The duration of meiosis in pollen mother cells of wheat, rye and Triticale

Abstract The duration of meiosis and its stages at 20 °C has been determined in wheat (Triticum aestivum 2n = 6x = 42), in rye (Secale cereale 2n = 14) and in Triticale (2n = 8x = 56) by sampling methods and by timing the intervals between the pre-meiotic DNA synthesis and meiotic stages following the incorporation of tritiated thymidine. The results from all the methods used were in general agreement. Meiosis takes about 24 h in wheat, 21 h in Triticale and about 51 h in rye. The lengths of the meiotic stages relative to that of the division correspond reasonably well in the three forms studied but zygotene and pachytene were much longer in rye than in wheat and Triticale.