Male meiosis and meiotic abnormalities in two species of Pouzolzia Gaud. from western Himalayas, India

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The present investigation involves the meiotic studies on two species of Pouzolzia (family Urticaceae) from western Himalayas, India. Both the species uniformly revealed chromosome count of 2n=26 which is first ever chromosome report for Pouzolzia pentandra (Roxb.) Benn. on worldwide basis and first chromosome report for Pouzolzia hirta (Blume) Hassk. from western Himalayas. This is also the first report of cytomixis in P. hirta. In addition to bridge formation and extra chromatin material, chromosome stickiness was the most frequent meiotic chromosomal anomaly found in both the species. In spite of abnormalities there was no adverse effect on pollen fertility. Morphological analysis of P. pentandra revealed the existence of two morphotypes.