ABSTRACT
As a contribution towards detecting the genetic effects of low doses of genotoxic physical agents, this paper deals with the consequences of low-dose X-rays in the Aspergillus nidulans genome. The irradiation doses studied were those commonly used in dental clinics (1-5 cGy). Even very low doses promoted increased mitotic crossing-over frequencies in diploid strains heterozygous for several genetic markers including the ones involved in DNA repair and recombination mechanisms. Genetic markers of several heterozygous strains were individually analyzed disclosing that some markers were especially sensitive to the treatments. These markers should be chosen as bio-indicators in the homozygotization index assay to better detect the recombinogenic/carcinogenic genomic effects of low-dose X-rays.
Subject(s)
Aspergillus nidulans/radiation effects , Mitosis/radiation effects , Crossing Over, Genetic/radiation effects , X-Rays , Aspergillus nidulans/genetics , Diploidy , DNA Damage , Homozygote , Mutagenicity Tests , Mitosis/genetics , Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation , Crossing Over, Genetic/geneticsABSTRACT
Cytological analysis of microsporogenesis in 72 popcorn plants, comprising nine from the original population (CMS-43, S0) and 63 from seven cycles of self-fertilization (S1 to S7), one plant of S0 generation (plant 2) was identified with B chromosomes. The number of B chromosomes varied from two to three in the same anther. The pattern of chromosome pairing and meiotic behavior of Bs were similar to those found in other plant species. The presence of B chromosomes did not affect chiasma frequency and chiasma distribution in A chromosomes. This is the first report of B chromosomes in popcorn