Cytogenetic studies of interspecific hybrids between diploid species of Festuca

Abstract

Chromosome pairing in hybrids between diploid species of Festuca is described. The chromosome complements of the species from different taxonomic sections vary in chromosome size and DNA content. In interspecific hybrids involving species of the section Montanae there was a relationship between the difference in DNA content of the parental species and chromosome pairing in the F1 hybrids. The larger the difference between the DNA content of the parental species, the more pronounced the failure of chromosome pairing in the F1 hybrids. Factors other than divergence in genome size were also shown to have an effect on chromosome pairing in other hybrid combinations.Key words: chromosome pairing, DNA content, Festuca, hybrids (interspecific).