The genus Thlaspi has been variously subdivided since its description by Linnaeus in 1753, but due to similarities in fruit shape several segregates have still not gained broad recognition, despite the fact that they are not directly related to Thlaspi. This applies especially to segregates now considered to belong to the tribe Coluteocarpeae, which includes several well‐studied taxa, e.g., Noccaea caerulescens (syn. Thlaspi caerulescens), and the widespread Microthlaspi perfoliatum (syn. Thlaspi perfoliatum). The taxonomy of this tribe is still debated, as a series of detailed monographs on Coluteocarpeae was not published in English and a lack of phylogenetic resolution within this tribe was found in previous studies. The current study presents detailed phylogenetic investigations and a critical review of morphological features, with focus on taxa previously placed in Microthlaspi. Based on one nuclear (ITS) and two chloroplast (matK, trnL‐F) loci, four strongly supported major groups were recovered among the Coluteocarpeae genera included, corresponding to Ihsanalshehbazia gen. nov., Friedrichkarlmeyeria gen. nov., Microthlaspi s.str., and Noccaea s.l. In addition, two new species of Microthlaspi, M. sylvarum‐cedri sp. nov. and M. mediterraneo‐orientale sp. nov., were discovered, which are well supported by both morphological and molecular data. Furthermore, M. erraticum comb. nov. (diploid) and M. perfoliatum s.str. (polyploid) were shown to be distinct species, phylogenetically widely separate, but with some overlap in several morphological characters. Detailed descriptions, notes on taxonomy, geographical distribution, and line drawings for the new species and each species previously included in Microthlaspi are provided. In addition, the current taxonomic state of the tribe Coluteocarpeae is briefly discussed and it is concluded that while several annual taxa are clearly distinct from Noccaea, many perennial taxa, after thorough phylogenetic and morphological investigations, may have to be merged with this genus.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Like other plant-pathogenic oomycetes, downy mildew species of the genus Hyaloperonospora manipulate their hosts by secreting effector proteins. Despite intense research efforts devoted to deciphering the virulence and avirulence activities of effectors in the H. arabidopsidis/Arabidopsis thaliana pathosystem, there is only a single study in this pathosystem on the variation of effectors and resistance genes in natural populations, and the evolution of these effectors in the context of pathogen evolution is studied even less. In this work, the identification of Arabidopsis thaliana recognised (ATR)1-homologs is reported in two sister species of H. arabidopsidis, H. thlaspeosperfoliati, and H. crispula, which are specialized on the host plants Microthlaspi perfoliatum and Reseda lutea, respectively. ATR1-diversity within these sister species of H. arabidopsidis was evaluated, and the ATR1-homologs from different isolates of H. thlaspeos-perfoliati and H. crispula were tested to see if they would be recognised by the previously characterised RPP1-WsB protein from A. thaliana. None of the effectors from the sister species was recognised, suggesting that due to the adaptation to altered or new targets after a host jump, features of variable effectors might vary to a degree that recognition of orthologous Avr-causing effectors is no longer effective and probably does not contribute to non-host immunity.

No abstract

Microthlaspi erraticum is widely distributed in temperate Eurasia, but restricted to Ca 2+-rich habitats, predominantly on white Jurassic limestone, which is made up by calcium carbonate, with little other minerals. Thus, naturally occurring Microthlaspi erraticum individuals are confronted with a high concentration of Ca 2+ ions while Mg 2+ ion concentration is relatively low. As there is a competitive uptake between these two ions, adaptation to the soil condition can be expected. In this study, it was the aim to explore the genomic consequences of this adaptation by sequencing and analysing the genome of Microthlaspi erraticum. Its genome size is comparable with other diploid Brassicaceae, while more genes were predicted. Two Mg 2+ transporters known to be expressed in roots were duplicated and one showed a significant degree of positive selection. It is speculated that this evolved due to the pressure to take up Mg 2+ ions efficiently in the presence of an overwhelming amount of Ca 2+ ions. Future studies on plants specialized on similar soils and affinity tests of the transporters are needed to provide unequivocal evidence for this hypothesis. If verified, the transporters found in this study might be useful for breeding Brassicaceae crops for higher yield on Ca 2+-rich and Mg 2+-poor soils.