MICROSPOROGENESIS OF THREE SPECIES OF THE GENUS Macroptiliunz (BENTH.) URBAN (LEGUMINOSAE — PAPILIONOIDEAE) NATIVE IN RIO GRANDE DO SUL, BRAZIL

Abstract

 In this paper it is presented for the first time the meiotic behavior of microsporogenesis data concerning to fourteen populations of three species of Macroptilium (Benth.) Urban native in the south of Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul). The association and distribution of chromosomes was considered normal in both meiosis 1 and 11. The normal ity for meiotic cells was kept above 91% with exception of M. erytholoma (Benth.) Urban Cacequi population. The meiotic indexes (MI) were kept above 90% with the exceptions of M. heterophyllum(Willd) Maréchal et Baudet from Alegrete and M. herythroloma from Santa Maria populations. The si gnifi cat ve differences among the populations i ns ide each species and between the species shown lhe characteristic genetic variability that each plant has and use to adapt itself to the environment and promote the continuity of the generations. The data obtained shown that the plants were normal regarding to the meiosis and potentially fertile without problems in the inclusion of the species in programs of selection, crossing and viable seed production.