Identification and characterisation of sugarcane intergeneric hybrids, Saccharum officinarum x Erianthus arundinaceus, with molecular markers and DNA in situ hybridisation

• Published in: Theoretical and applied genetics Vol. 91; no. 2; p. 320
• Main Authors: D'Hont, A, Rao, P.S, Feldmann, P, Grivet, L, Islam-Faridi, N, Taylor, P, Glaszmann, J.C. (Centre de Cooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Development, Montpellier (France))
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.07.1995
• Subjects: ERIANTHUS ARUNDINACEUS; HIBRIDACION DE ADN; HIBRIDACION INTERGENERICA; HYBRIDATION D'ADN; HYBRIDATION INTERGENERIQUE; ISOENZIMAS; ISOENZYME; MARCADORES GENETICOS; MARQUEUR GENETIQUE; SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM
• ISSN: 0040-5752; 1432-2242
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00220894

Molecular markers were used to characterise sugarcane intergeneric hybrids between Saccharum officinarum and Erianthus arundinaceus. Very simple diagnostic tools for hybrid identification among the progeny were derived from isozyme electrophoresis and a sequence-tagged PCR. Two enzyme systems (GOT and MDH B) and PCR amplification revealing spacer-size variation in the 5s-rDNA cluster were found most convenient. Specific characterisation of the two genomic components was possible using RFLP and in situ hybridisation. The strong molecular differentiation between S. officinarum and E. arundinaceus allows the identification of numerous Erianthus-specific RFLP bands in the hybrids. Genomic DNA in situ hybridisation allows for the differentiation of the chromosomes contributed by S. officinarum and E. arundinaceus in chromosome preparations of the hybrids. In situ hybridisation with the 18s-5.8s-25s rDNA probe highlights the basic chromosome numbers in the two parental species. The potential of these techniques to monitor the Erianthus genome during the introgression process is discussed.