Comparison of relative positions of G1 peaks corresponding to the sample nuclei and the nuclei isolated from a plant with known DNA content, respectively, permit accurate determination of the "unknown" DNA content:
Figure 21. Relative DNA content distribution of nuclei isolated from young leaves of Musa acuminataerrans and Glycine max cv "Polanka" (2C = 2.50 pg DNA). The ratio of G1 peak means (Glycine /Musa) = 1.984. Thus the 2C nuclear DNA content of M. acuminata errans is equal to 2.50 / 1.984 = 1.26 pg DNA.
Absolute values in pg DNA can be converted to the number of base pairs. The conversion factor is 1 pg = 965 million base-pairs (Mbp).
Table 3. Nuclear genome size of Musa genotypes estimated by flow cytometry*
Genotype | Genome | 2C DNA Content (pg) | 1C DNA | |
Mean | CV[%] | (Mbp) | ||
M. balbisiana | BB | 1,14 | 2,57 | 552 |
M. acuminata | AA | 1,23 | 1,48 | 593 |
Pisang Mas (Austria) | AA | 1,25 | 1,62 | 605 |
M. acuminata errans | AA | 1,26 | 1,72 | 606 |
Pisang Mas (Malaysia) | AA | 1,26 | 1,14 | 607 |
* Glycine max cv. "Polanka" (2C DNA content = 2.50 pg) was used as an internal reference standard