Genome size variation among accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana.
OBJECTIVE
Estimates of the amount of nuclear DNA of Arabidopsis thaliana, known to be among the lowest within angiosperms, vary considerably. This study aimed to determine genome size of a range of accessions from throughout the entire Eurasian range of the species.


METHODS
Twenty accessions from all over Europe and one from Japan were examined using flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Significant differences in mean C-values were detected over a 1.1-fold range. Mean haploid (1C) genome size was 0.215 pg (211 Mbp) for all analysed accessions. Two accessions were tetraploid.


CONCLUSIONS
A closer investigation of the DNA fractions involved in intraspecific genome size differences in this experimentally accessible species may provide information on the factors involved in stability and evolution of genome sizes.
Schmuths
Heike
H
Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, D-06466 Gatersleben, Germany. schmuths@ipk-gatersleben.de
Meister
Armin
A
Horres
Ralf
R
Bachmann
Konrad
K
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics*; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D018745:Genome, Plant; D011003:Ploidies; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics
D018744:DNA, Plant