Nucleolar competition analysis in Aegilops ventricosa and its amphiploids with tetraploid wheats and diploid rye by the silver-staining procedure

Abstract

The nucleolar organizer activity of Aegilops ventricosa and its amphiploids with tetraploid wheats (Triticum turgidum, Triticum dicoccum, and Triticum aethiopicum) and diploid rye (Secale cereale) was analyzed by the silver-staining procedure. Triticum turgidum and Triticum dicoccoides show four Ag-NORs (silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions), in agreement with previous data. Only two Ag-NORs are detected in Ae. ventricosa (genome constitution DDMM) indicating that natural amphiplasty occurs in this allotetraploid species. No amphiplasty was observed in the Ae. ventricosa – tetraploid wheat amphiploids since six Ag-NORs were visible in all of them. On the contrary, only two Ag-NORs were detected in the Ae. ventricosa – Secale cereale amphiploid, the rye NORs being suppressed by the presence of ventricosa chromosomes. The ventricosa NORs therefore are codominant with those of tetraploid wheat (chromosomes 1B and 6B) and dominant to chromosome 1R of rye. Eleven T. aestivum – Ae. ventricosa addition lines have been also analyzed. All of them showed four Ag-NORs. Clear-cut conclusions were not reached since the added ventricosa chromosomes were not identified.