Tandem repetitive Afa-family sequences from Leymus racemosus and Psathyrostachys juncea (Poaceae)

Tandem repetitive Afa-family sequences of 340 bp are known to occur in wheat and related species of tribe Triticeae. We isolated six and three Afa-family sequences from Leymus racemosus and Psathyrostachys juncea, respectively, both of which are perennial species. The sequences account for 0.5% and 0.2% of L. racemosus and P. juncea genomes, respectively, and using in situ hybridization were located in subtelomeric and interstitial regions of L. racemosus chromosomes. These sequences are clustered with those of Elymus trachycaulus in the phylogenetic tree. Our findings indicate that the Afa-family sequences have been amplified at least twice in the lineage of L. racemosus, P. juncea, and E. trachycaulus.