Chromosome painting of Y chromosomes and isolation of a Y chromosome-specific repetitive sequence in the dioecious plant Rumex acetosa

The dioecious plant Rumex acetosa has a multiple sex chromosome system: XX in female and XY₁Y₂ in male. Both types of Y chromosome were isolated from chromosome spreads of males by manual microdissection, and their chromosomal DNA was amplified using degenerate oligonucleotide primed-polymerase chain reaction (DOP-PCR). When the biotin-labeled DOP-PCR product was hybridized with competitor DNA in situ, the fluorescent signal painted the Y chromosomes. A library of Y chromosome DNA was constructed from the DOP-PCR product and screened for DNA sequences specific to the Y chromosome. One Y chromosome-specific DNA sequence was identified and designated RAYSI (R. acetosa Y chromosome-specific sequence I). RAYSI is a tandemly arranged repetitive DNA sequence that maps to the 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole bands of both Y chromosomes. Received: 22 December 1998; in revised form: 22 March 1999 / Accepted: 23 March 1999