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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Crop Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #171802
Title: CHROMOSOME IDENTIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE OF SORGHUM BICOLOR

Author
item LIN, JEONG-SOON - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item KLEIN, PATRICIA - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item Klein, Robert - Bob
item PRICE, JAMES - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item MULLET, JOHN - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item STELLY, DAVID - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/26/2004
Publication Date: 2/1/2005
Citation: Lin, J., Klein, P.E., Klein, R.R., Price, J.H., Mullet, J.E., Stelly, D.M. 2005. Chromosome identification and nomenclature of Sorghum bicolor. Genetics. 169:1169-1173.

Interpretive Summary: Major advancements in science hinge on the development of new tools including a detailed understanding of the structure of chromosomes. Chromosomes are the structures found in cells that harbor genes, the tiny packets of genetic blueprint material that are found in all plants and animals and control all of the physical characteristics of these organisms. Our work focuses on improving major grain crops and, with detailed knowledge of chromosomes, the genetic blueprint will be visible and this information can make improving the plants more efficient. This study details a microscopic overview of all 10 sorghum chromosomes, and allows us to establish a unified nomenclature for each unique chromosome. By naming each sorghum chromosome and by establishing a unified nomenclature, the exchange of information between plant scientists will be made far simpler, and should therefore speed scientific progress. Information will be primarily used by fellow scientists but the work should ultimately result in better adapted, higher producing crop varieties available to American farmers.

Technical Abstract: Linkage group identities and homologies were determined for metaphase chromosomes of Sorghum bicolor by fluorescent in situ hybridization of bacterial artificial chromosome clones. Relative lengths of chromosomes in fluorescent in situ hybridization karyotyped metaphase spreads of the elite inbred BTx623 were used to estimate the molecular size of each chromosome and to establish a size based nomenclature for sorghum chromosomes and linkage groups. Lengths of arms were determined to orient linkage groups relative to a standard karyotypic layout with the short arms at top. The size based nomenclature for BTx623 seems to be a reasonable choice as the standard for a unified nomenclature for use by the sorghum research community.