Abstract Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oilseed crop and food legume that is highly susceptible to biotic and abiotic factors. Wild Arachis species represent useful genetic resources because of their resistance to pests and diseases. In particular, understanding the affinity between B-genome species is important for broadening the genetic base of A. hypogaea (AABB genome), since only one population of A. ipaënsis is known, and relatively few other species have been described. Therefore, we aimed to determine the genomic affinity between A. ipaënsis and A. williamsii by developing hybrids. Microsatellite markers verified the hybrid status, and chromosome pairing and pollen viability results revealed that the species share high genomic affinity. Additionally, the presence of dyads detected in sporad and pollen analyses indicated the production of 2n gametes. These results will be useful for performing evolutionary studies and developing strategies for introgression programs to improve the B genome of A. hypogaea.

Abstract The species of the genus Arachis (Leguminosae) are ordered into nine sections. The assignment of genome types in this genus has been based on cross-compatibility analysis and molecular cytogenetic studies. The latter has also allowed karyotypically establishing well-defined genomes and reassigning the genome of several species. However, most of these studies have been focused mainly on the sections Arachis and Rhizomatosae. To increase the knowledge about the chromosome diversity of the whole genus, here we performed a detailed karyotype characterization of representative species of most of the sections and genomes of Arachis. This characterization included chromosome morphology, CMA/DAPI chromosome banding, and chromosome marker localization (rDNAloci and one satDNA sequence) by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Based on the data obtained and other previously published data, we established the karyotype similarities by cluster analysis and defined eleven karyotype groups. The grouping was partly coincident with the traditional genome assignment, except for some groups and some individual species. Karyotype similarities among some genomes were also found. The main characteristics of each karyotype group of Arachis were summarized. Together, our results provide information that may be beneficial for future cytogenetic and evolutionary studies, and also contribute to the identification of interspecific hybrids.

Karyotypes of three diploid species belonging to sections Erectoides (Arachis hermannii), Procumbentes (A. rigonii) and Rhizomatosae (A. burkartii) were analyzed by Feulgen's technique. The karyotype formula was different in each of the taxa analyzed: 2n=2x=16m+4sm in A. hermannii, 2n=2x=18m+2sm in A. rigonii, and 2n=2x=20m in A. burkartii. All species had a pair of satellited chromosomes, which corresponded to type 2 in A. hermannii, type 9 in A. rigonii, and type 8 in A. burkartii. Arachis hermannii and A. rigonii presented chromosomal features similar to those of the other species included in their respective sections. However, A. burkartii showed chromosome characteristics different from those found in the rest of the species of section Rhizomatosae.

Estudios cariotípicos en especies silvestres de Arachis (Leguminosae) pertenecientes a las secciones Erectoides, Procumbentes y Rhizomatosae. Los cariotipos de tres especies diploides pertenecientes a las secciones Erectoides (A. hermannii), Procumbentes (A. rigonii) y Rhizomatosae (A. burkartii) fueron analizados mediante la técnica de Feulgen. Las fórmulas cariotípicas obtenidas son diferentes en los taxones analizados, 2n=2x=16m+4sm en A. hermannii, 2n=2x=18m+2sm en A. rigonii, y 2n=2x=20m en A. burkartii. Las tres especies presentaron un par de cromosomas con satélite, en A. hermannii tipo 2, en A. rigonii tipo 9 y en A. burkartii tipo 8. Arachis hermannii y A. rigonii presentaron características cromosómicas similares a las especies incluidas en sus respectivas secciones. Sin embargo, A. burkartii no comparte características cromosómicas con el resto de las especies de la sección Rhizomatosae.

The karyotype structure of Arachis trinitensis was studied by conventional Feulgen staining, CMA/DAPI banding and rDNA loci detection by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in order to establish its genome status and test the hypothesis that this species is a genome donor of cultivated peanut. Conventional staining revealed that the karyotype lacked the small "A chromosomes" characteristic of the A genome. In agreement with this, chromosomal banding showed that none of the chromosomes had the large centromeric bands expected for A chromosomes. FISH revealed one pair each of 5S and 45S rDNA loci, located in different medium-sized metacentric chromosomes. Collectively, these results suggest that A. trinitensis should be removed from the A genome and be considered as a B or non-A genome species. The pattern of heterochromatic bands and rDNA loci of A. trinitensis differ markedly from any of the complements of A. hypogaea, suggesting that the former species is unlikely to be one of the wild diploid progenitors of the latter.