Revisiting rice breeding methods – evaluating the use of rapid generation advance (RGA) for routine rice breeding

Rice production needs to increase in the future in order to meet increasing demands. The development of new improved and higher yielding varieties more quickly will be needed to meet this demand. However, most rice breeding programmes in the world have not changed in several decades. In this article, we revisit the evidence in favour of using rapid generation advance (RGA) as a routine breeding method. We describe preliminary activities at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to re-establish RGA on a large scale as the main breeding method for irrigated rice breeding. We also describe experiences from the early adoption at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute. Evaluation of RGA breeding lines at IRRI for yield, flowering time and plant height indicated transgressive segregation for all traits. Some RGA lines were also higher yielding than the check varieties. The cost advantages of using RGA compared to the pedigree method were also empirically determined by performing an economic analysis. This indicated that RGA is several times more cost effective and advantages will be realized after 1 year even if facilities need to be built. Based on our experience, and previous independent research empirically testing the RGA method in rice, we recommend that this method should be implemented for routine rice breeding in order to improve breeding efficiency.     

大豆对大豆胞囊线虫侵染的应答机制研究

大豆胞囊线虫病(Heterodera glycines,soybean cyst nematode,SCN)是大豆生产上的重要病害,其特点为危害重、分布广、难防治,每年对大豆生产造成极大的损失。种植大豆抗性新品种是防治SCN目前最为有效的措施,研究大豆对SCN侵染的应答机制,是培育大豆持久抗病品种的前提,对加快抗线虫品种选育及SCN的防控具有重要的意义。本文综述了大豆对SCN侵染的组织细胞学应答机制;介绍了大豆在SCN侵染后酶系变化及酚类代谢的生理生化应答机制;从分子水平阐明了SCN侵染后大豆的基因转录变化,差异蛋白及DNA甲基化的应答机制,以期为大豆胞囊线虫病害的进一步研究与防治提供参考。     

Identification,characterization and full-length sequence analysis of a novel endornavirus in common sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

To identify the possible quarantine viruses in seven common sunflower varieties imported from the United States of America and the Netherlands, we tested total RNAs extracted from the leaf tissues using next-generation sequencing of small RNAs. After analysis of small RNA sequencing data, no any quarantine virus was found, but a double-stranded RNA(dsRNA) molecule showing typical genomic features of endornavirus was detected in two varieties, X3939 and SH1108. Full-length sequence and phylogenetic analysis showed that it is a novel endornavirus, temporarily named as Helianthus annuus alphaendornavirus(HaEV). Its full genome corresponds to a 14 662-bp dsRNA segment, including a 21-nt 5′ untranslated region(UTR), 3' UTR ending with the unique sequence CCCCCCCC and lacking a poly(A) tail. An open reading frame(ORF) that encodes a deduced 4 867 amino acids(aa) polyprotein with three domains: RdRP, Hel and UGT(UDP-glycosyltransferase). HaEV mainly distributed in the cytoplasm but less in the nucleus of leaf cells by fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) experiment. This virus has a high seed infection rate in the five varieties, X3907, X3939, A231, SH1108 and SR1320. To our knowledge, this is the first report about the virus of the family Endornaviridae in the common sunflower.     

Establishing an eyeball-weight relationship for Litopenaeus vannamei using machine vision technology

This study aimed to establish a shrimp eyeball-weight relationship model for Litopenaeus vannamei using machine vision technology. A total of 295 shrimp were sampled from a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). The long-axis length (d), body length (L), and body weight (W) of each individual was measured. The long axis length of the shrimp eyeball was identified and measured using machine vision technology. Continuous fitting and piecewise fitting models were used to construct the eyeball-weight relationship model for L. vannamei. The continuous fitting relationship model was described as: W = 38.865d^2.7914, while the piecewise model was described as: d < 2 mm, W = 0.0326d^3.7363, R² = 0.9288; 2 mm ≤ d < 3.9 mm, W = 0.0401d^3.104, R² = 0.9629; 3.9 mm ≤ d < 5.8 mm, W = 0.0421d^3.0311, R² = 0.9216; 5.8 mm < d, W = 0.103d^2.6226, R² = 0.9457. The root mean square error (RMSE) of the piecewise fitting model (0.0244, 0.1575, 0.5034, 0.7072) was smaller than the continuous fitting model (0.8229). The correlation coefficient (R²) of the piecewise model (0.9288, 0.9629, 0.9216, and 0.9457) was similar to that of the continuous fitting model (R² = 0.9621). The results indicated that the piecewise fitting model is suitable for calculating the biomass of L. vannamei in RAS and provides a novel way of estimating the biomass of L. vannamei cultured in RAS. The piecewise fitting model can also provide the foundation of evaluating the production of shrimp using underwater image recognition in intelligent aquaculture systems.     

一种基于RPA的番茄褪绿病毒检测方法

番茄褪绿病毒Tomato chlorosis virus(ToCV)引起番茄褪绿病毒病,给番茄生产造成严重危害。开发快速准确的检测方法对该病害的防控具有重要意义。利用番茄褪绿病毒外壳蛋白(CP)基因序列,设计特异性引物,建立了ToCV的重组酶聚合酶等温扩增(recombinase polymerase amplification, RPA)检测方法,同时分析了该方法的灵敏度和特异性。结果表明,建立的ToCV-RPA方法在38℃恒温下40 min可从ToCV阳性的番茄样品中扩增出246 bp的特异性条带。扩增时间短,对设备要求低,且与番茄其他病毒无交叉反应,特异性好,灵敏度可达到PCR方法的10倍,适用于ToCV的快速检测。     

胡麻脂肪酸去饱和酶基因(fads)差异表达分析

为了了解fad基因在胡麻蒴果发育过程中对不饱和脂肪酸的调控,对高、中、低三个不同亚麻酸(C18:3)含量的胡麻品种(’CDC Gold’,‘内亚7号’,’Linola’)进行了不同时期的品质测定,以及脂肪酸去饱和酶2a基因(fad2a)、脂肪酸去饱和酶2b基因(fad2b)、脂肪酸去饱和酶2c基因(fad2c)、脂肪酸去饱和酶3a基因(fad3a)、脂肪酸去饱和酶3b基因(fad3b)的qRT-PCR定量分析。结果表明,随着蒴果成熟,可溶性糖含量呈降低趋势,粗脂肪与粗蛋白不断积累,且差异显著(p<0.05)。fad2a基因、fad3a基因以及fad3b基因在各个时期中的表达符合正态分布。以0 d的蒴果为对照,在胡麻种子形成过程中,‘内亚7号’的三个基因在5 d和15 d的表达量迅速增加,到30 d时急剧减少,15 d的fad2a基因表达量为5.23倍,fad3a基因表达量是fad2a基因表达量的14.52倍,fad3b基因的表达量是fad2a基因表达量的16.14倍,表明这三个基因参与不饱和脂肪酸积累过程。在低亚麻酸含量品种‘Linola’30 d中,fad3a基因是fad2a基因表达量的52.71倍,fad3b呈下调趋势;在高亚麻酸含量品种‘CDCGold’30d中,fad3a基因与fad2a基因的表达量均呈下调趋势,fad3b的表达量为3.92倍;在中等亚麻酸含量品种‘内亚7号’中,fad2a基因表达量降低了0.31倍,fad3a基因是fad3b基因表达量的1.87倍。fad2b基因、fad2c基因熔解曲线不稳定,峰值低,可以在后续试验中继续探索。     

A genetic linkage map in southern‐by‐spring oat identifies multiple quantitative trait loci for adaptation and rust resistance

We developed 178 recombinant inbred lines from a southern‐by‐spring oat population designated as “TxH.” These lines were genotyped to generate a high‐quality linkage map that resolved 6,902 markers into 21 linkage groups that matched closely with the latest hexaploid oat consensus map. Three major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting heading date were found in locations that are consistent with known QTLs and candidate genes, and two other QTLs affecting heading date were found in novel locations. Five QTLs affecting plant height were found. Both sets of QTLs are responsible for transgressive segregation observed for these two traits. Four QTLs affecting resistance to crown rust, caused by the pathogen Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae, were identified. Two of these QTLs are consistent with known clusters of rust resistance genes, while two may represent new locations of novel rust resistance genes. A complete set of SNP sequences suitable for generating markers for molecular selection is provided.     

同源四倍体及其原二倍体黑皮冬瓜光合光响应模型筛选

为了筛选出最适合黑皮冬瓜Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.的光合光响应模型,为其育种提供理论依据,以同源四倍体及其原二倍体黑皮冬瓜为试验材料,对8种经典的光合光响应模型适用性进行了比较分析。结果表明：二次多项式能够表现出光抑制情况,但在拟合过程中出现暗呼吸速率为正值、光补偿点为负值及无法解释当光强达到饱和后光合速率快速下降的问题;直角双曲线、非直角双曲线及指数函数Ⅰ、指数函数Ⅱ无法直接求取光饱和点、光补偿点,结合常用的光饱和点的计算方法得到的光饱和点与实测值均存在较大的偏差,且指数函数Ⅱ在计算光饱和点时表现出明显的人为性,也无法拟合光抑制情况,但4种模型拟合得到的光补偿点均与实测值相差不大;指数修正模型因系数β为负值,无法求取四倍体黑皮冬瓜材料的光饱和点和最大净光合速率,且拟合得到的四倍体黑皮冬瓜的光补偿点明显低于实测值;直角双曲线修正模型计算得到的暗呼吸速率及二倍体黑皮冬瓜的光饱和点明显低于实测值,但获得的四倍体及其二倍体的最大净光合速率与实测值最接近,说明其在拟合最大净光合速率上有优势;整体上分段函数计算得到的黑皮冬瓜的各光合参数与实测值最为接近,与实测值的平均相对误差最小,也能很好的拟合发生光抑制部分的光响应曲线。分段函数拟合同源四倍体及其原二倍体黑皮冬瓜光合光响应曲线效果较其他模型效果好,分段函数模型为黑皮冬瓜最适合的光合光响应模型。     

利用荧光观测明确载球孢白僵菌松毛虫赤眼蜂对亚洲玉米螟的防控增效作用

载球孢白僵菌松毛虫赤眼蜂能够显著提高对亚洲玉米螟的防控效果，为了明确其对亚洲玉米螟卵期及幼虫期可持续防控的作用机理，采用松毛虫赤眼蜂吸附绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）标记的球孢白僵菌分生孢子，进行赤眼蜂载菌情况，以及亚洲玉米螟卵和幼虫的寄生、侵染过程观察。结果表明，赤眼蜂羽化后能够吸附柞蚕卵表面粘附的白僵菌分生孢子，并将其携带至亚洲玉米螟卵块表面，并吸附于未被赤眼蜂寄生的亚洲玉米螟卵孵化的幼虫体表，实现侵染并致死，幼虫带菌率达60.00%，网室内杀虫生物测定僵虫率达27.00%。本研究表明，载菌赤眼蜂在提高杀虫效率的同时实现害虫可持续防控，该方法为其他载菌天敌的应用提供了依据。     

天山云杉林冠层结构对草本物种多样性的影响

为研究天山云杉林冠层特征与林下草本物种多样性的相互关系，以新疆天格尔森林公园天山云杉林的4个龄级的林分（幼林龄、中林龄、近熟林、成熟林）为研究对象，以冠层分析仪获得的冠层结构特征和林下光环境指数等野外实际调查数据为依据，通过计算 α 多样性指数分析4个龄级的草本物种多样性，利用多元统计方法研究冠层结构对草本多样性的影响。结果表明，各个指标在不同龄级间均有一定的差异，且随着林分的生长和更新，天山云杉林呈现林冠开度逐渐减小、叶面积指数增大、林下光辐射均减弱、物种多样性指数均减小的趋势；典型模型表明林冠开度对冠层结构起到主要作用（呈极显著正相关P<0.01），叶面积指数次之（呈极显著负相关P<0.01）；在林下辐射中，林下总辐射对林内光环境起主要作用；相比冠层结构，林下光照对草本层物种多样性的作用更大，其中林冠开度和丰富度指数之间呈显著正相关，林下总辐射、林下直射辐射和多样性指数、均匀度指数之间均呈显著正相关。