Research on meiotic chromosome pairing in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Roegneria sinica</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">media</Emphasis> evaluated using genomic in situ hybridization

The analysis of chromosome pairing during meiosis is important for understanding the relationships between different genomes. To evaluate the diversity of chromosome pairing behavior in the wild species of Roegneria sinica var. media Keng with St and H genomes in Triticeae (Poaceae), differences and similarities in the meiotic chromosome pairing behaviors of the two genomes in two populations of R. sinica var. media, were analyzed using genomic in situ hybridization. Chromosome pairing at meiotic metaphase I in the two populations of R. sinica var. media mainly formed bivalents, although several univalents, trivalents and quadrivalents also occurred. Chromosome pairings occurred mainly between homologous chromosomes. However, some non-homologous pairings were observed under natural conditions. No significant differences in karyotype were found between the St and H genomes. Chromosome pairing behaviors differed between and within the two populations. Genetic variation occurred mainly within populations (94.04 %), and variation was more abundant in one population than the other. The genomes St and H differed, but there was some relationship between the two genomes. These findings suggest that homoeologous pairing of chromosomes or exchanges occurred between different genomes of the wild species in Triticeae during evolution. The findings also provide conclusive cytological evidence for genetic variation within the wild species, which forms the basis of their genetic diversity.