Quantitative trait loci mapping for yield-related traits under low and high planting densities in maize (Zea mays)

Average maize yield per hectare has increased significantly because of the improvement in high-density tolerance, but little attention has been paid to the genetic mechanism of grain yield response to high planting density. Here, we used a population of 301 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross YE478 × 08–641 to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for 16 yield-related traits under two planting densities (57,000 and 114,000 plants per ha) across four environments. These yield-related traits responded differently to high-density stress. A total of 110 QTLs were observed for these traits: 33 QTLs only under low planting density, 50 QTLs under high planting density and 27 QTLs across both densities. Only two major QTLs, qCD6 and qWKEL2-2, were identified across low- and high-density treatments. Seven environmentally stable QTLs were also observed containing qED6, qWKEL3, qRN3-3, qRN7-2, qRN9-2 and qRN10 across both densities, as well as qRN9-1 under low density. In addition, 16 and eight pairs of loci with epistasis interaction (EPI) were detected under low and high planting densities, respectively. Additionally, nine and 17 loci showed QTL × environment interaction (QEI) under low- and high-density conditions, respectively. These interactions are of lesser importance than the main QTL effects. We also observed 26 pleiotropic QTL clusters, and the hotspot region 3.08 concentrated nine QTLs, suggesting its great importance for maize yield. These findings suggested that multiple minor QTLs, loci with EPI and QEI, pleiotropy and the complex network of “crosstalk” among them for yield-related traits were greatly influenced by plant density, which increases our understanding of the genetic mechanism of yield-related traits for high-density tolerance.     

Genomewide association study reveals novel quantitative trait loci associated with resistance towards Septoria tritici blotch in North European winter wheat

Fungal diseases are a major constraint for wheat production. Effective disease resistance is essential for ensuring a high production quality and yield. One of the most severe fungal diseases of wheat is Septoria tritici blotch (STB), which influences wheat production across the world. In this study, genomewide association mapping was used to identify new chromosomal regions on the wheat genome conferring effective resistance towards STB. A winter wheat population of 164 North European varieties and breeding lines was genotyped with 15K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) wheat array. The varieties were evaluated for STB in field trials at three locations in Denmark and across 3 years. The association analysis revealed four quantitative trait loci, on chromosomes 1B, 2A, 5D and 7A, highly associated with STB resistance. By comparing varieties containing several quantitative trait loci (QTL) with varieties containing none of the found QTL, a significant difference was found in the mean disease score. This indicates that an effective resistance can be obtained by pyramiding several QTL.     

hrpZ_(Psta)在转基因大豆中定量表达与疫霉根腐病和灰斑病抗性相关研究

以T5转hrpZPsta基因大豆JN29-705-15和JL30-187为材料,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术(Quantitative Real Time PCR,qRT-PCR)检测了目标基因在转基因大豆不同组织中的表达量,分别利用下胚轴侵染法和叶面喷施法鉴定疫霉根腐病抗性和灰斑病抗性,并分析目的基因表达量与疫霉根腐病和灰斑病抗性的相关性。结果表明:hrpZPsta基因在大豆的叶、茎、根、籽粒中均有表达,二个株系平均相对表达量分别为8.2/6.1、0.9/0.7、6.5/4.6和0.8/0.7;T5转hrpZPsta基因大豆抗疫霉根腐病和灰斑病能力与野生型相比均有所提高,JN29-705-15对疫霉根腐病抗性从感病提高到中抗,而JL30-187从中抗提高到抗病;hrpZPsta基因在叶中的表达量也与抗灰斑病能力呈正相关,与病情级别呈极显著负相关。试验结果初步证明了外源基因hrp ZPsta在大豆植株中的表达量与受体植株对疫霉根腐病和灰斑病抗性存在一定的相关性。     

不同来源花生品种的ISSR分析及亲缘关系研究

利用13对ISSR引物对28个栽培种花生品种进行PCR扩增,研究这些品种的DNA多态性及其亲缘关系。结果表明,有7对引物检测到明显的多态性,从28个花生品种中扩增出90条带,其中多态性带达到79条,多态性比率为87.8%,平均每个引物可扩增出12.86条带,11.29条为多态性条带。品种间的遗传相似系数值在0.411~0.800之间,平均为0.620。在UPGMA聚类分析简单匹配系数值为0.57处,可把28个花生品种分成3个品种群。由此表明,这些不同来源的花生品种具有较高的DNA多态性,亲缘关系不同。     

绵羊FGF10基因克隆、序列分析及其在毛囊发育中的表达分析

本试验旨在获得中国美利奴羊成纤维细胞生长因子10（fibroblast growth factor 10，FGF10）基因的编码区（CDS）全长序列并进行生物信息学分析，随后对FGF10基因在中国美利奴羊毛囊发育过程中的表达特征进行分析，明确其在中国美利奴羊毛囊发育过程中的表达模式，为进一步研究FGF10 mRNA表达水平与中国美利奴羊毛囊生长发育的表达调控机制奠定理论基础。采用PCR扩增获得中国美利奴羊FGF10基因CDS，并克隆到zero PCR@^TM-Blunt进行测序验证；利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测FGF10在中国美利奴羊毛囊发育过程中的表达差异。结果表明，绵羊FGF10基因CDS长度为696 bp（序列上传GenBank，获得登录号：MT872422），编码231个氨基酸，与牛和山羊的氨基酸序列同源性达100%，存在1个信号肽和1个跨膜结构域，其为分泌通路信号蛋白；实时荧光定量PCR分析表明，FGF10基因在中国美利奴羊毛囊发育过程中均表达，在毛囊发育第85天表达最高，显著高于其他毛囊发育时期（P<0.05）。本研究获得中国美利奴羊FGF10基因完整的编码区序列和毛囊发育过程中的表达特征，生物信息学分析发现，FGF10基因编码区序列具有物种间的保守性，同时FGF10在绵羊毛囊不同发育阶段的皮肤组织中表达，由此表明，FGF10基因可能在绵羊毛囊的生长发育过程中发挥重要的生物学作用。     

猪SENP1基因克隆、生物信息学分析与表达研究

试验旨在对猪SUMO特异性蛋白酶1(sentrin-specific protease 1,SENP1)基因CDS区进行克隆和生物信息学分析,并探讨SENP1基因在乙脑病毒(Japanese encephalitis virus,JEV)感染PK15细胞后的表达情况。根据GenBank中公布的猪SENP1基因预测序列(登录号:XM_013997974.2)设计特异性引物,通过RT-PCR和T/A克隆技术对猪SENP1基因CDS区序列进行克隆测序,并进行生物信息学分析,利用实时荧光定量PCR分析猪SENP1基因在JEV感染PK15细胞不同时间点(0、12、24、36、48 h)的表达情况。结果显示,猪SENP1基因CDS序列全长2 034 bp,共编码677个氨基酸。序列比对和系统进化树分析结果表明,猪SENP1蛋白序列和山羊、犬、人、牛的相似性分别为94.8%、94.2%、93.9%和93.8%,说明在这些物种中SENP1的保守性较强;猪与犬的SENP1分子亲缘关系较近。生物信息学分析结果显示,猪SENP1蛋白相对分子质量为76 825.76,等电点为8.53,体外半衰期为30 h,不稳定系数为53.59,总平均亲水指数为－0.622。SENP1蛋白不含信号肽序列,无跨膜结构域。二级结构分析结果显示,SENP1蛋白中α-螺旋、无规则卷曲、延伸链和β-转角分别占31.31%、46.68%、16.25%和5.76%。三级结构分析结果显示,猪SENP1蛋白中存在8个α-螺旋区和7个β-转角区。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,猪SENP1基因在JEV感染的PK15细胞中呈现上调表达趋势,其中在感染后48 h SENP1基因表达量显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。本试验结果为后续深入研究SENP1基因功能提供了参考。     

不同燕麦基因型源库关系对穗粒数形成过程的影响

为了解燕麦穗粒数形成过程与源、库特征之间的关系，连续两年以10个不同来源、熟期、穗型、株型、小穗数的燕麦品种为试验材料，测定三叶期至拔节期的幼穗分化阶段及抽穗期源库特征，采用方差分析、聚类分析、逐步回归分析等方法，分析不同燕麦基因型源库特征及对穗粒数形成过程的影响。结果表明，燕麦穗粒数形成过程存在基因型差异，幼穗分化较好品种的穗粒数较全部品种平均值高11.22%~65.43%；幼穗分化较好品种的光合势、干物质量、粒数叶比、收获指数显著高于幼穗分化较差品种，其中粒数叶比和收获指数是影响穗粒数形成的主要因素，粒数叶比和收获指数较全部品种平均值分别高0.99%~68.74%和0.85%~13.80%。综上所述，源库协调是燕麦幼穗分化良好的生理基础，可通过提高光合势和干物质量达到增源的目的，进而提高穗粒数。     

Molecular mapping of soybean seed tocopherols in the cross ‘OAC Bayfield’ × ‘OAC Shire’

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) is cultivated primarily for its protein and oil in the seed. In addition, soybean seeds contain nutraceutical compounds such as tocopherols (vitamin E), which are powerful antioxidants with health benefits. The objective of this study was to identify molecular markers linked to quantitative trait loci (QTL) that affect accumulation of soybean seed tocopherols. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross ‘OAC Bayfield’ × ‘OAC Shire’ was grown in three locations over 2 years. A total of 151 SSR markers were polymorphic of which a one‐way analysis of variance identified 42 markers whereas composite interval mapping identified 26 markers linked to tocopherol QTL across 17 chromosomes. Individual QTL explained from 7% to 42% of the total phenotypic variation. Significant two‐locus epistatic interactions were identified for a total of 122 combinations in 2009 and 152 in 2010. The multiple‐locus models explained 18.4–72.2% of the total phenotypic variation. The reported QTL may be used in marker‐assisted selection (MAS) to develop high tocopherol soybean cultivars.