Meiotic behavior of a tiny fragment chromosome that carries a transposed centromere

Abstract

A supernumerary, tiny chromosome with a transposed centromere, in an apparently normal maize background, was observed through meiotic stages from pachytene through anaphase II. Departures from normal meiotic chromosome behavior were noted for this tiny chromosome. These included failure of the usual degree of condensation at pachytene, failure of synapsis, and most strikingly the ability of sister centromeres to interact with the spindle on schedule with the normal dyads at anaphase I, so that monads were commonly distributed to the poles for telophase I and then often lagged at anaphase II. Possible significance of the unusual behavior is discussed.