Conserved fragments of the MADS-box genes in perennial and annual rye

MADS-box and K-box sequences of the MADS-box genes in wild perennial rye (S ecale montanum Guss.) and cultivated annual rye (S. cereale L.) were studie d by the direct amplification of genomic DNA with degenerated primers. The lengths of the DNA fragments corresponding to the MADS-box motif (about 150 base pairs, bp) were similar in two rye species, and also in maize, wheat, and barley. Amplification of the K-box sequence in three classes of the MA DS-box genes produced DNA fragments of varying lengths. In the agamous clas s, the amplicon lengths were 180, 240, 280, and 400 bp in rye, 180, 240, 28 0, and 340 bp in wheat, 200, 280, and 340 bp in barley, and 190, 240, 560, and 650 bp in maize. The lengths of agamouslike6 amplicons in rye, barley, and maize corresponded to 1700, 1200, and 1700 bp. In the apetala1 class, t he respective rye, wheat, barley, and maize amplicons were 485, 480-490, 48 0-490, and 440-450 bp. Two rye species did not differ in the length of K-bo x amplicons in the three classes of the MADS-box genes. Four characterized Fragments of rye MADS-box genes (GenBank accession numbers AF15709-AF159712 ) were compared to the corresponding regions of the MADS-box genes in other grasses (wheat, darnel, maize, sorghum, and rice) and in arabidopsis.