Estimation of nuclear dna content in populations of atriplex halimus l. (chenopodiaceae) by flow cytometry

Abstract

Atriplex halimus L. is a perennial native shrub of the Mediterranean Basin with an excellent tolerance to drought and salinity. The aim of this work was to estimate nuclear DNA content in populations of A. halimus L. by flow cytometry, an efficient method to estimate ploidy levels and to determine nuclear DNA content in plants. Flow cytometry is a technique which permits rapid estimation of nuclear DNA content. Because of its speed, precision and convenience, this method of analysis of nuclear DNA content finds an enormous number of applications which cover basic research, breeding and production. The results obtained indicate that the technique might greatly simplify the analysis of plant genomes at the molecular level. © 2008 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.