K.R. Boldrini, P.L. Micheletti, P.H. Gallo, A.B. Mendes-Bonato, M.S. Pagliarini, C.B. Valle
Published: July 28, 2009
Genet. Mol. Res. 8 (3) : 888-895
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/vol8-3gmr617

Cite this Article:
K.R. Boldrini, P.L. Micheletti, P.H. Gallo, A.B. Mendes-Bonato, M.S. Pagliarini, C.B. Valle (2009). Origin of a polyploid accession of Brachiaria humidicola (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae). Genet. Mol. Res. 8(3): 888-895. https://doi.org/10.4238/vol8-3gmr617

About the Authors
K.R. Boldrini, P.L. Micheletti, P.H. Gallo, A.B. Mendes-Bonato, M.S. Pagliarini, C.B. Valle

Corresponding Author
M.S. Pagliarini
Email: mspagliarini@uem.br

ABSTRACT

Brachiaria humidicola, a species adapted to poorly drained and infertile acid soils, is widely used throughout the tropics. Cytological characterization of 54 accessions of B. humidicola for breeding purposes revealed 2n = 36, 42, and 54 chromosomes. One accession (H030), with 2n = 42 chromosomes, showed a different meiotic behavior. In most accessions from the genus Brachiaria previously studied, the basic chromosome number is x = 9, but the putative basic number in H030 appears to be x = 6. Since six univalent chromosomes were found in diakinesis and metaphase I, and these behaved as laggards in anaphase I, it was hypothesized that both genitors were derived from x = 6, and that this accession is a heptaploid 2n = 7x = 42. The parental genomes did not have the same meiotic behavior, particularly during anaphase, when one genome consisting of six univalents remained as laggards and underwent sister-chromatid segregation. At telophase, 18 segregated chromosomes were found at each pole. The laggard genome did not reach the poles at telophase I or II in time to be included in the nucleus and was eliminated as micronuclei.

Key words: Allopolyploidy, Brachiaria humidicola, chromosome elimination, Meiotic behavior, Genome affinity.