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The evolution of 2 tandemly repeated sequences Spelt1 and Spelt52 was studied in Triticum species representing 2 evolutionary lineages of wheat and in Aegilops sect. Sitopsis, putative donors of their B/G genomes. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization we observed considerable polymorphisms in the hybridization patterns of Spelt1 and Spelt52 repeats between and within Triticum and Aegilops species. Between 2 and 28 subtelomeric sites of Spelt1 probe were detected in Ae. speltoidies, depending on accession. From 8 to 12 Spelt1 subtelomeric sites were observed in species of Timopheevi group (GAt genome), whereas the number of signals in emmer/aestivum accessions was significantly less (from 0 to 6). Hybridization patterns of Spelt52 in Ae. speltoides, Ae. longissima, and Ae. sharonensis were species specific. Subtelomeric sites of Spelt52 repeat were detected only in T. araraticum (T. timopheevii), and their number and chromosomal location varied between accessions. Superimposing copy number data onto our phylogenetic scheme constructed from RAPD data suggests 2 major independent amplifications of Spelt52 and 1 of Spelt1 repeats in Aegilops divergence. It is likely that the Spelt1 amplification took place in the ancient Ae. speltoides before the divergence of polyploid wheats. The Spelt52 repeat was probably amplified in the lineage of Ae. speltoides prior to divergence of the allopolyploid T. timopheevii but after the divergence of T. durum. In a separate amplification event, Spelt52 copy number expanded in the common ancestor of Ae. longissima and Ae. sharonensis.

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Deschampsia antarctica Desv. (Poaceae) (2n = 26) is one of the two vascular plants adapted to the harshest environment of the Antarctic. Although the species is a valuable model for study of environmental stress tolerance in plants, its karyotype is still poorly investigated. We firstly conducted a comprehensive molecular cytogenetic analysis of D. antarctica collected on four islands of the Maritime Antarctic. D. antarctica karyotypes were studied by Giemsa C- and DAPI/C-banding, Ag-NOR staining, multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridization with repeated DNA probes (pTa71, pTa794, telomere repeats, pSc119.2, pAs1) and the GAA simple sequence repeat probe. We also performed sequential rapid in situ hybridization with genomic DNA of D. caespitosa. Two chromosome pairs bearing transcriptionally active 45S rDNA loci and five pairs with 5S rDNA sites were detected. A weak intercalary site of telomere repeats was revealed on the largest chromosome in addition to telomere hybridization signals at terminal positions. This fact confirms indirectly the hypothesis that chromosome fusion might have been the cause of the unusual for cereals chromosome number in this species. Based on patterns of distribution of the examined molecular cytogenetic markers, all chromosomes in karyotypes were identified, and chromosome idiograms of D. antarctica were constructed. B chromosomes were found in most karyotypes of plants from Darboux Island. A mixoploid plant with mainly triploid cells bearing a Robertsonian rearrangement was detected among typical diploid specimens from Great Jalour Island. The karyotype variability found in D. antarctica is probably an expression of genome instability induced by environmental stress factors. The differences in C-banding patterns and in chromosome distribution of rDNA loci as well as homologous highly repeated DNA sequences detected between genomes of D. antarctica and its related species D. caespitosa indicate that genome reorganization involving coding and noncoding repeated DNA sequences had occurred during the divergence of these species.

The genus Deschampsia P. Beauv (Poaceae) involves a group of widespread polymorphic species. Some of them are highly tolerant to stressful and variable environmental conditions, and D. antarctica is one of the only two vascular plants growing in Antarctic. This species is a source of useful for selection traits and a valuable model for studying an environmental stress tolerance in plants. Genome diversity and comparative chromosomal phylogeny within the genus have not been studied yet as karyotypes of most Deschampsia species are poorly investigated. We firstly conducted a comparative molecular cytogenetic analysis of D. antarctica (Antarctic Peninsula) and related species from various localities (D. cespitosa, D. danthonioides, D. elongata, D. flexuosa (= Avenella flexuosa), D. parvula and D. sukatschewii by fluorescence in situ hybridization with 45S and 5S rDNA, DAPI-banding and sequential rapid in situ hybridization with genomic DNA of D. antarctica, D. cespitosa, and D. flexuosa. Based on patterns of distribution of the examined markers, chromosomes of the studied species were identified. Within these species, common features as well as species peculiarities in their karyotypic structure and chromosomal distribution of molecular cytogenetic markers were characterized. Different chromosomal rearrangements were detected in D. antarctica, D. flexuosa, D. elongata and D. sukatschewii. In karyotypes of D. antarctica, D. cespitosa, D. elongata and D. sukatschewii, 0–3 B chromosomes possessed distinct DAPI-bands were observed. Our findings suggest that the genome evolution of the genus Deschampsia involved polyploidy and also different chromosomal rearrangements. The obtained results will help clarify the relationships within the genus Deschampsia, and can be a basis for the further genetic and biotechnological studies as well as for selection of plants tolerant to extreme habitats.