B chromosomes are supernumerary chromosomes found in addition to the normal standard chromosomes (A chromosomes). B chromosomes are well known to accumulate several distinct types of repeated DNA elements. Although the evolution of B chromosomes has been the subject of numerous studies, the mechanisms of accumulation and evolution of repetitive sequences are not fully understood. Recently, new genomic approaches have shed light on the origin and accumulation of different classes of repetitive sequences in the process of B chromosome formation and evolution. Here we discuss the impact of repetitive sequences accumulation on the evolution of plant B chromosomes.

Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Plant Molecular Biology Branišovská 31 CZ 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic

Laboratory of Genetic Resources Federal University of Alagoas Av Manoel Severino Barbosa 57309 005 Arapiraca AL Brazil

Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research Corrensstrasse 3 06466 Gatersleben Germany

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Genes (Basel). 2019 Jan 26;10(2):E85. doi: 10.3390/genes10020085. PubMed

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The first insight into Acanthocephalus (Palaeacanthocephala) satellitome: species-specific satellites as potential cytogenetic markers

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