Genome structure and evolution in the allohexaploid weed Avena fatua L. (Poaceae)

Allohexaploid wild oat, Avena fatua L. (Poaceae; 2n = 6x = 42), is one of the world's worst weeds, yet unlike some of the other Avena hexaploids, its genomic structure has been relatively little researched. Consequently, in situ hybridisation was carried out on one accession of A. fatua using an 18S-25S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence and genomic DNA from A. strigosa (AA-genome diploid) and A. clauda (CC-genome diploid) as probes. Comparing these results with those for other hexaploids studied previously: (i) confirmed that the genomic composition of A. fatua was similar to the other hexaploid Avena taxa (i.e., AACCDD), (ii) identified major sites of rDNA on three pairs of A/D-genome chromosomes, in common with other Avena hexaploids, and (iii) revealed eight chromosome pairs carrying intergenomic translocations between the A/D- and C-genomes in the accession studied. Based on karyotype structure, the identity of some of these recombinant chromosomes was proposed, and this showed that some of these could be divided into two types, (i) those common to all hexaploid Avena species analysed (3 translocations) and (ii) one translocation in this A. fatua accession not previously observed in reports on other hexaploid Avena species. If this translocation is found to be unique to A. fatua, then this information, combined with more traditional morphological data, will add support to the view that A. fatua is genetically distinct from other hexaploid Avena species and thus should retain its full specific status.