Genetic relationship of diploid wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum</Emphasis> spp.) species assessed by SSR markers

Genetic diversity of 139 accessions of diploid Triticum species including Triticum urartu, Triticum boeoticum and Triticum monococcum was studied using 11 SSR (simple sequence repeats) markers. A total of 111 alleles with an average of 10 alleles per locus were detected. The polymorphism information content (PIC) of each SSR marker ranged from 0.30 to 0.90 with an average value of 0.62. Among the three Triticum species T. urartu had the highest number of total alleles (Na?=?81), private alleles (Npa?=?15) and showed higher genetic diversity (Hex?=?0.58; PIC?=?0.54). The genotypes from Turkey exhibited the highest genetic diversity (PIC?=?0.6), while the least diversity was observed among 4 Georgian accessions (PIC?=?0.11). Cluster analysis was able to distinguish 139 wheat accessions at the species level. The highest genetic similarity (GS) was noted between T. boeticum and T. monococcum (GS?=?0.84), and the lowest between T. urartu and T. monococcum (GS?=?0.46). The grouping pattern of the PCoA analysis corresponded with cluster analysis. No significant differences were found in clustering of T. urartu and T. monococcum accessions with respect to their geographic regions, while within T. boeoticum species, accessions from Iran were somewhat associated with their geographical origin and clustered as a close and separate group. The results from our study demonstrated that SSR markers were good enough for further genetic diversity analysis in einkorn wheat species.     

Blue honeysuckle (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lonicera caerulea</Emphasis> L.) vegetative growth cessation and leaf drop phenological adaptation to a temperate climate

Blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) is a northern-adapted crop species with extremely early phenology and cold hardiness. Restricted adaptation to temperate climates is a current limitation to the crop’s mainstream potential for large-scale production. Based on the broad germplasm base at the University of Saskatchewan, vegetative growth cessation and leaf drop phenology were characterized to complement analysis of spring phenological adaptation in a temperate climate. A multi-trial site of three foundation groups and a single-site trial of three improved groups compared with their parental foundation genotypes were conducted in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada in 2012 and 2013. The current study shows that blue honeysuckle germplasm contains considerable phenological variation that will permit adaptation to temperate climates. It also demonstrates that breeding for improved adaptation is possible using the existing germplasm resources. For Russian germplasm with the earliest phenology, adaptation to northern latitudes and short growing seasons results in early floral initiation, which presents an indirect limitation to production in more southern latitudes due to secondary flowering. Early leaf drop indirectly limits production and is related to poor adaptation to high chill environments. Skew toward later leaf drop in improved groups, produced from hybridization with Japanese and Kuril germplasm with intermediate and late phenologies, respectively, shows that development of better adaptation to southern latitudes can be achieved.     

Oil concentration and fatty-acid profile of naturalized <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis> populations from Australia

Although wild annual sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is indigenous to North America, it has been both inadvertently and intentionally introduced into other countries, such as Australia, where it has become naturalized. Prior to this research, there were no collections of naturalized H. annuus from Australia in the USDA National Plant Germplasm System gene bank. The possibility exists that naturalized Australian populations may contain distinct traits, such as oil content and fatty-acid composition, differing from their North American progenitors due to the different environments, diseases, and insect-pest complexes. The objective of this study was to collect naturalized H. annuus populations from the five states of Australia and to analyze them for oil content and fatty-acid composition. Fifty-six populations were collected throughout the broad distributional range of this species and then analyzed for oil content and fatty-acid composition. The mean oil content of the H. annuus populations was 28%, ranging from a low of 19% to a high of 31%, similar to populations of this species in its native North American habitats. Fatty-acid profiles were also similar for North American wild populations, Australian naturalized populations, and improved cultivars. Oil concentration of hybrids can be rapidly increased to acceptable levels by backcrossing with cultivated sunflower. Based on this fact, there should be little concern about the relatively low oil content of these naturalized populations when they are used as a source of other unique traits for cultivated sunflower improvement.     

Can within field yield variation be explained using horizontal penetrometer resistance and electrical conductivity measurements? Results from three Swedish fields

Spatial variations in yield occur in all agricultural fields to some degree. Knowledge of the reasons for these variations, especially temporally stable yield patterns, is needed in order to improve productivity by changing production methods or inputs. This information must be provided in a simple, cost-effective way. This study investigated whether field-scale measurements of penetration resistance (PR) could identify temporally stable yield patterns without complementary measurements of other properties. The PR measurements were also compared with field-scale apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) measurements and correlations between yield and PR and yield and ECa were investigated. Measurements with a newly constructed horizontal penetrometer and a non-invasive proximal electromagnetic induction sensor were carried out in three fields in east-central Sweden. The measurements were made once in each field, apart from one field where PR was measured twice in one season. The sensor measurements were compared with crop yield measured over the course of several years. The horizontal penetrometer was able to identify low-yielding areas in one field. However, single measurements of PR or ECa were insufficient to consistently identify yield variations. Parts of the fields showed more consistent patterns, with stronger correlations between PR, ECa and yield. PR and ECa data were better at explaining yield variations in drier years, but showed diverging patterns in different fields and neither showed a much stronger correlation to yield than the other. In future studies, simultaneous measurement of soil water content is recommended and also PR measurements at a water content drier than field capacity.     

Quantitative trait loci mapping of forage agronomic traits in six mapping populations derived from European elite maize germplasm

Four agronomic traits were analysed including dry matter concentration (DMC) and dry matter yield (DMY) for stover, plant height (PHT) and days from planting to silking (DPS). We mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) in three populations with doubled haploid lines (DHL), one RIL population and two testcross (TC) populations derived from crosses between two of the four populations mentioned above to elite tester lines, based on field phenotyping at multiple locations and years for each; 146–168 SSRs were used for genotyping of the four mapping populations. Significant high phenotypic and genotypic correlations were found for all traits at two locations, while DMC was negatively correlated with the other traits. A total of 42, 41, 54, and 45 QTL were identified for DMC, DMY, PHT, and DPS, respectively, with 9, 7, 12, and 7 major QTL for each trait. Most detected QTL displayed significant interactions with environment. Major QTL detected in more than two populations will contribute to marker‐assisted breeding and also to fine mapping candidate genes associated with maize agronomic traits.     

Shooting range contamination: mobility and transport of lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and antimony (Sb) in contaminated peatland

Purpose

Small arm shooting ranges located in peatland areas are gathering increased attention due to severe metal and antimony (Sb) contamination and challenging conditions for remediation. The goal of the present study was to gain further understanding of the distribution, binding and transport of lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and Sb in peatland contaminated by small arm shooting range activities.

Materials and methods

A field experiment was carried out at a recently closed shooting range facility in Norway, including (i) peat soil sampling for various selective extractions (water, chemical extractions, extractions by diffusive gradients in thin films, DGT), (ii) establishing groundwater wells for groundwater sampling and monitoring of groundwater level and (iii) sampling of water and sediments in surface water. The results from groundwater monitoring were used to carry out hydrogeological numerical simulations using Seep/W and CTran/W. These models were used to evaluate the residence time of the contaminants in the peatland.

Results and discussion

Increased metal concentrations were observed in the top layer of the peatland, indicating low vertical transport. Groundwater revealed high concentrations of Pb (22 ± 5 μg/L), Cu (16 ± 6 μg/L) and Sb (11 ± 2 μg/L), the dominating contaminant source to the downstream surface water. Hydrogeological modelling indicated that transport mainly happened in the upper peat layer, as a result of a higher hydraulic conductivity close to the surface and a high groundwater table. Pb (6.9 ± 0.1 μg/L), Cu (24.0 ± 0.0 μg/L) and Sb (7.4 ± 0.1 μg/L) concentrations in the stream samples confirmed the spreading of contaminants at levels toxic to aquatic organisms. Pb and Cu were most likely associated with dissolved organic carbon (DOC), whereas Sb showed no correlation with DOC.

Conclusions

The elements contaminating the peatland may leak to the nearby water course over a long-term period. Copper showed the highest concentration in the stream water despite considerably higher levels of Pb in the peat soil. Strong complexation of Cu to dissolved organic matter might explain this observation. Only a little fraction of the contaminants is transported in a particulate form, and therefore are increased sedimentation measures not considered as viable remediation option.

     

Slope position regulates response of carbon and nitrogen stocks to cattle grazing on rough fescue grassland

Purpose

Grasslands play a crucial role in offsetting greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. A moderate change in grassland carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks may substantially alter the global C and N cycle and thereby influence climate. But how grassland C and N stocks respond to grazing and slope position remains uncertain. This research investigates how C and N stocks respond to cattle grazing along a landscape slope.

Materials and methods

We studied a grassland that has been grazed by cattle at four cattle stocking rates (0, 1.2, 2.4, and 4.8 animal unit months (AUM) ha^?1) since 1949, representing control (CK), light (L), heavy (H), and very heavy (VH) grazing intensities, respectively. Samples were taken from the top and bottom slope positions within each paddock (only the top position in CK); C and N stocks in soil, roots, litter, and standing crop were estimated. Soil C and N stocks were estimated based on equivalent mass (1500 Mg ha^?1). Root C and N stocks were estimated to the depth of 15 cm.

Results and discussion

All parameters, except for litter N stock and standing crop C stock, significantly responded to the interaction of grazing intensity and slope position. In the bottom position, soil and standing crop C and N stocks as well as litter C stock were higher with the L treatment than with VH, while no significant differences were found among the three grazed treatments for root C and litter N stocks. In the top position, soil and root C and N stocks were higher with the VH treatment than with L, whereas litter C and N stocks and standing crop C stock were lower with VH than with L.

Conclusions

Our results provide evidence that slope position plays an important role in regulating the response of C and N stocks to grazing and may need to be considered when developing optimal grazing management strategies.

     

Reproductive ability of second generation ornamental (koi) carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) × goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) hybrids and characteristics of their offspring

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reproductive ability of second generation (F₂) koi (Cyprinus carpio L.) × goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) hybrids. Only diploid F₂ males and females were fertile and used in crosses. A significant increase was recorded in male fertility in F₂ versus F₁. In contrast with an earlier study in which only one fertile F₁ male was found, about 20% of F₂ males produced sperm. The observed reproductive ability of F₂ hybrids was similar to that demonstrated by the only fertile F₁ male and F₁ females. F₂ males produced diploid spermatozoa and generated triploids when crossed with koi females. All triploid fish in these progenies were males indicating that F₂ males had a sex chromosome constitution of XY. F₂ females produced diploid eggs and generated mostly triploids when crossed with koi males. In progenies obtained by crosses of F₂ males with F₁ and F₂ females, most of the surviving juveniles (63%–100%) were diploid; a minority of juveniles were aneuploid (ploidy ranged from 2.1n to 3.6n). Diploid fish in these progenies were presumably the result of spontaneous androgenesis and gynogenesis, by the same mechanisms observed earlier in progenies obtained by crossing the F₁ male with F₁ females.     

Effect of host resistance on genetic structure of core and accessory chromosomes in Irish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zymoseptoria tritici</Emphasis> populations

In agricultural pathosystems resistant cultivars are typically only temporarily effective, as widespread growth of said cultivars drives selection for pathogen genotypes capable of infecting them. A gene-for-gene interaction between Z. tritici and wheat has been demonstrated for one cultivar; however results of studies into the relevance of these interactions in the field remain inconsistent. Because genetic drift does not appear to occur between Z. tritici populations that are not widely geographically separated, according to neutral genetic theory if adaptation to different host cultivars is occurring, reduced genetic variation, and some differentiation between populations sourced from different cultivars should be observed. Selectively neutral microsatellite markers were used to genotype 260 isolates of Z. tritici taken from two naturally infected randomized block trials of four different cultivars, representing a spectrum of resistance to Z. tritici from susceptible to resistant. By calculating genetic parameters such as overall heterozygosity and F _ST from this genotypic data, the presented study aimed to determine if genetic drift or host selection is impacting on the genetic structure of the Irish Z. tritici population. Results indicated that diversity was distributed almost entirely within, rather than among populations, with little or no differentiation, and almost no clone isolates were present in the dataset. However this result was not reflected in the accessory chromosomes, where evidence of minor but significant genetic structure was found. This lack of structure in the core chromosomes and weak structure in the accessory chromosomes confirms that forces of genetic drift and selection are minor compared to sexual reproduction, in concurrence with multiple previous studies on other populations worldwide.