Genetic System in Lathyrus aphaca L.

Plants of L. aphaca belonging to ten wild populations of JK UT and its adjoining areas (India) were subjected to studies on their genetic system. This involved investigations on breeding and meiotic systems operative in the species. Floral structure and events of floral biology point towards the species being predominantly self-pollinated. However, results of manual pollination treatments show that the species also sets seed through cross pollination. This indicated that the species is both self and cross compatible. Meiotic studies in the male track revealed the presence of 7IIs at diakinesis and metaphase-I and 7:7 segregation at Anaphase-I in all populations. Apart from few abnormalities in the form of quadrivalents and hexavalents, the meiosis in male track was normal. In some pmcs, unusual count of 14IIs and their equal segregation at anaphase-I was also observed. However the percentage of cells exhibiting these irregularities and unusual count was quite low. As such, the species tends to generate variability in small amounts through both meiotic and breeding systems.