Identification of AFLP markers on the satellite region of chromosome 1BS in wheat

The satellite region on the short arm of chromosome 1B in wheat (Triticum a estivum L., 2n = 6x = 42) carries many agronomically important genes; i.e., genes conferring fungal disease resistance, seed storage proteins, and fer tility restoration. To find molecular markers located on the satellite regi on, we applied the fluorescent AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism ) technique to aneuploids and deletion stocks of the cultivar T. aestivum ' Chinese Spring'. Out of 6017 fragments amplified with 80 primer combination s in normal 'Chinese Spring', 24 were assigned to 1BS. Twelve of them clust ered within a small region of the satellite known to be rich in RFLP (restr iction fragment length polymorphism) markers. AFLPs in 1BS and in the whole genome were calculated between 'Chinese Spring' and T. spelta var. duhamel ianum. The polymorphism rates in the satellite region (58.3%) and in the 1B S arm (45.8%) were much higher than the average rate for the whole genome ( 10.7%). Seven of the 12 AFLP markers in the satellite region were revealed to be specific to 'Chinese Spring' and could potentially be useful for gene tic mapping in a segregation population of 'Chinese Spring' X T. spelta.