Emergence of micronuclei as polymorphism induced genomic instability in Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.).

Micronuclei (MN) are extra-nuclear bodies containing damaged chromosomal fragments as well as complete chromosomes that are not otherwise incorporated into the nucleus after cell division. The present experiment was conducted to assess mutagenic effects of ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) on the meiotic behavior of pollen mother cells of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). Cytological analysis revealed that micronuclei were incited at all the three concentrations of EMS. A peculiar correlation of chromosomal abnormalities, mainly bridge and laggard at anaphase I and II with this nuclear polymorphism were experienced for genomic instability. Pollen viability was additionally inspected through pollen fertility. Thus, the MN formations bring about incomplete elimination of the genome, which can be proficiently use as the light of hope inbreeding programmers to produce addition and substitution lines.