Cytomorphological Studies in tuberose

Abstract

In tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) the two high yielding F1 hybrids viz., Shringar (single) and Suvasini (Double) were compared with their parents viz., Mexican single and Peral double for their somatic chromosome number, meiotic behavior, leaf and floral axis anatomy. Three of them except Suvasini were evaluated along with three other F1 hybrids for the effect of tuber size (small and medium) on establishment and expression of both vegetative and floral characters. Somatic chromosome number in all four varieties was similar and was 2n=60. Five pairs of large chromosomes and 25 pair’s small chromosomes were present. At diakinesis, one, two or three nucleoli were present in the four varieties. However, their frequency varied with varieties. Course of meiosis was nearly normal in all four varieties, culminating in the production of four microspores in most of the PMCs. The pollen fertility varied among the varieties. There were no differences in the leaf anatomy among the four varieties viz., Mexican single, Peral double, Shringar and Suvasini. Anatomy of floral axis is also similar in the four varieties. In the comparison of bulb size, appropriate choice of bulbs for planting based on size is variety specific in case of the three varieties studied viz., IIHR-2, IIHR-4, and Peral double.