Genetic relationships among populations of Gibberella zeae from barley, wheat, potato, and sugar beet in the upper Midwest of the United States

Gibberella zeae, a causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat and barley, is one of the most economically harmful pathogens of cereals in the United States. In recent years, the known host range of G. zeae has also expanded to noncereal crops. However, there is a lack of information on the population genetic structure of G. zeae associated with noncereal crops and across wheat cultivars. To test the hypothesis that G. zeae populations sampled from barley, wheat, potato, and sugar beet in the Upper Midwest of the United States are not mixtures of species or G. zeae clades, we analyzed sequence data of G. zeae, and confirmed that all populations studied were present in the same clade of G. zeae. Ten variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) markers were used to determine the genetic structure of G. zeae from the four crop populations. To examine the effect of wheat cultivars on the pathogen populations, 227 strains were sampled from 10 subpopulations according to wheat cultivar types. The VNTR markers also were used to analyze the genetic structure of these subpopulations. In all populations, gene (H = 0.453 to 0.612) and genotype diversity (GD = or >0.984) were high. There was little or no indication of linkage disequilibrium (LD) in all G. zeae populations and subpopulations. In addition, high gene flow (Nm) values were observed between cereal and noncereal populations (Nm = 10.69) and between FHB resistant and susceptible wheat cultivar subpopulations (Nm = 16.072), suggesting low population differentiation of G. zeae in this region. Analysis of molecular variance also revealed high genetic variation (>80%) among individuals within populations and subpopulations. However, low genetic variation (<5%) was observed between cereal and noncereal populations and between resistant and susceptible wheat subpopulations. Overall, these results suggest that the populations or subpopulations are likely a single large population of G. zeae affecting crops in the upper Midwest of the United States.     

Combining different resistance components enhances resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> head blight in spring wheat

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating disease in wheat throughout the world. FHB resistance consists of two components: resistance to initial infection (type I) and resistance to spread within infected spikes (type II). Current wheat breeding programs for FHB focus on type II resistance, which limits pathogen spread but may not be sufficiently durable. To combine type I with existing type II resistance, 113 F₉-derived recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were developed from a cross between three wheat genotypes Frontana, W9207, and Alsen. The RILs were evaluated for resistance to initial infection, FHB spread within spike, kernel damage, and deoxynivalenol (DON) content in two independent greenhouse experiments in 2006 and 2007. Among the 113 RILs, 20% lines showed ≤10% initial disease severity (IDS) and ≤11 to 30% final disease severity (FDS), and 19% had DON content ≤5 μg/g. Approximately 11% of the RILs showed tendency of higher resistance (as exhibited by lower IDS, FDS, and DON content) than the resistant parents. The 42 of the FHB-resistant RILs were analyzed with seven simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers or microsatellites known to be linked to FHB resistance. Approximately half of the RILs had molecular markers linked to both types of FHB resistance indicated the presence of type I and II resistance alleles in the RILs. The resistant RILs identified in this study should be useful for the future improvement of FHB resistance in spring wheat.     

Diversification of maize (Zea mays L.) through teosinte (Zea mays subsp. parviglumis Iltis & Doebley) allelic

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Zea mays&nbsp;ssp.&nbsp;parviglumis&nbsp;is the progenitor of maize and assume to have tolerance against various biotic and abiotic stresses. It...     

Forest fragmentation and regrowth in an institutional mosaic of community, government and private ownership in Nepal

This study analyzes forest change in an area of Nepal that signifies a delicate balance between sustaining the needs and livelihood of a sizable human population dependent on forest products, and an effort to protect important wildlife and other natural resources. The study area, a portion of the Chitwan valley district of Nepal, represents what may be becoming a common institutional mosaic in many countries of the world who have a population reliant on forest products for their livelihood: (1) a national park; (2) a designated park buffer involving participatory forest management programs; (3) scattered patches of designated community forest; and (4) large areas of adjacent landscape made up of mostly private landholdings under agricultural practices. Utilizing Landsat images from 1989 and 2000, we analyze land cover change in each of these management zones using landscape ecology metrics and quantifying proportional distributions of land cover categories. Our results show significant differences in terms of land cover dynamics and landscape spatial pattern between these land ownership classes. These findings indicate that community-based institutions (participatory management programs in the park buffer and the designated community forests) are capable of halting or even reversing trends in deforestation and forest fragmentation.     

Genotype-environment interaction in Cordia trichotoma (Vell.)Arráb.Ex Steud.progenies in two different soil conditions

Investment in silvicultural techniques is notice-ably lacking,especially in breeding programs for non-con-ventional wood species.Studying genotype × environment interaction (G × E) is essential to the development of breed-ing programs.Thus,this study aimed to estimate genetic diversity of and the effects of G × E interaction on two prog-eny tests of Cordia trichotoma,including the estimation of genetic gain and genetic diversity after selection.For the experiment,30 progenies of C.trichotoma were tested at two sites with differing soil textures.Diameter at breast height (1.30 m above soil surface,dbh-cm),total height,diameter at 30 cm from the soil,first branch height,and survival were all monitored for four years.Statistical devi-ance,best linear unbiased estimator,and harmonic mean of relative performance of genetic values (MHPRVG) were all calculated to predict breeding values,estimate genetic parameters,and analyze deviance.All quantified traits varied significantly among progenies by soil type,with greatest variation recorded for genetic variability.Heritability of the progenies led to predictions of genetic gain,ranging from 7.73 to 15.45％,for dbh at four years of age.The calculated decrease in genetic diversity after selection showed that this parameter should be monitored in subsequent breed-ing cycles.G × E was low for all tests.The best-performing progenies proved most stable and best adapted to the differ-ent environmental conditions tested.     

Effect of host plants on fitness traits and detoxifying enzymes activity of Helopeltis theivora, a major sucking insect pest of tea

Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse (Heteroptera: Miridae) is a major sucking insect pest of tea (Camellia sinensis) which feeds on a wide variety of alternative host plants. Feeding biology and fitness traits of H. theivora, on two alternative host plants, viz., Mikania micrantha (Asteraceae) and Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae), besides C. sinensis (Theaceae), were studied along with corresponding levels of xenobiotic defense enzymes. C. sinensis is the preferred host of H. theivora. The development time of H. theivora is significantly shorter on C. sinensis (13.3?±?0.16?days) than on the two other hosts, M. micrantha (14.2?±?0.22?days) and P. guajava (14.7?±?0.23?days). Similarly, the fecundity (C. sinensis: 172.6?±?4.5 eggs/female, M. micrantha: 128.6?±?4.4 eggs/female, P. guajava: 118.7?±?3.3 eggs/female), oviposition period (C. sinensis: 24.1?±?0.7?days, M. micrantha: 22.5?±?0.6?days, P. guajava: 21.7?±?0.8?days) and hatchability (C. sinensis: 80.9?±?1.9%, M. micrantha: 69.4?±?1.6%, P. guajava: 64.1?±?1.7%) are recorded to be significantly higher on C. sinensis. The age at reproductive maturity and egg incubation periods were lower on C. sinensis than on the two other host plants. Host-based variation in H. theivora fitness traits is interpreted in light of differential activity of three principal xenobiotic detoxifying enzymes, the general esterases (GEs), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs). The activities of these enzymes in H. theivora were significantly enhanced when the insect fed on M. micrantha and P. guajava as compared with on C. sinensis.     

Seasonal incidence and enzyme-based susceptibility to synthetic insecticides in two upcoming sucking insect pests of tea

Climate change, deforestation and over reliance on chemical pesticides during the last five decades are presumed to have had a significant impact on the incidence and abundance of agricultural pests. The thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood) and the greenfly (Empoasca flavescens Fabricius), which were previously considered as minor or occasionally as serious pests in localized areas of tea plantations, are now established as regular and at times major pests in tea plantations of North Bengal spread over the sub Himalayan slopes and the adjoining plains of Terai and the Dooars. Tea-planters from different pockets of North Bengal have been repeatedly reporting control failures of these pests with the use of insecticides in recommended dilutions. A study of their seasonal incidence along with activity of detoxifying enzymes was considered. The trend of a recent population study revealed that E. flavescens and S. dorsalis were abundant throughout the year, with peaks during April to June. Abiotic factors such as temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours and relative humidity (afternoon) influenced the population abundance. Insecticide-exposed populations showed higher levels of activity of the detoxifying enzymes than those collected from organic plantations and the laboratory-reared populations that had not been exposed to insecticides. Detoxifying enzymes in insecticide-exposed E. flavescens collected from Terai and the Dooars as compared with laboratory control specimens showed 3.0–5.2 and 3.0–9.7-fold increases in general esterases (GEs), 1.5–4.8 and 3.6–5.3-fold increases in cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and 1.2–3.5 and 1.5–2.5-fold increases in glutathione-s-transferases (GSTs), respectively. Similarly, S. dorsalis collected from Terai and the Dooars showed 2.0–6.0 and 2.3–5.6-fold increases in GEs, 1.5–2.3 and 1.6–2.4-fold increases in CYPs and 2.6–3.7 and 2.3–3.6-fold increases for GSTs, respectively. Bands of isozymes of esterase I–VI and I–V were found to be expressed in insecticide-exposed specimens whereas a negligible expression was evident for the bands in unexposed E. flavescens and S. dorsalis of organic plantations and laboratory-reared origins, respectively. The data obtained in the present study would be useful in developing the integrated resistance management strategies leading to effective management of the said pests.     

Morphological,pathological and genetic variations among isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cochliobolus sativus</Emphasis> from Nepal

Spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus (Ito & Kuribayashi) Drechs. ex Dastur, is one of the important diseases of wheat worldwide. The main objective of this study was to investigate the phenotypic and genotypic variability among C. sativus isolates from the hills and plains in Nepal. A total of 48 monoconidial isolates of C. sativus from the hills (n = 24 isolates) and plains (n = 24 isolates) in Nepal were analyzed for morphology, aggressiveness and genetic structure. C. sativus isolates were grouped into three categories on the basis of their colony texture and mycelia colour. Thirteen isolates from the hills and plains belonging to three morphological groups were randomly selected and evaluated for aggressiveness on eight wheat cultivars (Chirya 1, Chirya 7, Milan/Shanghai 7, SW 89–5422, PBW 343, BL 1473, BL 3036, and RR 21) at the seedling stage. Nonparametric analysis revealed that the isolates from the plains (median disease rating of 5) were significantly (P = 0.0001) more aggressive than the isolates from the hills (median disease rating of 3). A significant (P = 0.0001) isolate by cultivar interaction was demonstrated and the isolates from the same geographic region and morphological group displayed different degrees of aggressiveness on wheat cultivars tested. Combined IS-PCR and rep-PCR analyses revealed moderate gene diversity (H = 0.24 and 0.25 for the hills and plains, respectively). Low linkage disequilibrium (LD) value and non-significant (P = 0.001) population differentiation (G″_ST = 0.05) were detected, indicating that isolates of C. sativus from the hills and plains in Nepal were genetically similar. Analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) revealed low (7%) levels of genetic variation between the hill and plain populations, whereas >93% of genetic variation was found within populations. Overall, C. sativus isolates from Nepal are pathologically and genetically diverse, and such information will be useful in developing wheat cultivars resistant to C. sativus.     

Identification and Molecular Mapping of a Gene in Wheat Conferring Resistance to Mycosphaerella graminicola

ABSTRACT Septoria tritici leaf blotch (STB), caused by the ascomycete Mycosphaerella graminicola (anamorph Septoria tritici), is an economically important disease of wheat. Breeding for resistance to STB is the most effective means to control this disease and can be facilitated through the use of molecular markers. However, molecular markers linked to most genes for resistance to STB are not yet available. This study was conducted to test for resistance in the parents of a standard wheat mapping population and to map any resistance genes identified. The population consisted of 130 F(10) recombinant-inbred lines (RILs) from a cross between the synthetic hexaploid wheat W7984 and cv. Opata 85. Genetic analysis indicated that a single major gene controls resistance to M. graminicola in this population. This putative resistance gene is now designated Stb8 and was mapped with respect to amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and microsatellite markers. An AFLP marker, EcoRI-ACG/MseI-CAG5, was linked in repulsion with the resistance gene at a distance of approximately 5.3 centimorgans (cM). Two flanking microsatellite markers, Xgwm146 and Xgwm577, were linked to the Stb8 gene on the long arm of wheat chromosome 7B at distances of 3.5 and 5.3 cM, respectively. The microsatellite markers identified in this study have potential for use in marker-assisted selection in breeding programs and for pyramiding of Stb8 with other genes for resistance to M. graminicola in wheat.