Expermental hybridization within the genus Triturus (Urodela: Salamandridae). III. Evidence for crossing-over, true chiasmata and chomosomal homologies in the spermatogenesis of F1 species hybrids, T. cristatus carnifex female X T. marmoratus male.

Spermatogenesis in the F1 hybrid (2n=24=12 female + 12 male) between the closely related newt species T. cristatus carnifex and T. marmoratus was apparently normal up to pachytene. Many unpaired chromosomes were present at diplotene and a typical diakinesis was lacking. Primary spermatocytes at meta- and meta-anaphase contained up to 12 regular intergenomal bivalents and a corresponding number of univalents when less then 12 II. Most chiasmata were terminal or subterminal, some intercalary. Chiasmata between corresponding heterospecific chromosomes can be reported as true: real crossing over has taken place, proving the presence of primary chromosomal homologies between the 2 sets of the parental species. Evidence for recombination is based on the segregation of particular markers (i.e., subterminal C-bands and NORs) observed in certain chromosomes at metaphase II. One chromatid of single chromosomes can show the T. cristatus "pheno-type" and the other the T. marmoratus phenotype". A few primary spermatocytes contain a certain number of irregular associations (intragenomal or intrahaploid bivalents, irregular intergenomal bivalents, chromosome multivalents) joined by chiasmata which can be defined as anomalous. Other abnormalities concern the occurrence of interlocked bivalents which occasionally show an anomalous exchange between heterologous chromatids. Cytogenetic criteria useful to evaluate the taxonomic relationships between different species have been discussed as well as some possible trends in chromosome evolution and speciation within the genus Triturus.