Cytogenetic Study and Pollen Viability of Three Populations of Diplotaxis Harra (Brassicaceae) in Iran

In this study, we examined the chromosome number, microsporogenesis, pollen fertility and distribution ofcytotypes of diplotaxisharra (forssk.) boiss. this is the first cytogenetic report of the taxon. among threestudied populations, two of them which belong to central regions of iran showed aneuploid (x = 14) meioticchromosome count while the other population existed at the diploid level (x = 13). it seems that the specieswith x = 14 are derived through aneuploid increase. the most prominent among these meiotic abnormalitieswas the chromatin stickiness which involved fragmented chromosome at different stages of meiosis.consequently, these populations exhibited varying percentages of pollen sterility and pollen grains of smallersizes. the aim of the present research was to study the male meiosis in detail, find the impact of chromatinstickiness in inducing meiotic aberrations and their consequent effects on pollen fertility and find out thedistribution patterns of different cytotypes in iran.