Arabidopsis interspecies mapping population

In the genus Arabidopsis, a recently established natural allopolyploid species, Arabidopsis suecica (Nat), originated from a single hybridization event between A. thaliana (N=10) and A. arenosa (N=8). To investigate the genetic mechanisms of adaptation of Nat to allopolyploidy, including the re-establishment of fertility, we created a synthetic allopolyploid (Syn) carrying the A. thaliana and A. arenosa genomes by recreating the cross that gave rise to A. suecica. Contrary to its natural counterpart, the synthetic allopolyploid exhibit very poor fertility. We then produced an F2 population segregating for natural and synthetic allopolyploid alleles by crossing Syn x Nat and selfing the resulting progeny. We characterized the progeny in terms of fertility, meiotic stability as well as karyotype, and correlated these data with genotype and chromosome content information obtained through using next generation sequencing.