A genetic map of macadamia based on randomly amplified DNA fingerprinting (RAF) markers

The first genetic linkage map of macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia and M. tetraphylla) is presented. The map is based on 56 F₁ progeny of cultivars ‘Keauhou’ and ‘A16’. Eighty-four percent of the 382 markers analysed segregated as Mendelian loci. The two-way pseudo-testcross mapping strategy allowed construction of separate parental cultivar maps. Ninety bridging loci enabled merging of these maps to produce a detailed genetic map of macadamia, 1100 cm in length and spanning 70–80% of the genome. The combined map comprised 24 linkage groups with 265 framework markers: 259 markers from randomly amplified DNA fingerprinting (RAF), five random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and one sequence-tagged microsatellite site (STMS). The RAF marker system unexpectedly revealed 16 codominant markers, one of them a putative microsatellite locus and exhibiting four distinct alleles in the cross. This molecular study is the most comprehensive examination to date of genetic loci of macadamia, and is a major step towards developing marker-assisted selection for this crop. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Molecular mapping of an aluminum tolerance locus on chromosome 4D of Chinese Spring wheat

Summary The tolerance of aluminum (Al) of disomic substitution lines having the chromosomes of the D genome of Triticum aestivum L. cv. Chinese Spring individually substituted for their homoeologues in T. turgidum L. cv. Langdon was investigated by the hematoxylin method. The disomic substitution lines involving chromosome 4D were more Al tolerant than Langdon. The tolerance was found to be controlled by a single dominant gene, designated Alt2, that is in the proximal region of the long arm of chromosome 4D. The locus was mapped relative to molecular markers utilizing a population of recombinant chromosomes from homoeologous recombination between Chinese Spring chromosome 4D and T. turgidum chromosome 4B. Comparison of the location of Alt2 in this map with a consensus map of chromosomes 4B and 4D based on homologous recombination indicated that Alt2 is in a vicinity of a 4 cM interval delineated by markers Xpsr914 and Xpsr1051. The Alt2 locus is distal to marker Xpsr39 and proximal to XksuC2. The Altw locus is also proximal to the Knal locus on chromosome 4D that controls K⁺/Na⁺ selectivity and salt tolerance. In two lines, Alt 2 and Knal were transferred on a single 4D segment into the long arm of T. turgidum chromosome 4B.     

基于知识模型的棉花管理决策支持系统

通过对棉花栽培研究资料和专家知识的总结归纳,运用系统学方法和结构化途径,建立了基于知识模型的棉花管理决策支持系统(KMDSSCM)。它由数据库、知识模型库、专家咨询库和人机界面等部分组成;可以实现栽培方案设计、适宜生育指标确定、适时苗情调控、专家知识咨询和系统维护等功能,具有普适性强,独立性好等特点。实例分析结果表明,系统可以根据决策点的基础农情条件,设计出适宜的综合性栽培管理方案和生育指标动态。     

An introduction to markers, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and marker-assisted selection for crop improvement: The basic concepts

Recognizing the enormous potential of DNA markers in plant breeding, many agricultural research centers and plant breeding institutes have adopted the capacity for marker development and marker-assisted selection (MAS). However, due to rapid developments in marker technology, statistical methodology for identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and the jargon used by molecular biologists, the utility of DNA markers in plant breeding may not be clearly understood by non-molecular biologists. This review provides an introduction to DNA markers and the concept of polymorphism, linkage analysis and map construction, the principles of QTL analysis and how markers may be applied in breeding programs using MAS. This review has been specifically written for readers who have only a basic knowledge of molecular biology and/or plant genetics. Its format is therefore ideal for conventional plant breeders, physiologists, pathologists, other plant scientists and students.     

水稻Xa-5基因在水稻和玉米中的比较物理定位

比较基因组分析证明，玉米和水稻基因组间存在广泛的同线性和共线性。对水稻和玉米基因的原位杂交定位可以揭示禾本科植物基因组结构的共同特点和进化规律。用与Xa-5连锁的RG556及RG556筛选出的BAC克隆44B4作探针对水稻广陆矮四号和玉米自交系黄早四进行了原位杂交，在水稻第5号染色体短臂和玉米第8号染色体长臂检出了杂交信     

Fusarium wilt of chickpea: physiological specialization, genetics of resistance and resistance gene tagging

Chickpea wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris is one of the major yield limiting factors in chickpea. The disease causes 10–90% yield losses annually in chickpea. Eight physiological races of the pathogen (0, 1A, 1B/C, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) are reported so far whereas additional races are suspected from India. The distribution pattern of these races in different parts of the world indicates regional specificity for their occurrence leading to the perception that F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris evolved independently in different regions. Pathogen isolates also exhibit differences in disease symptoms. Races 0 and 1B/C cause yellowing syndrome whereas 1A, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 lead to wilting syndrome. Genetics of resistance to two races (1B/C and 6) is yet to be determined, however, for other races resistance is governed either by monogenes or oligogenes. The individual genes of oligogenic resistance mechanism delay onset of disease symptoms, a phenomenon called as late wilting. Slow wilting, i.e., slow development of disease after onset of disease symptoms also occurs in reaction to pathogen; however, its genetics are not known. Mapping of wilt resistance genes in chickpea is difficult because of minimal polymorphism; however, it has been facilitated to great extent by the development of sequence tagged microsatellite site (STMS) markers that have revealed significant interspecific and intraspecific polymorphism. Markers linked to six genes governing resistance to six races (0, 1A, 2, 3, 4 and 5) of the pathogen have been identified and their position on chickpea linkage maps elucidated. These genes lie in two separate clusters on two different chickpea linkage groups. While the gene for resistance to race 0 is situated on LG 5 of Winter et al. (Theoretical and Applied Genetics 101:1155–1163, 2000) those governing resistance to races 1A, 2, 3, 4 and 5 spanned a region of 8.2 cM on LG 2. The cluster of five resistance genes was further subdivided into two sub clusters of 2.8 cM and 2.0 cM, respectively. Map-based cloning can be used to isolate the six genes mapped so far; however, the region containing these genes needs additional markers to facilitate their isolation. Cloning of wilt resistance genes is desirable to study their evolution, mechanisms of resistance and their exploitation in wilt resistance breeding and wilt management.     

Influencing the global through understanding the local: Harold Brookfield's contribution to international organisations' biodiversity policy

Abstract: This article focuses on a significant paradigm shift in the approaches to biodiversity conservation in the developing countries that has affected important international organisations, including the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This paradigm shift marks a movement beyond protected areas to production landscapes. It is argued that one particular project, People, Land Management and Environmental Change (PLEC), developed under the leadership of Harold Brookfield has contributed significantly to the shift. The project was instrumental in introducing the term ‘agrodiversity’ that encompasses biological diversity as well as the management diversity found in smallholder agricultural systems at all levels. The article describes the evolution of PLEC into a major international collaborative project funded through the GEF. It highlights the project's main achievements and its influence on the policy‐making in the GEF relying on the findings of independent evaluations.     

多项式插值法绘制发动机万有特性曲线

发动机万有特性可直观的反映发动机在其运行范围内的各项性能参数的变化情况。该文利用多项式插值法绘制发动机万有特性曲线。推导了三次多项式插值公式和三次多项式插值余项，绘制了发动机万有特性曲线。结果表明三次多项式插值法能精确地反映发动机特性，并可用该方法绘制发动机等油耗、等排放等特性曲线。为绘制发动机特性曲线、研究发动机性能提供较好的方法。     

作物管理知识模型系统设计与开发框架研究

在提炼小麦栽培管理知识模型框架的基础上，通过综合不同作物管理知识模型系统的共性及软件设计与开发的特点，初步确立了作物管理知识模型系统的通用设计与开发框架，包括系统总体结构框架、软构件的基本标准、开发平台框架及系统应用框架等。其中，开发平台框架包括系统开发平台的结构和功能、模型库管理系统的功能设置和模型库管理系统的框架及构件；系统应用框架包括系统应用框架结构、应用系统开发框架、应用系统功能框架及构件、应用系统功能构件的输入输出接口框架及应用系统自定义构件中的通用算法函数框架等。研究结果对于提高作物管理知识模