Abstract

• The two cultivars of Zea mays L., Pauk pauk pyaung ni and Phu sar pyaung were studied to determine the morphology and meiotic characters. This research was done in Department of Biology, Kyaing Tong Education Degree College, Shan State during June to December 2020. In morphology, the silk and kernel color of the two Z. mays L. cultivars were significantly different. The meiotic chromosomes behavior of all studied Z. mays L. cultivars were observed 2n = 20, in the diakinesis stage. The lowest univalent, trivalent and quadrivalent (ring, chain and total) chromosomes were observed in Z. mays L. cv. Pauk pauk pyaung ni. The maximum mean value of ring and total bivalent chromosomes were also found in Z. mays L. cv. Pauk pauk pyaung ni. The chiasmata frequency and normal pollens of cv. Pauk pauk pyaung ni was also significantly superior than the Z. mays L. cv. Phu sar pyaung. The chromosome configuration of the Z. mays L. cv. Pauk pauk pyaung ni was 0.05 I + 1.35 oII + 8.38 cII + 0.15 III + 0.03 oIV + 0.03 cIV and 0.38 I + 2.15 oII + 7.18 cII + 0.23 III + 0.03 oIV + 0.03 cIV in cv. Phu sar pyaung. In Z. mays L. cv. Pauk pauk pyaung ni was found the low laggard and bridge chromosomes in anaphase I and telophase I. Therefore, the Z. mays L. cultivar Pauk pauk pyaung ni should be selected for inbreed experiment for future researches.