Effects of chromosome reconstruction on deletion clustering in Hordeum vulgare.

The barley standard karyotype, two reconstructed karyotypes with all chromosomes interdistinguishable, and four translocation lines were treated with maleic hydrazide. A specific chromosomal site in satellite chromosome 7 (segment 44 adjacent to the nucleolus organizer region) of the standard karyotype was found to represent a deletion hot spot. A sample of specifically reconstructed karyotypes were used to check whether or not transposition of the hot spot region, or changes of its neighborhood, would affect its involvement in deletions. One of the seven karyotypes (translocation line T 505 with a pair of chromosomes having both nucleolus organizer regions and satellites in opposite arms) was without deletion clustering in segment 44. At the same time, a prominent Giemsa band close to the secondary constriction was absent from segment 44. These data show that the involvement in deletions of a certain chromosome segment is modifiable in certain cases by chromosome reconstruction. Similar observations have been made in Vicia faba.