B Carrier Genome in Soybean (Glycine max)

Abstract

Here we report the presence of 2B-chromosomes in Glycine max, which has yet not been reported. These chromosomes were observed in the natural population in 6 out of 85 plants tested in the variety JS90-41. In our case the B's however did not affect the morphology of the plant but had random meiotic behaviour. These chromosomes were smaller than the A-chromosomes and did not pair with them. The pollen fertility in the carrier and non-carrier plants was almost similar. About the possible origin of B-chromosomes in Glycine, it can be assumed that the B's observed in our case might have originated in the course of evolution to discard the inert heterochromatic part from the main nucleus.