Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cytomixis impairs meiosis and influences reproductive success inChlorophytum comosum (Thunb) Jacq. — An additional strategy and possible implications

  • Published:
Journal of Biosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Spontaneous intercellular chromatin migration/cytomixis was observed to occur in the pollen mother cells (PMCs) of theChlorophytum comosum for the first time. The migration through cytomictic channels was more pronounced in meiosis-I and very rare in meiosis-II. The process was associated with erratic meiosis, which was characterized by defects in chromosome organization and segregation. Cytomixis was more intense in the month of April than in July and consequently the frequency of meiotic irregularities was much more pronounced during the month of April. As a consequence of abnormal meiosis, fertility was drastically reduced resulting in meager seed efficiency of 17% only. Recombination system also does not guarantee the release of sufficient variability. We view the phenomenon of cytomixis as genetically controlled mechanism involving meiotic genes and operating through signal transduction pathway triggered by the environmental stimuli. The evolutionary significance and tenable hypothesis in the backdrop of existing literature is also proposed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker B S, Carpenter ATS, Esposito M S, Esposito R E and Sandler L 1976 The genetic control of meiosis;Annu. Rev. Genet. 10 53–135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Battaglia E 1955 Chromosome morphology and terminology;Caryologia 8 179–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bedi Y S 1990 Cytomixis in woody species;Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Plant Sci.). 100 233–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellucci M, Roscini C and Mariani A 2003 Cytomixis in pollen mother cells ofMedicago sativa L;J. Hered. 94 512–516

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhatt A M, Lister C, Page T, Fansz P, Findlay K, Jones G H, Dickinson H E and Dean C 1999 The DIF1 gene ofArabidopsis is required for meiotic chromosome segregation and belongs to the Rec8/RAD21 cohesion gene family;Plant J. 19 463–472

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bobak M and Herich R 1978 Cytomixis as manifestation of pathological changes after the application of trifluraline;Nucleus 20 22–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown W V and Bertke E M 1974Textbook of cytology 2nd edition (Saint Louis: C V Mosby)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brewbaker J L and Kwack B H 1963 The essential role of calcium ion in pollen germination and pollen tube growth;Am. J. Bot. 50 859–865

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng K C, Nie X W, Wang Y X and Yang Q L 1980 The relation between cytomixis and variation of chromosome numbers in pollen mother cells of rye (Secale cereals L.);Acta. Bot. Sin. 22 216–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng K C, Nieh H W, Yang C L, Wang I M, Chou I S, and Chen J S 1975 Light and electron microscopial observations on cytomixis and the study of its relation to evolution;Acta. Bot. Sin. 17 60–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng K C, Quiglan Y and Yongsen Z 1987 The relationship between cytomixis, chromosome mutation and karyotype evolution inLily;Caryologia 40 243–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Consolaro M E L and Pagliarini M S 1995 Cytomixis in pollen mother cells ofCentella asiatica L. urban;Nucleus 38 80–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruden R W 1977 Pollen ovule ratios: a conservative indicator of breeding system in flowering plants;Evolution 31 32–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson J, Wilson Z A, Aarts M G M, Braithwate A F, Briarty L G and Mulligan B J 1993 Microspore and pollen development in six male sterile mutants ofArabidopsis thaliana;Can. J. Bot. 71 629–638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Nittancourt D and Grant W F 1964 La cytogenetique deLotus (Leguminosae) III. Un cas de cytomixie dans un hybride interspecifique;Cytologia 29 191–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falistocco E, Lorenzetti S and Falcinelli M 1994 Microsporo-genesis in desynaptic mutant ofDactylis;Cytologia 59 309–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falistocco E, Tosti N and Falcinelli M 1995 Cytomixis in pollen mother cells of diploidDactylis, one of the origins of 2n gametes;Cytologia 86 448–453

    Google Scholar 

  • Feijo J A and Paris M S S 1989 Cytomixis in meiosis during the microsporogenesis ofOphrys lutea: an ultra structural study;Cytologia 42 37–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Gates R R 1911 Pollen formation inOenothra gigas;Ann. Bot. 25 909–940

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golubovskaya I N 1979 Genetic control of meiosis;Int. Rev. Cytol. 58 247–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gottschalk W 1970 Chromosome and nucleus migration during microsporogenesisof Pisum sativum;Nucleus 13 1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottschalk W and Kaul M L H 1974 The genetic control of microsporogenesis in higher plants;Nucleus. 17 133–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Guochang Z, Quinglan Y and Yongren Z 1987 The relationship between cytomixis, chromosome mutation and karyotype evolution in lily;Caryologia 40 243–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo G Q and Zheng G C 2004 Hypothesis for the functions of intercellular bridges in male germ cell development and its cellular mechanism;J. Theor. Biol. 229 139–146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heslop-Harrison J 1966 Cytoplasmic connection between angiosperm meiocytes; Ann.Bot. 30 221–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koduru P R K and Rao M K 1981 Cytogenetics of synaptic mutant in higher plants;Theor. Appl. Genet. 59 197–214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kornicke M 1901Uber ortsveranderung von Zellkarnern S B Niederhein, Ges Natur-U Heilkunde Bonn A, pp 14–25

  • Koul K K 1990 Cytomixis in pollen mother cells ofAlopecurus arundinaceous Poir;Cytologia 55 169–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaul M L H and Murthy T G K 1985 Mutant genes affecting higher plant meiosis;Theor. Appl. Genet. 70 449–466

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Zang Q and Hu Yufei Sodmergen 2004 Heterogeneous pollen inChlorophytum comosum, species with a unique mode of plastid inheritance intermediate between the maternal and biparental modes;Plant Physiol. 135 193–200

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mantu D E and Sharma A K 1983 Cytomixis in pollen mother cells of an apomictic ornamentalErvatamia diraricata Linn., Alston;Cytologia 48 201–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mimaki Y, Kanmoto T, Sashida Y, Nishino A, Satomi Y and Nishino H 1996 Steriodal saponins from the underground parts ofChlorophytum comosum and their inhibitory activity on tumor promoter-induced phospholipids metabolism of HeLa cells;Phytochemistry 41 1405–1410

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mok D W S and Peloquin S J 1975 The inheritance of three mechanism of diplandroid (2n pollen) formation in diploid potatoes;Heredity 35 295–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mok D W S, Peloquin S J and Mendiburu A O 1976 Genetic evidence for mode of 2n pollen formation and S-locus mapping in potatoes;Potato Res. 19 157–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrisset P 1978 Cytomixis in pollen mother cells of onions (Leguminosae);Can. J. Genet. Cytol. 20 383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Omara M K 1976 Cytomixis inLolium perenne;Chromosoma 55 267–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pagliarini M S, Pissinatti B M and Silva N 1993 Chromosomal behavior and seed production inChlorophytum comosum (Liliaceae);Cytologia 58 433–437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramana M S 1974 The origin of unreduced microspores due to aberrant cytokinesis in the meiocytes of potato and its genetic significance;Euphytica 23 20–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rieger R, Michaelis A and Green M M 1976Glossary of genetics and cytogenetics 4th edition (New York: Spring verlag)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Risueno M C, Gimenez-Martin G, Lopez-Saez J F and R-Garcia M I 1969 Connexions between meiocytes in plants;Cytologia 34 262–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salesses G 1970 Sur La phenomeane de cytomixie cher des hybrids triploides de prainier. Consequences genetiquez possibles; AnnAmelior Plant. 20 383–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarvella P 1958 Cytomixis and the loss of chromosomes in meiotic and somatic cells ofGossypium;Cytologia 23 14–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Semyarkhina S Y A and Kuptsou M S 1974 Cytomixis in various forms of sugerbeet;Vests IANBSSE Ser Biyal. 4 43–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen O and Bhattacharya S 1988 Cytomixis inVigna glaberscens TTK1 Wild;Cytologia 53 437–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma N, Koul P and Koul A K 1993 Pollination biology of some species of genusPlantago L.;Bot. J. Linnean Soc. 111 129–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastav P K and Raina S N 1980 Cytomixis inClitoria termatea L. var. Pleniflora Fantz. f. Pleniflora;Curr. Sci. 49 824–835

    Google Scholar 

  • Takats S T 1959 Chromatin extrusion and DNA transfer during microsporogenesis;Chromosoma 10 430–453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taschetto O M and Pagliarini M S 1993 Description of a new meiotic abnormality in Maize;Maydica 38 47–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Veilleux R 1985 Diploid and polyploid gametes in crop plants: Mechanism of formation and utilization in plant breeding;Plant Breeding Rev. 3 253–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiens D, Calvin C L, Wilson C A, Davern C I, Frank D and Seavy S R 1987 Reproductive success, spontaneous embryo abortion and genetic load in flowering plants;Oecologia 71 501–509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yen C, Yang J-L and Sun G-L 1993 Intermeiocyte connections and cytomixis in intergeneric hybrids ofRoegneria ciliaris Trin. Nevski with Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng;Cytologia 58 187–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng G C 1983 Cytomixis and chromosomal aberrations in the light of plant evolution; inSelect topic of evolution theory (eds) S C Chen, Z Z Huang (Beijing: Science Press) pp 60–67

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regional Research Laboratory, Canal Road, 180 001, Jammu Tawi, India

    S. K. Lattoo, S. Khan, S. Bamotra & A. K. Dhar

Authors
  1. S. K. Lattoo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Khan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Bamotra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. K. Dhar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. K. Lattoo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lattoo, S.K., Khan, S., Bamotra, S. et al. Cytomixis impairs meiosis and influences reproductive success inChlorophytum comosum (Thunb) Jacq. — An additional strategy and possible implications. J. Biosci. 31, 629–637 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02708415

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02708415

Keywords

Search

Navigation