Evaluation of Relative Genome Content and Response of Tall Fescue Seedling under Drought Stress Collected in Iran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• M. Kafi ¹
• N. A. Khoshkholghsima ²
• A. Liaghat ¹

¹ University of Tehran

² Agriculture Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran

10.22067/jhorts4.v0i0.31417

Abstract

Decrease in genome content may play a role in environmental adaptation. Many studies were reported significant correlation between genome size, weather condition and germination percentage. Relative genome content and its correlation with seedling establishment of 14 populations of tall fescue collected from various regions in Iran and two commercial tall fescue cultivars were studied under drought conditions. Results showed that except one entry diploid (Brojen = 2x), all entries were hexaploid (6x). Cluster analysis revealed that the populations fell into four groups. Isfahan (Group II: average DNA content 17.92 pg) and Ghochan (Group VІ: average DNA content 18.56 pg) with 100% and 6.7% final emergence and 8.8, 2.3 cm leaf length respectively in 40% FC soil water content wree the most tolerable and sensitive entries under drought stress. Relative genom content of the wild populations and two commercial cultivar were negatively correlated with emergence (r=-0.56) and leaf length (r=-0.61). The reduction in genome size may be a mechanism of adaptation to arid environments. The drought tolerance was observed among the entries that grouped in cluster I and II represent potentially useful germplasm for a breeding program.

Keywords

• DNA content
• Emergence percentage
• Drought stress
• Leaf length

20.1001.1.20084730.1394.29.1.16.4

---

References

1- Abdul-Baki A.A., and Anderson J.D. 1973. Relationship between decarboxylation of glutamic acid and vigor in soybean seed. Crop Science, 13:227–232.

2- Beard J.B., and Sifers S.I. 1997. Genetic diversity in dehydration avoidance and drought resistance within Cynodon and Zoysia species. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, 8: 603–610.

3- Berg L.V.D., and Zeng Y.J. 2006. Short communicate. Response of South African indigenous grass species to drought stress induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000. South African Journal of Botany, 72: 284 – 286.

4- Buitendijk J.H., Boon E.J., and Ramanna M.S. 1997. Nuclear DNA content in twelve species of Alstroemeria L. and some of their hybrids. Annals of Botany, 79: 343-353.

5- Cavallini A., Natali L., Cionini G., and Gennai D. 1993. Nuclear DNA variability within Pisum sativum (Leguminosae): nucleotypic effects on plant growth. Heredity, 70: 561-565.

6- Ceccarelli M., Falistocco E., and Cionini P.G. 1992. Variation of genome size and organization with in hexaploid Festuca arundinacea. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 83: 273-278.

7- Ceccarelli M., Minelli S., Falcinelli M., and Cionini P.G. 1993. Genome size and plant development in hexaploid Festuca arundinacea, Heredity 71:555-560.

8- Gazanchian A., Khosh Kholgh Sima N.A., Malboobi M.A., and Majidi Heravan E. 2006. Relationships between Emergence and Soil Water Content for Perennial Cool-Season Grasses Native to Iran. Crop Science, 46: 544-553.

9- Gregory R.T. 2005. The evolution of the genome. Elsevier academic press, New York, 740p.

10- Grime J.P., Thompson K., Hunt R., Hodgson J.G., Cornnelissen J.H.C., Rorison I.H., Hendry G.A.F., Ashenden T.W., Askew A.P., Band S.R and et al. 1997. Integrated screening validates primary axes of specialisation in plants. Oikos, 79:259-281.

11- Jauhar P.P. 1975. Genetic Regulation of Diploid-like Chromosome Pairing in the Hexaploid Species, Festuca arundinacea Schreb. and F. rubra L. (Gramineae) Chromosoma (Berl.), 52:363-382

12- Knight C.A., Ackerly D.D. 2002. Variation in nuclear DNA content across environmental gradients: a quantile regression analysis. Ecology Letters 5:66-76.

13- Knight C.A., Molinari N.A., and Petrov D.A. 2005. The large genome constraint hypothesis: Evolution, Ecology and phenotype. Annals of Botany, 95: 177-190.

14- Loureiro J., Kopecky D., Castro S., and Silveria P. 2007. Flow cytometric and cytogenetic analyses of Iberian Peninsula Festuca spp. Plant Systematics and Evolution, 269:89-105.

15- Minelli S., Moscariello P., Ceccarelli M., and Cionini P.G. 1996. Nucleotype and phenotype in Vicia faba. Heredity, 76:524-530.

16- Natali L., Cavallini A., Cionini G., Sassoli O., Cionini P.G., and Durante M. 1993. Nuclear changes within Helainthus annuus L: changes with in single progenies and their relationship with plant development. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 85:506-512.

17- Pessarakli M. 2008. Hand Book of Turfgrass Management and Physiology. CRC Press. Taylor & Francis publishing company, Florida, 690p.

18- Saha M.C., Mian R., Zwonitzer J.C., Chekhovskiy K., and Hopkins A.A. 2005. An SSR and AFLP based genetic linkage map of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 110: 323-336.

19- SAS (1996) SAS/STAT User’s guide, Release 6.12 ed. SAS Institute. Cary, NC.

20- Seal A.G. 1983. DNA variation in Festuca. Heredity (1983), 50 (3): 225-236.

21- Sharifi Tehrani M., Mardi M., Sahebi J.P. and Catala A. and ıaz-P D´. 2009.Genetic diversity and structure among Iranian tall fescue populations based on genomic-SSR and EST-SSR marker analysis. Plant Syst Evol, 282:57–70.

22- Smarda P., and Bures P. 2006. Intraspecific DNA content variability in Festuca pallens on different geographical scales and ploidy. Annals of botany, 98: 665–678.

23- Smarda P., and Stancik D. 2006. Ploidy level variability in South American fescues (Festuca L., Poaceae): use of flow cytometry in up to 5 1/2-year-old caryopses and herbarium specimens. Plant Biology, 8: 73–80.

24- Ward J.H. 1963. Hierarchical grouping to optimize an objective function. American Statistical Association Journal, 56:236–244.

25- Yamada T. 2011. Festuca, In: Kole C. (ed.) Wild Crop relatives: Genomic and Breeding Resources, Millets and Grasses, Springer, New York, pp 153-164.