Fluorescent in situ hybridization as an aid to introducing alien genetic variation into wheat

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) has been used to assess the occurrence and frequency of wheat-alien chromosome pairing in a wheat/Thinopyrum bessarabicum hybrid and in wheat/rye hybrids with different levels of chromosome pairing by examining pollen mother cells at metaphase I of meiosis. The use of FISH to identify the presence and size of alien chromatin in a wheat background is also demonstrated. The value of FISH as an aid to the introgression of alien genetic variation into wheat is discussed.