Bulk pollen pollination in maize for efficient construction of introgression populations with high genome coverage

Introgression populations consist of a set of introgression lines or families, constructed by continuous backcrossing to the recurrent parent, while carrying a limited number of chromosome segments from a donor parent in their genomes. Increasing the genome coverage is an important aim when constructing introgression population. In this study, we proposed bulk pollen pollination (BPP) method and used it to increase the genome coverage of a maize introgression population. The results showed that the genome coverage of the introgression population constructed using BPP method reached 100% at BC₃ generation, which accorded with the simulation result. The BPP‐based BC₃F_1:2 population could identify most quantitative trait loci (QTL) detected using the F_2:3 population, especially major QTL. Simulation analysis showed that the genome coverage of introgression population increased with the increase of population size and the number of bulked plants, and decreased with the increase of backcross generation. Our results proved the reliability of the BPP‐based introgression population in increasing genome coverage and detecting QTL, and provided references for constructing high‐coverage introgression populations.     

香蕉与B基因组相关的SCAR标记研究

香蕉(Musa L.)是由2个二倍体野生种Musa acuminata Colla(AA基因型)和Musa balbisiana Colla(BB基因型)种内或种间杂交进化而来,其B基因组中带有重要的优良基因。利用与香蕉B基因组相关的gypsy-IRAP分子标记,成功开发了一对SCAR引物,适用于鉴定尖叶蕉(AAw)、长梗蕉(BB)、香牙蕉(AAA)、贡蕉(AAcv)、大蕉、粉蕉(ABB)、粉大蕉(ABB)、龙牙蕉(AAB)以及四倍体香蕉(AAAB)等是否含有B基因组。     

Pigeonpea improvement: An amalgam of breeding and genomic research

In the past five decades, constant research has been directed towards yield improvement in pigeonpea resulting in the deployment of several commercially acceptable cultivars in India. Though, the genesis of hybrid technology, the biggest breakthrough, enigma of stagnant productivity still remains unsolved. To sort this productivity disparity, genomic research along with conventional breeding was successfully initiated at ICRISAT. It endowed ample genomic resource providing insight in the pigeonpea genome combating production constraints in a precise and speedy manner. The availability of the draft genome sequence with a large‐scale marker resource, oriented the research towards trait mapping for flowering time, determinacy, fertility restoration, yield attributing traits and photo‐insensitivity. Defined core and mini‐core collection, still eased the pigeonpea breeding being accessible for existing genetic diversity and developing stress resistance. Modern genomic tools like next‐generation sequencing, genome‐wide selection helping in the appraisal of selection efficiency is leading towards next‐generation breeding, an awaited milestone in pigeonpea genetic enhancement. This paper emphasizes the ongoing genetic improvement in pigeonpea with an amalgam of conventional breeding as well as genomic research.     

大花君子兰叶绿体基因组及其特征

采用Illumina MiSeq测序平台对大花君子兰（Clivia miniata）叶片总DNA进行测序，通过组装获得了其叶绿体基因组（cpDNA）全长序列（158 114 bp）。对其cpDNA注释得到135个基因，包含87个蛋白编码基因、40个tRNA基因和8个rRNA基因。采用生物信息学方法对获得的cpDNA进行简单序列重复（SSR）分析和密码子偏好性分析。结果显示：①大花君子兰cpDNA中共有61个SSR位点，其中单核苷酸、二核苷酸、三核苷酸、四核苷酸、五核苷酸和六核苷酸重复数分别为38、9、2、8、3和1个，多数SSR分布在基因间隔区；②大花君子兰cpDNA密码子偏爱以A或U（T）结尾，亮氨酸使用频率最高，半胱氨酸使用频率最低。基于24种植物的cpDNA全长和23种植物的叶绿体ycf2基因序列进行系统发育分析，结果显示大花君子兰与石蒜科植物在同一分支，显示最近的亲缘关系，支持大花君子兰属于石蒜科。基于叶绿体ycf2的系统发育分析结果与基于cpDNA全长的系统发育分析研究结果大部分相同，支持ycf2基因可以代替cpDNA全长用于植物系统发育分析。     

哺乳动物附植前胚胎的基因表达调控

哺乳动物胚胎附植前期包括:合子的形成,胚胎基因组的激活和细胞分化的开始。在这个时期,发育由母源物质控制转为合子基因控制,在此过程,同时形成染色质介导的转录抑制时期,要解除抑制必须经过胚胎基因组的激活。通过对体内、外附植前胚胎的mRNA的表达特点以及它们与成功发育联系的研究,可以筛选出最佳的体外培养条件,设计最佳的核移植方案。     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒缺失变异株的基因组特征

对猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)分离株HB2(sh)／2002的全基因组序列进行了测定与分析。该毒株基因组全长为15373nt(不包括PolyA尾)，与国内外美洲型PRRSV分离株全序列相似性介于88．7％～95．1％之间。序列分析表明，该毒株是1个天然存在缺失的变异毒株，其ORFla的Nsp2存在编码12个氨基酸的连续36个核苷酸的缺失，ORF、3存在编码1个氨基酸的3个核苷酸的缺失。这是国内外首次发现PRRSV存在缺失变异现象，研究结果补充和丰富了PRRSV毒株的基因组信息数据，为深入研究该毒株的遗传与变异及其与生物学特性的关系奠定了基础。     

广西猪瘟流行毒株全基因组的克隆与序列分析

参考已发表的猪瘟病毒(CSFV)Shimen株、HCLV株、Paderborn株的核苷酸序列，设计并合成11对引物。应用RT—PcR技术，成功地分11个片段扩增了CSFV广西流行毒株GXWZ02的全基因组，将这11个基因片段克隆，并测定了其核苷酸序列。应用计算机生物软件Vector NT1将11个基因片段进行拼接。确认CSFV GXWZ02株全基因组序列的长度为12296个核苷酸(GenBank收录号AY367767)。将GXXZ02株与国内外已发表的Slhimen、HCLV、39、Brescia、Eystrup、Glentorf、Alfort187、Pader190rn、CS、ALD、GPE、P97、LPC毒株进行全基因组核苷酸序列和推定的氨基酸序列比较，核苷酸同源性分别为85．4％、84．6％、88．7％、85．7％、85．7％、85．3％、85．6％、95．3％、85．7％、85．7％85．4％、83．4％、84．3％，推定的氨基酸同源性分别为92．6％、91．7％、94．2％、93．1％、92．9％、92．3％、93．0％、97．7％、92．6％、93．0％、92．6％、90．5％、90．6％。GXWZ02与Shimen、HCLV的全基因组序列及推定的氨基酸序列有明显差异，表明GXWZ02株在遗传性和抗原性上发生了较明显的变化。系统发育树分析，所比较的14株CSFV被分为2个群：GXWZ02、Paderborn和39这3个毒株被归为群Ⅰ，其余的11个毒株被归为群Ⅱ，GXWZ02与Paderborn的亲缘关系最接近。将GXXZ02与Shimen、HCLV基因组中单个基因分别进行核苷酸及推定的氨基酸序列同源性比较，结果显示，基因E^ms、E2、P7、NS2、NS5A的遗传变异程度大。而NS3、NS4A、NS4B的遗传性则相对保守。     

Genetic risk factors for osteochondrosis in various horse breeds

Osteochondrosis (OC) is an injury to cartilage canals with a following necrosis in the growth cartilage, from there it can develop to osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD). Due to its high impact in the equine industry, new insights into predisposing factors and potential high‐risk genetic variants are warranted. This article reviews advancements in quantitative and molecular genetics in refining estimation of genetic parameters and identifying predisposing genetic loci. Heritabilities were highest for hock OC with estimates at 0.29–0.46 in Hanoverian warmblood and Norwegian trotters, whereas in Thoroughbreds only very low genetic variation seemed to be present in hock OC lesions. Whole genome scans using the Illumina Equine SNP50 or SNP70 Beadchip were performed in Thoroughbred, Standardbred, French and Norwegian trotter, Hanoverian and Dutch warmblood. Validation studies in Spanish Purebred and Hanoverian warmblood horses corroborated OC risk loci on ECA 3, 14, 27 and 29. Particularly, a strong association with hock‐OCD was found for a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on horse chromosome (ECA) 3 upstream to the LCORL gene. Gene expression and microRNA analyses may be helpful to understand pathophysiological processes in equine OC and to connect OCD‐associated genomic regions with potential candidate genes. Furthermore progress in elucidating the underlying genetic variants and pathophysiological changes in OC may be expected from whole genome DNA and RNA next‐generation sequencing studies.     

The complete mitochondrial genome and molecular phylogeny of Lueyang black-bone chicken

ABSTRACT

1. The objectives of the current study were to investigate the mitochondrial genome and molecular phylogeny of Lueyang black-bone chicken, and provide molecule base to preserve and explore the specific chicken strain.

2. Based on sequencing and clustering, the complete mitochondrial DNA map and sequences of Lueyang black-bone chicken were revealed, and two phylogenetic trees of Lueyang black-bone chickens based on D-loop sequences and the mitochondrial genome were constructed.

3. The results showed that the complete mitochondrial genome of Lueyang black-bone chickens is 16,784bp in size, consisting of 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, and one non-coding control region. The base composition of the complete mtDNA sequence is 30.28% for A, 23.78% for T, 32.42% for C, 13.52% for G. Additionally, 10 haplotypes of D-loop sequences in 32 Lueyang black-bone chickens were detected, which were distributed into 4 clades (A, B, C and E).

4. It was concluded that genetic diversity is wide in Lueyang black-bone chickens, and this strain has multiple maternal origins from different regions in China and neighbouring regions.