Genetic loss through heavy metal induced chromosomal stickiness in Grass pea

Cytogenetic studies were carried out to evaluate the genotoxic effect of two heavy metals viz. lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) on the gametic cells of grasspea (Lathyrus sativus). Our study presented a severe case of chromosome stickiness in meiosis impairing normal chromosome segregation. This phenomenon persisted upto microspore stage. The manifestation of stickiness ranged from mild to intense followed by chromosome degeneration. Stickiness taken together with abnormal spindles, irregular chromosome segregation, pycnotic nuclei were considered the most probable causes of low pollen fertility found in both metal treatments at higher doses.