Phylogeny of Triticum L. and Aegilops L. genuses inferred from a comparative analysis of nucleotide sequences in promoter rDNA regions of individual species

The process of accumulation of knowledge on wheat and related wild species during the 20th century is briefly reviewed with special reference to the evidence of the recent years on evolution of polyploid wheats and the role of diploid species. The latter serve as potential donors of the genomes, detection of which is particularly important because of the continuing speciation in the tribe Triticeae and artificial development of synthetic forms. The arguments in favor of the donor role for various diploid wheat species and aegilopses from the section Sitopsis are compared. It is stated that in the formation of the both lines of polyploid wheats turgidum-aestivum and timopheevi, diploid Aegilops speltoides acted as a maternal form. In addition to plasmatic genomes, this aegilops species introduced into them also the B and G nuclear subgenomes. A comparison of nucleotide sequences in the variable part of the promoter of evolutionary conserved rRNA genes in polyploid wheats with their counterparts in diploid wheats and aegilopses confirmed the accepted wheat phylogenies.     

Structure of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">TADHN</Emphasis> gene for dehydrin-like protein of soft wheat and activation of its expression by ABA and 24-epibrassinolide

The structure of the cloned fragment of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) TADHN gene encoding dehydrin-like protein was examined. A comparative analysis of nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences revealed a high homology of this fragment with sequences of the barley dhn8 gene and wheat wcor gene family. In deduced amino acid sequence of the TADHN fragment, a 15-residue region EKKGFLEKIKEKLPG was found, which corresponded to a highly conserved K-segment of dehydrins. Wheat seedling treatment with 3.7 μM ABA and 0.4 μM 24-epibrassinolide exerted similar stimulatory effects on expression of the TADHN gene, which indicates the involvement of dehydrins in the protective action of these phytohormones in wheat plants.     

The Plant Dehydrins: Structure and Putative Functions

This review deals with recent data on the structure and biochemical properties of dehydrins, proteins that are normally synthesized in maturating seeds during their desiccation, and also in vegetative tissues of plants treated with abscisic acid or exposed to environmental stress factors that result in cellular dehydration. The dehydrins are considered as stress proteins involved in formation of plant protective reactions against dehydration. The generally accepted classification of dehydrins is based on their structural features, such as the presence of conserved sequences, designated as Y-, S-, and K-segments. The K-segment representing a highly conserved 15 amino acid motif (EKKGIMDKIKEKLPG) forming amphiphilic -helix has been found in all dehydrins. The pathways of regulation of dehydrin gene expression, putative functions of dehydrins, and molecular mechanisms of their actions are discussed.     

The frequencies of the low-molecular-weight alanine-rich cold shock proteins genes and variation of their primary structure in plants of temperate climate

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to study the frequencies of the gene of a low-molecular-weight alanine-rich cold shock protein in plants of temperate climate. This gene was demonstrated to be specific for the family Cruciferae. Its variability in this family was studied.     

The Phylogeny of Triticum L. and Aegilops L. Inferred from Comparative Analysis of Nucleotide Sequences in rDNA Promoter Regions

The process of accumulation of knowledge on wheat and related wild species during the 20th century is briefly reviewed with special reference to the evidence of the recent years on evolution of polyploid wheats and the role of diploid species. The latter serve as potential donors of the genomes, detection of which is particularly important because of the continuing speciation in the tribe Triticeae and artificial development of synthetic forms. The arguments in favor of the donor role for various diploid wheat and aegilops species from the section Sitopsis are compared. It is stated that in the formation of the both lines of polyploid wheats turgidum–aestivumand timopheevi,diploid Aegilops speltoides acted as a maternal form. In addition to cytoplasmic genomes, this aegilops species introduced into them also the B and G nuclear subgenomes. A comparison of nucleotide sequences in the variable part of the promoter of evolutionary conserved rRNA genes in polyploid wheats with their counterparts in diploid wheats and aegilops species confirmed the accepted wheat phylogenies.