Dormancy Break and Meiotic Division in Flower Buds ofLiberica Coffee

Abstract

SUMMARYIn C. liberica the mature flower buds of the size of 10–13 mm containing fully formed PMCs remained dormant till they were exposed to rain. Once exposed to rain, meiosis was initiated in the PMCs at 40½ h after rain and was found to be completed by 48 h. i.e., within 8½ hours. The tetrads were however found to persist until at least 16 h, after completion of meiosis. Water and possibly temperature have an effective role on dormancy break, initiation and progress of meiosis.The diploid C. liberica 2n=22 formed eleven regular bivalents at diakinesis and at metaphase I. Further the accompanying stages of meiosis were regular giving rise to four daughter nuclei at the end of telophase II. Various phases of meiosis from pre-diakinesis to tetrad formation are illustrated in the photomicrographs.