Induced and developmental variation in chromosomes of meristematic cells

Insights into the dynamics of genome size and chromosome evolution in the early diverging angiosperm lineage Nymphaeales (water lilies)

Nymphaeales are the most species-rich lineage of the earliest diverging angiosperms known as the ANA grade (Amborellales, Nymphaeales, Austrobaileyales), and they have received considerable attention from morphological, physiological, and ecological perspectives. Although phylogenetic relationships between these three lineages of angiosperms are mainly well resolved, insights at the whole genome level are still limited because of a dearth of information. To address this, genome sizes and chromosome numbers in 34 taxa, comprising 28 species were estimated and analysed together with previously published data to provide an overview of genome size and chromosome diversity in Nymphaeales. Overall, genome sizes were shown to vary 10-fold and chromosome numbers and ploidy levels ranged from 2n = 2x = 18 to 2n = 16x = ∼224. Distinct patterns of genome diversity were apparent, reflecting the differential incidence of polyploidy, changes in repetitive DNA content, and chromosome rearrangements within and between genera. Using model-based approaches, ancestral genome size and basic chromosome numbers were reconstructed to provide insights into the dynamics of genome size and chromosome number evolution. Finally, by combining additional data from Amborellales and Austrobaileyales, a comprehensive overview of genome sizes and chromosome numbers in these early diverging angiosperms is presented.

Heavy Metal Pollution, Selection, and Genome Size: The Species of the Žerjav Study Revisited with Flow Cytometry

The Death Valley at Žerjav in northern Slovenia exhibits a gradient of heavy metal pollution in the soil with severe consequences for species richness and composition along this gradient. Recently, a progressive loss of large-genome species in parallel with increasing concentrations of heavy metals has been shown. Here, we have measured the genome size of a near-complete sample of these species with flow cytometry and analysed the correlation of heavy metal pollution with the C- and Cx-values assigned to the test plots. The method of probability analysis was a hypergeometric distribution method. We confirm, on a different methodological basis than previously, that along the pollution gradient, species with high C- and Cx-values are increasingly underrepresented. This lends support to the “large genome constraint hypothesis”, predicting that plants with large genomes are at a disadvantage under all aspects of evolution, ecology, and phenotype, because junk DNA imposes a load to the organism.

Genome Size Dynamics and Evolution in Monocots

Monocot genomic diversity includes striking variation at many levels. This paper compares various genomic characters (e.g., range of chromosome numbers and ploidy levels, occurrence of endopolyploidy, GC content, chromosome packaging and organization, genome size) between monocots and the remaining angiosperms to discern just how distinctive monocot genomes are. One of the most notable features of monocots is their wide range and diversity of genome sizes, including the species with the largest genome so far reported in plants. This genomic character is analysed in greater detail, within a phylogenetic context. By surveying available genome size and chromosome data it is apparent that different monocot orders follow distinctive modes of genome size and chromosome evolution. Further insights into genome size-evolution and dynamics were obtained using statistical modelling approaches to reconstruct the ancestral genome size at key nodes across the monocot phylogenetic tree. Such approaches reveal that while the ancestral genome size of all monocots was small ( pg), there have been several major increases and decreases during monocot evolution. In addition, notable increases in the rates of genome size-evolution were found in Asparagales and Poales compared with other monocot lineages.

Genome size diversity in orchids: consequences and evolution

BACKGROUND

The amount of DNA comprising the genome of an organism (its genome size) varies a remarkable 40 000-fold across eukaryotes, yet most groups are characterized by much narrower ranges (e.g. 14-fold in gymnosperms, 3- to 4-fold in mammals). Angiosperms stand out as one of the most variable groups with genome sizes varying nearly 2000-fold. Nevertheless within angiosperms the majority of families are characterized by genomes which are small and vary little. Species with large genomes are mostly restricted to a few monocots families including Orchidaceae.

SCOPE

A survey of the literature revealed that genome size data for Orchidaceae are comparatively rare representing just 327 species. Nevertheless they reveal that Orchidaceae are currently the most variable angiosperm family with genome sizes ranging 168-fold (1C = 0.33-55.4 pg). Analysing the data provided insights into the distribution, evolution and possible consequences to the plant of this genome size diversity.

CONCLUSIONS

Superimposing the data onto the increasingly robust phylogenetic tree of Orchidaceae revealed how different subfamilies were characterized by distinct genome size profiles. Epidendroideae possessed the greatest range of genome sizes, although the majority of species had small genomes. In contrast, the largest genomes were found in subfamilies Cypripedioideae and Vanilloideae. Genome size evolution within this subfamily was analysed as this is the only one with reasonable representation of data. This approach highlighted striking differences in genome size and karyotype evolution between the closely related Cypripedium, Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium. As to the consequences of genome size diversity, various studies revealed that this has both practical (e.g. application of genetic fingerprinting techniques) and biological consequences (e.g. affecting where and when an orchid may grow) and emphasizes the importance of obtaining further genome size data given the considerable phylogenetic gaps which have been highlighted by the current study.

Induced variation in chiasma frequency in Rye in response to phosphate treatments

Plants of two rye genotypes, one highly inbred, the other not, were grown with varying amounts of available mineral phosphate. In two experiments, one using culture solutions, the other a field experiment, the results show an effect of phosphate treatments on mean chiasma frequency at first metaphase in meiocytes. Plants given increased amounts of phosphate showed an increase in chiasma frequency. A similar effect of phosphate on chromosome size and mass at mitotic metaphase in meristems is known and there may be a direct link between chromosome size and chiasma frequency.

Chromosome diversity and evolution in Liliaceae

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There is an extensive literature on the diversity of karyotypes found in genera within Liliaceae, but there has been no attempt to analyse these data within a robust phylogenetic framework. In part this has been due to a lack of consensus on which genera comprise Liliaceae and the relationships between them. Recently, however, this changed with the proposal for a relatively broad circumscription of Liliaceae comprising 15 genera and an improved understanding of the evolutionary relationships between them. Thus there is now the opportunity to examine patterns and trends in chromosome evolution across the family as a whole.

METHODS

Based on an extensive literature survey, karyo-morphometric features for 217 species belonging to all genera in Liliaceae sensu the APG (Angiosperm Phylogeny Group) were obtained. Included in the data set were basic chromosome number, ploidy, chromosome total haploid length (THL) and 13 different measures of karyotype asymmetry. In addition, genome size estimates for all species studied were inferred from THLs using a power regression model constructed from the data set. Trends in karyotype evolution were analysed by superimposing the karyological data onto a phylogenetic framework for Liliaceae.

KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Combining the large amount of data enabled mean karyotypes to be produced, highlighting marked differences in karyotype structure between the 15 genera. Further differences were noted when various parameters for analysing karyotype asymmetry were assessed. By examining the effects of increasing genome size on karyotype asymmetry, it was shown that in many but not all (e.g. Fritillaria and all of Tulipeae) species, the additional DNA was added preferentially to the long arms of the shorter chromosomes rather than being distributed across the whole karyotype. This unequal pattern of DNA addition is novel, contrasting with the equal and proportional patterns of DNA increase previously reported. Overall, the large-scale analyses of karyotype features within a well-supported phylogenetic framework enabled the most likely patterns of chromosome evolution in Liliaceae to be reconstructed, highlighting diverse modes of karyotype evolution, even within this comparatively small monocot family.

Some aspects of plant karyology and karyosystematics

The significance of the 4C value (where C is the amount of DNA in the unreplicated haploid genome) in angiosperm plants is discussed. The DNA amount is a stable feature used in biosystematics. Although this parameter varies even in closely related taxa, there is no correlation between the DNA amount and the structural and functional organization of plants. The role of DNA amount, including "excess" DNA, in plant evolution is considered. Some rules governing the distribution of DNA amount among different plant taxa are postulated, together with the possibility of using the data in systematics, phylogeny, and solutions of problems of genetic apparatus organization and evolution. The decrease in DNA value per genome during plant evolution and the high level of species formation in taxa with large DNA values have been shown. Plant taxa with a small DNA value per genome have a high percentage and higher degree of polyploidy. The nature of the differential staining of euchromatin and heterochromatin bands of prophase and metaphase chromosomes is also discussed. Data that could explain the mechanism of heterochromatin visualization under cold pretreatment of cells are reviewed. Phenomena involved in the arrangement of chromocenters in interphase nuclei and chromosomes in metaphase during consecutive cell generations are discussed.

The spatial order of chromosomes in root-tip metaphases ofAegilops umbellulata

Twelve root-tip metaphase cells of the diploid grassAegilops umbellulataZhuk. (2n= 2x= 14) were reconstructed in three dimensions from electron micrographs of serial thin sections. In ten of these cells each individual chromosome in the nuclei was identified by morphological criteria. No evidence for somatic association of centromeres of homologous chromosomes was found. However, with use of computer analysis, evidence was found suggesting: (i) that the centromeres are not arranged randomly on the metaphase plate but are ordered in two haploid sets; and (ii) that the order within each set is that predicted by a model based on spatial association of pairs of corresponding arms of most similar size on heterologous chromosomes.

The effects of polyploidy on meiotic duration and pollen development in cereal anthers

The anther is useful for the study of development because it provides comparisons between mitotic and meiotic divisions; between nuclear behaviour during the sporophyte and gametophyte stages; and between cell cycles and divisions involving cells with different nuclear DNA contents. The duration of the period from the immediately premeiotic mitosis until the start of leptotene at 20 °C was estimated to be about 48 h in hexaploid Chinese Spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum ), and about 42 h in diploid Petkus Spring rye ( Secale cereale ). Comparisons of the durations of meiosis and of pollen maturation in wheat, in rye and in Triticale genotypes showed that in all three the durations of these stages of development decreased as ploidy level increased. Within each ploidy level, genotypes with higher nuclear DNA content had longer meiotic durations. Differences in both meiotic duration and pollen maturation resulted from proportional differences in the duration of all component stages. These results obtained from comparisons of a closely related group of species in the Gramineae are similar to the results obtained previously (Bennett 1971) from comparisons of plant species taken from widely different families. Data in animals showing positive linear relationship between meiotic duration and the duration of spermatogenesis are collected. Possible causes of the faster rates of development during meiosis and pollen maturation in polyploid cereal species, and of the constant proportions between the durations of all their constituent stages, are discussed.

Chromosome size variation during pollen grain development in Scilla sibirica

The first pollen grain mitosis in Scilla sibirica takes place within three weeks after the completion of meiosis. Within one anther the duration of the first pollen grain mitotic cycle varies substantially. The duration of the mitotic cycle affects the length of chromosomes at metaphase of the first pollen grain mitosis. In grains which divide "early" the chromosomes at metaphase are longer, up to twice the length, of the chromosomes in grains dividing "late". The diminution in length with increase in the mitotic cycle is due to more intensive coiling which, in turn, is explained by a lengthening of G2 and of prophase. The relationship between the duration of the mitotic cycle and chromosome length at metaphase would account, at least largely, for the variation in chromosome length between different tissues within organisms. It explains also why the chromosome at metaphase of mitosis are shorter in polyploids than in their diploid ancestors.

The time and duration of female meiosis in Lilium

The time and duration of meiosis in ovules and anthers was estimated in plants of two Lilium hybrids (cultivars ‘Sonata’ and ‘Black Beauty’) grown under controlled conditions. Within each flower bud meiosis did not start in the embryo sac mother cell (e.m.c.) until about the time when meiosis in pollen mother cells (p.m.cs) was ended. In both cultivars meiosis lasted about 50% longer in e.m.cs than in p.m.cs. Thus, at a mean temperature of 20 ± 1 °C meiosis in ‘Sonata’ took 7.5 days in p.m.cs and 10.5 days in e.m.cs, while in ‘Black Beauty’ it took 10.5 days in p.m.cs and 16.0 days in e.m.cs.

Increased chiasma frequency in desynaptic barley in response to phosphate treatments

The treatment of desynaptic genotypes in barley with a high rate of mineral phosphate resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of bivalents per cell as a result of an increase in the chiasma frequency.

Production of aneuploids in Avena sativa L

Oat plants were treated with nitrous oxide shortly after pollination. A high frequency of aneuploids in the progenies of treated plants indicates that this technique may be a useful tool for the production of aneuploid series in oats. Several 12-ploid, or nearly 12-ploid, oat plants were also obtained.