Genetic analysis and QTL mapping of growth period traits and plant height traits in soybean recombinant inbred lines from Dongnong 47 × PI 317334-B

High and stable yield is the main goal of soybean genetic improvement. In this study, association analysis was used to detect the quantitative trait loci (QTL) for the plant height, and soybean growth period using 182 SSR markers in the RIL population of 136 F_4:8 lines, which developed from a cross between photoperiod-insensitive cultivar ‘Dongnong 47’ and photoperiod-sensitive variety PI317334–B. The results showed that 33 QTLs related to soybean growth period and plant height traits were detected by compound interval mapping, and were located on 12 linkage groups including N, C1, C2, J, D1a, B2, E, G, A2, O, L, I, with the contribution rate of 7.85–33.84%. These QTL loci and linkage markers related to soybean photoperiod sensitivity, would be helpful to identify key genes that control soybean photoperiod sensitivity, and provide an important basis for the breeding of new photoperiod-insensitive soybean varieties based on molecular design breeding.     

玉米穗轴对穗腐病抗性鉴定体系与优异抗源的研究

穗轴作为拟轮枝镰孢菌侵染果穗引发玉米穗腐病的重要途径之一，能够影响病原菌的侵染和扩散。为了深入开展玉米穗轴对拟轮枝镰孢菌抗性的研究以及了解玉米穗腐病子粒与穗轴抗性的差异，进行抗性鉴定体系的优化，利用164份国内外玉米骨干自交系进行两年两点的接种鉴定筛选优异抗源，对发病边长、发病芯长、发病面积、发病相对面积等4个抗性指标进行研究。结果表明，发病边长能较大程度地区分不同自交系间的抗感差异且又在材料内具有较好的重演性。把发病边长确定为玉米穗腐病穗轴抗性鉴定指标，对参试自交系进行抗性评价，鉴定出CML27、BT-1、CML274等58份穗轴高抗自交系，筛选出BT-1、CML173、CML193等8份子粒与穗轴均抗穗腐病的优异抗源。     

利用CRISPR/Cas9技术编辑BADH2-1/BADH2-2创制香米味道玉米新种质

【目的】香味是作物的重要食味品质之一。2-乙酰-1-吡咯啉（2-acetyl-1-pyrroline,2-AP）是主要香味物。BADH2是控制水稻等作物香味性状的关键基因,敲除该基因可以产生香味稻米。利用CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术在北京市农林科学院自育的玉米骨干亲本京724上敲除BADH2同源基因,以期获得有香米味道的玉米新种质材料。【方法】利用Ensembl数据库在线BLAST工具,将水稻OsBADH2蛋白序列在拟南芥、水稻和玉米蛋白序列数据库中进行序列比对,获得上述3个物种的BADH基因家族成员,并利用UniProt蛋白数据库中的结构域信息进行验证。进一步使用MEGA软件进行系统进化分析,获得玉米BADH2同源基因作为候选编辑靶标。基于CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术的原理,在候选基因的外显子处设计特异性靶点,并构建入CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑载体。再以玉米自交系京724为受体,利用农杆菌介导的遗传转化方法,通过磷酸甘露糖异构酶基因（phosphomannose isomerase,PMI）抗性筛选获得阳性转基因植株。转基因株系经测序明确其在靶基因中产生的突变类型。利用气相色谱质谱联用仪（gas chromatography-mass spectrometry,GC-MS）检测基因编辑株系T₁籽粒中香米主要香味物质2-AP的含量,以确认京724在基因编辑前后2-AP含量的变化。【结果】系统进化分析发现,玉米中存在2个BADH2同源基因,分别命名为ZmBADH2-1和ZmBADH2-2。ZmBADH2-1位于第4染色体,ZmBADH2-2位于第1染色体。2个基因均包含15个外显子和14个内含子,第4外显子间的核苷酸序列高度同源。在2个基因的第4外显子区域设计靶点并构建入CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑载体,通过遗传转化获得28株转基因株系。PCR扩增及测序分析结果显示,其中10株材料的2个ZmBADH2s在靶点区域均发生突变,突变基因型包括双等位突变和多等位突变,突变类型为不同数量的碱基缺失和插入。质谱检测结果显示玉米ZmBADH2双基因突变体籽粒中存在与香稻同样成分的2-AP。随机选取的4个T₁代基因编辑株系籽粒中,2-AP平均含量分别为438.29、404.63、348.65和161.82 μg·kg^-1,而未经过编辑的京724中未检测到2-AP。【结论】利用CRISPR/Cas9技术对玉米ZmBADH2-1和ZmBADH2-2同时进行定点敲除,创制出籽粒中具有香米味道的玉米骨干亲本新种质材料。     

Revisiting rice breeding methods – evaluating the use of rapid generation advance (RGA) for routine rice breeding

Rice production needs to increase in the future in order to meet increasing demands. The development of new improved and higher yielding varieties more quickly will be needed to meet this demand. However, most rice breeding programmes in the world have not changed in several decades. In this article, we revisit the evidence in favour of using rapid generation advance (RGA) as a routine breeding method. We describe preliminary activities at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to re-establish RGA on a large scale as the main breeding method for irrigated rice breeding. We also describe experiences from the early adoption at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute. Evaluation of RGA breeding lines at IRRI for yield, flowering time and plant height indicated transgressive segregation for all traits. Some RGA lines were also higher yielding than the check varieties. The cost advantages of using RGA compared to the pedigree method were also empirically determined by performing an economic analysis. This indicated that RGA is several times more cost effective and advantages will be realized after 1 year even if facilities need to be built. Based on our experience, and previous independent research empirically testing the RGA method in rice, we recommend that this method should be implemented for routine rice breeding in order to improve breeding efficiency.     

Quantitative trait loci mapping for yield-related traits under low and high planting densities in maize (Zea mays)

Average maize yield per hectare has increased significantly because of the improvement in high-density tolerance, but little attention has been paid to the genetic mechanism of grain yield response to high planting density. Here, we used a population of 301 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross YE478 × 08–641 to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for 16 yield-related traits under two planting densities (57,000 and 114,000 plants per ha) across four environments. These yield-related traits responded differently to high-density stress. A total of 110 QTLs were observed for these traits: 33 QTLs only under low planting density, 50 QTLs under high planting density and 27 QTLs across both densities. Only two major QTLs, qCD6 and qWKEL2-2, were identified across low- and high-density treatments. Seven environmentally stable QTLs were also observed containing qED6, qWKEL3, qRN3-3, qRN7-2, qRN9-2 and qRN10 across both densities, as well as qRN9-1 under low density. In addition, 16 and eight pairs of loci with epistasis interaction (EPI) were detected under low and high planting densities, respectively. Additionally, nine and 17 loci showed QTL × environment interaction (QEI) under low- and high-density conditions, respectively. These interactions are of lesser importance than the main QTL effects. We also observed 26 pleiotropic QTL clusters, and the hotspot region 3.08 concentrated nine QTLs, suggesting its great importance for maize yield. These findings suggested that multiple minor QTLs, loci with EPI and QEI, pleiotropy and the complex network of “crosstalk” among them for yield-related traits were greatly influenced by plant density, which increases our understanding of the genetic mechanism of yield-related traits for high-density tolerance.     

Bilateral apex pubis distance：a novel index for follicular development and egg laying status in domestic hens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

ABSTRACT

1. Measures of the bilateral apex pubis (BAP) in White Leghorn (WLH) hens aged from 16 to 64 weeks (from the time ovaries were completely undeveloped to senility) were ranked into various groups so the relationship between external traits (BAP distance, comb length, comb height, wattle length, wattle height, body weight) and internal traits (largest ovarian follicle diameter (LFD) and oviduct weight and length) could be determined.

2. Using correlation and regression analysis with data from 16 weeks of age to the onset of lay, measurements of the apex pubis showed a strong correlation with LFD (r = 0.80, P < 0.01) and oviduct weight (r = 0.80, P < 0.01).

3. Multiple comparisons among WLH hens from 16 to 43 weeks of age showed that the BAP distance increased in all groups ranked by LFD or by laying period.

4. In the late laying period (>60 weeks of age), BAP distance showed a significant decrease (P < 0.01) in long-term non-laying hens compared to laying hens.

5. These findings suggest BAP distance can serve as an index for evaluating the onset and probable stages of follicular development during sexual maturation and/or aid in the identification and selection of non-laying hens during reproduction.     

水稻黑条矮缩病抗性QTL定位

发掘水稻黑条矮缩病的抗性基因有助于抗病品种的选育,减少黑条矮缩病对水稻生产的危害。本研究构建了包含222个家系的L5494/IR36重组自交系群体。对该群体进行黑条矮缩病的田间诱发鉴定,抗性亲本IR36发病率为28.70%,感病亲本L5494发病率为84.26%,群体发病率范围为11.21%～89.81%。利用134对分子标记构建覆盖12条染色体的遗传连锁图谱,总遗传距离为1475.97 cM,平均标记间距为11.1 cM。利用QTL IciMapping 4.0对抗黑条矮缩病QTL进行分析,共检测到4个QTL,其中第1、第2、第9染色体上QTL的表型贡献率分别为12.64%、16.00%和8.43%,抗病等位基因来自抗病亲本IR36;第6染色体上QTL的表型贡献率为10.82%,抗病等位基因来自感病亲本L5494。在此基础上,利用93-11为供体、日本晴为背景的近等基因系材料,在qRBSDV-1定位区间内检测到来自93-11的抗性QTL。本研究结果为水稻黑条矮缩病抗性基因定位及分子标记辅助选择育种提供借鉴。     

Mining Applicable Elite Alleles of Growth Duration,Plant Height and Panicle Number per Plant by Conditional QTL Mapping in Japonica Rice

Unconditional and conditional QTL mapping were conducted for growth duration (GD), plant height (PH) and effective panicle number per plant (PN) using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between two japonica rice varieties Xiushui 79 and C Bao. The RIL population consisted of 254 lines was planted in two environments, Nanjing and Sihong, Jiangsu Province, China. Results showed that additive effects were major in all of QTLs for GD, PH and PN detected by the two methods, and the e...     

干旱胁迫下玉米自交系抗旱性评价及筛选

以39份玉米自交系为材料，2017—2018年在甘肃省张掖市设置田间自然抗旱鉴定试验，筛选抗旱鉴定指标，综合评价玉米自交系的抗旱性。结果表明：在干旱胁迫下，39份玉米自交系的粉丝间隔时间延长了0~3 d，株高、穗位高、穗长、穗粗、穗干重、籽粒干重、出籽率及百粒重均降低，其中，穗干重、籽粒干重和出籽率3个指标分别为正常灌水处理的81.5%、79%和88.5%。穗干重、籽粒干重和出籽率与平均抗旱系数呈显著正相关，可作为玉米自交系抗旱鉴定的主要指标。利用加权抗旱系数法综合评价筛选出强抗旱玉米自交系10份，其中自交系E28、DH351、陇1222、浚92-8和黄早四，抗旱性达到极强。本研究所筛选到的抗旱自交系可在选育抗旱新品种中加强利用。