Ioan Bacila | Institute of Biological Research, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (original) (raw)
Papers by Ioan Bacila
Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj Napoca, 2010
Primula leucophylla Pax is endemic to the Romanian Carpathians and has a very controversial taxon... more Primula leucophylla Pax is endemic to the Romanian Carpathians and has a very controversial taxonomical status, with no molecular research on its populations genetic structure and taxon identification. Based on morphological traits, many authors considered this entity as a new taxon as well as a subspecies of Primula elatior (L.) Hill. In the present study the isoenzyme pattern of four enzymes: esterase Est, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase 6-PGDH, shikimate dehydrogenase SKDH and superoxide dismutase SOD was investigated to show whether these isozymes can be useful as discriminatory taxonomic markers between P. leucophylla and the closely related species P. elatior. No genetic intra-and inter-specific variability was detected, in spite of all the morphological variations distinguished between these two taxa. The failure in the present study to detect polymorphic loci which could be applied in a possible identification and delimitation of P. leucophylla from P. elatior, does not rule out the possibility of an existing polymorphism in other isoenzymes.
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](Bacteriologia, virusologia, parazitologia, epidemiologia (Bucharest, Romania : 1990)
Although the Carpathians represent one of the main elements of the European Alpine System and an ... more Although the Carpathians represent one of the main elements of the European Alpine System and an important area of endemism, only a few phylogeographic studies concerning this region have focused on the detailed intraspecific variation in alpine plant species. Using two molecular marker systems, we (1) aimed to elucidate the controversy concerning the status of the endemic Carpathian taxon Onobrychis transsilvanica Simonk. in relation to the more widespread Onobrychis montana DC. and (2) determined the phylogeographic structure of O. transsilvanica within the Carpathians. For O. transsilvanica, our data suggest either a recent postglacial speciation with incomplete lineage sorting or genetic divergence followed by subsequent continuous gene flow during the glacial period. The genetic structure of the complex does not support O. transsilvanica as a distinct species from O. montana. Within the Carpathians, the extant populations of O. transsilvanica comprise two major allopatric lineages, which have been isolated from each other for a long period of time. Unexpectedly, the major genetic break was not in line with a classical biogeographical boundary in the Carpathians but rather separated a group from the southwestern edge of the mountains. We also discovered an additional divergent haplotype lineage, with weaker genetic support, within the O. transsilvanica populations. Résumé : Même si les Carpates représentent un des principaux éléments du système alpin européen et une zone importante d'endémisme, seules quelques études phylogénétiques concernant cette région se sont concentrées sur la variation intras-pécifique détaillée des espèces végétales alpines. Grâce a ` deux systèmes de marqueurs moléculaires, les auteurs visaient (1) a ` élucider la controverse qui concerne le statut du taxon endémique des Carpates Onobrychis transsilvanica Simonk. relativement a ` Onobrychis montana DC. le plus répandu et (2) déterminer la structure phylogéographique de O. transsilvanica a ` l'intérieur des Carpates. En ce qui concerne O. transsilvanica, les données recueillies par les auteurs suggèrent qu'une spéciation postglaciaire récente soit survenue avec un tri incomplet des lignages, ou une divergence génétique suivie d'un flux génétique continu subséquent durant la période glaciaire. La structure génétique du complexe n'appuie pas l'hypothèse que O. transsilvanica constituerait une espèce distincte de O. montana. À l'intérieur des Carpates, les populations subsistantes de O. transsilvanica comprennent deux lignages allopatriques principaux, qui ont été isolés l'un de l'autre pendant une longue période de temps. De manière inattendue, la séparation génétique principale n'était pas alignée avec une frontière biogéographique classique dans les Carpates, mais séparait plutôt un groupe de la bordure sud-ouest des montagnes. Les auteurs ont aussi découvert un haplotype supplémentaire divergent plus faiblement soutenu sur le plan génétique, a ` l'intérieur des populations de O. transsilvanica. [Traduit par la Rédaction]
Poa deylii Chartek & Jirasek is a grass taxon endemic to the SouthEastern Carpathians, which is o... more Poa deylii Chartek & Jirasek is a grass taxon endemic to the SouthEastern Carpathians, which is of unclear taxonomic status, with no molecular research on the structure of its populations. Many authors have considered, based on morphological traits, this taxon to be a valid species or a subspecies included within P. granitica Br.-Bl. In the present study we have used three molecular markers – one nuclear (ITS1) and two chloroplastic (introns trnG and trnL) – to explore the variability within the P. granitica group. No genetic difference was detected, in spite of the morphological variation that distinguishes these two taxa (P. granitica subsp. granitica and P. deylii). Other approaches, such as the AFLP technique, that address the entire genome, might be required for a better understanding of the genetic variation within this group.
Primula intricata Gren. et Godr. has an unclear taxonomic status: it was originally described as ... more Primula intricata Gren. et Godr. has an unclear taxonomic status: it was originally described as a distinct species but subsequently was considered a subspecies (Primula elatior subsp. intricata) or even a variety (P. elatior var. intricata) of Primula elatior (L.) Hill. No prior genetic studies were performed on this group of Primulaceae, therefore we considered useful to investigate taxonomies boundaries within the P. elatior-intricata group. We explored genetic differences between Primula intricata and Primula elatior group by applying three different types of molecular markers: nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS1), chloroplast DNA (spacer trnH-psbA and intron trnL) and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLP). We found a solid differentiation between P. intricata and P. elatior group, differentiation that was confirmed by all the employed molecular markers. This finding enabled us to propose a valid species rank for Primula intricata, as a separate taxon from the P. elatior group.
Maize has always been under constant human selection ever since it had been domesticated. Intensi... more Maize has always been under constant human selection ever since it had been domesticated. Intensive breeding programs that resulted in the massive use of hybrids nowadays have started in the 60s. That brought significant yield increases but reduced the genetic diversity at the same time. Consequently, breeders and researchers alike turned their attention to national germplasm collections established decades ago in many countries, as they may hold allelic variations that could prove useful for future improvements. These collections are mainly composed of inbred lines originating from well-adapted local open pollinated varieties. However, there is an overall lack of data in the literature about the genetic diversity of maize in SE Europe, and its potential for future breeding efforts. There are no data, whatsoever, on the nutritional quality of the grain, primarily dictated by the zein proteins. We therefore sought to use the Romanian maize germplasm as an entry point in understanding the molecular make-up of maize in this part of Europe. By using 80 SSR markers, evenly spread throughout the genome, on 82 inbred lines from various parts of the country, we were able to decipher population structure and the existing relationships between those and the eight international standards used, including the reference sequenced genome B73. Corroborating molecular data with a standardized morphological, physiological, and biochemical characterization of all 90 inbred lines, this is the first comprehensive such study on the existing SE European maize germplasm. The inbred lines we present here are an important addition to the ever-shrinking gene pool that the breeding programs are faced-with, because of the allelic richness they hold. They may serve as parental lines in crosses that will lead to new hybrids, characterized by a high level of heterosis, nationwide and beyond, due to their existing relationship with the international germplasm.
Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj Napoca, 2010
Primula leucophylla Pax is endemic to the Romanian Carpathians and has a very controversial taxon... more Primula leucophylla Pax is endemic to the Romanian Carpathians and has a very controversial taxonomical status, with no molecular research on its populations genetic structure and taxon identification. Based on morphological traits, many authors considered this entity as a new taxon as well as a subspecies of Primula elatior (L.) Hill. In the present study the isoenzyme pattern of four enzymes: esterase Est, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase 6-PGDH, shikimate dehydrogenase SKDH and superoxide dismutase SOD was investigated to show whether these isozymes can be useful as discriminatory taxonomic markers between P. leucophylla and the closely related species P. elatior. No genetic intra-and inter-specific variability was detected, in spite of all the morphological variations distinguished between these two taxa. The failure in the present study to detect polymorphic loci which could be applied in a possible identification and delimitation of P. leucophylla from P. elatior, does not rule out the possibility of an existing polymorphism in other isoenzymes.
Bacteriologia, virusologia, parazitologia, epidemiologia (Bucharest, Romania : 1990)
Although the Carpathians represent one of the main elements of the European Alpine System and an ... more Although the Carpathians represent one of the main elements of the European Alpine System and an important area of endemism, only a few phylogeographic studies concerning this region have focused on the detailed intraspecific variation in alpine plant species. Using two molecular marker systems, we (1) aimed to elucidate the controversy concerning the status of the endemic Carpathian taxon Onobrychis transsilvanica Simonk. in relation to the more widespread Onobrychis montana DC. and (2) determined the phylogeographic structure of O. transsilvanica within the Carpathians. For O. transsilvanica, our data suggest either a recent postglacial speciation with incomplete lineage sorting or genetic divergence followed by subsequent continuous gene flow during the glacial period. The genetic structure of the complex does not support O. transsilvanica as a distinct species from O. montana. Within the Carpathians, the extant populations of O. transsilvanica comprise two major allopatric lineages, which have been isolated from each other for a long period of time. Unexpectedly, the major genetic break was not in line with a classical biogeographical boundary in the Carpathians but rather separated a group from the southwestern edge of the mountains. We also discovered an additional divergent haplotype lineage, with weaker genetic support, within the O. transsilvanica populations. Résumé : Même si les Carpates représentent un des principaux éléments du système alpin européen et une zone importante d'endémisme, seules quelques études phylogénétiques concernant cette région se sont concentrées sur la variation intras-pécifique détaillée des espèces végétales alpines. Grâce a ` deux systèmes de marqueurs moléculaires, les auteurs visaient (1) a ` élucider la controverse qui concerne le statut du taxon endémique des Carpates Onobrychis transsilvanica Simonk. relativement a ` Onobrychis montana DC. le plus répandu et (2) déterminer la structure phylogéographique de O. transsilvanica a ` l'intérieur des Carpates. En ce qui concerne O. transsilvanica, les données recueillies par les auteurs suggèrent qu'une spéciation postglaciaire récente soit survenue avec un tri incomplet des lignages, ou une divergence génétique suivie d'un flux génétique continu subséquent durant la période glaciaire. La structure génétique du complexe n'appuie pas l'hypothèse que O. transsilvanica constituerait une espèce distincte de O. montana. À l'intérieur des Carpates, les populations subsistantes de O. transsilvanica comprennent deux lignages allopatriques principaux, qui ont été isolés l'un de l'autre pendant une longue période de temps. De manière inattendue, la séparation génétique principale n'était pas alignée avec une frontière biogéographique classique dans les Carpates, mais séparait plutôt un groupe de la bordure sud-ouest des montagnes. Les auteurs ont aussi découvert un haplotype supplémentaire divergent plus faiblement soutenu sur le plan génétique, a ` l'intérieur des populations de O. transsilvanica. [Traduit par la Rédaction]
Poa deylii Chartek & Jirasek is a grass taxon endemic to the SouthEastern Carpathians, which is o... more Poa deylii Chartek & Jirasek is a grass taxon endemic to the SouthEastern Carpathians, which is of unclear taxonomic status, with no molecular research on the structure of its populations. Many authors have considered, based on morphological traits, this taxon to be a valid species or a subspecies included within P. granitica Br.-Bl. In the present study we have used three molecular markers – one nuclear (ITS1) and two chloroplastic (introns trnG and trnL) – to explore the variability within the P. granitica group. No genetic difference was detected, in spite of the morphological variation that distinguishes these two taxa (P. granitica subsp. granitica and P. deylii). Other approaches, such as the AFLP technique, that address the entire genome, might be required for a better understanding of the genetic variation within this group.
Primula intricata Gren. et Godr. has an unclear taxonomic status: it was originally described as ... more Primula intricata Gren. et Godr. has an unclear taxonomic status: it was originally described as a distinct species but subsequently was considered a subspecies (Primula elatior subsp. intricata) or even a variety (P. elatior var. intricata) of Primula elatior (L.) Hill. No prior genetic studies were performed on this group of Primulaceae, therefore we considered useful to investigate taxonomies boundaries within the P. elatior-intricata group. We explored genetic differences between Primula intricata and Primula elatior group by applying three different types of molecular markers: nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS1), chloroplast DNA (spacer trnH-psbA and intron trnL) and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLP). We found a solid differentiation between P. intricata and P. elatior group, differentiation that was confirmed by all the employed molecular markers. This finding enabled us to propose a valid species rank for Primula intricata, as a separate taxon from the P. elatior group.
Maize has always been under constant human selection ever since it had been domesticated. Intensi... more Maize has always been under constant human selection ever since it had been domesticated. Intensive breeding programs that resulted in the massive use of hybrids nowadays have started in the 60s. That brought significant yield increases but reduced the genetic diversity at the same time. Consequently, breeders and researchers alike turned their attention to national germplasm collections established decades ago in many countries, as they may hold allelic variations that could prove useful for future improvements. These collections are mainly composed of inbred lines originating from well-adapted local open pollinated varieties. However, there is an overall lack of data in the literature about the genetic diversity of maize in SE Europe, and its potential for future breeding efforts. There are no data, whatsoever, on the nutritional quality of the grain, primarily dictated by the zein proteins. We therefore sought to use the Romanian maize germplasm as an entry point in understanding the molecular make-up of maize in this part of Europe. By using 80 SSR markers, evenly spread throughout the genome, on 82 inbred lines from various parts of the country, we were able to decipher population structure and the existing relationships between those and the eight international standards used, including the reference sequenced genome B73. Corroborating molecular data with a standardized morphological, physiological, and biochemical characterization of all 90 inbred lines, this is the first comprehensive such study on the existing SE European maize germplasm. The inbred lines we present here are an important addition to the ever-shrinking gene pool that the breeding programs are faced-with, because of the allelic richness they hold. They may serve as parental lines in crosses that will lead to new hybrids, characterized by a high level of heterosis, nationwide and beyond, due to their existing relationship with the international germplasm.