Meiotic chromosome behaviour in an allotriploid derived from an amphidiploid × diploid mating in Cucumis

A synthetic amphidiploid species Cucumis hyriviis Chen & Kirkbride (2n = 4x = 38; genome designated as HHCC) has recently been created from an interspecific mating between C. sativus L. (2n = 2x = 14: genome designated as CC) and C. hystrx. Chakr. (2n = 2x = 24; genome designated as HH). This amphidiploid is resistant to root knot nematode, tolerant to low irradiance, and has higher nutritional value than standard processing cucumber cultivars. An allotriploid (2n = 3x = 26; HCC) was derived from a cross between C. sativus L. and C. hytivus Chen & Kirkbride. Diploid meiotic behaviour in C. sativus and C. hystrix involves the development of seven and 12 metaphase bivalents respectively. In the derived allotriploid. univalents. bivalents, and trivalents (at relatively low frequency) were observed at metaphase I indicating that some homeologues from the C and H genomes can synapse. Based on a comparative karyotype analysis of cucumber (i.e. chromosome size and pairing behaviour) and aliotriploid plants, the seven bivalents observed at metaphase I were ascertained to be cucumber homologues, while the 12 univalents were of C. hystrix origin thus confirming the allotriploid karyotypic constitution to be HCC. On average, the frequency of trivalents was 0.24 at diakinesis and 0.22 in 100 meiocytes at metaphase I. indicating the possibility of genetic exchange due to the homoeology between the C and H genomes. After simultaneous cytokinesis, only polyads were observed in pollen mother cells (PMCs) at telophase II, which led to the production of sterile pollen grains. Multi-polarization of chromosomes was dominant at anaphase II. However. in about 20% PMCs. chromosomes separated to form a 7C + 1-2H complement, suggesting a possible method for the production of alien addition cucumber-C hystrix lines through further backcrossing of the allotriploid to diploid cucumber.