Molecular cytogenetic studies in rubber, Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae)

This paper reports the start of a molecular cytogenetics programme targeting the genome of the angiosperm tree species Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg. (rubber, 2n = 36), a major world crop about whose genetics very little is known. A metaphase karyotype of rubber is presented. In situ hybidization with the probe pTa71 for ribosomal DNA (rDNA) shows that there are four sites of probe hybidization occurring on two pairs of chromosomes called chromosomes 6 and 7 carrying sites NOR-1 and NOR-2, respectively. An examination of meristematic interphase nuclei shows that all four loci have the potential to be partially decondensed at interphase, although in many nuclei one or more loci appear fully condensed and apparently inactive. The probe pXVI revealed a single pair of chromosomes carrying 5S rDNA. The probes pTa71 and pXVI provide cytogenetic markers for three pairs of chromosomes that will be of use in genetic mapping programmes. The rubber chromosomes also have telomere sequences that hybridize with the Arabidopsis consensus sequence TTTAGGG. With the exception of the satellite region containing rDNA, which fluoresces brightly with chromomycin A(3), fluorescence banding showed that there is no strong demarcation of the genome into GC- and AT-rich regions, as occurs in mammalian genomes.