Estimation of the share of components of different ploidy in anisoploid sugar-beet [Beta vulgaris L.] populations by flow cytometry

Flow cytometry is commonly used in sugar-beet breeding and seed production for ploidy estimation. By means of this method individual plants as well as plant populations can be analysed. An interpretation of histograms obtained from anisoploid populations, however, causes some problems to the breeder. Bulks of diploid, triploid and tetraploid sugar-beet plants in different proportion and ploidy combinations (2x + 3x, 2x + 4x, and 3x + 4x) were tested in order to determine the relation between the actual share of the components of different ploidy levels in tested populations and that calculated on the basis of flow cytometry. In this way agraph for estimation of the share of different ploidy components was obtained. Repeatability of the results proves the usefulness of flow cytometric analysis of anisoploid plant populations in breeding and seed production of polyploid crops.