title: Cytogenetic evidence of mixed disomic and polysomic inheritance in an allotetraploid (AABB) Musa genotype.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Edible bananas originated mainly from two wild species, Musa acuminata Colla (AA) and Musa balbisiana Colla (BB), and triploid cultivars with an AAA, AAB or ABB genome are the most widely used. In the present study, chromosome pairing affinities are investigated in a sterile AB Indian variety and in its fertile colchicine-induced allotetraploid (AABB) derivative to determine the inheritance pattern of the tetraploid genotype. The potential implications of interspecific recombination and chromosomal composition of diploid gametes for Musa improvement are presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  The pairing of different chromosome sets at diploid and tetraploid levels was investigated through a combination of conventional cytogenetic and genomic in-situ hybridization (GISH) analyses of meiotic chromosomes, leading to a likelihood model of the pairing behaviour. GISH analysis of mitotic chromosomes was also conducted to reveal the chromosome constitution of hybrids derived from crosses involving the allotetraploid genotype.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of chromosome associations at both ploidy levels suggested that the newly formed allotetraploid behaves as a 'segmental allotetraploid' with three chromosome sets in a tetrasomic pattern, three sets in a likely disomic pattern and the five remaining sets in an intermediate pattern. Balanced and unbalanced diploid gametes were detected in progenies, with the chromosome constitution appearing to be more homogenous in pollen than in ovules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colchicine-induced allotetraploids in Musa provide access to the genetic background of natural AB varieties. The segmental inheritance pattern exhibited by the AABB allotetraploid genotype implies chromosome exchanges between M. acuminata and M. balbisiana species and opens new horizons for reciprocal transfer of valuable alleles.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, UMR AGAP, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Mouna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeridi
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Perrier
authors.forename: Marguerite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodier-Goud
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferchichi
authors.forename: Angélique
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Hont
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bakry
mesh_terms: D023902:Chromosome Pairing / Q000235:genetics*; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D003582:Cytogenetics; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D018745:Genome, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D055993:Germ Cells, Plant; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D040582:Inheritance Patterns / Q000235:genetics*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D028521:Musa / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D057891:Tetraploidy
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant