Filling hollowed out spaces with localised meanings,practices and hope: Progressive neoliberal spaces in Te Rarawa

The contracting out to private providers of services previously delivered within the state has been framed critically as ‘hollowing out’ and read for its erosion of social democracy, social justice and welfare, as well as its inefficiencies in practice. It is commonly dismissed as neoliberalism. In this paper, we highlight the gains made through this new contractualism by Te Oranga, the Family, Health and Education division of Te Runanga o Te Rarawa located in the Far North of New Zealand. Our aim is not to narrate the exceptional, but to point to the inherent resistances to totalising projects residing in agency and place. Placed at the service of a deep sense of community being and community good rather than self‐interest, delivery contracts have enabled Te Oranga to pursue an alternative form of local development and craft a set of progressive spaces. Although highly contingent upon powerful Maori political projects, we argue that the case suggests that gains may be sought in other settings, albeit partial, temporary, and politically contingent. We thus offer a more nuanced account of neoliberalism by highlighting its agency, fractures, politics, and contradictions, and by demonstrating that actualised neoliberalisms are co‐constituted with other political projects.     

Contentious space and scale politics: Planning for intercity railway in China's mega‐city regions

Over the past three decades, we have seen a flourishing of scholarship which explores the emerging political spaces and variegated scales of governance in China. This research draws on political economic tradition to argue that the way in which cities and regions are governed is indeed infused with socio‐political struggles which are proliferating at a range of spatial scales. Such theoretical interpretation is illuminating, but it has been subject to increasing criticism from the poststructuralist approach that views scale as an epistemological construct. This paper uses the Pearl River Delta Intercity Railway System (PRD‐ICRS) as a case study to challenge the onesidedness of both the political economy tradition and the poststructuralist approach in reading scale. It employs the “scale politics” thesis to argue that scale is more than a material existence (or institutionalised structure) that represents a particular arrangement of political power, being subject to perpetual transformation through regulatory projects and strategies. It is also a “representation trope” deployed in political discourses to acquire persuasive power to frame and legitimise these projects and strategies. Scale is thus both material and discursive. Understanding the two moments of scale enables a fuller dissection of political transformation.     

Identification and characterization of new S‐alleles associated with self‐incompatibility in almond

Almond is a highly heterozygous species with a high number of S‐alleles controlling its gametophytic self‐incompatibility system (GSI). In this work, we have analysed 14 Spanish local almond cultivars for S‐RNase allele diversity. Five new S‐RNase alleles were identified by cloning and sequencing, S₃₁ (804 bp) in ‘Pou de Felanitx’ and ‘Totsol’, S₃₂ (855 bp) in ‘Taiatona’, S₃₃ (1165 bp) in ‘Pou d’Establiments’ and ‘Muel’, S₃₄ (1663 bp) in ‘Pané‐Barquets’ and S₃₅ (1658 bp) in ‘Planeta de les Garrigues’. Additionally, seven already known almond alleles could be recognized in the local cultivars studied. The high number of new alleles identified reveals the wide diversity of almond germplasm still existing and requiring characterization, and points to the possibility of new findings by a wider study focusing on other provenances. The almond S‐RNases have been compared to those of other Prunus species, showing a high identity and confirming that the S‐RNase gene in this genus presents a probable common ancestor.     

Circuits of power: Environmental injustice from Bangkok's shopping malls to Laos’ hydropower dams

In what ways are lifestyles in urbanising Thailand, increasingly oriented towards shopping malls related to the threat to the wildlife and struggles for subsistence in distant Lao hinterlands? Our article answers this question by looking at the workings of electricity as the key infrastructure that connects these seemingly unrelated events and practices. We argue that the circulation of electricity flows along uneven channels, shifting injury and environmental harm across international borders. This circuit is perpetuating inequality and environmental injustice in the Lower Mekong. To demonstrate this claim, we analyse the electricity sector at numerous scales and locations – the urban scale in Bangkok, the country scale of Thailand and then Laos and the local community scale in Laos. We then discuss by what means various material and social processes and actors at these different scales form this circuit. Looking at circuits of power allows us to link the story of electricity consumption with that of production, with an emphasis on their extraterritoriality, multiplicity and boundaries. Our findings illustrate the effects of this circuit on spaces far from a thought‐of urban area. Furthermore, we demonstrate the ways in which these effects have produced inequality and injustice across borders.     

Introducing host‐plant resistance to anthracnose in Kyrgyz common bean through inoculation‐based and marker‐aided selection

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the most important legume crops for human consumption. However, its grain yield can be reduced by up to 90% by the seedborne disease, anthracnose. Fungicide treatment is costly and time‐consuming. The introduction of host plant resistance against this disease appears, therefore, to be crucial for enhancing the productivity of this crop in Kyrgyzstan. The use of DNA‐based markers in backcrossing programmes may help speed up the breeding for resistance. In this study, we used a combination of inoculation tests and a DNA marker (SCAreoli marker) to track the transfer of host‐plant resistance (Co‐2 gene) from two donor cultivars, ‘Vaillant’ and ‘Flagrano’, to susceptible Kyrgyz cultivars ‘Ryabaya’, ‘Kytayanka’ and ‘Lopatka’, which are widely grown in the country. The segregating offspring were evaluated to test the reliability of the SCAreoli marker as selection aid for host‐plant resistance to anthracnose. Our study showed that a co‐dominant DNA marker can successfully be used in backcross breeding to distinguish segregating material in different market classes of common bean.     

Identification of genetic variation in Brassica napus seeds for tocopherol content and composition using near‐infrared spectroscopy technique

Tocopherol is an essential fat‐soluble nutrient for humans. Increasing the tocopherol content in Brassica napus seeds can add value to rapeseed vegetable oil; this has become an important breeding target. However, there is no efficient and non‐destructive method for selecting rapeseed accessions with high tocopherol contents. Here, we report the first near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS)‐based technique for predicting rapeseed tocopherol content. Individual seed tocopherol compositions were estimated from 373 rapeseed genotypes of different origins. This method and chemical methods produced comparable predicted values of the tocopherol constituents in the seeds. Three equations were generated for the prediction of tocopherol content by using a modified partial least squares (MPLS) model. The total tocopherol content for the determination coefficient of cross‐validation (R²_cv) (0.74), determination coefficient (RSQ) (0.76) and one minus the ratio of unexplained variance to total variance (1‐VR) (0.65) values indicates a strong correlation between the calibration and validation sets. Overall, our model confirmed the NIRS method as feasible for predicting tocopherol content in rapeseed and as an efficient screening tool for future breeding programs.     

Genetic mapping of the barley lodging resistance locus Erectoides‐k

The barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) mutant erectoides‐k.32 (ert‐k.32) was isolated in 1947 from an X‐ray‐mutant population of cultivar ‘Bonus’. The mutant was released as a cultivar in 1958 with the name ‘Pallas’ – one of the first cereal crop cultivars developed from induced mutants. ‘Pallas’ is a semi‐dwarf barley cultivar known for its culm stability and resistance to lodging. In total, eight allelic ert‐k mutants are known that show different phenotypic strength concerning culm length and spike architecture. They represent alternatives to the widely used, but pleiotropic ‘Green Revolution’ alleles of the Sdw1 (semidwarf1/denso) and Uzu1 (semi‐brachytic1) genes in breeding of robust elite barley cultivars. In the present study, we locate Ert‐k to a 15.7‐cM region in the centromeric region of chromosome 6H. Although the interval is estimated to contain approximately 700 genes, the work provides a solid foundation for the identification of the underlying mutations causing the ert‐k lodging‐resistant phenotype. In addition, the linked markers could be used to follow the ert‐k mutant genotype in marker‐assisted selection of new lodging‐resistant barley cultivars.     

Rapid and convenient gel‐free screening of SCAR markers in wheat using SYBR green‐based melt‐profiling

Sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers that are highly desirable in crop breeding for marker‐assisted selection (MAS) are routinely analysed by gel‐based methods that are low‐throughput, time‐consuming and laborious. In this study, we showed a rapid and convenient method for analysis of SCAR markers in a gel‐free manner. Seven SCAR markers, linked to rust resistance genes (Sr24, Sr26 and Sr31) and seed quality traits (Pina, Pinb and Glu‐D1) in wheat (Triticum aestivum), were amplified on a real‐time PCR machine using custom reaction mixture. Subsequently, melting curve analysis was performed, to assess the specificity of amplicons. Using the amplicon‐specific melt‐profiles, the presence/absence of SCAR markers was analysed in fifteen genotypes and five F₂ populations. Unlike the fluorescence‐based in‐tube detection methods, the present method used the amplicon‐specific melt‐profiles to evaluate the status of the SCAR markers, thus eliminating the need for gel‐based analysis. Results also showed feasibility of multiplex analysis of two markers with well‐separated melting profiles. Overall, the approach is a rapid, convenient and cost‐effective method for high‐throughput screening of SCAR markers.     

PEP‐Carboxylase Activity: A Comparison of its Role in a C4 and a C3 Species Under Salt Stress

In our experiments, we found an increase of PEP‐carboxylase activity in young shoots of maize under salt stress. Within this study, several analyses were carried out to identify the function of this enhanced enzyme activity during salt stress. In our first experiment, we analysed plants of the salt‐resistant maize hybrid SR 03 (Zea mays L.), whereas in the second experiment, we compared maize and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Thasos), which were grown under two different light intensities for 20 days. In the saline treatments, NaCl was applied up to 100 mm, while control plants grew under non‐saline conditions (1 mm NaCl). Analyses of shoot fresh weight revealed a comparable reduction for both genotypes and suggested salt resistance at a similar level. Analyses of sugar concentrations showed an increase in the saline treatment for both genotypes independent of the light intensity. Results for sucrose concentrations led to the conclusion that an increase in PEP‐carboxylase activity was not required for sugar metabolism. Independent of light intensity, alkalinity and malate concentrations were decreased only in wheat. It can be concluded that an enhancement of PEP‐carboxylase activity in young shoots of maize supports organic acid metabolism under salt stress.     

Mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) underlying seed vitamin E content in soybean with main,epistatic and QTL × environment effects

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) seed contains small amounts of tocopherol, a non‐enzymatic antioxidant known as lipid‐soluble vitamin E (VE). Dietary VE contributes to a decreased risk of chronic diseases in humans and has several beneficial effects on resistance to stress in plants, and increasing VE content is an important breeding goal for increasing the nutritional value of soybean. In this study, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) underlying VE content with main, epistatic and QTL × environment effects were identified in a population of F_5 : 6 recombinant inbred lines from a cross between ‘Hefeng 25’ (a low‐VE cultivar) and ‘OAC Bayfield’ (a high‐VE cultivar). A total of 18 QTLs were detected that showed additive main effects (a) and/or additive × environment interaction effects (ae) in different environments. Moreover, 19 epistatic pairs of QTLs were found to be associated with α‐tocopherol (α‐Toc), γ‐tocopherol (γ‐Toc), δ‐tocopherol (δ‐Toc) and total VE (TE) contents. The QTLs identified in multienvironments could provide more information about QTL by environment interactions and could be useful for the marker‐assistant selection of soybean cultivars with high seed VE contents.     

Cloning,characterization and overexpression of a 14‐3‐3 ω protein from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis)

Plant 14‐3‐3 proteins are involved in signal transduction pathways of nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism. An Eg14‐3‐3 ω gene was isolated from the mesocarp of oil palm. The 1055‐bp cDNA had an open reading frame of 774 bp that encoded for 258 amino acids, and the cDNA had 113‐bp and 195‐bp 5′‐ and 3′‐untranslated regions, respectively. The calculated molecular weight was 28.06 kDa, with a pI of 5.04. The palm 14‐3‐3 showed closest identity to 14‐3‐3 proteins of the omega group. The entire sequence of Eg14‐3‐3 ω showed 83% identity with 14‐3‐3 protein isoform 16R from Solanum tuberosum. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Eg14‐3‐3 isoform was within the omega (ω) subgroup and, thus, was designated Eg14‐3‐3 ω. The Eg14‐3‐3 ω expression patterns were strong in the mesocarp as compared to the root. When Eg14‐3‐3 ω cDNA was overexpressed in transgenic calli, there was higher accumulation of oil in the transgenic calli than in the controls. Therefore, Eg14‐3‐3 ω has potential for applications in the breeding of oil palms in the future.     

Cross‐border ‘Traffic’: Stories of dangerous victims,pure whores and HIV/AIDS in the experiences of mainland female sex workers in Hong Kong

Abstract: In recent years, dramatically increasing numbers of mainland Chinese women have entered Hong Kong to engage in sexual labour. Public discourses on the threat of HIV/AIDS increasingly locate these women's bodies as sites of danger, colluding with pre‐existing imaginations of mainland rural women as ignorant, desperate and deceptive in representing these women's penetration of Hong Kong's border as a primary means of infection of the Hong Kong body. Drawing on state, media and popular representations, and the narratives of female sex workers themselves, this paper examines the interwoven bio‐medical, gendered, sexual and cross‐border relationships that intersect in the experiences of mainland Chinese sex workers in Hong Kong. I argue that while images of disease and danger have been used to regulate these women's bodies, mainland female sex workers challenge these images by drawing on other popular stereotypes of mainland women as pure, feminine and traditional. Although images of the related but still ‘other’ figure of the mainland Chinese woman are powerful mechanisms for the regulation of these women's bodies, mainland female sex workers skilfully use inherent tensions in those images in resisting that control and in struggling to achieve their own personal and economic goals.     

The politics of water democracy: insights from grassroot struggles in the Ecuadorian Highlands

In the past two decades spaces for user participation have been opened within water governance structures at many scales. In this contribution, based on a case study of the Provincial Water Users Federation Interjuntas‐Chimborazo in the Ecuadorian Highlands, I explore how and why formal participation of water users in itself is problematic in terms of democracy. The case shows that for organised peasant water users to work on more democratic water governance, the creation of upscaled federations, alliances, networks and sometimes street protests is crucial to open up spaces in which their interests are represented. This suggests that democracy is not merely about participation, but more importantly, it is about the politics of how democracy is made through conflicts, protests, negotiations and the creation of strategic alliances that challenge the structures and processes through which decisions are taken.     

SFB‐based S‐haplotyping of apricot (Prunus armeniaca) with DHPLC

Most cultivars that belong to the Rosaceae are self‐incompatible and depend on cross‐pollination. The pollen donor and pollen recipient have to flower synchronously and must be genetically compatible. Genetic compatibility is governed by the S‐locus, which holds the S‐RNase and S‐haplotype‐specific F‐Box (SFB) genes. Thus, the S‐genotype of cultivars is an important feature and is characterized molecularly by the S‐RNase and SFB alleles which are distinctive for each S‐haplotype. Here, we report the usage of DNA chromatography (denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography – DHPLC) for identifying the S‐genotypes of European apricots on the basis of their SFB alleles. DHPLC is amenable to high‐throughput automation, and therefore is valuable for breeding and for high‐quality plant typing in the nursery.     

Quantitative trait locus analysis of seed germination,seedling vigour and seedling‐regulated hormones in Brassica napus

Good germination and seedling vigour are major breeding targets in winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus), because seedling vigour and prewinter crop establishment are closely associated with postwinter growth and yield. Here, we identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to germination, seedling vigour and seedling‐regulated hormones in a doubled haploid (DH) mapping population from a cross between winter oilseed rape parents with high vigour (Express 617) and low vigour (1012‐98). By phenotyping in a climate‐controlled glasshouse, we identified a total of 13 QTL on nine chromosomes for germination and seedling‐related traits at 7 and 14 days after sowing (DAS), explaining up to 11.2% of the phenotypic variation for seedling vigour. Forty‐seven metabolic QTL on 15 chromosomes were identified for auxin, abscisic acid (ABA) and dihydrophaseic acid (DPA) at 5 and 12 DAS, explaining up to 49.4% of phenotypic variation in seedling hormone composition. Multitrait QTL hot spots contribute to our understanding of the genetics and metabolomics of germination and seeding vigour in B. napus, and represent potential targets to breed high‐vigour cultivars.     

Molecular mapping of a quantitative trait locus qSTV11Z harbouring rice stripe virus resistance gene,Stv‐b

Rice stripe virus (RSV) predominantly affects rice. In this study, we attempted to localize the quantitative trait locus (QTL) conferring RSV resistance in the ‘Zenith’ variety, which is known to harbour Stv‐a and Stv‐b. The resistant variety Zenith was crossed with the susceptible variety ‘Ilpum’ to generate a mapping population comprising 180 F_2:3 lines for QTL analysis. Contrary to previous findings, we could not detect Stv‐a‐specific QTLs on chromosome 6. Stv‐b‐specific QTL was detected on the long arm of chromosome 11; it was designated qSTV11^z. Six F_4:5 lines were selected from the F_3:4 population and fine‐mapped using insertion/deletion (InDel) markers. qSTV11^z was mapped to a 520‐kb region between the InDel markers Sid2 and Indel8. This region included OsSOT1 (candidate gene for STV11) and other previously reported RSV resistance QTLs. The OsSOT1 sequence in Ilpum and Zenith was identical to that of the susceptible variety ‘Koshihikari’, indicating that OsSOT1 is not the candidate gene of qSTV11^z. The localization of qSTV11^z should provide useful information for marker‐assisted selection and determination of genetic resources in rice breeding.     

Nutritional and mineral content of prickly pear cactus: A highly water‐use efficient forage,fodder and food species

Increased demand for food requires us to investigate livestock forage and fodder crops that can be grown over a wide range of locations where their cultivation will not compete with that of the food supply. A large portion of the southwestern United States consists of underutilized semi‐arid land. Crops typically used for livestock fodder or forage have high‐water demands that make them uneconomical or unsustainable for semi‐arid and arid regions. The growth rate and low‐input requirements of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus‐indica) make it an excellent candidate for forage or fodder supplementation or replacement in these regions. Previous reports about forage quality data on Opuntia have been scattered across multiple locations, growing conditions and cultivars. Here, we report on the forage quality and mineral content of Opuntia ficus‐indica grown under both field and greenhouse conditions. Crude protein was 71 and 264 g/kg of dry mass for field and greenhouse conditions, respectively. Field‐grown plants showed higher acid and neutral detergent fibre content than greenhouse‐grown plants reflecting higher cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin accumulation. Nutritional values were also compared to requirements of cattle to determine what deficiencies might need to be addressed through supplementation. These data suggest that Opuntia can be used in combination with other feed sources to reduce the demand of resource‐intensive forage crops for raising livestock in dryland areas.     

Potential involvement of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) metallothioneins in the hydrogen peroxide‐induced regulation of seed vigour

Germination is a crucial process in crop plant life cycle that determines future yield. Hydrogen peroxide plays a significant role in both dormancy release and seed ageing. The potential of the rapeseed metallothioneins (BnMT1‐4) as reactive oxygen species scavengers was investigated. In the presence of H₂O₂, bacterial cells expressing BnMT1‐4 had higher growth rate than control cells. However, such effect was not observed in an oxidative stress oversensitive yap‐1Δ yeast mutant strain expressing BnMT1‐4. Next, it was shown that H₂O₂, up to 100 and 10 mM, promotes rapeseed germination rate and seedling growth, respectively. Moreover, it was demonstrated that in seeds germinating in the presence of H₂O_2, the expression of seed‐specific BnMT4 decreases to a high extent in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. It was shown that the decline in BnMT4 mRNA level, accelerated by up to 10 mM H₂O₂ treatment, correlates positively with increased rapeseed germination and early growth, underscoring the plausible role of BnMT4 as a H₂O₂ scavenging protein that level has to be downregulated in conditions where the compound is needed. Finally, it was demonstrated that H₂O₂ could be used as a priming agent of rapeseeds.     

Seasonal Changes in Carbohydrate and Protein Content of Seeded Bermudagrasses and Their Effect on Spring Green‐Up

The widespread use of warm‐season turfgrasses in transition zones of Europe, such as northern Italy, has been hampered by the long dormancy periods. To encourage the conversion from cool‐ to warm‐season grasses, research is needed to identify cultivars that exhibit early spring green‐up. A 2‐year study was conducted at the agricultural experimental farm of Padova University from November 2006 to October 2008 to compare water‐soluble carbohydrate and protein content in stolons of four bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] cultivars and determine their effect on spring green‐up. Samples of ‘La Paloma’, ‘NuMex Sahara’, ‘Princess 77’ and ‘Yukon’ were collected monthly, and water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and crude protein (CP) content of stolons were measured. Dry weight values of WSC and CP for each cultivar were regressed against days needed to reach 80 % green cover in spring (D80). ‘Yukon’ exhibited the highest rhizome dry weight and WSC content during the winter months and was the fastest to reach 80 % green cover. Conversely, ‘Princess 77’ was the slowest cultivar to green‐up in both years. Regression analysis revealed a stronger relationship between D80 and WSC than between CP content and D80.     

Accelerated development of quality protein maize hybrid through marker‐assisted introgression of opaque‐2 allele

Vivek Maize Hybrid 9‐ a popular single‐cross hybrid developed by crossing CM 212 and CM 145 was released for commercial cultivation in India. The parental lines, being deficient in lysine and tryptophan, were selected for introgression of opaque‐2 allele using CML 180 and CML 170 as donor lines through marker‐assisted backcross breeding. The opaque‐2 homozygous recessive genotypes with >90% recovery of the recurrent parent genome were selected in BC₂F_2, and the seeds with <25% opaqueness in BC₂F₃ were forwarded for seed multiplication. Vivek Quality Protein Maize (QPM) 9, the improved QPM hybrid, showed 41% increase in tryptophan and 30% increase in lysine over the original hybrid. The grain yield of the improved hybrid was on par with the original hybrid. The newly improved QPM maize hybrid released in 2008 will help in reducing the protein malnutrition because its biological value is superior over the normal maize hybrids. This short duration QPM maize hybrid has been adopted in several hill states of North Western and North Eastern Himalayan regions.