CHROMOSOME PAIRING IN HEXAPLOID HYBRIDS FROM BROMUS ERECTUS (2n = 28) × B. INERMIS (2n = 56)

Abstract

Meiotic chromosome pairing was studied at metaphase I of B. erectus (2n = 28), B. inermis (2n = 56) and interspecific hybrids from B. erectus × B. inermis (2n = 42). The B. erectus material averaged 2.08 IV + 0.11 III + 9.51 II + 0.35 I and B. inermis 0.05 VIII + 0.06 VI + 0.02 V + 2.25 IV + 0.11 III + 22.95 II + 0.25 I. The hybrid plants (2n = 42) averaged 0.18 VI + 1.90 IV + 0.19 III + 16.10 II + 0.39 I and one hybrid with 2n = 41 averaged 0.08 VI + 0.02 V + 0.95 IV + 0.50 III + 17.42 II + 0.72 I. Karyotype evidence supported the conclusion that B. erectus was an autotetraploid. The karyotype contains four large satellites and four subterminal chromosomes but the other four groups of four are median, with one group possibly a submedian. Since chromosome pairing in the hybrids was complete and the quadrivalent frequency in the parents and hybrids was similar, it was concluded that the genomic formula of B. erectus, B. inermis, and the hybrid was AAAA, AAAABBBB, and AAAABB, respectively.