Evaluation of potato clones for their adaptation to medium altitude conditions in the tropics

Potato is one of the most important crops in the world, including in the tropics. Potato requires low temperatures or cool climate for optimum tuber yield, which in the tropics, can be obtained mostly in high altitude growing areas. The limitation of land availability for potato production in highland areas of some tropical countries has steered the recent development of potato production to medium altitude areas. The objective of our study is to identify potato accessions with promising levels of heat resistance in laboratory and with good adaptation to medium altitude in the field. We used in vitro assay to screen a number of potato clones with possible resistance to heat stress on the basis literature and database of the International Potato Center, supplemented with the collection of Bogor Agricultural University. We then continued with verification of selected clones using field test in high altitude (1300 m above sea level) and medium altitude (700 m above sea level) areas. Our result showed that there is considerable variation of S. tuberosum for their adaptation to medium altitude areas in the tropics that can be exploited in breeding programs. We identified one genotype PKHT 2013-06 that was superior for its ability to produce tubers under extreme conditions. Thus, it might be very suitable to be used in a breeding program to develop tolerant varieties of potato to medium altitude areas in the tropics.     

Two reported cytotypes of the emergent orchid model species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erycina pusilla</Emphasis> are two different species

Each species is characterized by a specific set of chromosomes, which is described as the chromosome portrait or karyotype. In general, such a karyotype is the same for all individuals in the population. An exception to that rule has recently been found in the orchid Erycina pusilla, which has been reported to have two cytotypes with chromosome numbers of 2n = 10 and 2n = 12. Here, we examined the karyotypes of the two cytotypes and found differences in arm ratios and heterochromatin patterns as well as in the presence of satellite chromosomes and in the number and location of rDNA and telomeric repeat sites. These differences are extensive and would have required multiple chromosome rearrangements to generate the differences between the two karyotypes. We also found that F1 hybrids between the parents with the two different chromosome numbers resulted in sterile offspring, in accordance with our previous findings. The combination of hybrid sterility and extensively rearranged chromosomes supports the hypothesis that these two reported cytotypes are, in fact, two different species.     

Determining resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium verticillioides</Emphasis> and fumonisin accumulation in African maize inbred lines resistant to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus flavus</Emphasis> and aflatoxins

Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus cause Fusarium ear rot (FER) and Aspergillus ear rot (AER) of maize, respectively. Both pathogens are of concern to producers as they reduce grain yield and affect quality. F. verticillioides and A. flavus also contaminate maize grain with the mycotoxins fumonisins and aflatoxins, respectively, which has been associated with mycotoxicosis in humans and animals. The occurrence of common resistance mechanisms to FER and AER has been reported. Hence, ten Kenyan inbred lines resistant to AER and aflatoxin accumulation were evaluated for resistance to FER, F. verticillioides colonisation and fumonisin accumulation; and compared to nine South African lines resistant to FER and fumonisin accumulation. Field trials were conducted at three localities in South Africa and two localities in Kenya. FER severity was determined by visual assessment, while F. verticillioides colonisation and fumonisin content were quantified by real-time PCR and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. Significant genotype x environment interactions was determined at each location (P ≤ 0.05). Kenyan inbred CML495 was most resistant to FER and F. verticillioides colonisation, and accumulated the lowest concentration of fumonisins across localities. It was, however, not significantly more resistant than Kenyan lines CML264 and CKL05015, and the South African line RO549 W, which also exhibited low FER severity (≤5%), fungal target DNA (≤0.025 ng μL^?1) and fumonisin levels (≤2.5 mg kg^?1). Inbred lines resistant to AER and aflatoxin accumulation appear to be promising sources of resistance to F. verticillioides and fumonisin contamination.     

Resistance screening of breeding lines and commercial tomato cultivars for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne incognita</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. javanica</Emphasis> populations (Nematoda) from Ethiopia

Soil and root samples were collected from major tomato growing areas of Ethiopia during the 2012/2013 growing season to identify root-knot nematode problems. DNA-based and isozyme techniques revealed that Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica were the predominant Meloidogyne species across the sampled areas. The aggressiveness of different populations of these species was assessed on tomato cultivars Marmande and Moneymaker. The two most aggressive populations of each species were selected and further tested on 33 tomato genotypes. The resistance screening and mechanism of resistance was performed after inoculation with 100 freshly hatched (<24 h) second-stage juveniles (J2). Eight weeks after inoculation the number of egg masses produced on each cultivar was assessed. For the resistance mechanism study, J2 penetration and their subsequent development inside the tomato roots were examined at 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after inoculation. On both cultivars Marmande and Moneymaker all M. incognita and M. javanica populations formed a high number of egg masses indicating highly aggressive behaviour. Populations from ‘Jittu’ and ‘Babile’ for M. incognita and ‘Jittu’ and ‘Koka’ for M. javanica were selected as most aggressive. None of the 33 tomato genotypes were immune for these M. incognita and M. javanica populations. However, several tomato genotypes were found to have a significant effect on the number of egg masses produced indicating possible resistance. For M. javanica populations there were more plants from cultivars or breeding lines on which no egg masses were found compared to M. incognita populations. The lowest number of egg masses for both populations of M. incognita was produced on cultivars Bridget40, Galilea, and Irma while for M. javanica it was on Assila, Eden, Galilea, Tisey, CLN-2366A, CLN-2366B and CLN-2366C. Tomato genotypes, time (weeks after inoculation) and their interaction were significant sources of variation for J2 penetration and their subsequent development inside the tomato roots. Differential penetration was found in breeding lines such as CLN-2366A, CLN-2366B and CLN-2366C, but many of the selected tomato genotypes resistance for the tested M. incognita and M. javanica populations were expressed by delayed nematode development. Therefore, developing a simple screening technique to be used by local farmers or extension workers is crucial to facilitate selection of a suitable cultivar.     

Assessing freeze-tolerance in St. Augustinegrass: temperature response and evaluation methods

Winter hardiness is a major-limiting factor for St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze] grown in the transitional climatic region of the United States. Lab-based freeze tests that mimic the range of field winter survivability in St. Augustinegrass can contribute to the selection of cold hardy genotypes. This study used a whole container method, four freezing temperatures, and two data collection systems to evaluate the freezing response of nine St. Augustinegrass genotypes ranging in their winter hardiness. Results indicated ?3 and ?4 °C with average regrowth ratings of 33.6 and 17.8% respectively, were more suitable temperatures for evaluating freeze survival in St. Augustinegrass than ?5 and ?6 °C with average regrowth ratings of 0.4 and 0%, respectively. Visual ratings of surviving green tissue and regrowth were generally well correlated when evaluated over a six week period post-freeze with Pearson correlation coefficients ranging of 0.17–0.62  for ?3 °C freeze tests and 0.79–0.93 for ?4 °C freeze tests. Additionally, measurement of percent green cover using digital imaging techniques commonly utilized in turfgrass field studies were significantly correlated (0.66) with visual ratings averaged across weekly post-freeze evaluation measurements for both ?3 and ?4 °C freezing temperatures. These results provide evidence that digital imaging analyses are useful in estimating surviving green tissue and regrowth in lab-based freeze tests. This study provides additional information regarding freezing temperatures, genotype responses, and data collection methods in St. Augustinegrass, which should aid breeders in the improvement of freeze tolerance in the species.     

比格犬胫神经皮层体感诱发电位正常值研究

为了测定比格犬胫神经皮层体感诱发电位(somatosensory evoked potential,SEP)的波形及其潜伏期和波幅的正常值。选用15只健康比格犬,在异氟烷吸入麻醉状态下,使用肌电诱发电位仪电刺激其胫神经,将自制参考电极和记录电极分别放置于头部Fz处和Cz处记录SEP波形。结果表明:15只比格犬刺激左右侧胫神经均可记录到清晰的双向SEP波。刺激左侧胫神经引发的波形潜伏期为P(21.71±1.978)ms、N(32.61±2.568)ms、P-N(10.90±1.338)ms,其变异系数分别为9.11%、7.87%、12.88%;波幅为(2.762±1.230)μV,变异系数为41.47%;刺激右侧胫神经引发的波形潜伏期为P(21.49±1.985)ms、N(32.55±2.359)ms、P-N(11.06±1.153)ms,其变异系数分别为9.24%、7.25%、10.24%;波幅为(2.634±1.092)μV,变异系数为44.55%。潜伏期和波幅左右侧差异均不显著(P0.05)。对正常比格犬胫神经皮层SEP的测定,获得了清晰的SEP波形及各波潜伏期和波幅的正常值,印证了潜伏期的稳定性优于波幅的稳定性,可以为实验室研究犬病理状态下的SEP和宠物临床应用SEP诊断疾病提供参考依据。     

盐胁迫对冬小麦花后抗氧化酶、渗透调节物质的影响

探究小麦花后遭遇盐胁迫下,小麦抗氧化酶、渗透调节物质的变化。本试验以‘青麦6号’、‘济麦22’为材料,以普通土壤为对照,设置2‰、4‰2个NaCl浓度盐胁迫梯度。利用土壤水分用时域水分测定仪(TDR)严格控制0~40 cm土层灌水量,获取冬小麦花后0、7、14、21、28天的小麦旗叶,测定旗叶中超氧化物酶(SOD)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性、可溶性蛋白含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量、可溶性糖含量、游离脯氨酸含量的变化。结果表明,随盐浓度及胁迫时间的增加,叶片SOD活性、POD活性、可溶性蛋白含量不同程度的减小;MDA含量、可溶性糖含量、游离脯氨酸含量不同程度地升高。‘青麦6号’具有较好的抗盐性,游离脯氨酸含量与小麦耐盐性呈正相关关系,SOD、POD、MDA能够作为作物抗逆性的衡量标准。     

茭鸭共作对茭白产量和品质的影响

为给茭白与鸭共作系统中适宜放养鸭密度提供参考依据,本研究通过大田试验,比较了茭白单作、茭白田放鸭300、375、450只/hm~2条件下茭白的生物学性状、产量和品质。结果表明:茭鸭共作能显著提高茭白后期叶片数、干物重及产量,并延缓茭白后期叶片衰败。放鸭密度从375只/hm~2增加至450只/hm~2时,茭白后期叶片衰败加快,且茭白产量不再增加。茭鸭共作显著提高茭白蛋白质、维生素C和氨基酸含量。茭鸭共作系统灌溉养殖池塘富营养化水4500 m~3/hm~2时,输入的N、P、K相当于99.75 kg尿素、38.25 kg过磷酸钙和83.55 kg氯化钾的养分含量。本试验条件下,茭白常规种植密度27795株/hm~2,田间适宜放鸭密度为375只/hm~2,可显著提高茭白产量及品质。     

Identifying and exploring significant genomic regions associated with soybean yield,seed fatty acids,protein and oil

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] yield and seed fatty acids, protein, and oil content are important traits for which an improved understanding of significant genomic regions would be useful. To accomplish this, a soybean population consisting of 203 F5 derived recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was developed and genotyped with 11,633 polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Each RIL was grown in a single plot at Knoxville, TN in 2010; followed by replicated, multi-location field trials in 2013 and 2014. The data from 2010, 2013, and 2014 were analyzed together in order to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) for these traits, and 30 total QTLs were detected. Five QTLs are candidates for confirmed status and one QTL is a candidate for positional confirmation. Many of the genes with mutations in close proximity to the fatty acid QTLs are involved in biological processes for fatty acids and/or lipids and could be considered possible candidate genes. Similarly, genes with mutations in genomic regions near yield, protein, and oil QTLs were plentiful and may contribute to the variation observed in these traits. Except for yield and stearic acid, each trait displayed pleiotropic effects with other traits in this study. Notable are the pleiotropic effects for oleic and linolenic acid on chromosomes 9, 13, and 19. Overall, the findings from this research contribute new information to the genetic understanding of soybean yield and seed fatty acids, protein and oil content. This understanding will be useful in making trait improvements.     

Nonparametric phenotypic stability analysis in advanced barley (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hordeum vulgare</Emphasis> L.) genotypes

The development of genotypes with adaptation to a wide range of environments is one of the most important goals of plant breeding programs. In order to compare nonparametric stability measures and to identify promising high-yield and stable barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), 20 barley genotypes selected from the Iran/ICARDA joint project and grown in nine environments during 2009-11 in Iran. Four nonparametric statistical tests of significance for genotype × environment (GE) interaction and 10 nonparametric measures of stability were used to identify stable genotypes in nine environments. Results of nonparametric tests of G×E interaction (Kubinger, Hildebrand, and Kroon/ Laan) and a combined ANOVA across environments, indicated the presence of both crossover and non-crossover interactions. Also, only TOP and rank-sum values were positively associated with high yield. Thus, in the simultaneous selection for high yield and stability, only the rank-sum and TOP methods were useful in terms of the principal component analysis results, and correlation analysis of nonparametric stability statistics and yield. According to these stability parameters (TOP and rank-sum), three genotypes (G13, G12, and G17) were the most stable for grain yield. The results also revealed that based on nonparametric test results, stability could be classified into three groups, according to agronomic and biological concepts of stability.