Trial for detecting carriers with major genes in a selected layer line

Production traits of a Rhode Island Red layer line were analyzed to detect carrier animals with major genes that influenced a particular trait by applying the major gene index (MGI) approach. This method was used to examine the deviation of predicted breeding values between parents and offspring. Advantages of this method include its simplicity and time‐reducing, cost‐saving benefits compared with any other statistical approach for screening major genes. The layer line had been selected based on the desired gain index for 6 years at the National Livestock Breeding Center, Okazaki station. The line consisted of 125 sires and 2986 dams. Two economic traits as breeding objectives were studied – age at sexual maturity (ASM, days) and egg production efficiency (EP, %). The MGI detected nine sires and 23 dams as carriers with major genes for ASM, and five sires and 26 dams for EP. They were identified as important breeding stock, and pedigree information provided candidates possessing major genes with favorable effect at the founding of the selected layer line. It seems likely that the simple approach of the MGI could be a useful preliminary method for detecting carrier animals with major genes before applying molecular techniques on a sampled population to identify in more detail the existence of major genes and their carriers.     

The Occurrence of Mycosphaerella graminicola and its Anamorph Septoria tritici in Winter Wheat during the Growing Season

The disease septoria tritici blotch of wheat is initiated by ascospores of the teleomorph Mycosphaerella graminicola or pycnidiospores of the anamorph Septoria tritici. We report for the first time the presence of the teleomorph, M. graminicola, in Denmark. With the objective of elucidating the importance of the teleomorph for the development of septoria tritici blotch, data on the occurrence of fruit bodies of the anamorph (pycnidia) and the teleomorph (pseudothecia) stages were collected over three growing seasons. Pseudothecia were present in the springs, however, high numbers of pseudothecia compared to pycnidia were not observed until July, too late to influence the epidemic. On an individual leaf layer, pycnidia were observed well before pseudothecia. As the leaves aged, progressively higher proportions of fruit bodies were observed to be pseudothecia. The period from the appearance of pycnidia to detection of pseudothecia was estimated as 29–53 days. At harvest, high proportions of sporulating fruit bodies in the crop were pseudothecia, suggesting that the primary source of inoculum for new emerging wheat crops in autumn is likely to be ascospores.     

利用nor突变基因配制番茄一代杂种的研究

为了选育耐贮藏的番茄,利用带有nor基因的LA1793番茄与普通栽培品种新锋4号,强力米寿,满丝,特罗皮克等进行正反交。研究了杂种一代果实的大小、产量、耐藏性和一些营养成分在贮藏期间的变化。结果表明:F_1的单果重、产量比普通栽培品种小、低。滴定酸、总糖量和维生素C在一般条件下长期贮藏后有所减少,但贮藏寿命可达两个月,比普通品种约长一倍。从对LA1793杂种一代的观察表明,另一亲本的耐藏性也直接影响F_1的贮藏效果。     

Proteomic analysis of Tianzhu White Yak (Bos grunniens) testis at different sexual developmental stages

To explore the protein expression profiles of white yak (Bos grunniens) testis at different sexual developmental stages. The protein profiles of yak testis were determined using two‐dimensional electrophoresis and the expression levels of 298 protein spots were analyzed. Mass spectrometry was performed to identify those significantly differential expressed proteins; Western blotting was used to confirm the results. During the developmental stages, 29 protein spots showed more than twofold differences (p < 0.05) at ≥1 time point and were successfully identified. Two proteins were upregulated with age (category 1), five proteins (17.2%) were downregulated with age (category 2), four proteins were upregulated before 4 years of age and downregulated thereafter (category 3), fifteen proteins were upregulated before 2 years of age and downregulated thereafter (category 4), and three proteins fluctuated with age (category 5). The expression patterns of regucalcin and heat shock 60 kDa protein in category 2 were confirmed. The 29 differentially expressed proteins from yak testes (some had more than one function) were categorized into binding (n = 15), catalytic activity (n = 13), molecular function regulator (n = 4), antioxidant (n = 4), molecular transducer (n = 2), transporter (n = 1), and structural molecule (n = 1). The identification and analysis of these testis proteins may assist in understanding the developmental biology of reproduction system in male yak.     

不同杂交配套在繁殖性能上的对比分析

以种猪杂交配套为研究对象,应用卡方检验及SPSS 19.0软件的单因素方差分析对12 612头母猪的分娩数据进行分析,以研究不同杂交配套对其繁殖性能的影响。结果显示,以B系的长白公猪与B系的大白母猪为亲本的二元杂种母猪胎均总仔为15.81头,胎均健仔为12.66头,极显著高于其他杂交配套(P<0.01);以C系的杜洛克公猪与B*A大长二元杂种母猪为亲本的三系杂交分娩率为95.66%,胎均总仔为13.46头,胎均健仔为12.08头,均极显著高于其他杂交配套(P<0.01)。此外,系间杂交筛选结果表明,以D*(A*B)的长长大三系猪为母本的系间杂交分娩率为93.00%,胎均总仔为12.90头,胎均健仔为10.83头,在繁殖性能上与曾祖代的相比差异不显著。     

Foetal development of skeletal muscle in bovines as a function of maternal nutrition,foetal sex and gestational age

To determine the effects of maternal nutrition on modifications of foetal development of the skeletal muscle and possible increase in the potential of skeletal muscle growth in cattle, gestating cows were either fed 190% NRC recommendations (overnourished; ON) or 100% NRC recommendation (control; CO). Interaction between maternal nutrition (MN) and the foetal sex (FS) was also investigated. Foetuses were necropsied at four different time points throughout gestation (139, 199, 241 and 268 days of gestation) to assess the mRNA expression of myogenic, adipogenic and fibrogenic markers in skeletal muscle. Phenotypic indicators of the development of skeletal muscle fibres, intramuscular lipogenesis and collagen development were also evaluated. Modifications in mRNA expression of skeletal muscle of foetuses were observed in function of MN and FS despite the lack of effect of MN and FS on foetal weight at necropsy. Maternal ON increased the mRNA expression of the myogenic marker Cadherin‐associated protein, beta 1 (CTNNB1) and adipogenic markers Peroxissome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARG) and Zinc finger protein 423 (ZNF423) at midgestation. However, no differences on foetal skeletal muscle development were observed between treatments at late gestation indicating that a compensatory development may have occurred on CO foetuses making the effect of MN on skeletal muscle development not significant at late gestation. Moreover, our data have shown an evidence of sexual dimorphism during foetal stage with a greater skeletal muscle development in male than in female foetuses. In conclusion, providing a higher nutritional level to pregnant cows changes the trajectory of the development of skeletal muscle during midgestation, but apparently does not change the potential of post‐natal growth of muscle mass of the offspring, as no differences in skeletal muscle development were observed in late gestation.     

Inoculum Sources and Genotypic Diversity of Phytophthora infestans in Southern Flevoland,The Netherlands

Genotypic changes in populations of Phytophthora infestans in Southern Flevoland (150km²) were analysed by characterising isolates from potato refuse piles, conventional and organic potato fields, and potatoes and tomatoes in allotment gardens for mating type (1712 isolates) and DNA fingerprint pattern using probe RG57 (1048 isolates). The overall percentages of genotypes (and of isolates) that were A2 varied from 32 (4) in 1994 to 45 (56) in 1996. Among the 1048 isolates 170 different genotypes were identified, of which 138 (81%) were rare (i.e., detected in only one sampling site in the research area during 1993–1996). Many rare genotypes were encountered in organic potato fields and in allotment gardens. In 1994 and 1995, four genotypes were abundant. The highest percentages of isolates with these common genotypes were encountered in refuse piles and conventional potato fields. The common genotypes were nearly absent in 1996, suggesting that the population may have passed through a bottleneck at the transition from 1995 to 1996. The Shannon index of genotypic diversity was high in allotment gardens and in organic potato fields. For the total populations the normalised Shannon index of genotypic diversity increased from 0.34 in 1994, with weather favourable to late blight, to 0.61 in 1996, with unfavourable weather. The high numbers of rare genotypes detected every year indicate that oospores may act as an infection source in commercial potato fields. However, refuse piles were identified as the most important infection sources for commercial fields in 1994 and 1995. In 1996 disease in commercial organic fields was probably initiated by a few genotypes originating from seed tubers. In allotment gardens oospores were probably the most important infection source.     

中华绒螯蟹一龄性早熟和二龄成熟家系扣蟹阶段生长和早熟的比较研究

河蟹一龄性早熟是扣蟹养殖过程中的一个重要问题,通过构建一龄性早熟和二龄正常性成熟河蟹家系,综合评估了两种家系子一代在扣蟹养殖阶段的生长、早熟率、成活率、产量、早熟蟹和正常扣蟹的平均体质量及其规格分布等参数,结果显示:(1)除215日龄雄体甲壳长外,一龄早熟家系扣蟹在155和215日龄的体质量、甲壳长、甲壳宽、增重率(WGR)和特定生长率(SGR)均显著低于二龄成熟家系(P0.05);(2)整体上两种家系子代的成活率和产量均无显著差异,尽管一龄早熟家系子代雄体的早熟率略高于二龄成熟家系,但是两者的差异不显著,一龄早熟家系子代雌体无一龄早熟现象,二龄成熟家系子代雌体的早熟率是其雄体的两倍;(3)两种家系后代中正常扣蟹各规格比例基本呈正态分布,雌雄体主要集中于3~6 g和6~9 g两个体质量范围,无论雌体还是雄体,二龄成熟家系的大规格扣蟹(体质量6 g)比例较高,一龄早熟家系的小规格扣蟹(体质量6 g)比例较高。综上,河蟹二龄成熟家系子代在扣蟹阶段的生长性能优于一龄早熟家系子代,两者的一龄性早熟情况也有所不同,需要进一步研究河蟹一龄性早熟的生理机制和性别差异。     

玉米杂交种水分利用效率及相关性状分析

为充分发挥玉米杂交种的水分利用效率,实现玉米高产、高效的目的,本研究以中国生产和推广应用的玉米杂交种为材料,在多变低水条件下,根据成熟期产量水分利用效率剖析其高效性。研究结果表明,不同玉米杂交种间其水分利用效率存在较大的变异范围,玉米杂交种水分利用效率存在着丰富多样的类型;水分利用效率相关性状方差分析结果表明,产量水分利用效率各构成性状在品种间存在着较大差异,不同玉米品种可利用不同性状达到水分的高效利用;简单相关和偏相关分析结果表明,与水分利用效率密切相关的性状是穗行数、行粒数和百粒重。因此,在生产应用中应因地制宜选用不同玉米杂交种,在品种选育过程中应重视相关性状的选择。