Genome relationships in polyploid Poa pratensis and other Poa species inferred from phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequences

Genome. 2005 Feb;48(1):76-87. doi: 10.1139/g04-102.

Abstract

The genus Poa comprises approximately 500 species that occur throughout the world, including the widely grown Kentucky bluegrass (P. pratensis L.). Hybridization and polyploidization have played a prominent role in the evolution of this complex genus, but limited information is available regarding genome relationships in Poa. Thus, we amplified, cloned, and compared the DNA sequences of 2 nuclear genes (CDO504 and thioredoxin-like protein) and 2 chloroplast genome loci (ndhF and trnT-trnF) from 22 Poa species. Four distinct classes of sequences corresponding to 4 putative homoeologous loci from each nuclear gene were found within polyploid P. pratensis. Nuclear sequences from 15 other Poa species were found to group with at least 1 P. pratensis homoeolog, whereas 6 species displayed sequences not present in P. pratensis. The nuclear genome phylogenies presented here show the first evidence of diverse and related genomes in the genus Poa.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Nucleus / genetics
  • DNA, Chloroplast / genetics*
  • Genome, Plant*
  • NADH Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Phylogeny*
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Poa / classification
  • Poa / genetics*
  • Polyploidy*

Substances

  • DNA, Chloroplast
  • Plant Proteins
  • NdhF protein, plant
  • NADH Dehydrogenase