Peterhof collection of rye and its use in genetic studies

The article provides information about the history and methods of development of “Peterhof” rye genetic collection, founded by V.S. Fedorov, Associate Professor of the Leningrad University. Isolation of self-compatible mutants, their crosses with self-incompatible rye plants, and subsequent self-pollination of hybrids allowed to reveal the allele diversity in heterogeneous and heterozygous rye varieties. In the course of genetic collection assembly the study of inheritance of qualitative and quantitative morphological traits, genetic control of self-compatibility, genetics of meiosis, genetics of interspecific incompatibility was performed. The corresponding genes were identified and, in most cases, mapped using isozymes and molecular markers. Fundamental research was introduced into practical breeding. Under the direction of V. S. Fedorov, and V. G. Smirnov the first in Russia tetraploid rye variety Leningradskaja Tetra was produced. Currently, based on the study of the genetics of self-fertility, the initial material is being obtained and used for improving rye population varieties. The possibility of using the genetic collection of rye to solve the fundamental problems of plant genetics is discussed.

Correlated evolution of self and interspecific incompatibility across the range of a Texas wildflower

Plant species have repeatedly evolved recognition systems between pollen and pistils that identify and reject inappropriate matings. Two of the most important systems recognize self-pollen and interspecific pollen. Outstanding questions are whether and how these two recognition systems are linked and if this association could constrain the evolution of mate choice. Our study characterizes variation in self and interspecific incompatibility in the native range of the Texas wildflower Phlox drummondii. We found quantitative variation in self-incompatibility and demonstrate that this variation is significantly correlated with variation in incompatibility with its close congener P. cuspidata. Furthermore, we find strong evidence that self and interspecific incompatibility involve common mechanisms of pollen adhesion or early pollen-tube germination. Finally, we show that P. drummondii populations that co-occur and hybridize with P. cuspidata have significantly higher interspecific incompatibility and self-incompatibility than isolated P. drummondii populations. This geographic variation suggests that the evolution of self-compatibility is constrained by selection favoring interspecific incompatibility to reduce maladaptive hybridization. To our knowledge this is the strongest evidence that a correlation between variation in self and interspecific incompatibilities could influence the evolution of pollen recognition across the range of a species.

Hybridization of cultivated lentil Lens culinaris Medik. and wild species Lens tomentosus Ladizinsky

Cultivated lentil L. culinaris was crossed to the wild species L. tomentosus ILWL90 and ILWL120. An ovule rescue technique was used to overcome interspecific incompatibility. Out of 296 hybrid ovules being planted in vitro 27 explants began to grow and three hybrids were recovered. A hybrid between L. culinaris and L. tomentosus accession ILWL90 was obtained by means of ovule recovery only. F₁ plant and next generations of the hybrid were either sterile or partly fertile. Hybridization with L. tomentosus accession ILWL120 was achieved by ovule culture as well as in a usual way i.e. without ovule culture. Seed progenies of these hybrids were fertile in both cases. Breeding lines recombinant in flower, seed coat and cotyledon coloring were developed as a result of multiple regular selection for highly productive plants in F₂–F₇ (L. culinaris × L. tomentosus ILWL120).