The genus Aegilops L. has been intensively investigated due to its close relationship with wheat (Triticum L.) as contributor of B and D subgenomes. Because of their vast genetic diversity, Aegilops species represent a rich source of alleles of agronomic interest, which could be used to widen the wheat gene pool and improve tolerance to diseases, pests, drought, cold and other environmental stresses. We report the isolation and characterization of the Dehydration Responsive Factor 1 (DRF1) gene in three accessions of Ae. speltoides coming from different regions of the Fertile Crescent. The DRF1 gene belongs to the DREB gene family and encodes transcription factors which play a key role in plant response to water stress. As in other cereals, the DRF1 gene in Aegilops speltoides consists of four exons and three introns and undergoes alternative splicing. A processed pseudogene was also identified and compared with the sequence of an actual mRNA transcript, breaking new ground in the understanding of the complex regulation mechanism of this gene. The genetic diversity was evaluated by comparison of inter- and intra-species variation among some Aegilops and Triticeae, by considering both the whole gene and exon 4 sequences. The phylogenetic analyses were able to cluster the sequences in well-supported clades attributable to the genomes analysed. The overall results suggest that there is a high similarity between the B and S genome copies of the DRF1 gene but also features indicating that the two genomes have evolved independently.

Aim: Triticale is a well adaptable crop, tolerant of disease and abiotic stresses, and able to grow with good yields even in poor soil, thus representing a good choice to develop a new industrial agri-chain in Italy in a sustainability contest, to cope with its soil problems due to incoming desertification. Methods: Two triticale elite lines were grown in marginal lands in controlled field experiments. The lines were harvested at two different development stages, namely green mass and seeds, and suitable standard protocols were applied to test their potential to produce bioethanol in line with the emerging bioenergy processes. Results: The protocols applied were able to obtain bioethanol with a good yield from both feedstocks. In particular, very efficient fermentation kinetics was observed using seed feedstock, with a sharp curve between 15 h and 24 h, reaching 84% of the total alcohol obtained (final time 72 h). Conclusions: Therefore, the results of this research point to new sustainable potential for industrial applications of triticale crops in Italy. Furthermore, the high activity of the endogenous amylolytic enzymes, mainly α-amylase, and the high starch content suggest the potential use of triticale in other industrial applications, like the brewing industry.

Some of the key genes and regulatory mechanisms controlling drought response in durum wheat have been identified. One of the major challenges for breeders is how to use this knowledge for the achievement of drought stress tolerance. In the present study, we report the expression profiles of the TdDRF1 gene, at consecutive plant growth stages, from different durum wheat genotypes evaluated in two different field environments. The expression of a possible target gene (Wdnh13) of the TdDRF1 gene was also investigated and analogies with the transcript profiles were found. The results of the qRT-PCR highlighted differences in molecular patterns, thus suggesting a genotype dependency of the TdDRF1 gene expression in response to the stress induced. Furthermore, a statistical association between the expression of TdDRF1 transcripts and agronomic traits was also performed and significant differences were found among genotypes, suggesting a relationship. One of the genotypes was found to combine molecular and agronomic characteristics.