A facile method to estimate total chromosome length of Aegilops genus

Microscopic chromosome counting technique in root tip cells has been conventionally conducted to determine the ploidy level, but this process is laborious and time-consuming. Recently flow cytometry analysis has been alternatively applied for determining the ploidy level in a number of plant species. In this method a large number of samples can be analyzed in a short period. Because of these advantages, DNA flow cytometry has been used extensively in researches to detect aneuploidy and monitor cell cycle kinetics and its perturbations. The aim of the present investigation was to develop an efficient system for the rapid detection of total chromosome length in Aegilops genus accessions . Because of Iran is one of diversity centers of Ae. cylindrica this species of Aegilops selected for this research and About 99 difference accessions of Ae. cylindrica were estimated for their DNA Index, DNA Content on G1 phase and chromosomes length in order to discover relationship between DNA  content and total chromosome length of  Ae. cylindrica specie. It was manifestly clear that there was difference among accessions on their DNA content. For the purpose of finding the cause of this difference we divided these accessions to four groups that each group was different in its DNA content with other groups. Results showed that there was difference in average of total chromosome length and interestingly, there was relationship with DNA content and average of total chromosome length and also total chromosome length increased by increasing of DNA Index and DNA peak mode of G1 phase. Furthermore, result of this research showed that not only evaluation of DNA Index and DNA pick mode of G1 phase can be use for estimating of ploidy level, but also it is very comfortable methods for estimating of total chromosome length.