Male Meiosis in Some Species (Family Poaceae) with Soil Stabilization Potential from District Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Soil stabilization is a serious exercise, which involves establishing and implanting resistive measures against soil erosion. Growing grasses is one of the most efficient and cost effective methods of stabilizing banks of slopes and newly created slopes from landslides, etc. Selection of suitable candidate species for this job is an important question. Male meiotic studies have been carried out on two soil stabilizing grass species, Eremopoa persica and Pennisetum lanatum, of family Poaceae from district Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, a cold desert region of the Northwestern Himalayas, India. Meiotic analysis of three populations of Eremopoa persica revealed that all populations exist at a haploid chromosome number of n=21, a new hexaploid cytotype recorded for the species at world level. The present count of n=9+1–3 B in Pennisetum lanatum is the first report of B-chromosomes. The meiotic course varies from normal to abnormal in various populations, thus reducing the pollen fertility in the analyzed populations.