Abstract Plant RNases T2 are involved in several physiological and developmental processes, including inorganic phosphate starvation, senescence, wounding, defense against pathogens, and the self-incompatibility system. Solanaceae RNases form three main clades, one composed exclusively of S-RNases and two that include S-like RNases. We identified several positively selected amino acids located in highly flexible regions of these molecules, mainly close to the B1 and B2 substrate-binding sites in S-like RNases and the hypervariable regions of S-RNases. These differences between S- and S-like RNases in the flexibility of amino acids in substrate-binding regions are essential to understand the RNA-binding process. For example, in the S-like RNase NT, two positively selected amino acid residues (Tyr156 and Asn134) are located at the most flexible sites on the molecular surface. RNase NT is induced in response to tobacco mosaic virus infection; these sites may thus be regions of interaction with pathogen proteins or viral RNA. Differential selective pressures acting on plant ribonucleases have increased amino acid variability and, consequently, structural differences within and among S-like RNases and S-RNases that seem to be essential for these proteins play different functions.

Abstract O-methyltransferases (OMTs) are a group of enzymes involved in several fundamental biological processes in plants, including lignin biosynthesis, pigmentation, and aroma production. Despite the intensive investigation of the role of OMTs in plant secondary metabolism, the evolution and diversification of this gene family in Solanaceae remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted a genome-wide survey of OMT genes in six Solanaceae species, reconstructing gene phylogenetic trees, predicting the potential involvement in biological processes, and investigating the exon/intron structure and chromosomal location. We identified 57 caffeoyl-CoA OMTs (CCoAOMTs) and 196 caffeic acid OMTs (COMTs) in the studied species. We observed a conserved gene block on chromosome 2 that consisted of tandem duplicated copies of OMT genes. Our results suggest that the expansion of the OMT gene family in Solanaceae was driven by whole genome duplication, segmental duplication, and tandem duplication, with multiple genes being retained by neofunctionalization and subfunctionalization. This study represents an essential first step in unraveling the evolutionary history of OMTs in Solanaceae. Our findings deepen our understanding of the crucial role of OMTs in several biological processes and highlight their significance as potential biotechnological targets.

Abstract Developmental genes are believed to contribute to major changes during plant evolution, from infrageneric to higher levels. Due to their putative high sequence conservation, developmental genes are rarely used as molecular markers, and few studies including these sequences at low taxonomic levels exist. WUSCHEL-related homeobox genes (WOX) are transcription factors exclusively present in plants and are involved in developmental processes. In this study, we characterized the infrageneric genetic variation of Petunia WOX genes. We obtained phylogenetic relationships consistent with other phylogenies based on nuclear markers, but with higher statistical support, resolution in terminals, and compatibility with flower morphological changes.

Abstract Non-indigenous plants exhibit different attributes that make them aggressive competitors with indigenous plants and serious threats to biodiversity.Senecio madagascariensis (fireweed, Asteraceae), a native from southern Africa, is a strong competitor in agricultural activities and has toxic alkaloids that may result in high cattle mortality. In Brazil, this weed was collected for the first time in 1995 and has since spread quickly throughout the Pampas region. To better understand the invasion of the fireweed in South America, we used a genetic characterization with internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and microsatellite markers. Based on the ITS data, the southern Brazil populations of S. madagascariensis shared genetic homology with samples taken from the Hawaiian Islands and South Africa. Microsatellite analysis showed the genetic diversity split in two clusters, perhaps intimating the independent introduction of each species into South America. Although fireweed was introduced recently in southern Brazil, the considerable levels of genetic diversity, gene flow, and inbreeding may indicate success in the species establishment in this environment.

Passiflora subg. Decaloba supersect. Decaloba sect. Xerogona (Passifloraceae) is a tropical and subtropical group comprising 14 species that occur in tropical biomes throughout Latin America, including the Atlantic Forest. The section Xerogona comprises herbaceous vines characterized by a lack of petiole glands on their leaves, of bracts and of ocelli on their leaf blades, as well as by their capsular fruits. We analyzed the phylogeny on the basis of morphological characters (including pollen characters) and molecular data. The inferred phylogeny was used in order to characterize, circumscribe and delimit the section and the species. We examined the phylogenetic relationships among the species, evaluating the circumscription of the section on the basis of the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer region of chloroplast DNA and the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA. We constructed phylogenetic trees on the basis of the morphological and molecular data. We found that P. subg. Decaloba supersect. Decaloba sect. Xerogona appears to be monophyletic only in the molecular analyses. The phylogenetic analyses performed here also indicated that P. subg. Decaloba is monophyletic.

A total of 149 chickens from two different sources (one non-commercial, the other commercial) was tested for variability of the LEI0258 microsatellite. Fifty- three genotypes, explainable by 15 alleles, were found. There are clear allele and heterozygosity differences between the two samples. One of them was simultaneously studied for the MHC B-F haplotypes. Strong genetic disequilibrium was observed between the variants of the two systems, therefore providing a cheap alternative for MHC genotyping.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar o germoplasma de tangerineiras (Citrus spp.) por meio de análises morfológicas e moleculares. Trinta e sete cultivares, pertencentes a 34 variedades distintas de tangerineiras, foram avaliadas pelas características morfológicas e agronômicas de folhas, flores e frutos, bem como por análises de microssatélites. As características morfológicas e agronômicas sugerem que praticamente todas as variedades podem ser usadas comercialmente e algumas delas, como a variedade Satsuma, são recomendadas para uso em cruzamentos dirigidos. O DNA foi obtido de amostras extraídas de uma a cinco plantas de cada cultivar. Oito de nove primers detectaram polimorfismos. Foram encontrados marcadores específicos para alguns acessos. O dendrograma construído com os resultados morfológicos dividiu as 37 cultivares em quatro grupos, enquanto o obtido com os microssatélites agrupou 35 das 37 cultivares em três grupos. As diferenças intervarietais não são grandes, e esta falta de concordância nas duas análises multivariadas indica que fatores evolutivos diversos estão agindo nesses dois níveis de investigação.

The objective of this work was to characterize mandarin (Citrus spp.) germplasm from Southern Brazil by morphological and molecular analyses. Thirty seven cultivars from 34 distinct mandarin varieties were evaluated by morphological and agronomic traits of leaves, flowers and fruits, and by microsatellite markers. The morphological and agronomic characteristics suggested that almost all varieties can be produced for commercial use, and some, as the Satsuma variety, are recommended for breeding programs. Pooled DNA samples from 1-5 plants belonging to each cultivar were tested. Eight of the nine primers detected polymorphisms. Specific markers were found for some accessions. The dendrogram constructed with the morphological results divided the 37 cultivars into four groups, while that obtained with the microsatellites clustered 35 of the 37 cultivars into three groups only. Generally, intervarietal differences are not high, and this lack of agreement in the two multifactorial analyses indicates that diverse evolutionary factors are acting at these two levels of investigation.

Folhas de 14 genótipos brasileiros de Triticum aestivum L. foram tratadas com ácido salicílico para a indução de proteínas relacionadas à patogênese (PR). Extratos inter e intracelulares foram assim obtidos e estudados através de eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida. Sete bandas foram observadas, sendo que o material referente a duas delas (de 40 e 24 kDa) foi detectado somente nos espaços intracelulares. O DNA desses mesmos genótipos foi então amplificado através de PCR, usando iniciadores desenvolvidos a partir de três seqüências que codificam proteínas PR, e comparados com seqüências previamente descritas. Eles apresentaram homologia com os grupos PR 1, PR 3 (quitinases) e PR 5 (semelhante à taumatina), sendo que a seqüência do grupo PR 3 apresentou também um sítio característico de PRs induzidas pelo etileno e uma porção sem homologia com seqüências prévias. Não foi observada qualquer variação entre genótipos, seja nos extratos protéicos ou nas seqüências de DNA.

Leaves from 14 Brazilian genotypes of Triticum aestivum L. were treated with salicylic acid to induce pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins. Inter and intracellular extracts were then obtained and investigated through polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis. Seven bands were observed. Material related to two of them (of 40 and 24 kDa) occurred in intracellular spaces only. DNA from these same genotypes was then amplified through PCR using primers developed from three sequences encoding PR proteins, and compared with previously described sequences. The fragments presented homologies to PR groups 1, 3 (chitinases), and 5 (thaumatin-like). The PR3-like sequence also showed a site characteristic of PRs induced by ethylene and a portion without homology with previous sequences. No variation among genotypes were observed, either for protein extracts or DNA sequences.

Marcadores de RAPD (Random amplified polymorphic DNA) foram utilizados para estimar o grau de variabilidade genética entre 14 genótipos de trigo (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivados no Brasil, usando um conjunto de 50 "primers" aleatórios de 10 pares de bases (pb). Um total de 256 fragmentos de amplificação foram obtidos de 48 dos "primers" analisados. Destes, 83% eram polimórficos. Foram estimadas as distâncias genéticas entre os genótipos e a análise de um dendrograma e das coordenadas principais mostraram as relações genéticas entre eles. A despeito do baixo índice de variabilidade genética observado entre os genótipos (distância genética média de 27%), estes puderam ser reunidos em dois grupos, provavelmente relacionados à sua ancestralidade. Estudos como este podem ser importantes no planejamento e desenvolvimento de programas futuros para melhoramento desta espécie de planta.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA markers (RAPD) were used to estimate the variability of 14 genotypes of Brazilian wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), using a set of 50 random 10mer primers. A total of 256 reproducibly scorable DNA amplification products were obtained from 48 of the primers, 83% of which were polymorphic. Genetic distances among genotypes were calculated and a dendrogram and a principal coordinates analysis showing the genetic relationships among them were obtained. Despite the low variability found (average genetic distance of 27%), two groups of genotypes could be identified, which probably reflect how they were formed. Studies such as this one may be important in the planning and development of future improvement programs for this plant species.