Activity of the photosynthetic apparatus and antioxidant enzymes in leaves of transgenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum lycopersicum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nicotiana tabacum</Emphasis> plants,with <Emphasis Type="Italic">FeSOD1</Emphasis> gene

Introduction of the FeSOD gene enhanced the stability of the photosynthetic apparatus of plants to the action of oxidative stress caused by UV irradiation. The expression of Arabidopsis thaliana FeSOD gene, targeting the enzyme in chloroplasts due to a signal sequence, leaded to significant changes in ultrastructure of cell subcompartments of tobacco and tomato leaves. The activity of superoxide dismutase in leaves of transgenic tomato plants exceeded the value of activity of this enzyme of control plants. Transgenic tobacco plants showed increasing in SOD activity compared with control non-transgenic tobacco. The activity of AP in the leaves of transgenic tobacco and tomato plants was similar with that of control non-transgenic plants, but activity of one accession of transgenic tomato, which is also characterized by high values of SOD activity, exceeded the value of control plant. Differences in ultrastructural organization of chloroplasts in the cells of transgenic and control tobacco and tomato plants have been manifested in a strong enlargement in the size of plastoglobuli. These distinctions were evident especially in the cells of the leaf parenchyma of transgenic tomato as well as transgenic tobacco. Also, a quantity of starch grains in the plastids of guard cells was increased. Chloroplasts in the cells of leaf parenchyma in transgenic plants contained less a starch grains than in wild-type plants.     

Screening and identification of antagonistic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces</Emphasis> spp. against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clavibacter michiganensis</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">michiganensis</Emphasis> from tomato rhizosphere

The objectives of our present study were to isolate antagonistic Streptomyces from tomato rhizosphere, and evaluate the potential strain for the biological control of bacterial canker of tomato. One hundred and seventy strains of isolated from tomato rhizosphere were tested for antibiosis activity against Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis on double-layer agar. Sixty-three isolates showed antibiosis activity with diameter of an inhibition zone ranging from 1.0–6.5 cm. Fifteen Streptomyces strains had strong antibiosis activity against C. m. subsp. michiganensis with diameter of the inhibition zone above 4.0 cm on double-layer agar. Especially, the strain named Z-L-22 showed the strongest antibiosis activity with 6.5 cm inhibition zone. The fermentation filtrate also showed a high inhibition activity against Gram-positive bacteria such as Streptomyces scabies, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis. Morphological, physiological and biochemical tests combined with 16S rDNA sequence analysis were carried out to identify the strain Z-L-22. Characteristics of the Z-L-22 were similar to those of Streptomyces setonii, and the 16S rDNA sequence showed 99.4% homology to S. setonii. Based on the polyphase taxonomic views, the Z-L-22 was identified as S. setonii.     

Allelopathic effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymus kotschyanus</Emphasis> on seed germination and initial growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bromus tomentellus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trifolium repens</Emphasis>

The allelopathic influence of aqueous extracts of Thymus kotschyanus on Bromus tomentellus and Trifolium repens germination (%), germination speed, and seedling growth (length, fresh and dry weight) was examined. It was noted that aqueous extracts had a considerable inhibitory effect on target plant germination, and the effect at 50%, 75%, and 100% concentration was found to be significantly higher than that at lower concentrations (5% and 25%) and control treatment (distilled water). Seedling length in addition to fresh and dry weights was also reduced significantly over control. The inhibitory effect was increased as the extract concentration was increased. B. tomentellus showed a higher sensitivity against T. kotschyanus in allelopathic effects compared to T. repens, which indicates that B. tomentellus planted in rangelands with leaf litter of T. kotschyanus will be adversely affected in terms of its germination, growth, and ultimately low forage production.     

Characteristics of interspecific hybrids between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus ostreatus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. eryngii</Emphasis>

In this study, three species of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus osturatus, P. eryngii and P. cornucopia) were crossed together in order to aggregate benefit special attributes to the genotype (s). The monokaryon of each of these species was prepared. Then, the monokaryons of two species were placed at 5 mm distance from each other to produce dikaryon. The results showed that, from among 700 crosses, only the crosses of eryngii and osturatus monokaryons were grown toward each other and produced clamps (dikaryons). Four produced hybrids were noted H₁, H₃₂, H₁₁ and H₄₀. The spans of produced hybrids were prepared; then, they were grown into sterile media and attributions of hybrids were studied. The results indicated that H₁₁ hybrid was an appropriate hybrid in terms of the number of days until growing, number of days until the observation of the first pin and the days from planting to harvest. However, H₄₀ was the best hybrid based on cap diameter, dry and fresh weight of fruit body, yield and biomass. It is expected that these interspecific hybrids employ for future oyster mushroom breeding programs.     

Expression analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">RUS1</Emphasis> and construction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">RUS1</Emphasis> plant expressing vector

RUS1 was one of the disease resistance gene analogs obtained from Setaria italica Beauv. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis result showed that RUS1 gene could be induced by Uromyces setariae-italicae and had relation to the resistance response of Setaria italica Beauv. against Uromyces setariae-italicae infection. Promoter sequence of RUS1 was obtained by the method of Genome Walking, and its length was 675 bp. RUS1 promoter and pCAMBIA1300 vector were fused to construct RUS1::GUS vector. GUS histochemical staining result showed that promoter could activate gene expression. RUS1 gene (including the promoter sequence) was obtained through PCR amplification and then fused with pCAMBIA1300 vector to construct pCAMBIA1300:RUS1 plant expressing vector. The research laid a foundation for gene functional identification of RUS1.     

Use of molecular markers of potato golden nematode resistance genes <Emphasis Type="Italic">H1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">GRO1</Emphasis>

By means of DNA markers of potato golden nematode resistance genes H1 and Gro1, 109 Russian- and foreign-bred potato varieties are assessed. A sufficiently high level of coincidence of the presence of marker alleles with phenotypic resistance of potato varieties is revealed. However, not all resistant forms have specific amplification products. The use of DNA markers of only two genes H1 and Gro1 will not make it possible to completely replace mass laboratory testing, but it will make it possible to select potato forms resistant to this parasite by a simple and reliable method in a shorter time and thereby to considerably reduce the number of genotypes in the sample for further breeding.     

Founder effect and genogeography of <Emphasis Type="Italic">CV</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">BL</Emphasis>-mutations in black-and-white cattle

The results are obtained by simultaneous diagnostics of mutant CV- and BL-alleles. Five groups of animals–carriers and noncarriers of mutations are identified. In Russia the mutant CV-alleles are met more frequently because of the intensive use of their carriers. While elimination of BL-allele was started earlier due to developed methods, the diagnostics of CV-mutations has been undertaken later. Propagation of missense-mutations in the world and the Russian Federation has been occurring through the breeding bulls and cows–carriers. Initially spermobanks and, afterwards, cows were reserves for the diagnosed BLand CV-mutations.     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">GH</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">DGAT1</Emphasis> gene polymorphism on feeding qualities of bull calves

The aim of this paper is to study effects of GH and DGAT1 gene polymorphisms on feeding qualities of Hereford and Limousin bull calves bred in conditions of the Cis-Ural steppe zone. SNPs of genes GH and DGAT1 are investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The studied population of animals was assessed by defining the allele frequency and animal genotype occurrence for the studied gene SNPs, indicators of the actual and expected heterozygosity, and Pearson’s test. A study of polymorphism C214G of gene GH revealed that genotype LL prevails in Hereford and Limousin animals, 47.37 and 57.7%, respectively, while frequency of allele L is higher in Limousin bull calves (0.731). A study of polymorphism K232A of gene DGAT1 gene in both the populations showed absence of genotypes AA, which can be related to the low number of the studied animals. Expected heterozygosity indicators of gene GH are higher than the observed ones, and the observed heterozygosity is higher for DGAT1. The number of efficient alleles for the studied genes is higher for Hereford bull calves. In general, according to Pearson’s test, both the studied populations are in equilibrium. There is a significant effect of GH gene polymorphism on live weight gain rates at the end of sagination and total and average daily weight gains during animal raising.     

Photoperiod sensitivity and molecular marking of genes <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ppd</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vrn</Emphasis> in connection with breeding alternative-habit wheat varieties

The response of wheat varieties and breeding lines to vernalization and photoperiod in pot experiments is studied and tested by means of allele-specific markers for genes Ppd and Vrn. These markers effectively predict the degree of photoperiod sensitivity of plants to vernalization, which attests to the expediency of using them in breeding practice.     

Breed characteristics associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">LEP</Emphasis> gene polymorphisms in Holstein cattle

Genotyping of the leptin gene locus (LEP) (SNP: R25C, Y7F, and A80V) has been performed in the animals from two groups in the Holstein cattle herd. Groups 1 and 2 included the fourth to seventh lactation cows and the heifers, respectively. The objective of the surveys was to study the Holstein cattle polymorphisms of the leptin gene associated with the productive longevity according to the related literature data. It has been ascertained that the LEP gene (SNP: R25C, Y7F, and A80V) polymorphism in the Holstein animals determines the certain breed characteristics that can be used for introduction to marker assisted selection. (Particularly, a low (0.04–0.15) frequency of occurrence of the F allele is typical for the LEP-Y7F SNP; as for SNP LEP-A80V, a low frequency of occurrence (0–0.14) is typical for the homozygous animals with the VV genotype when compared to a rather high frequency of occurrence (0.36–0.45) in the heterozygous animals).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Kosher</Emphasis> in New York City, <Emphasis Type="Italic">halal</Emphasis> in Aquitaine: challenging the relationship between neoliberalism and food auditing

Previous work in the agri-food tradition has framed food auditing as a novelty characteristic of a shift to neoliberal governance in agri-food systems and has tackled the analysis of food “quality” in the same light. This article argues that agri-food scholars’ recent interest in the contested qualities of food needs to be situated alongside a much longer history of contested cultural attributions of trust in food relations. It builds on an earlier discussion suggesting that, although neoliberalism has undoubtedly opened up new spaces for audit activity, older political and social dynamics operating around food audits were established long before the neoliberal historical moment. Breaking new ground (as far as is known) by looking further back than the early history of the organic social movement, it examines intersections of religious food auditing, migrant food culture, and commercial dynamics in food systems. Based on secondary sources, two contrasting case studies are presented to illustrate the flux and complexity for: New World Diaspora migrants to New York City of assuring food was kosher; and more recent Maghrebi migrants to southwest France of assuring food is halal. The article concludes by noting that the neoliberal moment stands not as the unique progenitor of a new style of food authority, but rather as the latest response to a wider rupture in the historically contingent arbitration of new forms of trust in food.     

Study of biochemical composition of seeds and green beans of vegetable cowpea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna Ung.</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sesquipedalis</Emphasis>)

The article presents the results of investigation of the variability of biochemical parameters of seeds and green beans of vegetable cowpea accessions (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdc.) introduced for use in breeding. Variations of biochemical parameters of seed quality and green beans (such as protein, fat, ash content, fiber, NFES) were established. New data on the fractional composition of proteins (albumins, globulins, prolamins, glutelins) from seeds and green beans were obtained. These data are of great importance for the evaluation of the starting material and the formation of a breeding program and the selection of rational strategies of individual selection from the source populations.     

Formation of the hypersensitivity response due to the expression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">FeSOD1</Emphasis> gene in tomato when it is inoculated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis>

The activity of antioxidant enzymes and ultrastructural changes in tissues inoculated with P. infestans isolate have been studied in the previously developed independent transgenic lines of tomato with FeSOD1 gene and control plants. It is shown that the activity of superoxide dismutase is significantly higher in transgenic plants than that in control plants (nontransgenic plants). Chlorosis and obvious changes in tissue turgor were observed when the control tomato plants were inoculated, which indicates irreversible damages and unimpeded progression of infection. At the same time, the transgenic lines were characterized by the formation of clearly limited zones of damaged cells that rapidly arrested the infection. In addition, the damages differed from those in nontransgenic plants: the cells along the edges of the infection site were smaller and had heavy invaginations of the cell wall. The contacts between the cells were disrupted in this zone, but they were preserved in undisturbed zones of the tissue. Thus, the expression of the FeSOD1 transgene promotes the emergence of the resistance to P. infestans in tomato transgenic plants.     

Introduction of grain cowpea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna unguiculata</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cylindrical</Emphasis> (L.) Verdc.) in the Lower Volga

Introduction of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata subsp. cylindrical (L.) Verdc.) in the Lower Volga region is the possibility of using this culture for agricultural production, fodder production, and expanded range of food products. Selection for earliness in the model population of cowpea should be accompanied by the identification of genotypes with high intensity of biomass accumulation in the shoots-flowering interphase period.     

Increase of resistance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis> plants to phytopathogenic fungi expressing hevein-like peptides from weed plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stellaria media</Emphasis>

It is shown that constitutive hyperexpression of new hevein-like peptides from the weed plant chickweed (Stellaria media)in mouse-ear cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants leads to a substantial increase of their resistance to phytopathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea and Bipolaris sorokiniana. Thus, common chickweed peptides can play a definite role in protecting this weed plant and be useful as a new genetic tool for producing plants resistant to fungal diseases.     

Identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Habrobracon hebetor</Emphasis> Populations Using RAPD Markers

It was found that food preferences and conditions of breeding of Habrobracon hebetor laboratory populations vary considerably. In this regard, it is necessary to identify populations within the studied species using DNA markers: an effective and reliable means for assessing the genetic differences between samplings of this insect species. A molecular genetic analysis of two different geographic populations of the Habrobracon hebetor entomophage (from Krasnodar, Russia, and Chimkent, Kazakhstan) was carried out using RAPD markers; 21 RAPD primers were tested for specificity to H. hebetor DNA. Five RAPD primers (OPA05, OPA10, OPB01, OPB04, and UBC519) were identified that have high specificity and the ability to differentiate H. hebetor populations. DNA markers that are specific for the Krasnodar and Chimkent entomophage populations and that can clearly identify them were revealed: for the Krasnodar population, RAPD markers with a molecular weight of 550 bp (UBC 519); 500 and 700 bp (OPA05); 1100, 1200, and 1300 bp (OPA10); 220 and 800 bp (OPB04); and 880 bp (OPB01); for the Chimkent population, 400, 600 and 1200 bp (UBC519); 600 and 950 bp (OPA10); and 800 bp (OPB01). It is concluded that these RAPD primers can be used for identification and differentiation of other H. hebetor populations.     

Identification of disease resistances in wheat-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leymus multicaulis</Emphasis> derivatives and characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">L. multicaulis</Emphasis> chromatin using microsatellite DNA markers

To identify resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB), cereal yellow dwarf virus (CYDV), stem rust (Sr), and powdery mildew (Pm) in 24 common wheat (Triticum aestivum)-Leymus multicaulis addition/translocation lines that were developed cytogenetically and to verify the authenticity of these lines using microsatellite (SSR) DNA markers. Resistance to FHB was identified in the wheat-L. multicaulis addition lines, Line 9 and Line 26, which both contained L. multicaulis-specific fragments as shown by SSR markers. The translocation line, Trans 1, and the addition lines, Line 5 and Line 29, have resistance to stem rust (IT 0). Resistance to CYDV was evaluated based on virus titers measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The addition line, Line 23, showed low virus titer (0.15), indicating resistance to CYDV. The segregation distribution of CYDV resistance in 98 F₂ plants of Line 23/CS showed a significant deviation from 3:1. Inoculation with a set of 14 differential Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) isolates did not detect powdery mildew resistance in translocation line Trans 1, addition line Line 9 and the amphiploid of wheat-L. multicaulis. However, Line 26 exhibited the resistance response pattern of Kavkaz, which carries Pm8, indicating that Line 26 most likely has the powdery mildew resistance gene Pm8 inherited from its parent lines Feng Kang 7 or Feng Kang 10. Twelve SSR markers, distributed on different homeologous chromosome groups of wheat, which distinguished L. multicaulis addition/translocation chromosomes, were used to verify the presence of L. multicaulis chromatin in the putative wheat-L. multicaulis addition/translocation lines. Of the 24 addition/translocation lines investigated using the 12 polymorphic SSR markers, 18 wheat-L. multicaulis derivatives showed the expected L. multicaulis-specific fragments, indicating that all of these 18 addition/translocation lines would most likely have the introgressed L. multicaulis chromosome(s). Chromosomal rearrangements also were detected in some of the wheat-L. multicaulis introgression lines.     

Diversity of Dagestan barleys for the duration of the period between shooting and earing stages and alleles in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ppd-H1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ppd-H2</Emphasis> loci

The duration of the shooting–earing period of 265 barley samples from Dagestan was studied. During the 3 years of study at the Dagestan Experimental Station of VIR (Derbent), fast-ripening samples k-15008 and k-15013 were identified. Evaluation of spring forms in the northwestern region of the country made it possible to identify sample k-15027, which had a high rate of development over 2 years. It was found that Dagestan barleys are strongly influenced by growing conditions; that is, they have a high rate of response. Vernalization temperatures, short photoperiod, and high temperatures during the growing season contribute to fast barley ripening. Using molecular markers, the allelic diversity of genes Ppd-H1 and Ppd-H2, which are involved in the control of the duration of the shooting–earing period, was investigated. Most samples of local forms of barley carry dominant allele Ppd-H2, which causes early earing under short photoperiod. Translocation of the studied barley group to unusual conditions of northwest Russia leads to significant delay in plant development.     

Likely threat of the spread of race UG99 of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Puccinia graminis</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">tritici</Emphasis> on wheat in southeastern Russia

In 2013 and 2014, a Ug99 race virulent to the resistance gene Sr31 was revealed on spring bread wheat fields in Saratov oblast and its inoculum was collected under conditions of stem rust epiphytoties (with the fungus Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici acting as an agent). In March to April 2015, when a set of soft wheat lines was artificially inoculated in a climatic chamber, the virulence of the collected inoculum to gene Sr31 was confirmed, and four monopustular clones were isolated. Based on the isolated monopustular clones of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, an assessment for resistance of four lines of spring soft wheat to novel Sr-gene combinations was made.     

Expression of special genes inhibited by powdery mildew (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Blumeria graminis</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">tritici</Emphasis>) in wheat germplasm N9436

Powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, is one of the most important fungal diseases in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) worldwide. Wheat germplasm N9436 is resistant to powdery mildew. In the present study, a backward subtracted cDNA library was constructed with cDNA from N9436 leaves inoculated by Blumeria graminis as the driver and cDNA from uninoculated N9436 leaves as the tester. A total of 120 positive clones were randomly chosen from the SSH-cDNA library and were amplified with sp6 and t7 primers to examine the insert size. After screening the repeated and redundant sequences, 59 expressed sequence tags (EST) were acquired. Nucleic acid and protein homology search were performed using the basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) program with the default settings at NCBI website (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). BlastX results in nr-protein database revealed that 23 ESTs were highly homologous with known proteins involved in primary metabolism, energy metabolism, transport, signal transduction, and disease resistance and defenses. BlastNr results showed that 47 and 10 ESTs had high identities with known Unigene and function-unknown ESTs, respectively, and two ESTs matched none in the nr-database. Twenty-one ESTs were both in the nucleic acid and protein databases, including seven ESTs associated with powdery mildew resistance. Among them, one was responsible for signal transduction and six for systemic acquired resistance (SAR) system.