Meiotic behavior and pollen viability of Ducrosia anethifolia (DC)

Ducrosia anethifolia (DC) Boiss as a medicinal plant is a biennial herb of the Apiaceae family. Its origin is Iran and possessed n=11 (2n = 2x = 22) chromosome number forming mainly both rod and ring bivalents with some quadrivalents and univalents. A variety of abnormal chromosomal behaviors including chromosomal stickiness, bridge, laggards, micronucleus and precocious chromosome migration were observed, albeit with low frequency. Meiotic index was estimated. Tetrads with 4 equal-sized cells were considered normal and any deviation as abnormal. Pollen fertility was estimated by stainability. Few meiotic abnormalities were observed; as a consequence, high pollen fertility was concluded. Well-filled pollen grains with stained nuclei were regarded as fertile while shriveled, smaller microspores and unstained pollen were counted as sterile. This study reveals that meiosis in the species is normal, with high meiotic index and regular bivalent formation in most of the studied cells. Furthermore, the pollen stainability was 97% in this case.