Distances Walked by Long Established and Newcomer Horses in an Open Stable System in Northern Germany

Group housing is claimed to possibly provide horses with a species-appropriate movement possibility, and hence, better welfare. Thus, this study analyzed the daily walked distances of 51 horses held in one group in a “HIT Active Stable” (Hinrichs Innovation + Technik) in Northern Germany by using global positioning system (GPS) technology during a 7 ½-month time span. The daily walking distances of the whole group, as well as newcomers, were investigated. The horses traveled an average of 8.43 km/day. Linear mixed models were applied. The observation day had a significant effect on the daily walking distances (P < .01) due to season and the available area per horse. The age as covariate also had a significant effect (P < .01). The breed had no significant effect (P = .96). No significant differences were found in sex (P = .69), which can be explained by the fact that only mares and geldings were investigated, which do not show increasing locomotion caused by sexual behavior as stallions do. On six of the first nine days, new horses moved significantly more compared to the remaining 24 of the 30 observation days directly after individuals’ inclusion. This is probably due to more exploration and rank-fighting behavior. Similar walking distances were seen among the horses on the single observation days because all horses had to travel the same distance to reach resources. Further, it is suspected that not all horses can sufficiently live out their urges to move, especially in winter, when pasture is inaccessible.     

Regional and temporal differentiation of virulence phenotypes of Puccinia triticina from common wheat in Russia during the period 2001–2018

Leaf rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia triticina, is one of the most damaging rust diseases of wheat in Russia. Populations of P. triticina were monitored in seven regions of Russia from 2001 to 2018, with a total of 5,191 single urediniospore isolates from bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) being analysed. Populations have changed significantly in all regions since 2012, after 2 years of drought (2010–2011). Regional collections of P. triticina were also significantly different between the two periods 2001–2009 and 2012–2018, with changes along two geographic gradients from West Siberia to the north-west and south-west (North Caucasia) of the European part of Russia. All tested isolates were avirulent to resistance gene Lr9 in 2001–2009 but, since 2010, virulence to Lr9 has occurred and annually increased in the Asian part of Russia (Ural and West Siberia) due to deployment of cultivars with the Lr9 gene. Virulence to Lr2a and Lr15 was considerably lower in Dagestan (6%–33%) and all European regions (35%–67%) than in Asian regions (84%–96%). During 2001–2009, virulence on Lr1 was also lower in Dagestan (33%) and the European regions (50%–77%) than in Asia (91%–96%); however, by 2012–2018, nearly all isolates were virulent on Lr1. Remarkable changes were observed in frequencies of P. triticina races defined by their virulence/avirulence to Lr1 and Lr2a genes. We postulate the P. triticina population in Dagestan is specific to that area and pathogen populations in European and Asian parts of Russia are distinct.     

24份枸杞种质资源SSR遗传多样性分析

枸杞是药食同源的植物,具有重要的药用价值和经济价值,枸杞遗传背景复杂,对其种质资源遗传变异和种质资源的遗传背的研究还不充分。本研究对24个枸杞种质资源采用SSR分子标记进行了遗传多样性。在17对SSR引物上共检测到96个条带,其中有59条多态性条带,多态性条带比率为61.5%。每个SSR位点的PIC值为0.37~0.60,平均值为0.45。NTSYS类平均法聚类结果显示,24份枸杞供试品种遗传相似性系数介于0.263?0.954之间,在相似系数0.56处被分为9大类群。这将为进一步开展枸杞种质资源评价、新品种选育和合理利用提供科学院依据。     

东北大豆种质群体在克山的表现及其潜在的育种意义

东北是我国大豆的主要生态区,克山是东北北部重要产区。本研究于2012-2014年,以搜集到的东北地区各单位现存的361份大豆地方品种和育成品种作为东北现存的本地种质,观察该群体在克山地区的表现,研究其在克山的潜在育种意义。获得以下主要结果:(1)东北大豆种质群体平均表现为全生育期133 d(103.8~157.0 d)、蛋白质含量39.69%(35.6%~44.38%)、油脂含量20.58%(17.47%~22.84%)、蛋脂总量60.27%(54.00%~63.97%)、百粒重17.61 g(6.13~28.17 g)、株高约96 cm(54.92~146.8 cm)、主茎19节(11.23~25.83)、分枝2.75个(0.22~7.63)、倒伏2级左右(1.00~4.00);(2)当地适合熟期组为MG 0和MG I,各性状的平均值与群体平均相近,其它熟期组在当地的表现与之不同。MG 000和MG 00的生育天数集中在110~120 d,比当地无霜期早约10~20 d,不能充分利用当地的自然条件;而品质性状表现则略优于MG 0和MG I,特别是油脂含量和蛋脂总量分别高约1%、1.5%;株高、节数均低于MG 0和MG I,分别低约10~40 cm、2~8节。MG II的生育天数在当地高达150 d,不能稳定正常成熟,不适合当地种植;品质性状表现低于当地品种水平,特别是蛋白质、蛋脂总量均低约2%,油脂低约0.5%;而株高、节数高于当地品种,分别高约10 cm、2节,倒伏程度则高达3级。MG III在克山不能正常成熟,导致其它性状表达不正常,生长量和倒伏度增加;(3)根据各农艺品质性状在克山表现的遗传进度估计,虽然油脂和蛋白质含量相对小些,但均有一定的改良潜力。克山地区利用东北大豆资源育成了许多适于东北北部的优异品种,体现了东北种质的重要作用。根据当地品种的表现,从供试的东北资源中提出了各农艺、品质性状改良可用的亲本品种名单,供育种工作者参考。     

改进RBF神经网络在我国大豆价格预测中的应用研究

我国大豆价格受国内外多种因素共同影响,具有非线性、随机性和高噪音等特点,采用传统数学模型进行预测,不仅分析难度大,预测误差也很大。RBF神经网络以其优良的逼近性能而被广泛应用于非线性时间序列预测之中。本文提出一种基于遗传算法优化RBF神经网络的我国大豆价格预测模型,该模型为多维输入单维输出的多变量预测模型,模型的初始输入由大豆价格的历史数据和相关影响因素数据组成。采用遗传算法对RBF神经网络输入层节点数、基函数中心、扩展常数和输出层权值进行优化,模型可以从初始输入变量中自主选择最合适的输入变量组合作为模型的输入。采用2009-2014年的大豆价格数据进行预测研究,用2009-2013年的数据作为训练集,2014年的数据作为测试集,改进RBF神经网络通过自主识别和选取中国大豆进口量、中国消费者信心指数和进口大豆到港分销价格3个因素作为相关影响因素的输入。结果表明:模型预测精度较高、泛化能力较强,能够很好捕捉大豆价格变化规律,可为大豆市场价格的准确预报提供参考借鉴。     

甘蔗黄叶病毒与花叶病毒CP基因RNAi载体构建与转化甘蔗研究

甘蔗黄叶病和甘蔗花叶病是我国甘蔗最主要的病毒病,感病品种产量下降和品质变劣,传统方法难以防治。RNA干扰技术使培育抗病毒甘蔗品种成为可能。本研究根据甘蔗黄叶病毒和侵染甘蔗的高粱花叶病毒结构与功能特性,广泛收集不同来源病毒分离物CP基因序列,经过比对选取保守序列作为干扰序列。通过在序列两端添加酶切位点,合成并连接成双价甘蔗黄叶病和花叶病毒干扰序列,然后构建到中间载体p HANNIBAL上,形成双价RNAi干扰结构,最后插入到p ART27上形成干扰表达载体。利用基因枪轰击甘蔗品种福农15号愈伤组织进行转化,经G418筛选获得抗性再生植株。通过提取DNA和RNA分析,证实双价RNAi干扰结构不仅以不同拷贝整合到甘蔗基因组中,而且得到了转录表达。     

当前远程实验教学的现状及对策

远程实验教学在远程教育中起着重要作用,是远程教育深入发展和构建学习型社会的需要,是实施素质教育、培养创新意识和实践能力的重要环节。但由于多种原因,远程实验教学在远程教育中还是一个薄弱环节,存在许多问题。要想促进远程教育的深入发展,提高远程实验教学的质量,就必需解决远程实验教学现状。     

复杂疾病的遗传咨询技术

复杂疾病大面积爆发使人们的生活健康面临着重大挑战。在这一环境下,遗传咨询在人们的生活中占据了越来越重要的地位。依据基因与环境互作共同影响个体健康的原理,咨询者在遗传咨询师的指导帮助下合理解决各种遗传学问题可以有效降低复杂疾病的发病率。目前国内的遗传咨询发展尚处于萌芽期,随着遗传咨询在健康领域的地位上升,该技术在未来将会进一步推广应用。     

胡椒EST-SSR标记的开发和应用

通过分析NCBI数据库中胡椒转录组数据,共得到unigene 23 524条,其中618条unigene中检测到643个EST-SSR位点,SSR发生频率为2.63%,平均分布距离为12.86 kb。在643个EST-SSR中,二、三核苷酸重复是主要重复类型,分别占27.84%和69.36%,其中(AG/CT)n、(AAG/CTT)n出现频率最高,(NNN/NNN)5类型占EST-SSR位点的42.90%。利用PRIMER3.0设计358对引物,随机合成45对引物,并选用其中11对扩增较好的多态性引物,对43份胡椒种质的遗传多样性进行初步检测,构建聚类分析树状图。结果说明,胡椒EST-SSR标记的开发是可行的,并能够有效的用于胡椒遗传分析研究,具有较高的应用价值。     

Identification and molecular characterization of border disease virus (BDV) from sheep in India

Pestiviruses isolated from sheep and goats in India thus far have been bovine viral diarrhoea virus 1 (BVDV-1) or BVDV-2. During routine genetic typing of pestiviruses in the years 2009-10, border disease virus (BDV) was detected in eight Indian sheep of a flock showing clinical signs of BD by real time RT-PCR. All the samples yielded positive virus isolates in cell culture but were found negative by a BVDV antigen ELISA. A representative BDV isolate was characterized at genetic and antigenic level. Phylogenetic analysis carried out in 5′-UTR, N^pro and E2 regions of genome typed the Indian BDV isolate as BDV-3. A more detailed analysis in N^pro and entire region coding structural proteins showed that the N^pro (168), C (100 aa), E^rns (227 aa), E1 (195 aa) and E2 (373 aa) proteins were of size characteristic for BDV reference strain X818. Antigenic differences were evident between the BDV-3 isolate and previously reported BDV-1, BDV-5 and BDV-7 strains. Although origin of BDV-3 in India is not clear, the results reflect probable introduction through trade in sheep between India and other countries or BDV-3 may be more widely distributed. Additionally, this study suggests that for diagnosis of BDV infection, the commercial BVDV Ag-ELISA should be used with caution. This is the first identification of BDV in sheep in India which highlights the need for continued pestivirus surveillance and assessing its impact on sheep and goat production.