A genetic linkage map of Spinacia oleracea and localization of a sex determination locus

A genetic map of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) was constructed in a classical back cross population using 101 AFLP and 9 microsatellite markers. The map was divided into seven linkage groups with a total length of 585 cM and an average distance between the markers of 5.18 cM. The linkage map was constructed with LOD 3.5, but was quite stable with seven linkage groups remaining until LOD 7.0. Gender segregated 1 male to 1 female in the mapping population and was mapped to a small area of one linkage group with a distance of 1.9 cM to a microsatellite marker termed SO4. This small chromosomal region co-segregating with sex determination in the species is in contrast to previous reports on a heterologous XY chromosome system in spinach. Microsatellite markers used as anchors in the map construction were isolated from sequences of known nuclear encoded genes in spinach. This enabled simultaneous positioning on the map of these genes: Rubisco activase (Rca), Photosytem 1 subunit V (PsaG), Protein Kinase (Pk), Nitrate reductase (Nir), ferrodoxin:thioredoxin reductase (Ftr), Ribosomal protein L1 (Rps22), Choline monooxygenase (Cmo), Pseudogene for BZIP protein (Bzip), Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (Act1) and stromal ascorbate peroxidase, thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidase (Apx2). Spinach has a small genome, which makes it suitable for basic genomic studies and many physiologically important genes have been cloned from the species. The present map anchored with user friendly microsatellite markers will be useful for future studies of physiology and genetics of the species as well as studies of the nature of gender determination.     

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza and growth in barley: Effects of irradiation and heating of soil

The influence of soil irradiation (0.25–4.0 Mrad) and soil heating on mycorrhizal survival, establishment and development after reinoculation, and on plant growth, was investigated.The lowest radiation dose applied, completely eliminated the infectivity of a soil with a high number of mycorrhizal propagules.Mycorrhiza developed more slowly after inoculation in irradiated soils than in untreated soils. This could have been due to the small amounts of inoculum used, but the high concentrations of nutrients released by irradiation of the soil were probably of greater significance particularly the increased amounts of plant-available N as indicated by incubation experiments. Inorganic N was increased to similar levels by the various treatments. Available soil P increased with increasing irradiation dose.Incubation of inoculum in soil for 40 days before sowing increased mycorrhizal infection.