title: Cytological aberrations in maize populations exhibiting unusual recombinational behaviour.
abstract: Earlier studies identified higher recombinational activity and increased somatic instability at various loci in the F1 and F2 progeny of particular stocks of a maize inbred line, A188. Hypothesizing that this may reflect a genome-wide perturbation of chromosome structure which would be detectable cytologically, aberrant meiotic behaviour in these stocks was investigated. Microsporocytes from a population of F2 plants derived from these stocks displayed the following aberrations: varying frequencies of metaphase and anaphase laggards, 'stickiness' at anaphase I resulting in chromosome bridges from pole to pole, acentric fragments and a spontaneous translocation of the NOR on chromosome 6. The frequencies of metaphase I and anaphase I abnormalities in these stocks were higher to a statistically significant extent than in control F2 populations, suggesting that these aberrations may be related to the unusual genetic behaviour of these stocks.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, Pennsylvania 19104.
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Benner
authors: O P
authors: OP
authors: Das
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Messing
mesh_terms: D000705:Anaphase; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D008540:Meiosis; D008677:Metaphase; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics*