Crossability and genomic relationships between Solanum lucani F. Muell.*S. melongena L.

Abstract

The chromosome pairing in F1 hybrid synthesized from morphologically dissimilar species of Solanum lucani F. Muell. and S. melongena L., at metaphase I, was very irregular. The hybrid exhibited significantly low level of bivalents (5.72) and this coupled with high frequency of unpaired chromosomes (7.29) was indicative of less genetic similarity between the parents. Majority of the chromosome associations in hybrid were asymmetrical chain, spoon or V-shaped, tri-, quadri- and multivalents. About 66.67% cells have 2-3 trivalents which indicates that 5 pairs of chromosomes are involved in bringing about three interchanges and that both the parental species have heterozygosity between them for reciprocal translocation in hybrid. During first anaphase 21.56 % cells suffered from 1-3 chromatid bridges with 10.0% acentric fragments (0-2) which gave further indications of heterozygosity between the parents. Lagging, elimination or unequal separation of chromosomes generally formed micronuclei to affect pollen and plant fertility significantly. Present observations are suggestive of the species evolving from different genetic stocks.