Higher recombination frequencies in female compared to male meisoses in Brassica oleracea

Linkage maps of the nine chromosomes of Brassica oleracea, based on 75 informative molecular markers, have been compared in first and second backcross progeny from a cross between two doubled haploid lines. The second backcross progeny showed greater recombination frequencies for 75% of the pairs of adjacent markers, but there was no obvious indication that this effect was localised to particular regions of the chromosomes. Four chromosomes increased in genetic length more than twofold, while overall, the total map was 66% longer. The possible causes of this discrepancy are analysed. A sex difference in chiasma distribution and/or frequency at meiosis is thought to be the most likely explanation. The implications of this finding for mapping and map-based applications are discussed.