Cytological and morphological characterization of Pisum sativum and P. fulvum tetraploids.

Two colchicine-induced tetraploid lines, one belonging to Pisum sativum and the other to the wild species Pisum fulvum, were compared with their corresponding diploids and among themselves for chromosome number, meiotic behaviour and for pollen and pod fertility. For both lines, five generations were analyzed; the tetraploid level was maintained throughout the generations. In P. fulvum, aneuploids with 27, 29 and 30 chromosomes were observed, while in P. sativum aneuploids with 29 chromomes were found. Meiotic analysis evidenced a higher number of quadrivalents and a lower number of univalents in P. fulvum. This particular chromosomal behaviour may also have been responsible for determining the higher pollen and pod fertility in P. fulvum. Wild species of this genus seem to have better tolerance for ploidy variations.