Rye heterochromatin in the somatic chromosomes of triticale in relation to grain shrivelling

Abstract

Heneen, W. K. and Brismar, K. 1987. Rye heterochromatin in the somatic chromosomes of triticale in relation to grain shrivelling. —Hereditas 107 137–145. Lund, Sweden. lSSN 0018–0661. Received December 12,1984 Root tip mitosis was studied in four lines of hexaploid winter triticale, Lasko, AD 201, Sv 8008 and WW 31433, using C-banding. The chromosomes in karyotyped cells were designated as belonging to the R genome of rye or the A and B genomes of wheat. Some of the rye chromosomes lacked their terminal C-bands. The amount of heterochromatin present in rye chromosomes, judged by the number and size of terminal C-bands, was higher in Sv 8008 and WW 31433, which were also characterized by more pronounced grain shrivelling compared to Lasko and AD 201. A possible significance of an optimal content or distribution of heterochromatin in rye chromosomes is most likely only one factor among others that have bearing on grain shrivelling in triticale.