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Plant Cytogenetics pp 59–77Cite as

Plant B Chromosomes: What Makes Them Different?

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Part of the book series: Plant Genetics and Genomics: Crops and Models ((PGG,volume 4))

Abstract

B chromosomes are dispensable elements that do not recombine with the A chromosomes of the regular complement and that follow their own evolutionary pathway. Here, we survey current knowledge on the DNA/chromatin composition, origin, and drive mechanisms of B chromosomes and discuss the potential research applications of supernumerary chromosomes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors have been supported by the DAAD, DFG (1779/10-1), and the IPK (Germany). We thank Ingo Schubert and Neil Jones for discussions and helpful comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chromosome Structure and Function Laboratory, Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany

    Andreas Houben & Mariana Carchilan

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  1. Andreas Houben
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  2. Mariana Carchilan
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Correspondence to Andreas Houben .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA

    Hank W. Bass

  2. Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA

    James A. Birchler

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Houben, A., Carchilan, M. (2012). Plant B Chromosomes: What Makes Them Different?. In: Bass, H., Birchler, J. (eds) Plant Cytogenetics. Plant Genetics and Genomics: Crops and Models, vol 4. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-70869-0_3

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