Background: Gastrodia elata Blume is a saprophytic perennial plant in the Orchidaceae family, because of its agricultural and medicinal effectiveness, researchers focus on its genome and chemical components. However, cytogenetic information based on the chromosome structure and composition to construct chromosomal backbone for genome sequencing research and for the development and breeding of plants is very limited.
Methods and Results: We determined the metaphase chromosome composition of the G. elata genome by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using 5S and 45S rDNAs and telomeric repeat probes. The nuclear genome of G. elata was organized into 2 n = 36, with relatively small (2.71 - 5.50㎛)chromosomes that showed gradual decrease in size. Conglutination phenomenon was observed among the metaphase chromosomes, and it was distinguished from that in other plant metaphase chromosome spreads. One pair of signal was detected for each 5S and 45S rDNA in the pericentromeric region and interstitial region on the short arm of chromosomes 10 and 4, respectively, and telomeric DNA signals were detected in the terminal region of most chromosomes.
Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first FISH chromosome composition result in G. elata and could be useful in more comprehensive molecular cytogenetic and genomic analyses as well as breeding programs of the medicinal plant G. elata.

ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
  1. Plant samples
  2. Slide preparation
  3. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES

• Hui Chao Zhou(삼육대학교 염색체연구소)
• 박응준(국립산림과학원 산림생명공학연구과) | Eung Jun Park (Forest Biotechnology Division, NIFoS)
• 김현희(삼육대학교 염색체연구소) | Hyun Hee Kim (Chromosome Research Institute, Life Science Department, Sahmyook University) Corresponding author