The genome structure of Arachis hypogaea (Linnaeus, 1753) and an induced Arachis allotetraploid revealed by molecular cytogenetics

Abstract

Peanut,Arachishypogaea(Linnaeus, 1753) is an allotetraploid cultivated plant with two subgenomes derived from the hybridization between two diploid wild species,A.duranensis(Krapovickas & W. C. Gregory, 1994) andA.ipaensis(Krapovickas & W. C. Gregory, 1994), followed by spontaneous chromosomal duplication. To understand genome changes following polyploidy, the chromosomes ofA.hypogaea, IpaDur1, an induced allotetraploid (A.ipaensis×A.duranensis)4xand the diploid progenitor species were cytogenetically compared. The karyotypes of the allotetraploids share the number and general morphology of chromosomes; DAPI+bands pattern and number of 5S rDNA loci. However, one 5S rDNA locus presents a heteromorphic FISH signal in both allotetraploids, relative to corresponding progenitor. Whilst forA.hypogaeathe number of 45S rDNA loci was equivalent to the sum of those present in the diploid species, in IpaDur1, two loci have not been detected. Overall distribution of repetitive DNA sequences was similar in both allotetraploids, althoughA.hypogaeahad additional CMA3+bands and few slight differences in the LTR-retrotransposons distribution compared to IpaDur1. GISH showed that the chromosomes of both allotetraploids had preferential hybridization to their corresponding diploid genomes. Nevertheless, at least one pair of IpaDur1 chromosomes had a clear mosaic hybridization pattern indicating recombination between the subgenomes, clear evidence that the genome of IpaDur1 shows some instability comparing to the genome ofA.hypogaeathat shows no mosaic of subgenomes, although both allotetraploids derive from the same progenitor species. For some reasons, the chromosome structure ofA.hypogaeais inherently more stable, or, it has been at least, partially stabilized through genetic changes and selection.