One gene determines maize B chromosome accumulation by preferential fertilisation

Genotypes of high (Hm) and low (Lm) male B transmission rate (B-TR) were obtained. B-TR segregation in the F2 is reported, showing that the Hm and Lm lines differ in a single locus we call mBt (male B transmission), controlling B preferential fertilisation in maize. The egg cells control which one o...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: González Sánchez, Mónica, González-González, Esther, Molina, Francia, Chiavarino, Mauricio, Rosato, Carmen Luisa Marcela, Puertas Gallego, María Jesús
Format: article
Publication Date:2003
Country:España
Institution:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repository:Docta Complutense
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/95257
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/95257
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:581.15
B chromosomes
Coevolution of genome conflict
Zea mays
Genética
2417.14 Genética Vegetal
Description
Summary:Genotypes of high (Hm) and low (Lm) male B transmission rate (B-TR) were obtained. B-TR segregation in the F2 is reported, showing that the Hm and Lm lines differ in a single locus we call mBt (male B transmission), controlling B preferential fertilisation in maize. The egg cells control which one of the sperm nuclei is going to fertilise them, mBth egg cells being preferentially fertilised by the sperm nucleus carrying the supernumerary B chromosomes (Bs). It is hypothesised that the mBt gene is involved in the normal fertilisation of maize but the parasitic Bs take advantage of the mBth allele to increase their own transmission. Selection was also carried out when the Bs were transmitted on the female side (Hf and Lf lines). The F1 hybrids show that the gene(s) that we call fBt (female B transmission), controlling female B-TR, is located on the A chromosomes acting at diploid level, the fBtl allele(s) for low transmission being dominant. This allele causes the loss of Bs at meiosis, which is shown using a specific B molecular probe to determine B presence/absence in microspores of both lines and hybrids. Maize Bs are a nice example of intragenome conflict, because the mBt and fBt loci are a polymorphic system of attack and defence between A and B chromosomes.