B chromosomes in angiosperm – a review

Datta A.K., Mandal A., Das D., Gupta S., Saha A., Paul R., Sengupta S.

Review 

A review article on B chromosomes (Bs) in angiosperms is documented considering occurrence, morphology, polymorphic B forms, divisional phase heterogeneity, chromatin organization and gene content, sequence composition, origin, evolutionary aspects and significant role on host with an objective to foresee the evolutionary perspectives as it still remains an enigma. Irrespective of the origin of Bs, it seems that they have attained the following modifications, namely, insertion of centromeric and telomeric sequences, structural reorganization and procuring mitotic and meiotic drives but shows genetic inertness and present in the host as selfish DNA. In the context, few questions are raised. Further, scientific quest may unravel the unexplored information about Bs to ascertain its evolutionary perspectives, if any.

Key words: distribution, morphology, polymorphism, mitotic and meiotic drives, sequence analyses, origin and evolution

Tsitologiya i Genetika 2016, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 68-79

• Department of Botany, Cytogenetics, Genetics and Plant Breeding Section, University of Kalyani, Kalyani 741235, West Bengal, India
• Department of Botany, Pteridology­Palaeobotany Section, University of Kalyani, Kalyani 741235, West Bengal, India
• Department of Botany, Narasinha Dutt College, Howrah 711101, West Bengal, India
• Department of Botany, Charuchandra College, Kolkata 700029, West Bengal, India
• Department of Botany, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy Government College, Himachal Bihar, Matigara, Silguri, 734010, West Bengal, India

E-mail: dattaanimesh gmail.com

Datta A.K., Mandal A., Das D., Gupta S., Saha A., Paul R., Sengupta S. B chromosomes in angiosperm – a review, Tsitol Genet., 2016, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 68-79.

In "Cytology and Genetics":
A. K. Datta, A. Mandal, D. Das, S. Gupta, A. Saha, R. Paul, S. Sengupta B chromosomes in angiosperm—a review, Cytol Genet., 2016, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 60-71
DOI: 10.3103/S0095452716010035