A biometric study of theOrnithogalum umbellatum (Hyacinthaceae) complex in France

Macromorphological variation within theOrnithogalum umbellatum L. (Hyacinthaceae) complex in France was studied. The resulting data were treated by numerical taxonomy methods. Three morphs can be identified: one corresponding to diploid plants, another made up of triploids and a third which encompasses plants having ploidy level above 3x (4x, 5x, and 6x). A systematic interpretation of the complex is proposed wherein only one species,O. umbellatum, is retained. This species corresponds to a polyploid complex undergoing evolution.     

Crossing and selfing experiments in theOrnithogalum umbellatum/augustifolium complex

The fertility relationships ofOrnithogalum umbellatum, O. angustifolium and 9 related taxa were studied.O. umbellatum andO. angustifolium, which are not interfertile, are both recognized as a comparium. Pollination of five species belonging to theO. umbellatum/angustifolium polyploid complex, i.e.O. umbellatum, O. angustifolium, O. baeticum, O. monticolum andO. algeriense, resulted in a moderate seed set. However, the seeds obtained after these interspecific crosses did not germinate. Six related species, i.e.O. exscapum, O. nivale, O. comosum, O. collinum, O. gussonei andO. woronowii showed a very low seed set after being crossed. One exception occurs:O. nivale ×O. exscapum. The seed set was also low after the complex species had been crossed with some related species, but there was one exception: both reciprocal crosses betweenO. monticolum andO. woronowii yielded some viable seeds. No other interspecific crosses gave rise to viable seeds. Bulbil-producing species have a lower seed set after self-pollination than species which do not produce bulbils.Biosystematic Studies on theOrnithogalum umbellatum/angustifolium Complex IV.—Previous contributions: (I–III):Raamsdonk (1982, 1985a, 1985b).     

Phylogeny of the a genomes of wild and cultivated wheat species

Diploid species of the genus Triticum L. are its most ancient representatives and have the A genome, which was more recently inherited by all polyploid species. Studies of the phylogenetic relationships among diploid and polyploid wheat species help to identify the donors of elementary genomes and to examine the species specificity of genomes. In this study, molecular analysis of the variable sequences of three nuclear genes (Acc-1, Pgk-1, and Vrn-1) was performed for wild and cultivated wheat species, including both diploids and polyploids. Based on the sequence variations found in the genes, clear differences were observed among elementary genomes, but almost no polymorphism was detected within each genome in polyploids. At the same time, the regions of the three genes proved to be rather heterogeneous in the diploid species Triticum boeoticum Boiss., T. urartu Thum. ex Gandil., and T. monococcum L., thus representing mixed populations. A genome variant identical to the A genome of polyploid species was observed only in T. urartu. Species-specific molecular markers discriminating the diploid species were not found. Analysis of the inheritance of morphological characters also failed to identify a species-specific character for the three diploid wheat species apart from the hairy leaf blade type, described previously.     

Assessment of genome relationships in the genus Oryza L. based on seed-protein profile analysis

Summary Cultivated and wild Oryza species belonging to different genomic groups were studied with regard to their soluble seed-protein profiles. There is an essential uniformity in the banding patterns within various genomes and the basic patterns are not species-specific but genome-specific. O. meridionalis contains a subgenome similar to the A genome of O. rufipogon. Certain specific bands present among A genome species have been found to be useful in tracing the phylogenetic affinity between the cultivated species and their presumed wild progenitors.     

Direct amplification of minisatellite-region DNA with VNTR core sequences in the genus Oryza

 A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) application, involving the directed amplification of minisatellite-region DNA (DAMD) with several minisatellite core sequences as primers, was used to detect genetic variation in 17 species of the genus Oryza and several rice cultivars (O. sativa L.). The electrophoretic analysis of DAMD-PCR products showed high levels of variation between different species and little variation between different cultivars of O. sativa. Polymorphisms were also found between accessions within a species, and between individual plants within an accession of several wild species. The DAMD-PCR yielded genome-specific banding patterns for the species studied. Several DAMD-PCR-generated DNA fragments were cloned and characterized. One clone was capable of detecting multiple fragments and revealed individual-specific hybridization banding patterns using genomic DNA from wild species as well as rice cultivars. A second clone detected only a single polymorphic locus, while a third clone expressed a strong genome specificity by Southern analysis. The results demonstrated that DAMD-PCR is potentially useful for species and genome identification in Oryza. The DAMD-PCR technique also allows for the isolation of informative molecular probes to be utilized in DNA fingerprinting and genome identification in rice. Received: 1 October 1996 / Accepted: 25 April 1997     

551. Rosmarinus Eriocalyx

Summary.  Rosmarinus eriocalyx Jord. & Fourr., an aromatic shrub native to southern Spain and North Africa is a fairly recent introduction to cultivation. The generic and specific relationships, taxonomic history and natural variation are discussed and experience of its cultivation described.     

Divergence of the polytene chromosome banding sequences as a reflection of evolutionary rearrangements of the genome linear structure

Banding sequences of five chromosomal arms (A, C, D, E, and F), accounting for about 70% of the total genome size in 63 Chironomus species, were used as markers to analyze divergence patterns of the linear genome structure during the evolution. The number of chromosomal breakpoints between the pairs of banding sequences compared served as a measure of divergence. It was demonstrated that the greater the divergence between the species compared, the higher the number of chromosomal breakpoints and the smaller the size of the conserved chromosomal segments. A banding sequences comparison in sibling species demonstrated a lower number of chromosomal breakpoints; the breakpoint number was maximum in a comparison of the banding sequences in the subgenera Chironomus and Camptochironomus. The use of the number of chromosomal breakpoints as a genome divergence measure provided establishment of phylogenetic relationships between 63 Chironomus species and discrimination of sibling species groups and cytocomplexes on a phylogenetic tree.Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 2, 2005, pp. 187–195.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Gunderina, Kiknadze, Istomina, Gusev, Miroshnichenko.     

Genomic analysis in the genus Aegilops.

Summary Hybrids between different Aegilops species and Secale cereale were studied at metaphase I by means of a C-banding technique. On the basis of differences in the C-banding patterns of some of the chromosomes of these hybrids it was possible to carry out an accurate analysis of several types of Aegilops-Aegilops and Aegilops-Secale chromosome associations and, consequently, to establish intraspecific and intergeneric genome relationships. Genomes present in the majority of polyploid Aegilops species are shown to maintain similar patterns of evolutionary affinity to those reported for their proposed diploid parents although in some species there are differences indicating either that differentiations occurred during the evolution of the polyploid species or, on the contrary, that the diploid donors proposed are not the correct ones. On the other hand, differences in the relationships not only between the R genome and different Aegilops genomes but also among different homoeologous groups have been found.     

SEM and stereoscope microscope observations on the seeds of some Ornithogalum (Hyacinthaceae) species

The paper presents the results of the study on seed morphology of four following Ornithogalum species: O. boucheanum Asch., O. nutans L., O. pyrenaicum L., and O. umbellatum L. Several macro-and micro-morphological characters were observed using stereoscope and scanning electron microscope. Differences were found especially in micromorphological characters of the seed surface, the shape of raphe and micropylar pole. These characters can be used as an additional taxonomic criterion at specific level for this genus. Only the seeds of O. boucheanum and O. nutans — two closely related and morphologically very similar species are practically undistinguished.     

A genetic basis for the origin of six different isolectins in hexaploid wheat

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) germ agglutinin represents a complex mixture of multiple isolectin forms. Upon ion exchange chromatography at pH 3.8, three isolectins can be separated, each of which is composed of two identical subunits. At pH 5.0, however, three additional isolectins can be distinguished, which are built up of two different subunits (heteromeric lectins). Evidence is presented that these heterodimers are normal constituents of the wheat embryo cells. Analyses of the isolectin patterns in extracts from Triticum monococcum, Triticum turgidum dicoccum and Triticum aestivum, provide evidence that each genome, either in simple or complex (polyploid) genomes, directs the synthesis of a single lectin subunit species. In addition, a comparison of the isolectin pattern in these wheat species of increasing ploidy level, made it possible to determine unequivocally the genome by which the individual lectin subunits in polyploid species are coded for. The possible use of lectins in studies on the origin of individual genoms in polyploid species is discussed.Abbreviations CL cereal lectin - PBS phosphate buffered saline - SP Sephadex sulfopropyl Sephadex - WGA wheat germ agglutinin     

Hieracium × grofae — a rediscovered diploid hybrid from the Ukrainian Carpathians

Diploid hybrid plants (2n = 18) between sexual diploid cytotypes of Hieracium alpinum and H. umbellatum were found in the Ukrainian Eastern Carpathians. They were identified with H. × grofae Woł., originally used for the combination H. decipiens × H. umbellatum var. lactaris. As H. decipiens sensu Woł. (non Tausch) does not produce viable pollen grains and is most probably a polyploid apomict, it is unlikely to produce diploid hybrid plants with diploid H. umbellatum. Both parent species, Hieracium alpinum and H. umbellatum are also given by Wołoszczak from the original locality. Thus we conclude that H. × grofae is result of hybridization between H. alpinum and high mountain form of H. umbellatum. Hybrid plants are morphologically intermediate between the parent species, and moreover resemble closely or they are identical with the experimental hybrids of the same parent combination. Hybrids produce rather high amount of homogeneously sized pollen grains (values of standard deviation and coefficient of variation lower then upper limits for diploids — 3μm or 7.5%, respectively), and might probably serve as male parents in further crosses; on the other hand, they are fully seed-sterile. A lectotype of H. × grofae, a second proved nothotaxon in the genus Hieracium s.str., is designated. Localities of H. × grofae are located in subalpine belt of the Marmarosh Mts, the Svydovets’ Mts and the Horhany Mts (all in the Ukrainian Eastern Carpathians). Biotopes of hybrid plants usually represent secondary formed and disturbed pastures allowing close contact of altitudinally vicariant parent taxa.     

The Phenolics of the Ornithogalum umbellatum L. (Hyacinthaceae): Phytochemical and Ecological Characterization

Ornithogalum umbellatum L. is a widely distributed species in Europe, that exhibits considerable variability at ecological, morphological, anatomical, and karyological level. Previous reports of the chemical investigations among Ornithogalum species indicate significant diversity of the secondary metabolites, as well. Knowing that environment affects the phenolic composition in plants to a large extent, the main objective of the research was to define relationship between phytochemical and ecological characters. To estimate an environmental influence on these results, plant material was collected at four habitats that differ in ecological factors and belong to two biogeographical regions: the Balkan Peninsula and the Pannonian Plane. Measured phytochemical characters are yield of dry extract, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, the presence of selected phenolic compounds as well as free‐radical scavenging activity (neutralization of DPPH and OH radicals). Results revealed that all analyzed phytochemical parameters differ between investigated O. umbellatum samples. The moisture level of habitat has the highest correlation, either positive or negative, with most of phytochemical characters, and is followed by temperature and soil reaction. Light intensity and nitrogen level have mostly moderate correlation coefficient with phytochemical characters. More complex correlation is revealed between ecological factors and nine phenolic compounds, with three observed patterns of relationship.     

Seed esterases,leucine aminopeptidases and catalases of species of the genus Gossypium

Summary Polyacrylamide and starch gel electrophoresis were used to analyze the isozyme makeup of three enzyme systems (esterases, leucine aminopeptidases and catalases) from the dormant seeds of twenty-nine species within the genus Gossypium.Isozyme variation was observed for all three enzymes between the species of the different genome groups. The within species polymorphism noted for the esterases was not observed for the leucine aminopeptidase and catalase patterns. In general, only minor qualitative banding pattern differences distinguished the A and B genome species, whereas, band variations were greatest between the more distantly related species in the C, D and E genomes. Gossypium longicalyx (F genome) showed an overall banding pattern unique to itself. The species of the genomes (C, D, E and F) removed from the postulated area of genetic origin (Southern Africa) also exhibited greater isozyme variability than that of the wild species of the A and B genomes, both located in Southern Africa.Synthetic mixtures of seed extracts from parent species of recently formed synthetic allopolyploids produced additive isozyme patterns for esterase, leucine aminopeptidase and catalase that were closely comparable to the zymograms produced by their hybrids. In contrast all three enzyme systems showed significant qualitative isozyme variations between the three natural allotetraploids, G. tomentosum, G. barbadense and G. hirsutum when compared to the zymograms of the synthetic mixtures of their alleged parental forms.This paper is part of a dissertation by the first author for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Genetics. Journal paper 1763 of the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station.National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate.     

Spatio‐temporal patterns of genome evolution in allotetraploid species of the genus Oryza

Despite knowledge that polyploidy is widespread and a major evolutionary force in flowering plant diversification, detailed comparative molecular studies on polyploidy have been confined to only a few species and families. The genus Oryza is composed of 23 species that are classified into ten distinct ‘genome types’ (six diploid and four polyploid), and is emerging as a powerful new model system to study polyploidy. Here we report the identification, sequence and comprehensive comparative annotation of eight homoeologous genomes from a single orthologous region (Adh1–Adh2) from four allopolyploid species representing each of the known Oryza genome types (BC, CD, HJ and KL). Detailed comparative phylogenomic analyses of these regions within and across species and ploidy levels provided several insights into the spatio‐temporal dynamics of genome organization and evolution of this region in ‘natural’ polyploids of Oryza. The major findings of this study are that: (i) homoeologous genomic regions within the same nucleus experience both independent and parallel evolution, (ii) differential lineage‐specific selection pressures do not occur between polyploids and their diploid progenitors, (iii) there have been no dramatic structural changes relative to the diploid ancestors, (iv) a variation in the molecular evolutionary rate exists between the two genomes in the BC complex species even though the BC and CD polyploid species appear to have arisen <2 million years ago, and (v) there are no clear distinctions in the patterns of genome evolution in the diploid versus polyploid species.     

Karyological studies on eight species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Onobrychis</Emphasis> genus in Turkey

This study used karyological techniques to determine the chromosome numbers and morphology of eight species of Onobrychis L. (O. caput-galli (L.) Lam, O. aequidentata (Sibth. & Sm.) d’ Urv, O. fallax Freyn & Sint. var. fallax, O. lasiostachya Boiss, O. viciifolia Scop., O. oxyodonta Boiss. subsp. armena (Bois. & Huet) Aktoklu, O. hypargyrea Boiss. and O. cappadocica Boiss.). The results of this study determined the chromosome numbers of O. cappadocica as 2n = 16; O. viciifolia as 2n = 28 and the other species as 2n = 14 The karyotypes of species consisted of median-centromeric (m) or submedian-centromeric (sm) chromosomes. However, O. oxyodonta Boiss. subsp. armena (Bois. & Huet) Aktoklu was found to have only the median-centromeric (m) chromosomes. According to the results of the present study, of the eight Onobrychis taxa, only O. hypargyrea has a pair of satellite chromosomes (sat-chromosome). Furthermore, this study detected karyotype asymmetry.     

Characterization of Two Sibling Species of the Genus Stylonychia (Ciliata,Hypotricha): S. mytilus Ehrenberg, 1838 and S. lemnae n. sp. II. Biochemical Characterization1

The two closely related hypotrichous ciliate species, Stylonychia lemnae and S. mytilus, have been compared with respect to their isoenzyme patterns, their macronuclear DNA banding patterns, and micronuclear DNA banding patterns after restriction enzyme digestion. Since macronuclear DNA contains mainly protein-coding sequences and since the micronuclear DNA patterns represent mainly the repetitive fraction of the genome, these results, together with the isoenzyme patterns, reflect differences on three different levels of molecular evolution between morphologically very similar species. Each of the three methods allows an unequivocal identification of each of the two species. Intraspecific variation seems to be greatest among the repetitive sequences of the micronuclear genomes. By using the isoenzyme data and the formula of Nei (19) the genetic distance between the two species is calculated and compared with the results from other protozoa and different Drosophila species. Despite their morphological similarity, the two species show a considerable amount of evolutionary divergence on the three molecular levels which have been investigated.     

A new species of Lathyrus L. (section Cicercula; Fabaceae) from Turkey

A new species, Lathyrus egirdiricus H.Genc & A.Sahin (section Cicercula; Fabaceae), is described from Turkey, with illustrations and taxonomic comments. Characteristics of the species are compared with those of the related species Lathyrus hirsutus L., L. stenophyllus Boiss. & Heldr., L. sativus L., L. cassius Boiss. and L. gorgoni Parl., from which it differs mainly in the shape, length, width and venation of leaflets, length and width of the stipule, flower colour, legume and style length. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 301–305.     

Karyological notes on another eight species of Achillea (Asteraceae) from Turkey

The chromosome number and morphology in eight species of the sections Ptarmica (Mill.) W. D. J. Koch, Anthemoideae (DC.) Heimerl, Arthrolepis Boiss., Santolinoideae (DC.) Heimerl and Achillea of the genus Achillea L. (Asteraceae) were investigated using karyological techniques. Sample plants and seeds of A. biserrata M. Bieb., A. fraasii var. troiana Aschers. & Heimerl, A. multifida (DC.) Boiss., A. brachyphylla Boiss. & Hausskn., A. pseudaleppica Hub.-Mor., A. cretica L., A. latiloba Ledeb. ex Nordm., and A. kotschyi Boiss. subsp. kotschyi) were collected from natural habitats in 2003 and 2004. The chromosome number found in seven species was 2n = 18, while only A. kotschyi had 2n = 36. All chromosomes had median point (M), median region (m), and submedian (sm) centromers. In addition, only A. biserrata species had one subterminal (st) chromosome. An increase in asymmetry was not observed in the karyotypes of the species studied. None of the studied species had any B chromosomes.