Meiotic Chromosomal Anomalies Resulting From Fungal Infection of Maize Compared With Those Resulting From Gamma Irradiation

Abstract

Meiotic chromosomal anomalies resulting from fungal infection with Fusarium verticillioides on some maize hybrids in Egypt were studied compared with those resulting from gamma irradiation. Fungal infection and gamma irradiation treatments elicited similar types of chromosomal anomalies. The percentage of these chromosomal anomalies types differed between treatments. The results illustrated that the differences among all doses of radiation as well as between infection and uninfection treatments were more clearly in case of stickiness % and unorientation % at metaphasic stages, respectively. The results also indicated that the percentage of total abnormal meiotic cells (T. Ab.%) was increased as the doses of gammairradiation increased. Similarly, most of the mean values of T. Ab.% in case of infection were highest than their corresponding of uninfection. On the other hand, the results indicated diminishing the effect of infection with the exposure to radiation. In the same times, the results indicated that the infection treatments induced highly increases in multipolarity and bridges in case of non-irradiated plants compared with those resulting in case of irradiated plants. Generally, the results indicated that the fungal infection caused a significant increase in meiotic chromosomal anomalies percentage and significant decreased in pollen viability percentage. This effect of infection treatment were lowest than that the effect of irradiation treatment.