Genome-wide association analysis for stripe rust resistance in spring wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm

Stripe rust is a continuous threat to wheat crop all over the world. It causes considerable yield losses in wheat crop every year. Continuous deployment of adult plant resistance(APR) genes in newly developing wheat cultivars is the most judicious strategy to combat this disease. Herein, we dissected the genetics underpinning stripe rust resistance in Pakistani wheat germplasm. An association panel of 94 spring wheat genotypes was phenotyped for two years to score the infestation of stripe rust on each accession and was scanned with 203 polymorphic SSRs. Based on D' measure, linkage disequilibrium(LD) exhibited between loci distant up to 45 c M. Marker-trait associations(MTAs) were determined using mixed linear model(MLM). Total 31 quantitative trait loci(QTLs) were observed on all 21 wheat chromosomes. Twelve QTLs were newly discovered as well as 19 QTLs and 35 previously reported Yr genes were validated in Pakistani wheat germplasm. The major QTLs were QYr.uaf.2 AL and QYr.uaf.3 BS(PVE, 11.9%). Dissection of genes from the newly observed QTLs can provide new APR genes to improve genetic resources for APR resistance in wheat crop.     

Using leaf tip necrosis as a phenotypic marker to predict the presence of durable rust resistance gene pair <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lr34</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">Yr18</Emphasis> in wheat

Fifty wheat varieties along with Jupateco-73 and Morocco were studied for the expression of leaf tip necrosis (LTN), a trait linked with the durable rust resistance gene pair Lr34/Yr18. LTN was frequent (i.e., ≥6) in nine replications of a field experiment over 3 years in 17 genotypes, and the varieties were considered positive for LTN. In molecular analyses of these varieties, having relative severity values up to 78 for yellow rust and 45 for leaf rust, the 150-bp Lr34/Yr18-linked allele was consistently amplified. Expression of LTN in six of nine replications is an appropriate threshold for predicting the presence of Lr34/Yr18 gene pair, and genotypes can be selected using this trait.     

Body mass index, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio cut-off points for categorisation of obesity among Omani Arabs

BACKGROUND: There are no data on optimal cut-off points to classify obesity among Omani Arabs. The existing cut-off points were obtained from studies of European populations. OBJECTIVE: To determine gender-specific optimal cut-off points for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) associated with elevated prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among Omani Arabs. DESIGN: A community-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: The survey was conducted in the city of Nizwa in Oman in 2001. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study contained a probabilistic random sample of 1421 adults aged > or =20 years. Prevalent CVD risk was defined as the presence of at least two of the following three risk factors: hyperglycaemia, hypertension and dyslipidaemia. Logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to determine optimal cut-off points for BMI, WC and WHR in relation to the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: Over 87% of Omanis had at least one CVD risk factor (38% had hyperglycaemia, 19% hypertension and 34.5% had high total cholesterol). All three indices including BMI (AUC = 0.766), WC (AUC = 0.772) and WHR (AUC = 0.767) predicted prevalent CVD risk factors equally well. The optimal cut-off points for men and women respectively were 23.2 and 26.8 kg m-2 for BMI, 80.0 and 84.5 cm for WC, and 0.91 and 0.91 for WHR. CONCLUSIONS: To identify Omani subjects of Arab ethnicity at high risk of CVD, cut-off points lower than currently recommended for BMI, WC and WHR are needed for men while higher cut-off points are suggested for women.     

磷肥对甜玉米籽粒植酸和锌有效性的影响

为明确磷肥对甜玉米籽粒营养特性的影响,利用不同品种的磷肥定位试验以及磷肥梯度水平试验,探讨甜玉米籽粒植酸、磷(P)、锌(Zn)含量及Zn有效性的时间(不同灌浆期)和空间(果穗上、中、下部;籽粒果皮、胚乳和胚)变化及其对外源磷肥的响应特性。试验结果表明,甜玉米籽粒的P和植酸含量随磷肥用量的增加而增加,Zn含量及其有效性则呈现下降趋势。磷肥投入对吐丝后16～24 d籽粒的植酸、P和Zn的积累(mg plant^–1)的影响最为显著,而对不同灌浆时期Zn有效性均表现出抑制效应。在中磷水平下,果穗不同穗位籽粒植酸(g kg^–1)和Zn有效性的差异并不显著。高磷水平显著提高了中、下部果穗植酸的含量,但对不同穗位籽粒Zn含量和Zn有效性均存在抑制效应。对籽粒内不同部位(果皮、胚乳和胚)进行比较,植酸、P以及Zn含量均以胚中含量最高,积累量占比则以胚乳中最高;而Zn有效性以胚中最高。高磷处理可显著提高籽粒内不同部位植酸和磷含量,降低Zn含量及其有效性。综上,合理磷肥施用可促进籽粒Zn积累,而过量磷肥投入会显著增加不同灌浆时期,以及胚乳和胚中的植酸含量和积累量...     

镉胁迫对不同水稻基因型植株生长和抗氧化酶系统的影响

 以籽粒镉积累水平不同的两种品种（丙97252，低积累型；秀水63，高积累型）为材料，研究了镉胁迫对水稻植株生长和抗氧化酶系统的影响。采用水培试验，镉处理设0.0、0.1、1.0和5.0 μmol/L 4个水平。结果表明，镉胁迫抑制植株生长和叶绿素合成，改变植株丙二醛（MDA）含量和超氧物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、过氧化物酶（POD）活性。在抗氧化酶活性上，根和地上部对镉胁迫的反应存在着差异。总体上，SOD、CAT和POD活性随镉水平的提高而减少，而MDA含量则表现相反。根和地上部MDA含量随着培养液中镉浓度提高而增加，且增加幅度秀水63明显大于丙97252。与对照相比，生长在5.0 μmol/L Cd处理下的植株， SOD活性在孕穗期下降46%~52%，在分蘖期仅下降13%~19%。高浓度镉胁迫下，两品种在MDA含量的增加幅度和叶绿素含量的降低幅度上表现不同，显示出它们对镉的耐性存在着差异。     

Phenotypic variations of wheat cultivars from the North China Plain in response to cadmium stress and associated single nucleotide polymorphisms identified by a genome-wide association study

Understanding the genetic mechanisms for cadmium (Cd) uptake and translocation in common wheat (Triticum aestivum) is of significance in food Cd contamination control. In this study, a diverse panel of 132 wheat cultivars was collected from the North China Plain. The cultivars were evaluated in terms of their phenotypic variations in response to Cd stress and subjected to a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the phenotypic variations at the seedling stage. Significant phenotypic variations with high heritability were observed among the wheat cultivars exposed to 40 μmol L^-1 Cd for the studied traits, including root length (RL), shoot length (SL), root and shoot dry biomasses (RDW and SDW, respectively), root and shoot Cd concentrations (RCD and SCD, respectively), and Cd translocation factor (TF). Mean RCD, SCD, and TF ranged from 1.0 to 33.8, 0.125 to 2.022, and 0.009 to 0.321 mg g^-1, respectively. Cluster analysis showed that wheat cultivars with higher RL, SL, RDW, and SDW under Cd stress were able to accumulate more Cd in root, leading to a lower Cd TF. Mixed linear model-based association analysis detected 17 novel significant marker-trait associations (MTAs), four of which were significant at a genome-wide scale. Most of the significant MTAs controlled Cd TF and explained 17.17%-26.47% of the phenotypic variations. Some of the SNP loci were physically close to a reported Cd-related quantitative trait locus or gene on wheat chromosomes. Results of this study provided a list of wheat cultivars with the potential of low Cd accumulation and enriched our knowledge on the genetic basis of Cd uptake and translocation in wheat. Pyramiding breeding of superior alleles detected in this study may additionally reduce Cd accumulation of improved wheat cultivars with excellent agronomic traits.     

Responses of testosterone hormone concentration,semen quality,and its related pro-inflammatory cytokines in bucks following Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and its mycolic acid infection

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the causative agent of caseous lymphadenitis, a debilitating chronic disease of sheep and goats. Little is known about...     

柏芩提取液的药效学及对奶牛子宫内膜炎的疗效评价

柏芩提取液是由黄柏、黄芩、红花、党参等组成,为了探讨其对奶牛子宫内膜炎的治疗作用,采用实验性家兔子宫内膜炎模型进行柏芩提取液的主要药效学研究。确定药效作用后,按照农业农村部颁布的《防治奶牛临床子宫内膜炎的抗微生物兽药的靶动物安全性和有效性试验指导原则》对其进行奶牛子宫内膜炎的临床疗效评价。药效学试验结果表明,与模型组比较,柏芩提取液能明显改善实验性子宫内膜炎家兔的临床症状,血液白细胞计数分类、子宫分泌物涂片镜检、尿液及子宫分泌物化学检查结果趋于正常,并且能够减轻子宫充血、炎性细胞浸润、上皮细胞脱落等组织病理学改变。临床疗效试验结果表明,给药后第10天,柏芩提取液高、中剂量组的治愈率极显著高于低剂量组（P<0.01）,且与阳性药物对照组无显著差异（P>0.05）;各试验组的总有效率差异均不显著（P>0.05）。给药后第21天,柏芩提取液高、中剂量组的治愈率显著高于低剂量组（P<0.05）,且与阳性药物对照组差异不显著（P>0.05）;各试验组的总有效率未见明显差异（P>0.05）。以上结果证明柏芩提取液对实验性家兔子宫内膜炎和临床奶牛子宫内膜炎具有良好的治疗作用,其中1.5和1.0 g/mL浓度（30 mL/次）对临床病例的治疗效果明显,与土霉素效果相似,0.5 g/mL浓度效果不明显。本研究为其进一步研究和开发应用奠定了基础。     

土壤活性有机碳测定方法的改良

土壤碳库是陆地生态系统中最大的碳库,活性有机碳作为土壤碳库中最活跃的组分,对土壤碳含量的变化和碳排放具有较好的指示作用。目前活性有机碳的测定主要采用333 mmol L^-1KMnO_4氧化方法,然而该方法存在诸多不足,需要进行改良。采用改良方法(1:0.2 K_2Cr_2O_7-H_2SO_4)和KMnO_4法测定我国农田生态系统5个长期施肥站点土壤活性有机碳的含量。两种方法测定的土壤活性有机碳含量存在极显著的线性回归关系,且在各地点和施肥处理下均呈极显著的线性关系;改良方法测定的标准误和变异系数都比KMnO_4方法低;并且改良方法所需设备简单、操作简便快速等优点。因此本研究的改良方法与KMnO_4法相比具有一定的优势,可以考虑作为土壤活性有机碳测定的改良方法。