Complex genome rearrangements reveal evolutionary dynamics of pericentromeric regions in the Triticeae

Most pericentromeric regions of eukaryotic chromosomes are heterochromatic and are the most rapidly evolving regions of complex genomes. The closely related genomes within hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD), as well as in the related Triticeae taxa, share large conserved chromosome segments and provide a good model for the study of the evolution of pericentromeric regions. Here we report on the comparative analysis of pericentric inversions in the Triticeae, including Triticum aestivum, Aegilops speltoides, Ae. longissima, Ae. searsii, Hordeum vulgare, Secale cereale, and Agropyron elongatum. Previously, 4 pericentric inversions were identified in the hexaploid wheat cultivar 'Chinese Spring' ('CS') involving chromosomes 2B, 4A, 4B, and 5A. In the present study, 2 additional pericentric inversions were detected in chromosomes 3B and 6B of 'CS' wheat. Only the 3B inversion pre-existed in chromosome 3S, 3S(1), and 3S(s) of Aegilops species of the Sitopsis section, the remaining inversions occurring after wheat polyploidization. The translocation T2BS/6BS previously reported in 'CS' was detected in the hexaploid variety 'Wichita' but not in other species of the Triticeae. It appears that the B genome is more prone to genome rearrangements than are the A and D genomes. Five different pericentric inversions were detected in rye chromosomes 3R and 4R, 4S(1) of Ae. longissima, 4H of barley, and 6E of Ag. elongatum. This indicates that pericentric regions in the Triticeae, especially those of group 4 chromosomes, are undergoing rapid and recurrent rearrangements.