Occurrence of unreduced gametes and ploidy restoration in haploidCapsicum annuumL.

SummaryThe botanical, biological characters, male meiosis and offspring chromosome numbers of a haploid Capsicum annuum L. were observed. There were some differences in botanical and biological characters between the haploid and the diploid. In the haploid, natural chromosome doubling occurred due to unreduced eggs, 0.127 seeds per fruit developed, and all five offspring seedlings were restored to diploidy. At meiotic pachytene, a pseudosynaptic structure occurred. During male meiosis of the haploid, 14.2% dyads were observed, which was through the ®rst division restitution mechanism, and 9.8% unreduced viable pollen was collected. The results would have considerable importance in the study of the occurrence and cytogenetic mechanism of 2n gametes; in the evaluation of the effects of haploidy on plant evolution or breeding, and in studies on chromosome recognition and pairing.