FLUORESCENT IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION AS AN AID TO INTRODUCING ALIEN GENETIC-VARIATION INTO WHEAT

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) has been used to assess the o ccurrence and frequency of wheat-alien chromosome pairing in a wheat/T hinopyrum bessarabicum hybrid and in wheat/rye hybrids with different levels of chromosome pairing by examining pollen mother cells at metap hase I of meiosis. The use of FISH to identify the presence and size o f alien chromatin in a wheat background is also demonstrated. The valu e of FISH as an aid to the introgression of alien genetic variation in to wheat is discussed.