The Nucleus

, Volume 57, Issue 2, pp 121–127 | Cite as

Chromosomal variations in Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt, an actively evolving dioecious cucurbit exhibiting floral plymorphism

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Abstract

Coccinia grandis, a dioecious cucurbitaceous vegetable crop possess different morphological forms such as male, female and morphologically perfect plants. Mitotic analysis revealed the presence of 2n =24 chromosomes in the male and female plants. However, the plant with morphologically perfect flowers, revealed 2n = 28 chromosomes. Though all the morphotypes had a predominance of nearly median (nm) chromosomes, the plants with morphologically perfect flowers showed more nearly median (nm) and median (m) chromosomes than both the male and female plants. The unique karyotype with predominance of ‘m’ and ‘nm’ chromosomes of these plants is in consistency with its morphology indicating the ancestral bisexual condition of the species. The findings of the present study therefore indicate that dioecy in C.grandis with well defined sex chromosomes has evolved from bisexual ancestors relatively recently and has involved chromosomal changes such as translocations or fusions. Formation of anther and production of malformed pollen grains in morphologically perfect plants also suggests that the genes required for stamen development may be located on the X chromosomes or autosomes, however, genes related to pollen maturation should be strictly under the control the Y chromosome.

Keywords

Coccinia grandis Sex chromosomes Aneuploid reduction Trivalents 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Asha Latha S. Nair Head,Department of Botany for the facilities provided.

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Copyright information

© Archana Sharma Foundation of Calcutta 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of BotanyUniversity of KeralaThiruvananthapuramIndia

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