Rye Chromatin Variation in Yugoslavian Wheats

Abstract

C‐banding, which stains the heterochromatic regions of chromosomes, was utilized in order to ascertain whether or not several varieties from a Yugoslavian wheat‐breeding program contained a 1RS/1BL substitution or a 1RS/1BL translocation. Only one variety contained the 1R (1B) substitution, while in the remaining sixteen varieties, the 1RS/1BL translocation was present. The C‐banding results were confirmed utilizing an SDS‐PAGE analysis, and the results indicated that both techniques should be used together. In all of the Yugoslavian wheats containing observable rye chromatin, the C‐band corresponding to the nucleolus organizing region (NOR) was clearly reduced over that found in the wheat parents used in Yugoslavia or the other wheats from around the world containing either the substitution or the trans location. Some unknown selection pressure applied in the Yugoslavian wheat program in Novi Sad over the years has evidently caused a deletion of most of the rye NOR region. Copyright © 1988, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved