Multivariate analysis and genetic diversity for morphometric and root textural quality traits in ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal)

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an important medicinal plant and its dried roots are used in traditional systems of medicine. The market price of roots is determined by physical (textural) quality. Brittle roots with high starch and low fiber are considered to be superior because of ease in grinding. Genetic diversity studies based on root textural parameters have not been done so far. So the present study was designed to assess genetic diversity for morphometric traits and root textural quality parameters among two morphologically distinct groups: Poshita and Nagore. The PCA separated the morphometric and root texture variables distinctly into two different principal components: PC-1 and PC-2 respectively, indicating that both are negatively associated. All the morphotypes in Poshita group showed high positive loadings in PC-1 indicating that component genotypes are high root yielding. Nagore morphotypes were low yielding but the root texture was good. Clustering of morphotypes grouped Poshita and Nagore separately with high inter-cluster distances indicating that both groups are highly divergent from each other, suggesting that there is sufficient scope for varietal improvement through hybridization.     

Research advances in genetics and breeding ofpopulus davidiana dode in China

In this paper a general introduction is given to research advances in genetics improvement and breeding of Chinese aspen (Populus davidiana Dode) in China. This introduction includes natural distribution and collection, conservation, gene diversity, provenance trial, crossing breeding, vegetative propagation and disease resistant etc. Based on the current situation of forest tree breeding in China, some strategic suggestions concerning the future development of Chinese aspen genetics improvement in China are presented, taking into consideration the existing domestic demands of forestry production and international trends in forest tree breeding. Responsible Editor: Chai Ruihai     

Morphological Basis of Resistance in Cotton to the WhiteflyBemisia Tabaci

The morphological basis of resistance to the whiteflyBemisia tabaci Genn. (Aleyrodidae: Hemiptera) was studied. The plant characters examined were leaf area, thickness of leaf lamina, hair density, hair length, angle of insertion of leaf hair, and density of gossypol glands. Hair density and leaf thickness were positively correlated with the population ofB. tabaci, and a positive correlation was obtained between the adult whitefly population and gossypol glands on stem internodes. Cotton genotype USA-22 (sparsely hairy) was found to be more tolerant toB. tabaci than was genotype USA-13 (velvety hairy). The use of thinner and glabrous leaved cotton varieties is suggested to minimize the whitefly menace in cotton.     

安哥拉山羊与建昌黑山羊及其杂种后代的DNA指纹分析

以 (CA/GATA/TCC) 5探针 ,HinfI酶切 ,研究安哥拉山羊和建昌黑山羊及安哥拉山羊与建昌黑山羊级进杂交的F2 、F3的DNA指纹图谱。结果 ,在供试山羊中 ,个体平均检出 1 8.2± 0 .4条谱带 ,安哥拉山羊、F2 、F3的鉴别机率分别为 1 .38× 1 0 - 12 ,1 .1 8× 1 0 - 13,0 .50× 1 0 - 10 ;群体内相似系数安哥拉山羊为0 .4 539,F2 为 0 .4 0 77,F3为 0 .61 1 1 ;亲子鉴定的父权概率W =0 .9889;安哥拉山羊与建昌黑山羊比较 ,2 .3kb和 8.6kb谱带为安哥拉山羊的特异谱带     

甘蓝型低芥酸油菜单株产量基因效应的研究

用5×5半双列杂交研究甘蓝型低芥酸油菜单株产量的遗传,结果表明:供试的甘蓝型低芥酸油菜品系中,单株产量的遗传符合加性显性模型,显性性质为超显性,平均显性度为1.404。显性基因约为隐性基因的3倍多,并且多数增效基因表现显性,但也有显性的减效基因存在。单株产量的广义遗传力h_B~2=71.4％,狭义遗传力h_N~2=33.18％。供试亲本显性效应的强弱依次为81007>81006>81018>81004>81033,增效基因的多少依次为81018>81006>81007>81004>81033。一般配合力的大小依次为81018>81006>81004>81033>81007。     

大豆种质5621对所衍生品种的遗传贡献

自1961年辽宁大豆种质5621育成后，由5621作为直接亲本先后衍生出7个优良大豆品种，进而由这7个大豆品种衍生出26个品种，在这33个大豆品种中，有15个曾获国家级或省部级科技成果奖励。5621对其衍生品种的遗传贡献主要来自细胞核，仅有6个品种承带5621的细胞质，细胞质的遗传贡献较小。     

Genetic variation in captive population of chinese alligator, Alligator sinensis, revealed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)

Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is an endemic species in China. The likely extinction of it in the wild has been recognised. To prevent this species becoming extinct, the Anhui Research Centre of Chinese Alligator Reproduction (ARCCAR) was established in Xuanzhou, Anhui Province in 1979, where has been established the largest captive population of Chinese alligator (XZSP) in the world. Another farm (CXSP) was established by villagers in Changxin, Zhejiang Province. The results of an investigation of the two captive subpopulation structures by genetic analysis are presented in this paper. We examined the genetic variation in the two captive subpopulations using RAPDs. Thirty-one random primers were selected among 199 random primers screened. A total of 193 reproducible RAPD fragments were scored among 43 individuals, of which 21 (10.88%) were polymorphic. The genetic distances between 43 individuals ranged from 0 to 0.0376 with average of 0.0104±0.0055 S.E. The genetic similarity in CXSP (0.9948±0.0029 S.E.) was higher than that in XZSP (0.9894±0.0055 S.E.). The founder effect is a possible explanation for very low genetic variation in CXSP. Analysis of the RAPD data showed that the mean phenotypic band frequencies of each polymorphic loci was 0.6656±0.3730 S.E. The lowest phenotypic band frequency (0.0233) was found in four of those polymorphic loci. There was no genetic difference between the two subpopulations (D_ij=0.0009). According to the dendrogram and the distribution of polymorphic fragments in two subpopulations, CXSP originated genetically from XZSP. This paper summarises a preliminary research on genetic structure in populations of Chinese alligator. Although there is higher genetic similary (0.9896±0.0055 S.E.) in captive population of A. sinensis, we did not determine whether or not loss of genetic variation had occurred in relation to a wild control population. The data of malformed offspring will be collected carefully, and wild samples be added to set up a control population in future study.     

Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency: presence of the Cys36Ser beta-2 integrin mutation in an affected US Irish Setter cross-breed dog and in US Irish Red and White Setters

Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD) is a primary immunodeficiency disease characterized by recurrent bacterial infections in the presence of marked leukocytosis. The disease was 1st described in the mid-1980s in a cross-breed Irish Setter Dog in the United States. It results from a defective beta-2 subunit of heterodimeric leukocyte adhesion proteins. The causative mutation for CLAD in Irish Setter Dogs from Europe has been identified as a missense mutation at base pair position 107 in the beta-2 integrin subunit gene (ITGB2) that results in an amino acid change from cysteine to serine at amino acid 36 (Cys36Ser) in the beta-2 integrin subunit protein. In the current work, the originally described dog with CLAD has been genetically tested and shown to have the same mutation as the European Irish Setters. This suggests that the mutation has been in the Irish Setter population for many generations spanning more than 2 decades. A related breed, the Irish Red and White Setter, has a history of interbreeding with Irish Setters and shares a common ancestry with the Irish Setter breed. DNA from Irish Red and White Setters residing in the United States was screened either by sequencing or by the newly developed restriction enzyme test for the Irish Setter Cys36Ser CLAD mutation. Seven of 54 dogs tested (13%) were found to be carriers of the Irish Setter CLAD mutation. Five of these were directly related to a sire from the UK, demonstrating the importation of an allele from another continent and establishing the need for genetic testing in this breed in the United States.     

Induced resistance in cotton seedlings against fusarium wilt by dried biomass of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium chrysogenum</Emphasis> and its water extract

Dry mycelium (DM) of killedPenicillium chrysogenum and its water extract (DME) were used to induce resistance in cotton plants againstFusarium oxysporum f.sp.vasinfectum (Fov). Results showed that the efficacy of either DM or DME in controlling the disease depends on both the concentration and the mode of application. DM amended to the soil at 0.25–2% (w/w) provided 32–75% protection againstFov. Soil drench with 2–5% DME (w/v) and pre-sowing seed soakage with 5–10% DME provided 51–77% and 28–35% protection against the wilt disease, respectively, whereas no protection was obtained with foliar sprays of 1–10% DME. DM and its water extract had no direct antifungal activity on growth ofFov in vitro, suggesting that disease control with DM or DME resulted from the induction of natural defense mechanisms in the cotton plants. Soil drench with 5% DME was as effective as 2% DM powder in inducing resistance againstFov, implying that the resistance-inducing substances were mostly water-soluble. Four cotton cultivars with various genetic resistance levels againstFov were tested at the seedling stage: two resistant ‘Pima’ cultivars and two susceptible ‘Acala’ cultivars. The level of protection achieved in the two susceptible cultivars with DME was equal to, or higher than, that of the two resistant cultivars treated with water. Innate and induced peroxidase activity in cotyledons or hypocotyls and roots coincided with the level of genetic resistance and DME-induced resistance, respectively. Based on our results, an integrated control strategy ofFov with both genetic resistance and induced resistance is suggested.     

家蚕蛾黄翅的遗传分析与黄血基因的多效作用

在保存家蚕突变基因资源过程中调查发现：黄血蚕蛾翅在羽化之初呈鲜黄色,白血蚕均不然。通过与白血蚕（非黄翅）和黄血抑制基因（I）进行杂交试验,分析黄翅的遗传规律,结合普查家蚕突变系统蛾翅色性状,证明黄翅性状与幼虫黄脚一样,为黄血基因支配。进而记录了因黄血基因的多效作用在卵、幼虫、茧、成虫各阶段表现的形态特征。