Tetrasomic inheritance of isoenzyme markers in the highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum L

Abstract

Segragation ratios at four enzyme loci (Mdh-2, Pgi-2, 6Pgd-2, and Got-3) in Vaccinium corymbosum (4x) cultivars were in close agreement with the expectations of tetrasomic inheritance. Random chromosome segregation was suggested by the absence of double reduction progeny genotypes and previous reports of bivalent pairing in this species. A common species origin of autotetraploid highbush blueberry and other Vaccinium polyploids is proposed. Different genetic and evolutionary consequences of polysomic inheritance versus disomic inheritance are discussed with reference to the literature on polyploids. © 1989, The Genetical Society of Great Britain.