Meiotic pairing in haploids and amphidiploids of spontaneous versus synthetic origin in rape, Brassica napus L.

Newly resynthesized AC amphihaploids, which were characterized by high meiotic pairing and multivalent formulation, after doubling of their chromosome number showed preferential pairing and bivalent formation in the resynthesized amphidiploid Brassica napus (AACC). However, univalents as well as multivalents were also formed indicating that their chromosome behaviour was not fully diploidized. Stabilization of chromosome pairing in newly resynthesized amphidiploids can be achieved through genetic control or structural modification of the homoeologous chromosomes. A comparison of the meiotic behaviour of spontaneous haploids of natural rapeseed with that of the newly synthesized AC amphihaploids provides some evidence that both processes may be involved in the regulation of chromosome pairing in Brassica.Key words: Brassica, amphihaploid, amphidiploid, meiosis, univalents, multivalents.