Analyses of genetic diversity and population structure of anchote (Coccinia abyssinica (Lam.) Cogn.) using newly developed EST-SSR markers

Anchote (Coccinia abyssinica (Lam.) Cogn.) is a perennial root crop belonging to Cucurbitaceae family. It is endemic to Ethiopia and distributed over wide range of agro-ecologies. For further improvement and efficient conservation of this crop, characterization of its genetic diversity and its pattern of distribution is a vitally important step. Expressed sequence tags-simple sequence repeats (EST-SSRs) markers were developed from publicly available watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] ESTs in the GenBank database. Among those novel markers, eight were polymorphic and subsequently used for genetic diversity and population structure analyses of 30 anchote accessions collected from western Ethiopia. A total of 24 alleles were obtained across the eight polymorphic loci and 30 accessions that revealed moderate level of genetic diversity in this minor crop. Among the eight loci, locus CA_06 was the most informative with six alleles and polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.76. The accessions showed about threefold variation in terms of genetic diversity, with expected heterozygosity (He) ranging from 0.15 (accession An) to 0.44 (accession Dg). Other accessions with higher genetic diversity include Ar and Gu (He?=?0.43 and 0.41, respectively). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that the variation within accessions and among accessions accounted for 84.7% and 15.3% of the total variation, respectively. The study revealed low but significant population differentiation in this crop with no clear pattern of population structure. The EST-SSR markers developed in this study are the first of their kind for anchote and can be used for characterization of its wider genetic resources for conservation and breeding purposes.

     

Geographical patterns of phenotypic diversity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> landraces of Côte d’Ivoire

The knowledge of agro-morphological diversity and the distribution pattern of variation among conserved accessions could be an invaluable aid in germplasm management and crop improvement strategies. In this study, the geographical pattern of morphological variation of 880 landrace rice (Oryza sativa (L.)) accessions in Côte d’Ivoire was evaluated for 13 agro-morphological characters. Shannon –weaver diversity index indicated an overall mean of 0.47 ± 0.07 in the collection, with the greatest diversity from derived Savanna and north-west (H′ = 0.52 and 0.50) while the west-central had the lowest diversity (H′ = 0.41). Canonical discriminant analysis showed that traits such as panicle length, grain size (weight and length), tillering ability, number of days to heading and maturity were the main discriminatory characteristics. Result of the phenotypic frequency shows that, the landraces from the north and north-western zones were mostly tall, early heading and maturity, compared to those from the west and west-central which were mainly dwarf to medium height, late heading and maturing. This differential distribution of landraces with height, heading and maturity period reflected the distribution pattern of different Oryza sativa landraces in Côte d’Ivoire, which could be useful in germplasm management and breeding programs.     

Metabolism of fungicidal cyanooximes, cymoxanil and analogues in various strains of Botrytis cinerea

BACKGROUND: The metabolism of cymoxanil [1‐(2‐cyano‐2‐methoxyiminoacetyl)‐3‐ethylurea] and fungicidal cyanooxime analogues was monitored on three phenotypes of Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr. differing in their sensitivity towards cymoxanil. For this purpose, labelled [2‐¹⁴C]cymoxanil was added either to the culture medium of these strains or to its cell‐free extract. RESULTS: In the culture medium of the most sensitive strain, four main metabolites were detected. Three were isolated and identified. Cymoxanil was quickly metabolised by at least three concurrent enzymatic pathways: (i) cyclisation leading, after hydrolysis, to ethylparabanic acid, (ii) reduction giving demethoxylated cymoxanil, (iii) hydrolysis followed by reduction and then acetylation leading to N‐acetylcyanoglycine. In the cell‐free extract of the same strain, only the first and the second of these enzymatic reactions occurred. By comparing the metabolic profile of the most sensitive strain with that of the less sensitive ones, it was shown that the decrease in sensitivity to cymoxanil correlates with a reduced acetylcyanoglycine formation. Among all metabolites, only N‐acetylcyanoglycine is active against the most sensitive strain. Moreover, in a culture of this strain, two other fungicidal cyanooximes were also metabolised into this metabolite. CONCLUSION: The formation of N‐acetylcyanoglycine may play an important role in the fungitoxicity of cymoxanil and cyanooxime derivatives. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Movement patterns of an avian generalist predator indicate functional heterogeneity in agricultural landscape

Landscape Ecology - Biodiversity is closely related to landscape heterogeneity, but both are difficult to evaluate directly. Apex predators, such as raptors, are potential surrogate indicators of...     

Land degradation,stocking rates and conservation policies in the communal rangelands of Botswana and Zimbabwe

Communal rangeland management policies in Botswana and Zimbabwe are based on incorrect technical assumptions about the stability of semiarid rangeland, the nature of rangeland degradation, and the benefits of destocking. Consequently, inappropriate policies, stressing the need to destock and stabilise the rangelands, are pursued. Acknowledgement of the great instability but intrinsic resilience of rangeland would encourage the Governments to more favourably regard the opportunistic stocking strategies of the agro-pastoralists of the Communal Areas. However, degradation of rangelands is occurring, although at varying rates. This justifies the promotion of a ‘tracking strategy’, in which livestock densities are encouraged to follow, more closely that at present, variations in rainfall. The establishment of grazing territories controlled by specific ‘communities’ may be a prerequisite for the promotion of the tracking strategy, and for communal rangeland management and improvement. However, the establishment of such territories must take into account social equity, institutional problems and transaction costs, as well as spatial and temporal variation in rangeland resources.     

Wirkungen verseifter,veresterter und freier Fettsäuren auf die Entwicklung der Mikrobenpopulation in kontinuierlichen Kulturen sowie auf die Nährstoffverdaulichkeit und Futterpartikelpassage bei Schafen1

Es wurde untersucht, wie sich Zulagen Ca-verseifter (Ca-S), veresterter (TG) und freier ralmölfettsäuren (FPFS) auf pansenphysiologische und verdauungsphysiologische Parameter beim Wiederkäuer auswirken. Dazu dienten Untersuchungen mit Hilfe des Pansensimulationssystems “RUSITEC” und Stoffwechselversuche an ausgewachsenen Merinolandschafen. In den RUSITEC-Untersuchungen führten Fettzulagen von 6–11% in der Rations-TS bei Konstanthaltung des Futter- und Flüssigkeits-Turnovers zur Reduzierung der Protozoen in der Rangfolge Ca-S < TG < FPFS und zur Steigerung der Bakterienzahl in umgekehrter Rangfolge. Die durch Fettzulagen verursachte Verschiebung in der Mikrobenpopulation führte zu keiner Veränderung der NH₃-N-Fixation, Mikrobenmassesynthese und Abbaubarkeit der Gerüstsubstanzen. In einem 12-wöchigen Stoffwechselversuch an Schafen wurden einer Grundration 140 g (= 10% i. d. TS) der beschriebenen Fette zugelegt. Die Verdaulichkeit der Faserbestandteile wurde in der Rangfolge Ca-S < TG < FPFS gesenkt. Gleichzeitig stieg die Futterpartikelpassage im Pansen durch TG- und FPFS-Zulagen tendenziell an, während die renale Allantoin-N-Ausscheidung unbeeinflußt blieb. Aus diesen Ergebnissen wird geschlossen, daß sich Veränderungen in der mikrobiellen Populationszusammensetzung des Pansens in gleicher Weise wie in den Simulationsversuchen eingestellt haben. Die verwendeten Ca-verseiften Fettsäuren waren unter den RUSITEC-Inkubationsbedingungen trotz mehrtägiger Adaptationsperioden nicht stabil, ihre Stabilität im Pansen nahm jedoch zu, wenn die Tiere zuvor über mehrere Tage mit Ca-verseiften Fettsäuren gefüttert worden waren. Ob es sich hierbei um eine Besonderheit der eigens für diese Untersuchungen hergestellten Ca-Seife oder um ein generelles Problem beim Einsatz von Ca-verseiften Fettsäuren in der Wiederkäuerfütterung handelte, muß weiter geprüft werden.     

Effects of drought‐stressed temperate forage legumes on the degradation and the rumen microbial community in vitro

According to climate change scenarios, central Europe may expect extending drought periods during summer. Lower water availability may influence the ruminal digestion of individual forage legume species differently. To test this hypothesis, Lotus corniculatus L. (var. Bull), Medicago lupulina L. (var. Ekola), Medicago falcata L. (wild seeds) and Trifolium repens L. (var. Rivendel) were each grown in parallel lots of control and drought‐stressed monocultures. Rainout shelters (installed in May 2011 on a regrowth after first cut until harvest in mid of June) withheld rainfall of 40 mm in the drought stress treatment. Samples of dried (60°C) and milled (5 mm screen) forage legumes were incubated in a simulation experiment using Rusitec to assess drought effects on parameters for microbial metabolism. Degradability of dry matter and organic matter as well as methane production decreased in incubations with drought‐stressed compared to control variants of legume species. Degradability of crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and residual organic matter including non‐fibre carbohydrates and lipids were affected by interactions between drought stress and species. Significant interactions were also found for ammonia concentrations, molar SCFA proportions and the microbial communities. It is concluded that drought stress for growing forage legumes influences their ruminal degradation and fermentation as well as the ruminal microbial communities of Bacteria and Archaea differently in a legume species‐dependent manner.