Chromosome differentiation in diploid species of Lotus (Leguminosae).

Meiotic chromosome behavior was studied in seven diploid species of Lotus (L. alpinus Schleich., L. japonicus (Regel) Larsen, L. filicaulis Dur., L. schoelleri Schweinf., L. krylovii Schischk. and Serg., L. tenuis Waldst. et Kit., L. corniculatus var. minor Baker) and in 51 interspecific hybrids from 16 different crosses. Meiosis in the diploid species was quite regular. In a high proportion of the PMC's of the hybrids there was close chromosome homology with a normal association of 6 II's. However, meiotic irregularities including bridges, lagging chromosomes, univalents, and quadrivalents, occurred in a small percentage of the cells. The late separation of bivalents, the presence of quadrivalents, and inversion bridges with fragments, would indicate for some hybrids that certain chromosomes were structurally differentiated. The large number of rod bivalents observed at diakinesis was also highly suggestive that genetic nonhomology in one chromosome arm could contribute to the frequency of this type of bivalent. Therefore, the maximum number of 6 II's which occurred in a high percentage of cells may be misleading in that cryptic structural differences between chromosome arms, or segments, are not revealed. Pollen fertility in the species and hybrids was not correlated with meiotic irregularities suggesting that pollen fertility is genotypically controlled.