Genome characterization of a synthetic Triticum x Thinopyrum (Poaceae) amphiploid using in situ hybridization

Abstract

“Trigopiros” derive from crosses between different species of Triticum L. and ThinopyrumLöve. These synthetic amphiploids are designed with the aim to obtain cereals similar to wheat but whichare perennial, resistant to diseases and to the salinity of the soils. Moreover, they allow the transfer ofthe agronomic attributes of Thinopyrum to wheat. “Trigopiro” Don Noé INTA, which is currently grown inArgentina, presents valuable agronomic traits as well as a high content of seed proteins. In the presentwork, the use of classical cytogenetic techniques allowed us to confirm that the chromosome number of“Trigopiro” Don Noé is 2n=56. The application of in situ hybridization (FISH-GISH) allowed us to postulateits genomic composition for the first time. This artificial hybrid has 14 chromosomes from genome J of Thinopyrum and 2 chromosomes pairs with putative translocations between Triticum and Thinopyrum.The rest of chromosomes belong to A, B and D genomes of Triticum.