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.     

甜瓜结实花初花节位QTL分析

 以WI998为母本（纯雌株、厚皮网纹甜瓜品系）,TopMark为父本（雄全同株纯合品系）,配置杂交组合,利用单粒传得到171个株系的重组自交系（F₂S₄）群体构建甜瓜SSR分子标记遗传连锁图谱。该连锁图谱包含19个连锁群,覆盖基因组长度为1 414.2 cM,标记间平均距离为10.2 cM。对结实花初花节位开展QTL分析,共检测到9个QTL,分别分布在第1、9、10、11连锁群上,各QTL的LOD值在2.89 ~ 9.42之间,4个QTL贡献率超过10%。位于第9连锁群的QTL Fp9.4贡献率最大,为18.57%（2010秋季LOD = 9.17）;位于第9连锁群的Fp9.3（2010春季8.64%,LOD = 6.44;2010秋季17.99%,LOD = 9.42）,位于第10连锁群的Fp10.1（2010春季3.59%,LOD = 2.89;2010秋季6.20%,LOD = 3.43）在两季的位置都很稳定。获得与结实花初花节位紧密连锁（< 10 cM）的8个特异标记（SSR01737、MU141991、TJ105、GCM206、SSR04910、MU173563、NR52、MU146331）,为进一步开展QTL精细定位提供参考。     

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     

Genetic diversity of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) populations in northeastern and northwestern China as revealed by ISSR markers

As a N₂-fixing tree species, sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is well adapted to arid regions and is utilized for multiple purposes in China. Current knowledge of genetic variability of H. rhamnoides is limited in terms of rangewide distributions. Eleven natural populations of sea buckthorn in northeastern and northwestern China were analyzed to detect genetic variation among and within populations, by use of ISSR (inter-simple sequence repeats) markers. Using eight primers, 207 polymorphic loci were observed, ranging in size from 250 to 2500 bp. The coefficient of gene differentiation (Gst = 0.0679) showed that the total molecular variance of 11 populations was mainly existed within populations. The genetic variation within and among the 11 populations was 93.21 and 6.79%, respectively. No significant correlation between genetic and geographic distances of the populations was found using ISSR markers. Our study provides a population-level genetic profile for further investigation and conservation of genetic diversity of sea buckthorn.     

林木遗传工程及木质素的生物合成调节(英文)

林木遗传工程有利于保存林木遗传资源，改善全球气候，减轻自然林的过度采伐和满足人类日益增长的林木产品需求。控制林木真菌、病毒病、虫害和杂草的遗传工程方法正被广泛地研究和应用。尽管转基因林木的历史不长，种类不多，但它有广泛的应用前景。目前，抗除草剂基因、抗虫基因以及和木材质量相关的基因已被分离并应用于林木遗传工程。植物分子生物学和基因组学中的新技术使得高效林木遗传改良成为可能并将促进这些技术的商业化应用。木质素的应用已有一百年的历史，但木质素生物合成的全过程并不完全清楚。有关松树自然突变体和转基因林木的最新研究结果表明，木质素的生物合成是一个可以调节的过程。这些发现对完善木质素的生物合成途径、加深对木质素前体生物合成途径的理解和通过遗传工程改善木材质量有促进作用。本文综述了林木遗传工程在这些领域中取得的一些进展。     

Comparing genetic diversity in agroforestry systems with natural forest: a case study of the important timber tree Vitex fischeri in central Kenya

It is possible that current tree domestication practices undertaken by farmers reduce the genetic base of tree resources on farms, raising concerns regarding the productivity, sustainability and conservation value of agroforestry ecosystems. Here, we assessed possible changes in genetic variation during domestication in the important and heavily utilised timber species, Vitex fischeri Gürke (syn. Vitex keniensis), by comparing geographically proximate forest and farm material in central Kenya. Employing RAPD analysis, a total of 104 polymorphic markers revealed by five arbitrary primers were scored in a total of 65 individuals, 32 from forest and 33 from farmland. Despite concerns of possible genetic erosion, forest and farm stands did not differ significantly in levels of genetic variation, with H values of 0.278 and 0.269, respectively. However, Mantel tests did reveal greater geographically related associative genetic structure among individuals in farm rather than forest material, with r _M values of 0.217 and 0.114, respectively. A more detailed analysis of structure suggested this could be due to local variation in origin of some on-farm trees. Implications of data for the genetic management of V. fischeri stands during farmer-led tree domestication activities are discussed. At present, there appears little reason to reject on-farm V. fischeri as a source of germplasm for future on-farm planting or for conservation purposes, although this situation may change and will require monitoring.