SATELLITE NUMBER AND SIZE IN TRITICUM MONOCOCCUM L. AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE POLYPLOID WHEATS

Abstract
Biotypes of Triticum monococcum from Europe and Iran were surveyed for variations in the number and size of the chromosomal satellites. Biotypes with both one and two pairs of satellited chromosomes were found, and the satellite size varied both within and between biotypes. It is concluded that existing phylogenetic and evolutionary schemes within Triticum and Aegilops, which are based mainly on karotype evidence, are suspect. The hypothesis that Ae. speltoides is the donor of the B genome of the tetraploid and hexaploid wheats is questioned.