Intragenomic Conflict between Knob Heterochromatin and B Chromosomes Is the Key to Understand Genome Size Variation along Altitudinal Clines in Maize.

ABSTRACT: In maize, we studied the causes of genome size variation and their correlates with cultivation altitude that suggests the existence of adaptive clines. To discuss the biological role of the genome size variation, we focused on Bolivian maize landraces growing along a broad altitudinal range. These were analyzed together with previously studied populations from altitudinal clines of Northwestern Argentina (NWA). Bolivian populations exhibited numerical polymorphism for B chromosomes (Bs) (from 1 to 5), with frequencies varying from 16.6 to 81.8 and being positively correlated with cultivation altitude. The 2C values of individuals 0B (A-DNA) ranged between 4.73 and 7.71 pg, with 58.33% of variation. The heterochromatic knobs, detected by DAPI staining, were more numerous and larger in indiv

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez GE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8468181 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature