P.J. Kaltsikes

Collection, evaluation and classification of Greek populations of faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

Fifty-five Greek Vicia faba L. populations, collected from diverse areas, were planted at two dry and low fertility sites for evaluation and classification. Yield evaluation, which was carried out by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on the basis of seven yield traits, showed the number of pods per plant, number of ovules and seeds per pod, and branching from the basal nodes to be the most important traits for population evaluation regarding yield. For population classification, four dissimilarity coefficients (Manhattan, Average Taxonomic Distance, Euclidean distance and squared Euclidean distance) and four multivariate methods (PCA, UPGMA, Neighbor-joining and Principal Coordinate Analysis) were evaluated using fifteen morphological and seven yield traits. Neighbor-joining was chosen as the most suitable multivariate method. This method combined with PCA for the seven yield traits, placed the populations into six groups. As revealed by the application of PCA on all twenty-two traits the grouping was based mainly on pod characteristics, stem thickness, plant height, 1000 seed weight and branching from basal nodes. Based on the results of the present study, a model is proposed for conserving cross-pollinated species, such as faba bean.

Cultivar identification in upland cotton using RAPD markers

Using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method, the identification and the genetic description of 28 upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars currently cultivated in Greece was attempted. Based on the results of a preliminary experiment using 50 ten-base arbitrary primers, 24 were selected for the main experiment. DNA bands totaling 181 were observed, 118 (65.2%) of which were polymorphic. On the average, 7.5 DNA bands were amplified per primer, 4.9 of which were polymorphic. The unique identification of all cultivars studied was made possible using 27 specific polymorphic bands (markers) corresponding to 16 primers and a specially constructed key. The genetic similarity of the cultivars was estimated using Jaccards similarity coefficient, which ranged from 0.614 to 0.922, indicating a relatively narrow genetic base. Cluster analysis by the Unweighted Pair Group Method of Arithmetic means (UPGMA) showed that 21 of the cultivars could be placed into 3 major groups. A similar clustering of the cultivars was obtained using principal coordinate analysis.

Plant regeneration and somaclonal variation from cultured immature embryos of sister lines of rye and triticale differing in their content of heterochromatin

SummaryPlants were regenerated from cultured immature embryos of two pairs of sister lines of triticale (X Triticosecale) cvs Rosner and Drira and five sister lines of rye (Secale cereale). The triticale lines differ in heterochromatic content of a particular rye chromosome (6R or 7R), while the rye lines differ in only one heterochromatic band. Variation in morphogenetic response was present between the triticale cultivars and between the rye lines. One of the rye lines (7RL+ +) showed a distinctive superior response in terms of somatic embryogenesis. These findings are discussed in relation to factors affecting morphogenetic response and genetic stability in culture.

Isolation and characterization of stress related Heat shock protein calmodulin binding gene from cultivated cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Due to the important role of cotton drought tolerant varieties and the reported involvement in this trait of Heat-shock protein calmodulin binding, the respective gene (HSPCB) was isolated and characterized from cultivated cotton, Gossypium hirsutum(Zeta 2 cultivar), using a chromosome-walking technique. Segments of 3079 bp genomic and 1572 bp cDNA sequences were obtained. Alignments revealed that the HSPCBcDNA contains a single open reading frame of 1374 bp comprising the complete coding region and that the gene possesses five exons. The predicted amino acid sequence shares 72, 54, 58, 32, 31, 27, 28 and 27% identities with A. thaliana, rice, tobacco, Penicillium camemberti, Rhizopus oryzae, Thermomyces lanuginosus, Rhizomucor miehei, Aspergillus nigerLipase/HSPCB proteins, respectively. In addition, the expression profile of this gene was preliminary studied in different plant tissues. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using total RNA samples from leaves, stems and roots of the Australian cotton variety Siokra L23, known for its drought tolerance, isolated after a 4-d osmotic stress treatment (i.e. at the end of the stress period). Semi-quantitative transcription analysis indicated that, under the experimental conditions employed in present study, the gene is expressed in all plant tissues examined.