DISCRIMINATING THE ANCESTRAL PROGENITORS OF HEXAPLOID FESTUCA-ARUNDINACEA USING GENOMIC IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

The phylogeny of Festuca arundinacea Schreb. (2n = 6x = 42) was determ ined using GISH. Total genomic DNA of putative ancestral species was l abelled with rhodamine and hybridized to chromosome preparations of hy brids involving these species and F. arundinacea. The degree of hybrid ization to chromosomes known to be homologous to the probe DNA was com pared with that found simultaneously on chromosomes of the genome of F . arundinacea. It was concluded that the tetraploid species Festuca ar undinacea var. glaucescens contributed two genomes and the diploid spe cies Festuca pratensis one, to create the allohexaploid species F. aru ndinacea.