Cytogenetics in Plant Breeding

An introductory discussion of basic chromosome structure and function preceeds the main text on the application of cytogenetic approaches to the analysis of the manipulation of both the genetic make-up and the genetic transmission system of plant breeding material. Analysis using light and electron microscopy, segregations and molecular techniques, yields information for assessing the material before and after manipulation. Much attention is given to quantitative methods. Manipulation not only involves the construction of specific genotypes, but also chromosomal transmission systems. Although analysis and manipulation in the somatic cycle are considered, the focus is on the generative cycle, with emphasis on analysis and subsequent segregation of specifically constructed material. The book is intended for plant breeders and other scientists interested in the analysis and manipulation of breeding material at the chromosomal level. Comparisons with molecular and cell biological approaches are made, and the potential of the various methods is evaluated.

Contenu
1 Cytogenetics in Genetics and Plant Breeding.- 1.1 Cytogenetics as a Subdiscipline of Genetics.- 1.2 Cytogenetics in Plant Breeding.- 2 Chromosome Composition, Structure and Morphology.- 2.1 DNA.- 2.2 Chromosome Structure; Histones and Other Chromosomal Proteins.- 2.3 Euchromatin, Heterochromatin.- 2.4 Special Functional Elements in Chromosomes.- 2.5 Microscopic Chromosome Morphology: the Karyotype, Standard and Variations.- 3 The Mechanisms of Genetic Transmission.- 3.1 The Somatic Cycle.- 3.2 Generative Transmission: Fertilization - Meiosis.- 4 The Somatic Chromosome Complement: Karyotype Analysis.- 4.1 The Karyotype.- 4.2 Approaches to Karyotype Analysis: Chromosome Number and Morphology.- 5 Karyotype Variants A: Chromosome Structural Variants.- 5.1 Deficiencies.- 5.2 Duplications.- 5.3 Inversions Ill.- 5.4 Translocations.- 5.5 Other Rearrangements (Robertsonian Fission and Fusion; Isochromosome; Compound).- 6 Karyotype Variants B: Chromosome Number Variants.- 6.1 Euploidy.- 6.2 Aneuploidy.- 7 Diagnosis: Identifying Cytogenetic Causes of Variants of the Karyotype and the Generative Cycle.- 7.1 Diagnosis: The Collection of Specific Information: Context, Objectives and Means.- 7.2 The Diagnostic Strategy.- 7.3 The Diagnostic Use of Meiotic Behaviour and Configurations: Types and Distribution;Causes and Consequences.- 7.4 The Diagnostic Protocol.- 8 Estimating, Recording and Manipulating Recombination.- 8.1 Chromosome Recombination and Exchange Recombination.- 8.2 Exchange Recombination: Crossing-Over.- 8.3 Recording Recombination: Genetic Chromosome Maps.- 8.4 Manipulating Recombination.- 9 Genome Analysis: Identification of and Relations Between Genomes.- 9.1 Genome Analysis: Different Concepts.- 9.2 Genomic Composition of Allopolyploids.- 9.3 Relations Between Genomes: Homology, Homoeology, Affinity.- 10 Manipulation of Genome Composition: A. Gene Transfer.- 10.1 Objectives.- 10.2 Molecular Versus Generative Gene Transfer.- 10.1 Identification of Transferred Chromatin.- 10.2 Different Approaches to Generative Gene Transfer..- 11 Manipulation of Genome Composition. B. Gene Dose: Duplication, Polyploidy and Gametic Chromosome Number.- 11.1 Objectives.- 11.2 Duplications.- 11.3 Increase in the Number of Genomes: Polyploidy.- 11.4 Reduction in Genome Number: Gametic Chromosome Number.- 12 Manipulation of the Genetic System.- 12.1 Natural and Artificial Variation in Generative Genetic Systems.- 12.2 Allopolyploidization of Autopolyploids.- 12.3 Permanent Translocation Heterozygosity.- 12.4 Cytogenetic Approaches to Hybrid Breeding.- 12.5 Apomixis and Related Systems.- References.