THE 4C NUCLEAR DNA CONTENT OF SEVERAL HORDEUM GENOTYPES

Abstract

The 4C nuclear DNA content was estimated for 17 wild Hordeum species and five cultivated Hordeum vulgare varieties which were chosen to include examples varying greatly in geographical origin and in morphological and physiological characters. Nuclear DNA was measured on an integrating microdensitometer using prophase nuclei in Feulgen stained root-tip squashes. There were no significant differences in DNA content between any or the 15 diploid genotypes measured, and the seven polyploid genotypes all had nuclear DNA contents which were simple multiples of the diploid genotypes. This result, namely that the DNA content of diploid Hordeum species is invariable, differs from results obtained from diploid species in several other plant genera which differed greatly in nuclear DNA content.