“Multiploid sporocytes” condition was observed in the M2 generation of Pennisetum typhoides raised from seeds treated with 0.3 percent EMS at pH 7. The pollen mother cells in the anther locules were devoid of individual boundaries and aggregated into plasmodium-like masses of various sizes in which the chromosomes were lying in groups. The number of chromosome pairs in these groups varied from 7 to 42 and in a few cases much larger groups were observed. At diakinesis and metaphase I, trivalents and quadrivalents were observed, which suggested that the chromosomes from different cells were in proximity at an early stage. Apparently cytokinesis was suppressed at the premeiotic divisions. Sometimes groups of chromosomes from several nuclei were together at metaphase I, the bivalents and multivalents co-orienting on a single spindle. Then the spindle was many times wider than normal, but the length was not greatly changed. Anaphase I segregation and second division were irregular. The microspores formed were of variable size. Sterility was high. This condition behaved as one controlled by a single recessive gene.
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Pantulu, J.V., Manga, V. Monofactorial “multiploid sporocytes” condition induced by EMS in Pearl Millet. Genetica 42, 214–218 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121903
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121903