title: Genomic homeology between Pennisetum purpureum and Pennisetum glaucum (Poaceae).
abstract: The genus Pennisetum (Richard, 1805) includes two economically important tropical forage plants: Pennisetum purpureum (Schumacher, 1827) (elephant grass), with 2n = 4x = 28 chromosomes and genomes A'A'BB, and Pennisetum glaucum (Linnaeus, 1753) (pearl millet), with 2n = 2x = 14 chromosomes and genomes AA. The genetic proximity between them allows hybrids to be obtained (2n = 3x = 21) that yield forage of higher quality in relation to the parents. The study of genomic relationships provides subsidies for the knowledge about phylogenetic relations and evolution, and is useful in breeding programs seeking gene introgression. Concerning elephant grass and pearl millet, the homeology between the genomes A and A', and between these and the genome B, has been reported by conventional cytogenetic techniques. The objective of the present study was to demonstrate the degree of homeology between these genomes by means of genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). The results confirmed the homeology between the genomes A of pearl millet and A'B of elephant grass, and showed that there are differences in the distribution and proportion of homologous regions after hybridization. Discussion regarding the evolutionary origin of P. purpureum and P. glaucum was also included.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Biology, Federal University of Lavras, Zip Code 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela Barreto
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Dos Reis
authors.affiliation: Departament of Biology, Federal University of Lavras, Zip Code 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amanda Teixeira
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Mesquita
authors.affiliation: Departament of Biology, Federal University of Lavras, Zip Code 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giovana Augusta
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Departament of Biology, Federal University of Lavras, Zip Code 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Larissa Fonseca
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Andrade-Vieira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Genetics, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Dairy Cattle, Zip Code 36038-330, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antônio Vander
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Departament of Biology, Federal University of Lavras, Zip Code 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lisete Chamma
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Davide
keywords: Genomic in situ hybridization; Homeology; Pennisetum glaucum; Pennisetum purpureum