Chromosome Pairing and Desynapsis in Spontaneous Autopolyploids of Pennisetum Typhoides

Pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides Stapf et Hubb.) is an important grain and fodder crop of the tropical and subtropical regions of India as well as the world (Burton and Powell 1968). In view of their importance in cytogenetic studies and breeding of the crop, autotetraploids were produced by colchicine treatment, and their chromosome behaviour and fertility relations in induced autotetraploids were reported by various workers (Krishnaswamy et al. 1950, Raman et al. 1962, Gill et al. 1969 and Jauhar 1970). During the course of cytological examination of inbred lines of P. typhoides (2n=14) spontaneous autotetraploids and triploids were noticed. The chromosome behaviour and fertility of these polyploids was studied over three generations and the results are compared with those reported earlier.