Analysis of meiotic behavior in Cordia ecalyculata Vell. (Boraginaceae)

Abstract

Cordia ecalyculata belongs to the Boraginaceae family, and is commonly known as buggy coffee. It is indicated for medicinal use as a tonic, diuretic, anti-inflammatory and appetite suppressant. Young inflorescences of six individuals were collected and fixed in a mixture of ethanol and acetic acid (3:1) for 24 hours. The slides were prepared by crushing and staining tissue with 1% acetic carmine. During microsporogenesis some irregularities were observed, mostly frequently related to irregular chromosome segregation. Irregularities included: precocious migration to poles in metaphase I and II, disoriented bivalent chromosomes at metaphase I and II, laggard chromosomes in anaphase I and II, and micronuclei formation. We also observed irregular spindle organization in meiosis II, leading to ‘T’ and ‘V’ shaped spindle configurations. In the V-shaped configuration, two nearby nuclei fused, forming triads instead of tetrads; this lead to formation of 2n microspore at the end of meiosis. However, pollen grain viability was not compromised, as pollen grain viability varied between 95.42% and 100%.