RFLP analysis of the progeny from Oryza alta Swallen × Oryza sativa L.

RFLP analyses were carried out in the progeny from a cross of two phylogenetically distant rice species, wild rice Oryza alta Swallen (CCDD, 2n = 48) and cultivated rice O. sativa L. (AA, 2n = 24). The sterile plants gave heterozygous RFLP patterns at most of the loci detected. They looked more like their wild rice parent, with 36 chromosomes in their root-tip cells and pollen mother cells. In two partially fertile plants, however, most of the markers that were used showed RFLP patterns similar to the cultivated parent, O. sativa. By cytological study, it was found that nearly one-third of the chromosomes had been eliminated in the partially fertile plants. Their seeds have short awns, which is a characteristic of their wild parent, O. alta. An introgression occurred in one of the partially fertile plants, which led to the discussion about a nonconventional mechanism in wide hybridization for transference of wild rice chromosome segments to cultivated rice chromosomes.Key words: RFLP, Oryza alta, rice, Oryza sativa, wide hybridization.