Abstract
Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) diagnostic methodology was applied to hybrids between Thinopyrum elongatum/Secale cereale, and to some amphiploids or backcross (BC) derivatives of Triticum aestivum with Aegilops variabilis, Th. bessarabicum, Th. curvifolium, Th. scirpeum and Th. elongatum. The alien species are resistance/tolerance sources to biotic/abiotic stresses, and are being utilized for transfer of these traits to T. aestivum. The in situ methodology elucidated mechanisms of doubling of egg cells, provided genomic distinction in F1 hybrids and amphiploids, enabled identification of aneuploidy through chromosomal loss or gain, and facilitated the detection of spontaneously produced wheat/alien chromosomal translocations. The advantage of using alien DNA for blocking and wheat DNA for labelingallowed better genomic differentiation than when the normally reverse routine was adopted. Aneuploidy in amphiploid maintenance (T. aestivum/Ae. variabilis; Th. elongatum/T. aestivum) was also observed.
