Bernd Friebe

Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA

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Publications (31)92.22 Total impact

  • Article: Development and characterization of a compensating wheat-Thinopyrum intermedium Robertsonian translocation with Sr44 resistance to stem rust (Ug99).
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    ABSTRACT: The emergence of the highly virulent Ug99 race complex of the stem rust fungus (Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks. and Henn.) threatens wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production worldwide. One of the effective genes against the Ug99 race complex is Sr44, which was derived from Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth and D.R. Dewey and mapped to the short arm of 7J (designated 7J#1S) present in the noncompensating T7DS-7J#1L∙7J#1S translocation. Noncompensating wheat-alien translocations are known to cause genomic duplications and deficiencies leading to poor agronomic performance, precluding their direct use in wheat improvement. The present study was initiated to produce compensating wheat-Th. intermedium Robertsonian translocations with Sr44 resistance. One compensating RobT was identified consisting of the wheat 7DL arm translocated to the Th. intermedium 7J#1S arm resulting in T7DL∙7J#1S. The T7DL∙7J#1S stock was designated as TA5657. The 7DL∙7J#1S stock carries Sr44 and has resistance to the Ug99 race complex. This compensating RobT with Sr44 resistance may be useful in wheat improvement. In addition, we identified an unnamed stem rust resistance gene located on the 7J#1L arm that confers resistance not only to Ug99, but also to race TRTTF, which is virulent to Sr44. However, the action of the second gene can be modified by the presence of suppressors in the recipient wheat cultivars.
    Theoretical and Applied Genetics 01/2013; · 3.30 Impact Factor
  • Article: Single-copy gene fluorescence in situ hybridization and genome analysis: Acc-2 loci mark evolutionary chromosomal rearrangements in wheat.
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    ABSTRACT: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a useful tool for physical mapping of chromosomes and studying evolutionary chromosome rearrangements. Here we report a robust method for single-copy gene FISH for wheat. FISH probes were developed from cDNA of cytosolic acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) gene (Acc-2) and mapped on chromosomes of bread wheat, Triticum aestivum L. (2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD), and related diploid and tetraploid species. Another nine full-length (FL) cDNA FISH probes were mapped and used to identify chromosomes of wheat species. The Acc-2 probe was detected on the long arms of each of the homoeologous group 3 chromosomes (3A, 3B, and 3D), on 5DL and 4AL of bread wheat, and on homoeologous and nonhomoeologous chromosomes of other species. In the species tested, FISH detected more Acc-2 gene or pseudogene sites than previously found by PCR and Southern hybridization analyses and showed presence/absence polymorphism of Acc-2 sequences. FISH with the Acc-2 probe revealed the 4A-5A translocation, shared by several related diploid and polyploid species and inherited from an ancestral A-genome species, and the T. timopheevii-specific 4A(t)-3A(t) translocation.
    Chromosoma 10/2012; · 3.85 Impact Factor
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    Article: Development and characterization of two new Triticum aestivum–Dasypyrumvillosum Robertsonian translocation lines T1DS·1V#3L and T1DL·1V#3S and their effect on grain quality
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    ABSTRACT: Dasypyrum villosum (L.) Candargy is a diploid, wild relative of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Previous studies showed that D. villosum chromosome 1V has genes that encode seed storage proteins that may be used to enhance the grain quality of bread wheat. As a first step in genetic transfer, the present study was initiated to develop compensating Robertsonian translocations involving wheat chromosome 1D and D. villosum chromosome 1V and to analyze their effects on grain quality. A monosomic 1D stock was crossed with the disomic addition stock DA1V#3 and the double monosomic plants (20″+1D′+1V#3′) were self pollinated. Two co-dominant STS markers (BE499250 and BE591682) polymorphic for the short arm of 1V#3S and two dominant STS markers (BE518358 and BE585781) polymorphic for the long arm of 1V#3L were developed to screen a large number of progeny to identify plants that had only the 1V#3S or 1V#3L arms. Five compensating Robertsonian heterozygous translocations, two (plants #56 and #83) for the short arm (T1DL·1V#3S) and three (plants #7, #123, and #208) for the long arm (T1DS·1V#3L) were identified from 282 F2 plants and confirmed by genomic in situ hybridization and C-banding analyses. Two homozygous translocations T1DL·1V#3S (plants #14 and #39) were identified from 52 F3 plants derived from F2 plant #83. Four homozygous translocations T1DS·1V#3L (plants #3, #22, #29, and #30) were identified from 68 F3 plants derived from F2 plant #208. The homozygous translocation T1DL·1V#3S had a significantly higher (37.4ml) and T1DS·1V#3L had significantly lower (10ml) Zeleny sedimentation values compared to Chinese Spring wheat (30.7ml). Our results showed that 1V#3S increased gluten strength and enhanced wheat quality, but 1V#3L decreased gluten strength and did not enhance wheat quality. Keywords Triticum aestivum - Dasypyrum villosum -Robertsonian translocation-Grain quality
    Euphytica 04/2012; 175(3):343-350. · 1.55 Impact Factor
  • Article: Development and molecular characterization of wheat--Aegilops kotschyi addition and substitution lines with high grain protein, iron, and zinc.
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    ABSTRACT: Over two billion people, depending largely on staple foods, suffer from deficiencies in protein and some micronutrients such as iron and zinc. Among various approaches to overcome protein and micronutrient deficiencies, biofortification through a combination of conventional and molecular breeding methods is the most feasible, cheapest, and sustainable approach. An interspecific cross was made between the wheat cultivar 'Chinese Spring' and Aegilops kotschyi Boiss. accession 396, which has a threefold higher grain iron and zinc concentrations and about 33% higher protein concentration than wheat cultivars. Recurrent backcrossing and selection for the micronutrient content was performed at each generation. Thirteen derivatives with high grain iron and zinc concentrations and contents, ash and ash micronutrients, and protein were analyzed for alien introgression. Morphological markers, high molecular weight glutenin subunit profiles, anchored wheat microsatellite markers, and GISH showed that addition and substitution of homoeologous groups 1, 2, and 7 chromosomes of Ae. kotschyi possess gene(s) for high grain micronutrients. The addition of 1U/1S had high molecular weight glutenin subunits with higher molecular weight than those of wheat, and the addition of 2S in most of the derivatives also enhanced grain protein content by over 20%. Low grain protein content in a derivative with a 2S-wheat translocation, waxy leaves, and absence of the gdm148 marker strongly suggests that the gene for higher grain protein content on chromosome 2S is orthologous to the grain protein QTL on the short arm of group 2 chromosomes.
    Genome 11/2011; 54(11):943-53. · 1.65 Impact Factor
  • Article: Development of a set of compensating Triticum aestivum-Dasypyrum villosum Robertsonian translocation lines.
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    ABSTRACT: Dasypyrum villosum (L.) Candargy, a wild relative of bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), is the source of many agronomically important genes for wheat improvement. Production of compensating Robertsonian translocations (cRobTs), consisting of D. villosum chromosome arms translocated to homoeologous wheat chromosome arms, is one of the initial steps in exploiting this variation. The cRobTs for D. villosum chromosomes 1V, 4V, and 6V have been reported previously. Here we report attempted cRobTs for wheat - D. villosum chromosome combinations 2D/2V, 3D/3V, 5D/5V, and 7D/7V. The cRobTs for all D. villosum chromosomes were recovered except for the 2VS and 5VL arms. As was the case with the 6D/6V combination, no cRobTs involving 2D/2V chromosomes were recovered; instead, cRobT T2BS·2VL involving a nontargeted chromosome was recovered. All cRobTs are fertile, although the level of spike fertility and hundred kernel weight (HKW) varied among the lines. The set of cRobTs involving 12 of the 14 D. villosum chromosomes will be useful in wheat improvement programs. In fact, among the already reported cRobTs, T6AL·6VS carrying the Pm21 gene is deployed in agriculture and many useful genes have been reported on other cRobTs including resistance to stem rust race UG99 on T6AS·6VL.
    Genome 09/2011; 54(10):836-44. · 1.65 Impact Factor
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    Article: Discovery and molecular mapping of a new gene conferring resistance to stem rust, Sr53, derived from Aegilops geniculata and characterization of spontaneous translocation stocks with reduced alien chromatin.
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    ABSTRACT: This study reports the discovery and molecular mapping of a resistance gene effective against stem rust races RKQQC and TTKSK (Ug99) derived from Aegilops geniculata (2n = 4x = 28, U(g)U(g)M(g)M(g)). Two populations from the crosses TA5599 (T5DL-5M(g)L·5M(g)S)/TA3809 (ph1b mutant in Chinese Spring background) and TA5599/Lakin were developed and used for genetic mapping to identify markers linked to the resistance gene. Further molecular and cytogenetic characterization resulted in the identification of nine spontaneous recombinants with shortened Ae. geniculata segments. Three of the wheat-Ae. geniculata recombinants (U6154-124, U6154-128, and U6200-113) are interstitial translocations (T5DS·5DL-5M(g)L-5DL), with 20-30% proximal segments of 5M(g)L translocated to 5DL; the other six are recombinants (T5DL-5M(g)L·5M(g)S) have shortened segments of 5M(g)L with fraction lengths (FL) of 0.32-0.45 compared with FL 0.55 for the 5M(g)L segment in the original translocation donor, TA5599. Recombinants U6200-64, U6200-117, and U6154-124 carry the stem rust resistance gene Sr53 with the same infection type as TA5599, the resistance gene donor. All recombinants were confirmed to be genetically compensating on the basis of genomic in situ hybridization and molecular marker analysis with chromosome 5D- and 5M(g)-specific SSR/STS-PCR markers. These recombinants between wheat and Ae. geniculata will provide another source for wheat stem rust resistance breeding and for physical mapping of the resistance locus and crossover hot spots between wheat chromosome 5D and chromosome 5M(g)L of Ae. geniculata.
    Chromosome Research 07/2011; 19(5):669-82. · 3.09 Impact Factor
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    Article: Development and characterization of wheat-Ae. searsii Robertsonian translocations and a recombinant chromosome conferring resistance to stem rust.
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    ABSTRACT: The emergence of a new highly virulent race of stem rust (Puccinia graminis tritici), Ug99, rapid evolution of new Ug99 derivative races overcoming resistance of widely deployed genes, and spread towards important wheat growing areas now potentially threaten world food security. Exploiting novel genes effective against Ug99 from wild relatives of wheat is one of the most promising strategies for the protection of the wheat crop. A new source of resistance to Ug99 was identified in the short arm of the Aegilops searsii chromosome 3S(s) by screening wheat- Ae. searsii introgression libraries available as individual chromosome and chromosome arm additions to the wheat genome. For transferring this resistance gene into common wheat, we produced three double-monosomic chromosome populations (3A/3S(s), 3B/3S(s) and 3D/3S(s)) and then applied integrated stem rust screening, molecular maker analysis, and cytogenetic analysis to identify resistant wheat-Ae. searsii Robertsonian translocation. Three Robertsonian translocations (T3AL·3S(s)S, T3BL·3S(s)S and T3DL·3S(s)S) and one recombinant (T3DS-3S(s)S·3S(s)L) with stem rust resistance were identified and confirmed to be genetically compensating on the basis of genomic in situ hybridization, analysis of 3A, 3B, 3D and 3S(s)S-specific SSR/STS-PCR markers, and C-banding. In addition, nine SSR/STS-PCR markers of 3S(s)S-specific were developed for marker-assisted selection of the resistant gene. Efforts to reduce potential linkage drag associated with 3S(s)S of Ae. searsii are currently under way.
    Theoretical and Applied Genetics 02/2011; 122(8):1537-45. · 3.30 Impact Factor
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    Article: The compact Brachypodium genome conserves centromeric regions of a common ancestor with wheat and rice.
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    ABSTRACT: The evolution of five chromosomes of Brachypodium distachyon from a 12-chromosome ancestor of all grasses by dysploidy raises an interesting question about the fate of redundant centromeres. Three independent but complementary approaches were pursued to study centromeric region homologies among the chromosomes of Brachypodium, wheat, and rice. The genes present in pericentromeres of the basic set of seven chromosomes of wheat and the Triticeae, and the 80 rice centromeric genes spanning the CENH3 binding domain of centromeres 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 were used as "anchor" markers to identify centromere locations in the B. distachyon chromosomes. A total of 53 B. distachyon bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones anchored by wheat pericentromeric expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were used as probes for BAC-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of B. distachyon mitotic chromosomes. Integrated sequence alignment and BAC-FISH data were used to determine the approximate positions of active and inactive centromeres in the five B. distachyon chromosomes. The following syntenic relationships of the centromeres for Brachypodium (Bd), rice (R), and wheat (W) were evident: Bd1-R6, Bd2-R5-W1, Bd3-R10, Bd4-R11-W4, and Bd5-R4. Six rice centromeres syntenic to five wheat centromeres were inactive in Brachypodium chromosomes. The conservation of centromere gene synteny among several sets of homologous centromeres of three species indicates that active genes can persist in ancient centromeres with more than 40 million years of shared evolutionary history. Annotation of a BAC contig spanning an inactive centromere in chromosome Bd3 which is syntenic to rice Cen8 and W7 pericentromeres, along with BAC FISH data from inactive centromeres revealed that the centromere inactivation was accompanied by the loss of centromeric retrotransposons and turnover of centromere-specific satellites during Bd chromosome evolution.
    Functional & Integrative Genomics 11/2010; 10(4):477-92. · 3.83 Impact Factor
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    Article: Genome relationships in the genus Dasypyrum: evidence from molecular phylogenetic analysis and in situ hybridization
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    ABSTRACT: The genus Dasypyrum (or Haynaldia) consists of two species, D. villosum and D. breviaristatum. However, the genomic relationships between these two species remain unclear. The objective of this study was to provide molecular phylogenic and cytological evidence on the evolutionary relationships of the genus Dasypyrum. Sequences of Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and α-gliadin genes both support the hypothesis that diploid D. breviaristatum is the progenitor of tetraploid D. breviaristatum, and the diploid D. villosum and D. breviaristatum evolved parallel from an ancestral species. Genomic and fluorescence in situ hybridization using ribosomal DNA and rye repetitive DNA sequence as probes also indicated that tetraploid D. breviaristatum originated from diploid D. breviaristatum.
    Plant Systematics and Evolution. 07/2010; 288(3-4):149-156.
  • Article: Centromere inactivation and epigenetic modifications of a plant chromosome with three functional centromeres.
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    ABSTRACT: A chromosome with two functional centromeres is cytologically unstable and can only be stabilized when one of the two centromeres becomes inactivated via poorly understood mechanisms. Here, we report a transmissible chromosome with multiple centromeres in wheat. This chromosome encompassed one large and two small domains containing the centromeric histone CENH3. The two small centromeres are in a close vicinity and often fused as a single centromere on metaphase chromosomes. This fused centromere contained approximately 30% of the CENH3 compared to the large centromere. An intact tricentric chromosome was transmitted to about 70% of the progenies, which was likely a consequence of the dominating pulling capacity of the large centromere during anaphases of meiosis. The tricentric chromosome showed characteristics typical to dicentric chromosomes, including chromosome breaks and centromere inactivation. Remarkably, inactivation was always associated with the small centromeres, indicating that small centromeres are less likely to survive than large ones in dicentric chromosomes. The inactivation of the small centromeres also coincided with changes of specific histone modifications, including H3K27me2 and H3K27me3, of the pericentromeric chromatin.
    Chromosoma 05/2010; 119(5):553-63. · 3.85 Impact Factor
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    Article: A molecular-cytogenetic method for locating genes to pericentromeric regions facilitates a genomewide comparison of synteny between the centromeric regions of wheat and rice.
    Lili Qi, Bernd Friebe, Peng Zhang, Bikram S Gill
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    ABSTRACT: Centromeres, because of their repeat structure and lack of sequence conservation, are difficult to assemble and compare across organisms. It was recently discovered that rice centromeres often contain genes. This suggested a method for studying centromere homologies between wheat and rice chromosomes by mapping rice centromeric genes onto wheat aneuploid stocks. Three of the seven cDNA clones of centromeric genes from rice centromere 8 (Cen8), 6729.t09, 6729.t10, and 6730.t11 which lie in the Cen8 kinetochore region, and three wheat ESTs, BJ301191, BJ305475, and BJ280500, with similarity to sequences of rice centromeric genes, were mapped to the centromeric regions of the wheat group-7 (W7) chromosomes. A possible pericentric inversion in chromosome 7D was detected. Genomewide comparison of wheat ESTs that mapped to centromeric regions against rice genome sequences revealed high conservation and a one-to-one correspondence of centromeric regions between wheat and rice chromosome pairs W1-R5, W2-R7, W3-R1, W5-R12, W6-R2, and W7-R8. The W4 centromere may share homology with R3 only or with R3 + R11. Wheat ESTs that mapped to the pericentromeric region of the group-5 long arm anchored to the rice BACs located in the recently duplicated region at the distal ends of the short arms of rice chromosomes 11 and 12. A pericentric inversion specific to the rice lineage was detected. The depicted framework provides a working model for further studies on the structure and evolution of cereal chromosome centromeres.
    Genetics 09/2009; 183(4):1235-47. · 4.01 Impact Factor
  • Chapter: Cytogenetic Analysis of Wheat and Rye Genomes
    Bikram S. Gill, Bernd Friebe
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    ABSTRACT: Cytogenetics is the correlated study of genetics and cytology. In cereals, five phases of cytogenetic research can be recognized: (i) meiotic pairing analysis of F1 hybrids; (ii) aneuploidy. (iii) molecular cytogenetics (C-banding and in situ hybridization); (iv) deletion bin mapping; and (v) flow cytogenetics. We review here the first four phases of cytogenetic research with special reference to chromosome analysis of wheat and rye. Meiotic pairing analysis revealed genomic relationships among diploid and polyploid species. Aneuploidy opened possibilities of chromosome/arm and comparative mapping. C-banding and in situ hybridization allowed rapid identification and analysis of heterochromatic and euchromatic components of wheat and rye chromosomes. The isolation of deletion stocks and their use to study the structure and function of the expressed portion of the wheat genome further revealed structural and functional differentiation of wheat chromosomes into proximal gene-poor/low recombination and distal gene-rich/high recombination compartments. The abovementioned structural and functional differentiation may have been driven by chromosome behavior at meiosis. As DNA sequence information becomes available and with the application of techniques such as Fiber FISH and others that close the gap between DNA level and chromosome level observations, we can truly begin to understand the biological meaning of the superimposed structural, functional, and behavioral differentiation and organization of cereal chromosomes.
    12/2008: pages 121-135;
  • Chapter: FISH on Plant Chromosomes
    Peng Zhang, Bernd Friebe
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    ABSTRACT: FISH, which allows the mapping of DNA sequences directly onto chromosomes, has revolutionized plant molecular cytogenetics research since it was first adapted from mammalian research. Repetitive DNA sequences can generate unique FISH patterns on individual chromosomes for karyotyping (chromosome identification) and phylogenetic/evolution analyses. FISH and/or genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) on meiotic metaphase chromosomes provide more information on chromosome pairing than traditional pairing analysis. FISH on meiotic pachytene chromosomes coupled with digital imaging systems has become an efficient method for developing physical maps in plant species, especially those with small genomes. FISH-based physical mapping provides a valuable complementary approach to genome sequencing and map-based cloning research, and it will continue to play an important role in relating DNA sequence information to chromosome biology. In addition, FISH using RNA probes and FISH with immunoassays are becoming increasingly important techniques in studies of chromosome structure and functions that control gene expression and regulation.
    12/2008: pages 365-394;
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    Article: Molecular cytogenetic characterization of alien introgressions with gene Fhb3 for resistance to Fusarium head blight disease of wheat.
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    ABSTRACT: Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance was identified in the alien species Leymus racemosus, and wheat-Leymus introgression lines with FHB resistance were reported previously. Detailed molecular cytogenetic analysis of alien introgressions T01, T09, and T14 and the mapping of Fhb3, a new gene for FHB resistance, are reported here. The introgression line T09 had an unknown wheat-Leymus translocation chromosome. A total of 36 RFLP markers selected from the seven homoeologous groups of wheat were used to characterize T09 and determine the homoeologous relationship of the introgressed Leymus chromosome with wheat. Only short arm markers for group 7 detected Leymus-specific fragments in T09, whereas 7AS-specific RFLP fragments were missing. C-banding and genomic in situ hybridization results indicated that T09 has a compensating Robertsonian translocation T7AL.7Lr#1S involving the long arm of wheat chromosome 7A and the short arm of Leymus chromosome 7Lr#1 substituting for chromosome arm 7AS of wheat. Introgression lines T01 (2n = 44) and T14 (2n = 44) each had two pairs of independent translocation chromosomes. T01 had T4BS.4BL-7Lr#1S + T4BL-7Lr#1S.5Lr#1S. T14 had T6BS.6BL-7Lr#1S + T6BL.5Lr#1S. These translocations were recovered in the progeny of the irradiated line Lr#1 (T5Lr#1S.7Lr#1S). The three translocation lines, T01, T09, and T14, and the disomic addition 7Lr#1 were consistently resistant to FHB in greenhouse point-inoculation experiments, whereas the disomic addition 5Lr#1 was susceptible. The data indicated that at least one novel FHB resistance gene from Leymus, designated Fhb3, resides in the distal region of the short arm of chromosome 7Lr#1, because the resistant translocation lines share a common distal segment of 7Lr#1S. Three PCR-based markers, BE586744-STS, BE404728-STS, and BE586111-STS, specific for 7Lr#1S were developed to expedite marker-assisted selection in breeding programs.
    Theoretical and Applied Genetics 09/2008; 117(7):1155-66. · 3.30 Impact Factor
  • Article: The origin of a "zebra" chromosome in wheat suggests nonhomologous recombination as a novel mechanism for new chromosome evolution and step changes in chromosome number.
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    ABSTRACT: An alloplasmic wheat line, TA5536, with the "zebra" chromosome z5A was isolated from an Elymus trachycaulus/Triticum aestivum backcross derivative. This chromosome was named "zebra" because of its striped genomic in situ hybridization pattern. Its origin was traced to nonhomologous chromosome 5A of wheat and 1H(t) of Elymus; four chromatin segments were derived from chromosome 1H(t) and five chromatin segments including the centromere from 5A. In this study, our objective was to determine the mechanism of origin of chromosome z5A, whether by nonhomologous recombination or by multiple translocation events. Different crossing schemes were used to recover recombinants containing various Elymus chromatin segments of the z5A chromosome. In addition, one z5AL telocentric chromosome and three z5AL isochromosomes were recovered. The dissection of the Elymus segments into different stocks allowed us to determine the chromosomal origin of the different chromosome fragments on the basis of the order of the RFLP markers employed and suggested that the zebra chromosome originated from nonhomologous recombination. We present a model of possible mechanism(s) of chromosome evolution and step changes in chromosome number applicable to a wide range of organisms.
    Genetics 07/2008; 179(3):1169-77. · 4.01 Impact Factor
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    Article: Homoeologous recombination, chromosome engineering and crop improvement.
    Lili Qi, Bernd Friebe, Peng Zhang, Bikram S Gill
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    ABSTRACT: Sears (1956) pioneered plant chromosome engineering 50 years ago by directed transfer of a leaf rust resistance gene from an alien chromosome to a wheat chromosome using X-ray irradiation and an elegant cytogenetic scheme. Since then many other protocols have been reported, but the one dealing with induced homoeologous pairing and recombination is the most powerful, and has been extensively used in wheat. Here, we briefly review the current status of homoeologous recombination-based chromosome engineering research in plants with a focus on wheat, and demonstrate that integrated use of cytogenetic stocks and molecular resources can enhance the efficiency and precision of homoeologus-based chromosome engineering. We report the results of an experiment on homoeologous recombination-based transfer of virus resistance from an alien chromosome to a wheat chromosome, its characterization, and the prospects for further engineering by a second round of recombination. A proposal is presented for genome-wide, homoeologous recombination-based engineering for efficient mining of gene pools of wild relatives for crop improvement.
    Chromosome Research 02/2007; 15(1):3-19. · 3.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: Characterization and physical mapping of ribosomal RNA gene families in Plantago.
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    ABSTRACT: The organization of rRNA genes in cultivated Plantago ovata Forsk. and several of its wild allies was analysed to gain insight into the phylogenetic relationships of these species in the genus which includes some 200 species. Specific primers were designed to amplify the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) regions from seven Plantago species and the resulting fragments were cloned and sequenced. Similarly, using specific primers, the 5S rRNA genes from these species were amplified and subsequently cloned. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) was used for physical mapping of 5S and 45S ribosomal RNA genes. The ITS1 region is 19-29 bp longer than the ITS2 in different Plantago species. The 5S rRNA gene-repeating unit varies in length from 289 to 581 bp. Coding regions are highly conserved across species, but the non-transcribed spacers (NTS) do not match any database sequences. The clone from the cultivated species P. ovata was used for physical mapping of these genes by FISH. Four species have one FISH site while three have two FISH sites. In P. lanceolata and P. rhodosperma, the 5S and 45S (18S-5.8S-25S) sites are coupled. Characterization of 5S and 45S rRNA genes has indicated a possible origin of P. ovata, the only cultivated species of the genus and also the only species with x = 4, from a species belonging to subgenus Psyllium. Based on the studies reported here, P. ovata is closest to P. arenaria, although on the basis of other data the two species have been placed in different subgenera. FISH mapping can be used as an efficient tool to help determine phylogenetic relationships in the genus Plantago and show the interrelationship between P. lanceolata and P. lagopus.
    Annals of Botany 05/2006; 97(4):541-8. · 4.03 Impact Factor
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    Article: Gene evolution at the ends of wheat chromosomes.
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    ABSTRACT: Wheat ESTs mapped to deletion bins in the distal 42% of the long arm of chromosome 4B (4BL) were ordered in silico based on blastn homology against rice pseudochromosome 3. The ESTs spanned 29 cM on the short arm of rice chromosome 3, which is known to be syntenic to long arms of group-4 chromosomes of wheat. Fine-scale deletion-bin and genetic mapping revealed that 83% of ESTs were syntenic between wheat and rice, a far higher level of synteny than previously reported, and 6% were nonsyntenic (not located on rice chromosome 3). One inversion spanning a 5-cM region in rice and three deletion bins in wheat was identified. The remaining 11% of wheat ESTs showed no sequence homology in rice and mapped to the terminal 5% of the wheat chromosome 4BL. In this region, 27% of ESTs were duplicated, and it accounted for 70% of the recombination in the 4BL arm. Globally in wheat, no sequence homology ESTs mapped to the terminal bins, and ESTs rarely mapped to interstitial chromosomal regions known to be recombination hot spots. The wheat-rice comparative genomics analysis indicated that gene evolution occurs preferentially at the ends of chromosomes, driven by duplication and divergence associated with high rates of recombination.
    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 04/2006; 103(11):4162-7. · 9.68 Impact Factor
  • Article: Development and characterization of wheat- Leymus racemosus translocation lines with resistance to Fusarium Head Blight.
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    ABSTRACT: Wheat scab (Fusarium Head Blight, FHB) is a destructive disease in the warm and humid wheat-growing areas of the world. Finding diverse sources of FHB resistance is critical for genetic diversity of resistance for wheat breeding programs. Leymus racemosus is a wild perennial relative of wheat and is highly resistant to FHB. Three wheat- L. racemosus disomic addition (DA) lines DA 5 Lr#1, DA 7 Lr#1 and DALr.7 resistant to FHB were used to develop wheat- L.racemosus translocation lines through irradiation and gametocidal gene-induced chromosome breakage. A total of nine wheat-alien translocation lines with wheat scab resistance were identified by chromosome C-banding, GISH, telosomic pairing and RFLP analyses. In line NAU 614, the long arm of 5 Lr#1 was translocated to wheat chromosome 6B. Four lines, NAU 601, NAU 615, NAU 617, and NAU 635, had a part of the short arm of 7 Lr#1 transferred to different wheat chromosomes. Four other lines, NAU 611, NAU 634, NAU 633, and NAU 618, contained translocations involving Leymus chromosome Lr.7 and different wheat chromosomes. The resistance level of the translocation lines with a single alien chromosome segment was higher than the susceptible wheat parent Chinese Spring but lower than the alien resistant parent L. racemosus. At least three resistance genes in L. racemosus were identified. One was located on chromosome Lr.7, and two could be assigned to the long arm of 5 Lr#1 and the short arm of 7 Lr#1.
    Theoretical and Applied Genetics 10/2005; 111(5):941-8. · 3.30 Impact Factor
  • Article: Origin, structure, and behavior of a highly rearranged deletion chromosome 1BS-4 in wheat.
    Lili Qi, Bernd Friebe, Bikram S Gill
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    ABSTRACT: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) deletion (del) stocks are valuable tools for the physical mapping of molecular markers and genes to chromosome bins delineated by 2 adjacent deletion breakpoints. The wheat deletion stocks were produced by using gametocidal genes derived from related Aegilops species. Here, we report on the origin, structure, and behavior of a highly rearranged chromosome 1BS-4. The cytogenetic and molecular marker analyses suggest that 1BS-4 resulted from 2 breakpoints in the 1BS arm and 1 breakpoint in the 1BL arm. The distal segment from 1BS, except for a small deleted part, is translocated to the long arm. Cytologically, chromosome 1BS-4 is highly stable, but shows a unique meiotic pairing behavior. The short arm of 1BS-4 fails to pair with a normal 1BS arm because of lack of homology at the distal ends. The long arm of 1BS-4 only pairs with a normal 1BS arm within the distal region translocated from 1BS. Therefore, using the 1BS-4 deletion stock for physical mapping will result in the false allocation of molecular markers and genes proximal to the breakpoint of 1BS-4.
    Genome 09/2005; 48(4):591-7. · 1.65 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 1992–2013
    • Kansas State University
      • Department of Plant Pathology
      Manhattan, KS, USA
  • 2010
    • United States Department of Agriculture
      Fort Collins, CO, USA
  • 2002–2006
    • University of Jammu
      Jammu, Kashmir, India
  • 2005
    • Nanjing Agricultural University
      • National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement
      Nanjing, Jiangsu Sheng, China