Molecular cytogenetic characterization of Thinopyrum genomes conferring perennial growth habit in wheat- Thinopyrum amphiploids

Seven wheat‐Thinopyrum amphiploids, AT 3425, AgCs, PI 550710, PI 550711, PI 550712, PI 550713 and PI 550714, were evaluated for perennial growth habit in the field. Three of them, AgCs, AT 3425, and PI 550713, were identified as perennials. Fluorescent genomic in situ hybridization (FGISH) patterns of mitotic chromosomes indicated that AgCs had seven pairs of Thinopyrum chromosomes and 21 pairs of wheat chromosomes. PI 550713 and AT 3425 showed similar FGISH patterns of mitotic chromosomes with three pairs of wheat‐Thinopyrum translocated chromosomes, seven pairs of Thinopyrum chromosomes, and 18 pairs of wheat chromosomes. Thinopyrum chromosome pairing in the Fi hybrid of AT 3425 with AgCs demonstrated differences between Thinopyrum genomes in these two amphiploids. Based on chromosome constitutions, pairing and reported pedigrees, AgCs and AT 3425 were identified as a wheat‐Thinopyrum elongatum amphiploid and partial wheat‐Thinopyrum ponticum amphiploid, respectively. Chromosome pairing in the F₁ hybrid between AT 3425 and PI 550713 revealed that these two amphiploids contained the same Thinopyrum genome. Two different Thinopyrum genomes conferring perennial growth habit were identified from the perennial amphiploids and characterized cytogenetically.     

Analysis of stability for some characters in Kabuli Chickpea

Summary The meiotic behaviour of a hybrid between Triticum aestivum and the amphiploid Hordeum chilense x T. turgidum conv. durum, was studied using a C-banding staining method. This hybrid has the genome formula of AA BB D Hch with 2n=6x=42 chromosomes. The durum wheat chromosomes (genomes A and B) were easily recognized, whereas the D and Hch chromosomes were recognized as a whole. Meiotic pairing was homologous, as expected (14 bivalents from A and B genomes +14 univalents from D and Hch genomes). However, some pollen mother cells at metaphase-I presented pseudobivalents that could have been caused by either homoeologous or autosyndetic pairing amongst D and Hch chromosomes.     

Transfer of rust resistance from Aegilops ovata into bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and molecular characterisation of resistant derivatives

An interspecific cross was made to transfer leaf rust and stripe rust resistance from an accession of Aegilops ovata (UUMM) to susceptible Triticum aestivum (AABBDD) cv. WL711. The F₁was backcrossed to the recurrent wheat parent, and after two to three backcrosses and selfing, rust resistant progenies were selected. The C-banding study in a uniformly leaf rust and stripe rust resistant derivative showed a substitution of the 5M chromosome of Ae. ovata for 5D of wheat. Analysis of rust resistant derivatives with mapped wheat microsatellite makers confirmed the substitution of 5M for 5D. Some of these derivatives also possessed one or more of the three alien translocations involving 1BL, 2AL and 5BS wheat chromosomes which could not be detected through C-banding. A translocation involving 5DSof wheat and the substituted chromosome 5M of Ae. ovata was also observed in one of the derivatives. Susceptibility of this derivative to leaf rust showed that the leaf rust resistance gene(s) is/are located on short arm of 5M chromosome of Ae. ovata. Though the Ae. ovatasegment translocated to 1BL and 2AL did not seem to possess any rust resistance gene, the alien segment translocated to 5BS may also possess gene(s) for rust resistance. The study demonstrated the usefulness of microsatellite markers in characterisation of interspecific derivatives. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Characterization of wheat-Thinopyrum partial amphiploids for resistance to barley yellow dwarf virus

Resistance to viruses such as wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) and barley yellow dwarf virus(BYDV) is lacking in the primary gene pool of wheat, and therefore resistance is being introgressed from wild relatives such as Thinopyrum species. Resistance to BYDV was found in partial amphiploids (2n = 8x = 56, consisting of 42 wheat and14 alien chromosomes) obtained in hybrids between wheat and both Th. intermedium and Th.ponticum. GISH analysis revealed that the alien genomes of all but one resistant partial amphiploid were heterogeneous consisting of different ratios of St, J^s and J genome chromosomes obtained from theThinopyrum parent. Translocated chromosomes consisting of Robertsonian, interstitial and terminal translocations between the different genomes were also detected. The tissue blot immunoassay showed that partial amphiploids having resistance could be inoculated with the virus but both virus multiplication and spread were completely blocked. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Resistance to barley yellow-dwarf-virus disease in derivatives of crosses between hexaploid wheat and species of Lophopyrum (Triticeae; Poaceae)

Among the wheatgrasses that are possible sources of genetic resistance for wheat to barley yellow-dwarf-virus disease (BYD) are those that have been commonly subsumed under the name Agropyron elongatum (Host) P. Beauv. Two of these wheatgrass species are the diploid Lophopymm elongatum (Host) Á. Löve (2n = 2x = 14) and the decaploid L. ponticum (Podp.) Á. Löve (2n = 10x = 70). These two species, the addition and substitution lines of L. elongatum chromosomes in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and derivatives of hybrids between hexaploid wheat and L. ponticum, were screened for resistance to BYD, as defined by visual symptoms in field-grown plants. The two species, an amphiploid derived from L. elongatumבChinese Spring’ wheat, and the derivatives involving L. ponticum chromosomes were all highly resistant. The substitution and addition lines of L. elongatum chromosomes in ‘Chinese Spring’ revealed that the genetic control of resistance in L. elongatum must be complex, with more than one critical locus involved. Chromosomes 2E and 5E are involved and there are lesser contributions to resistance from the remaining wheatgrass chromosomes. One highly resistant derivative was determined to have only three pairs of L. ponticum chromosomes. It has a wheat-like morphology and shows promise for further characterization.     

Abnormal pollen development of bread wheat-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leymus mollis</Emphasis> partial amphiploid

Summary Octoploid Tritileymus was the partial amphiploid obtained from Triticum aestivum × Leymus mollis, its chromosome constitution was 14 Leymus chromosomes and 42 wheat chromosomes. In the pollen development of Tritileymus, some abnormalities were observed, such as the absence of tetrad formation, cytomixis of microspores, irregular shape of some microspores and multi-germination pores, symmetrical first mitosis, chromosomes or chromatids randomly dispersed in the cytoplasm of microspore.     

Salt Tolerance of an Amphiploid between Triticum aestivum and Agropyron junceum

The main objective of this work is to demonstrate the expression of salt tolerance genes in a wheat-Agropyron amphiploid. Salt tolerance tests were carried out on wheat varieties, ‘Chinese Spring,’ and ‘Glenn-son 81’ the amphiploid between ‘Chinese Spring’ and A. junceum, A. junceum and amphiploid × wheat hybrids, Apart from germination in petridishes all other tests were carried out on plants grown in saline hydroculture tanks. Fresh weight measurements are given for stressed and non-stressed plants as well as measurements of harvest ripe plants. The utility of A. junceum as a source of salt tolerance genes for wheat is discussed.     

Karyological characterization of a partial amphiploid,Triticum turgidum L. var. durum × Agropyron intermedium (Host) P.B.

Summary A Giemsa-C-banded karyotype of a partial amphiploid, Triticum turgidum L. var. durum cv. Nodak × Agropyron intermedium (Host) P.B., called MT-2, was analyzed. MT-2 is a winterhardy grasslike octoploid germplasm which survived 5 winters in Montana, and its seed weight is 3 times that of A. intermedium seed. The MT-2 C-banding karyotype shows 6 chromosome pairs each of the A and B wheat genomes with 3A and 4B missing. Chromosomes 1B and 2B are involved in a reciprocal homozygous translocation (T1BS·2BS, T1BL·2BL) which was also confirmed by a nucleolus-associated quadrivalent in an MT-2 × durum wheat backcross. In addition to the wheat chromosomes, MT-2 consistently shows 16 A. intermedium chromosome pairs which are designated from A to P. These chromosomes show C-banding patterns similar to those reported earlier in the literature. A large amount of C-banding polymorphism and structural rearrangements in A. intermedium itself presently make a definite chromosome assignment to the homeologous groups of the Triticeae difficult. The data presented are crucial for further directed manipulation of this germplasm aimed at producing valuable chromosome additions and substitutions in wheat.contribution No. J-2767 from Montana Agric. Exp. Stn.     

Development of RAPD markers in tritordeum and addition lines of Hordeum chilense in Triticum aestivum

RAPD markers were developed for octoploid X Tritordeum (amphiploid Hordeum chilense × Triticum aestivum) and its parents. Two bread wheats, two H. chilense accessions and the two tritordeums synthesized with them were used. A total of 41 arbitrary decamer primers were tested, yielding 190 products that could be assigned to wheat, 185 to H. chilense and 108 that were nonspecific (present in wheat and barley). A total of 44 products were specific to one H. chilense line and 33 to the other 16 of the former were located on the chromosomes using a set of H. chilense in T. aestivum addition lines. The potential of RAPDs for developing addition lines or the detection of introgressions of H. chilense in bread wheat is discussed.     

A self-fertile trigeneric hybrid in the Triticeae involving Triticum,Hordeum, and Secale

Summary A self-fertile trigeneric hybrid in the Triticeae involving species from the Hordeum, Triticum and Secale genera has been produced. The trigeneric hybrid was obtained by crossing octoploid triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) with octoploid tritordeum (H. chilense × T. aestivum amphiploid). The trigeneric hybrid presented a genome constitution AABBDDRH^ch and 2n=8X=56 chromosomes. The cytogenetical analyses showed no chromosome instability nor homeologous pairing between Hordeum and Secale chromosomes. In the F₂ generation the chromosome number ranged from 42 to 52. Within this range, the plants with smaller numbers of chromosomes were more frequent. A preferential transmission of rye chromosomes could be inferred.     

Chromosomal Assignment of Three Enzyme Coding Loci (Icd1, Nad-Mdh1 and Aco1) Using Primary Trisomics in Beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

Resistance to Septoria nodorum was investigated in seedlings of an amphiploid generated from Triticum dicoccum Shübl. and Aegilops squarrosa Tausch, and in a series of substitution lines of single chromosomes from this synthetic hexaploid into Triticum aestivum cv. ‘Chinese Spring’ in three tests to determine the chromosomal location of resistance. From the Ae. squarrosa parent (D genome), chromosome 5D was found to confer a high level of resistance, reducing lesion cover to near that of the amphiploid in the three tests. Chromosomes 3D, and to a lesser extent, 7D were also found to confer significant resistance to the amphiploid. Three chromosomes, 2A, 3B and 5A, from the T. dicoccum parent (AB genomes) also conferred resistance but to a lesser extent than 7D. Two chromosomes, 2B and 2D, caused a significant decrease in resistance. ‘Chinese Spring’ may thus carry genes for resistance to S. nodorum on these chromosomes which are absent in the synthetic hexaploid.     

Intergeneric hybrids and an amphiploid between Elymus canadensis and Psathyrostachys juncea

Summary Fifty four hybrid plants between Elymus canadensis and Psathyrostachys juncea were obtained by handpollination and embryo culture. The average cross compatibility between both species was 31.2 percent. One amphiploid plant was induced by colchicine treatment. The hybrid and amphiploid plants resembled P. juncea in appearance but showed a higher plant height and dry matter yield than the parents. The hybrids showed extremely low pollen stainability and were completely sterile. With the exception of one plant (2n=3x+1=22), all hybrid plants were allotriploids (SHN, 2n=3x=21). The amphiploid plant (SSHHNN, 2n=6x=42) showed 58.9% pollen stainability and 11.6% seed fertility.Mean chromosome associations of the hybrids and amphiploid at metaphase I were 0.02IV+0.06III+2.03II+16.91I and 0.07III+18.00II+5.85I, respectively. Lagging chromosomes, chromosome bridges, abnormal cytokinesis, and micronuclei were occasionally observed at the anaphase, telophase, or tetrad stage.     

Genetic variation for carotenoid pigment content in the amphiploid Hordeum chilense × Triticum turgidum conv. durum

Hexaploid tritordeum, the amphiploid Hordeum chilense x Triticum turgidum conv. durum has a higher grain carotene content than durum wheat. In order to decide strategies for introgressing this character into durum wheat, the effect on the carotene content of tritordeum synthesized with H. chilense and durum wheat differing in carotene content was analysed. Carotene content was evaluated in 35 primary tritordeum lines and their parents, 27 H. chilense accessions and 19 durum wheat cultivars. Some amphiploids have either one barley or wheat parent in common. In general, the influence of H. chilense is more important than that of wheat in the amphiploid carotene content. Nevertheless, the interactions between both parents on the amphiploid carotene content are also important.     

Expression of nucleolus, endosperm storage proteins and disease resistance in an amphiploid between Aegilops tauschii and Secale silvestre

Cytology and gene expression of an amphiploid between Aegilops tauschiiL., native to China, and Secale silvestre L. were studied to reveal the genomic interaction between the donor species. High frequencies of aneuploids were observed in the progenies of the amphiploid, indicating its cytological instability. Feulgen staining and Giemsa-C banding showed that only the nucleolar organizing region from chromosome 5D of Ae. tauschii existed in the amphiploid (2n = 28). The nucleolus of S. silvestre was not observed. Endosperm storage protein electrophoresis indicated most gliadin and glutenin genes from both parents were expressed in the endosperm of the amphiploid. When inoculated by wheat stripe rust and powdery mildew isolates,the amphiploid did not express the resistance from its Secale parent,suggesting the presence of disease resistance suppressor(s) in the D genome of Ae. tauschii as well as nucleolar organizer suppressors. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genome discrimination and chromosome pairing in the Hordeum chilense × Aegilops tauschii amphiploid

Tritordeum (X Tritordeum Ascherson et Graebner) is a synthetic amphiploid belonging to the Triticeae tribe, which resulted from crosses between Hordeum chilense and wheat. It presents useful agronomic traits that could be transferred to wheat, widening its genetic basis. In situ hybridisation with total genomic DNA from H. chilense and cloned, repetitive DNA sequences (pTa71 and pAs1) probes were used to discriminate the parental origin of all chromosomes, to analyse the chromosome pairing and to identify the chromosomes in pollen mother cells (PMCs) at metaphase I of the tritordeum line HT251 (H^chH^chDD, 2n = 4x = 28). The H. chilense total genomic DNA and the ribosomal sequence pTa71 probes, allowed the unequivocal discrimination of the 14 chromosomes of H^ch genome-origin and the 14 chromosomes of D genome-origin. Chromosome pairing analysis revealed meiotic irregularities such as reduced percentage of PMCs with complete homologous pairing, high frequency of univalents, most of H. chilense-origin and a reduced frequency of intragenomic multivalents from both genomes. The H. chilense genome revealed high meiotic instability. After individual chromosome identification at metaphase I with the pAs1 probe, we found the occurrence of pairing between chromosomes of different homoeology groups. The possible interest of the tetraploid tritordeum in the improvement of other Triticeae species is also discussed.     

Cytogenetic Study of a Trigeneric (Triticale × Trileymus) Hybrid

Summary In this study a new trigeneric hybrid involving species from the Triticum, Secale and Leymus was produced by crossing octoploid triticale (Jinsong49) with octoploid tritileymus (950059). The chromosome constitution of the parental amphiploid, trigeneric hybrid and its progenies were studied. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) analysis showed that Jinsong49 and 950059 had 44 wheat chromosomes, and 12 rye chromosomes, 12 L. mollis chromosomes respectively. The mean meiotic configuration of trigeneric hybrid F₁ was 13.17 I + 20.82 II + 0.37 III + 0.02 IV. GISH results indicated the trigeneric hybrid F₁ had 6 rye chromosomes and 6 Leymus chromosomes. In the selfed derivatives of the trigeneric hybrids, while the number of selfed generation increased, the mean number of chromosomes tends to decrease gradually and slowly. GISH results revealed that most plant tested in the progeny population had 8–12 rye chromosomes, and no Leymus chromosomes were detected. The results indicated that rye chromosomes can be preferentially transmitted in the progenies of trigeneric hybrid than Leymus chromosomes.     

Elymus canadensis×Secale cereale Amphiploids. II. Chromosome Constitutions and Pairing of Open-Pollinated Progeny

Eleven C₂ and two C₃ 0pen-pollinated plains from Elymus canadensis × Secale cereale amphiploid plants (2n = 6x = 42, SSHHRR) were examined for chromosome constitution and meiosis. Chromosome numbers of the progeny varied: 2n = 26, 27, 28, 36, 37, 39, 40, and 41. Elimination of portions of genome constituents were made at random and were irregular in all o the progeny. Monosomic (2n = 41) and nullisomic (2n = 40) plants lost one to two E. canadensis or S. cereale chromosomes and showed average of 17 to 18 bivalents and 4 to 5 univalents per cell at Ml. The C₂, aneuploid plants with 36 to 41 chromosomes seemed to result from selfing or intercrossing among; the C₁ amphiploid plants, while the plants of 2n = 26 to 2S (6–9 II + 10–141) might originate from outcrosses of the C_l amphiploid to S. cereale. Bivalent pairing might be preferentially intragenomic (S-S, H-H, or R-R). The occurrence of multivalents indicates a low potential of both intragenomic and intragenomic pairing; Pollen of the lour plants showed poor stainability (1 to 13 %) and no seed set in any of the progeny.     

Cytogenetical studies in wheat. XVIII. Gene Yr24 for resistance to stripe rust

A new gene, Yr24, for resistance to stripe rust was transferred from a durum accession to common wheat via an amphiploid (synthetic wheat) with Aegilops tauschii. Yr24 was located in chromosome 1B by monosomic analysis. Its genetic linkage of 4 cM with Yr15 indicated its localization to the short arm.     

Characterization of a partial amphiploid between Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring and Thinopyrum intermedium ssp. trichophorum

A partial amphiploid, TE-3, between Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring (CS) and Thinopyrum intermedium ssp. trichophorum was characterized by cytological observation, genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), seed storage protein electrophoresis and disease resistance screening. The TE-3 plants were deeply covered with pubescence, which is characteristic of the Th. intermedium ssp. trichophorum parent. Feulgen staining of the somatic metaphases revealed that the chromosome number varied from 52 to 56. TE-3 pollen mother cells (PMCs) regularly showed two to four univalents and 25 to 27 bivalents, indicating a degree of cytological instability. Giemsa-C banding showed that the Thinopyrum chromosomes in TE-3 produced strong heterochromatin bands. GISH analysis suggested that the alien chromosomes in TE-3 consisted of eight St chromosomes, four J^s chromosomes, and two J genome chromosomes, as well as two St-J translocation chromosomes. Seeds storage proteins separated by acid polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (APAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulphate – polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that TE-3 expressed some of Th. intermedium ssp. trichophorum specific gliadin and glutenin bands. When inoculated with stripe rust and powdery mildew isolates, TE-3 expressed resistance derived from its Thinopyrum parent. It appears that TE-3 can be used as a donor source in wheat breeding programs to introduce novel variation for quality and disease resistance.     

Chromosome and chromosomal arm locations of genes for resistance to Septoria glume blotch in wheat cultivar Cotipora

Summary Septoria glume blotch, caused by Stagonospora nodorum, is an important disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Separate genetic mechanisms were found to control flag leaf and spike resistance. Genes for resistance to S. nodorum were located on different chromosomes in the few wheat cultivars studied. These studies only partially agree on the chromosome locations of gene in wheat for resistance to S. nodorum, and chromosomal arm locations of such genes are not known. The objectives of this study were to determine the chromosome and chromosomal arm locations of genes that significantly influence resistance to S. nodorum in wheat cultivar Cotipora. Monosomic analysis showed that flag leaf resistance was controlled by genes on chromosomes 3A, 4A, and 3B whereas the spike resistance was controlled by genes on chromosomes 3A, 4A, 7A, and 3B (P=0.01). Additionally, genes on chromosomes 6B and 5A influenced the susceptibility of the flag leaf and spike reactions, respectively (P=0.01). Telocentric analysis showed that genes on both arms of chromosome 3A, and the long arms of chromosomes 4A and 3B were involved in the flag leaf resistance whereas genes on both arms of chromosome 4A, the short arm of chromosome 3A, and the long arm of chromosome 3B conferred spike resistance.