Non-denaturing FISH (ND-FISH) was used to compare the distribution of four simple sequence repeats (SSRs)-(AG) n , (AAG) n , (ACT) n and (ATC) n -in somatic root tip metaphase spreads of 12 barley (H. vulgare ssp. vulgare) cultivars, seven lines of their wild progenitor H. vulgare ssp. spontaneum, and four lines of their close relative H. bulbosum, to determine whether the range of molecular diversity shown by these highly polymorphic sequences is reflected at the chromosome level. In both, the cultivated and wild barleys, clusters of AG and ATC repeats were invariant. In contrast, clusters of AAG and ACT showed polymorphism. Karyotypes were prepared after the identification of their seven pairs of homologous chromosomes. Variation between these homologues was only observed in one wild accession that showed the segregation of a reciprocal translocation involving chromosomes 5H and 7H. The two subspecies of H. vulgare analysed were no different in terms of their SSRs. Only AAG repeats were found clustered strongly on the chromosomes of all lines of H. bulbosum examined. Wide variation was seen between homologous chromosomes within and across these lines. These results are the first to provide insight into the cytogenetic diversity of SSRs in barley and its closest relatives. Differences in the abundance and distribution of each SSR analysed, between H. vulgare and H. bulbosum, suggest that these species do not share the same H genome, and support the idea that these species are not very closely related. Southern blotting experiments revealed the complex organization of these SSRs, supporting the findings made with ND-FISH.

The tetraploid forms of gussoneanum appear to have come about through a cross between a diploid gussoneanum progenitor and a second, related-but unidentified-diploid ancestor. The results reveal the genome structure of the different H. marinum taxa and demonstrate the allopolyploid origin of the tetraploid forms of gussoneanum.

Twelve durum wheat cultivars were evaluated for their response to in vitro tissue culture. Zygotic immature embryos were used to induce callus formation using four different Murashige and Skoog‐based media. Each contained 9.05 μM 2,4‐dichlorophenoxy acetic acid but differed in their carbon source (sucrose or maltose) and the presence of NaCl (0 mM or 40 mM). The influence of both genotype and medium on the type and percentage of callus produced was observed. Calli were either compact and frequently embryogenic, or soft and watery. Percentages ranged from 54 to 100%, depending upon genotype and induction medium. All calli were then plated on a regeneration medium containing 20 g/l sucrose, 2.68 μM 1‐naphthaleneacetic acid and 2.22 μ 6‐benzylaminopurine. The regeneration of plantlets was higher from compact than from soft calli, with a strong dependence on genotype and type of induction medium used. MSm induction medium (30 g/l maltose) and MS40s (30 g/l sucrose plus 40 mM NaCl) were best for inducing compact calli, and gave the highest proportion of regenerated plants. The in vitro response (number of total shoots from a compact callus/number of embryos plated) was higher for immature embryos of ‘Baztan’, ‘Bradano’ and ‘Don Pedro’. These cultivars are a good starting material for experiments involving transformation of calli from zygotic immature embryos.

The paper reports the in vitro cultivation of two commercial lines and 23 wild populations (with 10, 20 and 30 chromosomes) of Brachypodium distachyon. Callus induction was assayed on Murashige and Skoog medium containing 1 mg dm -3 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) with 30 g dm -3 of sucrose (MSs) or maltose (MSm). No significant differences were seen between the two media with respect to callus induction. Calli were transferred to MSm medium without 2,4-D but containing 0.1 mg dm -3 of 6-benzylaminopurine for plant regeneration. The plant regeneration response was very variable depending on the original induction medium, although no overall preference for one or the other medium was seen. The three main culture stages (callus induction, plant regeneration, and green plantlets formation) are probably differently controlled in the plants with different chromosome numbers. This supports the idea that the three cytotypes of Brachypodium cultured actually belong to different species.Additional key words: in vitro culture, auxin, cytokinin, maltose, saccharose.

This work reports a rapid procedure of comparing root development among different genotypes of Brachypodium spp., using three plant growth supports: gel chamber, 'Termita' chamber and Whatman paper. Eight variables of the root system architecture (RSA) (number of seminal roots, number of lateral roots, total length of the roots, length of the primary root, mean diameter of the roots, mean diameter of the primary root, total surface area and total volume of the roots) were studied in seedling of four genotypes each of Brachypodium distachyon, B. stacei and B. hybridum. Correlations between pairs of growth supports in terms of the eight variables examined were highly significant. In all three supports, B. stacei showed the greatest root system development while B. distachyon showed the least; B. hybridum, an allotetraploid species derived from hybridization between B. distachyon and B. stacei, showed intermediate development. ANOVA and LSD tests showed that significant differences exist between the supports, species and genotypes with respect to all the variables analysed. A cluster analysis was conducted to determine if the RSA traits could be used to differentiate the species and genotypes of Brachypodium. This analysis allowed differentiated between the three species and twelve genotypes of Brachypodium spp., although a certain overlap between species was observed. The Whatman paper support was the easiest to use, and is recommended for the characterization of large collections of genotypes.