Summary
-
1.
The behaviour of the chromosomes ofTrillium grandiflorum, T. cernuum, T. erectum andT. luteum (all 2n=10) was studied in cold-treated endosperms obtained from intergeneric fertilizations betweenParis quadrifolia (2n=20), where they are readily distinguishable fromParis chromosomes by their heterochromatin content.
-
2.
Spontaneous breakage ofTrilliumchromosomes occurs in endosperms of the crossT. grandiflorum ×Paris quadrifolia which is only a little higher in frequency than that found in pureTrillium endosperms.
-
3.
InParis ×Trillium endosperms the following abnormalities appear: a) Spontaneous chromosome-breakage inTrillium chromosomes, b) Loss ofTrillium chromosomes through delayed arrangement on the spindle. c) Delayed anaphase separation ofTrillium chromosomes, d) Cessation of the cold effect in heterochromatic segments ofTrillium chromosomes in metaphases of older endosperms. (e) Upset in spindle formation.
-
4.
The breakage ofTrillium chromosomes in endosperms fromParis-Trillium crosses varies between 18.1 and 35.5%. TheParis chromosomes are only slightly broken if at all.
-
5.
Breakage is distributed unevenly over the five types ofTrillium chromosomes and is concentrated in particular regions of chromosomes.
-
6.
The frequency of breakage in corresponding chromosomes is higher where more heterochromatic segments occur. From this it is concluded that there is a genetic control of spontaneous chromosome breakage by the heterochromatin.
-
7.
Both endosperm and seed development collapses in all crosses. Degeneration is earlier in theTrillium-Paris crosses where spontaneous chromosome breakage is relatively low. Spontaneus chromosome breakage therefore may not necessarily always be the cause of endosperm degeneration.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boothroyd, E. R.: The reaction ofTrillium pollen-tube chromosomes to cold treatment during mitosis. J. Hered.44, 3–9 (1953).
Brock, R. D.: Spontaneous chromosome breakage inLilium endosperm. Ann. of Bot., N.S.18, 7–14 (1954).
—: Fertility inLilium hybrids. Heredity8, 409–420 (1954).
—: Chromosome balance and endosperm failure in Hyacinths. Heredity9, 199–222 (1955).
Darlington, C. D.: Polyploidy, crossing-over and heterochromatin inParis. Ann. of Bot.5, 203–216 (1941).
Darlington, C. D., andL. F. La Cour: Nucleic acid starvation of chromosomes inTrillium. J. Genet.40, 185–213 (1940).
Darlington, C. D., andM. B. Upcott: Spontaneous chromosome changes. J. Genet.41, 297–338 (1941).
Ernst, A.: Chromosomenreduktion, Entwicklung des Embryosacks und Befruchtung beiParis quadrifolius L. undTrillium grandiflorum Salsb. Flora91, 1–46 (1902).
Ford, C. E.: Chromosome breakage in nitrogen mustard treatedVicia faba root-tip cells. Proc. 8th Inter. Congr. Genet., Suppl. to Hereditas, 570 (1949).
Geitler, L.: Weitere cytogenetische Untersuchungen an natürlichen Populationen vonParis quadrifolius. Z. Vererbungslehre75, 161–190 (1938).
Giles, R.: Spontaneous chromosome aberration inTradescantia. Genetics25, 69–87 (1940).
—: Spontaneous chromosome aberration in triploidTradescantia hybrids. Genetics26, 632–649 (1941).
Grafl, J.: Cytologische Untersuchungen anSauromatum guttatum. Österr. bot. Z. 89 (1940)
Harland, S. C.: The genetics of cotton XVII. Increased mutability of a gene inG. purpurascens as a consequence of hybridisation withG. hirsutum. J. Genet.34, 153–168 (1937).
Kurabayashi, M.: Differencial reactivity of chromosomes inTrillium. J. Fac. Sci., Hokkaido Univ. Ser. 5,6, 233–248 (1952).
—: Denaturation of chromatin and its related phenomena observed in somatic tissues under low temperature. Jap. J. Bot.14, 349–364 (1954).
La Cour, L. F., E. M. Deeley andJ. Chayen: Variations in the amount of Feulgen stain in nuclei of plants grown at different temperatures. Nature177, 272–273 (1956).
La Cour, L. F., andA. Rutishauser: X-ray breakage experiments with endosperm. 1. Sub-chromatid breakage. Chromosoma6, 696–709 (1954).
Mazia, D.: The particulate organization of the chromosomes. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.40, 521–527 (1954).
McClintock, B.: The origin and behaviour of mutable loci in maize. Proc. Nat. Acat. Sci. U.S.A.36, 344–355 (1950).
Revell, S. H.: Chromosome breakage by X-rays and radiomimetic substances inVicia. Heredity6, 107–124 (1952).
Rhoades, M.: Effect of the Dt-gene on the mutabilitiy of the A1 allele in maize. Genetics23, 377–397 (1938).
Rutishauser, A.: Die Entwicklungserregung des Endosperms bei pseudogamenRanunculusarten. Mitt. naturforsch. Ges. Schaffhausen25, 1–45 (1953).
- Das Verhalten der Chromosomen in arteigener und artfremder Umgebung. Vjschr. naturforsch. Ges. Zurich C1955, 17–26.
- Genetics of fragment chromosomes inTrillium grandiflorum. Heredity (in the press, 1956a).
- Chromosome distribution and spontaneous chromosome breakage inTrillium grandiflorum. Heredity (in the press, 1956b).
Rutishauser, A., andL. P. La Cour: Spontaneous chromosome breakage in endosperm. Nature177, 324–325 (1956).
Steitenson, D.: Induction of chromosome breakage at meiosis by a magnesium deficiency in Tradescantia. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.39, 613–620 (1953).
—: Breakage of chromosomes inTradescantia with a calcium deficiency. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.41, 155–160 (1955).
Stubbe, H.: Über den Einfluß des artfremden Plasmas auf die Konstanz der Gene. Z. Vererbungslehre70, 161–169 (1935).
Vanderlyn, L.: The heterochromatin problem in cytogenetics as related to other branches of investigation. Bot. Rev.15, 507–582 (1949).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rutishauser, A., La Cour, L.F. Spontaneous chromosome breakage in hybrid endosperms. Chromosoma 8, 317–340 (1956). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01259505
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01259505