Global Journal of Science Frontier Research, G: Bio-Tech & Genetics, Volume 22 Issue 2

chromosomes, and chiasma frequency obtained are discussed in this section. b) Meiotic Index Fig. 1 revealed that the meiotic index decreased with increase in the concentration of extract. The meiotic index for treatments with the leaves of C. melo was not much compared to that observed for fruits and roots. A significant decrease in the meiotic index was recorded for the highest concentration (40 µg /ml) of extract of roots. Table 1: Effects of aqueous extracts of leaves, fruits, and roots of C. melo on the meiotic index of the cells of Z. variegatus Treatments Meiotic Index (MI) 100% Tape water (Control) 14.25±4.69 a Leaves 9.45±3.45 c Fruits 8.80±3.28 b Roots 8.00±2.2 b Values are means ± SEM. A number of trials n=5. Groups that have no letters in common differ significantly different from the control group (Distilled water), applying one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post-test (HSD) The mean meiotic indices obtained for leaves, fruits, and roots of C. melo (Table 1) were subjected to ANOVA. This analysis revealed that the mean meiotic indices obtained were significantly lower than the control. However, the meiotic indices induced by the extracts of fruits and roots were not different. The antimeiotic activity of the extracts can be linked to the distribution of cucurbitacins (the bioactive principle) in the leaves, fruits, and roots C. melo . Cucurbitacins have been reported to be more concentrated in the stem and roots of Cucurbitaceae plants than in other parts of the plant [2], and in the fruits [22]. These results indicated that the aqueous extracts from the leaves, fruits, and roots of C. melo at certain concentrations, have antimeiotic properties. c) Meiotic Behaviour of Chromosomes With the objective to investigate the effect of the extracts on the meiotic behaviour of the chromosomes in Z. variegatus , the chromosome smears prepared were examined for abnormal behaviour. This was important because the behavior of the chromosomes would determine whether treatment with the extracts would produce normal or abnormal spermatozoa and hence affect the meiotic reproductive. An analysis of the smears revealed various degrees of abnormalities depending more or less on concentrations of the extract applied. Several types of chromosome abnormalities that included sticky Metaphase 1, bridges, and lagging chromosomes in Anaphase 1, and chromosome fragments were recorded (Fig. 2a - e). (a= Sticky chromosomes; b= Anaphase I with bridge; c= laggard arrowed; d= laggard arrowed; e= Chromosomes break; f= Ghost cell) Figure 2: Various chromosome deformities in Z. variegatus on treatment with aqueous extracts of C. melo 1 Year 2022 107 © 2022 Global Journals Global Journal of Science Frontier Research Volume XXII Issue ersion I VII ( G ) Antimeiotic Properties of the Aqueous Extracts of Leaves, Fruits and Roots of the Muskmelon C ucumis Melo L. (Cucurbitaceae) in the Pest Grasshopper Zonocerus Variegatus L. (Pyrgomorphidae)