Diversity of the Icelandic goat breed assessed using population data

Abstract

The Icelandic goat breed is a closed population consisting of around 700 animals kept in 45 herds. Several population bottlenecks are known to have occurred and the population has at least twice declined below 100 animals. Here the genetic diversity of the breed was estimated using pedigree information, D-loop sequencing and microsatellite markers. The annual rate of inbreeding was estimated as 3% and the effective population size as 5.1 animals. The effective population size based on molecular markers was estimated in the range of 4.1–8.8 individuals and mtDNA D-loop sequencing identified only three haplotypes. The results presented here show the population to be highly inbred, fragmented and the level of genetic variation among the lowest found in livestock. The results will be an important input into conservation planning for the Icelandic goat.     

Genetic relationships among pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) ecomorphs in freshwater reservoirs of Portugal

Abstract – High levels of morphological differentiation have been found among pumpkinseeds (Lepomis gibbosus) occupying four habitat types in Portuguese reservoirs. To investigate the underlying mechanism behind the phenotypic differentiation among ecomorphs, we used six microsatellite markers to assess patterns of genetic differentiation among and within eight naturalised reservoir populations. Greater genetic differentiation was seen among reservoir populations than within reservoirs (F_ST > 0.041, P < 0.002). structure analysis revealed the presence of two distinct genetic groups among the set of eight reservoir populations. However, an analysis of co‐occurring forms that were identified a priori by their respective habitats was consistent with a single panmictic group, suggesting that morphological differentiation has arisen in sympatry (i.e., within a reservoir, postintroduction). The observed relationships within and among reservoir populations, combined with the timeframe of ecomorph divergence, suggest the strong likelihood of phenotypic plasticity as the underlying mechanism of diversification in the introduced pumpkinseed.     

Lineages differentiation and population structure of the light‐vented bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis in China based on mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite analysis

The light‐vented bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis is a small resident passerine that is found widely in central and south China, North Vietnam, and some East Asian islands, including Hainan, Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands. Its subspecies status has been under considerable debate. A total of 10 subspecies have been proposed, but only 4 are widely recognized, including 1 continental taxon, P. s. sinensis, and 3 insular subspecies: P. s. hainanus, P. s. formosae and P. s. orii. Two mitochondrial DNA genes and 9 microsatellite loci were used to investigate the genetic divergence of this species, to identify the evolutionary status of 2 insular subspecies (P. s. hainanus and P. s. formosae) and to uncover probable historical causes that shaped them. The results reveal that P. s. formosae has diverged significantly from the other 2 subspecies because of a substantial time of isolation for populations on Taiwan Island. There was no significant genetic differentiation between P. s. sinensis and P. s. hainanus. The notable morphological difference in P. s. hainanus might be attributed to a rapid, recent adaptation to the tropical environment of Hainan Island. The low genetic divergence between P. s. sinensis and P. s. hainanus might result from a recent divergence or gene flow between them. Two insular subspecies of light‐vented bulbul populations might have diverged recently from their continental relatives through a complex evolution history owing to island isolation, ecological isolation, and possibly even hybridization. Both P. s. hainanus and P. s. formosae should be considered important conservation units because of their morphological and genetic distinctiveness.     

苹果EST中微卫星分析

利用MISA（microsatellite）软件分析了简单重复序列（simple sequence repeats,SSRs）在苹果EST中的分布频率与密度。结果表明,在263820条EST序列中,共获得160686条SSR序列,SSRs之间的距离约为0．79kb。其中,六碱基重复丰度最大,占57．2％,而单碱基、三碱基、二碱基、四碱基和五碱基重复丰度分别为14．5％,13．1％,10．1％,4．1％和1．0％。在单碱基、二碱基、三碱基和四碱基重复模体中,丰度最大的分别是A／T,AG,AAG和AAAG,而CG在编码区内丰度很低。用CAP3软件进行冗余分析表明,在这六种类型的重复模体中,冗余与非冗余的苹果EST之间没有显著差异,表明可从现有的ESTs数据中方便地获取有效的苹果微卫星标记。     

三种分子生物技术在传粉生物学中的应用

在传粉生物学研究中,为了揭示传粉事件（繁育系统、花粉流、基因流、花粉竞争等）的真实本质,必须从分子水平进行研究。近年来,分子技术在传粉生物学中的应用主要有两大方面：一是繁育系统;二是花粉流、基因流。文章就目前运用较多的三种主要的分子技术——同功酶、RAPD（随机扩增多态性DNA）、SSRs（微卫星）作一综述,旨在为传粉生物学的深入研究提供参考。     

跨物种扩增筛选获得蓝马鸡(Crossoptilon auritum)微卫星多态分子标记(英文)

微卫星是分子生态学研究常用分子标记之一。与建库筛选获得微卫星的方法相比,跨物种扩增是快速获得近缘物种微卫星分子标记的一种有效方法。本研究通过对中国特有雉类蓝马鸡(Crossoptilon auritum)进行跨物种扩增,从鸡形目112个微卫星位点筛选获得了11个微卫星多态分子标记。这组分子标记的多态性从中度到高度,并包含一个Z-染色体连锁位点。利用这组分子标记对已知谱系的笼养个体进行初步亲子鉴定,表明这组微卫星分子标记的高度实用性能够为马鸡属及鸡形目其他濒危物种的保护遗传学研究提供有力工具。     

Populations of Ceratocystis fimbriata on Colocasia esculenta and other hosts in the Mata Atlântica region in Brazil

Ceratocystis fimbriata is native to Brazil, where it is able to cause serious diseases on numerous hosts, especially on non‐native plants. Because C. fimbriata is soilborne and not wind dispersed, highly differentiated populations are found in different regions of Brazil. The present study compared populations of C. fimbriata on taro, mango, eucalyptus and kiwifruit from the coastal Mata Atlântica region with native populations of the fungus from the Cerrado‐transition region in Brazil by using 14 SSR markers and DNA sequences of ITS and mating type genes. Microsatellite and phylogenetic analyses were performed to test the hypothesis that populations on different hosts from the Mata Atlântica region are related to each other and are native to the region. The ITS sequences varied greatly among the taro isolates, with six sequences identified, from which two had not been previously reported. For mating type genes, four sequences were identified among the isolates on taro, mango, eucalyptus and kiwifruit. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Mata Atlântica populations formed a monophyletic group distinct from Cerrado‐transition region populations, although earlier studies had shown that isolates from the two regions are interfertile and are considered as a single biological species. Microsatellite analysis revealed low gene diversity for each of the three Mata Atlântica populations on taro, mango and kiwifruit, suggesting that these populations had gone through genetic bottlenecks, probably by dispersal of select genotypes in vegetative propagation material. Also, microsatellite markers showed that two microsatellite genotypes from taro are widely spread in Brazil, probably by infected corms.     

Low pathotype diversity in a recombinant Puccinia striiformis population through convergent selection at the eastern Himalayan centre of diversity (Nepal)

Worldwide Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) epidemics have been reported to be driven by few genetic lineages, while a high diversity is evident at the Pst Himalayan centre of diversity. This study investigated the relationship between pathotype diversity and genetic structure in Nepal, the eastern Himalayan region, which has been largely unexplored. Despite the high genetic diversity and recombinant structure detected through microsatellite genotyping, characterization of virulence phenotypes for 62 isolates identified only eight pathotypes, with two pathotypes predominant over all the populations. This is in contrast to the Pakistani and Chinese recombinant populations, where high pathotype diversity is associated with genetic diversity. The most prevalent Nepali pathotype was not a unique clonal lineage, but was represented by seven multilocus genotypes from four distinct genetic subgroups, suggesting strong directional selection on virulence genes, resulting in convergent pathotypes in distinct genetic groups. This convergent selection is discussed in comparison with clonal French and recombinant Pakistani populations. Additionally, the Nepali Pst population carried virulence to 17 out of 24 tested yellow rust resistance genes (Yr), with the absence of virulence to Victo and Early Premium and resistance genes Yr5, Yr10, Yr15, Yr24 and Yr26. Virulence to Yr2, Yr7, Yr27 and YrSu were fixed in all isolates, in line with the deployment of these resistance genes in Nepal. The results reflect the influence of resistance gene deployment on selection of virulence and pathotypes in a recombinant pathogen population, which must be considered in the context of durable resistance gene deployment.     

微卫星分子标记在黑龙江省水稻种子纯度鉴定中的应用

介绍了水稻种子纯度鉴定的几种方法及SSR分子标记在水稻种子纯度鉴定方面的应用,总结了各种方法的优缺点,并对SSR方法在黑龙江省水稻种质纯度鉴定方面进行了展望.     

Microsatellite markers – a new tool for distinguishing diploid wheat species

Triticum baeoticum and T. urartu are very similar morphologically. By using microsatellite markers it was possible to distinguish between these two species. Microsatellite markers are, therefore, a powerful new tool to support the determination of critical races in diploid wild wheat species. They also allow the discussion of evolutionary pathways within Triticum.