Search Results (19)

The cessation of recurrent anthropogenic activities can promote vegetation succession. In this paper, we report a case study of passive restoration of the herbaceous plant vegetation associated with cork oaks carried out by citizens in collaboration with local farmers in a suburban area of Rome (Italy). A sampling design has been carried out in two comparable patches using replicated plots: (i) a first patch corresponding to the passive restored area, evolving from an uncultivated field towards a cork oak forest, where the mowing activity was stopped in 2017, and (ii) a second patch corresponding to an uncultivated land periodically mowed as a control. We recorded 24 plant species in the restored patch and 9 in the control patch. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index was significantly higher in the restored patch when compared to the control. Whittaker diagrams, graphically representing evenness, showed significant differences among plotted values. The Chao 2 richness estimators evidence the differences between patches (52.17 species vs. 9), graphically observed in the sample rarefaction curves. An analysis in the 2017–2025 period showed a substantial increase in NDVI values in the restored patch (from 0.18 in 2017 to 0.28 in 2025; approximately +54% relative to 2017; mean NDVI increased from 0.181 in 2017 to 0.29 in 2025), indicating an increase in cover/biomass associated with the post-2017 restoration of the area. Suspending mowing, both humidity (due to the reduction in grass cover) and nutrients increase, and the pH is reduced (Ellenberg indices): it is possible that the young oak trees are comparatively more effective cation exchangers. Therefore, only a few years after mowing was suspended, we observed a marked recovery not only of the dominant cork oak component but also of the herbaceous species (Vulpio-Dasypyretum villosi association). Even young, isolated cork oak trees can act as nurse plants (or keystone structures), supporting many species and creating microhabitats for shade-tolerant plants. This passive restoration began when local citizens and a school asked landowners to stop mowing in an area where cork oaks were naturally regenerating, making it an example of autonomous citizen-led environmental management. Full article

The genus Dasypyrum represents a valuable source of beneficial traits for wheat improvement, yet the cytogenetic organization of its genomes, particularly of the satellite repeats, remains poorly understood. This study aimed through comparative analysis of satellite DNA in diploid D. villosum (W6 21717, V genome) and tetraploid D. breviaristatum (PI 516547, VV^b genomes) to reveal the evolutionary dynamics of their subgenomes and to identify species-specific chromosomal markers. We performed whole-genome sequencing, bioinformatic analysis, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Bioinformatic screening identified 14 satellite repeats in the D. breviaristatum genome (CL9, CL95, CL100, CL110, CL127, CL133, CL134, CL135, CL147, CL153, CL165, CL169, CL173, and CL197), which were classified by copy number: one as high-copy (CL9, ≥0.6%) and the rest as low-copy (<0.29%). Their monomer sizes ranged broadly from 118 to 1118 base pairs. Most repeats showed varying degrees of homology with known sequences from the Triticeae family, and one repeat, CL165, had no detectable homologs in existing databases. FISH analysis subdivided repeats into three groups: predominantly terminal (CL100, CL110, CL134, CL135, CL147, CL165, CL169, CL173, and CL197), pericentromeric (CL127 and CL133), and mixed localization (CL9). Significant species-specific differences were revealed, including emergence of tetraploid-specific repeats (CL110, CL134, CL135, CL147, CL165, and CL173) and the reorganization of conserved sequence distribution. Notably, the repeat CL135 was identified as a specific marker for the V subgenome within the allopolyploid D. breviaristatum. The obtained data support the allopolyploid origin of D. breviaristatum and demonstrate that these two species are genetically distinct but evolutionarily closely related. Chromosomal markers developed based on newly discovered satellite repeats open new avenues for investigating genomic architecture and evolutionary relationships within the genus Dasypyrum, as well as for identifying its chromatin in distant hybrids. Full article

The genome composition of intermediate wheatgrass (IWG; Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth and D.R. Dewey; 2n = 6x = 42) is complex and remains to be a subject of ongoing investigation. This study employed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to analyze the karyotype of Th. intermedium and its related species. With the St₂-80 probe derived from Pseudoroegneria strigosa and the pDb12H probe from Dasypyrum breviaristatum, FISH analysis classified the chromosomes of Th. intermedium as J^vsJ^vsJ^rJ^rStSt. FISH karyotype was established using pSc119.2-1, (GAA)₁₀, AFA-3, AFA-4, pAs1-1, pAs1-3, pAs1-4, and pAs1-6 as a combined multiplex oligonucleotide probe. MATO software was used to analyze chromosome length, arm ratio, and karyotype structure. The karyotype formula of Th. intermedium is K(2n) = 6X = 42 = 36m + 6sm, and that of Th. junceiforme is K(2n) = 4X = 28 = 22m + 6sm. The karyotype formula of Th. elongatum and Th. bessarabicum is K(2n) = 2X = 14 = 12m + 2sm, of Ps. spicata is K(2n) = 2X = 14 = 2M + 12m, and of Da. villosum is K(2n) = 2X = 14 = 12m + 2sm. Based on the results of FISH, standard karyotypes of Th. intermedium and its potential progenitor species were constructed. These standard karyotypes revealed that there was evolutionary parallelism between genome and karyotype, but due to the complexity of evolution, the FISH signal of Th. intermedium was abundant and asymmetrical. Full article

Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis West. f.sp. tritici, Pst) is a destructive disease that seriously threatens wheat production globally. Exploring novel resistance genes for use in wheat breeding is an urgent need, as continuous Pst evolution frequently leads to a breakdown of host resistance. Here, we identified a set of wheat–Dasypyrum villosum 01I139 (V#6) disomic introgression lines for the purpose of determining their responses to a mixture of Pst isolates CYR32, CYR33 and CYR34 at both seedling and adult-plant stages. The results showed that all introgression lines exhibited high susceptibility at the seedling stage, with infection-type (IT) scores in the range of 6–8, whereas, for chromosomes 5V#6 and 7V#6, disomic addition lines NAU5V#6-1 and NAU7V#6-1 displayed high resistance at the adult-plant stage, indicating that adult-plant resistance (APR) genes were located on them. Further, in order to transfer the stripe-rust resistance on chromosome 7V#6, four new wheat–D. villosum introgression lines were identified, by the use of molecular cytogenetic approaches, from the self-pollinated seeds of 7D and 7V#6, in double monosomic line NAU7V#6-2. Among them, NAU7V#6-3 and NAU7V#6-4 were t7V#6L and t7V#6S monosomic addition lines, and NAU7V#6-5 and NAU7V#6-6 were homozygous T7DS·7V#6L and T7DL·7V#6S whole-arm translocation lines. Stripe-rust tests and genetic analyses of chromosome 7V#6 introgression lines revealed a dominant APR gene designated as Yr7VS on the chromosome arm 7V#6S. Comparison with the homozygous T7DL·7V#6S translocation line and the recurrent parent NAU0686 showed no significant differences in yield-related traits. Thus, T7DL·7V#6S whole-arm translocation with the APR gene Yr7VS provided a valuable germplasm for breeding for resistance. Full article

The limited culinary utilizations of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) are partly related to its very hard kernel texture, which is due to the softness genes Puroindoline a (Pina) and Puroindoline b (Pinb) on the Hardness (Ha) locus eliminated during allopolyploid formation. A previous study has reported that the softness genes Dina/Dinb, homologous to Pina/Pinb, were located on the chromosome arm 5VS of wild species Dasypyrum villosum. In the present study, we describe the process of transferring the soft grain texture from D. villosum into durum wheat through homoeologous recombination to develop a Robertsonian translocation. A durum wheat–D. villosum T5AL·5V#5S translocation line, S1286, was developed and characterized by molecular cytogenetic analysis from BC₄F₂ progeny of durum cv. ZY1286/D. villosum 01I140. The translocation line S1286 exhibited a soft grain texture as evidenced by observation through an electron microscope and a Single Kernel Characterization System (SKCS) hardness value of 5.5. Additionally, a newly developed 5VS/5AS co-dominant InDel marker, LW5VS-1, facilitated the transfer of the T5AL·5V#5S translocated chromosome into diverse durum wheat backgrounds. Subsequently, the T5AL·5V#5S translocated chromosome was transferred into five high-yielding durum wheat backgrounds by backcrossing and traced using marker LW5VS-1. Compared with each recurrent parent, T5AL·5V#5S lines showed good viability, similar development, and no yield penalty. Meanwhile, a significant decrease in plant height of about 6.0% was observed when comparing T5AL·5V#5S translocation lines with their recurrent parents. Accordingly, our results provide an efficient strategy for developing soft kernel durum wheat through the combination of T5AL·5V#5S translocation and the co-dominant marker LW5VS-1, which will be crucial for meeting the future challenges of sustainable agriculture and food security. Full article

The genome composition of intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) is complex and continues to be a subject of investigation. In this study, molecular cytogenetics were used to investigate the karyotype composition of Th. intermedium and its relative diploid species. St₂-80 developed from Pseudowroegneria strigose and pDb12H developed from Dasypyrum breviaristatum were used as probes in fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to classify the chromosomes of Th. intermedium into three groups, expressed as J^vsJ^vsJ^rJ^rStSt. A combined multiplex oligonucleotide probe, including pSc119.2-1, (GAA)₁₀, AFA-3, AFA-4, pAs1-1, Pas1-3, pAs1-4, and pAs1-6, was used to establish the FISH karyotype of ten accessions of Th. intermedium. Variability among and within the studied accessions of intermediate wheatgrass was observed in their FISH patterns. Results of this study led to the conclusions that J^vs had largely been contributed from Da. breviaristatum, but not the present-day Da. villosum; IWG had only one J genome, J^r, which was related to either Th. elongatum or Th. bessarabicum; and St was contributed from the genus Pseudoroegneria by hybridization with Th. junceiforme or Th. sartorii. Full article

The annual species Dasypyrum villosum possesses several potentially valuable genes for the improvement of common wheat. Previously, we identified a new stripe rust-resistant line, the Chinese Spring (CS)–D. villosum 3V#3 (3D) substitution line (named CD-3), and mapped its potential rust resistance gene (designated as YrCD-3) on the 3V#3 chromosome originating from D. villosum. The objective of the present study was to further narrow down the YrCD-3 locus to a physical region and develop wheat-3V#3 introgression lines with strong stripe rust resistance. By treating CD-3 seeds with ⁶⁰Co γ-irradiation, two CS-3V#3 translocation lines, T3V#3S.3DL and T3DS.3V#3L (termed 22-12 and 24-20, respectively), were identified from the M₄ generation through a combination of non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH) and functional molecular markers. Stripe rust resistance tests showed that the line 22-12 exhibited strong stripe rust resistance similarly to CD-3, whereas 24-20 was susceptible to stripe rust similarly to CS, indicating that YrCD-3 is located on the short arm of 3V#3. The line 22-12 can potentially be used for further wheat improvement. Additionally, to trace 3V#3 in the wheat genetic background, we produced 30 3V#3-specific sequence tag (EST) markers, among which, 11 markers could identify 3V#3S. These markers could be valuable in fine-mapping YrCD-3. Full article

GDSL-type esterase/lipase proteins (GELPs) characterized by a conserved GDSL motif at their N-terminus belong to the lipid hydrolysis enzyme superfamily. In plants, GELPs play an important role in plant growth, development and stress response. The studies of the identification and characterization of the GELP gene family in Triticeae have not been reported. In this study, 193 DvGELPs were identified in Dasypyrum villosum and classified into 11 groups (clade A–K) by means of phylogenetic analysis. Most DvGELPs contain only one GDSL domain, only four DvGELPs contain other domains besides the GDSL domain. Gene structure analysis indicated 35.2% DvGELP genes have four introns and five exons. In the promoter regions of the identified DvGELPs, we detected 4502 putative cis-elements, which were associated with plant hormones, plant growth, environmental stress and light responsiveness. Expression profiling revealed 36, 44 and 17 DvGELPs were highly expressed in the spike, the root and the grain, respectively. Further investigation of a root-specific expressing GELP, DvGELP53, indicated it was induced by a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses. The knockdown of DvGELP53 inhibited long-distance movement of BSMV in the tissue of D. villosum. This research provides a genome-wide glimpse of the D. villosum GELP genes and hints at the participation of DvGELP53 in the interaction between virus and plants. Full article

The Dasypyrum villosum gene bank collection, comprising 32 accessions, was characterized morphologically and genetically for resistance to leaf diseases and for quality parameters of seeds with specific accent to protein polymorphism and protein and starch composition. The collected material represented nearly the whole distribution area in the Mediterranean. For SSR analysis, a set of 40 SSR markers for wheat was selected. A matrix of distances between genotypes was calculated using Simple Matching dissimilarity coefficient in the DARwin software. The collection was scored for resistance to powdery mildew, brown, stripe and stem rusts. A modified SDS-PAGE method with clear interpretation of high and low molecular glutenin subunits (HMW, LMW) was used for characterization of accessions. Morphological phenotyping revealed considerable diversity allowing the distinguishing of clusters tracing the geographical origin of accessions. Genetic diversity showed three groups but without significant bootstrap support. All tested accessions were resistant to the applied races of powdery mildew and leaf rust. Three accessions were moderately susceptible to currently available races of yellow rust. Biochemical analyses of seeds in selected populations showed a high content of crude proteins with a significant proportion of prolamins and Ʃglutelins. The SDS-PAGE of HMW and LMW glutelins confirmed both the high population polymorphism and the intra-population differences. Apart from the recent research in CWR breeding, Dasypyrum villosum is still an underrepresented species in germplasm collections and an underutilized species in breeding. Full article

A wheat 660K chip was used to genotype two wheat-Dasypyrum villosum 6V#4S.6DL and 6V#2S.6AL translocation lines (A303 and B303) and their common wheat recurrent parent Wan7107. The results showed that these three lines have similar characteristics of base composition except for the translocation chromosomes. The alien translocation chromosomes have fewer homozygous and more heterozygous genotypes with more invalid probes. Distributions of SNPs between the translocation lines and Wan7107 were mainly dense on the regions of 6AS or 6DS as expected, but unexpectedly also on near the telomere of 2BS, and some regions of other wheat chromosomes. Meanwhile, the translocation lines A303 and B303 have 99.44% and 98.81% identical genotypes to Wan7107, respectively. Under the same genetic background, A303 and B303 showed different reactions to Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) strains of powdery mildew. Both translocation lines have higher grain weight and plant height, and B303 has fewer spikelets compared to Wan7107. These results provide us a new insight into the genomic variation between the backcross generation plant and the recurrent parent, which is valuable information for understanding the relationship between wheat and the 6VS chromosome of D. villosum as well as the application potential of the alien chromosome arms. Full article

Gliadin is a fraction of gluten, known to trigger celiac disease in susceptible people. To date, the life-long gluten-free diet is used for the prevention of this disease. Hence, methods for gluten control in foods are of significant importance. Being one of the most-used methods used for this purpose, ELISA should use high-affinity antibodies to gliadin peptides involved into celiac process. This study investigates the characteristics of a novel anti-gliadin antibody X6. We found the QXQPFPXP site to be a recognized epitope that provides specific binding of the antibody to cereal prolamins involved in celiac disease manifestation. A specificity study using immunoblotting shows the recognition of wheat, barley and rye proteins—as well as α-gliadin homologs from non-edible cereals (Dasypyrum villosum). Reactivity to avenin was less pronounced, as this protein does not contain the PFP motif most critical for antibody recognition. The proteins of Zea mays and Setaria italica were not recognized by X6. X6-based ELISA highly correlated with R5 and G12, which are Codex Alimentarius standards in the quantitative assessment of gluten content (Pearson’s R = 0.86 and 0.87, respectively). Qualitative assessment revealed no significant differences between R5 and G12 and X6. Full article

The Dwarf53 (D53) gene, first studied in rice, encodes a protein that acts as a repressor of the physiological response of plants to strigolactones—substances that regulate the activity of axillary buds, stem growth, branching of roots and other physiological processes. In this work, we isolated and sequenced the homolog of the D53 gene in several accessions of the wild grass Dasypyrum villosum of different geographical origins, resulting in the discovery of large allelic variety. A molecular marker was also created that allows us to differentiate the D. villosum D53 gene from common wheat genes. Using this marker and monosomic addition, substitution and translocation wheat lines carrying the known D. villosum chromosomes, the D53 gene was localized on the long arm of the 5V chromosome. Full article

Diploid and polyploid wild species of Triticeae have complex relationships, and the understanding of their evolution and speciation could help to increase the usability of them in wheat breeding as a source of genetic diversity. The diploid species Pseudoroegneria spicata (St), Thinopyrum bessarabicum (J^b), Dasypyrum villosum (V) derived from a hypothetical common ancestor are considered to be possible subgenome donors in hexaploid species Th. intermedium (J^rJ^vsSt, where indices r, v, and s stand for the partial relation to the genomes of Secale, Dasypyrum, and Pseudoroegneria, respectively). We quantified 10 families of transposable elements (TEs) in P. spicata, Th. bessarabicum, D. villosum (per one genome), and Th. intermedium (per one average subgenome) using the quantitative real time PCR assay and compared their abundance within the studied genomes as well as between them. Sabrina was the most abundant among all studied elements in P. spicata, D. villosum, and Th. intermedium, and among Ty3/Gypsy elements in all studied species. Among Ty1/Copia elements, Angela-A and WIS-A showed the highest and close abundance with the exception of D. villosum, and comprised the majority of all studied elements in Th. bessarabicum. Sabrina, BAGY2, and Angela-A showed similar abundance among diploids and in Th. intermedium hexaploid; Latidu and Barbara demonstrated sharp differences between diploid genomes. The relationships between genomes of Triticeae species based on the studied TE abundance and the role of TEs in speciation and polyploidization in the light of the current phylogenetic models is discussed. Full article

Normal pairing and exchanging is an important basis to evaluate the genetic relationship between homologous chromosomes in a wheat background. The pairing behavior between 6V#2 and 6V#4, two chromosomes from different Dasypyrum villosum accessions, is still not clear. In this study, two wheat alien substitution lines, 6V#2 (6A) and 6V#4 (6D), were crossed to obtain the F₁ hybrids and F₂ segregating populations, and the testcross populations were obtained by using the F₁ as a parent crossed with wheat variety Wan7107. The chromosomal behavior at meiosis in pollen mother cells (PMCs) of the F₁ hybrids was observed using a genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) technique. Exchange events of two alien chromosomes were investigated in the F₂ populations using nine polymerase chain reaction (PCR) markers located on the 6V short arm. The results showed that the two alien chromosomes could pair with each other to form ring- or rod-shaped bivalent chromosomes in 79.76% of the total PMCs, and most were pulled to two poles evenly at anaphase I. Investigation of the F₂ populations showed that the segregation ratios of seven markers were consistent with the theoretical values 3:1 or 1:2:1, and recombinants among markers were detected. A genetic linkage map of nine PCR markers for 6VS was accordingly constructed based on the exchange frequencies and compared with the physical maps of wheat and barley based on homologous sequences of the markers, which showed that conservation of sequence order compared to 6V was 6H and 6B > 6A > 6D. In the testcross populations with 482 plants, seven showed susceptibility to powdery mildew (PM) and lacked amplification of alien chromosomal bands. Six other plants had amplification of specific bands of both the alien chromosomes at multiple sites, which suggested that the alien chromosomes had abnormal separation behavior in about 1.5% of the PMCs in F₁, which resulted in some gametes containing two alien chromosomes. In addition, three new types of chromosome substitution were developed. This study lays a foundation for alien allelism tests and further assessment of the genetic relationship among 6V#2, 6V#4, and their wheat homoeologous chromosomes. Full article

Wheat stem rust caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt) had been a devastating foliar disease worldwide during the 20th century. With the emergence of Ug99 races, which are virulent to most stem rust resistance genes deployed in wheat varieties and advanced lines, stem rust has once again become a disease threatening global wheat production. Sr52, derived from Dasypyrum villosum and mapped to the long arm of 6V#3, is one of the few effective genes against Ug99 races. In this study, the wheat–D. villosum Robertsonian translocation T6AS·6V#3L, the only stock carrying Sr52 released to experimental and breeding programs so far, was crossed with a CS ph1b mutant to induce recombinants with shortened 6V#3L chromosome segments locating Sr52. Six independent homozygous recombinants with different segment sizes and breakpoints were developed and characterized using in situ hybridization and molecular markers analyses. Stem rust resistance evaluation showed that only three terminal recombinants (1381, 1380, and 1392) containing 8%, 22%, and 30% of the distal segment of 6V#3L, respectively, were resistant to stem rust. Thus, the gene Sr52 was mapped into 6V#3L bin FL 0.92–1.00. In addition, three molecular markers in the Sr52-located interval of 6V#3L were confirmed to be diagnostic markers for selection of Sr52 introgressed into common wheat. The newly developed small segment translocation lines with Sr52 and the identified molecular markers closely linked to Sr52 will be valuable for wheat disease breeding. Full article