Diversity in the carotenoid profiles and the expression of genes related to carotenoid accumulation among citrus genotypes

Carotenoids are not only important to the plants themselves but also are beneficial to human health. Since citrus fruit is a good source of carotenoids for the human diet, it is important to study carotenoid profiles and the accumulation mechanism in citrus fruit. Thus, in the present paper, we describe the diversity in the carotenoid profiles of fruit among citrus genotypes. In regard to carotenoids, such as β-cryptoxanthin, violaxanthin, lycopene, and β-citraurin, the relationship between the carotenoid profile and the expression of carotenoid-biosynthetic genes is discussed. Finally, recent results of quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses of carotenoid contents and expression levels of carotenoid-biosynthetic genes in citrus fruit are shown.     

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.     

不同种植密度对夏玉米品种株型及产量性状的影响

为了阐述不同玉米品种株型及产量性状对密度响应，以目前生产上广泛种植的6个品种（‘郑单958’、‘先玉335’、‘伟科702’、‘浚单20’、‘金海5号’、‘利民33’）为材料，研究4个种植密度(60000、90000、112500、127500株/hm2)下不同品种株型和产量性状的变化。结果表明：6个品种棒三叶面积及茎粗系数均随着密度增加而减小，但减小幅度在不同品种或不同叶位存在差异。产量构成因素如穗长、穗粗、穗行数、行粒数、穗粒数和千粒重随着密度增加而减小。4个种植密度中，‘金海5号’、‘伟科702’、‘郑单958’在密度为90000株/hm2时产量为最高；其他3个品种随密度增加，产量降低。回归分析发现在10个已知影响玉米产量因素中，穗粒数对产量的直接影响最大，其次为行粒数。此结果为玉米品种选育和生产上高效栽培提供理论依据。     

小麦茎秆实心度对茎秆强度的影响及相关性状QTL分析

在QTL水平上研究茎秆实心度与强度的遗传关系及实心度对茎秆强度的影响,为小麦抗倒伏育种提供依据。利用普通小麦宁麦18与实秆小麦种质"武云实秆"的F2群体和F2:3家系,对小麦茎秆强度、实心度及影响实心度的相关性状包括厚径比、壁厚、茎粗和髓腔直径进行了相关分析,并对茎秆强度相关性状QTL进行分子标记定位及遗传效应分析。结果表明小麦茎秆强度与厚径比、壁厚均呈极显著正相关,与髓腔直径呈极显著负相关。基于复合区间作图法进行QTL定位,检测到与茎秆强度、厚径比、壁厚、茎粗和髓腔直径相关QTL共23个,分布在1B、3B、4A、4B、5A上,表型贡献率3.5%~44.0%。在染色体3B、4A和5A上的标记区间gwm547–gwm247、wmc718–wmc468和gwm156–gwm443均检测到贡献率很高的茎秆实心度相关QTL,说明在这3条染色体上可能存在控制茎秆强度的主效QTL。用普通小麦宁麦13(N13)×武云实秆的24个F7家系检验分子标记gwm247的可靠性表明利用标记gwm247选育茎秆实心度优于宁麦13的概率较大。研究结果为进一步精细定位相关主效QTL以及分子标记辅助改良小麦茎秆强度奠定了基础。     

Comparative bioactivity of selected seed extracts from Brazilian Annona species and an acetogenin-based commercial bioinsecticide against Trichoplusia ni and Myzus persicae

The acute and chronic toxicity of ethanolic seed extracts from selected Brazilian Annona species (Annona montana Macfadyen, Annona mucosa Jacquin, Annona muricata Linnaeus, and Annona sylvatica A. St.-Hil) and an acetogenin-based commercial bioinsecticide (Anosom^®) were investigated against the cabbage looper Trichoplusia ni Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). In the laboratory, extracts of A. mucosa and A. sylvatica as well as Anosom^® were especially active through oral and topical administration. A greenhouse trial showed that a formulated A. mucosa extract and Anosom^® were highly effective (>98% mortality) against third instar T. ni larvae, and comparable to a pyrethrin-based commercial insecticide (Insect Spray^®) used as a positive control. Similar to results with T. ni, A. mucosa extract showed the greatest aphicidal activity followed by A. sylvatica extract and Anosom^®. In another greenhouse trial, aphid population reduction from the formulated A. mucosa extract was superior to that provided by other treatments including the positive control. Though inferior to the A. mucosa extract, the acetogenin-based commercial insecticide (Anosom^®) and A. sylvatica extract also reduced aphid populations in a manner comparable to the positive control. Botanical insecticides based on these Annonaceae derivatives could be useful in the framework of Brassica IPM in Brazil and elsewhere, especially for organic production.     

GDFs基因家族候选基因对崇仁麻鸡生长性状的影响

利用崇仁麻鸡差异性状的重测序结果,将生长分化因子(GDFs)基因家族作为候选基因,筛选与崇仁麻鸡生长性状相关的多态位点。结果发现,GDF-2、GDF-8和GDF-10基因的多态位点对崇仁麻鸡的生长性状有着显著或极显著的影响。单倍型分析结果显示,GDF-2和GDF-10基因的单倍型H3H3为劣势单倍型组合可以选择淘汰。研究结果表明,GDFs基因家族候选基因对崇仁麻鸡的生长性状有一定的影响。     

黄羽肉鸡ACSL1基因多态性与腹脂性状的相关性研究

长链酯酰辅酶A合成酶(ACSLs)是长链脂肪酸通过硫代酯化进而合成酰基辅酶A衍生物所必需的酶,也是脂肪酸代谢的第一步。哺乳动物ACSL家族由ACSL1、ACSL3、ACSL4、ACSL5和ACSL65个不同的成员组成,ACSL1是主要的异构体之一。为探讨黄羽肉鸡ACSL1基因作为腹脂性状分子标记的可行性,本实验采用PCR-直接测序技术对黄羽肉鸡ACSL1基因进行遗传多态性分析。结果显示:黄羽肉鸡ACSL1基因第17到第18外显子区域(1295 bp)SNPs位点较丰富,T32126C、C32013T、A31958G这3个位点的等位基因频率符合哈代-温伯格平衡,且A31958G突变位点、T32126C突变位点与腹脂重、腹脂率不相关,C32013T突变位点对鸡的腹脂重与腹脂率有显著影响,提示能够利用C32013T突变位点对黄羽肉鸡腹脂重进行分子标记辅助选择。     

Quantitative trait loci for fruit size and flowering time-related traits under domestication and diversifying selection in cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

In cucumber, the genetic basis of traits under domestication and/or diversifying selection is not well understood. Here, we reported QTL mapping for flowering time and fruit size-related traits with segregating populations derived from a cultivated × wild cross. Phenotypic data of flowering time (FT), fruit size (FS), fruit number (FN) and fruit weight per plant (FW) were collected in multiple environments. QTL analysis identified 19 QTL for these traits. We found that the major-effect QTL FT1.1 played an important role in regulating flowering time in cultivated cucumber, whereas the minor-effect QTL FT6.3 contributed to photoperiod sensitive flowering time during domestication. Two novel consensus FS QTL, FS1.4 and FS2.3, seem to be the targets of selection during breeding for the US processing cucumber. All other FS QTL were co-localized with previously detected QTL using populations derived from cultivated cucumbers, suggesting that they were under selection during both initial domestication and subsequent improvement. Results from this study also suggested that the wild cucumber is a useful resource for capturing positive transgressive segregation and novel alleles that could be explored in cucumber breeding.     

Genetic bases of source-,sink-,and yield-related traits revealed by genome-wide association study in Xian rice

The source-sink relationship determines the ultimate grain yield.We investigated the genetic basis of the relationship between source and sink and yield potential in rice.In two environments,we identified quantitative trait loci(QTL)associated with sink capacity(total spikelet number per panicle and thousand-grain weight),source leaf(flag leaf length,flag leaf width and flag leaf area),source-sink relationship(total spikelet number to flag leaf area ratio)and yield-related traits(filled grain number per panicle,panicle number per plant,grain yield per plant,biomass per plant,and harvest index)by genome-wide association analysis using 272 Xian(indica)accessions.The panel showed substantial variation for all traits in the two environments and revealed complex phenotypic correlations.A total of 70 QTL influencing the 11 traits were identified using 469,377 high-quality SNP markers.Five QTL were detected consistently in four chromosomal regions in both environments.Five QTL clusters simultaneously affected source,sink,source–sink relationship,and grain yield traits,probably explaining the genetic basis of significant correlations of grain yield with source and sink traits.We selected 24 candidate genes in the four consistent QTL regions by identifying linkage disequilibrium(LD)blocks associated with significant SNPs and performing haplotype analysis.The genes included one cloned gene(NOG1)and three newly identified QTL(qHI6,qTGW7,and qFLA8).These results provide a theoretical basis for high-yield rice breeding by increasing and balancing source–sink relationships using marker-assisted selection.     

鸡无尾性状的分子机制研究进展

动物的尾巴具有改变方向、控制升降、调整速度、支撑身体、防御、攻击、保温、示警、逃生和捕食等作用。鸟类的尾巴在飞行过程中起到平衡身体的关键作用，但在进化过程中尾部却出现了缩短和融合现象，如中国的瓢鸡及智利的Araucana鸡。作者简述了近年来关于鸡无尾性状的解剖学研究成果，发现无尾鸡在胚胎发育HH19期（Hamburger和Humilton标准分期）就已经出现无尾现象，而在结构上无尾鸡缺乏尾脂腺、尾羽、镰羽、尾椎骨和尾综骨。同时作者分析了导致尾部体节停止发育的分子遗传机制，包括周期性表达基因的转录调控影响尾部延伸过程、后端化因子梯度诱导尾部形成、Hox基因影响体节特化过程及基因突变有可能导致的无尾现象等，从而提出了可能导致家禽无尾性状的胚胎发育时期的关键分子及信号通路，包括Irx1和Irx2基因、Notch信号通路、Wnt信号通路、Fgf信号通路、RA信号通路等。研究鸡无尾性状的分子机制不仅可深入了解脊椎动物胚胎发育中尾部发育机制，更有利于揭示鸟类在进化过程中发生的尾部缩短及融合的机理。