大白菜根肿病抗性与橘红心性状的遗传关系

以育成的黄心抗根肿病直筒叠抱型大白菜CR9112A和CR9112B为母本,直筒舒心橘红心大白菜龙园红1号JH-1自交系为父本,分别完成F1、F2及BC1F1各世代。验证龙园红1号橘红心性状的遗传规律,探究根肿病抗性与橘红心性状之间的遗传关系。抗性和花色鉴定结果表明：根肿病抗性与橘红心性状之间无连锁关系,二者表现为独立遗传。龙园红1号JH-1的基因型为msmsrrhh。提出了转育抗根肿病橘红心大白菜的遗传模式,以期获得经济性状优良的抗根肿病橘红心材料。     

温室专用迷你黄瓜主要农艺性状的配合力分析

利用5个国外迷你黄瓜自交系,按Griffing完全双列杂交第二套方案配置10个杂交组合,对其7个农艺性状的一般配合力、特殊配合力、遗传参数进行初步研究。研究结果表明,亲本B（荷兰的MK171系列之一）、C（荷兰夏多星）、E（日本品种）是较理想的迷你黄瓜育种材料;B×E、B×C组合后代综合性状优良。     

12个无芒雀麦种群遗传多样性的RAPD分析

用RAPD分子标记对12个无芒雀麦种群进行遗传多样性分析,结果表明:选用的9条多态性引物共扩增出87个条带,平均每个引物扩增9.67条,其中多态性条带45个,多态性条带百分率为51.72%.无芒雀麦物种水平上的多态性条带数为76个,多态性条带百分率为87.36%,Shannon信息指数为0.2933,Nei s基因多样性指数为0.1843.种群间遗传分化系数为0.2735,说明无芒雀麦的遗传分化主要发生在种群内.聚类结果显示,部分种群间的遗传距离与地理距离有一定的相关性,但也有例外,这可能与人类的广泛栽培加大了种群间的基因交流有关.     

苜蓿新品系Dy-2006亲缘关系的SSR分析

应用SSR分子标记对苜蓿新品系Dy-2006等6个苜蓿品种(品系)亲缘关系进行了分析.8对SSR引物共扩增出128个位点,106个位点显多态性,多态位点比率82.81%;不同苜蓿品种(品系)SSR多态性百分率存在一定差异,在32.81%～45.31%之间.遗传相似度(F)和遗传距离(D)的变化分别范围在0.9062～0.9689和0.0326～0.0762.聚类分析结果显示,新品系Dy-2006与龙牧801亲缘关系相对较近,与阿尔冈金亲缘关系较远,并与其它供试品种存在一定差异,为一个相对独立的品系.     

Exploitation of SSR,SRAP and CAPS-SNP markers for genetic diversity of Citrus germplasm collection

The present study was to assess informativeness and efficiency of three different molecular markers for genetic diversity among 24 Citrus and its relative species. Sixty one SSR, 33 SRAP and 24 CAPS-SNP markers were used to evaluate the level of polymorphism and discriminating capacity. A total of 596, 656 and 135 polymorphic amplicons were observed in SSR, SRAP and CAPS-SNP markers with average polymorphism information content (PIC) of 0.97, 0.98 and 0.89, respectively. High levels of polymorphism were recorded for SSR and SRAP compared with CAPS-SNP markers. The highest correlations (r = 0.930) were obtained between SSR and SRAP markers, whereas SSR and CAPS-SNP were poorly correlated (r = 0.833). Cluster analysis was performed to construct dendrograms using UPGMA. And the dendrogram from SSR data was most congruent with the general dendrogram. These findings provide basis for future efficient use of these molecular markers in the genetic analysis of Citrus and its relatives.     

Starch granule size variation and relationship with tuber dry matter content in heritage potato varieties

Heritage potato varieties in Canada are historic old varieties collected from Canada and various countries before the formal establishment of the Canadian plant variety registration system and may be a valuable gene resource for beneficial traits in potato breeding and bioproducts development. Greater evaluation is the key for the enhanced use of these materials. It is unknown how much variation of starch granules occurs among Canadian heritage potato varieties. We analyzed the starch granule size of 14 potato heritage varieties held in the Canadian Plant Gene Resources collection over 2 years using a squeezed juice and microscopic method recently developed at the Potato Research Centre. The varieties demonstrated considerable variation in starch granule size and shape. The granules showed average lengths ranging from 18 μm in the variety Congo to 32 μm in ‘Russet Burbank’. The largest single granule measured from 64 μm in ‘Congo’ to 91 μm in ‘Crotte d’Ours.’ The granule sizes of the varieties showed a very high correlation (r = 0.975, P < 0.0001) between years. This high reproducibility suggests the existence of genetic factors in determining starch granule size. We also found that the starch granule size is positively correlated with tuber dry matter (in terms of specific gravity) in these heritage potatoes. The results demonstrated reproducible genotypic variation for starch granule size and shape in tubers with a significant correlation to tuber dry matter in these heritage potato varieties, and offers the possibility for and agronomic relevance of genetic modification of starch granules through selective breeding.     

Genetic polymorphism of caspase-7 isoform β in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

AIM: To investigate the association between the rs2227309 polymorphism of cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-7 (caspase-7) isoform β and the genetic susceptibility in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in Taizhou of China. METHODS: Genotyping of rs2227309 of caspase-7 isoform β gene was performed in 204 RA patients and 203 matched healthy controls using TaqMan single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assays. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies of GG, AG and AA of caspase-7 polymorphism in the RA patients were 33.3%, 53.4% and 13.2%, respectively, and 33.0%, 44.3% and 22.7% in the healthy individuals,respectively. There was a significant difference in caspase-7 genotype frequencies between the RA patients and healthy controls (P<0.05). The frequency of GG+AG genotype in RA patients was higher than that in healthy controls with significant difference (P<0.05, OR=1.921, 95%CI: 1.140~3.236). The frequencies of the G allele were 60.0% and 55.2% in the RA patients and the healthy individuals,respectively. No significant difference was observed in allele frequency between the RA patients and healthy controls (P>0.05, OR=1.221, 95%CI: 0.924~1.613). CONCLUSION: The rs2227309 polymorphism of caspase-7 isoform β gene is associated with the susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis. The high production of the non-functional variant of caspase-7 may reduce the apoptosis of rheumatoid synovial cells, indicating the mechanism of this association.     

Diversity of the calabash tree (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crescentia cujete</Emphasis> L.) in Colombia

Germplasm of the calabash tree (Crescentia cujete L.) was collected in five major regions of Colombia, i.e. the Andes, Caribbean, Amazon, Orinoco, and Pacific regions. Collecting this multipurpose tree was guided by the indigenous knowledge of farmers and artisans in each region. Large variation in fruit shapes and sizes was found, of which some forms were typical for certain regions. Overall 56 accessions were collected and roughly classified into 22 types by eight fruit shapes and eight sizes. Molecular markers (Amplified fragment length polymorphisms) were applied to leaf tip tissue originating from vegetatively propagated plants in order to assess the diversity available in the germplasm collected as well as to detect patterns of geographical or morphological similarity. One accession each of C. alata H.B.&K. and C. amazonica Ducke were used as outgroups. Overall, genetic diversity was high (mean Nei and Li’s coefficient of 0.43). No relations could be established between either geographical provenance or fruit morphology and patterns of genetic diversity. Concerning the outgroups, the C. amazonica accession appeared to be a distinct species. The C. alata accession, however, did not seem to be sufficiently distinct from C. cujete to merit species status. The latter material may in fact be a hybrid or serve to challenge the validity of interspecific organization of the genus Crescentia.

Plant biotechnology: A case study ofBacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and its application to the future of genetic engineered trees

Agricultural productivity may be raised in a sustainable way by many different technologies such as biological fertilizers, soil and water conservation, biodiversity conservation, improved pest control, and changes in land ownership and distribution. Of these measures, biotechnology applications probably hold the most promise in augmenting conventional agricultural productivity, because biotechnology applications give not only the need to increase production, but also protect the environment and conserving natural resources for future generations. Biotechnology applications will have the possibilities to increase productivity and food availability through better agronomic performance of new varieties, including resistance to pests; rapid multiplication of disease-free plants; ability to obtain natural plant products using tissue culture; diagnosis of diseases of plants and livestock; manipulation of reproduction methods increasing the efficiency of breeding; and the provision of incentives for greater participation by the private sector through investments. Insect resistance through the transfer of a gene for resistance fromBacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is one of the most advanced biotechnology applications already being commercialized in many parts of the world. This paper reviews the development and the status ofBt technology and application ofBt transgenic plants in current agriculture, and discusses specific issues related to the transfer of the technology to the future of genetic engineered trees with emphasis on conifers. Biography: Tang Wei (1964-), male, Ph. Doctor, Research associate, Department of Biology, Howell Science Complex, East Carelina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, USA. Responsible editor: Chal Ruihai