Effect of genetic background on the stability of sunflower fatty acid composition in different high oleic mutations.

BACKGROUND: The effect of genetic background on the stability of fatty acid composition in sunflower near isogenic lines (NILs) carrying high-oleic Pervenets (P) or high-oleic NM1 mutations was studied. The materials were field-tested in different locations and at different sowing dates to evaluate a wide range of environmental conditions. Relationships were established between the fatty acids and the minimum night temperature (MNT) and the response was characterized. RESULTS: A genetic background effect for the fatty acid composition was found in both groups of NILs. The NM1-NILs showed an oleic level higher than 910 g kg-1 and they were more stable across environments with a zero or low dependence on the genetic background; on the other hand, high oleic materials bearing the P mutation showed lower levels of oleic acid, with a higher variation in fatty acid composition and a highly significant dependence on the genetic background. CONCLUSION: The NM1 mutation is the best option to develop ultra-high oleic sunflower oil that is stable across environments and genetic backgrounds, making its agronomical production more efficient and predictable. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Genetic impact of Rht dwarfing genes on grain micronutrients concentration in wheat.

Wheat is a major staple food crop providing about 20% of dietary energy and proteins, and food products made of whole grain wheat are a major source of micronutrients like Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Magnesium (Mg), Vitamin B and E. Wheat provides about 40% intake of essential micronutrients by humans in the developing countries relying on wheat based diets. Varieties with genetically enhanced levels of grain micronutrient concentrations can provide a cost-effective and sustainable option to resource poor wheat consumers. To determine the effects of commonly deployed dwarfing genes on wheat grain Zn, Fe, Mn and Mg concentrations, nine bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and six durum wheat (T. turgidum) isoline pairs differing for Rht1 (= Rht-B1b) and one bread wheat pair for Rht2 (= Rht-D1b) dwarfing genes were evaluated for three crop seasons at N.E. Borlaug Research Station, Cd. Obregon, Sonora, Mexico. Presence of dwarfing genes have significantly reduced grain Zn concentration by 3.9 ppm (range 1.9-10.0 ppm), and Fe by 3.2 ppm (range 1.0-14.4 ppm). On the average, about 94 ppm Mg and 6 ppm Mn reductions occurred in semidwarf varieties compared to tall varieties. The thousand kernel weight (TKW) of semidwarf isolines was 2.6 g (range 0.7-5.6 g) lower than the tall counterparts whereas the plant height decreased by 25 cm (range 16-37 cm). Reductions for all traits in semidwarfs were genotype dependent and the magnitude of height reductions did not correlate with reductions in micronutrient concentrations in wheat grain. We conclude that increased grain yield potential of semidwarf wheat varieties is associated with reduced grain micronutrient concentrations; however, the magnitude of reductions in micronutrients varied depending on genetic background and their associated pleiotropic effect on yield components.

A mutation that eliminates bundle sheath extensions reduces leaf hydraulic conductance, stomatal conductance and assimilation rates in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).

Bundle sheath extensions (BSEs) are key features of leaf structure whose distribution differs among species and ecosystems. The genetic control of BSE development is unknown, so BSE physiological function has not yet been studied through mutant analysis. We screened a population of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-induced mutants in the genetic background of the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) model Micro-Tom and found a mutant lacking BSEs. The leaf phenotype of the mutant strongly resembled the tomato mutant obscuravenosa (obv). We confirmed that obv lacks BSEs and that it is not allelic to our induced mutant, which we named obv-2. Leaves lacking BSEs had lower leaf hydraulic conductance and operated with lower stomatal conductance and correspondingly lower assimilation rates than wild-type leaves. This lower level of function occurred despite similarities in vein density, midvein vessel diameter and number, stomatal density, and leaf area between wild-type and mutant leaves, the implication being that the lack of BSEs hindered water dispersal within mutant leaves. Our results comparing near-isogenic lines within a single species confirm the hypothesised role of BSEs in leaf hydraulic function. They further pave the way for a genetic model-based analysis of a common leaf structure with deep ecological consequences.

Asymmetric effects of loss and gain of a floral trait on pollinator preference.

Shifts in pollination syndromes involve coordinated changes in multiple floral traits. This raises the question of how plants can cope with rapid changes in pollinator availability by the slow process of accumulation of mutations in multiple genes. Here we study the transition from bee to hawkmoth pollination in the genus Petunia. Interspecific crosses followed by single locus introgressions were used to recreate putative intermediate evolutionary stages in the evolution of moth pollination. The effect of the loss/gain of petal color was asymmetric: it had no influence on the established pollinator but enhanced visitation by the new pollinator. Therefore, shifts in pollination syndromes may proceed through intermediate stages of reduced specialization and consequently enhanced reproductive assurance. The loss of petal color in moth-pollinated Petunia involves null mutations in a single regulatory gene, An2. Such simple genetic changes may be sufficiently rapid and frequent to ensure survival during pollinator failure.

Chromosomal locations of the maize (Zea mays L.) HtP and rt genes that confer resistance to Exserohilum turcicum

We used 125 microsatellite markers to genotype the maize (Zea mays L.) near isogenic lines (NIL) L30HtPHtPRtRt and L30htphtpRtRt and the L40htphtprtrt line which contrast regarding the presence of the recently described dominant HtP and the recessive rt genes that confer resistance to Exserohilum turcicum. Five microsatellite markers revealed polymorphisms between the NIL and were considered candidate linked markers for the HtP resistance gene. Linkage was confirmed by bulked segregant sample (BSS) analysis of 32 susceptible and 34 resistant plants from a BC1F1 population derived from the cross (L30HtPHtPRtRt x L40htphtprtrt) x L40htphtprtrt. The bnlg198 and dupssr25 markers, both located on maize chromosome 2L (bin 2.08), were polymorphic between bulks. Linkage distances were estimated based on co-segregation data of the 32 susceptible plants and indicated distances of 28.7 centimorgans (cM) between HtP and bnlg198 and 23.5 cM between HtP and dupssr25. The same set of susceptible plants was also genotyped with markers polymorphic between L30HtPHtPRtRt and L40htphtprtrt in order to find markers linked to the rt gene. Marker bnlg197, from chromosome 3L (bin 3.06), was found linked to rt at a distance of 9.7 cM. This is the first report on the chromosomal locations of these newly described genes.

Regeneração de plantas de trigo (Triticum aestivum L.) de linhas isogênicas do genótipo Maringá com genes de porte baixo (Rht1 e Rht2)

Different genotypes show different responses for in vitro plant regeneration. In previous work with lhe Maringá genotype a result of 100% of in vitro plant regeneration was obtained. The purpose of this study was to investigate the capacity of plant regeneration of Maringá genotype and two of it's isogenic lines with one and two shorts heigth genes (Rht1 and Rht2). Imature embryos from: (a) Maringá, (b) the isogenic lines and (c) the crosses between these genotypes were placed on MS medium (modified by MILACH et al., 1991) with saccharose, agar and decreasing doses of 2,4D (2mg/l; 0.5mg/l; 0.1mg/l and 0.0mg/l) according to the stage of culture. The possibility of suppressing one of the stages of culture, (which uses 0.1mg/1 of 2.4D) was also evaluated. The statistic analisys demonstrated that the different genotypes gave different responses, therefore this indicates that the Rht genes had influence on plant regeneration rates. The suppression of the stage of culture which uses 0.1mg/l of 2,4D did not have any influence on regeneration, showing that this stage can be eliminated. Different genotypes had the same responses on the different culture medium sequences. The intercection between genotype x medium was not significam.

Existem variações entre genótipos de trigo quanto à regeneração de plantas in vitro. Em trabalho precursor com o genótipo Maringá obteve-se 100% de regeneração de plantas. Este trabalho visou investigar a capacidade de regeneração de plantas do Maringá e duas linhas isogênicas com um e dois genes de estatura reduzida (Rht1 e Rht2). Foram utilizados embriões imaturos de Maringá, das linhas isogênicas e das F2's dos cruzamentos entre estes genótipos, que foram colocados em meio de cultura MS modificado (MILACH et al., 1991) com sacarose, ágar e doses decrescentes de 2,4D conforme a etapa de cultivo (2mg/l; 0,5mg/l; 0,1mg/l e sem 2,4D). Também foi avaliada a possibilidade de supressão de um subcultivo, quando os calos não passariam pelo meio com 0,1mg/l de 2,4D. As análises estatísticas demonstraram que os genótipos diferiram quanto à regeneração de plantas, evidenciando a influência do gene Rht, que reduziu o número de plantas regeneradas por calo. A retirada do meio com 0,1mg/l de 2,4D não alterou a regeneração, podendo-se eliminar esta etapa de cultivo. Os genótipos responderam da mesma forma nas diferentes sequências de subcultivo, não havendo interação entre estes dois caracteres.

Regeneração de plantas de trigo (Triticum aestivum L. ) de linhas isogênicas do genótipo Maringá com genes de porte baixo (Rht1 e Rht2) / Plant regeneration of isogenic lines of the Maringá genotype of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ) with short height genes (Rh1 and Rht2)

Existem variações entre genótipos de trigo quanto à regeneração de plantas in vitro. Em trabalho precursor com o genótipo Maringá obteve-se 100 por cento de regeneração de plantas. Este trabalho visou investigar a capacidade de regeneração de plantas do Maringá e duas linhas isogênicas com um e dois genes de estatura reduzida (Rht1 e Rht2). Foram utilizados embriões imaturos de Maringá, das linhas isogênicas e das F2's dos cruzamentos entre estes genótipos, que foram colocados em meio de cultura MS modificado (MILACH et al., 1991) com sacarose, ágar e doses decrescentes de 2,4D conforme a etapa de cultivo (2mg/l; 0,5mg/l; 0,1mg/l e sem 2,4D). Também foi avaliada a possibilidade de supressão de um subcultivo, quando os calos não passariam pelo meio com 0,1mg/l de 2,4D. As análises estatísticas demonstraram que os genótipos diferiram quanto à regeneração de plantas, evidenciando a influência do gene Rht, que reduziu o número de plantas regeneradas por calo. A retirada do meio com 0,1mg/l de 2,4D não alterou a regeneração, podendo-se eliminar esta etapa de cultivo. Os genótipos responderam da mesma forma nas diferentes sequências de subcultivo, não havendo interação entre estes dois caracteres.

Different genotypes show different responses for in vitro plant regeneration. In previous work with lhe Maringá genotype a result of 100 percent of in vitro plant regeneration was obtained. The purpose of this study was to investigate the capacity of plant regeneration of Maringá genotype and two of it's isogenic lines with one and two shorts heigth genes (Rht1 and Rht2). Imature embryos from: (a) Maringá, (b) the isogenic lines and (c) the crosses between these genotypes were placed on MS medium (modified by MILACH et al., 1991) with saccharose, agar and decreasing doses of 2,4D (2mg/l; 0.5mg/l; 0.1mg/l and 0.0mg/l) according to the stage of culture. The possibility of suppressing one of the stages of culture, (which uses 0.1mg/1 of 2.4D) was also evaluated. The statistic analisys demonstrated that the different genotypes gave different responses, therefore this indicates that the Rht genes had influence on plant regeneration rates. The suppression of the stage of culture which uses 0.1mg/l of 2,4D did not have any influence on regeneration, showing that this stage can be eliminated. Different genotypes had the same responses on the different culture medium sequences. The intercection between genotype x medium was not significam.

Regeneração de plantas de trigo (Triticum aestivum L.) de linhas isogênicas do genótipo Maringá com genes de porte baixo (Rht1 e Rht2)

Different genotypes show different responses for in vitro plant regeneration. In previous work with lhe Maringá genotype a result of 100% of in vitro plant regeneration was obtained. The purpose of this study was to investigate the capacity of plant regeneration of Maringá genotype and two of it's isogenic lines with one and two shorts heigth genes (Rht1 and Rht2). Imature embryos from: (a) Maringá, (b) the isogenic lines and (c) the crosses between these genotypes were placed on MS medium (modified by MILACH et al., 1991) with saccharose, agar and decreasing doses of 2,4D (2mg/l; 0.5mg/l; 0.1mg/l and 0.0mg/l) according to the stage of culture. The possibility of suppressing one of the stages of culture, (which uses 0.1mg/1 of 2.4D) was also evaluated. The statistic analisys demonstrated that the different genotypes gave different responses, therefore this indicates that the Rht genes had influence on plant regeneration rates. The suppression of the stage of culture which uses 0.1mg/l of 2,4D did not have any influence on regeneration, showing that this stage can be eliminated. Different genotypes had the same responses on the different culture medium sequences. The intercection between genotype x medium was not significam.

Existem variações entre genótipos de trigo quanto à regeneração de plantas in vitro. Em trabalho precursor com o genótipo Maringá obteve-se 100% de regeneração de plantas. Este trabalho visou investigar a capacidade de regeneração de plantas do Maringá e duas linhas isogênicas com um e dois genes de estatura reduzida (Rht1 e Rht2). Foram utilizados embriões imaturos de Maringá, das linhas isogênicas e das F2's dos cruzamentos entre estes genótipos, que foram colocados em meio de cultura MS modificado (MILACH et al., 1991) com sacarose, ágar e doses decrescentes de 2,4D conforme a etapa de cultivo (2mg/l; 0,5mg/l; 0,1mg/l e sem 2,4D). Também foi avaliada a possibilidade de supressão de um subcultivo, quando os calos não passariam pelo meio com 0,1mg/l de 2,4D. As análises estatísticas demonstraram que os genótipos diferiram quanto à regeneração de plantas, evidenciando a influência do gene Rht, que reduziu o número de plantas regeneradas por calo. A retirada do meio com 0,1mg/l de 2,4D não alterou a regeneração, podendo-se eliminar esta etapa de cultivo. Os genótipos responderam da mesma forma nas diferentes sequências de subcultivo, não havendo interação entre estes dois caracteres.