The Genetic Basis of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Wheat, Rye and Wheat-rye Hybrids under Normal and Stress Conditions

Anthocyanins are pigmented compounds in plants, which are known to play a protective role under different stress conditions. For example, anthocyanin content tends to increase under UV-B irradiation, drought, cold, toxic metals in soils and pathogens attack [1]. In bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rye (Secale cereale L.), anthocyanin pigments are found in different organs such as culm, leaf, auricle, pericarp, coleoptiles and anther [2]. However, the genetic mechanisms underpinning formation of these traits as well as contribution of the pigmentation to stress tolerance have not been widely studied in wheat and rye. The aim of the current study was to investigate molecular-genetic mechanisms underlying anthocyanin pigmentation of the coleoptiles in wheat, rye and wheat-rye hybrids, and to estimate the role of the pigmentation in salt tolerance in wheat seedlings.