An EST-SSR marker linked with yellow rust resistance in wheat

Expressed sequenced tags containing simple sequence repeats (EST-SSRs) were used to identify molecular markers associated with yellow rust resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A cross between yellow rust resistant (PI178383) and susceptible (Harmankaya99) wheat genotypes was performed and respective DNA pools from the resistant and susceptible F₂ seedlings were constructed. 78 EST-SSR primers were used for bulked segregant analysis and one EST-SSR marker (Pk54), identified as 200 bp fragment, was present in the resistant parent and resistant F₂ hybrids but not in the susceptible ones. 108 wheat genotypes differing in yellow rust resistance were screened with Pk54 and 68 % of the wheat genotypes, known to be yellow rust resistant, had the Pk54 marker, further suggesting that the presence of this marker correlates with yellow rust resistance.     

TDZ-specific plant regeneration in salad burnet

Various explants of salad burnet (Poterium sanguisorba L.=Sanguisorba minor Scop.) were cultured on semi-solid MS or B5 media containing factorial combinations of various plant growth regulators. Hypocotyl and petiole explants, after initial callus stage, regenerated prolific adventitious shoots via organogenesis, when placed on Murashige and Skoog basal medium containing 1–2 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid and 4-20 μM thidiazuron. Any other growth regulator combination tested failed to respond. The addition of the biocide, Plant Preservative Mixture, was effective in controlling contamination and did not impair regeneration. Elongated shoots at 2–4 cm were transferred to rooting medium containing semi-solid Murashige and Skoog plus 1 μM α-naphthaleneacetic and rooted plants were transferred to the glasshouse. This is the first report on in vitro plant regeneration within the genusPoterium. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Prolific shoot regeneration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Astragalus cariensis</Emphasis> Boiss

Prolific shoot regeneration via organogenesis was induced from leaf and leaf petiole explants of the endemic Astragalus cariensis species on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and benzyladenine (BA) within 8 week. The highest number of shoots (23/explants) was obtained from leaf explants cultured on MS with 0.5 mg/l NAA and 4 mg/l BA. Elongated shoots were successfully rooted in MS medium with 0.5 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid. Rooted plantlets were acclimatized in pots containing 1:1 mixture of peat and perlite.