Triticale Plants Research Articles

The ploidy level of triticale plant regenerants, obtained by in vitro selection for resistance to abiotic stresses

Aim. To analyze the ploidy level of plant regenerants of winter triticale, obtained by in vitro selection for resistance to osmotic and salt stresses. Methods. By cytological analysis and flow cytometry methods there was determined the ploidy level in the plant regenerants of winter triticale obtained by in vitro selection for resistance to abiotic stresses. Results. The somaclonal variability of plant regenerants of winter triticale resistant to osmotic and salt stresses by ploidy level was observed. The cytological instability of resistant’s regenerants was revealed that was due in appearance of aneuploidy plants. Plants with aneuploid chromosome set (38–41) were characterized by reduced viability and abnormal generative organs resulting they are not formed normal ears and not received seeds. Conclusions. Among the obtained regenerants euploids were in most cases indicating a selective advantage of hexaploid cells in ability to morphogenesis. Keywords: Triticale, plant regenerants, cytological analysis, aneuploids, abiotic stresses.

Polyamines and amino acids in triticale plants grown on humic acids enriched nutrient solution and treated with UV-B irradiation

The effects of UV-B irradiation and Biomin (a natural substance extracted from coal with active ingredients of humic acids) on the content of endogenous polyamines spermine, spermidine and putrescine, and free amino acids in shoots and roots of young triticale seedlings were investigated. Biomin was added to the nutrient medium 3 days prior to UV-B irradiation. The seedlings were treated with 7.7 kJ m−2 day−1 UV-B light for 4 days. The exposure to UV-B increased total free amino acids, while Biomin application alone did not affect considerably their content. The treatment with UV-B or Biomin alone provoked augmentation of conjugated and bound polyamine (PA) fractions. Data suggest that Biomin alleviates the negative consequences of UV-B stress, manifested by the normalized amino acid and polyamine amounts in the UV-B + Biomin-treated plants. This study demonstrates the protective effect of Biomin on triticale plants against UV-B irradiation, which could be related to alterations in PAs and amino acids pools.

Differences for traits associated with early N acquisition in a grain legume and early complementarity in grain legume-triticale mixtures.

Early strategies of crop growth and N acquisition can be critical for determining competitive interactions between weeds and crops. Grain legumes and especially lupins are known to be poor competitors against weeds. Grain legumes are known to have low mineral soil N uptake abilities. However, inter- and intraspecific differences in N uptake ability in relation to below-ground traits have received little attention. Our objectives were (i) to measure differences among lupins for a set of traits associated with early growth and N acquisition; (ii) to examine how this variation compares to differences between lupin and a cereal, triticale, and (iii) to assess if mixing lupin with triticale provides a higher potential than does pure lupin regarding plant biomass and mineral soil N acquisition early in the crop cycle. Lupin (12 genotypes) and triticale plants were grown separately and in mixed species pairs in a replacement design for 1 and 2 months in three rhizotron experiments. Shoot and root biomass, root length, root expansion dynamics, N2 fixation and mineral soil N uptake were measured. Differences among lupin species and genotypes regarding traits related to early growth and to mineral soil N uptake were observed, but all lupins demonstrated slow early growth and low ability to absorb mineral soil N compared to triticale. In lupin-triticale mixture, a contrast in early growth strategies between species induced a higher total soil mineral N uptake compared with pure lupin. Complementarity between lupin and triticale persisted during the second month, when interactions began. This complementarity may allow for reduced competition between species, favouring higher triticale biomass production than in pure triticale, without compromising lupin growth.

Salt tolerance in triticale plants R1 obtained from cell selection

Salt tolerance in triticale plants R1 obtained from cell selection

Effects of urea nitrogen and residual composted municipal waste and sheep manure on the growth and chemical composition of two triticale genotypes

ABSTRACTIn 2012, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of field soil (C0), residual composted municipal waste (CMW), and residual composted sheep manure (SM) on the growth of triticale in pots previously growing oilseed rape in 2011. To each soil group, one of three levels of urea nitrogen (N) fertilizer was added. Results demonstrated that triticale grown in pots previously containing oilseed rape plants containing SM or CMW with 150 kg urea N ha−1 had the highest N content. Plants grown in SM with 150 kg N ha−1 had the greatest seed yield, but yield was not significantly different from plants grown in CMW receiving 150 kg N ha−1. Triticale plants enriched by either SM or CMW had a higher amount of N, copper, zinc, and manganese compared to the field soil control.

The influence of climatic conditions changes on grain yield in Winter Triticale (X Triticosecale Wittm.)

The aim of this paper is making out the influence of climatic changes on grain yield of winter triticale in relation with applied fertilizer. The influence of environmental conditions on growing and development of triticale plants depends of grow stages and their duration. During five experimental years (2010-2015) the climatic conditions were different year to year, with an accentuated heating trend, influencing plant phenology, accelerating or slowing down some important processes disturbing grain yield formation. The influence of drought is more accentuated by heating stress and prolonging of these conditions during the main phenological processes have a negative influence on plant growth or development with effect on the grain yield formation process.

Effects of climatic changes upon the variability of some productivity characters in winter triticale (X Triticosecale Wittm.)

The global acceleration warm conditions determine an additional stress for plant growth and development stages with a high impact on plant grain yield performances. During five experimental years the climatic conditions varied quite a lot so that the main productivity elements: the number of grains/spike, weight of grains per spike and number of spikes per square meter had different values which influencing final grain yield. Analyzing the relationship between rainfall/temperature and grain yield, including its components, can be observed a strong relation between those especially in the first growth stages (from plant emergence and vegetative restarting in early spring). Climatic conditions have manifested an important influence also in the last phenophases of winter triticale plant with a negative influence on grain yield. Being a process of long duration, grain yield formation is strongly affected by temperature (r=0.89) and rainfall conditions (r=0.45).

Tetrabutylphosphonium Bromide Reduces Size and Polydispersity Index of Tat2:siRNA Nano-Complexes for Triticale RNAi.

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are short 8–30 amino-acid oligopeptides that act as effective transducers of macromolecular cargo, particularly nucleic acids. They have been implemented in delivering dsDNA, ssDNA, and dsRNA into animal and plant cells. CPPs and nucleic acids form nano-complexes that are often 100–300 nm in size but still effectively transit the cell membrane of animal cells, but are less effective with plant cells due to the plant cell wall. To overcome this obstacle, nano-complexes of the CPP Tat2 and various lengths of nucleic acid (21-mer siRNA duplex (dsRNA) to ~5.5 kb circular plasmid) were evaluated for size using dynamic light scattering (DLS), under conditions of increasing ionic strength (Ic) and addition of phase transfer catalyst salts (tetrabutylammonium bromide-TBAB and tetrabutylphosphonium bromide-TBPB) and sugars (maltose-mannitol solution). It was found that the combination of 21-mer siRNA:Tat2 complexes with TBPB produced small 10–20 nm diameter nano-complexes with a polydispersity index (PDI) of ~0.1. Furthermore, it was found that for each length of nucleic acid that a linear mathematical relationship existed between the theoretical volume of the nano-complex and the nucleic acid length. Next, nano-complex formulation was tested for its ability to carry small interfering RNA molecules into plant cells and to trigger silencing of phytoene desaturase (PDS) in Triticale leaves. RT-qPCR showed 75% suppression of PDS, demonstrating that TBPB acts as an adjuvant in effecting the entry and efficacy of siRNA in young Triticale plants.

The heavy metal ions (Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd+) toxic compounds influence on triticale plants growth

The presence of the heavy metals toxic compounds (CuSO4 · 5H2O, ZnSO4 · 7H2O and 3CdSO4·8H2O) in water and soil can be observed by their negative effects on the germination and growth process for different vegetable (barley, oat, maize) who are used for human and animal consumption. This paper it aims the determination of germination and growth inhibition negative effects for triticale plants in the heavy metals ions presence by ecotoxicological laboratory tests. The triticale plants was chosen for their different characteristics to the other grasses respectively: a very good resistance for a wide range of diseases, an accelerated growth and a very good tolerance for aluminum ions presents in acid soils. The determinations were conducted step by step, first, we put the triticale grains in contact with the heavy metal solutions with different concentration then for 3 days we noticed the triticale germination inhibition effects and finally we noticed the growth inhibition process for triticale plants respectively in 7th and 9th day from the start of the experiment. At the end of the tests we can conclude that the triticale roots have a very great sensibility to a CuSO4 solutions compared to the effects for their stalks. A positive effect for triticale stalks we can see for low CuSO4 solution concentrations thus for 5 mg Cu/l the growth is 19,44%. A positive effect for triticale roots it can see for low ZnSO4 solution concentrations so for 5 – 15 mg Zn/l the growth is 24,4%. In the presence of the CdSO4 solution all the processes are inhibited (germination and growth for triticale plants) even for a low concentrations for this toxic.

Diseases of leaves in triticale and spelt in Ukrainian Polissia

There were studied the peculiarities of fungal diseases of triticale and spelt in the conditions of Ukrainian Polissia. It was found that Septoria leaf blotch and powdery mildew have a dominant role in the pathogenic complex of both cultures as their relative shares are 34.0 and 23.0% respectively in the complex of triticale leaf mycoses, and 52.0 and 36.0% respectively in the complex of spelt leaf mycoses. It was noted that such diseases as tan spot, brown leaf rust and snow mold rarely occurred on winter triticale plants, and such diseases as ascochyta leaf blight, spot blotch and Fusarium disease were episodic in nature. Development of tan spot and spot blotch on spelt plants had non-systematic character. It was established that on spelt wheat level of disease severity is lower and number of pathogens is less

Gametocidal Factor Transferred from Aegilops geniculata Roth Can Be Adapted for Large-Scale Chromosome Manipulations in Cereals.

Segregation distorters are curious, evolutionarily selfish genetic elements, which distort Mendelian segregation in their favor at the expense of others. Those agents include gametocidal factors (Gc), which ensure their preferential transmission by triggering damages in cells lacking them via chromosome break induction. Hence, we hypothesized that the gametocidal system can be adapted for chromosome manipulations between Triticum and Secale chromosomes in hexaploid triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack). In this work we studied the little-known gametocidal action of a Gc factor located on Aegilops geniculata Roth chromosome 4Mg. Our results indicate that the initiation of the gametocidal action takes place at anaphase II of meiosis of pollen mother cells. Hence, we induced androgenesis at postmeiotic pollen divisions (via anther cultures) in monosomic 4Mg addition plants of hexaploid triticale (AABBRR) followed by production of doubled haploids, to maintain the chromosome aberrations caused by the gametocidal action. This approach enabled us to obtain a large number of plants with two copies of particular chromosome translocations, which were identified by the use of cytomolecular methods. We obtained 41 doubled haploid triticale lines and 17 of them carried chromosome aberrations that included plants with the following chromosome sets: 40T+Dt2RS+Dt2RL (5 lines), 40T+N2R (1), 38T+D4RS.4BL (3), 38T+D5BS-5BL.5RL (5), and 38T+D7RS.3AL (3). The results show that the application of the Gc mechanism in combination with production of doubled haploid lines provides a sufficiently large population of homozygous doubled haploid individuals with two identical copies of translocation chromosomes. In our opinion, this approach will be a valuable tool for the production of novel plant material, which could be used for gene tracking studies, genetic mapping, and finally to enhance the diversity of cereals.

Artificial MicroRNA-Based Specific Gene Silencing of Grain Hardness Genes in Polyploid Cereals Appeared to Be Not Stable Over Transgenic Plant Generations.

Gene silencing by RNA interference is a particularly important tool in the study of gene function in polyploid cereal species for which the collections of natural or induced mutants are very limited. Previously we have been testing small interfering RNA-based approach of gene silencing in wheat and triticale. In this research, artificial microRNAs (amiRs) were studied in the same species and the same target genes to compare effectiveness of both gene silencing pathways. amiR cassettes were designed to silence Puroindoline a (Pina) and Puroindoline b (Pinb) hardness genes in wheat and their orthologues Secaloindoline a (Sina) and Secaloindoline b (Sinb) genes in triticale. Each of the two cassettes contained 21 nt microRNA (miR) precursor derived from conserved regions of Pina/Sina or Pinb/Sinb genes, respectively. Transgenic plants were obtained with high efficiency in two cultivars of wheat and one cultivar of triticale after using the Pinb-derived amiR vector for silencing of Pinb or Sinb, respectively. Lack of transgenic plants in wheat or very low transformation efficiency in triticale was observed using the Pina-derived amiR cassette, despite large numbers of embryos attempted. Silencing of Pinb in wheat and Sinb in triticale was highly efficient in the T1 generation. The transcript level of Pinb in wheat was reduced up to 92% and Sinb in triticale was reduced up to 98%. Moreover, intended silencing of Pinb/Sinb with Pinb-derived amiR cassette was highly correlated with simultaneous silencing of Pina/Sina in the same transgenic plants. High downregulation of Pinb/Pina genes in T1 plants of wheat and Sinb/Sina genes in T1 plants of triticale was associated with strong expression of Pinb-derived amiR. Silencing of the target genes correlated with increased grain hardness in both species. Total protein content in the grains of transgenic wheat was significantly lower. Although, the Pinb-derived amiR cassette was stably inherited in the T2 generation of wheat and triticale the silencing effect including strongly decreased expression of silenced genes as well as strong expression of Pinb-derived amiR was not transmitted. Advantages and disadvantages of posttranscriptional silencing of target genes by means of amiR and siRNA-based approaches in polyploid cereals are discussed.

QTLs for cell wall-bound phenolics in relation to the photosynthetic apparatus activity and leaf water status under drought stress at different growth stages of triticale

The present study aimed at identifying the regions of triticale genome responsible for cell wall saturation with phenolic compounds under drought stress during vegetative and generative growth. Moreover, the loci determining the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus, leaf water content (LWC) and osmotic potential (Ψ o) were identified, as leaf hydration and functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus under drought are associated with the content of cell wall-bound phenolics (CWPh). Compared with LWC and Ψ o, CWPh fluctuations were more strongly associated with changes in chlorophyll fluorescence. At the vegetative stage, CWPh fluctuations were due to the activity of three loci, of which only QCWPh.4B was also related to changes in F v/F m and ABS/CSm. In the other QTLs (QCWPh.6R.2 and QCWPh.6R.3), the genes of these loci determined also the changes in majority of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. At the generative stage, the changes in CWPh in loci QCWPh.4B, QCWPh.3R and QCWPh.6R.1 corresponded to those in DIo/CSm. The locus QCWPh.6R.3, active at V stage, controlled majority of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. This is the first study on mapping quantitative traits in triticale plants exposed to drought at different stages of development, and the first to present the loci for cell wall-bound phenolics.

EFFECT OF CADMIUM AND LEAD IONS ON THE GROWTH AND CONTENT OF PROLINE IN PLANTS OF TRITICALE (Triticosecale Wittm.)

We studied the effect of CdSO4 and Pb(NO3)2 salts in 10-5M, 10-4M and 10-3M concentrations on some physiological indices of growth and development in plants of triticale (Triticosecale Wittm.) cultivar PRAG-530. It is shown that both of the metal salts inhibited germination energy and this effect increased along with salt concentration. It was found that the changes in growth rates, biomass accumulation and accumulation of proline by above- and underground organs of plants cannot be described as a monotonic dose-response dependence, but they are consistent with the paradoxical effect that an increase in the metal dose resulted in a decrease of its damaging effects, whereas a reduction of the metal dose, on the contrary, increased its damaging effect. In particular, it was found that the exposure of triticale plants for 8 days in Pb(NO3)2 solutions stimulated growth processes in terms of length and weight of the shoot and the root system. Interestingly, the toxic 10-4M lead concentration was more favorable for the seedlings than the 10-5M concentration. The response of triticale seedlings grown on CdSO4 solutions was the same, except for the salt concentration of 10-3M, when growth in shoots was inhibited and that in roots was completely suppressed. It is shown that the plants responded to stress caused by lead and cadmium metal salts with substantial accumulation of proline in leaves and roots, and the compound had the protective function. These results indicate that triticale plants are resistant to heavy metals, lead and cadmium, and that cadmium is more toxic to them than lead.

Influence of lead in the sorption of arsenate by municipal solid waste composts: metal(loid) retention, desorption and phytotoxicity

The ability of two municipal solid waste composts (MSW-C) to sorb As(V) in the presence of Pb(II) and in acidic conditions was investigated. Sorption isotherms and kinetics showed that both MSW-C were able to sorb As(V) in a similar way (∼0.24mmolg−1 MSW-C), but only when Pb(II) was present (0.45mmolL−1). The concomitant sorption of Pb(II) by both MSW-C (∼0.40mmolg−1) suggested that the metal cation was likely acting as bridging element between the negatively charged functional groups of composts and As(V). SEM-EDX analysis of the MSW-C+Pb(II)+As(V) systems supported the association between Pb(II) and As(V), while sequential extraction procedures and organic acids treatment showed that As(V) was strongly retained by MSW-C+Pb(II) and suggested the presence of different interaction types between As(V) and Pb(II). Plant growth experiments highlighted the key role of Pb(II) in the reduction of As(V)-phytotoxicity for triticale plants (×Triticosecale Wittm.) in the presence of MSW-C.

Effect of epicuticular waxes from triticale on the feeding behaviour and mortality of the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

AbstractSurface waxes from wax-covered triticale plants (RAH 122) were sprayed on plants of the waxless genotype RAH 366 or the surface waxes were used to make artificial diet preparations. The results were significant increases in the mortality of apterous adults of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) at all concentrations tested in comparison with those aphids which fed on the control plants or aphids which were reared on the diets. In the choice tests, most aphids settled on plants without surface waxes or on diet preparations which did not have surface waxes (the controls). When the concentration of the surface waxes was increased on one of the plants or surface waxes were increased in the diet preparation, the number of wandering aphids increased. Those aphids which did not wander were mainly on the waxless control plants or on the waxless diet preparations. Aphids did settle on those plants or on the diet preparations which had 100 and 1,000 μg · g-1of surface wax. The aphids rarely settled on the diet preparations containing 10,000 μg ∙ g-1of surface waxes. From these observations it appears that surface waxes can act as a feeding deterrent. Since aphids on plants with surface waxes, or aphids which settled on diet preparations with surface waxes, started to die earlier than aphids fed only the control plants or the control diet preparations, it is possible that the surface waxes had a toxic effect that led to early mortality. Thus, it can be said that the surface waxes caused feeding deterrence and had a toxic effect on the aphids.

Detoxification Processes from Vanadate at the Root Apoplasm Activated by Caffeic and Polygalacturonic Acids.

In the root apoplasm, V(V) and V(IV) toxicity can be alleviated through redox and complexation reactions involving phenolic substances and the polyuronic components. In such context we report the role of polygalacturonic acid (PGA) on the reducing activity of caffeic acid (CAF) towards V(V). The redox reaction was particularly effective at pH 2.8 leading to the formation of oxidation products with redox activity towards V(V). An o-quinone was identified as the first product of the reaction which is further involved in the formation of CAF dimers. At pH ≥ 3.6 the redox activity decreased and a yield in V(IV) equal to 38, 31, 21 and 14% was found at pH 3.6, 4.0. 5.0 and 6.0 respectively compared with that obtained at pH 2.8. The redox reaction was faster in the presence of PGA and a higher yield of V(IV) was found in the 4.0–6.0 pH range with respect to the CAF-V(V) binary system. The higher efficiency of the redox reaction in the presence of PGA was related with the ability of PGA to bind V(IV). The biological significance of the redox reaction between CAF and V(V), as well as the role of PGA in such reaction, was established “in vivo” using triticale plants. Results showed that PGA reduced significantly the phytotoxic effects of the V(V)-CAF system.

Unveiling the cardiotoxicity of anticancer drugs: A comparative in vitro study between mitoxantrone and its naphthoquinoxaline metabolite

Climate change will affect the expected recovery of stratospheric ozone layer to pre-1980 levels and ozone depletion is still an important concern in scientific community, due to the resulting increase in UV-B (280-315 nm) radiation at the Earth's surface (WMO, 2011), with negative impacts in plants and animals (Björn, 1996; Caldwell et al., 2007; Correia et al., 2012). The aim of this work, carried out in a glasshouse, was to evaluate the influence of enhanced UV-B radiation, simulating a 20% reduction in the ozone layer over northern Portugal, on triticale (x Triticosecale Wittm.) crop. Enhanced UV-B induced reductions in plant height, total green leaf area, leaf area per leaf, total biomass, grain yield, grain number, grain weight, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance. In opposition, UV-B treated plants had higher maximum and minimum chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophylls, carotenoids, starch and UV-B absorbing compounds concentrations and intrinsic water use efficiency, indicating an active plant response to UV-B-induced stress. Meanwhile, no significant differences were detected in internodes number, total leaf number, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, leaf weight ratio, maximum quantum yield of PSII, leaf thickness, stomatal density, soluble proteins and soluble sugars concentrations. In conclusion, the sensitivity of triticale plants to a supplemental dose of UV-B radiation, based on the negative effects on growth, yield and physiological processes, may have important economic consequences in this multi-purpose crop.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: “This work was supported by national funds by FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project PEst-OE/AGR/UI4033/2014.”

First Report of Brome mosaic virus (BMV) and Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) Co-infection in Triticale Plants in Poland

First Report of <i>Brome mosaic virus</i> (BMV) and <i>Wheat streak mosaic virus</i> (WSMV) Co-infection in Triticale Plants in Poland

Analysis of wheat and rye semidwarfing gene distribution in spring hexaploid triticale (Triticosecale Wittm.) cultivars and breeding lines

A collection of spring hexaploid triticale cultivars and promising breeding lines has been examined for the presence of wheat Rht-B1b, Rht-B1e, and Rht8c semidwarfing genes and the rye Hl semidwarfing gene. It was discovered in spring triticale that these semidwarfing genes are represented by only one, the Rht-B1b wheat gene. The presence of this gene is associated with shortening of spring triticale plants by 28 cm on average, which constituted 26% of their initial height. Rht-B1b was found in all of the studied commercial cultivars of spring triticale, which rendered it possible to conclude that plant height reduction is a necessary condition for increasing the competitiveness of this crop culture.