Genome composition, stability and fertility of hexaploid alloploids between Triticum turgidum var. carthlicum and Leymus racemosus

Hexaploid alloploids between the tetraploid wheat Triticum carthlicum and the perennial tetraploid Leymus racemosus were analysed for chromosome composition and cytogenetic stability. GISH analysis showed different lines to have from 11 to 16 Leymus chromosomes. The alloploids showed a relatively high frequency of univalents in meiotic metaphase and of aneuploid plants and hence they are not stable. The seedset is lower than in wheat, but high enough to secure a safe propagation and preservation. The alloploids are discussed in relation to widening the genetic variation of breadwheat and wheat breeding.     

Characterization of derivatives from wheat-Thinopyrum wide crosses

Partial amphiploids are lines that contain 42 (38-42) wheat and 14 (14-18) alien chromosomes. They are derived by backcrossing wheat onto hybrids between wheat and either Thinopyrum intermedium (6x) or Th. ponticum (10x). GISH analysis has shown that, with possibly one exception, the alien genomes (chromosome sets) in partial amphiploids are found to be hybrids i.e. composed of chromosomes from more than one alien genome. The individual partial amphiploids are meiotically stable and nearly perfectly fertile, but hybrids between different lines were characterized by varying numbers of unpaired chromosomes and consequently variable degrees of sterility. Translocated chromosomes involving different Thinopyrum genomes or Thinopyrum and wheat genomes were found in partial amphiploids and consequently in the addition lines derived from them. Partial amphiploids have proven to be an excellent tertiary gene pool for wheat improvement, containing resistance to biotic stresses not present in wheat itself. Resistance to Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) and Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus (WSMV) have been found in partial amphiploids and addition lines derived from both Th. intermedium and Th. ponticum. Excellent resistance to Fusarium head blight has been found on a Th. intermedium chromosome that had substituted for chromosome 2D in wheat. Genes for resistance to leaf rust and stem rust have already been incorporated into wheat and tagged with molecular markers.     

C-banded wheat chromosomes in wheat and triticale

Summary The C-banding patterns of wheat chromosomes in 7 hexaploid triticale and 7 wheat genotypes are described and compared. All 14 wheat chromosome pairs were individually identified in the triticales and a tetraploid wheat, and all the B and two A genome chromosome pairs in the hexaploid wheat genotypes. Little variation was found between genotypes in the distribution of C-bands but considerable variation was found in their size, total number and total length.     

Chromosome pairing in tetraploid rye with monosomic-substitution wheat chromosomes

In tetraploid rye with single-substitution wheat chromosomes - 1A, 2A, 5A, 6A, 7A, 3B, 5B, 7B - chromosome pairing was analysed at metaphase I in PMCs with the C-banding method. The frequency of univalents of chromosome 1A was considerably higher than that of the other four wheat chromosomes of genome A (6A, 5A, 7A and 2A). Among chromosomes of genome B, the lowest mean frequency of univalents was observed for chromosome 5B. In monosomic lines, wheat chromosomes 1A, 2A, 5A, 6A, 7A and 5B paired with rye homoeologues most often in rod bivalents and in chain quadrivalents (also including 3B). The 47% pairing of 5B-5R chromosomes indicate that the rye genomes block the suppressor Ph1 gene activity. In monosomic plants with chromosomes 5A, 2A, 6A, 7A and 5B, a low frequency of rye univalents was observed. It was also found that the wheat chromosomes influenced the pairing of rye genome chromosomes, as well as the frequency of ring and rod bivalents and tri- and quadrivalents. However, the highest number of terminal chiasmata per chromosome occurred in the presence of chromosomes 5A and 2A, and the lowest - in the presence of chromosomes 3B and 7B. In the presence of chromosome 5B, the highest frequency of bivalents was observed. The results of the present study show that the rye genome is closer related to the wheat genome A of than to genome B. The high pairing of wheat-rye chromosomes, which occurs in tetraploid rye with substitution wheat chromosomes, indicates that there is a high probability of incorporating wheat chromosome segments into rye chromosomes.     

普通小麦与长穗偃麦草杂种及其衍生材料的细胞遗传学特性

对十倍体长穗偃麦草(Thinopyrum ponticum)与普通小麦杂交F1及其与普通小麦回交BC1F1的形态学和细胞学特性进行了分析。结果表明,长穗偃麦草与普通小麦‘兰考矮早八’衍生F1(‘兰考小偃麦’)的根尖细胞染色体数为56条;花粉母细胞减数分裂中期Ⅰ染色体构型平均值为19.81Ⅰ+15.78Ⅱ+0.75Ⅲ+0.59Ⅳ;基因组荧光原位杂交(GISH)显示,兰考小偃麦中含有35条完整的长穗偃麦草和21条小麦染色体。‘兰考小偃麦’/‘科育818’和‘兰考小偃麦’/‘Cp02-3-5-5’杂交F1的根尖细胞染色体数及其所遗传的长穗偃麦草染色体数分别为50~52和16~22条,且存在染色体易位;花粉母细胞减数分裂中期Ⅰ平均染色体构型为14.54Ⅰ+17.40Ⅱ+0.55Ⅲ+0.14Ⅳ,平均49.4%的细胞出现多价体(三价体或四价体)。这些材料为创造小麦-长穗偃麦草新种质奠定了基础。     

Structural organization of an alien Thinopyrum intermedium group 7 chromosome in U.S. soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) resistance in soft red winter wheat (SRWW) cultivars has been achieved by substituting a group 7 chromosome from Thinopyrum intermedium for chromosome 7D. To localize BYDV resistance, a detailed molecular genetic analysis was done on the alien group 7 Th. intermedium chromosome to determine its structural organization. Triticeae group 7 RFLP markers and rye specific repetitive sequences used in the analysis showed that the alien chromosome in the P29 substitution line has distinguishing features. The 350-480 bp rye telomeric sequence family was present on the long arm as determined by Southern and fluorescence in situ hybridization. However, further analysis using a rye dispersed repetitive sequence indicated that this alien chromosome does not contain introgressed segments from the rye genome. The alien chromosome is homoeologous to wheat chromosomes 7A and 7D as determined by RFLP analysis. Presence of the waxy gene on chromosomes 7A, 7B, and 7D but its absence on the alien chromosome in P29 suggests some internal structural differences on the short arm between Th. intermedium and wheat group 7 chromosomes. The identification of rye telomeric sequences on the alien Thinopyrum chromosome and the homoeology to wheat chromosomes 7A and 7D provide the necessary information and tools to analyze smaller segments of the Thinopyrum chromosome and to localize BYDV resistance in SRWW cultivars.     

Detection of alien chromatin introgression from Thinopyrum into wheat using S genomic DNA as a probe--a landmark approach for Thinopyrum genome research

The introduction of alien genetic variation from the genus Thinopyrum through chromosome engineering into wheat is a valuable and proven technique for wheat improvement. A number of economically important traits have been transferred into wheat as single genes, chromosome arms or entire chromosomes. Successful transfers can be greatly assisted by the precise identification of alien chromatin in the recipient progenies. Chromosome identification and characterization are useful for genetic manipulation and transfer in wheat breeding following chromosome engineering. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) using an S genomic DNA probe from the diploid species Pseudoroegneria has proven to be a powerful diagnostic cytogenetic tool for monitoring the transfer of many promising agronomic traits from Thinopyrum. This specific S genomic probe not only allows the direct determination of the chromosome composition in wheat-Thinopyrum hybrids, but also can separate the Th. intermedium chromosomes into the J, J(S) and S genomes. The J(S) genome, which consists of a modified J genome chromosome distinguished by S genomic sequences of Pseudoroegneria near the centromere and telomere, carries many disease and mite resistance genes. Utilization of this S genomic probe leads to a better understanding of genomic affinities between Thinopyrum and wheat, and provides a molecular cytogenetic marker for monitoring the transfer of alien Thinopyrum agronomic traits into wheat recipient lines.     

Genetic variation for waterlogging tolerance in the Triticeae and the chromosomal location of genes conferring waterlogging tolerance in Thinopyrum elongatum.

A number of Triticeae species were tested for tiller production, shoot dry matter production, and root penetration in waterlogged soil, and Thinopyrum elongatum and Elytrigia repens were shown to have better tolerance than wheat using these criteria. Tests of a number of wheat-alien amphiploids showed that there was at least partial expression of this exotic genetic variation in a wheat genetic background. The presence of chromosomes 2E and 4E of Th. elongatum was associated with a positive effect on root growth in waterlogged conditions. The positive effect of the 4E chromosome addition was mimicked by tetrasomic lines carrying extra doses of wheat homoeologues 4B and 4D, and it was concluded that the beneficial effect contributed by the presence of 4E was probably due to an increased dosage of group 4 chromosomes. However, the positive effect of adding chromosome 2E to wheat could not be reproduced by added doses of chromosomes 2A, 2B, or 2D, suggesting that this alien chromosome carries gene(s) for tolerance not present on its wheat homoeologues. This gene(s) was further located to the long arm of chromosome 2E by testing ditelosomic addition lines.     

Characterization of a Wheat- wheatgrass Translocation Line by FISH

The genomic DNA of wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium (Host) P.B. = Elytrigia intermedia (Host) Nevski = Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth and Dewey) was labelled with biotin-16-dUTP as a probe, and genomic DNA of common wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. ) "Chinese Spring" was used for blocking. Wheat-wheatgrass line 33 was examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique. The terminal regions of a pair of chromosomes showed green fluorescent signals. It has been concluded that chromosome segrnents containing alien genes of wheatgrass are located at the terminal regions of wheat chromosomes in wheat-wheatgrass line 33, and the translocated segments were small. Wheat-wheatgrass line 33 has been proved to be a translocation line with chromosome segments of wheatgrass translocated to the terminal regions of wheat chromoSomes.     

携带抗黄矮病基因的中间偃麦草染色体2Ai—2特异的分子标记

小麦－中间偃麦草二体异附加系Ｚ１、Ｚ２具有一对携带抗黄矮病基因的中间偃麦草染色体２Ａｉ－２。利用中间偃麦草（Ｔｈｉｎｏｐｙｒｕｍ ｉｎｔｅｒｍｅｄｉｕｍ （Ｈｏｓｔ） Ｂａｋｗｏｔｈ ａｎｄ Ｄｅｗｅｙ）和拟鹅冠草（Ｐｓｅｕｄｏｒｏｅｇｎｅｉａ ｓｔｒｉｇｏｓａ）基因组ＤＮＡ作探针,对Ｚ１、Ｚ２进行基因组原位杂交分析。结果表明,Ｚ１、Ｚ２附加的一对中间偃麦草染色体２Ａｉ－２为Ｓｔ－Ｅ染色体,Ｅ组染     

Characterization of six wheat x Thinopyrum intermedium derivatives by GISH, RFLP, and multicolor GISH.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and multicolor genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) are useful tools to precisely characterize genetic stocks derived from crosses of wheat (Triticum aestivum) with Thinopyrum intermedium and Thinopyrum elongatum. The wheat x Th. intermedium derived stocks designated Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, and Z6 were initially screened by multicolor GISH using Aegilops speltoides genomic DNA for blocking and various combinations of genomic DNA from Th. intermedium, Triticum urartu, and Aegilops tauschii for probes. The probing (GISH) results indicated that lines Z1 and Z3 were alien disomic addition lines with chromosome numbers of 2n = 44. Z2 was a substitution line in which chromosome 2D was substituted by a pair of Th. intermedium chromosomes; this was confirmed by RFLP and muticolour GISH. Z4 (2n = 44) contained two pairs of wheat--Th. intermedium translocated chromosomes; one pair involved A-genome chromosomes, the other involved D- and A- genome chromosomes. Z5 (2n = 44) contained one pair of wheat--Th. intermedium translocated chromosomes involving the D- and A-genome chromosomes of wheat. Z6 (2n = 44) contained one pair of chromosomes derived from Th. intermedium plus another pair of translocated chromosomes involving B-genome chromosomes of wheat Line Z2 was of special interest because it has some resistance to infection by Fusarium graminearum.     

Chromosomal rearrangements in wheat: their types and distribution.

Four hundred and sixty polyploid wheat accessions and 39 triticale forms from 37 countries of Europe, Asia, and USA were scored by C-banding for the presence of translocations. Chromosomal rearrangements were detected in 70 of 208 accessions of tetraploid wheat, 69 of 252 accessions of hexaploid wheat, and 3 of 39 triticale forms. Altogether, 58 types of major chromosomal rearrangements were identified in the studied material; they are discussed relative to 11 additional translocation types described by other authors. Six chromosome modifications of unknown origin were also observed. Among all chromosomal aberrations identified in wheat, single translocations were the most frequent type (39), followed by multiple rearrangements (9 types), pericentric inversions (9 types), and paracentric inversions (3 types). According to C-banding analyses, the breakpoints were located at or near the centromere in 60 rearranged chromosomes, while in 52 cases they were in interstitial chromosome regions. In the latter case, translocation breakpoints were often located at the border of C-bands and the euchromatin region or between two adjacent C-bands; some of these regions seem to be translocation "hotspots". Our results and data published by other authors indicate that the B-genome chromosomes are involved in translocations most frequently, followed by the A- and D-genome chromosomes; individual chromosomes also differ in the frequencies of translocations. Most translocations were detected in 1 or 2 accessions, and only 11 variants showed relatively high frequencies or were detected in wheat varieties of different origins or from different species. High frequencies of some translocations with a very restricted distribution could be due to a "bottleneck effect". Other types seem to occur independently and their broad distribution can result from selective advantages of rearranged genotypes in diverse environmental conditions. We found significant geographic variation in the spectra and frequencies of translocation in wheat: the highest proportions of rearranged genotypes were found in Central Asia, the Middle East, Northern Africa, and France. A low proportion of aberrant genotypes was characteristic of tetraploid wheat from Transcaucasia and hexaploid wheat from Middle Asia and Eastern Europe.     

Characterization of Thinopyrum distichum chromosomes using double fluorescence in situ hybridization, RFLP analysis of 5S and 26S rRNA, and C-banding of parents and addition lines.

Diagnostic markers for eight Thinopyrum distichum addition chromosomes in Triticum turgidum were established using C-banding, in situ hybridization, and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The C-band karyotype conclusively identified individual Th. distichum chromosomes and distinguished them from chromosomes of T. turgidum. Also, TaqI and BamHI restriction fragments containing 5S and 18S-5.8S-26S rRNA sequences were identified as positive markers specific to Th. distichum chromosomes. Simultaneous fluorescence in situ hybridization showed both 5S and 18S-5.8S-26S ribosomal RNA genes to be located on chromosome IV. Thinopyrum distichum chromosome VII carried only a 18S-5.8S-26S rRNA locus and chromosome pair II carried only a 5S rRNA locus. The arrangement of these loci on Th. distichum chromosome IV was different from that on wheat chromosome pair 1B. Two other unidentified Th. distichum chromosome pairs also carried 5S rRNA loci. The homoeologous relationship between Th. distichum chromosomes IV and VII and chromosomes of other members of the Triticeae was discussed by comparing results obtained using these physical and molecular markers.     

Molecular Cytogenetic Characterization and Stem Rust Resistance of Five Wheat−Thinopyrum ponticum Partial Amphiploids

Partial amphiploids created by crossing common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Barkworth & D. R. Dewey are important intermediates in wheat breeding because of their resistance to major wheat diseases. In this study, we examined the chromosome compositions of five Xiaoyan-series wheat−Th. ponticum partial amphiploids (Xiaoyan 68, Xiaoyan 693, Xiaoyan 784, Xiaoyan 7430, and Xiaoyan 7631) using GISH, multicolor-GISH, and multicolor-FISH. We found several chromosome changes in these lines. For example, wheat chromosomes 1B and 2B were added in Xiaoyan 68 and Xiaoyan 7430, respectively, while wheat chromosome 6B was eliminated from Xiaoyan 693 and Xiaoyan 7631. Chromosome rearrangements were also detected in these amphiploids, including an interspecific translocation involving chromosome 4D and some intergenomic translocations, such as A–B and A–D translocations, among wheat genomes. Analysis of the Th. ponticum chromosomes in the amphiploids showed that some lines shared the same alien chromosomes. We also evaluated these partial amphiploids for resistance to nine races of stem rust, including TTKSK (commonly known as Ug99). Three lines, Xiaoyan 68, Xiaoyan 784, and Xiaoyan 7430, exhibited excellent resistance to all nine races, and could therefore be valuable sources of stem rust resistance in wheat breeding.     

Chromosomes form into seven groups in hexaploid and tetraploid wheat as a prelude to meiosis

Hexaploid wheat possesses 42 chromosomes derived from its three ancestral genomes. The 21 pairs of chromosomes can be further divided into seven groups of six chromosomes (one chromosome pair being derived from each of the three ancestral genomes), based on the similarity of their gene order. Previous studies have revealed that, during anther development, the chromosomes associate in 21 pairs via their centromeres. The present study reveals that, as a prelude to meiosis, these 21 chromosome pairs in hexaploid (and tetraploid) wheat associate via the centromeres into seven groups as the telomeres begin to cluster. This results in the association of multiple chromosomes, which then need to be resolved as meiosis progresses. The formation of the seven chromosome clusters now explains the occasional occurrence of remnants of multiple associations, which have been reported at later stages of meiosis in hexaploid (and tetraploid) wheat. Importantly, the chromosomes have the opportunity to be resorted via these multiple interactions. As meiosis progresses, such interactions are resolved through the action of loci such as Ph1, leaving chromosomes as homologous pairs.     

Molecular Cytogenetics of an Amphiploid Trigeneric Hybrid between Triticum durum, Thinopyrum distichum and Lophopyrum elongatum

In situ hybridization of total genomic DNA was used to analyselines derived from an amphiploid between tetraploid wheat,Triticumdurum Desf. (2n =4x =28), and the wheatgrassesThinopyrum distichum(Thunb.) A. Löve (2n =4x =28) andLophopyrum elongatum (Host)A. Löve (2n =2x =14). A range of chromosome numbers wasdetected, arising from loss or gain of chromosomes. Total genomicDNA probes fromThinopyrum species,L. elongatum andTriticum monococcumL. were able to discriminate chromosomes from the A and B genomesof tetraploid wheat and those of wheatgrass-origin. The methoddid not discriminate the two wheatgrass genomes, J and E, indicatingtheir close similarity. Chromosomal aberrations—includingtelocentric and ring chromosomes—were frequent. Distalinter-genomic translocations of parts of A and B genome chromosomearms, unusual in wheat itself, were more frequent than translocationsbetweenT. durum and wheatgrass.In situ hybridization of an rDNAprobe most frequently revealed four sites associated with secondaryconstrictions onT. durum chromosomes and four onTh. distichumorL. elongatum chromosomes, although there was variation inthe number of loci between and within plants. Within interphaseand prophase nuclei, the three genomes were not intermixed andoften lay in distinct sectors. Wheat; hybrids; Triticum ; Triticeae; evolution; introgression; nuclear architecture; rDNA; in situ hybridization     

Characterization of a leaf rust-resistant wheat–Thinopyrum ponticum partial amphiploid BE-1, using sequential multicolor GISH and FISH

In situ hybridization (multicolor GISH and FISH) was used to characterize the genomic composition of the wheat–Thinopyrum ponticum partial amphiploid BE-1. The amphiploid is a high-protein line having resistance to leaf rust (Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici) and powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) and has in total 56 chromosomes per cell. Multicolor GISH using J, A and D genomic probes showed 16 chromosomes originating from Thinopyrum ponticum and 14 A genome, 14 B genome and 12 D genome chromosomes. Six of the Th. ponticum chromosomes carried segments different from the J genome in their centromeric regions. It was demonstrated that these alien chromosome segments did not originate from the A, B or D genomes of wheat, so the translocation chromosomes were considered to be J^s type chromosomes carrying segments similar to the S genome near the centromeres. Rearrangements between the A and D genomes of wheat were detected. FISH using Afa family, pSc119.2 and pTa71 probes allowed the identification of all the wheat chromosomes present and the determination of the chromosomes involved in the translocations. The 4A and 7A chromosomes were identified as being involved in intergenomic translocations. The replaced wheat chromosome was identified as 7D. The localization of these repetitive DNA clones on the Th. ponticum chromosomes of the amphiploid was described in the present study. On the basis of their multicolor FISH patterns, the alien chromosomes could be arranged in eight pairs and could also be differentiated unequivocally from each other.     

Physical mapping of the blue-grained gene(s) from Thinopyrum ponticum by GISH and FISH in a set of translocation lines with different seed colors in wheat.

The original blue-grained wheat, Blue 58, was a substitution line derived from hybridization between common wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 2n=6x=42, ABD) and tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum Liu & Wang=Agropyron elongatum, 2n=10x=70, StStEeEbEx), in which one pair of 4D chromosomes was replaced by a pair of alien 4Ag chromosomes (unknown group 4 chromosome from A. ponticum). Blue aleurone might be a useful cytological marker in chromosome engineering and wheat breeding. Cytogenetic analysis showed that blue aleurone was controlled by chromosome 4Ag. GISH analysis proved that the 4Ag was a recombination chromosome; its centromeric and pericentromeric regions were from an E-genome chromosome, but the distal regions of its two arms were from an St-genome chromosome. On its short arm, there was a major pAs1 hybridization band, which was very close to the centromere. GISH and FISH analysis in a set of translocation lines with different seed colors revealed that the gene(s) controlling the blue pigment was located on the long arm of 4Ag. It was physically mapped to the 0.71-0.80 regions (distance measured from the centromere of 4Ag). The blue color is a consequence of dosage of this small chromosome region derived from the St genome. We speculate that the blue-grained gene(s) could activate the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway of wheat.     

Use of RFLPs to determine the chromosome composition of tetraploid triticale (A/B)(A/B)RR.

Tetraploid triticale, (A/B)(A/B)RR (2n = 28), is a botanical novelty, an amphiploid composed of a diploid rye and a 14 chromosome wheat genome made up of chromosomes of the A and B genomes of tetraploid wheat. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers were used to elucidate the chromosome composition of the mixed wheat genome of 35 different tetraploid triticale lines. Of 128 possible A/B chromosome pair combinations, only 6 were found among these lines, with a prevalence of the 1A, 2A, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, and 7B karyotype. In most triticale lines stable wheat genomes made up of only homologous A or B genome chromosome pairs were identified, however, in some lines homoeologous chromosome pairs were found. In this paper we demonstrate that RFLPs can be used successfully as an alternative to C-banding for the identification of the chromosome composition of tetraploid triticale and discuss the possible selective advantage of specific chromosome composition.     

The influence of rye cytoplasm on meiotic stability of tetraploid Secalotriticum

Chromosome pairing in tetraploid Secalotriticum was analysed. In the studied plants wheat chromosomes in PMCs during metaphase I showed a higher degree of pairing, in comparison to the rye genome. This is reflected in a very low frequency of univalents and a higher frequency of ring bivalents. The occurrence of wheat univalents was dependent on wheat mixogenome. In plants with an unstabilized fourth homoeologous group, a heteromorphic bivalent 4A-4B was observed in 39.9% of PMCs, whereas in plants with an unstabilized seventh homoeologous group, chromosome 7A-7B pairing was found in all analysed cells. Rye univalents were present in all plants studied. The highest mean frequency of univalents and rod bivalents, both in wheat and in rye genomes, were recorded in plants whose first homoeologous group contained chromosome 1A. The mean number of terminal chiasmata per chromosome amounted to 1.78 in the wheat genome and 1.36 in the rye genome. It may be concluded that the plasmagenes in Secalotriticum did not increase the meiotic stability of the rye genome and also did not stabilize plant fertility.