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Title: COMPARATIVE CYTOGENTICS OF HISTORICALLY RECOGANIZED NON-DORMANT ALFALFA.

Author
item Bauchan, Gary
item Campbell, Travis

Submitted to: Central Alfalfa Improvement Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/2002
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The combined techniques of chromosomal C-banding, image analysis and cluster and multiple correspondence analysis has been used to study the chromosomes of four of the historically recognized sources of non- dormant alfalfa (Medicago sativa ssp. sativa). The non-dormant alfalfa sources are: 'African', 'Chilean', 'Peruvian' and 'Indian'. Abundant variability in the number, intensity and location of constitutive heterochromatic DNA (C-bands) were noted, however, this variability was not sufficient to preclude recognition of homologous chromosomes for the development of karyotypes for each germplasm source. The African germplasm source karyotype contains the largest number of C-bands thus we have proposed that this karyotype serve as the reference karyotype for comparison to diverse alfalfa germplasm sources. The C-banding patterns of Chilean and Peruvian chromosomes are similar. Indian chromosomes have the fewest number of bands when compared to the other non-dormant sources especially on the long arms of the chromosomes. Cluster and multiple correspondence analysis of C-banding patterns of the karyotypes indicate that they can be used to accurately discriminate individual chromosomes and distinguish karyotypes of different germplasm sources.