INDUCED TRANSLOCATION HETEROZYGOSITY AND STERILITY IN LATHYRUS-SATIVUS L

Gamma-irradiated two semisterile mutants of Lathyrus sativus were dete cted in the M-2 generation. These were presumed to be translocation he terozygotes. A single quadrivalent (ring or chain) was observed in all the PMCs in the heterozygote-1 and in most of the cases in hetrozygot e-II. In the former reciprocal translocation occurred between the seco ndary constricted arm of a nucleolar organising chromosome and an equa l segment of a non-homologous partner, while in the latter the nucleol ar organising chromosome pair was not at all involved in reciprocal in terchange. Reciprocal translocation has been ascribed for high inciden ce of sterility but alternate disjunction might have played a vital ro le in restoring fertility level in the heterozygotes. Fertility may al so be affected partially due to other meiotic distur-bances occurring rather less frequently.