Identification of chromosomal deficiency by flow cytometry and cytogenetics in mutant tomato (Solanum lycopersicum, Solanaceae) plants

Structural chromosomal aberrations can occur spontaneously in plant karyotypes as a result of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. These aberrations may affect sporophyte fitness because fundamental genes involved with distinct morphogenic process may be lost. Inadequate development of flowers and anomalous fruits without seeds has been observed in plants of Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanaceae) ‘BHG 160’ of the tomato germplasm bank (Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil). The nuclear DNA content, quantified by flow cytometry, showed that mutant ‘BHG 160’ possesses 0.09 pg (4.59%) less nuclear DNA content than does the wild-type ‘BGH 160’. Improved cytogenetical preparations evidenced that this difference was due to a spontaneous terminal deficiency in the short arm of the mutant ‘BGH 160’ Chromosome 1. These results suggest that the genes encoded in the short arm of Chromosome 1 may be involved in the development of flowers and fruits in the tomato.