Genetic control of B chromosome transmission in maize and rye

Puertas, M. J.; Jiménez, Gloria Gallego; Manzanero, Silvia; Chiavarino, Amilcar M.; Rosato, Marcela; Naranjo, Carlos; Poggio, Lidia

doi:10.1007/978-3-0348-8484-6_7

Cited by 19 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(20 reference statements)

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“…The cases of non-parasitic, slightly parasitic or highly parasitic Bs of Allium schoenoprasum , maize and rye, respectively, have been reviewed in Bougourd and Jones (1997), Puertas et al (2000) and Puertas (2002). Here we will present a review of only the most recent data for rye and maize.…”

Section: Population Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chromosomes with a life of their own

Jones

González‐Sánchez

González-García

et al. 2008

Cytogenet Genome Res

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B chromosomes (Bs) can be described as ‘passengers in the genome’, a term that has been used for the repetitive DNA which comprises the bulk of the genome in large genome species, except that Bs have a life of their own as independent chromosomes. As with retrotransposons they can accumulate in number, but in this case by various processes of mitotic or meiotic drive, based on their own autonomous ways of using spindles, especially in the gametophyte phase of the life cycle of flowering plants. This selfish property of drive ensures their survival and spread in natural populations, even against a gradient of harmful effects on the host plant phenotype. Bs are inhabitants of the nucleus and they are subject to control by ‘genes’ in the A chromosome (As) complement. This interaction with the As, together with the balance between drive and harmful effects makes a dynamic system in the life of a B chromosome, notwithstanding the fact that we are only now beginning to unravel the story in a few favoured species. In this review we concentrate mainly on recent developments in the Bs of rye and maize, two of the species currently receiving most attention. We focus on their population dynamics and on the molecular basis of their structural organisation and mechanisms of drive, as well as on their mode of origin and potential applications in plant biotechnology.

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Section: Population Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chromosomes with a life of their own

Jones

González‐Sánchez

González-García

et al. 2008

Cytogenet Genome Res

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“…Many experiments were later carried out revealing that the Bs are parasitic in most species. These cases have been recently reviewed in Bougourd and Jones (1997), Puertas et al (2000) and Puertas (2002).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The parasitic effects of rye B chromosomes might be beneficial in the long term

González‐Sánchez¹,

Chiavarino²,

Jiménez³

et al. 2004

Cytogenet Genome Res

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Rye B chromosomes (Bs) have strong parasitic effects on fertility. B carrying plants are less fertile than 0B ones, whereas the Bs have no significant effects on plant vigour. On the other hand, it has been reported that B transmission is under genetic control in such a way that H line plants transmit the Bs at high frequency, whereas the Bs in the low B transmission rate line (L) fail to pair at metaphase I and are frequently lost. In the present work we analyse variables affecting vigour and fertility considering not only the number of Bs of each plant, but also its H or L status and the B number of its maternal parent. Our results show that the Bs not only decrease female fertility of the B carrier, but the fertility of its progeny, with the exception of 0B plants coming from a 4B mother, which are the most fertile. In this way B chromosomes can be considered as a selective factor. Pollen abortion was higher in B carriers, in the progeny of B carriers and in H plants, but 4B plants coming from B carrying mothers produce less aborted pollen, indicating that a high B number is more deleterious if it is transmitted in the pollen grains. A similar result was obtained for endosperm quality estimated as grain weight, because it is negatively influenced by the Bs in 4B plants coming from a 0B mother. H plants were always less fertile than L ones, indicating that alleles increasing the loss of Bs in the L line will be probably selected as a defence of the A genome against the invasive Bs of the H line. Flower number is not affected by the Bs.

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“…The present work continues, and to some extent culminates, the selection experiments designed to determine the genetic control of B chromosome transmission Genes for B accumulation and loss M González-Sánchez et al in maize (Rosato et al, 1996;Chiavarino et al, 1997Chiavarino et al, , 1998Chiavarino et al, , 2001Puertas et al, 2000). This is important to determine the forces maintaining B polymorphism in natural populations and, furthermore, to understand the significance of this parasitic part of the genome.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

One gene determines maize B chromosome accumulation by preferential fertilisation; another gene(s) determines their meiotic loss

et al. 2003

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Genotypes of high (H m ) and low (L m ) male B transmission rate (B-TR) were obtained. B-TR segregation in the F2 is reported, showing that the H m and L m 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, mBt h 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 mBt h allele to increase their own transmission. Selection was also carried out when the Bs were transmitted on the female side (H f and L f 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 fBt l 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.

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Genetic control of B chromosome transmission in maize and rye

Cited by 19 publications

References 22 publications

Chromosomes with a life of their own

Chromosomes with a life of their own

The parasitic effects of rye B chromosomes might be beneficial in the long term

One gene determines maize B chromosome accumulation by preferential fertilisation; another gene(s) determines their meiotic loss

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