Banded Polytene Chromosomes in Developing Endosperm of Pearl Millet

Abstract

The occurrence of polyteny in the endosperm of field-grown plants as well as cultured endosperms of variety Vg272 of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) is recorded. There is a pronounced banded structure of these chromosomes similar to the ones observed in Dipteran salivary glands. Polyteny under physiologically controlled conditions also seems feasible in pearl millet.

Presence of polytene nuclei with chromocenters unassociated with chromatin bundles in Vigna unguiculata

“…Polytene chromosomes seem to be occurring not only in salivary gland of diptera, but also in the ovarian cells and immature seed tissues in few species of plants (Rajya et al 2001). Polytene chromosomes always restricted to specialized tissues with high metabolic activity and short life length like embryo sac antipodal cells of Scilla bifolia (Nagl 1976), cotyledonary cells Pisum sativum (Marks and Davies 1979), embryo suspensor of Phaseolus coocinus (Nagl 1976) and anther tapetum cells of Phaseolus coocinus (Carvalheira and Guerra 1994) etc.…”