Chromosome pairing in Oryza sativa L. × O. latifolia Desv. hybrids
Meiotic chromosome pairing was examined in F1 hybrid regenerants from Oryza sativa (AA) × O. latifolia (CCDD) and O. glumaepatula (AcuAcu) × O. latifolia (CCDD) crosses produced through embryo culture. The average number of chromosome pairs in the O. sativa × O. latifolia regenerants ranged from 13.79 to 14.79. Ten to 18 bivalents were observed per cell. The average number of bivalents in the O. glumaepatula × O. latifolia regenerants ranged from 12.44 to 13.87, with 10–17 bivalents per cell. Some desynapsis occurred but 10 to 12 true bivalents remained at late metaphase in most cells. The high number of bivalents observed in the hybrids from these divergent parents indicates that a genetic system for pairing control similar to that in Triticum may be present in the Oryza genus.Key words: Oryza, embryo culture, meiosis.