Analysis of uniparental elimination of chromosomes in wide crosses

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Andreas Houben
• Subject Area: Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology
• Term: from 2007 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 40013986

Complete uniparental chromosome elimination occurs in some interspecific hybrids of plants. The aim of this project is to investigate the processes of selective elimination of paternal chromosomes during the development of hybrid embryos and to establish whether the highly conserved histone H3 like centromeric protein A (CENH3) acts as a regulator of the mitosis-dependent elimination process. In addition, genes involved in the mitosis-independent chromosome elimination process will be identified. Different types of H. vulgare x H. bulbosum crosses will be used as a model, because in this species combination the degree of chromosome retention is influenced by the genotype of both parents as well as environmental conditions after fertilization. Besides a better understanding on interaction of parental genomes in newly formed hybrids, the gained knowledge could result in establishing efficient methods for generating of haploids or new species combinations.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: New Zealand
• Participating Person: Dr. Richard Pickering