THE EFFECT OF COLCHICINE ON CHROMOSOME PAIRING

Abstract

Beginning at 120 hours prior to first metaphase of meiosis (MI) a 0.03% aqueous solution of colchicine was injected into the boot of pentaploid (hexaploid triticale × tetraploid wheat) hybrids developing at 20 °C ± 1° under continuous illumination. Colchicine applied 40 h or less prior to MI had no effect on chromosome pairing, while its application 40 h or more prior to MI induced a steady decline, culminating in a 40% reduction in chromosome pairing at about 80 h from MI. Between 48 and 35 h before MI (late premeiotic interphase to early zygotene) meiocytes underwent a period of active nucleolar fusion. The time, therefore, at which the colchicine sensitive aspects of chromosome pairing were completed coincided with the completion of nucleolar fusion. From comparison with other findings it was concluded that there is a colchicine sensitive bouquet stage which appears in leptotene and early zygotene; this bouquet is responsible for active nucleolar fusion and final close association between homologous chromosomes.