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Asexual propagation could be an escape to sustain the constraints of inefficient gametic system in the evolving endemic species: evidence from meiotic anomalies encountered in Aponogeton bruggenii (Aponogetonaceae)

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Abstract

The present study deals with the cytogenetics of Aponogeton bruggenii S.R.Yadav and Govekar (Aponogetonaceae) sporting asexual propagation. Mitotic metaphase in the root-tips revealed that the species is a polyploid with 2n = 56 chromosomes. Male meiosis was mostly abnormal. A total of 2023 pollen mother cells were observed, of which 448 showed normal and the remaining 1575 abnormal meiosis. Mostly, the stickiness and precocious separation was recorded at diakinesis and metaphase (I and II), respectively. Chromatin bridges, laggards, disorientation, ring formation were detected at various stages of meiosis ranging from diakinesis to telophase. Consequent to chromatin transfer, heterogeneously sized pollen grains, i.e. small, normal, large and fused were observed, hampering gametic efficiency and fruit set. However, the species resorts to vegetative propagation by means of underground tubers, possibly as a survival strategy to sustain dispersion and speciation.

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Head, Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur (SUK) for providing the necessary research facilities. RNC thanks DBT, Govt. of India, New Delhi for financial support. SRY is thankful to University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi and Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi for the award of fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Angiosperm Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, 416 004, India

    Rupali N. Chougule, Shrirang R. Yadav & Manoj M. Lekhak

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  1. Rupali N. Chougule
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  2. Shrirang R. Yadav
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  3. Manoj M. Lekhak
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Contributions

RNC: Chromosome preparations, writing original draft and preparation of figures. SRY: Conceptualization, review and editing. MML: Conceptualization, writing original draft, review and editing.

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Correspondence to Manoj M. Lekhak.

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Chougule, R.N., Yadav, S.R. & Lekhak, M.M. Asexual propagation could be an escape to sustain the constraints of inefficient gametic system in the evolving endemic species: evidence from meiotic anomalies encountered in Aponogeton bruggenii (Aponogetonaceae). Nucleus (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13237-024-00469-3

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