Milo, J., Department of Medicinal and Spice Crops, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Levy, A., Department of Medicinal and Spice Crops, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Ladizinsky, G., Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
Palevitch, D., Department of Medicinal and Spice Crops, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel

Chromosome behaviour at meiosis was studied in the F1, F2, and backcross generations, in the three species of Papaver section Oxytona, and in artificially induced autopolyploids of P. bracteatum. Close homology was found between the genome of P. bracteatum and that of the two polyploid species, P. orientale and P. pseudo-orientale, suggesting that the P. bracteatum genome is present in both polyploid species. A genetic mechanism controlling bivalent pairing in the polyploid species is suggested. Further study is needed for finding out the breeding potential of interspecific hybridization in section Oxytona. © 1986 Springer-Verlag.