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Formation of unreduced gametes is impeded by homologous chromosome pairing in tetraploid Triticum turgidum × Aegilops tauschii hybrids

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Abstract

It is believed that unreduced gametes with somatic chromosome numbers play a predominant role in natural polyploidization. Allohexaploid bread wheat originated from spontaneous hybridization of Triticum turgidum L. with Aegilops tauschii Coss. Unreduced gametes originating via meiotic restitution, including first-division restitution (FDR) and single-division meiosis (SDM), are well documented in triploid F1 hybrids of T. turgidum with diploid Ae. tauschii (genomic constitution ABD, usually with 21 univalents in meiotic metaphase I). In this study, two T. turgidum lines known to carry genes for meiotic restitution were crossed to tetraploid Ae. tauschii. The resulting F1 hybrids (genomes ABDD), had seven pairs of homologous chromosomes and regularly formed 14 univalents and seven bivalents at metaphase I. Neither FDR nor SDM were observed. The distribution of chromosome numbers among progeny obtained by self pollination and a backcross to T. turgidum showed the absence of unreduced gametes. These results suggest that high homologous pairing interfered with meiotic restitution and the formation of unreduced gametes. This may be related to asynchronous movement during meiosis between paired and unpaired chromosomes or to uneven distribution of chromosomes in anaphases, resulting in nonviable gametes.

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Acknowledgments

This project was partially funded by each of the following: the 973 Program (2009CB118300), Doctoral Fund (2.00951E + 13), the 100-Talent Program and Key Project of Knowledge Innovation Engineering by CAS (KSCX1-YW-03, KSCX2-YW-N-052), the Education Commission and Science and Technology Commission of Sichuan Province. We thank Professor Robert A McIntosh, University of Sydney, for linguistical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang of Chengdu city, 611130, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Chun-Jie Wang, Lian-Quan Zhang, Shou-Fen Dai, You-Liang Zheng & Deng-Cai Liu

  2. Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810001, People’s Republic of China

    Huai-Gang Zhang & Deng-Cai Liu

  3. Key Laboratory of Southwestern Crop Germplasm Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Ya’an, 625014, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Deng-Cai Liu

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  1. Chun-Jie Wang
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  2. Lian-Quan Zhang
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  3. Shou-Fen Dai
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  4. You-Liang Zheng
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  5. Huai-Gang Zhang
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  6. Deng-Cai Liu
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Correspondence to Deng-Cai Liu.

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Chun-Jie Wang and Lian-Quan Zhang have contributed equally to this research.

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Wang, CJ., Zhang, LQ., Dai, SF. et al. Formation of unreduced gametes is impeded by homologous chromosome pairing in tetraploid Triticum turgidum × Aegilops tauschii hybrids. Euphytica 175, 323–329 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-010-0173-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-010-0173-4

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