Cytomictic Anomalous Male Meiosis and 2n Pollen Grain Formation in Mertensia echioides Benth. (Boraginaceae) from Kashmir Himalaya

Figure 1

Unusual meiotic behavior in Mertensia echioides. (a) Normal PMC with 12 bivalents (); (b–d) PMCs showing fusion; (b) initial stage of fusion and protoplast transfer at metaphase-I; (c) multiple fusions (arrows) at diakinesis; (d) a later stage of fusion at diakinesis; (e) syncyte with 24 bivalents () at metaphase-I; (f) syncyte at metaphase-I with 1 hexavalent (large arrow) and 2 quadrivalents (small arrow); (g) apparent tetraploid PMC at early prophase-I; (h) normal pollen grains and a pollen grain (arrow) [ μm].