COMPARATIVE GENETIC MAPS OF FOXTAIL MILLET (SETARIA-ITALICA) AND RICE(ORYZA-SATIVA)

A foxtail millet-rice comparative genetic map was constructed using ma pped rice RFLP markers and wheat genomic and cDNA clones with known ma p position in rice. About 74% and 37% of the cDNA and genomic clones, respectively, were transferable to foxtail millet, confirming that con servation at the DNA level is greatest in genic regions. A high degree of conserved colinearity was observed between the two genomes. Five e ntire foxtail millet chromosomes appear to be colinear with five entir e rice chromosomes. The remaining four foxtail millet linkage groups e ach show colinearity with segments of two rice chromosomes. The rearra ngements of rice chromosomes 3 and 10 to form foxtail millet chromosom e IX, and 7 and 9 to form chromosome II are very similar to those requ ired to form maize chromosomes 1 and 7 and sorghum linkage groups C an d B, indicating Setaria's clear taxonomic position within the subfamil y of the Panicoideae.