The physical location of genes cdc2 and prh1 in maize (Zea mays L.)

A study of crop-to-crop gene flow using farm scale sites of fodder maize (Zea mays L.) in the UK

From 2000 to 2003 a range of Farm Scale Evaluation (FSE) trials were established in the UK to assess the effect of the release and management of herbicide tolerant (HT) crops on arable weeds and invertebrates. The FSE trials for maize were also used to investigate crop-to-crop gene flow and to develop a statistical model for the prediction of gene flow frequency that can be used to evaluate current separation distance guidelines for GM crops. Seed samples were collected from the non-GM half of 55 trial sites and 1,055 were tested for evidence of gene flow from the GM HT halves using a quantitative PCR assay specific to the HT (pat) gene. Rates of gene flow were found to decrease rapidly with increasing distance from the GM source. Gene flow was detected in 30% of the samples (40 out of 135) at 150 m from the GM source and events of GM to non-GM gene flow were detected at distances up to and including 200 m from the GM source. The quantitative data were subjected to statistical analysis and a two-step model was found to provide the best fit for the data. A dynamic whole field model predicted that a square field (150 m x 150 m in size) of grain maize would require a separation distance of 3 m for the adjacent crop to be below a 0.9% threshold (with <2% probability of exceeding the threshold). The data and models presented here are discussed in the context of necessary separation distances to achieve various possible thresholds for adventitious presence of GM in maize.

Cytogenetic mapping in maize

Cytogenetic maps depict the location and order of markers along chromosomes. Cytogenetic maps are important in genome research as they relate the genetic data and molecular sequences to the morphological features of chromosomes. In this paper, we discuss various methods used in cytogenetic mapping in maize, with special reference to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of single-copy sequences on meiotic pachytene chromosomes.

Physical mapping of the 5S and 45S rDNA in teosintes

The physical locations of the 5S and 45S rDNA sequences were examined in three types of teosinte, Zea mays ssp. mexicana (2n = 20), Zea diploperennis (2n = 20) and Zea perennis (2n = 40) by biotinylated fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The tested materials only showed one hybridization site of 5S rDNA on their genomes, but they were different in the position of the signals. The hybridization site of Zea mays ssp. mexicana was located on the long arm of chromosome 2, indicating that it is the same as the cultivated maize in the position of 5S rDNA, while the sites of Zea diploperennis and Zea perennis were on the short arms of other chromosomes. For 45S rDNA, one hybridization site was detected at secondary constriction region of the satellite chromosomes in Zea mays ssp. mexicana and Zea diploperennis, while in Zea perennis, besides the site located at the secondary constriction region, a second site on the short arm of another chromosome pair was observed. Our results provide additional evidence for Zea mays ssp. mexicana being a subspecies of Zea mays.

Physical mapping of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers in homoeologous groups 1 and 3 chromosomes of wheat by in situ hybridization

Using wheat ditelosomic lines and in situ hybridization of biotin-labelled DNA probes, 18 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers were physically located on homoeologous groups 1 and 3 chromosomes of wheat. Most of the markers hybridized to chromosome arms in a physical order concordant with the genetic maps. A majority of the markers studied were clustered in non-C-banded, distal euchromatic areas, indicating the presence of recombination hot spots and cold spots in those regions. However, on 1BS the markers were well dispersed, which could be due to the abundance of heterochromatin throughout the arm. An inversion between Xpsr653 and Xpsr953 was observed on 1AL. One new Xpsr688 locus, approximately 20–26% from the centromere, was found on 1AS and 1BS. The physical location of Xpsr170 on group 3 chromosomes probably represents an alternative to the loci on the genetic map. Finally, Xpsr313 was mapped to two physical loci on 1DL. Five markers were located to bins consistent with the deletion-based physical maps.Key words: wheat, physical mapping, in situ hybridization.