On the genome constitution and evolution of intermediate wheatgrass (<it>Thinopyrum intermedium</it>: Poaceae, Triticeae)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The wheat tribe Triticeae (Poaceae) is a diverse group of grasses representing a textbook example of reticulate evolution. Apart from globally important grain crops, there are also wild grasses which are of great practical value. All...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Paštová Ladislava, Kopecký David, Mahelka Václav
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2011-05-01
Series:BMC Evolutionary Biology
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/11/127
_version_ 1818978925499383808
author Paštová Ladislava
Kopecký David
Mahelka Václav
author_facet Paštová Ladislava
Kopecký David
Mahelka Václav
author_sort Paštová Ladislava
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The wheat tribe Triticeae (Poaceae) is a diverse group of grasses representing a textbook example of reticulate evolution. Apart from globally important grain crops, there are also wild grasses which are of great practical value. Allohexaploid intermediate wheatgrass, <it>Thinopyrum intermedium </it>(2n = 6x = 42), possesses many desirable agronomic traits that make it an invaluable source of genetic material useful in wheat improvement. Although the identification of its genomic components has been the object of considerable investigation, the complete genomic constitution and its potential variability are still being unravelled. To identify the genomic constitution of this allohexaploid, four accessions of intermediate wheatgrass from its native area were analysed by sequencing of chloroplast <it>trn</it>L-F and partial nuclear GBSSI, and genomic <it>in situ </it>hybridization.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results confirmed the allopolyploid origin of <it>Thinopyrum intermedium </it>and revealed new aspects in its genomic composition. Genomic heterogeneity suggests a more complex origin of the species than would be expected if it originated through allohexaploidy alone. While <it>Pseudoroegneria </it>is the most probable maternal parent of the accessions analysed, nuclear GBSSI sequences suggested the contribution of distinct lineages corresponding to the following present-day genera: <it>Pseudoroegneria</it>, <it>Dasypyrum</it>, <it>Taeniatherum</it>, <it>Aegilops </it>and <it>Thinopyrum</it>. Two subgenomes of the hexaploid have most probably been contributed by <it>Pseudoroegneria </it>and <it>Dasypyrum</it>, but the identity of the third subgenome remains unresolved satisfactorily. Possibly it is of hybridogenous origin, with contributions from <it>Thinopyrum </it>and <it>Aegilops</it>. Surprising diversity of GBSSI copies corresponding to a <it>Dasypyrum</it>-like progenitor indicates either multiple contributions from different sources close to <it>Dasypyrum </it>and maintenance of divergent copies or the presence of divergent paralogs, or a combination of both. <it>Taeniatherum</it>-like GBSSI copies are most probably pseudogenic, and the mode of their acquisition by <it>Th. intermedium </it>remains unclear.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Hybridization has played a key role in the evolution of the Triticeae. Transfer of genetic material via extensive interspecific hybridization and/or introgression could have enriched the species' gene pools significantly. We have shown that the genomic heterogeneity of intermediate wheatgrass is higher than has been previously assumed, which is of particular concern to wheat breeders, who frequently use it as a source of desirable traits in wheat improvement.</p>
first_indexed 2024-12-20T16:51:23Z
format Article
id doaj.art-d6323f300c9c43b18a525e32f8cff06d
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1471-2148
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-20T16:51:23Z
publishDate 2011-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Evolutionary Biology
spelling doaj.art-d6323f300c9c43b18a525e32f8cff06d2022-12-21T19:32:49ZengBMCBMC Evolutionary Biology1471-21482011-05-0111112710.1186/1471-2148-11-127On the genome constitution and evolution of intermediate wheatgrass (<it>Thinopyrum intermedium</it>: Poaceae, Triticeae)Paštová LadislavaKopecký DavidMahelka Václav<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The wheat tribe Triticeae (Poaceae) is a diverse group of grasses representing a textbook example of reticulate evolution. Apart from globally important grain crops, there are also wild grasses which are of great practical value. Allohexaploid intermediate wheatgrass, <it>Thinopyrum intermedium </it>(2n = 6x = 42), possesses many desirable agronomic traits that make it an invaluable source of genetic material useful in wheat improvement. Although the identification of its genomic components has been the object of considerable investigation, the complete genomic constitution and its potential variability are still being unravelled. To identify the genomic constitution of this allohexaploid, four accessions of intermediate wheatgrass from its native area were analysed by sequencing of chloroplast <it>trn</it>L-F and partial nuclear GBSSI, and genomic <it>in situ </it>hybridization.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results confirmed the allopolyploid origin of <it>Thinopyrum intermedium </it>and revealed new aspects in its genomic composition. Genomic heterogeneity suggests a more complex origin of the species than would be expected if it originated through allohexaploidy alone. While <it>Pseudoroegneria </it>is the most probable maternal parent of the accessions analysed, nuclear GBSSI sequences suggested the contribution of distinct lineages corresponding to the following present-day genera: <it>Pseudoroegneria</it>, <it>Dasypyrum</it>, <it>Taeniatherum</it>, <it>Aegilops </it>and <it>Thinopyrum</it>. Two subgenomes of the hexaploid have most probably been contributed by <it>Pseudoroegneria </it>and <it>Dasypyrum</it>, but the identity of the third subgenome remains unresolved satisfactorily. Possibly it is of hybridogenous origin, with contributions from <it>Thinopyrum </it>and <it>Aegilops</it>. Surprising diversity of GBSSI copies corresponding to a <it>Dasypyrum</it>-like progenitor indicates either multiple contributions from different sources close to <it>Dasypyrum </it>and maintenance of divergent copies or the presence of divergent paralogs, or a combination of both. <it>Taeniatherum</it>-like GBSSI copies are most probably pseudogenic, and the mode of their acquisition by <it>Th. intermedium </it>remains unclear.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Hybridization has played a key role in the evolution of the Triticeae. Transfer of genetic material via extensive interspecific hybridization and/or introgression could have enriched the species' gene pools significantly. We have shown that the genomic heterogeneity of intermediate wheatgrass is higher than has been previously assumed, which is of particular concern to wheat breeders, who frequently use it as a source of desirable traits in wheat improvement.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/11/127
spellingShingle Paštová Ladislava
Kopecký David
Mahelka Václav
On the genome constitution and evolution of intermediate wheatgrass (<it>Thinopyrum intermedium</it>: Poaceae, Triticeae)
BMC Evolutionary Biology
title On the genome constitution and evolution of intermediate wheatgrass (<it>Thinopyrum intermedium</it>: Poaceae, Triticeae)
title_full On the genome constitution and evolution of intermediate wheatgrass (<it>Thinopyrum intermedium</it>: Poaceae, Triticeae)
title_fullStr On the genome constitution and evolution of intermediate wheatgrass (<it>Thinopyrum intermedium</it>: Poaceae, Triticeae)
title_full_unstemmed On the genome constitution and evolution of intermediate wheatgrass (<it>Thinopyrum intermedium</it>: Poaceae, Triticeae)
title_short On the genome constitution and evolution of intermediate wheatgrass (<it>Thinopyrum intermedium</it>: Poaceae, Triticeae)
title_sort on the genome constitution and evolution of intermediate wheatgrass it thinopyrum intermedium it poaceae triticeae
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/11/127
work_keys_str_mv AT pastovaladislava onthegenomeconstitutionandevolutionofintermediatewheatgrassitthinopyrumintermediumitpoaceaetriticeae
AT kopeckydavid onthegenomeconstitutionandevolutionofintermediatewheatgrassitthinopyrumintermediumitpoaceaetriticeae
AT mahelkavaclav onthegenomeconstitutionandevolutionofintermediatewheatgrassitthinopyrumintermediumitpoaceaetriticeae