Molecular diversity of the 5S rDNA units in theElymus dahuricuscomplex (Poaceae: Triticeae) supports the genomic constitution ofSt,Y, andHhaplomes

Abstract

The phylogenetic analysis of 118 5S rRNA gene sequences cloned from members of the Elymus dahuricus complex containing the St, Y, and H haplomes, and of several related species containing at least one of these three haplomes, is reported. Differences in sequence pattern, primarily within the nontranscribed spacer, enabled the identification of six putative orthologous groups that we refer to as unit classes. In previous publications, we have been able to assign unit classes to haplomes. In addition to four unit classes previously identified in other genera, namely the long H1, long S1, long P1, and long {Y1, here we document two new unit classes called the long S2 and long W1. Most sequences of the E. dahuricus complex and related tetraploid species are classified as long S1 and assigned to the St haplome. Both long S1 and long S2 unit classes were identified in the diploid Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve with the St haplome. The long S2 unit class was also identified in the hexaploid Elymus scabrus (R. Br.) Á. Löve with the St,Y,and W haplomes. The long P1 was known from the diploid Agropyron cristatum Gaertn. with the P haplome, and the long W1 was determined in Australopyrum retrofractum (Vickery) Á. Löve, known to contain the W haplome, but was not yet detected in E. scabrus, a hexaploid species with W being one of the three haplomes. The long H1 reported earlier from Hordeum was identified in several clones of the E. dahuricus complex. As previously reported, the long {Y1 unit class was found to be rare overall, but we identified it in a few clones of Elymus drobovii and in the E. dahuricus complex.Key words: 5S rDNA, unit classes, haplomes, concerted evolution.