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APPLICATION OF A SOMATIC AND MEIOTIC CYTOLOGICAL TECHNIQUE TO DIVERSE PLANT GENERA AND SPECIES IN THE TRITICEAE

A. MUJEEB-KAZI, Q. JAHAN*, A.A. VAHIDY*

Abstract: Within the Triticeae, cereal crop improvement alternatively exploits use of alien genetic variation emanating from several annual and perennial species. Somatic and meiotic cytological procedures are used to diagnose the presence of alien chromosomes forms, an essential component in derived progenies. Quality somatic analytical products are achieved through a high cellular mitotic index, chromosome definition, primary and secondary constriction detail, intense nuclear staining with minimum to none cytoplasmic staining and virtually no chromosome stickiness. Meiotic preparations with similar attributes are considered to be representative of high quality, where in addition separation of multivalent associations and minimum chromosome stretching are more crucial. Such cytological results described in this technique, are anticipated to serve as the basis to further build upon with other differential heterochromatin staining and molecular cytology aspects.

CIMMYT, Lisboa 27, Apartado Postal 6-641, 06600 Mexico, D.F., Mexico, U.S.A.
Deparment of Genetics, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.