Abstract
DNA contents in nuclei isolated from 81 accessions ofPaspalum, representing 35 species, was determined by laser flow cytometry. Nuclei were isolated by chopping leaf base tissue in Tris/HCl buffer containing 1 % Triton X-100 and fixed in EtOH. Fixation, or no fixation, of nuclei in 70% or 95% EtOH did not affect estimates of DNA contents in DAPI-stained nuclei. DNA contents, among the species examined, varied approximately four-fold (1.02 – 3.86 pg/2C nucleus). Coefficients of variation ranged from less than 1% to approximately 5% and did not increase following fixation. Variation in DNA contents between plants within accessions was less than 0.1%. Significant differences in DNA contents estimates within and between species were detected. Data presented suggested that DNA content is a useful descriptor for characterization of plant genetic resources. The occurrence of significant levels of variation within and betweenPaspalum species indicates that estimates of DNA contents may be useful for characterization and identification ofPaspalum cytotypes. In addition, the identification and maintenance of variability for DNA contents withinPaspalum spp. might be useful as a means to capture genomic adaptations to ecological variation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arheim, N., T. White & W.E. Rainey, 1990. Application of PCR: Organismal and population biology. BioScience 40:174–182.
Arumuganathan, K. & E. Earle, 1991a. Estimation of nuclear DNA content of plants by flow cytometry. Plant Molec. Biol. Reptr. 9:229–241.
Arumuganathan, K. & E.D. Earle, 1991b. Nuclear DNA content of some important plant species. Plant Molec. Biol. Rptr. 9:208–218.
Bergounioux, C. & S.C. Brown, 1991. Plant cell cycle analysis with isolated nuclei. Methods Cell Biol. 33:563–573.
Brown, W.V., 1950. A cytological study of some Texas Gramineae. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 77:63–76.
Brown, W.V., 1951. Chromosome numbers of some Texas grasses. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 78:292–299.
Burson, B.L., 1975. Cytology of some apomicticPaspalum species. Crop Sci. 15:229–232.
Burson, B.L., 1991a. Genome relationships between tetraploid and hexaploid biotypes of dallisgrass,Paspalum dilatatum. Bot. Gaz. 152:219–223. Burson, B.L.,1991b. Homology of chromosome of the X genomes in common and Uruguayan dallisgrass,Paspalum dilatatum. Genome 34:950–953.
Burson, B.L. & H.W. Bennett, 1971a. Meiotic and reproductive behavior of some introducedPaspalum species. J. Miss. Acad. Sci. 17:5–8.
Burson, B.L. & H.W. Bennett, 1971b. Chromosome numbers, microsporogenesis, and mode of reproduction of sevenPaspalum species. Crop Sci. 11:292–294.
Burton, G.W., 1940. A cytological study of some species in the genusPaspalum. J. Agric. Res. 60:193–197.
Burton, G. W., 1942. A cytological study of some species in the tribe Paniceae. Amer. J. Bot. 29:355–359.
Darlington, C.D. & A.P. Wylie, 1961. Chromosome atlas of flowering plants. Hafner Pub. Co., New York.
DeRocher, E.J., K.R. Harkins, D. W. Galbraith & H.J. Bohnert, 1990. Developmentally regulated systemic endopolyploidy in succulents with small genomes. Science 250:99–101. Dolezel, J., P. Binarova & S. Lucretti, 1989. Analysis of nuclear DNA content in plant cells by flow cytometry. Biol. Plant. 31:113–120.
Galbraith, D.W., K.R. Harkins, J.R. Maddox, N.M. Ayres, D.P. Sharma & E. Firoozabady, 1983. Rapid flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle in intact plant tissues. Science 220:1049–1051.
Galbraith, D.W., 1989. Analysis of higher plants by flow cytometry and cell sorting. Inter. Rev. Cytol. 116:165–229.
Grime, J.P. & M.A. Mowforth, 1982. Variation in genome size — an ecological interpretation. Nature 299:151–153.
Iyengar, G.A.S. & S.K. Sen, 1978. Nuclear DNA content of several wild and cultivatedOryza species. Environ. Exp. Bot. 18:219–224.
Jarret, R.L., M. Spinks, G. Lovell & A.G. Gillaspie, 1990. The S-9 plant germplasm collection. Diversity 6:23–25.
Laurie, D.A. & M.D. Bennett, 1985. Nuclear DNA content in the generaZea andSorghum. Intergeneric, interspecific and intraspecific variation. Heredity 55:307–313.
Michaelson, M.J., H.J. Price, J.R. Ellison & J.S. Johnson, 1991. Comparison of plant DNA contents determined by feulgen microspectrophotometry and laser flow cytometry. Amer. J. Bot. 78:183–188.
Nielsen, E.L., 1939. Grass studies III. Additional somatic chromosome complements. Amer. J. Bot. 26:366–372.
Ohri, D. & T.N. Khoshoo, 1986. Genome size in gymnosperms. Plant Syst. Evol. 153:119–132.
Ozias-Akins, P. & R.L. Jarret, 1994. Flow cytometry detects ploidy level variation inIpomoea batatas. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 119:110–115.
Pitman, M.W., B.L. Burson & E.C. Bashaw, 1987. Phylogenetic relationships amongPaspalum species with different base chromosome numbers. Bot. Gaz. 148:130–135.
Price, K., K. Bachmann, K.L. Chambers & J. Riggs, 1980. Detection of intraspecific variation in nuclear DNA content inMicroseris douglasii. Bot. Gaz. 142:156–159.
Quarin, C.L. & G.A. Norrmann, 1990. Interspecific hybrids between fivePaspalum species. Bot. Gaz. 26:366–369.
Rayburn, A.L., J.A. Auger, E.A. Benzinger & A.G. Hepburn, 1989. Detection of intraspecific DNA content variation inZea mays by flow cytometry. J. Exp. Bot. 40:1179–1183.
Saura, F., 1941. Cariologia de algunas especies del genera Paspalum. Inst. Genet. Fac. Agron. y Vet., Univ. Buenos Aires 2:41–48.
Sims, L. & H.J. Price, 1985. Nuclear DNA content variation inHelianthis annuus (Asteraceae). Amer. J. Bot. 72:1213–1219.
Wakamiya, I., R.J. Newton, J.S. Johnson & H.J. Price, 1993. Genome size and environmental factors in the genusPinus. Amer. J. Bot. 80:1235–1241.
Walbot, V. & C. Cullis, 1985. Rapid genomic change in higher plants. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 36:1133–1138.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jarret, R.L., Ozias-Akins, P., Phatak, S. et al. DNA contents inPaspalum spp. determined by flow cytometry. Genet Resour Crop Evol 42, 237–242 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02431258
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02431258