Biochemical and genetic polymorphism of Bromopsis inermis populations under chronic radiation exposure

For the subsequent assessment of the genetic mechanisms responsible for the resistance of plants to chronic irradiation, the analysis of RAPD-cDNA with the subsequent isolation, cloning, and sequencing of expressed polymorphic sequences is a promising technique. A study was conducted on Bromopsis inermis populations that have been growing for a long time in the EURT area. Using RAPD primers, we studied the genetic spectra of plants. In analysing the UPGMA algorithm, we identified two well-distinguishable clusters with a high level of bootstrap support (> 85%): background samples hit the first, and impact samples hit the second. Our data indicate a decrease in diversity in the most polluted population, as well as the appearance of new alleles in chronically irradiated samples of the B. inermis. Smooth brome seedlings were characterised by the content of anthocyanins, comparable with other types of cereals. In the gradient of chronic irradiation, the relative content of anthocyanins was not significantly changed. For the first time, the partial nucleotide sequences of the key genes of anthocyanin biosynthesis (Chi and F3h) in the brome were determined, these sequences were found to be 191 and 356 bp in length, respectively, and were cloned and sequenced. Three copies of the Chi gene were identified in the B. inermis genome. One copy (BiChi-1) clustered with the sequences of the Aegilops tauschii gene (D genome), and the other two copies (BiChi-2 and BiChi-3) formed a separate cluster in the Pooideae subfamily adjacent to Hordeum vulgare. In the copy of BiChi-1, a complete deletion of intron 1 was detected. For the F3h gene, one copy of the B. inermis gene was obtained, which forms a separate branch in the subfamily Pooideae.

Karyotype and nuclear DNA content of hexa-, octo-, and duodecaploid lines of Bromus subgen. Ceratochloa

The subgenus Ceratochloa of the genus Bromus includes a number of closely related allopolyploid forms or species that present a difficult taxonomic problem. The present work combines data concerning chromosome length, heterochromatin distribution and nuclear genome size of different 6x, 8x and 12x accessions in this subgenus. Special attention is paid to the karyotype structure and genomic constitution of duodecaploid plants recently found in South America. Hexaploid lineages possess six almost indistinguishable genomes and a nuclear DNA content between 12.72 pg and 15.10 pg (mean 1Cx value = 2.32 pg), whereas octoploid lineages contain the same six genomes (AABBCC) plus two that are characterized by longer chromosomes and a greater DNA content (1Cx = 4.47 pg). Two duodecaploid accessions found in South America resemble each other and apparently differ from the North American duodecaploid B. arizonicus as regards chromosome size and nuclear DNA content (40.00 and 40.50 pg vs. 27.59 pg). These observations suggest that the South American duodecaploids represent a separate evolutionary lineage of the B. subgenus Ceratochloa, unrecognized heretofore.

Variation of nuclear ribosomal RNA genes inEragrostis tef(Zucc.) Trotter

Variation in the ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) was examined to assess the genetic variability among 314 plants representing 28 accessions of Eragrostis tef, an important food crop. A restriction site map was constructed for the species by localization of the BamHI, BglII, DraI, EcoRI, EcoRV, NdeI, SacI, SpeI, XbaI, and XhoI sites. A comparison of this map with those of other grasses showed conservation of sites, especially in the coding region. However, a unique EcoRI site combined with a BamHI site in the 18S region may be of diagnostic value for the species. A BamHI fragment that spans the intergenic spacer was used as an indicator of length variation of rDNA repeat units. rDNA repeat units in E. tef ranged in size from 8.4 to 11.07 kbp. Considerable size variation of rDNA repeats was present among accessions, between individual plants within some accessions, and within single plants. A total of 19 spacer length (sl) phenotypes was observed in 16 accessions in which 11–42 plants were analyzed. A single restriction site polymorphism was detected in PI442115 that was also distinguished by having a single sl variant. Variation in the rRNA genes is a useful indicator of genetic diversity in E. tef germplasm.Key words: Eragrostis tef, ribosomal DNA, restriction map, genetic variation.

On the origins of the tetraploid Bromus species (section Bromus, Poaceae): insights from internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA

The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA from 22 diploid and tetraploid annual Bromus species of section Bromus (Poaceae) and three species belonging to other Bromus sections, Bromus catharticus (section Ceratochloa), Bromus anomalus (section Pnigma), and Bromus sterilis (section Genea), were investigated by PCR amplification and direct sequencing. The length of the ITS-1 region varied from 215 to 218 bp, and that of the ITS-2 region from 215 to 216 bp, in the species analyzed. ITS-1 was more variable and provided more informative sites (49) than ITS-2 (32). No variation was encountered within species. In pairwise comparison among species of section Bromus, sequence divergence ranged from 0.0 to 8.0% for the combined ITS-1 and ITS-2 regions. Parsimony analysis using Avena longiglumis and Hordeum vulgare as outgroups resulted in well-resolved phylogenetic trees and showed that section Bromus is monophyletic according to the species analyzed outside of the section. The analysis clarified the phylogenetic relationships among monogenomic (diploid) species. Introduction of the allotetraploid species did not change the general topology of the trees obtained using only the diploid species. Although some tetraploid-diploid species relationships will have to be clarified with faster evolving markers, the ITS sequences are shown to be useful for assessing evolutionary relationships among closely related Bromus species, as well as for clarifying taxonomic problems in previously controversial cases (e.g., Bromus alopecuros and Bromus caroli-henrici). New hypotheses are proposed concerning the origin of several allotetraploid species. For example, it is shown that the tetraploid Bromus hordeaceus diverged earlier than all other species of section Bromus, excluding the diploid B. caroli-henrici, which is found to be basal in this group. The tetraploid Bromus arenarius, which was considered a hybrid between sections Bromus and Genea, and the tetraploid Bromus adoensis are sister taxa within section Bromus; they belong in a weakly differentiated clade with the diploids Bromus brachystachys, Bromus japonicus, Bromus squarrosus, Bromus arvensis, and Bromus intermedius.