A cytogenetic and pollen study of annual Medicago species from Soummam Valley (Northeastern of Algeria)

Abstract

This paper reports a cytogenetic study of eight Medicago L. species sampled from the Soummam Valley (northeastern Algeria). Chromosome numbers and meiosis irregularities during microsporogenesis were explored. Pollen viability rate and pollen size were also examined. The studied taxa are diploid and display bivalent pairing and regular chromosome segregation during meiosis. Although meiosis appears regular, some anomalies were detected in relatively high cumulated rates (14.66%–26.14%). The most common meiotic abnormality examined here is related to cytomixis (from 14.66% in M. littoralis to 25.83% in M. laciniata). Other anomalies were also detected, including chromatic bridges, asynchronous divisions, micronuclei and multipolar cells. Consequently, the species exhibited varying percentages of pollen viability (from 70.11% in M. laciniata to 99.14% in M. littoralis). Pollen viability was negatively correlated with meiotic abnormalities (Pearson correlation coefficient R = ?0.72, p = 0.043). The pollen grains were also heterogeneous in size. Medicago truncatula Gaertn. and M. laciniata (L.) Miller presented the most variable pollen size (relative standard deviation exceeding 19%). Medicago littoralis is distinguished from other species by possessing homogeneous and large sized pollen (relative standard deviation RSD = 6.73 %). The cytogenetic and pollen data provided by this study are discussed in the context of species systematics and in the perspective of genetic improvement.