Trifolium repens L. genetic changes after UV-B radiation on the base of retrotransposon movement

Abstract

The white clover (Trifolium repens L.) has a wide distribution range of habitat – from the Arctic to the subtropics, as well as up to 6000 m high alpine regions. It is found in various areas – in the wild, in agricultural areas, and the urban environment. Retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements that can move through the genome using the “copy-paste” principle are activated when a plant is affected by a stressor. The ability to respond to environmental changes makes retrotransposons very successful functional markers for a stress study. A universal retrotransposon-based method iPBS (inter primer binding sites) which was developed by Kalendar et al. (2010) was used for the study of UV irradiation influence. It can be observed that after the treatment with UV-B radiation, the movement of retrotransposons is activated, which suggests that in this way protection against UV-B radiation is provided. It can be observed that the insertion of retrotransposons after irradiation with UV-B radiation within the same genotype takes place in the approximately same location in all the examined groups – after UV-B irradiation 15, 30, and 45 minutes.