Incidence of Irregular Sporads in Some Musa Accessions

Musa species have complex cytogenetic structure, resulting in extensive chromosomal rearrangements during meiosis. This is mainly because Bananas are derived from interspecific and intersubspecific hybridization. Most banana cultivars are triploid (2n=3x=33) interspecific hybrids between M. acuminata (A genome) and M. balbisiana (B genome). They are characterized by low male and female fertility. The uneven chromosome number gives rise to meiocytes with unequal chromosome number. The study shows univalents at metaphase I, precocious movement of chromosomes, bridges and lagging chromosomes at anaphase I. Incidence of univalents gave rise to poly- and irregular spore formation.