<![CDATA[The relationship between flower developmental stages and meiotic progression is fundamental to understanding microsporogenesis and identifying appropriate materials for cytogenetic studies and plant breeding. However, this relationship has not been systematically investigated in Hibiscus schizopetalus. This study examined the association between flower developmental stages, meiotic progression, and chromosomal characteristics in H. schizopetalus. Flower buds were classified into twelve developmental stages based on bud size and external morphology, while cytological observations were performed on stages 1–6 using the aceto-orcein squash method. The relative frequencies of meiotic phases and chromosomal characteristics were subsequently analyzed. The results showed that meiosis I predominated during stages 1–3, whereas meiosis II was more prevalent during stages 4–6. Among all meiotic phases, prophase I occurred most frequently throughout flower development. Uninucleate microspores first appeared at stage 4, while binucleate microspores and pollen grains were observed at stage 6, indicating the progression of microsporogenesis. In addition, the proportion of haploid chromosomes increased in the later developmental stages, corresponding to the completion of chromosome reduction during meiosis. These findings demonstrate that meiotic progression and chromosomal characteristics are closely coordinated with flower development and that flower bud morphology provides a reliable indicator of internal cytological events. The developmental stages identified in this study may serve as a useful reference for selecting suitable materials for cytogenetic analyses, pollen culture, haploid induction, and future breeding of Hibiscus schizopetalus.]]>
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