What does allotetraploid mean?
An allotetraploid is an organism or cell with four sets of chromosomes formed from the chromosome complements of two different species. Its genome is commonly represented as AABB, with two chromosome sets derived from one parental species and two from another. Such organisms can arise when hybridization is followed by chromosome doubling, allowing related chromosomes to pair more regularly and often restoring fertility to a hybrid that might otherwise be sterile. Allotetraploidy is especially important in plant evolution and crop breeding because it can combine useful traits from distinct species and create new reproductive isolation. The term is narrower than the general word “tetraploid”: not every tetraploid has chromosomes from different species, and an allotetraploid should not be confused with an autotetraploid, which derives all four sets from one species. In current genetic and botanical literature, “allotetraploid” can function as both a noun and an attributive adjective.
An organism or cell containing four basic chromosome sets, typically two sets derived from each of two distinct parental species.
"The allotetraploid flowered more vigorously than either parent under the experimental conditions."
Usually used in genetics, cytology, evolutionary biology, and plant breeding.
Having four basic chromosome sets derived from two distinct parental genomes.
"Researchers identified an allotetraploid population with greater disease resistance."
Commonly placed before nouns such as “species,” “plant,” “genome,” and “hybrid.”
The plural refers to multiple organisms or cells having an allotetraploid chromosome complement.
"Several allotetraploids were crossed to study the inheritance of flowering time."
An allotetraploid carries the chromosomes of two different lineages in one organism—a literal genetic meeting of two species.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does allotetraploid come from?
The word combines Greek-derived elements meaning “other” and “four” with the Greek-derived genetic term for chromosome sets, “-ploid.” It developed as a specialized form of “tetraploid” that identifies polyploidy involving chromosome sets from distinct species. The related term “amphidiploid” comes from a separate Greek-based terminology and is often used for a plant with two distinct parental genomes.
Related word forms
How allotetraploid is actually used
This is specialized terminology in genetics, cytology, and plant breeding. It is normally used in formal scientific writing, and the adjective often appears attributively before a noun such as “species,” “plant,” or “genome.”
Easily confused with allotetraploid
An allotetraploid has chromosome sets derived from two different species, whereas an autotetraploid has four sets derived from a single species.