Extraordinary tertiary constrictions of Tripsacum dactyloides chromosomes: implications for karyotype evolution of polyploids driven by segmental chromosome losses

Genetics. 2008 Jun;179(2):1119-23. doi: 10.1534/genetics.108.087726.

Abstract

Tripsacum dactyloides (2n = 2x = 36) is an ancient tetraploid species. Here we report that T. dactyloides chromosomes contain an extraordinary tertiary constriction, which causes a radical and distant separation of a terminal segment from the chromosome. The relationships between extraordinary tertiary constriction and segmental chromosome loss as well as karyotype evolution of polyploid species are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biological Evolution*
  • Chromosomes, Plant / genetics*
  • Chromosomes, Plant / ultrastructure
  • DNA, Plant / genetics
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Karyotyping
  • Models, Genetic
  • Poaceae / classification
  • Poaceae / genetics*
  • Poaceae / ultrastructure
  • Polyploidy*
  • Retroelements

Substances

  • DNA, Plant
  • Retroelements