Induced Nuclear Pleomorphism in Pollen Mother Cells of Crotalaria juncea L. (Sunnhemp)

The nucleus wields undisputed control in the normal disposition of almost all cellular processes. It houses most, if not all, parts of the genetic information of an organism. A nuclear morphology deviant from one which is normally encountered is proof of genomic instability. The presence of micronuclei authenticates this phenomenon. The present study reports for the first time, the dose-specific occurrence of micronuclei and micro-cells during microsporogenesis in Crotalaria juncea L. in response to colchicine exposure. It also assesses various meiotic chromosomal abnormalities induced in response to the dose administered and the trends discernible.