1Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Post Bag No. 1, P.O. RamSagar Misra Nagar, Lucknow, 226016
2Department of Biotechnology (ICGEB Cell), Ministry of Science & Technology CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, Block No. 2, 7th Floor. New Delhi- 10003.
Variations in terms of mitosis at premeiotic stage and cytomixis in multiploid microsporocytes have been recorded in mutagen treated and untreated populations raised from an inbred line S4I10 of Papaver xominiferum L. (2n=22). in premeiotic mitosis all the,chromosomes in syncytes were found to align on a single metaphase plate and separate normally in anaphase, Ploidy levels in premeiotic syncytes varied considerably from 2N to 4N in control, from 2N to 6N in 5kR-m land 2N to ION in combined dose (5kR+0.6% EMS) m1.Specific heterochromatic chromosomes were observed to be involved in cytomictic events suggesting thereby that cytomixis is a genetically manoeuvred process for the generation of syncytes. The results have been discussed from the point of view that higher ploidy level coupled with less sterility in gametes may be instrumental for variation and evolution in opium poppy.
Syncytes, premeiotic mitotic and apomictic components, opium poppy
