Article Abstract:
Flow cytometry was done to determine the genome size and base composition of 15 Pennisetum species representing different basic chromosome numbers and different ploidy levels. It was found that genome sizes are variable among the species examined and that there is a positive relationship between basic chromosome number and haploid genome size when chromosome number increases from five to seven. Conversely, among species with seven, eight or nine chromosome number, the relationship was observed to be negative. It was also deduced from the results that chromosome repatterning occurs during evolution within the genus which entail changes in chromosome size with subsequent loss or gain of DNA sequences.
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Article Abstract:
Apomictic asexual reproduction that allows true-breeding hybrid production has a high potential for improving world food and feed production. Noncultivated wild species of millet possess the genes that control obligate apomixis. In a program designed to transfer genes controlling apomixis from Pennisetum squamulatum with 54 chromosomes to cultivated pearl millet Pennisetum glaucum with 28 chromosomes, progenies were established from seven apomictic backcross BC4 plants. The highly apomictic plants had 27 or 29 chromosomes and a derivative from such a plant had 28 chromosomes and a telocentric fragment.
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Article Abstract:
A study was conducted to examine the accession of Pennisetum squamulatum. Results showed that Pennisetum squamulatum is most likely octapoid with a basic chromosome number of seven (2n = 8x = 56) and might belong to the secondary gene pool of Pennisetum.
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