IDENTIFICATION AND CYTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF 2N-POLLEN PRODUCERS IN LOTUS-TENUIS WALD-ET-KIT

Two meiotic mutants of L. tenuis (2n = 2x = 12) producing unreduced po llen are described. When crossed to male sterile L. corniculatus (2n = 4x = 24) plants, all progeny plants were morphologically similar to L . corniculatus, had 2n = 24 chromosomes, and in the cross, were fully compatible with L. corniculatus, indicating that the male parent plant s were 2n-pollen producers. One of them also had 'giant' pollen grains . In metaphase II of both genotypes, there were parallel and tripolar spindles leading to dyad and triad formation, the latter being found m ost frequently. Since both the above-mentioned mechanisms result in fi rst-division restitution-type microspores, the genotypes examined coul d be useful in breeding Lotus.