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.     

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.     

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。     

Public perceptions of natural disturbance in Canada’s national parks: The case of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins)

Since the 1990s, the mountain pine beetle (MPB) population has exploded in western Canada. In national parks, MPB has the potential to impact visual quality and safety of visitors, and to spread beyond park boundaries to the industrial forest landbase. Control measures have been initiated in some parks to lessen these impacts. A study was undertaken to examine public attitudes, knowledge, issue salience, and management preferences for MPB in Banff and Kootenay national parks. Data were collected by mail survey in 2003 from 1385 residents living in or near the parks. MPB was an important issue for the majority of respondents and they had low knowledge of MPB, expressed negative attitudes towards it, and supported measures to control it. Preferred control measures included those directed at the current infestation. Proactive approaches in uninfested forests were generally not supported. Issue salience and knowledge were the best predictors of attitudes toward the MPB. Attitudes were the best predictors of support for no intervention in beetle infestations in national parks. Management implications include the lack of knowledge and support for natural disturbance and ecological integrity policies in national parks.     

基于决策树和图层叠置的精准农业产量图分析方法

作物产量限制因子的提取是精准农业变量施肥的重要环节之一。决策树和GIS图层叠置方法研究结果表明，土壤有机质始终占据决策树全部知识规则的第一次分支，起着重要的决定性作用，其次为速效磷和碱解氮；产量空间分布与有机质、碱解氮、速效磷高度吻合，平均吻合度分别达到91%、83%和49%。土壤有机质、速效磷和碱解氮含量是宁夏暖泉农场小麦产量主要限制因子，提高土壤有机质含量是提高单产的重要措施。结论得到生产实际验证，说明运用决策树和GIS图层叠置分析方法挖掘产量限制因子在技术上可行。     

压力式谷物产量监测系统优化与试验验证

为了提高谷物收获作业过程中谷物产量在线监测的精度,研制了基于谷物流压力原理的车载谷物产量在线监测系统,该系统包括谷物流量监测装置、定位装置、割台高度控制开关、核心处理器以及人机交互装置。以谷物产量与谷物流压力间的谷物产量监测数学模型为指导,搭建了谷物产量监测试验台,采用Box-Behnken试验设计方法优化谷物流量监测装置结构参数,研究了传感器数量、传感器安装位置和监测装置水平倾角对谷物产量监测系统测产误差的影响,确定了最优参数组合为传感器数量5、传感器安装位置0.24 cm、监测装置水平倾角5°,并对最优参数组合进行了验证试验,结果表明,谷物产量监测系统测产误差为3.27%,满足谷物产量监测的精度要求。对谷物产量监测系统田间实际效果进行了试验验证,试验结果表明,田间测产误差为5.28%,生成的产量分布图为后续田间作业管理提供了决策依据。     

A pig–human comparative RH map comprising 20 genes on pig chromosome 13q41 that harbours the ETEC F4ac receptor locus

The enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4ac is a major cause of diarrhoea in newborn and young pigs. The locus for the intestinal ETEC F4ac receptor (F4acR) has been mapped to pig chromosome (SSC) 13q41 with known homology to human chromosome (HSA) 3q21 and q29. However, the causative gene and mutation(s) remain unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize gene-derived markers on SSC13q41 for fine mapping of the F4acR locus, and construct a high-resolution pig–human comparative map to select positional candidate genes for F4acR. Pig-specific sequence-tagged site markers were developed for 20 genes that are located in a 6.8-Mb region on HSA3q21 and q29, and a total of 34 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in 14 of 20 markers developed. Eighteen markers were mapped to SSC13q41, while the other two markers ( PLXNA1 and KLF15 ) were assigned to SSC13q32 and SSC7q13, respectively, by radiation hybrid mapping. This result showed that there was a small conserved segment on SSC7 corresponding to HSA3q21. A framework map comprising 18 markers on SSC13q41 was established, refining the synteny breakpoint on SSC13q41 to a region of 12.3 centiRay. The comparative radiation hybrid (RH) map revealed three interesting candidate genes for F4acR from the human genome, viz. MUC4 , MUC13 and MUC20 . Linkage analysis with six marker polymorphisms revealed that MUC4 had the most significant linkage with the F4acR locus.