polyploid Describing a nucleus that contains more than two sets of chromosomes (see diploid) or a cell or organism containing such nuclei. For example, triploid plants have three sets of chromosomes and tetraploid plants have four. Polyploidy is far more common in plants than in animals; many crops, in particular, are polyploid (bread wheat, for example, is hexaploid, i.e. 6n). It can be induced chemically with colchicine. See also allopolyploid; autopolyploid.

polyploid (pol-i-ploid) adj. describing cells, tissues, or individuals in which there are three or more complete sets of chromosomes. Compare diploid, haploid.
—polyploidy n.

polyploid See polyploidy.