Chromosome behaviour in Gynandropsis gynandra (Linn)

In this research a local species, Gynandropsis gynandra was investigated cytologically with respect to its chromosomal status. It was found to have a haploid number n — 9. the species is therefore essentially a tetraploid with 4n — 36. Chiasmata frequency per bivalent was analyzed at diplotene and diakinesis; the chiasmata frequency was low at diplotene. The reason for failure of pairing amongst pairable chromosome mates was assumed to be as a result of genetic dissimilarity of individual chromosomes. Cases of unpaired chromosome segments at pachytene may probably be due to the fact that these regions were non-homologous or lack adequate time to complete the pairing or the regions might have lied farthest apart from the point at which pairing was initiated.