Genetic characterisation of a Eucalyptus nitens base breeding population in South Africa

The measurement and statistical analysis of data from eight Eucalyptus nitens trials, established in the summer rainfall forestry region of South Africa during the 1980s and 1990s, have enabled the characterisation of the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research's breeding population. Provenance testing showed that the more northerly New South Wales (Australia) Eucalyptus nitens provenances of Barren Mountain and Barrington Tops are distinctly better suited to the summer rainfall areas of South Africa than the southern New South Wales provenances and the Victorian provenance, Penny Saddle. Generally, the species was not badly affected by Coniothyrium canker. High type B genetic correlations for all site pairs, except one comparison, ranged from 0.75 to 0.99 for diameter at breast height (dbh), indicating very little or no genotype × environment interaction for dbh for the genotypes tested in this study. Narrow-sense heritability coefficients ranged from 0.01 to 0.34, indicating that the species generally exhibited sufficient breeding opportunity for improvement of diameter growth. High genetic correlations of greater than 0.90 between diameter measurements at 52 to 62 months after establishment and diameter measurements at 94 or 113 months were found, indicating that selections can be reliably made at five or six years. Predicted genetic gains were highest in the trials at Goedehoop and Arthur's Seat, with increases in dbh of 3.07 cm (17.1%) and 3.17 cm (20.7%), respectively, at full rotation.     

Sampling genotype configurations in a large complex pedigree

Many genetic problems can be solved by Monte Carlo method. This often requires sampling genotype configurations over pedigree. Current available samplers are inefficient for large animal pedigrees. A new sampler suitable for large complex pedigrees has been developed and evaluated. The sampler uses simple and iterative peeling algorithms alternately. The sampler was compared to two other samplers on hypothetical pedigree of 79 individuals and recessive disease. The behaviour of the sampler was evaluated in four experimental designs on real bovine pedigree of 907,903 animals. The application of the sampler was also exemplified in identical by descent study.     

The difference in the formation of thermotolerance of two cotton cultivars with different heat tolerance

ABSTRACT

In order to study the mechanism of thermotolerance of cotton cultivars with different heat tolerance, the response of yield component and photosynthesis to short-term heat stress (HT; average temperature 34°C) was studied. Pot experiments were carried out in 2015 and 2016 by using cotton cultivar PHY370WR (heat tolerant cultivar) and Sumian15 (heat susceptible cultivar). Results showed that heat (34°C) treatment resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in cotton yield. Path analysis showed that the direct path coefficient (0.89) of boll weight was higher, compared with the boll number (0.46). With high-temperature stress, it was the difference of boll weight reduction contributed the majority to the difference of yield reduction between cultivars, not the difference of boll number reduction. Different decrease in photosynthesis between cultivars leads to the different decline in boll weight. Different thermotolerance between the two cultivars were as follows: the heat tolerant cultivar could maintain higher photosynthesis rate under HT, and it could recover more quickly and highly in photosynthesis than the heat susceptible cultivar. More importantly, the leaf functional period of heat tolerant cultivar was less shortened by HT than that of heat susceptible cultivar.     

Genetic (co)variance components across age for Show Jumping performance as an estimation of phenotypic plasticity ability in Spanish horses

The purpose of this study was to study phenotypic plasticity ability for Show Jumping performance in horses according to age differences. For this study, 11 352 participations, belonging to 1085 horses grouped by age (4‐, 5‐ or 6‐year olds), were analysed. repeatability animal models (RAM) and multiple trait animal models (MTAM) were compared. RAM assumed the same covariance components for all age groups, whereas MTAM considered the results of every animal at every age group as different (but correlated) traits. The age, sex, starting order and training level were included as fixed effects. The random effects were the animal, the individual permanent environment, the competition and the rider. Six models were compared, and the rider–horse interaction was added as a random effect; furthermore, heterogeneous residual variance was taken into consideration only for MTAM. The study of the genetic correlations between age groups highlighted the presence of an age–genotype interaction and, therefore, an underlying environmental effect. This study may allow us to select horses with a plastic response, which show either a gradual response or a precocious response and thus gain or lose genetic potential with age, respectively.     

X染色体60149273位点在脂尾（臀）和瘦尾绵羊品种中的多态性及其基因定位

【目的】研究绵羊X染色体60149273位点在不同沉脂尾型绵羊品种中的多态性,为解析绵羊尾脂沉积性状的遗传机制提供基础数据。【方法】首先,采用PCR-SSCP分型方法检测X染色体60149273位点在不同脂尾类型绵羊品种的多态性,并借助PCR产物直接测序的方法确认各基因型相应序列,利用卡方检验的方法检测各基因型分布在不同品种中的平衡性。其次,利用生物信息方法将该SNP定位与绵羊androgen receptor（AR）,并使用电子克隆的方法克隆出绵羊AR全长编码序列。同时以阿勒泰羊臀部脂肪RNA为材料,采用RT-PCR的方克隆绵羊AR第3—8外显子序列,利用生物信息学方法分析序列同源性以及序列的物种进化保守性。【结果】①PCR-SSCP结果显示,在脂尾（臀）型绵羊品种阿勒泰羊和湖羊群体中X染色体60149273位点未检出多态性,GG基因型占100%;而瘦尾（臀）型绵羊品种中国美利奴和萨福克羊群体中则出现了多态性,GG基因型分别下降至10%和21%。②利用比较基因组学首次电子克隆出该SNP所属基因AR的全长编码区,并从阿勒泰羊臀脂mRNA中成功扩增羊源AR第3—8外显子片段,测序结果与电子克隆序列完全一致。③物种同源性比对进一步显示,AR在哺乳类动物中高度保守,哺乳动物各物种间同源性高达90%;进化树分析结果显示,牛、绵羊、海豚和猪等哺乳动物亲缘较近。【结论】首次发现绵羊AR第3内含子一处SNP在脂尾（臀）与瘦尾绵羊品种中存在较大差异,该SNP将可作为一个分子标记运用于低脂绵羊新品种的培育,同时该SNP所属AR也可作为一个重要候选功能基因应用于绵羊尾（臀）脂沉积分子机制的相关研究。     

Cyclic genotyping strategies. III: A comparison of predictive methods for group genotyping

This paper provides an investigation into some of the key practical issues for minimizing the cost of DNA testing. Previous studies focused on maximizing the utility of genotyping by prioritizing individuals for genotyping. For logistical reasons, individuals may have to be genotyped in groups rather than individually, and the best group to genotype is expected to differ from the same-sized group chosen when individuals are genotyped sequentially. In a calibration step, simulated populations and full knowledge of genotypes were used to discover the best group(s) to genotype. The characteristics of these groups were then targeted in an optimization step, using normally available information for group formation in targeted populations. Contrasts were made among predictive indices for: (i) individuals, with genotyping between each individual; (ii) individuals, with genotyping occurring group-at-a-time; and (iii) groups, using group variables as criteria. The results of this investigation allow the determination of the value of moving from individual to group genotyping, reveal the favourable attributes of individuals for group formation, and lead to methods to form groups for genotyping. The approach used has applications in reducing genotyping costs in both experimental and commercial populations for both quantitative trait loci (QTL) detection and monitoring.     

锌离子活度对水稻产量及子粒锌含量的影响及基因型差异

试验采用HEDTA螯合缓冲营养液培养法,选用子粒含锌量有明显差异的两个水稻基因型(碧玉早糯和浙农921),采用4种锌离子活度(pZn2+9.7,10.3,11.0,11.4),研究了锌离子活度对水稻产量和子粒锌积累、分配与子粒品质的影响及基因型差异。结果表明,锌离子活度通过对水稻有效穗数、每穗颖花数、结实率和千粒重的影响而显著影响水稻单株产量,其中影响最大的是单株有效穗数,其次是每穗颖花数,而对结实率的影响相对较小,但均存在明显的基因型差异。锌离子活度显著影响水稻子粒锌含量,随锌离子活度下降,水稻子粒含锌量降低,当锌离子活度低于pZn2+10.3时,两基因型水稻的含锌量均显著降低,但基因型间存在明显差异。不论在何种锌离子活度下,碧玉早糯的子粒含锌量均显著高于浙农921。从子粒锌分配看,颖壳、糙米、精米锌含量均随着锌离子活度提高而提高,当pZn2+从10.3升高到9.7时,碧玉早糯的糙米和精米锌含量开始降低,颖壳锌含量则开始超过糙米的锌含量继续升高;而浙农921糙米和精米锌含量的升高幅度较颖壳锌含量小。不同锌离子活度下,糙米和精米锌含量的比值在0.790~.90之间变化,并以pZn2+为9.7时为最小。因此,通过筛选子粒富锌水稻品种来提高稻米锌含量经济可行;通过增加环境锌离子活度,改善水稻的锌营养能显著提高水稻子粒的锌含量。     

粳稻硅素积累与分配对氮素的反应及其基因型差异

以15个常规粳稻品种为材料,设置0 、150、225、300 kg/hm2四种氮素水平,研究水稻硅素积累与分配对氮素的反应及其基因型差异。结果表明,不同生育时期,硅在水稻各器官、全株中的积累量均随氮素水平的提高而增加。随氮素水平的提高,水稻在移栽-拔节和抽穗-成熟阶段的积累比例增加而拔节-抽穗阶段的积累比例减少,在茎鞘中的分配比例减少而叶片和穗中的分配比例增加。不同生育时期,硅在茎鞘、叶片和全株中的含量均随氮素水平的提高而下降,抽穗和成熟期,穗中的硅素含量随氮素水平的提高而下降,至中肥最低,高肥条件下略有回升。不同氮素条件下,水稻硅素的积累与分配特性存在显著的基因型差异,同时各基因型硅素积累与分配对氮素的反应也存在差异。其中,武育粳7号、华粳3号、武香粳9号、香粳20-18、武育粳3号、晚粳4003、早丰9号、华粳2号的硅素积累效率具有随氮素水平的提高保持稳定或相对提高的特性,对于氮肥用量不断增加条件下水稻植株的抗逆性改良具有较好的遗传潜力。