Journal of Environmental Biology

Influence of heat stress on genome of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.)

Girjesh Kumar* and Ritambhara Tripathi

Plant Genetics Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Allahabad - 211 002, India

(Received: June 11, 2007; Revised received: September 09, 2007; Accepted: November 11, 2007)

Abstract: Meiosis is an event of high evolutionary stability that culminates in a reduction of chromosome number. Several abiotic environmental factors such as heat may cause anomalies at genetic level that ultimately impair fertility of the plant. In the present study, the effect of heat stress on various morphological and cytological parameters has been studied in Lathyrus sativus. The most interesting anomaly recorded during the study was the formation of synezetic knot in prophase-I instead of leptotene and zygotene stages. Furthermore, a large number of interesting karyological and cytoplasmic irregularities viz. multivalents, transmigration of chromosomes, bridges, tripolarity, etc. were found among the heat treated population of 48hr duration in M₂ generation.

Key words: Meiosis, Lathyrus sativus, heat stress, synezetic knot, chiasma frequency

PDF of full length paper is available with author (* kumar_girjesh@yahoo.com)

Copyright ? 2009 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).