Failure of normal first division association of homologous chromosomes was observed in two plants of pepper during cytological studies on the causes of sterility in the first generation following X-irradiation of the pollen. Other than asynapsis, no chromosomal abnormality was evident in either plant. X-irradiation of the pollen had induced genotypic alterations affecting the capacity of like chromosomes to remain associated through metaphase I in X1 microsporocytes. The following is a description of meiosis in the two sterile plants, which differed primarily in the degree of asynapsis. Materials and methods Autodiploid lines of pepper have been developed by colchicine treatment of haploids isolated from twin seedlings of horticultural varieties (Toole and Bamford 1945, Morgan and Rappleye 1950). Two such lines, both having normal meiosis and normal fertility, were used as female parents and crossed with X-rayed pollen of the variety Floral Gem. According to Smith and Heiser (1951), Floral Gem and the autodiploid lines would be considered as Capsicum annuum L. rather than as Capsicum frutescens L., commonly used 1 Scientific Article No. A 1013, Contribution No.
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