Somatic deletion and redistribution of telomeric heterochromatin in the genus Secale and in Triticale

C-banding analysis of populations of Secale kuprijanovii L., S. cereale L., and x Triticosecale Wittmack established that Secale chromosomes that were modified by the loss of a telomeric C-band arose spontaneously by breakage in somatic tissue and could be stabilized and maintained over at least two generations. In S. cereale approximately double-sized C-bands were seen on every arm that originally contained a C-band except 1RS, 2RS, 3RS, and 7RS. One plant was homomorphic for an amplified band on 3RL which was stable over two generations. In the tetraploid triticale analyzed, an amplified telomeric C-band was found on 5RS and was stable in the homomorphic condition for two generations. Even though Secale chromosomes with deleted or amplified telomeric C-bands can arise spontaneously in the somatic and germ tissue of Secale species and triticale, they are not common. The conditions required for their formation and stabilization within a population are not known.