Construction of a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library for citrus and identification of BAC contigs containing resistance gene candidates

A BAC library was constructed from the genomic DNA of an intergeneric Citrus and Poncirus hybrid. The library consists of 24,576 clones with an average insert size of 115 kb, representing approximately seven haploid genome equivalents and is able to give a greater than 99% probability of isolating single-copy citrus DNA sequences from this library. High-density colony hybridization-based library screening was performed using DNA markers linked to the citrus tristeza virus (CTV) resistance gene and citrus disease resistance gene candidate (RGC) sequences. Between four and eight clones were isolated with each of the CTV resistance gene-linked markers, which agrees with the library’s predicted genome coverage. Three hundred and twenty-two clones were identified using 13 previously cloned citrus RGC sequences as probes in library screening. One to four fragments in each BAC were shown to hybridize with RGC sequences. One hundred and nine of the RGC BAC clones were fingerprinted using a sequencing gel-based procedure. From the fingerprints, 25 contigs were assembled, each having a size of 120–250 kb and consisting of 2–11 clones. These results indicate that the library is a useful resource for BAC contig construction and molecular isolation of disease resistance genes. Received: 22 May 2000 / Accepted: 25 September 2000     

Cloning and characterization of receptor kinase class disease resistance gene candidates in Citrus

The rice gene Xa21 represents a unique class of plant disease resistance (R) genes with distinct protein structure and broad-spectrum specificity; few sequences or genes of this class have been cloned and characterized in other plant species. Degenerate primers were designed from the conserved motifs in the kinase domains of Xa21 and tomato Pto, and used in PCR amplification to identify this class of resistance gene candidate (RGC) sequences from citrus for future evaluation of possible association with citrus canker resistance. Twenty-nine RGC sequences highly similar to the kinase domain of Xa21 (55%–60% amino-acid identity) were cloned and characterized. To facilitate recovery of full-length gene structures and to overcome RGC mapping limitations, large-insert genomic clones (BACs) were identified, fingerprinted and assembled into contigs. Southern hybridization revealed the presence of 1–3 copies of receptor-like kinase sequences (i.e., clustering) in each BAC. Some of these sequences were sampled by PCR amplification and direct sequencing. Twenty-three sequences were thus obtained and classified into five groups and eight subgroups, which indicates the possibility of enhancing RGC sequence diversity from BACs. A primer-walking strategy was employed to derive full-length gene structures from two BAC clones; both sequences 17o6RLK and 26m19RLK contained all the features of the rice Xa21 protein, including a signal peptide, the same number of leucine-rich-repeats, and transmembrane and kinase domains. These results demonstrate that PCR amplification with appropriately designed degenerate primers is an efficient approach for cloning receptor-like kinase class RGCs. Utilization of BAC clones can facilitate this approach in multiple ways by improving sequence diversity, providing full-length genes, and assisting in understanding gene structures and distribution.Communicated by P. Langridge     

Identification and genomic distribution of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> gypsy</Emphasis> like retrotransposons in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Citrus</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Poncirus</Emphasis>

Transposable elements might be importantly involved in citrus genetic instability and genome evolution. The presence of gypsy like retrotransposons, their heterogeneity and genomic distribution in Citrus and Poncirus, have been investigated. Eight clones containing part of the POL coding region of gypsy like retrotransposons have been isolated from a commercial variety of Citrus clementina, one of the few sexual species in Citrus. Four of the eight clones might correspond to active elements given that they present all the conserved motifs described in the literature as essential for activity, no in-frame stop codon and no frame-shift mutation. High homology has been found between some of these citrus elements and retroelements within a resistance-gene cluster from potato, another from Poncirus trifoliata and two putative resistance polyproteins from rice. Nested copies of gypsy like elements are scattered along the Citrus and Poncirus genomes. The results on genomic distribution show that these elements were introduced before the divergence of both genera and evolved separately thereafter. IRAPs based on gypsy and copia types of retrotransposons seem to distribute differently, therefore gypsy based IRAPs prove a new, complementary set of molecular markers in Citrus to study and map genetic variability, especially for disease resistance. Similarly to copia-derived IRAPs, the number of copies and heterozygosity values found for gypsy derived IRAPs are lower in Poncirus than in Citrus aurantium, which is less apomictic and the most usual rootstock for clementines until 1970.Communicated by C. Möllers     

Isolation and linkage mapping of NBS-LRR resistance gene analogs in red raspberry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubus idaeus</Emphasis> L.) and classification among 270 Rosaceae NBS-LRR genes

Plant R genes confer resistance to pathogens in a gene-for-gene mode. Seventy-five putative resistance gene analogs (RGAs) containing conserved domains were cloned from Rubus idaeus L. cv. ‘Latham’ using degenerate primers based on RGAs identified in Rosaceae species. The sequences were compared to 195 RGA sequences identified from five Rosaceae family genera. Multiple sequence alignments showed high similarity at multiple nucleotide-binding site (NBS) motifs with homology to Drosophila Toll and mammalian interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) and non-TIR RNBSA-A motifs. The TIR sequences clustered separately from the non-TIR sequences with a bootstrap value of 76%. There were 11 clusters each of TIR and non-TIR type sequences of multiple genera with bootstrap values of more than 50%, including nine with values of more than 75% and seven of more than 90%. Polymorphic sequence characterized amplified region and cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence markers were developed for nine Rubus RGA sequences with eight placed on a red raspberry genetic linkage map. Phylogenetic analysis indicated four of the mapped sequences share sequence similarity to groupTIR I, while three others were spread in non-TIR groups. Of the 75 Rubus RGA sequences analyzed, members were placed in five TIR groups and six non-TIR groups. These group classifications closely matched those in 12 of 13 studies from which these sequences were derived. The analysis of related DNA sequences within plant families elucidates the evolutionary relationship and process involved in pest resistance development in plants. This information will aid in the understanding of R genes and their proliferation within plant genomes. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Characterization of disease resistance gene candidates of the nucleotide binding site (NBS) type from banana and correlation of a transcriptional polymorphism with resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> f.sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cubense</Emphasis> race 4

Most plant disease resistance (R) genes encode proteins with a nucleotide binding site and leucine-rich repeat structure (NBS-LRR). In this study, degenerate primers were used to amplify genomic NBS-type sequences from wild banana (Musa acuminata ssp. malaccensis) plants resistant to the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum formae specialis (f. sp.) cubense (FOC) race 4. Five different classes of NBS-type sequences were identified and designated as resistance gene candidates (RGCs). The deduced amino acid sequences of the RGCs revealed the presence of motifs characteristic of the majority of known plant NBS-LRR resistance genes. Structural and phylogenetic analyses grouped the banana RGCs within the non-TIR (homology to Toll/interleukin-1 receptors) subclass of NBS sequences. Southern hybridization showed that each banana RGC is present in low copy number. The expression of the RGCs was assessed by RT-PCR in leaf and root tissues of plants resistant or susceptible to FOC race 4. RGC1, 3 and 5 showed a constitutive expression profile in both resistant and susceptible plants whereas no expression was detected for RGC4. Interestingly, RGC2 expression was found to be associated only to FOC race 4 resistant lines. This finding could assist in the identification of a FOC race 4 resistance gene.     

Characterization and mapping of NBS-LRR resistance gene analogs in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.)

Genomic DNA sequences sharing homology with the NBS-LRR (nucleotide binding site-leucine-rich repeat) resistance genes were isolated and cloned from apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) using a PCR approach with degenerate primers designed from conserved regions of the NBS domain. Restriction digestion and sequence analyses of the amplified fragments led to the identification of 43 unique amino acid sequences grouped into six families of resistance gene analogs (RGAs). All of the RGAs identified belong to the Toll-Interleukin receptor (TIR) group of the plant disease resistance genes (R-genes). RGA-specific primers based on non-conserved regions of the NBS domain were developed from the consensus sequences of each RGA family. These primers were used to develop amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)-RGA markers by means of an AFLP-modified procedure where one standard primer is substituted by an RGA-specific primer. Using this method, 27 polymorphic markers, six of which shared homology with the TIR class of the NBS-LRR R-genes, were obtained from 17 different primer combinations. Of these 27 markers, 16 mapped in an apricot genetic map previously constructed from the self-pollination of the cultivar Lito. The development of AFLP-RGA markers may prove to be useful for marker-assisted selection and map-based cloning of R-genes in apricot.     

Mining and characterizing microsatellites from citrus ESTs

Freely available computer programs were arranged in a pipeline to extract microsatellites from public citrus EST sequences, retrieved from the NCBI. In total, 3,278 bi- to hexa-type SSR-containing sequences were identified from 56,199 citrus ESTs. On an average, one SSR was found per 5.2 kb of EST sequence, with the tri-nucleotide motifs as the most abundant. Primer sequences flanking SSR motifs were successfully identified from 2,295 citrus ESTs. Among those, a subset (100 pairs) were synthesized and tested to determine polymorphism and heterozygosity between/within two genera, sweet orange (C. sinensis) and Poncirus (P. trifoliata), which are the parents of the citrus core mapping population selected for an international citrus genomics effort. Eighty-seven pairs of primers gave PCR amplification to the anticipated SSRs, of which 52 and 35 appear to be homozygous and heterozygous, respectively, in sweet orange, and 67 and 20, respectively, in Poncirus. By pairing the loci between the two intergeneric species, it was found that 40 are heterozygous in at least one species with two alleles (9), three alleles (28), or four alleles (3), and the remaining 47 are homozygous in both species with either one allele (31) or two alleles (16). These EST-derived SSRs can be a resource used for understanding of the citrus SSR distribution and frequency, and development of citrus EST-SSR genetic and physical maps. These SSR primer sequences are available upon request. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

A localized linkage map of the citrus tristeza virus resistance gene region

A localized genetic linkage map was developed of the region surrounding the citrus tristeza virus (CTV) resistance gene (designated Ctv) from Poncirus trifoliate L., a sexually compatible Citrus relative. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was used to identify potential resistance-associated RAPD fragment markers in four intergeneric backcross families that were segregating for CTV resistance. Eight RAPD fragments were found that were consistently linked to Ctv in the four families. Map distances and locus order were determined with MAPMAKER 3.0, using the results obtained from 59 individuals in the largest family. Also, a consensus map was constructed with JOINMAP 1.3, using pooled results from the four backcross families. Marker orders were identical, except for 1 marker, on these independently developed maps. Family-specific resistance-associated markers were also identified, as were numerous susceptibility-associated markers. The identification of markers tightly linked to Ctv will enable citrus breeders to identify plants likely to be CTV-resistant by indirect, marker-assisted selection, rather than by labor-intensive direct challenge with the pathogen. These markers also provide a basis for future efforts to isolate Ctv for subsequent genetic manipulation.Florida Agricultural Experimental Station Journal Series No. R-04491     

Molecular characterization of cDNA encoding resistance gene-like sequences in Buchloe dactyloides

Current knowledge of resistance (R) genes and their use for genetic improvement in buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides [Nutt.] Engelm.) lag behind most crop plants. This study was conducted to clone and characterize cDNA encoding R gene-like (RGL) sequences in buffalograss. This report is the first to clone and characterize of buffalograss RGLs. Degenerate primers designed from the conserved motifs of known R genes were used to amplify RGLs and fragments of expected size were isolated and cloned. Sequence analysis of cDNA clones and analysis of putative translation products revealed that most encoded amino acid sequences shared the similar conserved motifs found in the cloned plant disease resistance genes PRS2, MLA6, L6, RPMI, and Xa1. These results indicated diversity of the R gene candidate sequences in buffalograss. Analysis of 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), applied to investigate upstream of RGLs, indicated that regulatory sequences such as TATA box were conserved among the RGLs identified. The cloned RGL in this study will further enhance our knowledge on organization, function, and evolution of R gene family in buffalo grass. With the sequences of the primers and sizes of the markers provided, these RGL markers are readily available for use in a genomics-assisted selection in buffalograss.     

EST-SSR genetic maps for Citrus sinensis and Poncirus trifoliata

The segregation of 141 polymorphic expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers in an F1 intergeneric citrus population was studied to build the first extensive EST maps for the maternal sweet orange and paternal Poncirus genomes. Of these markers, 122 were found segregating in sweet orange, 59 in Poncirus, and 40 in both. Eleven linkage groups with 113 markers in sweet orange, 8 with 45 markers in Poncirus, and 13 with 123 markers in the cross pollinator (CP) consensus of both, were constructed. About 775.8 cM of sweet orange genome and 425.7 cM of Poncirus genome were covered. Through comparison of shared markers, three cases were found where two linkage groups in one map apparently were colinear with one group of the other map; Poncirus linkages Ar1a and Ar1b and consensus linkages CP1a and CP1b, were both collinear with one sweet orange linkage, Sa1, as were sweet orange Sa3a and Sa3b with Poncirus Ar3 and consensus CP3, and sweet orange Sa7a and Sa7b, and consensus CP7a and CP7b with Poncirus Ar7. These EST-SSR markers are particularly useful for constructing comparative framework maps for related genera because they amplify orthologous genes to provide anchor points across taxa. All SSR primers are freely available to the citrus community. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Targeted resistance gene mapping in soybean using modified AFLPs

The soybean [Glycine max (Merr.) L.] linkage group F contains a vital region of clustered genes for resistance to numerous pathogens including the soybean mosaic virus resistance gene, Rsv1. In order to develop new genetic markers that map to this gene cluster, we employed a targeted approach that utilizes the speed and high-throughput of AFLP, but modified it to incorporate sequence information from the highly conserved nucleotide binding site (NBS) region of cloned disease resistance genes. By using a labeled degenerate primer corresponding to the p-loop portion of the NBS region of resistance genes, such as N, L6, and Rps2, we were able to quickly amplify numerous polymorphic bands between parents of a population segregating for resistance to Rsv1. Of these polymorphic bands, bulk segregant analysis revealed four markers that were closely linked to Rsv1. These markers were cloned and used as probes for RFLP analysis. The four clones mapped to within a 6-cM region surrounding Rsv1, the closest being 0.4 cM away from the gene. Sequence analysis showed that all four clones contain the p-loop sequence corresponding to the degenerate primer and that one of the four clones contains an open reading frame sequence which when translated is related to the NBS region of other cloned disease resistance genes. The rapid identification of four markers closely linked to Rsv1 in soybean demonstrates the utility of this method for generating markers tightly linked to important plant disease resistance genes. Received: 25 September 1999 / Accepted: 3 November 1999     

Refinement of the Citrus Tristeza Virus Resistance Gene (Ctv) Positional Map in Poncirus trifoliata and Generation of Transgenic Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) Plant Lines with Candidate Resistance Genes in this Region

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is a major pathogen of Citrus. A single dominant gene Ctv present in the trifoliate relative of Citrus, Poncirus trifoliata confers broad spectrum resistance against CTV. Refinement of genetic maps has delimited this gene to a 121 kb region, comprising of ten candidate Ctv resistance genes. The ten candidate genes were individually cloned in Agrobacterium based binary vector and transformed into three CTV susceptible grapefruit varieties. Two of the candidate R-genes, R-2 and R-3 are exclusively expressed in transgenic plants and in Poncirus trifoliata, while five other genes are also expressed in non-transformed Citrus controls. Northern blotting with a CTV derived probe for assessment of infection in virus inoculated plants over a span of three growth periods, each comprising of six to eight weeks, indicates either an absence of initiation of infection or it’s slow spread in R-2 plant lines or an initial appearance of infection and it’s subsequent obliteration in some R-1 and R-4 plant lines. Limited genome walk up- and downstream form R-1 gene, based on it’s 100% sequence identity between Poncirus and Citrus, indicates promoter identity of 92% between the two varieties. Further upstream and downstream sequencing indicates the presence of an O-methyl transferase and a Copia like gene respectively in Citrus instead of the amino acid transporter like gene upstream and a sugar transporter like gene downstream in Poncirus. The possibility of recombinations in the resistance locus of Citrus and the need for consistent monitoring for virus infection and gene expression in the transgenic Citrus trees is discussed. Electronic supplementary material Electronic supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users.     

Identification and characterization of NBS-LRR class resistance gene analogs in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).

A PCR approach with degenerate primers designed from conserved NBS-LRR (nucleotide binding site-leucine-rich repeat) regions of known disease-resistance (R) genes was used to amplify and clone homologous sequences from 5 faba bean (Vicia faba) lines and 2 chickpea (Cicer arietinum) accessions. Sixty-nine sequenced clones showed homologies to various R genes deposited in the GenBank database. The presence of internal kinase-2 and kinase-3a motifs in all the sequences isolated confirm that these clones correspond to NBS-containing genes. Using an amino-acid sequence identity of 70% as a threshold value, the clones were grouped into 10 classes of resistance-gene analogs (RGA01 to RGA10). The number of clones per class varied from 1 to 30. RGA classes 1, 6, 8, and 9 were comprised solely of clones isolated from faba bean, whereas classes 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 included only chickpea clones. RGA10, showing a within-class identity of 99%, was the only class consisting of both faba bean and chickpea clones. A phylogenetic tree, based on the deduced amino-acid sequences of 12 representative clones from the 10 RGA classes and the NBS domains of 6 known R genes (I2 and Prf from tomato, RPP13 from Arabidopsis, Gro1-4 from potato, N from tobacco, L6 from flax), clearly indicated the separation between TIR (Toll/interleukin-1 receptor homology: Gro1-4, L6, N, RGA05 to RGA10)- and non-TIR (I2, Prf, RPP13, RGA01 to RGA04)-type NBS-LRR sequences. The development of suitable polymorphic markers based on cloned RGA sequences to be used in genetic mapping will facilitate the assessment of their potential linkage relationships with disease-resistance genes in faba bean and chickpea. This work is the first to report on faba bean RGAs.     

Isolation of Resistance Gene Candidates (RGCs) and characterization of an RGC cluster in cassava

Plant disease resistance genes (R genes) show significant similarity amongst themselves in terms of both their DNA sequences and structural motifs present in their protein products. Oligonucleotide primers designed from NBS (Nucleotide Binding Site) domains encoded by several R-genes have been used to amplify NBS sequences from the genomic DNA of various plant species, which have been called Resistance Gene Analogues (RGAs) or Resistance Gene Candidates (RGCs). Using specific primers from the NBS and TIR (Toll/Interleukin-1 Receptor) regions, we identified twelve classes of RGCs in cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz). Two classes were obtained from the PCR-amplification of the TIR domain. The other 10 classes correspond to the NBS sequences and were grouped into two subfamilies. Classes RCa1 to RCa5 are part of the first subfamily and were linked to a TIR domain in the N terminus. Classes RCa6 to RCa10 corresponded to non-TIR NBS-LRR encoding sequences. BAC library screening with the 12 RGC classes as probes allowed the identification of 42 BAC clones that were assembled into 10 contigs and 19 singletons. Members of the two TIR and non-TIR NBS-LRR subfamilies occurred together within individual BAC clones. The BAC screening and Southern hybridization analyses showed that all RGCs were single copy sequences except RCa6 that represented a large and diverse gene family. One BAC contained five NBS sequences and sequence analysis allowed the identification of two complete RGCs encoding two highly similar proteins. This BAC was located on linkage group J with three other RGC-containing BACs. At least one of these genes, RGC2, is expressed constitutively in cassava tissues.Communicated by M.-A. Grandbastien     

Resistance gene analogue markers are mapped to homeologous chromosomes in cultivated tetraploid cotton

Degenerate primers designed from conserved motifs of known plant resistance gene products were used to amplify genomic DNA sequences from the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) resistance genetic source, Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) cultivar Auburn 634 RNR. A total of 165 clones were isolated, and sequence analysis revealed 57 of the clones to be novel nucleotide sequences, many containing the resistance (R)-protein nucleotide-binding site motif. A cluster analysis was performed with resistance gene analogue (RGA) nucleotide sequences isolated in this study, in addition to 99 cotton RGA nucleotide sequences already deposited in GenBank, to generate a phylogenetic tree of cotton R genes. The cotton RGA nucleotide sequences were arranged into 11 groups and 56 sub-groups, based on genetic distances. Multiple sequence alignments were performed on the RGA sequences of each sub-group, and either the consensus sequences or individual RGA sequences were used to design 61 RGA-sequence-tagged site primers. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of cultivated tetraploid cotton was genotyped using RGA-specific primers that amplified polymorphic fragments between the two RIL parents. Nine RGA markers were mapped to homeologous chromosomes 12 and 26, based on linkage to existing markers that are located on these chromosomes.     

Characterisation and genetic mapping of resistance and defence gene analogs in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.)

Disease resistance and defence gene analog (RGA/DGA) sequences were isolated in cocoa using a PCR approach with degenerate primers designed from conserved domains of plant resistance and defence genes: the NBS (nucleotide binding site) motif present in a number of resistance genes such as the tobacco N, sub-domains of plant serine/threonine kinases such as the Pto tomato gene, and conserved domains of two defence gene families: pathogenesis-related proteins (PR) of classes 2 and 5. Nucleotide identity between thirty six sequences isolated from cocoa and known resistance or defence genes varied from 58 to 80%. Amino acid sequences translated from corresponding coding sequences produced sequences without stop codons, except for one NBS –like sequence. Most of the RGAs could be mapped on the cocoa genome and three clusters of genes could be observed : NBS-like sequences clustered in two regions located on chromosomes 7 and 10, Pto-like sequences mapped in five genome regions of which one, located on chromosome 4, corresponded to a cluster of five different sequences. PR2-like sequences mapped in two regions located on chromosome 5 and 9 respectively. An enrichment of the genetic map with microsatellite markers allowed us to identify several co-localisations of RGAs, DGAs and QTL for resistance to Phytophthora detected in several progenies, particularly on chromosome 4 where a cluster of Pto-like sequences and 4 QTL for resistance to Phytophthora were observed. Many other serious diseases affect cocoa and the candidate genes, isolated in this study, could be of broader interest in cocoa disease management.     

Construction of a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library of Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Stevens and its application to physically map the Sw-5 locus

The Sw-5 gene is a dominantly inherited resistance gene in tomato and functional against a number of tospovirus species. The gene has been mapped on chromosome 9, tightly linked to RFLP markers CT220 and SCAR421. To analyse the Sw-5 locus, a BAC genomic library was constructed of tomato cv. Stevens, homozygous for the Sw-5 gene. The library comprised 18 816 clones with an average insert size of 100 kb, corresponding to two genome equivalents. The library was screened by PCR using primers designed for the CT220 and SCAR421 sequences, resulting in a 250 kb contig of known orientation on the long arm of chromosome 9. Using degenerate primers based on homologous sequences in the nucleotide binding site of resistance gene sequences, three discrete PCR fragments obtained from this contig were cloned and sequenced. Analysis of these fragments revealed a high similarity with numerous resistance genes or resistance gene like sequences. The present data indicate that at least three different resistance gene candidate (RGC) sequences are present in the vicinity of marker CT220, supporting the view that a resistance gene family may be responsible for the unusually broad resistance to tospoviruses conferred by the Sw-5 locus. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Isolation,genetic variation and expression of TIR-NBS-LRR resistance gene analogs from western white pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus monticola </Emphasis>Dougl. ex. D. Don.)

Western white pine (Pinus monticola Dougl. ex. D. Don., WWP) shows genetic variation in disease resistance to white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola). Most plant disease resistance (R) genes encode proteins that belong to a superfamily with nucleotide-binding site domains (NBS) and C-terminal leucine-rich repeats (LRR). In this work a PCR strategy was used to clone R gene analogs (RGAs) from WWP using oligonucleotide primers based on the conserved sequence motifs in the NBS domain of angiosperm NBS-LRR genes. Sixty-seven NBS sequences were cloned from disease-resistant trees. BLAST searches in GenBank revealed that they shared significant identity to well-characterized R genes from angiosperms, including L and M genes from flax, the tobacco N gene and the soybean gene LM6. Sequence alignments revealed that the RGAs from WWP contained the conserved motifs identified in angiosperm NBS domains, especially those motifs specific for TIR-NBS-LRR proteins. Phylogenic analysis of plant R genes and RGAs indicated that all cloned WWP RGAs can be grouped into one major branch together with well-known R proteins carrying a TIR domain, suggesting they belong to the subfamily of TIR-NBS-LRR genes. In one phylogenic tree, WWP RGAs were further subdivided into fourteen clusters with an amino acid sequence identity threshold of 75%. cDNA cloning and RT-PCR analysis with gene-specific primers demonstrated that members of 10 of the 14 RGA classes were expressed in foliage tissues, suggesting that a large and diverse NBS-LRR gene family may be functional in conifers. These results provide evidence for the hypothesis that conifer RGAs share a common origin with R genes from angiosperms, and some of them may play important roles in defense mechanisms that confer disease resistance in western white pine. Ratios of non-synonymous to synonymous nucleotide substitutions (Ka/Ks) in the WWP NBS domains were greater than 1 or close to 1, indicating that diversifying selection and/or neutral selection operate on the NBS domains of the WWP RGA family.Communicated by R. Hagemann     

A large scale analysis of resistance gene homologues in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Arachis</Emphasis>

Arachis hypogaea L., commonly known as the peanut or groundnut, is an important and widespread food legume. Because the crop has a narrow genetic base, genetic diversity in A. hypogaea is low and it lacks sources of resistance to many pests and diseases. In contrast, wild diploid Arachis species are genetically diverse and are rich sources of disease resistance genes. The majority of known plant disease resistance genes encode proteins with a nucleotide binding site domain (NBS). In this study, degenerate PCR primers designed to bind to DNA regions encoding conserved motifs within this domain were used to amplify NBS-encoding regions from Arachis spp. The Arachis spp. used were A. hypogaea var. Tatu and wild species that are known to be sources of disease resistance: A. cardenasii, A. duranensis , A. stenosperma and A. simpsonii. A total of 78 complete NBS-encoding regions were isolated, of which 63 had uninterrupted ORFs. Phylogenetic analysis of the Arachis NBS sequences derived in this study and other NBS sequences from Arabidopsis thaliana, Medicago trunculata , Glycine max , Lotus japonicus and Phaseolus vulgaris that are available in public databases This analysis indicates that most Arachis NBS sequences fall within legume-specific clades, some of which appear to have undergone extensive copy number expansions in the legumes. In addition, NBS motifs from A. thaliana and legumes were characterized. Differences in the TIR and non-TIR motifs were identified. The likely effect of these differences on the amplification of NBS-encoding sequences by PCR is discussed.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article if you access the article at . A link in the frame on the left on that page takes you directly to the supplementary material.Communicated by M.-A. Grandbastien     

New universal mitochondrial PCR markers reveal new information on maternal citrus phylogeny

The aim of this work was to provide a set of mitochondrial markers to reveal polymorphism and to study the maternal phylogeny in citrus. We first used 44 universal markers previously described in the literature: nine of these markers produced amplification products but only one revealed polymorphism in citrus. We then designed six conserved pairs of primers using the complete mitochondrial DNA sequences of Arabidopsis thaliana and Beta vulgaris to amplify polymorphic intergenic and intronic regions. From these six pairs of primers, three from introns of genes coding for NADH dehydrogenase subunits 2, 5, and 7, revealed polymorphism in citrus. First, we confirmed that citrus have a maternal mitochondrial inheritance in two populations of 250 and 120 individuals. We then conducted a phylogenic study using four polymorphic primers on 77 genotypes representing the diversity of Citrus and two related genera. Seven mitotypes were identified. Six mitotypes (Poncirus, Fortunella, Citrus medica, Citrus micrantha, Citrus reticulata, and Citrus maxima) were congruent with previous taxonomic investigations. The seventh mitotype enabled us to distinguish an acidic mandarin group (‘Cleopatra’, ‘Sunki’ and ‘Shekwasha’) from other mandarins and revealed a maternal relationship with Citrus limonia (‘Rangpur’ lime, ‘Volkamer’ lemon) and Citrus jambhiri (‘Rough’ lemon). This mitotype contained only cultivated species used as rootstocks due to their good tolerances to abiotic stress. Our results also suggest that two species classified by Swingle and Reece, Citrus limon, and Citrus aurantifolia, have multiple maternal cytoplasmic origins.