Evidence for the association of homologous chromosomes during premeiotic stages inImpatiens andSalvia

Chromocenters in the last premeiotic interphase nuclei ofImpatiens balsamina (2n=14) andSalvia nemorosa (2n=14) were found to be associated in groups of two's, some times so closely that only the haploid number was seen. InImpatiens balsamina, the chromosomes during the mitotic prophase in sporogenous cells and the chromocenters in the root tip cells were observed to be homologously aligned. It is concluded on the basis of their morphology that the homologous chromocenters remain associated in pairs at least during the last premeiotic interphase and loosely aligned in other tissues of the plants studied.This work was supported by a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarship awarded toK. P. S. Chauhan, who is thankful to Prof. Dr.E. Knapp for kindly providing the necessary facilities to carry out this work at his Institut.