Investigation of gene transfer potential with classical hybridization in vuralia turcica and identification of rhizobacterial species contributing its development

Official URL: http://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b1737580 (Table of Contents)

Vuralia turcica is a critically endangered endemic plant species only found in Central Anatolia region of Turkey. The most important feature of V. turcica is to have a gynoecium containing 2-4 fully developed carpels that distinguishes from other legumes. This dissertation comprises two studies which have not been reported to date according to a literature review. In the first study, gene transfer potential of V. turcica was investigated through intergeneric crosses with commercial legume plants, Phaseolus vulgaris, Pisum sativum, Vicia faba and Lupinus spp., by the application of classical hybridization methods. In the crossing, V. turcica used as the paternal parent. Reciprocal crosses were also conducted with Phaseolus vulgaris and Lupinus spp. paternal parents. Histological analysis revealed pollen tube growth and extension up to ovaries in the pistils of each commercial legume variety after being pollinated with V. turcica. Pre-fertilization barrier was not observed in all crossed samples. To analyze whether the crossed samples were hybrid, the SSR primer used in molecular analysis was developed. Molecular analysis showed that, the plantlets obtained from the crossing of P. vulgaris with V. turcica were most likely to be pure lines. This potential finding could be important for plant breeding program for obtaining pure lines. In the second study, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria species present in V. turcica rhizomes were investigated. Rhizome and soil samples were obtained from the natural habitats of V. turcica by the workers of Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanical Garden, and bacterial isolation was conducted on the collected samples. MIS analysis, 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing results of the bacterial isolates revealed the dominance of Bacillus megaterium at the rhizomes of V. turcica. B. megaterium is often reported as a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria species in the literature which supports its usage as a biofertilizer. It is also widely used in industrial production of secondary metabolites. The potential growth promoting effects of B. megaterium on V. turcica was discussed in detail in the second study.