Comparative genetic studies have shown that there are widespread synteny and colinearity of the genes among different species within grass family. Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is a model plant, and analysis of its genome allows us to reveal the common features and the evolutionary rules of the gramineous genomes and accumulate the data for establishment of a common genetic system in the Poaceae. In this study, a rice gene Pib ( 10.3 kb), a map-based cloned gene, and RFLP markers linked with it are used as the tested probes to investigate their homology and physical location among the tested species. Southern blotting analysis showed that there were sequences homologous to Pib in maize genome. Further, Pib was localized onto the chromosomes of O. sativa ssp. indica cv. Guangluai 4, O. officinalis Wall ex Watt and the inbred line of Zea mays cv. Huangzao 4. The results of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and double-color FISH indicated that a synteny of Pib and RFLP markers linked with Pib existed among the genomes of the three tested species.
