Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is a rich source of protein cultivated as an insurance crop in Ethiopia, Eritrea, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Its resilience to both drought and flooding makes it a promising crop for ensuring food security in a changing climate. The lack of genetic resources and the crop's association with the disease neurolathyrism have limited the cultivation of grass pea. Here, we present an annotated, long read-based assembly of the 6.5 Gbp L. sativus genome. Using this genome sequence, we have elucidated the biosynthetic pathway leading to the formation of the neurotoxin, β-L-oxalyl-2,3-diaminopropionic acid (β-L-ODAP). The final reaction of the pathway depends on an interaction between L. sativus acyl-activating enzyme 3 (LsAAE3) and a BAHD-acyltransferase (LsBOS) that form a metabolon activated by CoA to produce β-L-ODAP. This provides valuable insight into the best approaches for developing varieties which produce substantially less toxin.

• MeSH
• aminokyseliny diaminové * metabolismus   MeSH
• genomika MeSH
• Lathyrus * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• neurotoxiny metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• aminokyseliny diaminové * MeSH
• neurotoxiny MeSH
• oxalyldiaminopropionic acid MeSH Prohlížeč

Trifolium L. is an economically important genus that is characterized by variable karyotypes relating to its ploidy level and basic chromosome numbers. The advent of genomic resources combined with molecular cytogenetics provides an opportunity to develop our understanding of plant genomes in general. Here, we summarize the current state of knowledge on Trifolium genomes and chromosomes and review methodologies using molecular markers that have contributed to Trifolium research. We discuss possible future applications of cytogenetic methods in research on the Trifolium genome and chromosomes.

• Klíčová slova
• chromosomal markers, clover, cytogenetics, genome size, interspecific hybridization, polyploidy, synteny,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Amplification of monomer sequences into long contiguous arrays is the main feature distinguishing satellite DNA from other tandem repeats, yet it is also the main obstacle in its investigation because these arrays are in principle difficult to assemble. Here we explore an alternative, assembly-free approach that utilizes ultra-long Oxford Nanopore reads to infer the length distribution of satellite repeat arrays, their association with other repeats and the prevailing sequence periodicities. Using the satellite DNA-rich legume plant Lathyrus sativus as a model, we demonstrated this approach by analyzing 11 major satellite repeats using a set of nanopore reads ranging from 30 to over 200 kb in length and representing 0.73× genome coverage. We found surprising differences between the analyzed repeats because only two of them were predominantly organized in long arrays typical for satellite DNA. The remaining nine satellites were found to be derived from short tandem arrays located within LTR-retrotransposons that occasionally expanded in length. While the corresponding LTR-retrotransposons were dispersed across the genome, this array expansion occurred mainly in the primary constrictions of the L. sativus chromosomes, which suggests that these genome regions are favourable for satellite DNA accumulation.

• Klíčová slova
• Lathyrus sativus, centromeres, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), heterochromatin, long-range organization, nanopore sequencing, satellite DNA, sequence evolution, technical advance,
• MeSH
• centromera MeSH
• chromozomy rostlin MeSH
• DNA rostlinná genetika   MeSH
• frekvence genu * MeSH
• genom rostlinný MeSH
• heterochromatin MeSH
• Lathyrus genetika   MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• nanopóry * MeSH
• retroelementy * MeSH
• satelitní DNA * MeSH
• tandemové repetitivní sekvence * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA rostlinná MeSH
• heterochromatin MeSH
• retroelementy * MeSH
• satelitní DNA * MeSH

The genus clover (Trifolium sp.) is one of the most economically important genera in the Fabaceae family. More than 10 species are grown as manure plants or forage legumes. Red clover's (T. pratense) genome size is one of the smallest in the Trifolium genus, while many clovers with potential breeding value have much larger genomes. Zigzag clover (T. medium) is closely related to the sequenced red clover; however, its genome is approximately 7.5x larger. Currently, almost nothing is known about the architecture of this large genome and differences between these two clover species. We sequenced the T. medium genome (2n = 8x = 64) with ∼23× coverage and managed to partially assemble 492.7 Mbp of its genomic sequence. A thorough comparison between red clover and zigzag clover sequencing reads resulted in the successful validation of 7 T. pratense- and 45 T. medium-specific repetitive elements. The newly discovered repeats led to the set-up of the first partial T. medium karyotype. Newly discovered red clover and zigzag clover tandem repeats were summarized. The structure of centromere-specific satellite repeat resembling that of T. repens was inferred in T. pratense. Two repeats, TrM300 and TrM378, showed a specific localization into centromeres of a half of all zigzag clover chromosomes; TrM300 on eight chromosomes and TrM378 on 24 chromosomes. A comparison with the red clover draft sequence was also used to mine more than 105,000 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 1,170,000 single nucleotide variants (SNVs). The presented data obtained from the sequencing of zigzag clover represent the first glimpse on the genomic sequence of this species. Centromeric repeats indicated its allopolyploid origin and naturally occurring homogenization of the centromeric repeat motif was somehow prevented. Using various repeats, highly uniform 64 chromosomes were separated into eight types of chromosomes. Zigzag clover genome underwent substantial chromosome rearrangements and cannot be counted as a true octoploid. The resulting data, especially the large number of predicted SSRs and SNVs, may have great potential for further research of the legume family and for rapid advancements in clover breeding.

• Klíčová slova
• FISH, centromeric repeats, comparative analysis, sequencing, zigzag clover karyotype,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

This work discusses several selected topics of plant genetics and breeding in relation to the 150th anniversary of the seminal work of Gregor Johann Mendel. In 2015, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the presentation of the seminal work of Gregor Johann Mendel. While Darwin's theory of evolution was based on differential survival and differential reproductive success, Mendel's theory of heredity relies on equality and stability throughout all stages of the life cycle. Darwin's concepts were continuous variation and "soft" heredity; Mendel espoused discontinuous variation and "hard" heredity. Thus, the combination of Mendelian genetics with Darwin's theory of natural selection was the process that resulted in the modern synthesis of evolutionary biology. Although biology, genetics, and genomics have been revolutionized in recent years, modern genetics will forever rely on simple principles founded on pea breeding using seven single gene characters. Purposeful use of mutants to study gene function is one of the essential tools of modern genetics. Today, over 100 plant species genomes have been sequenced. Mapping populations and their use in segregation of molecular markers and marker-trait association to map and isolate genes, were developed on the basis of Mendel's work. Genome-wide or genomic selection is a recent approach for the development of improved breeding lines. The analysis of complex traits has been enhanced by high-throughput phenotyping and developments in statistical and modeling methods for the analysis of phenotypic data. Introgression of novel alleles from landraces and wild relatives widens genetic diversity and improves traits; transgenic methodologies allow for the introduction of novel genes from diverse sources, and gene editing approaches offer possibilities to manipulate gene in a precise manner.

• MeSH
• dějiny 19. století MeSH
• dějiny 20. století MeSH
• dějiny 21. století MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• genetická variace MeSH
• geneticky modifikované rostliny genetika   MeSH
• genetika dějiny   MeSH
• genom rostlinný MeSH
• genomika MeSH
• hrách setý genetika   MeSH
• lokus kvantitativního znaku MeSH
• mapování chromozomů MeSH
• selekce (genetika) MeSH
• šlechtění rostlin * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dějiny 19. století MeSH
• dějiny 20. století MeSH
• dějiny 21. století MeSH
• Publikační typ
• biografie MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH
• historické články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

• O autorovi
• Mendel, Gregor

The differential accumulation and elimination of repetitive DNA are key drivers of genome size variation in flowering plants, yet there have been few studies which have analysed how different types of repeats in related species contribute to genome size evolution within a phylogenetic context. This question is addressed here by conducting large-scale comparative analysis of repeats in 23 species from four genera of the monophyletic legume tribe Fabeae, representing a 7.6-fold variation in genome size. Phylogenetic analysis and genome size reconstruction revealed that this diversity arose from genome size expansions and contractions in different lineages during the evolution of Fabeae. Employing a combination of low-pass genome sequencing with novel bioinformatic approaches resulted in identification and quantification of repeats making up 55-83% of the investigated genomes. In turn, this enabled an analysis of how each major repeat type contributed to the genome size variation encountered. Differential accumulation of repetitive DNA was found to account for 85% of the genome size differences between the species, and most (57%) of this variation was found to be driven by a single lineage of Ty3/gypsy LTR-retrotransposons, the Ogre elements. Although the amounts of several other lineages of LTR-retrotransposons and the total amount of satellite DNA were also positively correlated with genome size, their contributions to genome size variation were much smaller (up to 6%). Repeat analysis within a phylogenetic framework also revealed profound differences in the extent of sequence conservation between different repeat types across Fabeae. In addition to these findings, the study has provided a proof of concept for the approach combining recent developments in sequencing and bioinformatics to perform comparative analyses of repetitive DNAs in a large number of non-model species without the need to assemble their genomes.

• MeSH
• délka genomu * MeSH
• Fabaceae klasifikace   genetika   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• genetická variace * MeSH
• genom rostlinný * MeSH
• genomika * metody   MeSH
• koncové repetice MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• repetitivní sekvence nukleových kyselin * MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Plants exhibit an extraordinary range of genome sizes, varying by > 2000-fold between the smallest and largest recorded values. In the absence of polyploidy, changes in the amount of repetitive DNA (transposable elements and tandem repeats) are primarily responsible for genome size differences between species. However, there is ongoing debate regarding the relative importance of amplification of repetitive DNA versus its deletion in governing genome size. Using data from 454 sequencing, we analysed the most repetitive fraction of some of the largest known genomes for diploid plant species, from members of Fritillaria. We revealed that genomic expansion has not resulted from the recent massive amplification of just a handful of repeat families, as shown in species with smaller genomes. Instead, the bulk of these immense genomes is composed of highly heterogeneous, relatively low-abundance repeat-derived DNA, supporting a scenario where amplified repeats continually accumulate due to infrequent DNA removal. Our results indicate that a lack of deletion and low turnover of repetitive DNA are major contributors to the evolution of extremely large genomes and show that their size cannot simply be accounted for by the activity of a small number of high-abundance repeat families.

• Klíčová slova
• DNA deletion, Fritillaria, Liliaceae, genome size evolution, genome turnover, repetitive DNA, transposable elements (TEs),
• MeSH
• delece genu MeSH
• délka genomu * MeSH
• DNA rostlinná genetika   MeSH
• Fritillaria genetika   MeSH
• genom rostlinný * MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• repetitivní sekvence nukleových kyselin genetika   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA rostlinná MeSH

BACKGROUND: The banana family (Musaceae) includes genetically a diverse group of species and their diploid and polyploid hybrids that are widely cultivated in the tropics. In spite of their socio-economic importance, the knowledge of Musaceae genomes is basically limited to draft genome assemblies of two species, Musa acuminata and M. balbisiana. Here we aimed to complement this information by analyzing repetitive genome fractions of six species selected to represent various phylogenetic groups within the family. RESULTS: Low-pass sequencing of M. acuminata, M. ornata, M. textilis, M. beccarii, M. balbisiana, and Ensete gilletii genomes was performed using a 454/Roche platform. Sequence reads were subjected to analysis of their overall intra- and inter-specific similarities and, all major repeat families were quantified using graph-based clustering. Maximus/SIRE and Angela lineages of Ty1/copia long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons and the chromovirus lineage of Ty3/gypsy elements were found to make up most of highly repetitive DNA in all species (14-34.5% of the genome). However, there were quantitative differences and sequence variations detected for classified repeat families as well as for the bulk of total repetitive DNA. These differences were most pronounced between species from different taxonomic sections of the Musaceae family, whereas pairs of closely related species (M. acuminata/M. ornata and M. beccarii/M. textilis) shared similar populations of repetitive elements. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided the first insight into the composition and sequence variation of repetitive parts of Musaceae genomes. It allowed identification of repetitive sequences specific for a single species or a group of species that can be utilized as molecular markers in breeding programs and generated computational resources that will be instrumental in repeat masking and annotation in future genome assembly projects.

• MeSH
• banánovníkovité klasifikace   genetika   MeSH
• DNA rostlinná analýza   genetika   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• genetická variace MeSH
• genom rostlinný * MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• repetitivní sekvence nukleových kyselin * MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• výpočetní biologie metody   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA rostlinná MeSH

Rumex acetosa is a dioecious plant with the XY1Y2 sex chromosome system. Both Y chromosomes are heterochromatic and are thought to be degenerated. We performed low-pass 454 sequencing and similarity-based clustering of male and female genomic 454 reads to identify and characterize major groups of R. acetosa repetitive DNA. We found that Copia and Gypsy retrotransposons dominated, followed by DNA transposons and nonlong terminal repeat retrotransposons. CRM and Tat/Ogre retrotransposons dominated the Gypsy superfamily, whereas Maximus/Sireviruses were most abundant among Copia retrotransposons. Only one Gypsy subfamily had accumulated on Y1 and Y2 chromosomes, whereas many retrotransposons were ubiquitous on autosomes and the X chromosome, but absent on Y1 and Y2 chromosomes, and others were depleted from the X chromosome. One group of CRM Gypsy was specifically localized to centromeres. We also found that majority of previously described satellites (RAYSI, RAYSII, RAYSIII, and RAE180) are accumulated on the Y chromosomes where we identified Y chromosome-specific variant of RAE180. We discovered two novel satellites-RA160 satellite dominating on the X chromosome and RA690 localized mostly on the Y1 chromosome. The expression pattern obtained from Illumina RNA sequencing showed that the expression of transposable elements is similar in leaves of both sexes and that satellites are also expressed. Contrasting patterns of transposable elements (TEs) and satellite localization on sex chromosomes in R. acetosa, where not only accumulation but also depletion of repetitive DNA was observed, suggest that a plethora of evolutionary processes can shape sex chromosomes.

• MeSH
• chromozomy rostlin genetika   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• pohlavní chromozomy genetika   MeSH
• retroelementy * MeSH
• Rumex klasifikace   genetika   MeSH
• satelitní DNA * MeSH
• sekvence nukleotidů MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• retroelementy * MeSH
• satelitní DNA * MeSH

BACKGROUND: Genome size evolution is a complex process influenced by polyploidization, satellite DNA accumulation, and expansion of retroelements. How this process could be affected by different reproductive strategies is still poorly understood. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We analyzed differences in the number and distribution of major repetitive DNA elements in two closely related species, Silene latifolia and S. vulgaris. Both species are diploid and possess the same chromosome number (2n = 24), but differ in their genome size and mode of reproduction. The dioecious S. latifolia (1C = 2.70 pg DNA) possesses sex chromosomes and its genome is 2.5× larger than that of the gynodioecious S. vulgaris (1C = 1.13 pg DNA), which does not possess sex chromosomes. We discovered that the genome of S. latifolia is larger mainly due to the expansion of Ogre retrotransposons. Surprisingly, the centromeric STAR-C and TR1 tandem repeats were found to be more abundant in S. vulgaris, the species with the smaller genome. We further examined the distribution of major repetitive sequences in related species in the Caryophyllaceae family. The results of FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) on mitotic chromosomes with the Retand element indicate that large rearrangements occurred during the evolution of the Caryophyllaceae family. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our data demonstrate that the evolution of genome size in the genus Silene is accompanied by the expansion of different repetitive elements with specific patterns in the dioecious species possessing the sex chromosomes.

• MeSH
• chromozomy rostlin MeSH
• délka genomu * MeSH
• genetická variace MeSH
• genom rostlinný MeSH
• genomika MeSH
• hybridizace in situ fluorescenční MeSH
• hybridizace nukleových kyselin MeSH
• Magnoliopsida genetika   MeSH
• mikrosatelitní repetice genetika   MeSH
• modely genetické MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• polyploidie MeSH
• repetitivní sekvence nukleových kyselin genetika   MeSH
• rostlinné geny MeSH
• rostlinné proteiny genetika   MeSH
• satelitní DNA genetika   MeSH
• Silene klasifikace   genetika   MeSH
• výpočetní biologie metody   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• rostlinné proteiny MeSH
• satelitní DNA MeSH