Applications of Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH/GISH) to Study the Origin and Evolution of Plant Polyploids

Abstract:

Polyploidization is a driving force to the plant speciation and diversification. The researches about the origin and evolution of plant polyploids, in particular crop or horticultural plant polyploids can not only give insights of the molecular mechanism underlying trait variations, but also improve the conservation and utilization of valuable polyploid germplasm resources. The developing of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH/GISH) technique recently provides a bridge between the sequences of a genome and the corresponding chromosomes. The uses of FISH and GISH can help to understand the processes of gene expressions, exotic chromosomal invasions and genomic structural variations related to polyploidy. Thus, the history of the developments of fluorescence in situ hybridization technique and the main types of plant polyploids were briefly introduced. Furthermore, the recent progresses of the applications of FISH and GISH on the researches of the origin and evolution of plant polyploids were reviewed.

Key words:FISH;GISH;Polyploidy;Chromosomal variation