Cytogenetic and molecular characteristics of rye genome in octoploid triticale (× Wittmack).

Alloploidization resulting from remote (interspecific or intergeneric) hybridization is one of the main factors in plant evolution, leading to the formation of new species. Triticale (× Wittmack, 1889) is the first artificial species created by crossing wheat ( spp.) and rye ( Linnaeus, 1753) and has a great potential as a grain and forage crop.

Dynamics of the Centromeric Histone CENH3 Structure in Rye-Wheat Amphidiploids (Secalotriticum).

The centromeres perform integral control of the cell division process and proper distribution of chromosomes into daughter cells. The correct course of this process is often disrupted in case of remote hybridization, which is a stress factor. The combination of parental genomes of different species in a hybrid cell leads to a "genomic shock" followed by loss of genes, changes in gene expression, deletions, inversions, and translocations of chromosome regions.

Chromosomal assignment of centromere-specific histone CENH3 genes in rye ( L.) and their phylogeny.

Centromeres are essential for correct chromosome segregation during cell division and are determined by the presence of centromere-specific histone 3 (CENH3). Most of the diploid plant species, in which the structure and copy number of genes have been determined, have this gene as a singleton; however, some cereal species in the tribe Triticeae have been found to have CENH3 in two variants. In this work, using the set of the wheat-rye addition lines we wanted to establish the chromosomal assignment of the genes in the cultivated rye, (Linnaeus, 1753), in order to expand our knowledge about synteny conservation in the most important cereal species and about their chromosome evolution.

Conserved molecular structure of the centromeric histone CENH3 in Secale and its phylogenetic relationships.

It has been repeatedly demonstrated that the centromere-specific histone H3 (CENH3), a key component of the centromere, shows considerable variability between species within taxa. We determined the molecular structure and phylogenetic relationships of CENH3 in 11 Secale species and subspecies that possess distinct pollination systems and are adapted to a wide range of abiotic and biotic stresses. The rye (Secale cereale) genome encodes two paralogous CENH3 genes, which differ in intron-exon structure and are transcribed into two main forms of the protein, αCENH3 and βCENH3.

CHARACTERIZATION OF CENTROMERIC HISTONE H3 VARIANTS IN ALLOPOLYPLOIDS OF WHEAT AND RYE.

Chromosome elimination of one parental species in hybrid cell observed even after successful fertilization is one of a common phenomenon and the main problems of remote hybridization. Centromeres regulate the process of faithful segregation of chromosomes during cell division. Constant component of the centromeric chromatin is a specialized histone H3 modification (CENH3).