DNA markers of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">R1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">R3</Emphasis> genes as predictors of potato late blight resistance

To investigate whether the presence of R-genes is associated with higher late blight resistance of potato cultivars, we modified an earlier described SCAR marker for the R1 gene and developed a new SCAR marker for the R3 gene. We demonstrated the significant input of R1 transferred from Solanum demissum and probably S. stoloniferum into foliage and tuber resistance; the effect of R3 introgression was less conclusive.     

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.     

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.     

Analysis of spring bread wheat varieties (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.) using microsatellite markers

The genetic polymorphism of 62 genotypes of spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) of different ecological and geographical origin has been studied for 13 microsatellite loci using SSR-markers. A cluster analysis has revealed samples for use in hybridization that are most genetically distant from the varieties of selection in Primorsky krai. Lines 161 and 168, which combine the resistance to spike and grain fusarium with a high productivity, were developed with the involvement of the selected varieties, Long 98-4081 (China) and Primorskaya 39 (Russia, Primorsky krai).     

Sequence variations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">PDHA1</Emphasis> gene in Triticeae species allow for identifying wheat-alien introgression lines

Abstract In order to develop a molecular marker for the detection of alien chromatin, an allele-specific primer targeting pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDHA1) gene was used to analyze 12 taxa representing different basic genomes in Triticeae. Ampli....cation products with different sizes were generated among species. The sequence alignments indicated that the PDHA1 genes contained some deletions/insertions of Miniature Inverted-repeat Terminal Elements (MITE) and simple sequence repeats (SSRs), thus suggesting that the Triticeae genomes have been rapidly evolving during speciation. The genome-specific amplicons and chromosomal location of PDHA1 gene on Triticeae genomes can be used to trace the corresponding alien chromatins from Aegilops, Secale and Dasypyrum species in wheat background.     

不同生态型小麦品种叶片气孔密度及形态差异分析

旨在研究不同生态型小麦品种叶片的气孔性状与抗旱抗逆性的关系并发掘育种过程中鉴别品种抗旱性的新指标。对34个不同生态区域推广种植的小麦品种（系）进行叶片气孔结构的显微观察和分析。结果发现：冬小麦品种叶片的气孔密度显著高于春小麦,旱地小麦品种叶片的气孔密度显著高于水地小麦,旱地冬麦和水地冬麦叶片的气孔密度均显著高于旱地春麦和水地春麦（P<0.05）。各品种小麦旗叶的气孔密度平均值高于倒二叶,但两者差异不显著（P>0.05）。不同生态型小麦品种中,气孔形态小、密度大的品种抗旱性强。因此,可将气孔密度及其形态作为抗旱性选择的参考指标,同时也可为不同生态区适播品种的选择提供理论依据。     

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.     

Trade and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Totomoxtle</Emphasis>: Livelihood strategies in the Totonacan region of Veracruz,Mexico

Following the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Mexican farmers altered their livelihood strategies to respond to changing market incentives. While many commercial farmers responded to falling maize prices brought on by NAFTA by shifting into the production of vegetables for export, the coping strategies of low-income farmers have been varied, from diversifying income sources through off-farm employment, to migration, to searching for niche markets for new or added-value products. In the Totonocan region of the state of Veracruz, Mexico, many farmers who can no longer earn sufficient income from the sale of maize grain are turning to a byproduct of maize to generate income. The commercialization of totomoxtle, or maize husks, for domestic and international markets has not only enabled farmers to continue to profit from maize production, but it has also encouraged farmers to utilize and conserve criollo maize varieties that serve as important reservoirs of genetic diversity. Moreover, the growing importance of totomoxtle in livelihood strategies has caused some farmers to alter their maize management, selecting for better quality husks rather than for grain production. The purpose of this paper is to understand both the broad impact of NAFTA on the local agricultural economy and its more specific effects on the management of maize in the Zona Totonaca. Participation in international trade can lead to unexpected outcomes, in some cases creating new values for goods with a long history of local consumption. Commercialization of maize husks is likely to be only a temporary solution for the relief of rural poverty. Given the volatility of international markets, the long-term welfare of farmers may depend on the development of more diversified production strategies. Amanda King Amanda King holds an MSc from the University of California-Berkeley in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management. She was a Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellow based at the International Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT) in El Batán, Mexico in 2003 and at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington DC in 2004. She is currently conducting research in East Kalimantan, Indonesia on oil palm plantations and changes in local livelihoods.     

Investigation of the antagonistic activity of spore probiotics against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodococcus equi</Emphasis> in experiments on mice

A method is developed for studying the antagonistic activity of the spore probiotics Sakhabactisubtil and Irilis in vivo against a virulent Rhodococcus equi. Intraperitoneal injection of sterile filtrates of these spore probiotics into mice that received the antibiotic Ampiox and were infected with a lethal dose of the virulent R. equi strain promotes the survival of 70–100% of the animals and reduced the number of rhodococci in internal organs by 6–9 times.     

Effects of supplemental energy sources and <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-10, <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-12 conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) on milk yield and composition in lactating Holstein cows

The effects of supplemental energy sources (corn or saturated fatty acids) and trans-10, cis-12CLA on milk yield and composition were investigated in the present study. Four multiparous Holstein cows (560±31 kg BW, 98±10.5 DIM) were designated to a 2×2 factorial 4×4 Latin Square experiment. Treatments were isoenergetic supplementation of corn or calcium salt of saturated fatty acids (CaFA) with or without calcium salt of CLA. Both milk yield and composition were affected by sources of supplemental energy. Compared to CaFA supplementation, corn supplementation increased the milk yield, the lactose yield, and the content and yield of milk protein but decreased the yield and content of milk fat. Plasma insulin was higher, plasma glucose tended to be higher, and plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) was lower when corn rather than CaFA was supplemented. CaCLA supplementation did not affect milk yield and the yield of measured milk components, but increased the content of milk protein and decreased the content of total solids. Plasma glucose was decreased by CaCLA supplementation. Content and yield of short and medium chain fatty acids (⩽16 carbon atoms) in milk fat increased or remained unchanged while those of long chain fatty acids (> 16 carbon atoms) decreased or remained unchanged by corn supplementation. CaCLA supplementation failed to increase the content and yield of trans-10, cis-12CLA in milk fat, which explained the unobserved depression of milk fat synthesis by CaCLA supplementation. Yields of de novo synthesized fatty acids in the mammary gland were increased rather than decreased by corn supplementation. The decreased milk fat yield by corn supplementation could be exclusively attributed to reductions in preformed fatty acids, which might be a result of depressed lipolysis by stimulated insulin secretion.     

Identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lr24</Emphasis> with targeted region amplified polymorphism (TRAP) analysis in wheat

This research is aimed at developing TRAP markers, as a probe for library screening, closely linked to or co-segregated with Lr24. Ninety TRAP primer pairs were used to test the resistant and susceptible parents, as well as the resistant bulk and the susceptible bulk in our study. The polymorphic TRAP primers of TcLr24 were employed to genotype the F₂ population from TcLr24×Thatcher subsequently. Ten of 90 TRAP primer pairs displayed polymorphism between TcLr24 and Thatcher, accounting for 11.11%. A further study found that primer ARBI1/RGA-2F generated a 161 bp fragment presented only in the resistance plants of F₂ population. Forty-five other wheat leaf rust resistant NILs and 30 diploid materials of wheat were also tested to detect the specificity of the primer. This specific band was amplified in TcLr19, TcLr29, TcLr38, TcLr42 and TcLr44, but absented in all the 30 diploid materials. It was concluded that this marker ARBI1/RGA-2F was closely linked to Lr24, which could be used to detect Lr24 in the F₂ population of TcLr24×Thatcher, and be further used as a probe for cDNA and BAC library screening of TcLr24.     

Inheritance of flower homostyly of autogamous species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagopyrum tataricum</Emphasis> Gaertn. in interspecific crosses with heterostylous cross-pollinator <Emphasis Type="Italic">F. cymosum</Emphasis> Meisn.

Inheritance of flower homostyly of self-fertile buckwheat species Fagopyrum tataricum have been studied in interspecific crosses. This species is homozygous for recessive allele s, an analogue of which determines long-styled (pin) type of flowers of heterostylous species F. cymosum. Interspecific differences are determined by a system of modifier genes with a polymeric effect.     

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.     

Bioinformatics analysis of tyrosinase-related protein 1 gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">TYRP1</Emphasis>) from different species

As one member of the tyrosinase-related family directly involved in the production of melanin, TYRP1 is involved in not only melanogenesis but also prevention of melanocyte death, stabilizing tyrosinase and helping determine the shape of melanosomes, etc. Multi-species sequence comparisons showed that there were two evolutionally conserved non-coding regions (from −1306 to −733 and from −642 to −515 according to AL138753) upstream of translational initiation sites, representing putative regulatory regions subject to subsequent experimental tests. Coding sequence length variation and genetic diversity analysis showed that Felis catus, Homo sapiens and Canis familiaris had more genetic diversities than the other species for TYRP1, especially Felis catus that could be a better choice for studying the TYRP1-associated genetic basis underlying the color diversity. As a 75 kDa type-1 transmembrane glycoprotein, mature TYRP1 possesses about 17 kDa modifying components, whose function predominantly depends on the existing glycosyl-groups and the Cu components. In addition, the mutated amino acids within species and the highly conserved amino acids among species were listed in our paper.     

PCR analysis of codling moth (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cydia pomonella</Emphasis>) populations using SSR markers

A molecular genetic analysis (SSR-PCR) of various codling moth (Cydia pomonella) populations using three microsatellite loci (Cp1.63, Cp2.39, and Cp2.157) is carried out with determination of genetic diversity indices, number of alleles per locus, heterozygosity, etc. Significant differences in the molecular genetic structure of the populations are revealed and a decrease in genetic polymorphism and heterogeneity of C. pomonella populations from Russian compared with samples of the insects from Ukraine is noted.     

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.     

Protective and stimulating activity of glucomannan from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Narcissus poeticus</Emphasis>

The biological activity of glucomannan isolated from Narcissus poeticus plants (family Amarylidaceae) is investigated. Its high growth, catalase, and hormonal potential are determined. The presence of high viscosity and biological potential of Narpoetan isolated from bulbs makes it possible to use the preparation with fungicides when germinating seeds of spiked cereals and cotton.     

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.     

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.     

Laser-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence Measurements for Detecting the Nitrogen Status of Wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.) Canopies

The objective of this study was to assess the suitability of laser-induced chlorophyll fluorescence measurements to detect the nitrogen (N) supply of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at canopy level under ambient conditions. In 2002, a plot trial was carried out as a randomised block design. Increasing amounts of N fertiliser were applied to induce variations in the N uptake of the canopies. Different cultivars with varying growth habit and leaf colour were chosen to cover a wide range of canopy characteristics. Biomass was harvested at characteristic growth stages to determine aboveground dry matter yield, N concentration in dry matter and N uptake. Measurements with a hand-held chlorophyll sensor showed a strong correlation between the sensor signal and the N uptake thus indicating that the system is suitable for assessing the nutritional status of the plants. A clear differentiation between the N treatments was evident even at the beginning of stem elongation. The cultivar and the growth stage significantly influenced the sensor signal. Both factors need to be considered when predicting the N uptake of the canopy using laser-induced chlorophyll fluorescence measurements.