Identification of potential genomic regions for egg weight by a haplotype-based genome-wide association study using Bayesian methods

ABSTRACT

1. Theoretically, haplotype blocks might be a more suitable alternative to SNP genotypes as they are usually better at capturing multi-allelic QTL effects, compared to individual SNP genotypes in genome-wide association studies. The objectives of this study were to identify genomic regions related to egg weight traits by Bayesian methods (BayesA, BayesB, and BayesN) that fit fixed-length haplotypes using GenSel software.

2. Genotypes at 294,705 SNPs, that were common on a 600K Affymetrix chip, were phased for an egg-laying hen population of 1,063 birds. Recorded traits included first egg weight (FEW) and average egg weight at 28, 36, 56, 66, 72 and 80 weeks of age.

2. Fitting 1Mb haplotypes from BayesB resulted in the highest proportion of genetic variance explained for the egg weight traits. Based on the trait, the genetic variance explained by each marker ranged from 27% to 76%.

3. Different haplotype windows associated with egg weight traits only explained a small percentage of the genetic variance.

4. The top one 1-Mb window on GGA1 explained approximately 4.05% of total genetic variance for the FEW. Candidate genes, including PRKAR2B, HMGA2, LEMD3, GRIP1, EHBP1, MAP3K7, and MYH were identified for egg weight traits.

5. Several genomic regions, potentially associated with egg weight traits, were identified, some of which overlapped with known genes and previously reported QTL regions for egg production traits.     

Associations between postpartum diseases and milk yield and changes in body condition between drying off and parturition of dairy cows in Argentina

ABSTRACT

Aims: To assess the change in body condition score (BCS) during the early and late dry periods and its association with postpartum diseases and milk yield in grazing dairy cows from central Argentina.

Methods: BCS assessments during the dry period, and cow health and milk production records up to 90 days in milk (DIM), were collated for cows from 28 farms at monthly visits between 2007 and 2008. Cows were categorised into four groups; those in Group 1 (n=7,067) maintained or gained BCS during the early and late dry periods; Group 2 (n=2,615) maintained or gained BCS during the early dry period and lost BCS during the late dry period; Group 3 (n=1,989) lost BCS during the early dry period and maintained or gained BCS during the late dry period; and Group 4 (n=5,144) lost BCS during the early and late dry periods.

Results: Cows in Group 1 had reduced odds of having retained fetal membranes (RFM), metritis, and clinical mastitis up to 90 DIM than cows in Group 2 (p<0.001), but the odds of disease were similar to cows in Group 3. The odds of having RFM or clinical mastitis tended to be lower in cows in Group 1 than cows in Group 4 (p=0.08). The odds of cows being culled or dying during the first 90 DIM were lower for cows in Group 1 than for those in Groups 2, 3, and 4 (p≤0.05). Mean accumulated milk yield up to 90 DIM was higher in cows in Group 1 than Group 2 and Group 4 (p<0.001), but was similar to that of cows in Group 3 (p=0.28).

Conclusions and clinical relevance: Cows that lost BCS during the late dry period had increased odds of being diagnosed with several postpartum diseases and had decreased milk yield compared to cows that maintained or gained BCS during the entire dry period. Loss of BCS during any stage of the dry period was also associated with increased incidence of culling or death during the first 90 DIM. These results should raise awareness among dairy cattle producers of the importance of properly managing cow body condition during the dry period, especially during the late dry period.     

气候变暖背景下河南省夏玉米花期高温灾害风险预估

为预估未来气候变暖背景下夏玉米花期高温灾害风险,根据河南省19个农业气象观测站夏玉米抽雄期常年观测资料和未来RCPs(representativeconcentrationpathways)气候变化情景数据,构建夏玉米花期高温风险评价指标,开展河南省夏玉米花期高温灾害时空特征及风险演变分析。其中RCPs气候情景数据包括基准气候条件(1951—2005年, RCP-rf)和未来(2006—2050年)RCP 4.5(中)、RCP 8.5(高)两种浓度路径数据。以抽雄普遍期及之后7d确定为夏玉米花期,并内插匹配气候情景格点数据。以花期最高气温≥32℃和≥35℃作为轻度和重度高温灾害发生阈值,根据轻、重度夏玉米花期高温发生频率和高温积害,建立风险评价指标并分级。结果表明, RCP-rf情景下全省夏玉米花期高温发生频率在20.5%～81.0%(≥32℃)和3.9%～51.9%(≥35℃)。与基准条件相比,≥32℃高温发生频率增加9.1%(RCP4.5)和11.0%(RCP8.5),≥35℃高温发生频率增加8.7%(RCP4.5)和8.3%(RCP8.5)。RCP-rf情景下全省夏玉米花期高温积害在48.5～200.9℃·d(≥32℃)和9.8～138.5℃·d(≥35℃)。与基准条件相比,≥32℃高温积害增加25.4℃·d (RCP 4.5)和25.6℃·d (RCP 8.5),≥35℃高温积害增加25.8℃·d (RCP 4.5)和31.4℃·d (RCP 8.5)。由综合风险分析可知, RCP-rf情景下夏玉米花期高温灾害高值风险区主要分布在新乡、郑州、许昌、漯河、周口及其以东以北的地区(商丘除外),约占夏玉米主栽区面积的30.1%;RCP4.5情景下高值风险区扩大至洛阳和南阳以东的大部分地区,约占夏玉米主栽区面积的63.4%; RCP 8.5情景下高值风险区面积进一步向西扩大,约占夏玉米主栽区面积的占76.3%。     

海南水稻生育期的时空变化特征及对气候变暖的响应

基于海南6个农业气象观测站点的水稻生育期资料和1961~2014年历史气象数据,分析了海南不同地区水稻生育期的时空分布特征,以及气候变暖对海南水稻生育期的影响。结果表明,近54 a海南水稻生长季内平均气温呈上升趋势,早稻气候倾向率为0.21~0.3℃/10 a,以苗期最为明显,晚稻为0.18~0.24℃/10 a,以成熟期最为明显。不同地区水稻生育期差异较大,东部地区早于西部地区,早稻播种时间最大相差55 d,早稻收获和晚稻播种最大间隔42 d,降水和高温可能是造成这一差异的主要原因。随着气候变暖,海南大部分地区早稻生育期提前,晚稻生育期延迟,苗期和成熟期持续时间缩短,与该阶段平均气温呈负相关,但全生育期持续时间变异较大,部分站点略有延长。在未来气候变暖背景下,海南早稻播期可适当提前,晚稻播期可适当延迟,并选用耐高温和抗干旱品种,以减轻高温的不利影响。     

园林植物春季最佳观赏期调查研究

目前,由于缺乏准确的园林植物最佳观赏期的资料,导致优秀的规划设计方案难以落到实处,园林景点建成之后景观效果大打折扣。针对以上问题,作者采用实地调查观测的方法对园林植物春季最佳观赏期和最佳观赏顺序进行了研究。记录整理典型地点园林植物的最佳观赏期和最佳观赏顺序,为园林规划设计、植物配置和养护管理提供科学的参考依据。     

没食子酸对水稻细菌性条斑病防治作用的持效期

利用高效液相色谱法(HPLC)检测没食子酸(gallic acid,简称GA)在水稻叶片上的残留时间,并在检测水稻叶片上残留量的同时接种病原菌,调查接种后水稻细菌性条斑病的发病情况,以确定GA在水稻叶片上对水稻细菌性条斑病防治作用的持效期。研究结果表明,GA不具有内渗作用,只残留在水稻叶片的表面。分别用100、200和400 mg/L的浓度处理叶片后,GA在叶片表面的残留时间分别为16、24和28 d。200 mg/L浓度处理叶片后,GA对水稻细菌性条斑病防治作用的持效期为16 d。研究结果可为有效使用GA防治水稻细菌性条斑病奠定基础。     

文山辣椒成熟期不同颜色果实的色素含量

为揭示云南文山州辣椒成熟期果色多样性和独特性的化学基础,用分光光度法研究了该州辣椒成熟期紫色、红色、金色和杂色果实的叶绿素(chlorophylls,Chls)、类胡萝卜素(Car)和总花色苷含量。结果表明:文山辣椒成熟期不同颜色果实的叶绿素a(Chl a)和总叶绿素[Chl(a+b)]含量和叶绿素a/b(Chl a/b)及总叶绿素/类胡萝卜素[Chl(a+b)/Car]特征均为紫色杂色红色金色,叶绿素b(Chl b)含量特征为紫色杂色金色红色,Car含量特征为金色红色杂色紫色,总花色苷含量(TAC)特征为紫色红色金色杂色,此外,4种颜色果实Chl a、Chl b和Chl(a+b)含量间的差异均达到极显著水平,但Car含量和TAC间的差异则均未达到显著水平。因此,文山辣椒成熟期果实颜色差异主要决定于Chl含量,叶绿素和花色苷共同贡献于果实的紫色,Car含量则决定了果实的金色和红色。本研究可为文山州辣椒果色呈现机理的研究和新奇果色品种的选育提供参考。     

新疆冬小麦品种萌发期耐盐性综合评价及耐盐种质的筛选

【目的】研究不同类型盐胁迫对新疆冬小麦萌发期的影响,并进行耐盐性综合评价,为新疆小麦萌发期耐盐品种的评价和指标筛选提供理论依据。【方法】测定76份新疆冬小麦品种(系)在NaCl和NaCl∶Na₂SO₄两种不同盐胁迫条件下小麦根数、最长根长、苗高、胚芽鞘长度、发芽势、发芽率等6个性状,利用隶属函数法并通过聚类分析分别对两种盐胁迫条件下冬小麦品种(系)的耐盐性进行筛选,综合评价和筛选新疆冬小麦耐盐性。【结果】与对照处理相比,NaCl和NaCl∶Na₂SO₄两种盐胁迫对新疆冬小麦品种(系)各性状均有明显的抑制作用,其中NaCl单盐胁迫对各性状抑制作用比NaCl∶Na₂SO₄混合盐胁迫抑制程度更大。通过NaCl单盐胁迫条件下聚类分析,新疆冬小麦品种(系)按耐盐性强弱可分为高耐型(6个/占供试材料的7.89%)、耐盐型(15个/19.74%)、中耐型(16个/21.05%)、敏感性(18个/23.68%)和高敏感型(21个/27.63%)等5类。NaCl∶Na₂SO₄混合盐胁迫条件下聚类分析,新疆冬小麦品种(系)按耐盐性强弱也可分为高耐型(13个/占供试材料的17.11%)、耐盐型(10个/13.16%)、中耐型(16个/21.05%)、敏感性(26个/34.21%)和高敏感型(11个/14.47%)等5类。获得高耐NaCL单盐胁迫的品种(系)6份,占供试品种的7.89%;高耐NaCl∶Na₂SO₄混合盐胁迫的品种(系)13份,占供试品种的17.11%。【结论】两种盐胁迫条件下,350 mol/L浓度对小麦种子的萌发有抑制作用,NaCl单盐胁迫和NaCl∶Na₂SO₄混合盐胁迫均为高耐型的品种3份,均是自育品种和引进品种分别为石冬8号、洛夫林10号和新冬7号。     

云南芥菜型油菜资源品质及苗期耐旱性评价

为研究芥菜型油菜的耐旱性，对150份云南芥菜型油菜地方品种的品质及苗期不同干旱程度下植株地上 及地下部进行研究。结果表明，参试芥菜型油菜耐旱性总体表现较好，品质变异丰富，其中油酸、芥酸变异系数大 于1，依据品质性状参试品种大致聚为三类；中度及重度干旱均能显著影响油菜地上部及根系的生长，其中对根系 影响更大；各品质性状与耐旱性相关分析表明，中度干旱条件下，耐旱性与含油量及芥酸、花生烯酸2种极长链脂肪 酸呈显著正相关，与5种长链脂肪酸硬脂酸、棕榈酸、油酸、亚油酸、亚麻酸为显著负相关，而重度干旱条件下均不相 关，同一品种在不同程度干旱下其耐旱性有差别；含油量与极长链脂肪酸呈显著正相关，与长链脂肪酸及蛋白含量 呈显著负相关，极长链脂肪酸与长链脂肪酸间呈极显著负相关。共筛出8个综合耐旱性强的材料。     

规模化蛋鸡场病原菌溯源与生物安全防控研究

细菌病严重威胁蛋鸡健康,以抗生素为主导的细菌病传统防控方式会导致病原菌耐药性严重、鸡蛋药物残留,影响蛋品安全。要保证蛋鸡产蛋期不用抗菌药物而又能生产出"无菌、无抗"的鸡蛋,是国内外技术难题。本团队以规模化蛋鸡场全封闭鸡舍为研究对象,基于PFGE、MLST、全基因组测序等技术,探明了蛋鸡病原菌的种类及基因组特征;对病原菌的耐药性研究表明,蛋鸡病原菌多重耐药严重,依靠药物防控的方式亟待转变;对规模化蛋鸡场细菌溯源研究结果表明,鸡舍生物媒介(鼠、苍蝇等)和非生物媒介(空气、饮水、饲料、鸡粪等)是蛋鸡病原菌的重要传染来源和传播途径;对规模化蛋鸡场生物安全量化评价结果表明,外部和内部生物安全权重高达92.2%。根据溯源和生物安全权重分析结果,提出了在规模化全封闭蛋鸡舍将蛋鸡细菌病从药物防控转变为生物安全防控的新策略;创新了规模化蛋鸡场细菌病防控的系统技术,实现蛋鸡规模养殖整个产蛋期不用抗生素,为生产"无菌、无抗"安全鸡蛋提供技术支撑。