High-density fluorescence in situ hybridization signal detection on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) chromosomes with improved probe screening and reprobing procedures

Abstract

The barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) genome was screened to identify sequences that could be used for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). From 2000 transformed bacterium colonies carrying barley clones, 56 colonies were selected on the basis of the patterns that their PCR products produced when subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis. Among them, 42 (75%) exhibited fluorescent signals on barley chromosomes after in situ hybridization using the directly labeled PCR products. Sequencing revealed seven clones, pHv-365, pHv-177, pHv-1112, pHv-689, pHv-1476, pHv-1889, and pHv-1972, to be newly identified FISH-positive sequences. The remainder possess previously described sequences such as 5S, GAA microsatellite, centromere repeats, HVT01, and pHvMWG2315 (324 bp repeat). It is shown here that a combination of five probes, which produce strong signals on barley chromosomes, pHv-38 (5S), pHv-365, pHv-961 (HVT01), GAA, and TAG microsatellites, offer unequivocal recognition of each chromosome. The combination of three probes, i.e., pHv-1123 (barley 324 bp repeat), GAA, and TAG, decorated entire chromosomes with fine dotted signals and was useful for detecting the break points of aberrant chromosomes. The signals’ distributions of pHv-177, pHv-1112, and TAG were highly polymorphic. An improved reprobing procedure and its usefulness are also discussed.