Ribosomal DNA Amounts in PISUM SATIVUM

Different varieties of peas have different proportions of rDNA in their genomes; there is no obvious correlation between the proportions and seed or leaf size. The rDNA proportions in root tips, seedlings, leaves and in the cotyledon cells of high DNA content, were compared in four varieties. In three, there was no difference between tissues; the fourth showed an amplification of rRNA genes in the cells of high DNA content of the seed cotyledon, and also in the cells of young but not of older leaves. The fourth variety was the one that had the lowest proportion of rDNA of all those examined. Studies of the tissues of hybrids between genotypes with "low" and "high" proportions of rDNA showed that heterozygotes had the "high" value, showing again the occurrence of an amplification phenomenon.