Department of Agricultural Botany, Gauhati University, Gauhati-14, (India)
Online published on 25 January, 2012.
Diploid chromosome number (2n) of 50 has been observed in two varieties (Kew and Queen) of cultivated pineapple (Ananas comosus L.). Meiotic irregularities like univalents and association between the bivalents at diakinesis and metaphase-1 is observed. From multivalent association of chromosomes, existence of secondary association among the meiotic chromosomes is inferred. It has been concluded that allo-polyploidy and various chromosomal irregularities have played an important role in evolving the present diploid number in pineapple. Pollen fertility and size variation have been found to be correlated with meiotic irregularities.
