<it>Hordeum chilense</it> genome, a useful tool to investigate the endosperm yellow pigment content in the <it>Triticeae</it>

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The wild barley <it>Hordeum chilense</it> fulfills some requirements for being a useful tool to investigate the endosperm yellow pigment content (YPC) in the <it>Triticeae</it> including its diploid constitution, the availability of genetic resources (addition and deletion stocks and a high density genetic map) and, especially, its high seed YPC not silenced in tritordeums (amphiploids derived from <it>H</it>. <it>chilense</it> and wheat). Thus, the aim of this work was to test the utility of the <it>H</it>. <it>chilense</it> genome for investigating the YPC in the <it>Triticeae</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twelve genes related to endosperm carotenoid content and/or YPC in grasses (<it>Dxr</it>, <it>Hdr</it> [synonym <it>ispH</it>], <it>Ggpps1</it>, <it>Psy2</it>, <it>Psy3</it>, <it>Pds</it>, <it>Zds</it>, <it>e</it>-<it>Lcy</it>, <it>b</it>-<it>Lcy</it>, <it>Hyd3</it>, <it>Ccd1</it> and <it>Ppo1</it>) were identified, and mapped in <it>H</it>. <it>chilense</it> using rice genes to identify orthologs from barley, wheat, sorghum and maize. Macrocolinearity studies revealed that gene positions were in agreement in <it>H</it>. <it>vulgare</it> and <it>H</it>. <it>chilense</it>. Additionally, three main regions associated with YPC were identified in chromosomes 2H^ch, 3H^ch and 7H^ch in <it>H</it>. <it>chilense</it>, the former being the most significant one.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results obtained are consistent with previous findings in wheat and suggest that <it>Ggpps1</it>, <it>Zds</it> and <it>Hyd3</it> on chromosome 2H^ch may be considered candidate genes in wheat for further studies in YPC improvement. Considering the syntenic location of carotenoid genes in <it>H</it>. <it>chilense</it>, we have concluded that the H^ch genome may constitute a valuable tool for YPC studies in the <it>Triticeae</it>.</p>