Chromosome association and pollen fertility of parental and interspecific hybrids of Lycopersicon esculentum X L-hirsutum and L-pennellii

Cytological studies were carried out on two wild species (L. hirsutum and L. pennellii) and the cultivated species (L. esculentum) of tomato and their F1 hybrids. Both parents and hybrids show a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 24. The meiotic behaviour of the cultivated species showed a high degree of chromosome homology resulting in a high level of chiasmata frequency per bivalent. In contrast, the two wild species showed a slight increase in univalent frequency and a decrease in bivalent formation and chiasmata frequency. The meiotic behaviour of the hybrids showed a high level of univalents and low levels of bivalents as well as trivalents. Highly significant decreases in chiasmata frequency and increases in meiotic abnormalities, especially in the L. esculentum X L. pennellii hybrid, also were detected. The high meiotic irregularity and low chiasmata frequency recorded in the second hybrid indicated the disharmony and difference between its parental genomes and also served to predict its sterility. With regard to degree of pairing recorded in the hybrids, there is a possibility that sterility in such cases may refer to genetic factors in addition to the previously mentioned reasons. Pollen fertility showed no great difference between L, esculentum and L. hirsutum and their Fl hybrid, but a significant decrease was recorded in the L. esculentum X L. pennellii hybrid, which was clearly associated with high meiotic irregularity, low chiasmata frequency and chromosome association.