Population genetics of the high elevation black fly Simulium (Nevermannia) feuerborni Edwards in Thailand

In this study, we examined the genetic structure and population history of the high elevation black fly Simulium feuerborni in Thailand at both cytogenetic and molecular genetic levels. Cytological examination revealed two cytoforms differentiated by fixed chromosome inversions. The distributions of the cytoforms were associated with geographic origins. Cytoform A was found in the lower north and northeast, and cytoform B was found in the upper northern region of Thailand. Molecular data based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) barcoding sequence supports the separation of the cytoforms. The average sequence divergence between the two cytoforms was 3.75%, which is higher than the threshold value for the species level based on a COI barcoding sequence. Median joining network clearly differentiated the haplotypes of the cytoforms into different lineages. Population pairwise F_ST and amova analyses reveal significant genetic differentiation between cytoforms. This indicates that the low land areas separating these populations act as a gene flow barrier. No genetic differentiation was detected within cytoforms. This could be due to a recent sharing of population history. Mismatch distribution analysis revealed population expansion in the northern lineage of the cytoform B approximately 220 000 years ago. More recent expansion (32 000 years ago) was found in the lower north and northeast (cytoform A) lineage. The demographic history of S. feuerborni mirrored previous findings in black flies and other insect species in Thailand. This indicates the important role of Pleistocene climatic change on genetic structure and diversity of Southeast Asian mainland species.     

Cytosystematics of the Simulium tuberosum group (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Thailand

The polytene chromosomes of 3347 larvae of the Simulium tuberosum group in Asia were analysed, representing the largest ever cytogenetic study of black flies in the Oriental Region. Band‐by‐band comparisons, relative to the established standard chromosome map for the subgenus Simulium, revealed 17 cytogenetically distinct taxa in Thailand, plus an 18th in China. Six of these taxa correspond to morphologically described species (S. doipuiense, S. rufibasis, S. setsukoae, S. tani, S. yuphae and S. weji). Recognition of the 18 taxa is based largely on unique inversions, either fixed or sex linked, primarily in the long arm of chromosome III. The greatest cytological diversity was discovered in the S. tani lineage, with ten cytoforms. This marked chromosomal diversification within S. tani is based largely on two inversions that have assumed different roles over evolutionary time, variously functioning in different combinations as fixed inversions, sex‐linked inversions and autosomal polymorphisms. Shared unique chromosomal features, relative to the subgeneric standard chromosome map, allowed evolutionary relationships among the cytotaxa to be inferred. Fluctuations in climate during the Pleistocene might have promoted differentiation of the Southeast Asian S. tuberosum group in isolated refugia such as mountains. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 155 , 289–315.     

Cytogenetic Features of Blackfly Wilhelmia paraequina Puri (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Armenia

Three blackfly Wilhelmia paraequina populations of Armenia (rivers Debet and Megriget, channel Megri) were studied. 2n = 6: IS + IIL, IIS + IL, IIIS + IIIL. Cytological maps of polytene chromosomes were constructed. High inversion polymorphism (95.63%) was observed, with 2.6 inversions per individual. Three inversions proved to be associated with male development: Y₁ was characterized by a combination of two heterozygous inversions, IIL-3 + IIL-1, while Y₂ had another combination of heterozygous inversions, IIL-5 + IIL-3. The X chromosome had a standard homozygous IIL band pattern. The populations were shown to be similar in autosomal polymorphism. A tendency for differentiation was observed with respect to frequencies and types of sex-linked inversions: the sex determination system was Y₁X–XX in the Debet and Megriget populations and Y₂X–XX in the channel (Megri) population. On the strength of these findings, one W. paraequina morphotype was assumed to involve two cytotypes, A (Debet and Megriget populations) and B (Megri population).     

Spontaneous chromosome inversions of guatemalan teosintes (Zea mexicana)

Two paracentric inversions,In3 andIn9, were found in the F1 hybrids of maize and Florida teosinte and these inversions were contributed by the teosinte parent. The length ofIn3 was equivalent to about 35 percent of the length of the long arm of chromosome 3, while that ofIn9, about 60 percent of the length of the short arm of chromosome 9.There were also two paracentric inversions,In1 andIn9, in the F1 hybrids of maize and Jutiapa teosinte and these inversions were inherited from the teosinte parent. The length of theIn1 occupied 22 percent of the total length of the long arm of chromosome 1, while that ofIn9, 60 percent of the total length of the short arm of chromosome 9.Only one paracentric inversion,In9, was identified in the F1 hybrids of maize and Lake Retana teosinte, and this inversion was also from the teosinte parent. As length and location are considered, thisIn9 is the same as theIn9's of Florida teosinte and Jutiapa teosinte.At anaphases I and II of the microsporocyte divisions of the F1 hybrids, evidences of crossovers within the inverted segments, such as bridges and fragments, were obtained for all of these inversions. The interchromosome effect ofIn3 of Florida teosinte, and that ofIn1 of Jutiapa teosinte on the frequency of crossovers within the inverted segment ofIn9's are discussed.Chromosome inversions have probably accompanied the divergence of geographical races of teosinte. This might also be true for the race diversities of maize. The absence ofIn9 in certain teosinte races of southern Mexico and northern Guatemala is accounted for by the substitution of maize chromosome for this inversion.     

On the Possibility of Hybridogenesis in the Origin of Midge Chironomus usenicus Loginova et Beljanina (Chironomidae,Diptera)

Hybridogenesis as a possible way of speciation in Chironomidae was considered with special reference to the species Chironomus usenicus resulting from hybridization between C. plumosus and C. behningi. The three species had 2n = 8 and belonged to the thummi cytocomplex with chromosome arm combinations AB, CD, EF, and G. Arm G had a marker chromosome disk sequence (CDS) and was used to demonstrate the hybrid origin of C. usenicus. Most C. usenicus larvae were heterozygous in CDS of arm G. CDS use G2 proved to be identical to CDS beh G1 ofC. behningiand CDS use G1, to CDS plu G1 of C. plumosus. It was assumed that C. usenicus results from hybridization between eurybiont C. plumosus and stenobiont C. behnigni at the boundary of their species areas, in freshwater or brackish water bodies of the southern Saratov oblast and northern Kazakhstan. Morphologically and karyotypically, the hybrid was probably similar to C. plumosus. Crosses with C. plumosus eliminated virtually all C. behningi chromosome sequences from the karyotype of the hybrid. Further chromosome divergence resulting in C. usenicus involved a number of chromosome rearrangements, including duplication of pericentric heterochromatin and other chromosome regions; inversion, which occurred in arm F (regions 13–16) and was fixed in the karyotype; and other paracentric inversions and deletions accumulated in heterozygote in the karyotype pool of the species. Since C. behningi was eliminated from the introgression zone and its species area reduced, the assimilation character was assumed for introgressive hybridization of C. behningi and C. plumosus.     

Polytene chromosome maps in four species of tsetse flies Glossina austeni, G. pallidipes, G. morsitans morsitans and G. m. submorsitans (Diptera: Glossinidae): a comparative analysis

Photographic polytene chromosome maps from pupal trichogen cells of four tsetse species, Glossina austeni, G. pallidipes, G. morsitans morsitans and G. m. submorsitans were constructed and compared. The homology of chromosomal elements between the species was achieved by comparing banding patterns. The telomeric and subtelomeric chromosome regions were found to be identical in all species. The pericentromeric regions were found to be similar in the X chromosome and the left arm of L1 chromosome (L1L) but different in L2 chromosome and the right arm of L1 chromosome (L1R). The L2 chromosome differs by a pericentric inversion that is fixed in the three species, G. pallidipes, G. morsitans morsitans and G. m. submorsitans. Moreover, the two morsitans subspecies appeared to be homosequential and differ only by two paracentric inversions on XL and L2L arm. Although a degree of similarity was observed across the homologous chromosomes in the four species, the relative position of specific chromosome regions was different due to chromosome inversions established during their phylogeny. However, there are regions that show no apparent homology between the species, an observation that may be attributed to the considerable intra—chromosomal rearrangements that have occurred following the species divergence. The results of this comparative analysis support the current phylogenetic relationships of the genus Glossina.     

Cytogenetic characterization of the ant Trachymyrmex fuscus Emery, 1934 (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Attini) with the description of a chromosomal polymorphism

The genus Trachymyrmex is a key group in the tribe Attini because of its close phylogenetic relationship to leaf-cutter ants, Acromyrmex and Atta. Cytogenetic data are only available for five taxa of Trachymyrmex, with chromosome numbers of 2n = 12, 18, 20 and 22, and morphology with predominantly metacentric chromosomes. The aim of the present study was to characterize the karyotype of the ant Trachymyrmex fuscus Emery, 1934, by means of the number and morphology of its chromosomes, heterochromatin pattern, CMA₃ and DAPI fluorochromes in the population of two nests collected at Paraopeba, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Nineteen females presented 2n = 18 chromosomes (16m + 2sm) and a single male presented n = 9 (8m + 1sm). A size chromosomal polymorphism involving the short arm of the submetacentric pair was confirmed by statistical analysis, with three character conditions: heterozygous SB (with a difference in size between the short arms), standard SS (smaller short arms) and homozygote BB (bigger short arms). In the first nest, both SB and SS workers were observed. The other nest contained heterozygous (SB), homozygous (BB), and a male carrying the B chromosome (larger size). The presence of heterochromatin on all centromeric and pericentromeric chromosomes of T. fuscus suggests that the size difference observed in the submetacentric pair in the SB and BB workers is not related to the heterochromatin but to a duplication of euchromatic regions through intra- or inter- chromosomal rearrangements. The fluorochrome CMA₃ matched the C-banding markings, indicating that the heterochromatin is rich in GC base pairs. As far as we know, this is the first chromosomal polymorphism reported in the tribe Attini.     

Speciation and chromosomal evolution of the Baikalian endemic chironomids of the genus Sergentia Kief. (Diptera, Chironomidae): Karyotype divergence and chromosomal polymorphism in the populations of deep-water species Sergentia nebulosa Linevitsh et al. and Sergentia assimilis Proviz V. et Proviz L.

Specific karyotype structure and chromosomal polymorphism was investigated in the populations of Sergentia nebulosa Linevitsh et al., 1984 and Sergentia assimilis Proviz V. et Proviz L., 1999, the deep-water endemic chironomid species (Diptera, Chironomidae) from the Baikal Lake. The distinguishing feature of the karyotypes of these species, compared to the other Baikalian Sergentia, is well-developed nucleolus in region 6 of arm C. Both species display the presence of interspecific population polymorphism, determined by the structure of this arm. In some populations, chromosome regions from 4 to 6 contain a homozygous inversion, which is absent in the other populations. The distinguishing karyotype feature of S. assimilis, which shares fluctuating homozygous inversions with the other species, is the presence of two species-specific homozygous inversions. These are the secondary overlapping inversion in arm A, regions 2 to 7, and the inversion in regions 4 to 10 of arm G. Both species of interest contain nucleolus organizer in region 10 of arm G. In populations of S. nebulosa, six heterozygous inversions localized in arms A, B, C, F, and G were discovered. The highest number of heterozygotes for inversions (71%) was observed in the population from Southern Baikal. In arm B of S. assimilis, one heterozygous inversion and heterozygosity for nucleolus organizer in the chromosome region 16 was detected. Chromosomal evolution of Baikalian Sergentia, and the role of inversion polymorphism in the population adaptation is discussed. Original Russian Text ? V.I. Proviz, 2008, published in Genetika, 2008, Vol. 44, No. 12, pp. 1627–1637.     

Structural variability of human chromosome 9 in relation to its evolution

Summary Human chromosome 9 shows a high susceptibility for structural rearrangements, particularly pericentric inversions, which often are transmitted. Three types of pericentric inversions can be observed on No. 9: 1) Type I, showing the total constitutive heterochromatin in the short arm. 2) Type II with part of the C heterochromatin on the short arm, the rest located on the long arm proximal to the centromere. 3) Type III: a subtelocentric chromosome with part of the C heterochromatin in the very short arm and the rest located interstitially on the long arm. With these inversions as well as with other structural rearrangements, e.g. translocations, the break-points are located preferentially within the C heterochromatin or close to the heterochromatic-euchromatic junctions. These findings are in contrast to the findings in lymphocytes from 5 patients with Fanconi's anemia and after irradiation in vitro, reported in the literature. In lymphocytes break-points seem to be distributed more or less by chance. These observations together led us to speculate that human chromosome 9 primarily was an acrocentric chromosome; in morphology and at least in some functions similar to D-and G-group chromosomes. During evolution this acrocentric chromosome changed to a submetacentric one due to a pericentric inversion.The author is sponsored by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Inversion polymorphism in the midge Glyptotendipes barbipes (Staeger)

Summary The salivary gland nuclei of larvalGlyptotendipes barbipes from Stratford (Ontario) comprise 3 pairs of long metacentric chromosomes (I–III) and one pair of short acrocentrics (IV). Homologues are closely paired when homozygous, centromeres are expressed as heterochromatic drums. Each chromosome carries a nucleolus, and Chromosome IV in addition carries a Ring of Balbiani. The gross polytene idiogram is identical with that implicit inBauer's cytological analysis of the same species from Germany.In direct comparison the banding pattern of the German and Canadian larvae proved identical for at least one sequence in each chromosome arm.Three simple inversions are known in the species; one (III L-1) is endemic to Germany, a second (II L-3) has been found only once in Canada and a third (I S-1) is common in Canada but has not been reported from Germany. The remaining 2 inversions (II L-1,2 and III S-1,2) are complex and are here analysed as included types. Rearrangement II L-1,2 occurs both in Canada and in Germany and achieves heterozygous frequencies near 50% in both countries. It is the first inversion reported to be holarctic in distribution in insects not associated with man. The second complex inversion III S-1,2 has been found only in Canada where it is common. In each of the complex inversions at least one pair of breaks is near coincident.Meiosis is normal and chiasmatic in structurally homozygous males. It lacks conspicuous localization of chiasmata. No meiotic abnormalities were observed in inversion heterozygotes. It is postulated that complex heterozygous inversions interfere with pairing to such an extent that the residual ill-effects are out balanced by heterosis of co-adapted systems.A selective advantage of heterozygosis is directly indicated for II L by a significant (p=0.02) excess of II L/II L-1,2 larvae over the Hardy-Weinberg expectation.     

Chromosome investigations in annual Medicago species (Fabaceae) with emphasis on the origin of the polyploid Medicago rugosa and M. scutellata

Chromosome number variations play an important role in the genus Medicago. In addition to polyploidy there are cases of dysploidy as evidenced by two basic numbers, x = 8 and x = 7, the latter limited to five annual species having 2n = 14. Annuals are diploid with the exception of Medicago scutellata and Medicago rugosa which have 2n = 30 and are considered the result of crosses between the 2n = 16 and 2n = 14 species. However, this hypothesis has never been tested. This study was carried out to investigate the 2n = 14 and 2n = 30 karyotypes and verify the allopolyploid origin of M. scutellata and M. rugosa. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of rDNA probes and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) were performed. FISH showed that all five diploids with 2n = 14 have one pair of 45S and one pair of 5S rDNA sites. M. scutellata displayed four sites of 45S and four sites of 5S rDNA, while in M. rugosa only one pair of each of these sites was found. GISH did not produce signals useful to identify the presumed progenitors with 14 chromosomes. This result suggests alternative evolutionary pathways, such as the formation of tetraploids (2n = 32) and subsequent dysploidy events leading to the chromosome number reduction.     

New wheat-rye 5DS-4RS·4RL and 4RS-5DS·5DL translocation lines with powdery mildew resistance

Powdery mildew is one of the serious diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 2n = 6 × = 42, genomes AABBDD). Rye (Secale cereale L., 2n = 2 × = 14, genome RR) offers a rich reservoir of powdery mildew resistant genes for wheat breeding program. However, extensive use of these resistant genes may render them susceptible to new pathogen races because of co-evolution of host and pathogen. Therefore, the continuous exploration of new powdery mildew resistant genes is important to wheat breeding program. In the present study, we identified several wheat-rye addition lines from the progeny of T. aestivum L. Mianyang11 × S. cereale L. Kustro, i.e., monosomic addition lines of the rye chromosomes 4R and 6R; a disomic addition line of 6R; and monotelosomic or ditelosomic addition lines of the long arms of rye chromosomes 4R (4RL) and 6R (6RL). All these lines displayed immunity to powdery mildew. Thus, we concluded that both the 4RL and 6RL arms of Kustro contain powdery mildew resistant genes. It is the first time to discover that 4RL arm carries powdery mildew resistant gene. Additionally, wheat lines containing new wheat-rye translocation chromosomes were also obtained: these lines retained a short arm of wheat chromosome 5D (5DS) on which rye chromosome 4R was fused through the short arm 4RS (designated 5DS-4RS·4RL; 4RL stands for the long arm of rye chromosome 4R); or they had an extra short arm of rye chromosome 4R (4RS) that was attached to the short arm of wheat chromosome 5D (5DS) (designated 4RS-5DS·5DL; 5DL stands for the long arm of wheat chromosome 5D). These two translocation chromosomes could be transmitted to next generation stably, and the wheat lines containing 5DS-4RS·4RL chromosome also displayed immunity to powdery mildew. The materials obtained in this study can be used for wheat powdery mildew resistant breeding program.     

About the possibility of hybridogenesis in the species origin of the midge Chironomus usenicus Loginova et Beljanina (Chironomidae,Diptera)

Hybridogenesis as a possible way of speciation in Chironomidae was considered with special reference to the species Chironomus usenicus resulting from hybridization between C. plumosus and C. behningi. The three species had 2n = 8 and belonged to the thummi cytocomplex with chromosome arm combinations AB, CD, EF, and G. Arm G had a marker chromosome disk sequence (CDS) and was used to demonstrate the hybrid origin of C. usenicus. Most C. usenicus larvae were heterozygous in CDS of arm G. CDS use G2 proved to be identical to CDS beh G1 of C. behningi and CDS use G1, to CDS plu G1 of C. plumosus. It was assumed that C. usenicus results from hybridization between eurybiont C. plumosus and stenobiont C. behnigni at the boundary of their species areas, in freshwater or brackish water bodies of the southern Saratov oblast and northern Kazakhstan. Morphologically and karyotypically, the hybrid was probably similar to C. plumosus. Crosses with C. plumosus eliminated virtually all C. behningi chromosome sequences from the karyotype of the hybrid. Further chromosome divergence resulting in C. usenicus involved a number of chromosome rearrangements, including duplication of pericentric heterochromatin and other chromosome regions; inversion, which occurred in arm F (regions 13-16) and was fixed in the karyotype; and other paracentric inversions and deletions accumulated in heterozygote in the karyotype pool of the species. Since C. behningi was eliminated from the introgression zone and its species are reduced, the assimilation character was assumed for introgressive hybridization of C. behningi and C. plumosus.     

Susceptibility of Spodoptera littoralis caterpillars to entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae after consumption of non-specific transgenic plants

Spodoptera littoralis caterpillars were transferred from an artificial diet to potato leaves at the start of the third or fifth instar and exposed to the infective juveniles of the nematode Steinernema feltiae since the beginning of the sixth instar until the start of pupation. Leaves were taken from the control potatoes or from genetically modified potatoes expressing either Cry3Aa toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) which are mainly non-specific to S. littoralis larvae. The nematodes killed all the caterpillars within seven days compared with the starved larvae in the same period of exposure. The average time to death and the number of nematodes successfully invaded the larvae were affected by the period of feeding on potato leaves. In the non-starved caterpillars, which received potato leaves throughout the whole period of exposure to the nematodes, the type of potato leaves had no effect on the number of nematodes inside cadavers (p = 0.352 and F = 1.070) and also on the effect on the length of survival after exposure to the nematodes (p = 0.7892 and F = 0.596). No hazardous effect on the development and survival of entomopathogenic nematode S. feltiae which successfully invaded larvae fed on modified potato (Bt or GNA) was reported.     

Next‐generation sequencing,FISH mapping and synteny‐based modeling reveal mechanisms of decreasing dysploidy in Cucumis

In the large Cucurbitaceae genus Cucumis, cucumber (C. sativus) is the only species with 2n = 2x = 14 chromosomes. The majority of the remaining species, including melon (C. melo) and the sister species of cucumber, C. hystrix, have 2n = 2x = 24 chromosomes, implying a reduction from n = 12 to n = 7. To understand the underlying mechanisms, we investigated chromosome synteny among cucumber, C. hystrix and melon using integrated and complementary approaches. We identified 14 inversions and a C. hystrix lineage‐specific reciprocal inversion between C. hystrix and melon. The results reveal the location and orientation of 53 C. hystrix syntenic blocks on the seven cucumber chromosomes, and allow us to infer at least 59 chromosome rearrangement events that led to the seven cucumber chromosomes, including five fusions, four translocations, and 50 inversions. The 12 inferred chromosomes (AK1–AK12) of an ancestor similar to melon and C. hystrix had strikingly different evolutionary fates, with cucumber chromosome C1 apparently resulting from insertion of chromosome AK12 into the centromeric region of translocated AK2/AK8, cucumber chromosome C3 originating from a Robertsonian‐like translocation between AK4 and AK6, and cucumber chromosome C5 originating from fusion of AK9 and AK10. Chromosomes C2, C4 and C6 were the result of complex reshuffling of syntenic blocks from three (AK3, AK5 and AK11), three (AK5, AK7 and AK8) and five (AK2, AK3, AK5, AK8 and AK11) ancestral chromosomes, respectively, through 33 fusion, translocation and inversion events. Previous results (Huang, S., Li, R., Zhang, Z. et al., 2009 , Nat. Genet. 41, 1275–1281; Li, D., Cuevas, H.E., Yang, L., Li, Y., Garcia‐Mas, J., Zalapa, J., Staub, J.E., Luan, F., Reddy, U., He, X., Gong, Z., Weng, Y. 2011a, BMC Genomics, 12, 396) showing that cucumber C7 stayed largely intact during the entire evolution of Cucumis are supported. Results from this study allow a fine‐scale understanding of the mechanisms of dysploid chromosome reduction that has not been achieved previously.     

The in silico identification and characterization of a bread wheat/Triticum militinae introgression line

The capacity of the bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) genome to tolerate introgression from related genomes can be exploited for wheat improvement. A resistance to powdery mildew expressed by a derivative of the cross‐bread wheat cv. Tähti × T. militinae (Tm) is known to be due to the incorporation of a Tm segment into the long arm of chromosome 4A. Here, a newly developed in silico method termed rearrangement identification and characterization (RICh) has been applied to characterize the introgression. A virtual gene order, assembled using the GenomeZipper approach, was obtained for the native copy of chromosome 4A; it incorporated 570 4A DArTseq markers to produce a zipper comprising 2132 loci. A comparison between the native and introgressed forms of the 4AL chromosome arm showed that the introgressed region is located at the distal part of the arm. The Tm segment, derived from chromosome 7G, harbours 131 homoeologs of the 357 genes present on the corresponding region of Chinese Spring 4AL. The estimated number of Tm genes transferred along with the disease resistance gene was 169. Characterizing the introgression's position, gene content and internal gene order should not only facilitate gene isolation, but may also be informative with respect to chromatin structure and behaviour studies.     

Karyological knowledge of the Italian vascular flora as inferred by the analysis of “Chrobase.it”

Abstract

Chromosome number knowledge of the Italian vascular flora is stored in the online database Chrobase.it, which includes 6723 records, referable to 3428 taxa, 2799 accepted species and subspecies (about 35% of the national flora), and 3410 different chromosome countings (cytotypes). Appropriate queries to Chrobase.it allowed us to calculate mean, modal and median chromosome numbers for the Italian vascular flora, for geographical subgroups (islands, south, centre, north) and for selected orders, families and genera. Chromosome number data were available for 41 out of 55 orders (74%) and 107 out of 428 families (67%), represented by 664 out of 1297 genera (51%). The most studied administrative regions are Sicily (844 taxa), Tuscany (592 taxa), and Sardinia (390 taxa), while the most studied families are Asteraceae (465 taxa), Fabaceae (266 taxa), Brassicaceae (158 taxa), and Poaceae (144 taxa). Chromosome numbers range from 2n = 6, occurring in several species of Hypochaeris (Asteraceae), to 2n = 240, occurring in Ophioglossum (Ophioglossaceae), Dryopteris (Dryopteridaceae) and Arenaria (Caryophyllaceae) (mode is 2n = 18, and median is 2n = 24). Chromosome number variability was analyzed by frequencies (linear plots) and ANOVA, resulting in significant differences among geographical groups (mean chromosome number increasing from islands-south to centre-north) and selected taxa. B-chromosomes occur in 5.3% of data (148 taxa) and their number is not significantly different among geographical areas, while they occur only in 14 orders, 17 families, and 56 genera. The number of B-chromosomes ranges from 1 to 13 (mode = 1, median = 2).     

Molecular mapping of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thinopyrum</Emphasis>-derived Fusarium head blight resistance in common wheat

Resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was identified in disomic chromosome substitution and translocation lines, into which chromosome 7el₂ had been introgressed from wheatgrass, Thinopyrum ponticum. In this study, two chromosome substitution lines with different origins (designated as el₁ and el₂) and with different reactions to infection by F. graminearum were crossed to develop a segregating mapping population. The objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness of this type II resistance and map it on chromosome 7el₂. Type II resistance to FHB was characterized in the F₂, F_2:3 families, F_4:5 plants and F_5:6 recombinant inbred lines developed by single-seed descent; and the population was characterized in the F₂ and F₅ with DNA markers along the long arm of 7el. Composite interval mapping revealed a FHB resistance QTL, designated Qfhs.pur-7EL, located in the distal region of the long arm of 7el₂ and delimited with flanking markers XBE445653 and Xcfa2240. Additive effects of Qfhs.pur-7EL reduced the number of diseased spikelets per spike following inoculation of one floret in four experiments by 1.5–2.6 and explained 15.1–32.5% of the phenotypic variation in the populations. Several STS-derived and EST-derived PCR or CAPS markers were developed in this chromosomal region, and showed the specificity of 7el₂ compared to an array of wheat lines possessing other sources of FHB resistance. These markers are useful in an effort to shorten the chromosome segment of 7el₂ and to use for marker-assisted introgression of this resistance into wheat.     

Molecular and cytogenetic analyses provide evidence of the introgression of chromosomal segments from the wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis hystrix</Emphasis> into the cultivated cucumber through the bridge of a synthetic allotetraploid

Cucumis × hytivus (2n = 4× = 38) is a synthetic allotetraploid obtained from interspecific hybridization between the cucumber (2n = 2× = 14) and its wild relative C. hystrix (2n = 2× = 24). The synthesis of this species built a bridge for cucumber improvement through gene introgression. Allotriploid and introgression lines (ILs) have previously been produced and characterized with respect to morphology, cytology, and molecular markers. However, no clear evidence of how the chromosomal segments of C. hystrix were introgressed and inherited was found owing to the small size of chromosomes. In the present study, cucumber-C. hystrix introgression lines were developed by backcrossing the allotriploid to North China cucumber breeding line “P01” followed by self-pollination. The introgressed segments of C. hystrix in the ILs were revealed by meiotic pachytene chromosome analysis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed on pachytene chromosomes using fosmid clones from cucumber, which confirmed that introgression occurred in the long arm of chromosome 7. Molecular analysis using a set of 53 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) indicated that the chromosomal segments of C. hystrix were introduced into 4 cucumber chromosomes, the short arms of chromosomes 2 and 6, and long arms of chromosomes 3 and 7. The inheritance of alien sequences in the long arm of chromosome 7 was investigated with 21 SSRs in self-pollinated progenies. C. hystrix-specific bands of several SSRs were still present in some individuals, indicating that the introgressed segment was partially preserved. The first unambiguous identification of alien chromosome segments in cucumber ILs using combined molecular cytogenetics could facilitate the determination of effects of wild alleles and promote cucumber improvement.