Characterisation of distant Alstroemeria hybrids: application of highly repetitive DNA sequences from A. ligtu spp. ligtu

Clones from a Sau3A family of eight highly repetitive sequences previously isolated from a genomic DNA library of Alstroemeria ligtu ssp. ligtu were sequenced and found to be highly conserved. A trinucleotide microsatellite repeat [GCA](3-4) was present. A second, unrelated, Sau3A repeat was also characterised. Southern analysis proved that the isolated repeats were specific for the A. ligtu subspecies and could not be detected in other Chilean or Brazilean Alstroemeria species. As shown by in situ hybridisation, the Sau3A family and the unrelated Sau3A repeat co-localised at distinct sites along most chromosomes of Alstroemeria ligtu ssp. ligtu and Alstroemeria ligtu ssp. simsii. The present set of species-specific repetitive sequences enables the identification of A. ligtu chromosomes, and thus the tracking of chromosome transmission to interspecific hybrids and their progeny