Synatonemal complexes were studied in silver-stained spread preparations of microsporocyte complements of asynaptic maize. Complexes were found predominantly in terminal regions of chromosome pairs. These tend to be aggregated in a common portion of the nucleus and to have polar orientation. As many as 19 of the 20 ends were found to be involved in relatively short paired segments. Intercalary regions of cores were not strongly organized and aligned, but some contained completed synaptonemal complex segments. The defect in asynaptic appears to represent stalling of the synaptic process at an early stage of synaptic progression.Key words: chromosome pairing, synaptonemal complex, synaptic defect.