Determination of the Paternity of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) × Jointed Goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica Host) BC1 Plants by Using Genomic In Situ Hybridization (GISH) Technique

Abstract

The release of herbicide resistant wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) raises concerns with gene flow between wheat and jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica Host). Hybrids between the two species and backcrosses with either species have been observed in the field. Gene flow is dependent on jointed goatgrass being the paternal parent of the BC1 generation. Differences in the genomes of wheat (AABBDD) and jointed goatgrass (CCDD) could be used to determine the paternity of the BC1 generation. Twenty BC1 plants (10 of each paternal type) were used to determine if the number of C genome chromosomes based on genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) could be used to determine BC1 paternity. Differences between the two BC1 paternal types for number of C genome chromosomes indicates that C genome chromosome counts could be used to determine the paternity BC1 plants providing a more accurate estimate of the potential for gene flow between the two species.