Features of alloplasmic wheat-barley substitution and addition lines (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hordeum marinum</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">gussoneanum</Emphasis>)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis>

Two alloplasmic wheat-barley substitution lines were studied: a line replaced at three pairs of chromosomes 1H ^mar (1B), 5H ^mar (5D), and 7H ^mar (7D), and the disomic-substituted line 7H ^mar (7D). The lines were constructed on the basis of individual plants from BC₁F₈ and BC₂F₆ progeny of barley-wheat hybrids (H. marinum subsp. gussoneanum Hudson (= H. geniculatum All.) (2n = 28) × T. aestivum L.) (2n = 42) (Pyrotrix 28), respectively. Moreover, the alloplasmic wheat-barley ditelosomic addition line 7HL ^mar isolated among plants from the BC₁F₆ progeny of a barley-wheat amphiploid was studied, which in this work corresponds to BC₂F₁₀ and BC₂F₁₁ progeny. It was ascertained that when grown in the field, these alloplasmic lines manifest stable self-fertility. Plants of the given lines are characterized by low height, shortened ears, the fewer number of stems and ears, and of spikelets in the ear, by decreased grain productivity and weight of 1000 grains, in comparison with the common wheat cultivar Pyrotrix 28. The inhibition of trait expression in alloplasmic wheat-barley substitution and addition lines may be connected not only with the influence of wild barley chromosomes functioning in the genotypic environment of common wheat, but also with the effect of the barley cytoplasm. The alloplasmic line with substitution of chromosomes 1H ^mar (1B), 5H ^mar (5D), and 7H ^mar (7D) or the alloplasmic line 5HL ^mar with ditelosomic addition have, in comparison with the common wheat cultivar Pyrotrix 28, an increased grain protein content, which is explained by the effect of wild barley H. marinum subsp. gussoneanum chromosomes.     

Construction of Rye-Wheat Amphidiploids with the Cytoplasm of Rye—Secalotriticum (RRAABB, 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 42): Meiosis Characteristics in Rye-Triticale F<Subscript>1</Subscript> Hybrids (RRABR, 5<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> = 35)

Results of cytogenetic analysis of microsporogenesis in rye-triticale F₁ hybrids (RRABR, 5x = 35) are presented. Meiosis of pentaploids is described as the key stage in the synthesis of secalotriticum, lines with intergenomic substitutions of chromosomes, or alloplasmic rye and wheat lines. Properties of meiotic processes and cytological mechanisms in formation of functional gametes and plants of various genomic and chromosomal composition are discussed.__________Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 7, 2005, pp. 902–909.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Lyusikov, Bel’ko, Shchet’ko, Gordei.     

GISH reveals different levels of meiotic pairing with wheat for individual <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegilops biuncialis</Emphasis> chromosomes

The Triticum aestivum — Aegilops biuncialis (2n=4x=28; U^bU^bM^bM^b) disomic addition lines 2M^b, 3M^b, 7M^b and 3U^b were crossed with the wheat cv. Chinese Spring ph1b mutant genotype in order to induce homoeologous pairing, with the final goal of introgressing Ae. biuncialis chromatin into cultivated wheat. Wheat-Aegilops homoeologous chromosome pairing was studied in metaphase I of meiosis in the F₁ hybrid lines. Using U and M genomic probes, genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) demonstrated the occurrence of wheat-Aegilops homoeologous pairing in the case of chromosomes 2M^b, 3M^b and 3U^b, but not in the case of 7M^b. The wheat-Aegilops pairing frequency decreased in the following order: 2M^b > 3M^b > 3U^b > 7M^b, which may reflect differences in the wheat-Aegilops homoeologous relationships between the examined Aegilops chromosomes. The selection of wheat-Aegilops homoeologous recombinations could be successful in later generations.     

Photosynthetic and transpiration responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>-regenerated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum nigrum</Emphasis> L. plants to <Emphasis Type="Italic">ex vitro</Emphasis> adaptation

In vitro regeneration of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) plants was achieved through callus-mediated shoot organogenesis followed by 30 d indoor ex vitro adaptation to nutritional stress under environmental ambience and thereafter 6-d outdoor acclimatization in pots prior to field establishment. Relevant physiological parameters including pigment content, chlorophyll a fluorescence, net photosynthetic rate (P _N), transpiration rate (E), and stomatal conductance (g _s) of in vitro-regenerated plants were investigated during the course of ex vitro adaptation. During the first 4 d of indoor transplantation to potting substrate, there was a marginal reduction in the leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid contents but P _N and E were strongly reduced. The stomatal conductance and E/P _N ratio were significantly higher in plants up to 20 d of indoor adaptation than those of comparable age grown naturally from seeds. The shape of the OJIP fluorescence transient varied significantly with acclimatization, and the maximum change was observed at 2.0 ms. The 2.0 ms variable fluorescence (V _j), 30 ms relative fluorescence (M ₀), photon trapping probability (TR₀/Abs), and photosystem II (PSII) trapping rate (TR₀/RC) showed initial disturbance and subsequent stabilization during 30 d of indoor acclimatization. Energy dissipation (DI₀/RC) and electron transport probability (ET₀/TR₀) showed an initial phase of increase during the 4 d after plants were transplanted outdoors. During the 6-d outdoor acclimatization after transfer of plants to soil, no significant change in total chlorophylls and carotenoids, E, and g _s were observed, but P _N improved after reduction on the first d. The OJIP-derived parameters experienced change on the first d but were stabilized quickly thereafter. There was no significant difference between outdoor acclimatized plants and those of the seed-grown plants of comparable age with respect to photosynthetic and fluorescence parameters. Direct transfer of plants without indoor acclimatization, however, showed a completely different trend with respect to P _N, E, and OJIP fluorescence transients. The bearing of this study on optimizing micropropagation is discussed.     

Genetic Regulation of Meiotic Chromosome Pairing by Chromosome 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis> of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis>

IN hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum, 2n = 6x = 42) the constituent genomes A, B and D derive from closely related diploid species (2n = 2x = 14) within the sub-tribe Triticinae^1–4. The seven different chromosomes of each genome have genetically equivalent (homoeologous) chromosomes in the other two genomes⁵. Homoeologous chromosomes generally compensate each other in nullisomic-tetrasomic combinations⁵.     

Development of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum-Leymus racemosus</Emphasis> translocation lines using gametocidal chromosomes

Specific chromosomes of certain Aegilops species introduced into wheat genome background may often facilitate chromosome breakage and refusion, and finally result in a variety of chromosome restructuring. Such a phenomenon is commonly called gametocidal effect of the chromosomes. The chromosome 2C of Ae. cylindrica is one of such chromosomes. In the present study, scab resistant wheat-L. racemosus addition lines involving chromosomes Lr.2 and Lr.7 were crossed to wheat-Ae. cylindrica disomic addition line Add2C. Then F₁ hybrids were subsequently backcrossed with wheat cv “Chinese Spring”. BC₁ plants with chromosome structural aberration were identified by C-banding. In the self-pollinated progenies of these plants, three translocation lines were developed and characterized by mitotic and meiotic analysis combined with C-banding and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using biotin-labeled genomic DNA of L. racemosus as probe. Some other putative translocation lines to be further characterized were also found. The practicability and efficiency of the translocation between wheat and alien chromosomes induced by gametocidal chromosomes, as well as the potential use of the developed alien translocation lines were also discussed.     

Chromosome phylogeny of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zamia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ceratozamia</Emphasis> by means of Robertsonian changes detected by fluorescence <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> hybridization (FISH) technique of rDNA

 Appearance and location of 45S rDNA and 5S rDNA signals were compared in chromosomes of nine species of the aneuploid Zamia and their taxonomically and phylogenetically closely related Ceratozamia mexicana. The 45S rDNA signal was detected in the proximal region of six chromosomes in Zamia angustifolia, Z. integrifolia, Z. pumila and Z. pygmaea (all 2n=16); in the proximal region of 6–14 chromosomes in Z. furfuracea, Z. loddigesii, Z. skinneri and Z. vazquezii (all 2n=18); and on the proximal region of 20 chromosomes in Z. muricata (2n=23). The 5S rDNA signals were commonly seen near the terminal region of the short arm of two metacentric chromosomes in the four species with 2n=16 and Z. furfuracea, Z. loddigesii and Z. vazquezii with 2n=18. Other 5S rDNA signals were seen near the terminal region of two terminal-centromeric chromosomes in Z. skinneri and near the terminal region of a metacentric and a telocentric chromosomes in Z. muricata. In contrast, those with 45S and 5S rDNA signals were exhibited in chromosomes of Ceratozamia mexicana in a different manner from those in the nine species of Zamia; the 45S rDNA signal in the terminal region of four metacentric and two submetacentric chromosomes and the 5S rDNA signal near the proximal region of two metacentric chromosomes. Received November 1, 1999 Accepted January 10, 2001     

Transgenic tomato plants expressing <Emphasis Type="Italic">recA</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">NLS-recA-licBM3</Emphasis> genes as a model for studying meiotic recombination

Homologous DNA recombination in eukaryotes is necessary to maintain genome stability and integrity and for correct chromosome segregation and formation of new haplotypes in meiosis. At the same time, genetic determination and nonrandomness of meiotic recombination restrict the introgression of genes and generation of unique genotypes. As one of the approaches to study and induce meiotic recombination in plants, it is recommended to use the recA gene of Escherichia coli. It is shown that the recA and NLS-recAlicBM3 genes have maternal inheritance and are expressed in the progeny of transgenic tomato plants. Plants expressing recA or NLS-recA-licBM3 and containing one T-DNA insertion do not differ in pollen fertility from original nontransgenic forms and can therefore be used for comparative studies of the effect of bacterial recombinases on meiotic recombination between linked genes.     

Detection of the introgression of genome elements of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegilops cylindrica</Emphasis> host into the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L. genome by ISSR and SSR analysis

To reveal sites of the donor genome in wheat crossed with Aegilops cylindrica, which acquired conferred resistance to fungal diseases, a comparative analysis of introgressive and parental forms was conducted. Two systems of PCR analysis, ISSR and SSR–PCR, were employed. Upon use of 7 ISSR primers in genotypes of 30 individual plants BC₁F₉ belonging to lines 5/55-91 and 5/20-91, 19 ISSR loci were revealed and assigned to introgressive fragments of Aegilops cylindrica genome in Triticum aestivum. The 40 pairs of SSR primers allowed the detection of seven introgressive alleles; three of these alleles were located on common wheat chromosomes in the B genome, while four alleles, in the D genome. Based on data of microsatellite analysis, it was assumed that the telomeric region of the long arm of common wheat chromosome 6A also changed. ISSR and SSR methods were shown to be effective for detecting variability caused by introgression of foreign genetic material into the genome of common wheat.Translated from Genetika, Vol. 40, No. 12, 2004, pp. 1654–1661.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Galaev, Babayants, Sivolap.     

Photosynthetic characteristics in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza</Emphasis> species

Photosynthetic rate (P _N), SPAD value, specific leaf area (SLA), flag leaf area (FLA), and nitrogen content (LN) of genus Oryza were investigated and their correlation was analyzed to assess some of the main photosynthetic traits among different species in the genus Oryza. The results revealed wide variation in these traits. The species O. rufipogon and O. australiensis exhibited maximum photosynthetic rate. Comparison of different types of genomes (diploid: 2n=2x=24; tetraploid: 2n=4x=48) and growth habit (shade- or sun-grown) showed the species of diploid (with genome symbol EE; 2n=2x=24) genomes, with perennial and sun-grown species, had high apparent photosynthesis compared to others. The species with BB/BBCC, shade-grown and the tetraploids showed high SPAD value, and the flag leaf in sun-grown species and diploids were thicker (low SLA) compared with others. However, no significant difference could be noticed among the different types of genomes. Higher leaf area was noticed among the species of CC/CCDD genome, perennial shade-grown species and tetraploids than in others. The variety IR 36 exhibited highest leaf nitrogen concentration. Correlation analysis showed a strong relationship between P _N and leaf nitrogen concentration while no marked relationships were observed among other characteristics. It implies that the species with thick and small leaves with high nitrogen concentration and high photosynthesis evolved better than others. O. rufipogon, with the same genome as O. sativa, could be one of the wild rice resources for elite crop improvement.     

Analysis of the meiotic recombination frequency in transgenic tomato hybrids expressing <Emphasis Type="Italic">recA</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">NLS-recA-licBM3</Emphasis> genes

To study and induce meiotic recombination in plants, we generated and analyzed transgenic tomato hybrids F₁-RecA and F₁-NLS-recA-LicBM3 expressing, respectively, the recA gene of Escherichia coli and the NLS-recA-licBM3 gene. It was found that the recA and NLS-recA-licBM3 genes are inherited through the maternal and paternal lineages, they have no selective influence on the pollen and are contained in tomato F₁-RecA and F₁-NLS-RecA-LicBM3 hybrids outside the second chromosome in the hemizygous state. The comparative analysis of the meiotic recombination frequency (rf) in the progenies of the transgenic and nontransgenic hybrids showed that only the expression of the recA gene of E. coli in cells of the F1-RecA plants produced a 1.2–1.5-fold increase in the frequency of recombination between some linked marker genes of the second chromosome of tomato.     

Fine mapping and analyses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">SC8</Emphasis></Subscript> resistance candidate genes to soybean mosaic virus in soybean

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is a destructive foliar disease in soybean-producing countries worldwide. In this study, F₂, F_2:3, and F_7:11 recombinant inbred lines populations derived from Kefeng No.1 × Nannong 1138-2 were used to study inheritance and linkage mapping of the SMV strain SC8 resistance gene in Kefeng No.1. Results indicated that a single dominant gene (designated R _SC8 ) controls resistance, which is located on chromosome 2 (MLG D1b). A mixed segregating population was developed by selfing two heterozygous plants (RHL153-1 and RHL153-2) at four markers adjacent to the locus and used in fine mapping R _SC8 . In addition, two genomic-simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers BARCSOYSSR_02_0610 and BARCSOYSSR_02_0616 were identified that flank the two sides of R _SC8 . Sequence analysis of the soybean genome indicated that the interval between the two genomic-SSR markers is 200 kb. QRT-PCR analysis of the candidate genes determined that five genes (Glyma02g13310, 13320, 13400, 13460, and 13470) are likely involved in soybean SMV resistance. These results will have utility in cloning, transferring, and pyramiding of the R _SC8 through marker-assisted selection in soybean breeding programs.     

Introgression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegilops mutica</Emphasis> genes into common wheat genome

Introgression of genetic material from wheat wild relatives into the common wheat genome remains important. This is a natural and inexhaustible source of enrichment of the wheat gene pool with genes that improve wheat’s adaptive potential. Hexaploid lines F₄–F₅ of wheat type were developed via hybridization of common wheat Aurora (AABBDD) and genome-substituted amphidiploid Aurotica (AABBTT). The hexaploid genome of the latter includes the diploid genome TT from wheat relative Aegilops mutica instead of subgenome DD of common wheat. F₁–F₃ hybrids had limited self-fertility, which had substantially increased for some derivatives in F₄–F₅. For all generations, development of the lines was accompanied by cytogenetic control of the chromosome numbers. The chromosome numbers varied in general from 33 to 46 depending upon generation. In most descendants, that number was 42 chromosomes in F₄ when plants with chromosome numbers 40–44 were selected in each generation. F₅ lines originate from nine selffertile F₂ plants, differ from Aurora according to some morphological characters, and have alien DNA in their genome as was demonstrated by DNA dot-blot hybridization with genomic DNA of Aegilops mutica as a probe.     

High-Level Expression of Heme-Dependent Catalase Gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">katA</Emphasis> from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus Sakei</Emphasis> Protects <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus Rhamnosus</Emphasis> from Oxidative Stress

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are generally sensitive to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), Lactobacillus sakei YSI8 is one of the very few LAB strains able to degrade H₂O₂ through the action of a heme-dependent catalase. Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains are very important probiotic starter cultures in meat product fermentation, but they are deficient in catalase. In this study, the effect of heterologous expression of L. sakei catalase gene katA in L. rhamnosus on its oxidative stress resistance was tested. The recombinant L. rhamnosus AS 1.2466 was able to decompose H₂O₂ and the catalase activity reached 2.85 μmol H₂O₂/min/10⁸ c.f.u. Furthermore, the expression of the katA gene in L. rhamnosus conferred enhanced oxidative resistance on the host. The survival ratios after short-term H₂O₂ challenge were increased 600 and 10⁴-fold at exponential and stationary phase, respectively. Further, viable cells were 100-fold higher in long-term aerated cultures. Simulation experiment demonstrated that both growth and catalase activity of recombinant L. rhamnosus displayed high stability under environmental conditions similar to those encountered during sausage fermentation.     

Role of endogenous salicylic acid in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis> response to elevated sulfur dioxide concentration

The response of Arabidopsis thaliana plants to elevated sulfur dioxide could be related to their endogenous salicylic acid (SA) content and signaling. The wild type (WT, ecotype Columbia) and its mutant snc1 with high SA content, npr1-1 with a blockage in SA signaling, transgenic line nahG with low SA content and double mutant snc1nahG plants were exposed to 0.5 mm³ dm⁻³ SO₂ for 3 h d⁻¹ for 14 d in a growth chamber. Under unstressed conditions, total SA contents in snc1 and npr1-1 were 7- and 2-fold higher than those in WT, respectively, but in nahG SA content was only 28 % of that in WT. The expression of nahG in snc1 plants decreased SA content to the WT level. Increased SA contents were observed in snc1, npr1-1 and WT after 12-h SO₂ exposure, whereas no major changes were detected in nahG and snc1nahG plants. The snc1 plants exhibited higher tolerance to SO₂ exposure than snc1nahG plants and especially nahG and npr1-1 plants according to plant biomass, total chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate. The SO₂ exposure decreased net photosynthetic rate, maximum photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m) and actual quantum efficiency of photosystem 2 (Φ_PS2). SO₂-induced oxidative damage in the tested plants was confirmed by increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content and electrolyte leakage. Increases in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activity, reduced glutathione (GSH) content and a ratio of reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) might be responsible for the decreased contents of H₂O₂ and alleviation of oxidative injury in snc1 plants compared with other lines exposed to SO₂. These observations implied that endogenous SA content and signaling may play an essential role in plant responses to SO₂ stress.     

Introgression of group 4 and 7 chromosomes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ae</Emphasis>. <Emphasis Type="Italic">peregrina</Emphasis> in wheat enhances grain iron and zinc density

Dietary deficiency of iron and zinc micronutrients affects more than two billion people worldwide. Breeding for micronutrient-dense crops is the most sustainable and cost-effective approach for alleviation of micronutrient malnutrition. Three accessions of Aegilops peregrina (Hack.) Maire & Weill (2n = 28, U^PU^PS^PS^P), selected for high grain iron and zinc concentration were crossed with Triticum aestivum L. cv. Chinese Spring (Ph ^I ). The sterile F₁ hybrids were backcrossed with elite wheat cultivars to get fertile BC₂F₂ derivatives. Some of the fertile BC₂F₂ derivatives showed nearly 100% increase in grain iron and more than 200% increase in grain zinc concentration compared to the recipient wheat cultivars. The development of derivatives with significantly higher grain micronutrients, high thousand-grain weight and harvest index suggests that the enhanced micronutrient concentration is due to the distinct genetic system of Ae. peregrina and not to the concentration effect. Genomic in situ hybridization, comparison of introgressed chromosomes with the standard karyotype of Ae. peregrina and simple sequence repeat marker analysis revealed the introgression of 7S^P chromosomes in five selected derivatives, 7U^P in four, group 4 and 4S^P in three and a translocated 5U^P of Ae. peregrina in one of the selected derivatives. Molecular marker analysis using the introgressed chromosome markers indicated that two of the BC₂F₃ progenies were stabilized as disomic addition lines. It could, therefore, be concluded that the group 4 and 7 chromosomes of Ae. peregrina carry the genes for high grain iron and zinc concentration.     

Trigenomic chromosomes by recombination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thinopyrum intermedium </Emphasis>and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Th. ponticum </Emphasis>translocations in wheat

Rusts and barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) are among the main diseases affecting wheat production world wide for which wild relatives have been the source of a number of translocations carrying resistance genes. Nevertheless, along with desirable traits, alien translocations often carry deleterious genes. We have generated recombinants in a bread wheat background between two alien translocations: TC5, ex-Thinopyrum (Th) intermedium, carrying BYDV resistance gene Bdv2; and T4m, ex-Th. ponticum, carrying rust resistance genes Lr19 and Sr25. Because both these translocations are on the wheat chromosome arm 7DL, homoeologous recombination was attempted in the double hemizygote (TC5/T4m) in a background homozygous for the ph1b mutation. The identification of recombinants was facilitated by the use of newly developed molecular markers for each of the alien genomes represented in the two translocations and by studying derived F₂, F₃ and doubled haploid populations. The occurrence of recombination was confirmed with molecular markers and bioassays on families of testcrosses between putative recombinants and bread wheat, and in F₂ populations derived from the testcrosses. As a consequence it has been possible to derive a genetic map of markers and resistance genes on these previously fixed alien linkage blocks. We have obtained fertile progeny carrying new tri-genomic recombinant chromosomes. Furthermore we have demonstrated that some of the recombinants carried resistance genes Lr19 and Bdv2 yet lacked the self-elimination trait associated with shortened T4 segments. We have also shown that the recombinant translocations are fixed and stable once removed from the influence of the ph1b. The molecular markers developed in this study will facilitate selection of individuals carrying recombinant Th. intermedium–Th. ponticum translocations (Pontin series) in breeding programs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Chlorophyll fluorescence in micropropagated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhododendron ponticum</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">baeticum</Emphasis> plants in response to different irradiances

The aim of this study was to investigate acclimation of micropropagated plants of Rhododendron ponticum subsp. baeticum to different irradiances and recovery after exposure to high irradiance. Plants grown under high (HL) or intermediate (IL) irradiances displayed higher values of maximum electron transport rate (ETR_max) and light saturation coefficient (E_k) than plants grown under low irradiance (LL). The capacity of tolerance to photoinhibition (as assessed by the response of photochemical quenching, q_p) varied as follows: HL > IL > LL. Thermal energy dissipation (q_N) was also affected by growth irradiance, with higher saturating values being observed in HL plants. Light-response curves suggested a gradual replacement of q_p by q_N with increasing irradiance. Following exposure to irradiance higher than 1500 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, a prolonged reduction of the maximal photochemical efficiency of PS 2 (F_v/F_m) was observed in LL plants, indicating the occurrence of chronic photoinhibition. In contrary, the decrease in F_v/F_m was quickly reverted in HL plants, pointing to a reversible photoinhibition.     

Allelic variation at high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit loci in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegilops biuncialis</Emphasis> Vis.

Alleles at the high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit loci Glu-U1 and Glu-M ^b 1 were analyzed in the tetraploid species Aegilops biuncialis (UUM^bM^b). The material for the investigation included the collection of 39 accessions of Ae. biuncialis from Ukraine (the Crimea), one Hellenic accession, one accession of unknown origin, F₂ seeds from different crosses, as well as samples from natural populations from the Crimea. Ae. umbellulata and Ae. comosa accessions were used to allocate components of the HMW glutenin subunit patterns of Ae. biuncialis to U or M ^b genomes. Eight alleles were identified at the Glu-U1 locus and ten alleles were revealed at the Glu-M ^b 1 locus. Among alleles at the Glu-M ^b 1 locus of Ae. biuncialis there were two alleles controlling the y-type subunit only and one allele encoding the x-subunit only.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas</Emphasis> bacteria and phosphorous fertilization,affecting wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">aestivum</Emphasis> L.) yield and P uptake under greenhouse and field conditions

We have recently indicated the plant growth promoting activities of Pseudomonas sp. as well as their alleviating effects on some soil stressors such as salinity. This is because in recent years, biological fertilizers have received special attention by scientists in sustainable agriculture. Accordingly, it is pertinent to specify the beneficiary level of such soil bacteria on plant growth including phosphorous (P) uptake. Hence, the objectives were to determine: (1) the plant growth promoting effects of the tested Pseudomonas sp., and (2) its combined effects with different P fertilization rates on the nutrient uptake (N, P, and K) and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under greenhouse and field conditions. The experiments were factorially arranged on the basis of a completely randomized block design with three replicates and were conducted at the Research Farm of Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center of Khorasan, Mashhad, Iran. P was fertilized at three levels including 0, 25 and 50 kg/ha P₂O₅. Pseudomonas sp. including Pseudomonas fluorescens 153, P. fluorescens 169, P. putida 4, and P. putida 108 were tested. Activities such as production of ACC deaminase and IAA-like products, as well as P solubilization were among the most important activities of the tested Pseudomonas sp. Such bacterial effects greatly enhanced wheat growth and yield under greenhouse and field conditions. The results also showed that the effects of Pseudomonas sp. on wheat nutrient uptake and the effects of bacteria as well as P fertilization on wheat yield were significant. P. putida 108 was the most effective strain enhancing wheat P uptake and grain yield under greenhouse (96 and 58%) and field (80 and 37%) conditions, respectively. Hence, although Pseudomonas sp. could be a suitable replacement for high P fertilization, however, the optimum wheat yield resulted when the bioinoculants are combined with 50% (25 kg/ha P₂O₅) P fertilization. This finding has great agricultural and environmental implications.