Chiasma Frequency and Terminalization in Capsicum Species

Comparative analysis of chiasma frequencies at late diplotene/early diakinesis in 15 species/var-ieties of Capsicum indicates invariabiy 12 bivalents in all the types. Conspicuous variations in number of chiasmata and bivalent length/cell have been observed. The number of bivalents with zero chiasma was highest in the cultivated species, C. anauum and C. frutescens, whereas bivalents with three chiasmata were more in the wild species, C. baccatum. Significant correlation between number of bivalents and bivalent length was noted in C. chacoense, C. chinense, C, pendulum and C. baccatum. Chiasma terminalization also appeared to be maximnm in the wild species. All these observations suggest random distribution of chiasmata and their free terminalization in wild species; whereas in cultivated species chiasmata appear to be localized. Heterogeneity test applied to paired samples revealed C. baccatum and C, pendulum to be relatively less heterogeneous, supporting the above findings.