BackgroundAmong natural populations, there are different colours of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The colour of barley grains is directly related to the accumulation of different pigments in the aleurone layer, pericarp and lemma. Blue grain colour is due to the accumulation of anthocyanins in the aleurone layer, which is dependent on the presence of five Blx genes that are not sequenced yet (Blx1, Blx3 and Blx4 genes clustering on chromosome 4HL and Blx2 and Blx5 on 7HL). Due to the health benefits of anthocyanins, blue-grained barley can be considered as a source of dietary food. The goal of the current study was to identify and characterize components of the anthocyanin synthesis regulatory network for the aleurone layer in barley.ResultsThe candidate genes for components of the regulatory complex MBW (consisting of transcription factors MYB, bHLH/MYC and WD40) for anthocyanin synthesis in barley aleurone were identified. These genes were designated HvMyc2 (4HL), HvMpc2 (4HL), and HvWD40 (6HL). HvMyc2 was expressed in aleurone cells only. A loss-of-function (frame shift) mutation in HvMyc2 of non-coloured compared to blue-grained barley was revealed. Unlike aleurone-specific HvMyc2, the HvMpc2 gene was expressed in different tissues; however, its activity was not detected in non-coloured aleurone in contrast to a coloured aleurone, and allele-specific mutations in its promoter region were found. The single-copy gene HvWD40, which encodes the required component of the regulatory MBW complex, was expressed constantly in coloured and non-coloured tissues and had no allelic differences. HvMyc2 and HvMpc2 were genetically mapped using allele-specific developed CAPS markers developed. HvMyc2 was mapped in position between SSR loci XGBS0875-4H (3.4 cM distal) and XGBM1048-4H (3.4 cM proximal) matching the region chromosome 4HL where the Blx-cluster was found. In this position, one of the anthocyanin biosynthesis structural genes (HvF3’5’H) was also mapped using an allele-specific CAPS-marker developed in the current study.ConclusionsThe genes involved in anthocyanin synthesis in the barley aleurone layer were identified and characterized, including components of the regulatory complex MBW, from which the MYC-encoding gene (HvMyc2) appeared to be the main factor underlying variation of barley by aleurone colour.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12870-017-1122-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Allotetraploid cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. is not only an important crop, but also a model organism used to study such processes as polyploidization, plant genome evolution and the influence of polyploidy on gene expression. The present article provides a review of studies devoted to the taxonomy of the genus Gossypium, the evolution of the genomes of its representatives (including 45 diploid and 7 allotetraploid species), and the functional divergence of duplicated copies of the same genes in allotetraploid species. The discussion concerns the areas of individual species’ origin, as well as the reasons of the high variation in genome size (from ~880 Mb to ~2400 Mb), which was influenced by both full-genome duplications and the spread of mobile genetic elements. The data support the fact that the expression of genes in allotetraploid cotton changes as a result of polyploidization, and that one of the two subgenomes dominates in the formation of one or another trait. The considered data shed light on the features of the evolution of plant genes and genomes.

BackgroundIn order to clarify the origin of spring growth habit in modern domesticated wheat, allelic variability of the VRN-1 gene was investigated in a wide set of accessions of the wild tetraploid species Triticum dicoccoides (BBAA), together with diploid species T. monococcum, T. boeoticum and T. urartu, presumable donors of the A genome to polyploid wheats.ResultsNo significant variation was found at the VRN-B1 locus of T. dicoccoides, whereas at VRN-A1 a number of previously described alleles were found with small deletions in the promoter (VRN-A1b, VRN-A1d) or a large deletion in the first (1st) intron (VRN-A1L). The diploid A genome species were characterized by their own set of VRN-1 alleles including previously described VRN-A1f and VRN-A1h alleles with deletions in the promoter region and the VRN-A1ins allele containing a 0.5 kb insertion in the 1st intron. Based on the CAPS screening data, alleles VRN-A1f and VRN-A1ins were species-specific for T. monococcum, while allele VRN-A1h was specific for T. boeoticum. Different indels were revealed in both the promoter and 1st intron of the recessive VRN-A1u allele providing specific identification of T. urartu, the proposed donor of the A genome to modern wheat. We found that alleles VRN-A1b and VRN-A1h, previously described as dominant, have either no or weak association with spring growth habit, while in some diploid accessions this habit was associated with the recessive VRN-A1 allele.ConclusionsSpring growth habit in diploid wheats was only partially associated with indels in regulatory regions of the VRN-1 gene. An exception is T. monococcum where dominant mutations in both the promoter region and, especially, the 1st intron were selected during domestication resulting in a greater variety of spring forms. The wild tetraploid T. dicoccoides had a distinct set of VRN-A1 alleles compared to the diploids in this study, indicating an independent origin of spring tetraploid forms that likely occurred after combining of diploid genomes. These alleles were subsequently inherited by cultivated polyploid (tetraploid and hexaploid) descendants.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12870-015-0473-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BackgroundThe cultivated potato Solanum tuberosum L. is the fourth most important crop worldwide. Anthocyanins synthesis and accumulation in potato tissues are considered as one of important traits related to stress resistance and nutritional value. It is considered that the major regulatory gene for anthocyanin biosynthesis is R2R3 MYB-encoding gene StAN1. However, the genetic control of pigmentation of different potato tissues is substantially under investigated. The development of genetic markers for breeding of potato with specific pigmentation pattern remains an actual task.ResultsWe investigated 36 potato varieties and hybrids with different pigmentation of tubers and leaves. Sequence organization of regulatory R2R3 MYB (StAN1, StMYBA1, StMYB113), bHLH (StbHLH1, StJAF13) and WD40 (StWD40) genes potentially controlling anthocyanin biosynthesis has been evaluated. The results demonstrated a high variability in the StAN1 third exon and promoter region with the exception for 35 bp, containing elements for the transcription start and activation of gene expression in roots. The analysis of transcriptional activity of genes coding R2R3 MYBs, bHLHs and WD40 transcriptional factors in leaves of eight potato genotypes with different anthocyanin pigmentation was performed. The results showed a relation between the gene expression level and plant pigmentation only for the StAN1 and StWD40 genes, while other studied genes had either strong expression in all varieties and hybrids (StMYBA1, StbHLH1 and StJAF13) or they were not expressed at all (StMYB113).ConclusionsIt was found that StAN1 is the major regulatory gene controlling potato anthocyanin synthesis. However, diagnostic markers developed for the functional StAN1 alleles (StAN1777 and StAN1816) can not be used efficiently for prediction of potato pigmentation patterns. It is likely that the sequence organization of StAN1 promoter is important for anthocyanin synthesis control and the development of additional diagnostic markers is necessary.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12863-019-0728-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BackgroundAnthocyanin compounds playing multiple biological functions can be synthesized in different parts of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plant. The diversity of anthocyanin molecules is related with branching the pathway to alternative ways in which dihydroflavonols may be modified either with the help of flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase (F3′H) or flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H)—the cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases. The F3′H and F3′5′H gene families are among the least studied anthocyanin biosynthesis structural genes in barley. The aim of this study was to identify and characterise duplicated copies of the F3′H and F3′5′H genes in the barley genome.ResultsFour copies of the F3′5′H gene (on chromosomes 4HL, 6HL, 6HS and 7HS) and two copies of the F3′H gene (on chromosomes 1HL and 6HS) were identified in barley genome. These copies have either one or two introns. Amino acid sequences analysis demonstrated the presence of the flavonoid hydroxylase-featured conserved motifs in all copies of the F3′H and F3′5′H genes with the exception of F3′5′H-3 carrying a loss-of-function mutation in a conservative cytochrome P450 domain. It was shown that the divergence between F3′H and F3′5′H genes occurred 129 million years ago (MYA) before the emergence of monocot and dicot plant species. The F3′H copy approximately occurred 80 MYA; the appearance of F3′5′H copies occurred 8, 36 and 91 MYA. qRT-PCR analysis revealed the tissue-specific activity for some copies of the studied genes. The F3′H-1 gene was transcribed in aleurone layer, lemma and pericarp (with an increased level in the coloured pericarp), whereas the F3′H-2 gene was expressed in stems only. The F3′5′H-1 gene was expressed only in the aleurone layer, and in a coloured aleurone its expression was 30-fold higher. The transcriptional activity of F3′5′H-2 was detected in different tissues with significantly higher level in uncoloured genotype in contrast to coloured ones. The F3′5′H-3 gene expressed neither in stems nor in aleurone layer, lemma and pericarp. The F3′5′H-4 gene copy was weakly expressed in all tissues analysed.ConclusionF3′H and F3′5′H-coding genes involved in anthocyanin synthesis in H. vulgare were identified and characterised, from which the copies designated F3′H-1, F3′H-2, F3′5′H-1 and F3′5′H-2 demonstrated tissue-specific expression patterns. Information on these modulators of the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway can be used in future for manipulation with synthesis of diverse anthocyanin compounds in different parts of barley plant. Finding both the copies with tissue-specific expression and a copy undergoing pseudogenization demonstrated rapid evolutionary events tightly related with functional specialization of the duplicated members of the cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases gene families.

BackgroundThe characterization of major resistance genes (R genes) in the potato remains an important task for molecular breeding. However, R genes are rapidly evolving and frequently occur in genomes as clusters with complex structures, and their precise mapping and identification are complicated and time consuming.ResultsComparative analysis of root transcriptomes of Solanum phureja genotypes with contrasting resistance to Globodera rostochiensis revealed a number of differentially expressed genes. However, compiling a list of candidate R genes for further segregation analysis was hampered by their scarce annotation. Nevertheless, combination of transcriptomic analysis with data on predicted potato NBS-LRR-encoding genes considerably improved the quality of the results and provided a reasonable number of candidate genes that provide S. phureja with strong resistance to the potato golden cyst nematode.ConclusionCombination of comparative analyses of tissue-specific transcriptomes in resistant and susceptible genotypes may be used as an approach for the rapid identification of candidate potato R genes for co-segregation analysis and may be used in parallel with more sophisticated studies based on genome resequencing.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12870-017-1193-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background The members of the Triticeae tribe are characterised by the presence of orthologous and homoeologous gene copies regulating flavonoid biosynthesis. Among transcription factors constituting a regulatory MBW complex, the greatest contribution to the regulation of flavonoid biosynthetic pathway is invested by R2R3-Myb-type TFs. Differently expressed R2R3-Myb copies activate the synthesis of various classes of flavonoid compounds in different plant tissues. The aim of this research was the identification, comparison and analysis of full-length sequences of the duplicated R2R3-Myb Mpc1 ( Myb protein c1 ) gene copies in barley and wheat genomes. Results The Mpc1 genes were identified in homoeologous group 4 and 7 chromosomes: a total of 3 copies in barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) and 8 copies in bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) genomes. All Mpc1 genes have a similar two-exon structure, and almost all of them are transcriptionally active. The calculation of the divergence time revealed that first duplication between 4 and 7 chromosomes of the common ancestor of the Triticeae tribe occurred about 35–46 million years ago (MYA); the last duplication arised about 16–19 MYA before the divergence Triticum and Hordeum genera The connection between gene expression and the appearance of anthocyanin pigmentation was found for three genes from homoeologous group 4 chromosomes: TaMpc1-A2 (5AL) in wheat coleoptile, HvMpc1-H2 (4HL) in barley lemma and aleurone layer, and HvMpc1-H3 (4HL) in barley aleurone layer. TaMpc1-D4 (4DL) from the wheat genome showed a strong level of expression regardless of the colour of coleoptile or pericarp. It is assumed, that this gene regulates the biosynthesis of uncoloured flavonoids in analysed tissues. Conclusions The regulatory R2R3-Myb genes involved in anthocyanin synthesis were identified and characterised in Triticeae tribe species. Genes designated HvMpc1-H2 and HvMpc1-H3 appeared to be the main factors underlying intraspecific variation of H. vulgare by lemma and aleurone colour. TaMpc1-A2 is the co-regulator of the Mpc1–1 genes in bread wheat genome controlling anthocyanin synthesis in coleoptile. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-019-1378-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Transition from seed to seedling is one of the critical developmental steps, dramatically affecting plant growth and viability. Before plants enter the vegetative phase of their ontogenesis, massive rearrangements of signaling pathways and switching of gene expression programs are required. This results in suppression of the genes controlling seed maturation and activation of those involved in regulation of vegetative growth. At the level of hormonal regulation, these events are controlled by the balance of abscisic acid and gibberellins, although ethylene, auxins, brassinosteroids, cytokinins, and jasmonates are also involved. The key players include the members of the LAFL network—the transcription factors LEAFY COTYLEDON1 and 2 (LEC 1 and 2), ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3), and FUSCA3 (FUS3), as well as DELAY OF GERMINATION1 (DOG1). They are the negative regulators of seed germination and need to be suppressed before seedling development can be initiated. This repressive signal is mediated by chromatin remodeling complexes—POLYCOMB REPRESSIVE COMPLEX 1 and 2 (PRC1 and PRC2), as well as PICKLE (PKL) and PICKLE-RELATED2 (PKR2) proteins. Finally, epigenetic methylation of cytosine residues in DNA, histone post-translational modifications, and post-transcriptional downregulation of seed maturation genes with miRNA are discussed. Here, we summarize recent updates in the study of hormonal and epigenetic switches involved in regulation of the transition from seed germination to the post-germination stage.