Localization of vicilin genes via polymerase chain reaction on microisolated field bean chromosomes

A new technique is reported for the physical mapping of low copy DNA sequences on plant chromosomes. Individual chromosomes were microisolated and their DNA used as the target for the polymerase chain reaction in order to identify the chromosome carrying a specific gene sequence. The use of defined translocation chromosomes further refined the resolution of the method to a subchromosomal level. To demonstrate the applicability of the procedure genes have been localized coding for vicilin seed storage proteins on the field bean Vicia faba L. in a region which includes the centromere and the proximal parts of the short and the long arms of chromosome II.