Plant cytogenetics at the dawn of the 21st century

Multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous identification of race specific and non-specific leaf resistance genes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Race-nonspecific resistance is a key to sustainable management of pathogens in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding. It is more durable compared to race-specific immunity, conferred by the major genes (R), which are often overcome by pathogens. The accumulation of the genes, which provide the resistance to a specific race of a pathogen, together with the introduction of race-non-specific resistance genes is the most effective strategy aimed at preventing the breakdown of genetically conditioned immunity. PCR markers improved the productivity and accuracy of classical plant breeding by means of marker-assisted selection (MAS). Multiplexing assays provide increased throughput, reduced reaction cost, and conservation of limited sample material, which are beneficial for breeding purposes. Here, we described the process of customizing multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous identification of the major leaf rust resistance genes Lr19, Lr24, Lr26, and Lr38, as well as the slow rusting, race-nonspecific resistance genes: Lr34 and Lr68, in thirteen combinations. The adaptation of PCR markers for multiplex assays relied on: (1) selection of primers with an appropriate length; (2) selection of common annealing/extension temperature for given primers; and (3) PCR mixture modifications consisting of increased concentration of primers for the scanty band signals or decreased concentration of primers for the strong bands. These multiplex PCR protocols can be integrated into a marker-assisted selection of the leaf rust-resistant wheat genotypes.

Molecular cytogenetics to characterize mechanisms of gene duplication in pesticide resistance

Recent advances in molecular cytogenetics empower construction of physical maps to illustrate the precise position of genetic loci on the chromosomes. Such maps provide visible information about the position of DNA sequences, including the distribution of repetitive sequences on the chromosomes. This is an important step toward unraveling the genetic mechanisms implicated in chromosomal aberrations (e.g., gene duplication). In response to stress, such as pesticide selection, duplicated genes provide an immediate adaptive advantage to organisms that overcome unfavorable conditions. Although the significance of gene duplication as one of the important events driving genetic diversity has been reported, the precise mechanisms of gene duplication that contribute to pesticide resistance, especially to herbicides, are elusive. With particular reference to pesticide resistance, we discuss the prospects of application of molecular cytogenetic tools to uncover mechanism(s) of gene duplication, and illustrate hypothetical models that predict the evolutionary basis of gene duplication. The cytogenetic basis of duplicated genes, their stability, as well as the magnitude of selection pressure, can determine the dynamics of the genetic locus (loci) conferring pesticide resistance not only at the population level, but also at the individual level. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Polyploid genome of Camelina sativa revealed by isolation of fatty acid synthesis genes

BACKGROUND

Camelina sativa, an oilseed crop in the Brassicaceae family, has inspired renewed interest due to its potential for biofuels applications. Little is understood of the nature of the C. sativa genome, however. A study was undertaken to characterize two genes in the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway, fatty acid desaturase (FAD) 2 and fatty acid elongase (FAE) 1, which revealed unexpected complexity in the C. sativa genome.

RESULTS

In C. sativa, Southern analysis indicates the presence of three copies of both FAD2 and FAE1 as well as LFY, a known single copy gene in other species. All three copies of both CsFAD2 and CsFAE1 are expressed in developing seeds, and sequence alignments show that previously described conserved sites are present, suggesting that all three copies of both genes could be functional. The regions downstream of CsFAD2 and upstream of CsFAE1 demonstrate co-linearity with the Arabidopsis genome. In addition, three expressed haplotypes were observed for six predicted single-copy genes in 454 sequencing analysis and results from flow cytometry indicate that the DNA content of C. sativa is approximately three-fold that of diploid Camelina relatives. Phylogenetic analyses further support a history of duplication and indicate that C. sativa and C. microcarpa might share a parental genome.

CONCLUSIONS

There is compelling evidence for triplication of the C. sativa genome, including a larger chromosome number and three-fold larger measured genome size than other Camelina relatives, three isolated copies of FAD2, FAE1, and the KCS17-FAE1 intergenic region, and three expressed haplotypes observed for six predicted single-copy genes. Based on these results, we propose that C. sativa be considered an allohexaploid. The characterization of fatty acid synthesis pathway genes will allow for the future manipulation of oil composition of this emerging biofuel crop; however, targeted manipulations of oil composition and general development of C. sativa should consider and, when possible take advantage of, the implications of polyploidy.

Recent advances in rice genome and chromosome structure research by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is an effective method for the physical mapping of genes and repetitive DNA sequences on chromosomes. Physical mapping of unique nucleotide sequences on specific rice chromosome regions was performed using a combination of chromosome identification and highly sensitive FISH. Increases in the detection sensitivity of smaller DNA sequences and improvements in spatial resolution have ushered in a new phase in FISH technology. Thus, it is now possible to perform in situ hybridization on somatic chromosomes, pachytene chromosomes, and even on extended DNA fibers (EDFs). Pachytene-FISH allows the integration of genetic linkage maps and quantitative chromosome maps. Visualization methods using FISH can reveal the spatial organization of the centromere, heterochromatin/euchromatin, and the terminal structures of rice chromosomes. Furthermore, EDF-FISH and the DNA combing technique can resolve a spatial distance of 1 kb between adjacent DNA sequences, and the detection of even a 300-bp target is now feasible. The copy numbers of various repetitive sequences and the sizes of various DNA molecules were quantitatively measured using the molecular combing technique. This review describes the significance of these advances in molecular cytology in rice and discusses future applications in plant studies using visualization techniques.

The use of cytogenetic tools for studies in the crop-to-wild gene transfer scenario

Interspecific hybridization in plants is an important evolutionary phenomenon involved in the dynamics of speciation that receives increasing interest in the context of possible gene escapes from transgenic crop varieties. Crops are able to cross-pollinate with a number of wild related species and exchange chromosome segments through homoeologous recombination. In this paper, we review a set of cytogenetic techniques that are appropriate to document the different steps required for the stable introgression of a chromosome segment from a donor species (i.e., the crop) into a recipient species (i.e., the wild). Several examples in hybrids and derivatives are given to illustrate how these approaches may be used to evaluate the potential for gene transfer between crops and wild relatives. Different techniques, from classical chromosome staining methods to recent developments in molecular cytogenetics, can be used to differentiate genomes and identify the chromosome regions eventually involved in genetic exchanges. Some clues are also given for the study of fertility restoration in the interspecific hybrid forms.

Phylogenetic reconstruction of Aegilops section Sitopsis and the evolution of tandem repeats in the diploids and derived wheat polyploids

The evolution of 2 tandemly repeated sequences Spelt1 and Spelt52 was studied in Triticum species representing 2 evolutionary lineages of wheat and in Aegilops sect. Sitopsis, putative donors of their B/G genomes. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization we observed considerable polymorphisms in the hybridization patterns of Spelt1 and Spelt52 repeats between and within Triticum and Aegilops species. Between 2 and 28 subtelomeric sites of Spelt1 probe were detected in Ae. speltoidies, depending on accession. From 8 to 12 Spelt1 subtelomeric sites were observed in species of Timopheevi group (GAt genome), whereas the number of signals in emmer/aestivum accessions was significantly less (from 0 to 6). Hybridization patterns of Spelt52 in Ae. speltoides, Ae. longissima, and Ae. sharonensis were species specific. Subtelomeric sites of Spelt52 repeat were detected only in T. araraticum (T. timopheevii), and their number and chromosomal location varied between accessions. Superimposing copy number data onto our phylogenetic scheme constructed from RAPD data suggests 2 major independent amplifications of Spelt52 and 1 of Spelt1 repeats in Aegilops divergence. It is likely that the Spelt1 amplification took place in the ancient Ae. speltoides before the divergence of polyploid wheats. The Spelt52 repeat was probably amplified in the lineage of Ae. speltoides prior to divergence of the allopolyploid T. timopheevii but after the divergence of T. durum. In a separate amplification event, Spelt52 copy number expanded in the common ancestor of Ae. longissima and Ae. sharonensis.

Sequence of events leading to near-complete genome turnover in allopolyploid Nicotiana within five million years

Analyses of selected bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) clones suggest that the retrotransposon component of angiosperm genomes can be amplified or deleted, leading to genome turnover. Here, Nicotiana allopolyploids were used to characterize the nature of sequence turnover across the whole genome in allopolyploids known to be of different ages. Using molecular-clock analyses, the likely age of Nicotiana allopolyploids was estimated. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) and tandem repeat characterization were used to determine how the parental genomic compartments of these allopolyploids have diverged over time. Paternal genome sequence losses, retroelement activity and intergenomic translocation have been reported in early Nicotiana tabacum evolution (up to 200,000 yr divergence). Here it is shown that within 1 million years of allopolyploid divergence there is considerable exchange of repeats between parental chromosome sets. After c. 5 million years of divergence GISH fails. This GISH failure may represent near-complete genome turnover, probably involving the replacement of nongenic sequences with new, or previously rare sequence types, all occurring within a conserved karyotype structure. This mode of evolution may influence or be influenced by long-term diploidization processes that characterize angiosperm polyploidy-diploid evolutionary cycles.

Genetic and molecular characterization of the I locus of Phaseolus vulgaris

The I locus of the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, controls the development of four different phenotypes in response to inoculation with Bean common mosaic virus, Bean common mosaic necrosis virus, several other related potyviruses, and one comovirus. We have generated a high-resolution linkage map around this locus and have aligned it with a physical map constructed with BAC clones. These clones were obtained from a library of the cultivar "Sprite," which carries the dominant allele at the I locus. We have identified a large cluster of TIR-NBS-LRR sequences associated within this locus, which extends over a distance >425 kb. Bean cultivars from the Andean or Mesoamerican gene pool that contain the dominant allele share the same haplotypes as revealed by gel blot hybridizations with a TIR probe. In contrast, beans with a recessive allele display simpler and variable haplotypes. A survey of wild accessions from Argentina to Mexico showed that this multigene family has expanded significantly during evolution and domestication. RNA gel blot analysis indicated that the TIR family of genes plays a role in the response to inoculations with BCMV or BCMNV.

Origin, structure, and behavior of a highly rearranged deletion chromosome 1BS-4 in wheat

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) deletion (del) stocks are valuable tools for the physical mapping of molecular markers and genes to chromosome bins delineated by 2 adjacent deletion breakpoints. The wheat deletion stocks were produced by using gametocidal genes derived from related Aegilops species. Here, we report on the origin, structure, and behavior of a highly rearranged chromosome 1BS-4. The cytogenetic and molecular marker analyses suggest that 1BS-4 resulted from 2 breakpoints in the 1BS arm and 1 breakpoint in the 1BL arm. The distal segment from 1BS, except for a small deleted part, is translocated to the long arm. Cytologically, chromosome 1BS-4 is highly stable, but shows a unique meiotic pairing behavior. The short arm of 1BS-4 fails to pair with a normal 1BS arm because of lack of homology at the distal ends. The long arm of 1BS-4 only pairs with a normal 1BS arm within the distal region translocated from 1BS. Therefore, using the 1BS-4 deletion stock for physical mapping will result in the false allocation of molecular markers and genes proximal to the breakpoint of 1BS-4.Key words: Triticum aestivum, wheat, deletion–translocation, physical mapping.

High-resolution FISH on super-stretched flow-sorted plant chromosomes

A novel high-resolution fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) strategy, using super-stretched flow-sorted plant chromosomes as targets, is described. The technique that allows longitudinal extension of chromosomes of more than 100 times their original metaphase size is especially attractive for plant species with large chromosomes, whose pachytene chromosomes are generally too long and heterochromatin patterns too complex for FISH analysis. The protocol involves flow cytometric sorting of metaphase chromosomes, mild proteinase-K digestion of air-dried chromosomes on microscopic slides, followed by stretching with ethanol:acetic acid (3 : 1). Stretching ratios were assessed in a number of FISH experiments with super-stretched chromosomes from barley, wheat, rye and chickpea, hybridised with 45S and 5S ribosomal DNAs and the [GAA]n microsatellite, the [TTTAGGG]n telomeric repeat and a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone as probes. FISH signals on stretched chromosomes were brighter than those on the untreated control, resulting from better accessibility of the stretched chromatin and maximum observed sensitivity of 1 kbp. Spatial resolution of neighbouring loci was improved down to 70 kbp as compared to 5-10 Mbp after FISH on mitotic chromosomes, revealing details of adjacent DNA sequences hitherto not obtained with any other method. Stretched chromosomes are advantageous over extended DNA fibres from interphase nuclei as targets for FISH studies because they still retain chromosomal integrity. Although the method is confined to species for which chromosome flow sorting has been developed, it provides a unique system for controlling stretching degree of mitotic chromosomes and high-resolution bar-code FISH.

The signature of the Cestrum genome suggests an evolutionary response to the loss of (TTTAGGG)n telomeres

The genus Cestrumin the Solanaceae family is unusual in lacking Arabidopsis-type telomeres (TTTAGGG)n, although short interstitial telomeric sequences (ITSs) occur scattered throughout the genome in both orientations. To isolate candidate telomeric sequences in Cestrum we assumed that some of the ITSs were residues of the original telomeres and that they may still be located in the vicinity of present-day telomeres. Three sequence types associated with ITSs were cloned and characterized; these were termed NA3G, BR23 and A/T-rich minisatellite. These high copy number sequences are dispersed across the genome and clustered at a number of chromosomal loci. Their association with ITSs, which can act as recombination hotspots, might indicate past recombination and chromosomal fusion events, processes that may have contributed to the large size of Cestrum chromosomes. The sequences are frequently arranged as NA3G-ITS-BR23 blocks embedded in an A/T-rich minisatellite array. The A/T-rich minisatellite is of particular interest because the consensus 5'-T(4-5)AGCAG-3' might be a derivative of "typical" eukaryotic telomeric sequence motifs. The sequence is abundant at the end of some chromosomes in C. parqui and is found not only in Cestrum but also in the closely related genera Sessea and Vestia, which also lack Arabidopsis-type telomeric sequences. However, the sequence is absent from the Solanaceae genera investigated that are outside the group, including the closely related genus Streptosolen, which all have the Arabidopsis-type telomere. The data indicate that the A/T rich minisatellite might have evolved in response to the loss of Arabidopsis-type telomeres.

A new single-locus cytogenetic mapping system for maize (Zea mays L.): overcoming FISH detection limits with marker-selected sorghum (S. propinquum L.) BAC clones

The development of a cytogenetic map for maize (Zea mays L.) is shown to be feasible by means of a combination of resources from sorghum and oat that overcome limitations of single-copy gene detection. A maize chromosome-addition line of oat, OMAd9.2, provided clear images of optically isolated pachytene chromosomes through a chromosome spread and painting technique. A direct labeled oligonucleotide fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe MCCY specifically stained the centromere. The arm ratio (long/short) for maize chromosome 9 in the addition line was 1.7, comparable to the range of 1.6-2.1 previously reported for maize chromosome 9. A sorghum (Sorghum propinquum L.) BAC library was screened by hybridization with each of three maize core-bin-marker (CBM) probes: umc109 (CBM9.01), umc192/bz1 (CBM9.02), and csu54b (CBM9.08). A single BAC clone for each marker was chosen; designated sCBM9.1, sCBM9.2, or sCBM9.8; and used as a FISH probe on pachytene spreads from OMAd9.2. In each case, discrete FISH signals were observed, and their cytogenetic positions were determined to be 9S.79 (at position 79% of the length of chromosome 9 short arm) for sCBM9.1, 9S.65 for sCBM9.2, and approximately 9L.95 for sCBM9.8. These map positions were co-linear with linkage-map positions for these and other loci common to the linkage and cytogenetic maps. This work represents a major breakthrough for cytogenetic mapping of the maize genome, and also provides a general strategy that can be applied to cytogenetic mapping of other plant species with relatively large and complex genomes.

Ribosomal DNA evolution and gene conversion in Nicotiana rustica

Genomic in situ hybridisation was used to confirm that Nicotiana rustica (2n=4x=48) is an allotetraploid between N. paniculata (2n=2x=24, maternal P-genome donor) and N. undulata (2n=2x=24, paternal U-genome donor), their progenitors or species closely related to them. Fluorescent in situ hybridisation showed that N. paniculata has one 5S and two 18-5.8-26S rDNA loci whereas N. undulata has an additional 18-5.8-26S rDNA locus. N. rustica has the sum of the loci found in these putative parents. The sizes of the 18-5.8-26S rDNA loci indicate that the number of rDNA units on the U-genome chromosomes has amplified; perhaps this is associated with a concomitant reduction in the number of units on P-genome chromosomes. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the intergenic spacer (IGS) of the 18-5.8-26S rDNA units in N. rustica and the two progenitor diploids revealed that about 80% of IGS sequences in N. rustica are of an N. undulata type and 20% of N. paniculata type. These data indicate that interlocus sequence homogenisation has caused the replacement of many N. paniculata-type IGSs in N. rustica with an N. undulata-type of sequence. It is probable that subsequent to this replacement there has been sequence divergence at the 5' end of the IGS. As in tobacco, an allotetraploid between N. sylvestris and N. tomentosiformis, the direction of the IGS interlocus conversion is towards the paternal genome donor.

The absence of Arabidopsis-type telomeres in Cestrum and closely related genera Vestia and Sessea (Solanaceae): first evidence from eudicots

Using slot-blot and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), we found no evidence for the presence of the Arabidopsis-type telomeric sequence (TTTAGGG)n at the chromosome termini in any of the Cestrum species we investigated. Probing for the human-type telomere (TTAGGG)n also revealed no signal. However, polymerase chain reaction experiments indicated that there are short lengths of the sequence TTTAGGG dispersed in the genome but that these sequences are almost certainly too short to act as functional telomeres even if they were at the chromosome termini. An analysis of related genera Vestia and Sessea indicates that they too lack the Arabidopsis-type telomere, and the sequences were lost in the common ancestor of these genera. We found that the Cestrum species investigated had particularly large mean chromosome sizes. We discuss whether this is a consequence of alternative telomere end maintenance systems.

Molecular cytogenetics of introgressive hybridization in plants

Introgressive hybridization (introgression) is genetic modification of one species by another through hybridization and repeated backcrossing. Introgression is important in the evolution of flowering plants. It is also important in plant breeding where a desirable trait can be transferred from wild to crop species. One of the most recent advances in molecular techniques for studying hybridization and introgression is in situ hybridization of genomic probes to cytological preparations (GISH, genomic in situ hybridization). The present paper describes a successful GISH protocol for detection of intergenomic introgression in breeding materials and in allopolyploid species. In addition, the paper introduces a new possibility of using dispersed repeats to detect introgression and to gain insights into its molecular basis. The approach is referred to as dFISH for dispersed fluorescence in situ hybridization, and the best candidate for this type of probes is probably a retroelement. Southern hybridization data are also presented to support the effectiveness of GISH and dFISH for introgression mapping.

Chromosome healing by addition of telomeric repeats in wheat occurs during the first mitotic divisions of the sporophyte and is a gradual process

Alien gametocidal chromosomes cause extensive chromosome breakage prior to S-phase in the first mitotic division of gametophytes lacking the alien chromosome. The broken chromosomes may be healed either by addition of telomeric repeats in the gametophyte or undergo fusions to form dicentric or translocation chromosomes. We show that dicentric chromosomes undergo breakage fusion-bridge (BFB) cycles in the first few mitotic divisions of the sporophyte, are partially healed before the germ line differentiation regimen, and are healed completely in the ensuing gametophytic stage. The gametocidal factor on chromosome 4Mg of Aegilops geniculata was used to induce dicentrics involving the satellite chromosomes1B and 6B of wheat, Triticum aestivum. The dicentrics 1BS x 1BL-2AL x 2AS and 6BS x 6BL-4BL x 4BS initiated BFB cycles that ceased 2 to 4 weeks after seed germination. At the end of the BFB cycles, we observed deficient 1B and 6B chromosomes with breakpoints in proximal regions of the 1BL and 6BL arms. The process of chromosome healing was analyzed in root tip meristems, at meiotic metaphase I, and in the derived progenies by fluorescence in-situ hybridization analysis using a telomeric probe pAtT4. The results show that chromosome healing in wheat occurs during very early mitotic divisions in the sporophyte by de-novo addition of telomeric repeats and is a gradual process. Broken chromosome ends have to pass through several cell divisions in the sporophyte to acquire the full telomeric repeat length.

Meiotic metaphase I pairing behavior of a 5BL recombinant isochromosome in wheat

A recombinant isochromosome i5BLrec of wheat was developed with one arm and the proximal 36% of the other arm of Chinese Spring (CS) origin and the distal 64% of the recombined arm of Triticum turgiduM subsp. dicoccoides origin. The i5BLrec provides an unusual opportunity to analyze the role of the centromere or arm heterozygosity in chromosome prealignment and synapsis during meiosis. In monosomic condition, the i5BLrec formed a ring univalent in 86.8% of the pollen mother cells (PMCs) at meiotic metaphase I. In the disomic condition, the two i5BLrec preferentially paired as a normal bivalent in 74.8% of the PMCs, which differed significantly (p <0.01) from the normal bivalent pairing of 51% observed in diisosomic 5BL chromosomes of the CS (Di5BL(CS)) control plants. In plants with one i5BLrec and a normal 5B(CS), the long arm of 5B(CS) paired with the homologous arm of i5BLrec in 54.4% of the PMCs, and 40.4% of the PMCs had a 5B(CS) univalent and a i5BLrec ring univalent. The implications of the i5BLrec pairing data on the mechanism of Ph1 gene action are discussed.

Fate of multicentric and ring chromosomes induced by a new gametocidal factor located on chromosome 4Mg of Aegilops geniculata

A new gametocidal (Gc) factor was identified on chromosome 4Mg of Aegilops geniculata Roth. When transferred to Chinese Spring wheat, monosomic and disomic Triticum aestivum-Ae. geniculata chromosome 4Mg addition plants undergo regular first and second meiotic divisions. Male gametogenesis in disomic 4Mg addition plants also is normal. However, chromosome breakage and anaphase bridges were observed at ana/telophase of the first (29%) and second (11%) pollen mitosis in monosomic 4Mg addition plants. Gc-induced multicentric and ring chromosomes can be transmitted to the offspring and initiate breakage fusion bridge (BFB) cycles in dividing root tip meristem cells of the derived sporophytes. The fate of multicentric and ring chromosomes was analyzed in root meristems at different time intervals after seed germination. The majority of the BFB cycles ceased about 32 days after germination. Broken chromosome ends were healed either by the fusion of a centric and an acentric fragment forming terminal translocation chromosomes or as deficiencies or telocentric chromosomes. Lack of cytologically detectable telomeric repeats at the stabilized newly broken termini suggests that chromosome healing by addition of telomeric repeats may be a gradual process.

Genomic relationships between maize and its wild relatives

Recent molecular studies confirm the long-held theory that maize is a tetraploid, but the identity of the ancestral diploid species remains an enigma. The various hypotheses were investigated using genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). Total genomic DNA from 10 wild relatives of maize were used as probes onto maize chromosomes to see if this could identify the ancestral genome donors in maize. While none of the taxa hybridized to a subset of chromosomes, genomic DNA from Zea mays ssp. mexicana, Z. mays ssp. parviglumis, Z. diploperennis, Tripsacum dactyloides and Coix lacryma-jobi all showed a similar hybridization pattern consisting of a dispersed signal over all maize chromosomes. Moreover, the first four species also showed highly localized subtelomeric signal on the long arms of maize chromosomes 5, 6 ,7, and 8. In contrast, three Sorghum species tested (S. bicolor, S. halapense, and S. versicolor) only showed hybridization at the nucleolar organizer region. In light of recent data on retrotransposon occurrence in maize, the results may provide insights into the timing of speciation of Zea, Tripsacum, and Coix. Data obtained from the tetraploid Z. perennis strongly supported its taxonomic separation from the diploid Z. diploperennis.Key words: Zea, GISH, evolution, Tripsacum, Sorghum.

Molecular cytogenetic analysis ofAegilops cylindrica Host

The genomic constitution of Aegilops cylindrica Host (2n = 4x = 28, DcDcCcCc) was analyzed by C-banding, genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using the DNA clones pSc119, pAs1, pTa71, and pTA794. The C-banding patterns of the Dc- and Cc-genome chromosomes of Ae. cylindrica are similar to those of D-and C-genome chromosomes of the diploid progenitor species Ae. tauschii Coss. and Ae. caudata L., respectively. These similarities permitted the genome allocation and identification of the homoeologous relationships of the Ae. cylindrica chromosomes. FISH analysis detected one major 18S-5.8S-25S rDNA locus in the short arm of chromosome 1Cc. Minor 18S-5.8S-25S rDNA loci were mapped in the short arms of 5Dc and 5Cc. 5S rDNA loci were identified in the short arm of chromosomes 1Cc, 5Dc, 5Cc, and 1Dc. GISH analysis detected intergenomic translocation in three of the five Ae. cylindrica accessions. The breakpoints in all translocations were non-centromeric with similar-sized segment exchanges.Key words: Aegilops cylindrica, C-banding, GISH, FISH, genome evolution.