Production,morphology, and cytogenetic analysis of Elymus caninus (Agropyron caninum) x Triticum aestivum F1 hybrids and backcross-1 derivatives

Summary Intergeneric hybrids were produced between common wheat, Triticum aestivum (2n=6x=42, AABBDD) and wheatgrass, Etymus caninus (Agropyron caninum) (2n=4x=28, SSHH) — the first successful report of this cross. Reciprocal crosses and genotypes differed for percent seed set, seed development and F₁ hybrid plant production. With E. caninus as the pollen parent, there was no hybrid seed set. In the reciprocal cross, seed set was 23.1–25.4% depending upon wheat genotype used. Hybrid plants were produced only by rescuing embryos 12–13 days post pollination with cv Chinese Spring as the wheat parent. Kinetin in the medium facilitated embryo germination but inhibited root development and seedling growth. The hybrids were vigorous, self sterile, and intermediate between parents. These had expected chromosome number (2n=5x=35, ABDSH), very little chromosome pairing (0.51 II, 0.04 III) and some secondary associations. The hybrids were successfully backcrossed with wheat. Chromosome number in the BC₁ derivatives varied 54–58 with 56 as the modal class. The BC₁ derivatives showed unusually high number of rod bivalents or reduced pairing of wheat homologues. These were sterile and BC₂ seed was produced using wheat pollen.     

Gathering and processing of lyme-grass (Elymus arenarius L.) in Iceland: an ethnohistorical account

Lyme-grass (Elymus arenarius L.) was harvested and processed for human consumption along the southern coast of Iceland until the beginning of this century. The origin of this exploitation is not known, but lyme-grass may have been gathered for this purpose already in the Viking Age. The system of processing lyme-grass is complex, and special implements and facilities are needed. The method is similar to traditional processing methods for cereals. Extensive research on Icelandic ethnographic observations was undertaken to establish the exact methods and sequence of operations that was involved. On the basis of this, a set of archaeological experiments was performed to test the viability of the processing techniques outlined in the written records. A model describing the harvesting and processing of lyme-grass is presented.     

Seasonal changes of osmotic pressure, symplasmic water content and tissue elasticity in the blades of dune grasses growing in situ along the coast of Oregon

Abstract Midday water potentials of blades of the dune grasses Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link and Elymus mollis Trin. ex Spreng. growing in situ declined over the summer growing period, indicating a trend of increasing water stress. An analysis of the water relations characteristics of these blades using pressure-volume techniques demonstrated that both species increased bulk osmotic pressure at full hydration () and, therefore, bulk turgor as an acclimation response. In A. arenaria, however, the increase of osmotic pressure (+ 0.35 MPa) was entirely the result of decreasing symplasmic water content. The increase of osmotic pressure (+ 0.54 MPa) observed in E. mollis blades was due to solute accumulation (72% of Δ) and to a lesser degree, decreased symplasmic water content (28% of Δ). Osmotic adjustment in E. mollis blades was accompanied by a significant decrease in tissue elasticity (_max went from 12 to 19 MPa). The elastic properties of A. arenaria blades remained constant over the same period and had a maximum modulus (10 MPa) that was always less than that of E. mollis, As estimated from Höfler plots, these seasonal adjustments of osmotic pressure and differences in tissue elasticity enabled plants in situ to maintain turgor pressure in the range of 0.5–0.6 MPa at the lowest water potentials of mid-August. Laboratorygrown plants exhibited the species-specific differences in osmotic pressure, turgor pressure, and tissue elasticity observed in field plants. Although certain alterations of leaf structure were expected to coincide with the observed changes and species-specific differences in symplasmic water content and tissue elasticity, these could not be detected by measurements of specific leaf weight or the ratio of dry matter to saturated water content.     

Molecular diversity of the 5S nuclear ribosomal DNA in Campeiostachys with StHY haplome constitution

To detect the genomic constitutions and investigate the evolutionary relationships between Campeiostachys Drobov and Elymus L. species, we have cloned and analyzed 271 5S nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences from 27 accessions of these species, mostly of Chinese origin. We identified Long H1, Short S1, and Long Y1 unit classes in nine Campeiostachys or Elymus species. The identification of the three orthologous unit classes was confirmed by the neighbor‐joining tree of each unit class from PAUP and the phylogeny tree of three unit classes from MrBayes. The results suggested that these Elymus species comprise StYH haplomes and should be included in Campeiostachys. The phylogeny tree showed a clear separation between the S1 unit class and Y1 unit class. However, Y1 unit class sequences formed a sister clade to the S1 unit class, implying that although the St and Y haplomes might have some affinity, they are distinct from one another. The phylogeny tree also indicated that the five species in sect. Turczaninovia (C. dahurica var. cylindrica, C. dahurica var. dahurica, C. dahurica var. tangutorum, E. purpuraristatus, and E. dahuricus Turcz. ex Griseb. var. violeus C. P. Wang & H. L. Yang) might share a more recent common ancestor, whereas the four species in sect. Elymus (C. nutans, E. breviaristatus (Keng) Keng ex Keng f., E. sinosubmuticus (Keng) Keng f., and E. atratus (Nevski) Hand.‐Mazz.) share a close relationship. By identifying only one type of unit class for each haplome, we propose that the 5S nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences of species within Campeiostachys might have undergone haplome‐specific concerted evolution.     

四种昼行性动物取食和贮藏红松种子的行为比较

于2005年10月1~7日,采用全时焦点观察法研究了黑龙江凉水国家级自然保护区19林班原始红松林内松鼠(Sciurus vulgaris)、星鸦(Nucifraga caryocatactes)、花鼠(Eutamias sibiricus)和普通(Sitta europaea)4种昼行性动物取食和贮藏红松种子的行为。结果表明①4种动物的取食和贮藏过程包括找寻、松塔的处理与种子剥食、松塔和种子的搬运、确定贮藏点、掩藏和警戒等6个环节,但它们在6个环节所耗费的时间均存在较大差异;②4种动物的种子消耗量亦存在较大差异(χ2=144.67,df=3,P<0.05),松鼠、星鸦、花鼠和普通每次平均取食红松种子的数量分别为40.0粒、20.9粒、16.7粒和1.3粒。松鼠与星鸦能够在地面和树冠层取食或收获红松松塔及种子,而花鼠与普通则主要在地面取食;③4种动物贮藏种子的能力亦有较大差异(χ2=68.76,df=3,P<0.05Kruskal-Wallis),松鼠、星鸦和普通主要分散贮藏红松种子,松鼠和星鸦的贮藏量最多,而花鼠很少分散贮藏种子,但能将许多红松种子集中贮藏在少数的贮藏点;④取食松籽的种间竞争强烈,在红松林的垂直高度上,松鼠和星鸦具有高度重叠的取食生态位,花鼠和普通因为种群数量大,对地面种子库的消耗量较大。分析结果显示,松鼠与星鸦是红松种子扩散的传播者,普通是种子消耗者兼传播者,而花鼠则近乎是完全的捕食者。     

Habitat differentiation vs. isolation-by-distance: the genetic population structure of Elymus athericus in European salt marshes

We investigated genetic differentiation among populations of the clonal grass Elymus athericus, a common salt-marsh species occurring along the Wadden Sea coast of Europe. While E. athericus traditionally occurs in the high salt marsh, it recently also invaded lower parts of the marsh. In one of the first analyses of the genetic population structure in salt-marsh species, we were interested in population differentiation through isolation-by-distance, and among strongly divergent habitats (low and high marsh) in this wind- and water-dispersed species. High and low marsh habitats were sampled at six sites throughout the Wadden Sea. Based on reciprocal transplantation experiments conducted earlier revealing lower survival of foreign genotypes we predicted reduced gene flow among habitats. Accordingly, an analysis with polymorphic cross-species microsatellite primers revealed significant genetic differentiation between high and low marsh habitats already on a very small scale (< 100 m), while isolation-by-distance was present only on larger scales (60-443 km). In an analysis of molecular variance we found that 14% of the genetic variance could be explained by the differentiation between habitats, as compared to only 8.9% to geographical (isolation-by-distance) effects among six sites 2.5-443 km distant from each other. This suggests that markedly different selection regimes between these habitats, in particular intraspecific competition and herbivory, result in habitat adaptation and restricted gene flow over distances as small as 80 m. Hence, the genetic population structure of plant species can only be understood when considering geographical and selection-mediated restrictions to gene flow simultaneously.     

小麦和无融合生殖披碱草杂交后代(BC2F2)的无融合生殖及胚胎发育过程中的异常现象研究

对小麦（Triticum aestivum）和无融合生殖披碱草（Elymus rectisetus）的染色体数目为42的杂种后代（BC2F2）单株进行了RAPD检测和胚胎学研究,RAPD检测结果表明：染色体数目为42条的BC2F2单株的遗传组成与普通小麦的遗传组成十分接近,但是在部分单株中出现了披碱草的特异带。由此可以推测,经过回交和自交后小麦草的部分染色体片段已经整合进了小麦的染色体。在部分BC2F2单株胚胎学切片中发现了较高比例的（5%左右）双孢原、早发胚以及多胚囊等无融合生殖现象,直接表明了无融合生殖基因转移。由于基因整合的多样性。无融合生殖基因在有些单株中并没有充分表达,从而造成了某些单株胚胎发育的异常。     

西伯利亚蝗基因组DNA提取及RAPD分析条件的优化

以西伯利亚蝗Gomphocerus sibiricus(L.)为研究材料,利用改良的SDS法提取高质量的DNA,分别测试了dNTP浓度、镁离子浓度、TaqDNA聚合酶用量、模板DNA的量等因素对反应结果的影响。通过各因子的组合比较,建立了西伯利亚蝗RAPD优化体系:25μLPCR反应体系,10×buffer2·5μL;dNTP0·24mmol/L;MgCl22·0mmol/L;Taq DNA聚合酶1U;DNA模板45ng;引物30ng。扩增程序为:94℃预变性1min45s、94℃变性30s、35℃退火1min30s、72℃延伸2min,45个循环、72℃延伸10min。结果表明,利用优化的反应条件进行西伯利亚蝗基因组DNA分析,实验有着良好的重复性和稳定性。     

西伯利亚蝗卵发育过程的比较转录组分析及滞育关联基因筛选

【目的】通过筛选西伯利亚蝗Gomphocerus sibiricus卵滞育基因及代谢通路,初步明确西伯利亚蝗卵滞育分子机理。【方法】利用Illumina NovaSeq 6000测序平台对西伯利亚蝗早期发育(ES)、滞育(DS)和滞育后发育阶段(PS)的卵进行转录组测序;采用GO和KEGG富集分析并结合文献,预测滞育相关通路并聚类热图分析,筛选蝗卵滞育关联基因,并选取其中6个重要基因进行qRT-PCR验证。【结果】DSvs ES和PS vs DS两比较组分别富集到12 419和4 789个差异表达基因,且多上调表达;两比较组共表达差异基因为2 206个,主要与糖代谢、环境胁迫和生长发育相关。DS vs ES组富集最显著的GO条目为蛋白结合,PS vs DS组GO条目主要包含酶活性、细胞骨架构建及蛋白结合等过程。滞育关联基因主要集中在Wnt信号通路、胰岛素信号通路、细胞周期通路以及昆虫激素生物合成等通路。6个重要的滞育关联基因的表达量变化趋势与转录组数据结果基本一致。【结论】本研究初步明确了西伯利亚蝗卵滞育调控的重要代谢途径,并筛选出20个滞育关联基因,为后续深入研究该物种的适应机理奠定了基础。     

大鹅观草与蛇河披碱草属间杂种的细胞遗传学研究

为探讨大鹅观草(Roegneria grandis,2n=4x=28)的染色体组组成,为其正确的分类处理提供细胞学依据。该研究通过人工远缘杂交,成功获得3株大鹅观草与蛇河披碱草(Elymus wawawaiensis,2n=4x=28)属间杂种F1植株。杂种植株形态介于两亲本之间,不育。亲本及杂种经I2-IK溶液染色后进行花粉育性检测,结果显示Roegneria grandis和Elymus wawawaiensis的花粉可育,育性高达94.6%和90.5%;杂种F1不育。花粉母细胞减数分裂中期I染色体配对结果显示,亲本花粉母细胞配对正常,均形成14个二价体,以环状二价体为主,Roegneria grandis有频率很低(0.04/细胞)的单价体出现;杂种F1平均每个花粉母细胞形成6.46个二价体,变化范围为5~8;在观察的83个花粉母细胞中,有35.2%的花粉母细胞形成了7个二价体,形成6个二价体的细胞占42.59%,较少细胞形成8个二价体;平均每个细胞形成14.66个单价体,变化范围为10~18;平均每细胞观察到0.14个三价体;杂种花粉母细胞染色体构型为14.66 I+6.46 II+0.14 III;平均每细胞交叉数为9.83,C值为0.35。结果表明:(1)R.grandis与Elymus wawawaiensis有一组染色体组同源的St染色体组,另外一组染色体组不是St或者H染色体组,Roegneria grandis的染色体组组成不是St Stg;(2)较低频率的三价体(平均0.14个/细胞),可能是由于R.grandis的St和Y染色体组间具有一定的同源性,也可能是染色体易位等原因导致,对于Y染色体组的起源还需深入地研究;(3)在不同地理来源的披碱草属和鹅观草属物种中St染色体组同源性不同,R.grandis与来自于北美的Elymus lanceolatus与E.wawawaiensis的St染色体组较与分布于亚洲的E.sibiricus和E.caninus的St染色体组同源性反而更高,其原因还需要进一步地研究。