Cytomorphology of dihaploid of a interspecific cross between Gossypium hirsutum L. x Gossypium barbadense L.

Abstract

Haploids have been reported in cotton by semigamy; interspecific hybridization and x-ray treatment, polyembryony, and twinning [1], use of cotton haploids in cotton breeding is discussed [2]. Doubled haploids [3] of cotton have been found to be similar to their parent varieties in yield, yield stability, productivity of their crosses, interactions with locations and type of gene action [4]. Further reports [5] indicate that completely homozygosis will not be a disadvantage due to developmental homeostasis associated with heterozygosity i.e. developmental homeostasis has not been found in the allopolyploids. Authors recorded one spontaneous haploid plant in the field population of a interspecific (G. hirsutum x G. barbadense) cotton hybrid 'Phule-388'. The detailed morphological and cytological observations on meiotic chromosome behavior of this haploid in comparison with hybrid and its parents are reported in the present paper.