Incomplete bivalent pairing in dihaploids of Brassica napus L

Twenty five polyhaploid plants (2n = 2x = 19, genome formula AC) of Brassica napus (2n = 4x = 38, AACC) were cytogenetically studied. Seven of these were found among field populations and the rest were derived through anther culture of B. napus cv. Regent. Meiotic behaviour at diakinesis and metaphase I revealed nine bivalents and one univalent in more than 40% of the more than 400 pollen mother cells analyzed. However, when the chromosome number of the polyhaploids was doubled using colchicine, 19 bivalents were observed. These doubled plants (2n = 4x = 38, AACC) also had normal behaviour identical to a regular B. napus at other meiotic stages. Quadrivalent associations were observed when the chromosome numbers were doubled to the octaploid level (2n = 8x = 72, AAAACCCC). It is suggested that A and C are homoeologous genomes. If homologous partners are present, chromosomes would pair within the same genome to form bivalents as occurred in the allotetraploids and to form quadrivalents as occurred in the allooctaploids. However, when a homologous partner is not available, the homoeologous chromosomes would then pair to form bivalents in those polyhaploids.