Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Access granted  Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Vol 19, No 4 (2021)

Cover Page

Full Issue

Open Access Open Access
Restricted Access Access granted
Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Genetic basis of ecosystems evolution

A comparative analysis of genetic diversity of natural elk (Alces alces L.) populations from European Russia and Sumarokov elk farm population

Makeeva V.M., Smurov A.V., Kaledin A.P., Ostapchuk A.M., Alazneli I.D., Snegin E.A.

Abstract

AIM: The aim of the study is to compare the genetic diversity of two natural elk populations from the hunting farms in adjacent regions (Kostromskaya and Yaroslavskaya oblasts) with that of the man-made population of an elk farm.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The genetic diversity analysis was carried out using DNA-markers represented by nine microsatellite loci (169 samples).

RESULTS: The genetic diversity level in the wild populations is reliably higher than in the elk farm population: the average allele-per-locus numbers (NA) for the natural populations are 9.0 and 8.6 respectively, for the elk farm population – 5.9. All the populations studied do not differ in average heterozygosity level. The allele frequency heterogeneity test shows that all the populations differ in 6 loci and a sum of 9 loci, the natural populations differ in 5 loci, and the elk farm population differs from both the natural ones in the same 3 loci. The inbreeding coefficient for the Yaroslavskaya population (0.167) is way higher than for the Kostromskaya population (0.053), it is 0.165 for the elk farm population. With the identified gene flow (Nm = 16.7), the genetic divergence of the wild populations persists, so they do not stem from a single population.

CONCLUSIONS: The slump found in the genetic diversity of natural elk population points to the necessity of gene pool enrichment, and the high inbreeding in wild populations implies that control over gene pool is needed.

Ecological genetics. 2021;19(4):303-312
pages 303-312 views

High maize barrier prevents maize pollen transfer in mixed crops

Chumakov M.I., Gutorova O.V., Gusev Y.S.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is no scientifically-based assessment for the safety during co-cultivation of genetically modified and ordinary maize plants in Russia. The influence of the barrier from high maize plants for pollen-mediated gene flow in the 2020 field experiment (South-East of the European part of Russia, Saratov region) was evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the high (2,15–2,90 m) maize hybrids (Kaz LK 178 and ES Regain) as a barrier for pollen-madiated gene flow from pollen donor (Purple Saratovskaya) with purple grain to recipient (Bursting Corn) maize line with yellow grain.

RESULTS: The analysis of the ears of the recipient maize line showed that not a single purple grain was found on them. It was found that in the presence of a barrier zone with a width of 3–15 m (depending on the direction), crossing in recipient maize line in all directions from the donor is completely excluded.

CONCLUSIONS: It was established, for the first time, that the barrier from high maize hybrid plants completely excludes over-pollination between donor and Bursting Corn, recipient maize plants with different flowering time. In the study of barrier plants as pollen recipients, it was found that the percentage of crosses on the cob of barrier plants ranged from 0.1 to 7.1%. The number of crosses exceeding 0.9% is observed mainly in the ES Regain variety at close (1–5 m) distances from the donor, regardless of the prevailing wind direction. Based on the results of model experiments, it can be recommended to use a barrier for corn pollen from tall maize plants and maize varieties with different flowering periods to exclude uncontrolled over-pollination of maize varieties in the South-East of the European part of Russia conditions.

Ecological genetics. 2021;19(4):313-322
pages 313-322 views

Genetic toxicology

Genotoxic safety of synthetic food colours. Review

Yurchenko V.V., Ingel F.I., Akhaltseva L.V., Konyashkina M.A., Yurtseva N.A., Nikitina T.A., Krivtsova E.K.

Abstract

Food additives and food colours, in particular, are becoming more widespread in all countries. The review is devoted to a least studied problem of synthetic food colours safety assessment approved for use in the Russian Federation – to an analysis of their genotoxic effect (mechanisms, methods of determination and results of studies on various living objects). Results half-century study of the synthetic food colours genotoxicity demonstrated among studied colours there were none of them for which unambiguous research results were obtained, what allows us to conclude about the possibility of their real mutagenic and/or carcinogenic danger. It is shown that the problem of dose range selection for genotoxicity test, the associated problem of impurities control as well as approaches to test systems and selection of test objects are the key to ensure genetic/carcinogenic safety of food colours. These problems are aggravated by the fact that in the Russian Federation there is no any unified system for food colours genetic safety assessment. So, the main task of this publication is to prove an urgency of this system elaboration and to outline a group of main problems associated therewith.

Ecological genetics. 2021;19(4):323-341
pages 323-341 views

Opinions, discussions

Functions of reactive oxygen species in plant cells under normal conditions and during adaptation

Shikov A.E., Chirkova T.V., Yemelyanov V.V.

Abstract

The review considers the role of reactive oxygen species in the life of a plant cell. At the same time, attention is paid to both the negative aspects of their effect on cellular components (lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, and DNA damage) and positive functions (participation in signaling, stress response, and metabolism). The main types of reactive oxygen species and the sites of their generation in the plant cell are considered. It is concluded that reactive oxygen species, which inevitably arise in any aerobic organisms, should be considered as the most important regulator of a large number of plant processes, such as growth, development, metabolism, senescence, and stress reactions. Moreover, if the role of reactive oxygen species in signaling and under stress has been investigated in sufficient detail, the direct metabolic role has been studied relatively poorly, with the exception of lignin polymerization and softening of the cell wall, which indicates the need for further research in this area.

Ecological genetics. 2021;19(4):343-363
pages 343-363 views

Why do plants need agrobacterial genes?

Matveeva T.V.

Abstract

Agrobacterium mediated transformation in nature is the cause of the development of diseases: crown galls and hairy roots. These neoplasms are transgenic tissues on a non-transgenic plant. However, in nature, full-fledged GMOs arise, containing agrobacterial transgenes in every cell and transmitting them in a series of sexual generations. These plants are called naturally transgenic plants or natural GMOs. Over the past 3 years, the list of natural GMO species has been significantly expanded. Due to this, it became possible to make certain generalizations and more substantively discuss the possible evolutionary role of this phenomenon. The presented mini-review is devoted to the generalization of data on the possible functions of genes of agrobacterial origin in plant genomes.

Ecological genetics. 2021;19(4):365-375
pages 365-375 views


This website uses cookies

You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website.

About Cookies