Mapping of the nucleolus organizer region on chromosome 4 in Arabidopsis thaliana.

In Arabidopsis thaliana the ribosomal RNA genes (rRNA genes or rDNA) are clustered in tandemly repeated blocks in two nucleolus organizer regions (NORs). Cytogenetic analysis has shown that the NORs are localized on chromosome 2 (NOR 2) and 4 (NOR 4). Recently the map position of NOR 2 was determined using a RFLP which was larger than 100 kb. In the course of a fingerprint analysis of different Arabidopsis ecotypes we have detected four rDNA polymorphisms between the ecotypes Landsberg (La) and Niederzenz (Nd). Mapping of these polymorphisms using established segregating F2 populations reveals that all polymorphisms detected are dominant. Three of them map to the locus on the second chromosome that has been shown to harbour the NOR 2. The fourth polymorphism can be unambiguously assigned to the upper arm of the fourth chromosome. This is the first polymorphism found which originates in the second rDNA cluster of Arabidopsis thaliana. It enables localization of NOR 4 and thus completes the mapping of rDNA genes in the NORs of Arabidopsis.