高羊茅转基因研究进展

高羊茅为很重要的多年生冷季型草坪草,生物技术在其品种改良中具有很大的应用潜力。本文对高羊茅植株再生体系的建立及遗传转化方面的研究进展进行了综述。同时,对高羊茅转基因研究中存在的问题和前景作了讨论。     

8个禾本科草坪草品种遗传多样性的RAPD分析

利用RAPD技术,对禾本科4属4种8个品种的草坪草进行遗传多样性分析。15个有效引物用于PCR扩增,共获得RAPD谱带144条带,多态性带占63.2%。8个草坪草品种间的遗传距离在0.0857~0.2928之间,脱壳狗牙根与普通狗牙根间的遗传距离最小,交战2号与爱神特之间的遗传距离最大。用UPGMA和邻接法进行聚类分析,得到2个拓扑结构基本一致的树系图。同一种不同品种间的亲缘关系最近;不同属种间的遗传距离加大,同族不同属的草坪草基本构成一支;4个暖季型草坪草品种构成一个单系类群,但属于冷季型草种的黑麦草(爱神特)单独构成一支,并未与同族的其它3个冷季型草坪草品种(高羊茅)聚在一起。本研究不支持将黑麦草属与羊茅属放在同一族内的分类处理,并建议将高羊茅划分为过渡类型的草坪草。     

高羊茅和其他羊茅植株再生与遗传转化研究进展

高羊茅、紫羊茅和草地羊茅均为很重要的多年生冷季型牧草与草坪草,生物技术在其品种改良中具有很大的应用潜力。30年来,三种羊茅的组织培养、胚性培养物的长期保存以及遗传转化等研究取得了较大进展,已建立起多种植株再生体系和遗传转化技术,但作为单子叶植物,这些草种的组织培养和转基因遗传改良也还存在一些问题。本文就以上几方面的内容进行了综述。     

高羊茅和其他羊茅植株再生与遗传转化研究进展

高羊茅、紫羊茅和草地羊茅均为很重要的多年生冷季型牧草与草坪草,生物技术在其品种改良中具有很大的应用潜力.30年来,三种羊茅的组织培养、胚性培养物的长期保存以及遗传转化等研究取得了较大进展,已建立起多种植株再生体系和遗传转化技术,但作为单子叶植物,这些草种的组织培养和转基因遗传改良也还存在一些问题.本文就以上几方面的内容进行了综述.     

黑麦草生物学研究进展

黑麦草属(Lolium)和羊茅属(Festuca)包含冷季型牧草和草坪草等诸多重要草种,如意大利黑麦草(L.multiflorum)、多年生黑麦草(L. perenne)、高羊茅(F. arundinacea)及草地羊茅(F. pratensis)。黑麦草产量高、适应性强、营养丰富、适口性好且消化率高,可作为干草和青贮饲料,是一种优质牧草。但由于其在我国的栽培受地理因素限制,目前黑麦草在我国草牧业中所占比例很小。为提高黑麦草种植比例,利用分子育种手段选育优良品种是我国黑麦草研究的重点方向之一。该文系统总结了黑麦草-羊茅复合体,特别是黑麦草的研究进展,包括分类与进化、分子标记开发、连锁图谱构建、重要农艺性状的数量性状位点(QTL)定位和全基因组关联分析(GWAS),以及基因组测序、转录组分析、基因克隆和品种培育等,并提出一些需要解决的生物学问题,旨在为进一步加强黑麦草基础生物学研究和分子育种提供参考。     

我国大麦产业发展现状和遗传育种研究重点趋势分析

大麦是世界上非常重要的农作物之一,也是啤酒和饲料工业的重要原料。本文就我国大麦的市场潜力、生产现状和育种技术,与国外进行了对比分析,阐明了我国提升大麦遗传育种技术水平的必要性和紧迫性;提出我国大麦遗传育种研究的重点领域,并就加强大麦遗传育种研究的实施措施作了进一步探讨。     

盐生境下硅对坪用高羊茅生物学特性的影响

干旱半干旱区草坪绿地的长期灌溉容易引发土壤次生盐渍化,提高草坪草在盐生境下的生长发育能力是应对土壤次生盐渍化的主要途径之一.采用盆栽试验研究了盐生境下硅对坪用高羊茅(Festuca arundinaea)生物学特性的影响.结果表明,向盐生境土壤中添加不同浓度硅均提前高羊茅出苗时间2d,加快出苗速率,增加出苗总数,提高保苗率,且总出苗率和保苗率随着硅浓度增加而显著增大(P＜0.05),这说明盐生境下向土壤添加硅改善了幼苗完全死亡的现象.盐生境下硅显著增加了高羊茅叶长,株高和分蘖数,但对叶宽影响不显著,说明硅能够促进高羊茅生长,但对草坪绿地的质地影响不大.虽然硅能显著增加高羊茅总生物量(P＜0.05),但较低浓度时促进其茎叶生长,高浓度促进其根系生长.硅在高羊茅体内的沉积量随施入硅增加而增大,但其茎叶和根系内硅含量不超过3.0％,且根系内硅含量约为茎叶内硅含量的2倍.结果显示,硅提高了坪用高羊茅在盐生境下的适应能力,这为以后草坪绿地管理中应对土壤潜在盐渍化的问题提供了一定的科学依据.     

热锻炼对高羊茅(Festuca arundinacea)和多年生黑麦草(Lolium perenne)抗高温能力的影响

夏季高温胁迫已成为限制冷季型草坪草生长和发育的一个主要问题.以两种耐热性不同的冷季型草坪草高羊茅和多年生黑麦草(前者较耐热)为材料,经过3d 30℃的热锻炼预处理后,分别在38、42、46℃的高温下处理14h.在这些高温条件下,研究了经过热锻炼预处理的高羊茅和多年生黑麦草叶片膜脂过氧化、抗氧化剂含量以及叶绿体超微结构的变化.结果表明:(1)热锻炼提高了高羊茅和多年生黑麦草的耐热性,显著缓减了高温条件下两种草坪草叶片膜脂过氧化程度的加剧,降低了叶片过氧化氢(H2O2)和超氧阴离子(O2)的产生速率.(2)高温条件下,热锻炼使高羊茅和多年生黑麦草叶片中抗氧化剂抗坏血酸(AsA)和谷胱甘肽(GSH)的含量下降程度有所缓减.(3)热锻炼减轻了高温胁迫对高羊茅和多年生黑麦草叶片叶绿体超微结构的损伤.这些结果说明热锻炼能够减轻高温对草坪草叶绿体的伤害可能与其在高温胁迫下和对照相比具有较高的抗氧化剂含量有关,这也可能是冷季型草坪草对高温的适应机制之一.     

中国植物遗传连锁图谱构建研究进展

遗传连锁图谱构建是基因组研究中的重要环节,是基因定位与克隆乃至基因组结构与功能研究的基础上。近十几年来,分子生物学特别是分子标记技术的飞速发展,为构建高饱和的植物遗传连锁图谱和利用分子标记进行辅助育种奠定了基础。综述了我国在植物遗传连锁图谱构建研究方面的进展及发展动态,列举了我国利用DNA分子标记构建的34张植物遗传连锁图谱实例,且讨论了当前我国在该领域研究中存在的问题并提出了解决途径。     

高油酸油菜遗传育种研究进展

油酸（C18∶1）是双低菜籽油的主要脂肪酸之一,合理的高油酸菜籽油脂肪酸组分更有利于人体健康,因此提高油酸含量是双低油菜品质育种的一个重要方向。当前我国高油酸油菜品种选育相关研究进展缓慢,高油酸菜籽油产业化进程急需提速。围绕高油酸油菜主要从四个方面开展论述：国内外利用理化方法成功创建的油菜高油酸种质资源及其高油酸性状遗传模式;油菜高油酸性状的控制基因及其突变位点;世界上高油酸品种的培育以及我国高油酸品种的发展趋势;当前高油酸品种的不足及今后高油酸油菜品种的改良途径。为油菜育种工作者较全面地展示了国际上高油酸油菜在遗传育种方面的研究成果,也为今后我国高油酸油菜的进一步发展提供了参考。     

Expression of the bacteriophage T4 lysozyme gene in tall fescue confers resistance to gray leaf spot and brown patch diseases

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is an important turf and forage grass species worldwide. Fungal diseases present a major limitation in the maintenance of tall fescue lawns, landscapes, and forage fields. Two severe fungal diseases of tall fescue are brown patch, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, and gray leaf spot, caused by Magnaporthe grisea. These diseases are often major problems of other turfgrass species as well. In efforts to obtain tall fescue plants resistant to these diseases, we introduced the bacteriophage T4 lysozyme gene into tall fescue through Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. In replicated experiments under controlled environments conducive to disease development, 6 of 13 transgenic events showed high resistance to inoculation of a mixture of two M. grisea isolates from tall fescue. Three of these six resistant plants also displayed significant resistance to an R. solani isolate from tall fescue. Thus, we have demonstrated that the bacteriophage T4 lysozyme gene confers resistance to both gray leaf spot and brown patch diseases in transgenic tall fescue plants. The gene may have wide applications in engineered fungal disease resistance in various crops.     

Molecular characterisation and interpretation of genetic diversity within globally distributed germplasm collections of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and meadow fescue (F. pratensis Huds.)

Allohexaploid tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. syn. Lolium arundinaceum [Schreb.] Darbysh.) is an agriculturally important grass cultivated for pasture and turf world-wide. Genetic improvement of tall fescue could benefit from the use of non-domesticated germplasm to diversify breeding populations through the incorporation of novel and superior allele content. However, such potential germplasm must first be characterised, as three major morphotypes (Continental, Mediterranean and rhizomatous) with varying degrees of hybrid interfertility are commonly described within this species. As hexaploid tall fescue is also a member of a polyploid species complex that contains tetraploid, octoploid and decaploid taxa, it is also possible that germplasm collections may have inadvertently sampled some of these sub-species. In this study, 1,040 accessions from the publicly available United States Department of Agriculture tall fescue and meadow fescue germplasm collections were investigated. Sequence of the chloroplast genome-located matK gene and the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (rDNA ITS) permitted attribution of accessions to the three previously known morphotypes and also revealed the presence of tall fescue sub-species of varying ploidy levels, as well as other closely related species. The majority of accessions were, however, identified as Continental hexaploid tall fescue. Analysis using 34 simple sequence repeat markers was able to further investigate the level of genetic diversity within each hexaploid tall fescue morphotype group. At least two genetically distinct sub-groups of Continental hexaploid tall fescue were identified which are probably associated with palaeogeographic range expansion of this morphotype. This work has comprehensively characterised a large and complex germplasm collection and has identified genetically diverse accessions which may potentially contribute valuable alleles at agronomic loci for tall fescue cultivar improvement programs.     

Tall fescue genomic SSR markers: development and transferability across multiple grass species

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers are highly informative and widely used for genetic and breeding studies. Currently, a very limited number of SSR markers are available for tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and other forage grass species. A tall fescue genomic library enriched in (GA/CT) _n repeats was used to develop primer pairs (PPs) flanking SSRs and assess PP functionality across different forage, cereal, and turf grass species. A total of 511 PPs were developed and assessed for their utility in six different grass species. The parents and a subset of a tall fescue mapping population were used to select PPs for mapping in tall fescue. Survey results revealed that 48% (in rice) to 66% (in tall fescue) of the PPs produced clean SSR-type amplification products in different grass species. Polymorphism rates were higher in tall fescue (68%) compared to other species (46% ryegrass, 39% wheat, and 34% rice). A set of 194 SSR loci (38%) were identified which amplified across all six species. Loci segregating in the tall fescue mapping population were grouped as loci segregating from the female parent (HD28-56, 37%), the male parent (R43-64, 37%), and both parents (26%). Three percent of the loci that were polymorphic between parents were monomorphic in the pseudo F1 mapping population and the remaining loci segregated. Sequencing of amplified products obtained from PP NFFAG428 revealed a very high level of sequence similarity among the grass species under study. Our results are the first report of genomic SSR marker development from tall fescue and they demonstrate the usefulness of these SSRs for genetic linkage mapping in tall fescue and cross-species amplification.Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Transgenic turf-type tall fescue (Festuca amndinacea Schreb.) plants regenerated from protoplasts

To improve turfgrasses using genetic engineering, we have developed a transformation system in turf-type tall fescue, one of the most important turfgrass species. Embryogenic cell cultures were established after callus induction from embryos of mature seed. The agarose-bead method with nurse cells was used to culture protoplasts and plants were regenerated from protoplasts of tall fescue cultured cells. To develop transgenic tall fescue plants, the hygromycin resistance gene and the -glucuronidase gene were introduced into the tall fescue protoplasts by electroporation. A high concentration (200 mg/l) of hygromycin was required to select transformed cells because of the high level of endogenous resistance to the antibiotic in tall fescue. Most of the transformed cells exhibited GUS activity and several plants were regenerated from these cells. The presence of introduced genes was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization of PCR amplified DNA from transgenic plants.Abbreviations Adh alcohol dehydrogenase - BAP benzylaminopurine - bp base pair(s) - GUS -glucuronidase - Kb kilobase(s) - MS Murashige and Skoog's medium - PCR polymerase chain reaction     

Genome mapping of polyploid tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) with RFLP markers

Genetic mapping using molecular markers such as restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) has become a powerful tool for plant geneticists and breeders. Like many economically important polyploid plant species, detailed genetic studies of hexaploid tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) are complicated, and no genetic map has been established. We report here the first tall fescue genetic map. This map was generated from an F₂ population of HD28-56 by Kentucky-31 and contains 108 RFLP markers. Although the two parental plants were heterozygous, the perennial and tillering growth habit, high degree of RFLP, and disomic inheritance of tall fescue enabled us to identify the segregating homologous alleles. The map covers 1274 cM on 19 linkage groups with an average of 5 loci per linkage group (LG) and 17.9 cM between loci. Mapping the homoeologous loci detected by the same probe allowed us to identify five homoeologous groups within which the gene orders were found to be generally conserved among homoeologous chromosomes. An exception was homoeologous group 5, in which only 2 of the 3 homoeologous chromosomes were identified. Using 12 genome-specific probes, we were able to assign several linkage groups to one of the three genomes (PG₁G₂) in tall fescue. All the loci detected by the 11 probes specific to the G₁ and/or G₂ genomes, with one exception, identified loci located on 4 chromosomes of two homoeologous groups (LG2a, LG2c, LG3a, and LG3c). A P-genome-specific probe was used to map a locus on LG5c. Comparative genome mapping with maize probes indicated that homoeologous group 3 and 2 chromosomes in tall fescue corresponded to maize chromosome 1. Difficulties and advantages of applying RFLP technology in polyploids with high levels of heterozygosity are discussed.Journal Series No. 12, 190     

Genetic diversity in a world germplasm collection of tall fescue

Festuca arundinacea Schreb., commonly known as tall fescue, is a major forage crop in temperate regions. Recently, a molecular analysis of different accessions of a world germplasm collection of tall fescue has demonstrated that it contains different species from the genus Festuca and allowed their rapid classification into the three major morphotypes (Continental, Mediterranean and Rhizomatous). In this study, we explored the genetic diversity of 161 accessions of Festuca species from 29 countries, including 28 accessions of INTA (Argentina), by analyzing 15 polymorphic SSR markers by capillary electrophoresis. These molecular markers allowed us to detect a total of 214 alleles. The number of alleles per locus varied between 5 and 24, and the values of polymorphic information content ranged from 0.627 to 0.840. In addition, the accessions analyzed by flow cytometry showed different ploidy levels (diploid, tetraploid, hexaploid and octaploid), placing in evidence that the world germplasm collection consisted of multiple species, as previously suggested. Interestingly, almost all accessions of INTA germplasm collection were true hexaploid tall fescue, belonging to two eco-geographic races (Continental and Mediterranean). Finally, the data presented revealed an ample genetic diversity of tall fescue showing the importance of preserving the INTA collection for future breeding programs.     

High temperature effects on ammonium assimilation in leaves of two Festuca arundinacea cultivars with different heat susceptibility

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of high temperature stress on ammonium assimilation in leaves of two tall fescue cultivars (Festuca arundinacea), Jaguar 3 brand (J3) (heat-tolerant) and TF 66 (T6) (heat-sensitive). High temperature stress for either 10 d or 20 d, and particularly the 20 d stress, produced dramatic changes in ammonium assimilation. After 20 d of stress treatment, the accumulations of total nitrogen, nitrate, soluble protein and total free amino acid (20 amino acids) decreased in both cultivars. Moreover, the activities of main regulatory enzymes, such as nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase (GS), NADH-dependent glutamate synthase (GOGAT), as well as Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR), also decreased in both cultivars when exposed to 20 d stress. Heat stress had little influence on ammonium accumulation in J3, but this was not the case with T6. The accumulations of nitrate, ammonium, soluble protein, and total free amino acid between the two cultivars were different. This suggests that accumulations of these nitrogen forms were associated with heat tolerance in both tall fescue cultivars. Changes of both NADH-glutamate dehydrogenase (NADH-GDH) activity and Glx (glutamine and glutamic acid) concentration in both cultivars indicated that there is an alternative system for assimilation of nitrogen through glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in T6 during longer high temperature stress periods. Our results provide an insight to further selection and breeding of heat-tolerant tall fescue turfgrass cultivars.     

Phylogeny of tall fescue and related species using RFLPs

The wild species of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea var.genuina Schreb.) represent a wide range of genetic variation and constitute potential germplasm for tall fescue improvement. Our objective was to evaluate genome specificity of the previously-identified DNA probes and to examine the phylogenetic relationship of tall fescue with six related species by using RFLP data. A total of 29 DNA probes from aPstI-genomic library of tall fescue were hybridized toEcoRI-orHindIII-digested DNA of 32 plants from sixFestuca species and fromLolium perenne L. Fifteen probes hybridized to all seven species. The remaining 14 probes showed differential hybridization patterns (i.e., ±), especially at the diploid and tetraploid levels. This hybridization pattern reflected genome divergence in these species. The DNA probes will be useful markers in breeding programs involving interspecific and intergeneric hybridization. Cluster analyses were performed using the average genetic distances calculated with the RFLP data from 53 probe-enzyme combinations. Generally, genotypes from the same species were grouped in the same cluster. These data indicated that tall fescue has a close relationship withF. pratensis Huds. (diploid),F. arundinacea var.glaucescens Boiss. (tetraploid), andL. perenne L. (diploid) and thatFestuca pratensis andL. perenne had the closest degree of relationship.This paper is a contribution of the Missouri Agricultural Experimental Station, Journal Series no. 11,798