaeonia tenuifola and the allotetraploidP. officinalis was studied after conventional methanol/acetic acid-fixation and synaptonemal complex (SC) spreading. Meiosis inP. tenuifolia (2n = 10) is normal with five bivalents in metaphase I, and the SCs in pachytene show regular features. InP. officinalis (2n = 4x = 20) univalents, bivalents and multivalents are found in metaphase I. The SCs reveal several abnormalities: a high number of unpaired lateral elements, partner exchanges between three and four lateral elements, loops and lateral element thickenings. These characteristics are compared with the situations found in other polyploid and hybrid species. It is noteworthy that the abnormalities in meiosis ofP. officinalis are not reflected in its somatic karyotype. Its features were analysed after silver staining and fluorescent staining with chromomycin and compared with those ofP. tenuifolia. Synaptonemal Complex Spreading in Plants2; for part1 see Pl. Syst. Evol.154, 129–136 (1986).     

Biosystematic studies on the genus Isoetes (Isoetaceae) in Japan. II. Meiotic behavior and REPRODUCTIVE MODE OF EACH CYTOTYPE

Meiotic behaviors and reproductive modes of Japanese Isoetes were studied. The hexaploid (2n = 66) and the octaploid (2n = 88) of I. japonica consistently formed 33 and 44 bivalents, respectively, at diakinesis and/or metaphase I in both micro- and megaspore mother cells. The tetraploid (2n = 44) of I. sinensis formed 22 bivalents and its hexaploid made 33 bivalents in both types of spore mother cells. At diakinesis and/or metaphase I of microspore mother cells in I. asiatica with 2n = 22, 11 bivalents were detected. Because behaviors of meiosis in all cytotypes mentioned above were quite regular and plants yielded normal-appearing spores, they should reproduce sexually. Aneuploids of I. japonica with 2n = 87 formed 43 bivalents and one univalent, and I. sinensis with 2n = 65 formed 32 bivalents and one univalent in microspore mother cells. Meiosis of both cytotypes was almost regular and yielded microspores of normal appearance. In the heptaploid (2n = 77) of I. japonica, a configuration of 22 bivalents and 33 univalents was detected in micro- and megaspore mother cells, and various irregularities were observed throughout the meiotic divisions. Therefore, the genomic formula of the heptaploid is symbolized as AABBCDE, and the heptaploid is a sterile F, hybrid between the hexaploid (AABBCC) and the octaploid (AABBDDEE) of I. japonica. Since diploid and even-numbered polyploids regularly formed bivalents and odd-numbered ones displayed irregularities, allopolyploidy should act as a significant speciation mechanism in this genus.     

Die biometrische Bewertung des Univalenten-Verhaltens in konjugationsgestörten Mutanten von Pisum sativum

Zusammenfassung In konjugationsgestörten Mutanten treten im Verlaufe der Meiosis Univalente oder Univalente und Bivalente in wechselnden Häufigkeitsverhältnissen zueinander auf. Ihre räumliche Anordnung im Spindelraum der Metaphase I wurde zytologisch untersucht und die Befunde statistisch ausgewertet. Der überwiegende Teil unseres Materials ließ sich einheitlich durch eine Polya-Verteilung charakterisieren. Für deren Parameter wurden — für jeden Genotyp und für jede Univalentenklasse getrennt —Punkt-und Intervallschätzungen nach der Maximum Likelihood-Methode durchgeführt. Aus der Lage der Schätzwerte konnten wir schließen, daß bei allen untersuchten Mutanten die Wahrscheinlichkeit für die Univalente, sich in der Metaphaseplatte einzuordnen, um so größer wird, je mehr Bivalente in der Zelle vorliegen. Die gegenseitige Beeinflussung der Univalente ist bei unseren Mutanten unterschiedlich. Bei einer geringen Anzahl von Bivalenten erhöht jedes zufällig in der Metaphaseplatte angeordnete Univalent die Wahrscheinlichkeit für die übrigen, sich ebenfalls dort einzuordnen. Ist die Zahl der Bivalente erhöht, so nimmt die gegenseitige Beeinflussung der Univalente in einigen Fällen ab, in anderen Fällen bleibt sie lediglich erhalten.Es wurde zum Schluß versucht, die erarbeiteten Befunde als univalentenbedingte strukturelle und funktioneile Änderungen im Aufbau des Spindelapparates zu erklären.

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Biometrical evaluation of univalent behaviour in meiotic mutants of Pisum sativum

Summary Asynaptic and desynaptic mutants are characterized by the appearance of univalents in the course of meiosis. Their spatial arrangement in the spindle apparatus of metaphase I was cytologically investigated and the findings were statistically analysed. The great majority of our material could be fitted to a Polya-distribution. For the parameters of this distribution, point- and intervalestimations were performed by the maximum likelihood method, separately for each genotype and each univalent class. From the position of the estimates in the different classes, it can be concluded that in all genotypes under consideration a high number of bivalents increases the probability of the remaining univalents being arranged in the metaphase plate. The mutual interference of the univalents themselves differs from genotype to genotype: when the number of bivalents is low, each univalent that happens to be arranged in the metaphase plate raises the probability that the remaining univalents will migrate into the metaphase plate, too. In some cases, the mutual interference of the univalents is reduced when the number of bivalents increases; in other cases this interference is merely maintained. Finally, we tried to interpret the cytological and statistical findings by structural and functional changes of the spindle apparatus brought about by the existence of univalents.

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Angenommen durch H. Stubbe     

The induction of orientational instability and bivalent interlocking at meiosis

The administration of 40° C heat-treatments was found to induce bivalent orientational instability and interlocking at male meiosis in the locust Locusta migratoria. Only the longest members of the complement showed orientational instability and these usually possessed single distally sited chiasmata, with near-maximal intercentromeric distances. An effect on the stability of spindle fibre microtubule association, or attachment to the chromosome, is considered to be a possible explanation of the behaviour found. Bipolar orientation was generally achieved prior to anaphase I so that chromosome segregation was usually normal. Diamphitelic bivalents provided the most common exception to this rule. They sometimes lagged at anaphase, with the separation of half-bivalents and the production of structures indistinguishable from lagging univalents. The bivalent interlocking also involved the longest members of the complement. Most combinations of rod/rod, rod/ring and ring/ring types of interlocking were found. Usually only two bivalents were interlocked in any one cell, although occasionally three were found interlocked. All types appeared to involve an effect on the regulation of chromosome pairing, although at least one of the cells found showed interlocking caused by the metaphase orientational instability. In most cells, interlocked bivalents showed stable orientation and this usually involved the unipolar orientation of each bivalent's two centromeres. Such configurations provide concrete support for the importance of physical tension in the maintenance of metaphase orientational stability. They lead to double non-disjunction at anaphase I. Interlocked bivalents showed normal congression to a mid-equatorial position with no tendency for the re-adjustment of arm ratios to equalise centromere distances from the poles. This behaviour is discussed in relation to spindle fibre dynamics and it is concluded that no hypothesis of congression currently available can satisfactorily explain all that we know of the behaviour of univalents, bivalents, multivalents and interlocked bivalents.     

广东万年青的细胞遗传学研究

采用常规压片法和去壁低渗法,以生长于广西凭祥和广东深圳的广东万年青（Aglaonema modestumSchott ex Engl.）为材料,对二者的体细胞染色体、花粉母细胞减数分裂染色体配对行为和花粉发育过程进行了观察。结果表明：（1）野生植株为二倍体2n=40,栽培植株为三倍体2n=60;（2）野生种的小孢子母细胞减数分裂前期I终变期均为二价联会,栽培种偶见三价联会;（3）中期I,野生种为20个二价体排列在赤道板上,未见单价体,栽培种的20个二价体排列于赤道板上,20个单价体随机分布于两极,证实其为三倍体;（4）后期I,野生种二价体分离,出现单染色单体桥和断片,几率为10%,栽培种几率为3%,还存在落后染色体,部分不能进入两极的落后染色体和染色体断片在末期I形成微核;（5）四分体时期,野生种未观察到异常孢子,栽培种出现大量败育的四分体或多分体;（6）小孢子进入正常的发育分化,通过两次有丝分裂形成三细胞型花粉。野生种成熟花粉败育率为2.18%,栽培种为88.29%;（7）野生种正常结实,栽培种果实中未发现种子,为高度不育。     

New Cases of Parthenogenesis and Polyploidy in the Genus Ramazzottius (Tardigrada,Hypsibiidae) and a Hypothesis Concerning Their Origin

Summary

Specimens of the genus Ramazzottius Binda and Pilato, 1986 (Eutar-digrada, Hypsibiidae) were obtained from 2 moss and 1 lichen sample(s) collected in the Emilian Apennine Mountains. R. tribulosus was only found in one sample, whereas R. oberhaeuseri was found in all three. The first species had only diploid specimens, with 6 bivalents during the first meiotic division; the second had only females showing various polyploid cytotypes in addition to the diploid bisexual cytotype cited for this area. One of the triploid and the tetraploid cytotypes were characterized by the presence of univalents at oocyte metaphase. In contrast, another cytotype had “bivalents” in triploid number. Though the large number of cytotypes found in a single sample may be attributed to chance, it is better explained by an in loco origin, at least in some cases.     

Meiosis and fertility of interspecific hybrids betweenPhaseolus vulgaris L. andP. acutifolius A. Gray

Summary Meiosis and fertility of interspecific hybrids obtained from reciprocal crosses between Phaseolus vulgaris and P. acutifolius were examined. Bivalents as well as univalents were found at Metaphase I. The majority of the microsporocytes had four or more univalents and the average was 6.3 univalents per cell. The average number of lagging chromosomes at Anaphase I was 2.3 per cell and the most frequent chromosome distribution at late Anaphase I was 10–12. The lower than expected number of lagging chromosomes as compared with the number of univalents at Metaphase I suggests the possible occurrence of precocious separation of bivalents. The male fertility as measured by pollen stainability was 17%, however, the frequency of pollen germination in selfing was 3.5%. Upon selfing of the interspecific hybrids, no dividing embryos were found even though 7 and 26% of the ovules were fertilized at 12 hours and four days after pollination. In backcrosses to P. vulgaris (male), 6 and 20% of the ovules were fertilized and 0 and 4% of the ovules contained dividing embryos at the same sampling times. When P. acutifolius was the male parent, respective values were 8 and 31% for fertilization and 0 and 13% for ovules with dividing embryos. The frequencies of backcross embryos recovered at 14–26 days were in agreement with the frequencies of dividing embryos at four days. The ability to obtain backcross plantlets demonstrates the feasibility to further utilize interspecific hybrids for the improvement of P. vulgaris Technical paper No. 5311 of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. Research was supported by the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, the Science and Education Administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture under Grant 5901-0410-8-0028-0 from the Competitive Research Grants Office, the Research Council of Oregon State University (NIH Biomedical Research Support Grant RR 07079) and the Processor Research Council of Oregon, A.R. and C T.S. are respectively supported by an African Graduate Fellowship from the African-American Institute and a fellowship from the National Science Council of the Republic of China     

矮牡丹小孢子母细胞减数分裂异常现象的观察

矮牡丹(Paeonia suffruticosa subsp. spontanea)(永济居群)存在多种结构杂合现象,减数分裂存在一些异常:如单价体、异形二价体、互锁四价体、六价体、后期I倒位桥、落后单价体、不均等分离、后期Ⅱ桥和微核等。统计了这些异常现象出现的频率,并对其形成的机制和对正常小孢子形成的影响进行了讨论。从细胞学水平上探讨了矮牡丹可能的濒危机制。同时结合前人的研究,对芍药属内3个组的结构杂合程度进行了比较。