INFLUENCE OF ALUMINUM IN CAUSING CHROMOSOME STICKINESS IN MAIZE MICROSPOROCYTES

Sticky chromosomes have been reported as a consequence of several exte rnal effects on the mitosis and meiosis of plants and animals. The eff ect of aluminum on the appearance of stick chromosomes during meiosis in species of economic interest, however, has been little studied. In order to determine the influence of this element of maize microsporocy tes, 36 genotypes were cultivated on soil with high and low aluminum s aturation in the Brazilian Central Plateau. The material consisted of inbred lines, single and double-cross hybrids. Sticky chromosomes occu rred in all the phases of meiosis, with intense variation in phenotypi c manifestation. Analysis of variance of the data showed significant d ifferences between soil types, with the rate of chromosome stickiness being higher in plants cultivated on soil with high aluminum saturatio n; between inbred lines and hybrids, with the rate of chromosome stick iness being higher in endogamous plant, and also bem een inbred lines. The results suggest that the excess of aluminum in the soil is respon sible for the appearance of these abnormalities.