Quantitative trait locus analysis of wheat quality traits

Milling and baking quality traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were studied by QTL analysis in the ITMI population, a set of 114 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) generated from a synthetic-hexaploid (W7985) × bread-wheat (Opata 85) cross. Grain from RILs grown in U.S., French, and Mexican wheat-growing regions was assayed for kernel-texture traits, protein concentration and quality, and dough strength and mixing traits. Only kernel-texture traits showed similar genetic control in all environments, with Opata ha alleles at the hardness locus Ha on chromosome arm 5DS increasing grain hardness, alkaline water retention capacity, and flour yield. Dough strength was most strongly influenced by Opata alleles at 5DS loci near or identical to Ha. Grain protein concentration was associated not with high-molecular-weight glutenin loci but most consistently with the Gli-D2 gliadin locus on chromosome arm 6DS. In Mexican-grown material, a 2DS locus near photoperiod-sensitivity gene Ppd1 accounted for 25% of variation in protein, with the ppd1-coupled allele associated with higher (1.1%) protein concentration. Mixogram traits showed most influence from chromosomal regions containing gliadin or low-molecular-weight glutenin loci on chromosome arms 1AS, 1BS, and 6DS, with the synthetic hexaploid contributing favorable alleles.Some RI lines showed quality values consistently superior to those of the parental material, suggesting the potential of further evaluating new combinations of alleles from diploid and tetraploid relatives, especially alleles of known storage proteins, for improvement of quality traits in wheat cultivars.Contribution number 06-77J from the Kansas Agricultural Experimental Station.     

Oxidant effects on forest tree seedling growth in the Appalachian mountains

Long range transport of episodic concentrations of O₃ into the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia was recorded in the summer season of 1979 and 1980. Continuous monitoring of O₃ indicated monthly averages of ? 0.05 ppm O₃ and several periods averaged ? 0.08 ppm O₃. Open-top chambers were used to test the effect of ambient doses of the pollutant on the growth of 8 planted forest tree species native to the area. Height growth was suppressed for all species at the end of the second growing season when grown in open plots (no chamber) and ambient chambers compared to those grown in charcoal-filtered air supplied chambers. Height growth trends of open < ambient chamber < filtered air chamber were consistent. Virginia pine and green ash were significantly taller (p=0.10) when grown within filtered air chambers. Tulip poplar and green ash manifested purple stippling on the adaxial leaf surface and sweetgum developed purple coloration under open or ambient chamber conditions; other species exhibited no visible injury.     

Bovine farcy in the Accra Plains of Ghana

Bovine farcy is described for the first time in Ghana in herds kept in the Aveyime area of the Accra Plains. Reasons why the disease seems confined to a small geographical area are not yet clear. Different breeds of cattle are equally affected. Mineral deficiencies were not observed in the samples taken for analysis (Ca, Mg, P, Na, K, Cl). Limited examination of tick population on cattle showed a predominance of A. variegatum. Factors enhancing the pathogenicity and persistence of the Mycobacterium are still not clear. A study is soon to start.     

A brown dwarf mass donor in an accreting binary

A long-standing and unverified prediction of binary star evolution theory is the existence of a population of white dwarfs accreting from substellar donor stars. Such systems ought to be common, but the difficulty of finding them, combined with the challenge of detecting the donor against the light from accretion, means that no donor star to date has a measured mass below the hydrogen burning limit. We applied a technique that allowed us to reliably measure the mass of the unseen donor star in eclipsing systems. We were able to identify a brown dwarf donor star, with a mass of 0.052 +/- 0.002 solar mass. The relatively high mass of the donor star for its orbital period suggests that current evolutionary models may underestimate the radii of brown dwarfs.     

Immunological reversal of autoimmune diabetes without hematopoietic replacement of beta cells

Type 1 diabetes mellitus results from the autoimmune destruction of the beta cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans and is recapitulated in the nonobese diabetic strain of mice. In an attempt to rescue islet loss, diabetic mice were made normoglycemic by islet transplantation and immunization with Freund's complete adjuvant along with multiple injections of allogeneic male splenocytes. This treatment allowed for survival of transplanted islets and recovery of endogenous beta cell function in a proportion of mice, but with no evidence for allogeneic splenocyte-derived differentiation of new islet beta cells. Control of the autoimmune disease at a crucial time in diabetogenesis can result in recovery of beta cell function.     

Platelet-derived serotonin mediates liver regeneration

The liver can regenerate its volume after major tissue loss. In a mouse model of liver regeneration, thrombocytopenia, or impaired platelet activity resulted in the failure to initiate cellular proliferation in the liver. Platelets are major carriers of serotonin in the blood. In thrombocytopenic mice, a serotonin agonist reconstituted liver proliferation. The expression of 5-HT2A and 2B subtype serotonin receptors in the liver increased after hepatectomy. Antagonists of 5-HT2A and 2B receptors inhibited liver regeneration. Liver regeneration was also blunted in mice lacking tryptophan hydroxylase 1, which is the rate-limiting enzyme for the synthesis of peripheral serotonin. This failure of regeneration was rescued by reloading serotonin-free platelets with a serotonin precursor molecule. These results suggest that platelet-derived serotonin is involved in the initiation of liver regeneration.     

Colloid transport of plutonium in the far-field of the Mayak Production Association, Russia

Sorption of actinides, particularly plutonium, onto submicrometer-sized colloids increases their mobility, but these plutonium colloids are difficult to detect in the far-field. We identified actinides on colloids in the groundwater from the Mayak Production Association, Urals, Russia; at the source, the plutonium activity is approximately 1000 becquerels per liter. Plutonium activities are still 0.16 becquerels per liter at a distance of 3 kilometers, where 70 to 90 mole percent of the plutonium is sorbed onto colloids, confirming that colloids are responsible for the long-distance transport of plutonium. Nano-secondary ion mass spectrometry elemental maps reveal that amorphous iron oxide colloids adsorb Pu(IV) hydroxides or carbonates along with uranium carbonates.     

Detection and quantitation of resveratrol in tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Resveratrol is a stilbene phytoalexin well-known for its presence in grape, wine, and peanut. As a result of its antioxidant and chemopreventative properties, it has gained much attention as a functional food ingredient. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the detection of resveratrol, its 3-glucopyranoside piceid, and the cis isomers of both compounds has been developed and used to quantitate the levels of these compounds in the skin of commercially available tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). The resveratrol concentration remains relatively stable during fruit maturation, reaching a maximum concentration in the skin of 18.4 +/- 1.6 microg/g dry weight at 4 weeks postbreaker. No stilbenes were detected in the flesh of tomato fruit.     

Increasing incidence of megabacteriosis in canaries (Serinus canarius domesticus)

A total of 312 post-mortem examinations of 178 canaries (Serinus canarius domesticus), 40 parakeets (Melopsittacus undulatus, Nymphicus hollandicus) and 94 parrots (Amazona aestiva, Psitaccus erithacus) were conducted at the Birds and Rabbits Service of the University of Liège, Belgium. After a detailed gross examination, tissue samples were collected for virological and/or bacteriological and/or parasitological examination to complete the diagnosis. In all cases, a microscopic examination of the proventricular mucus layer was undertaken for the detection of the anamorphic ascomycetous yeast Macrorhabdus ornithogaster, which causes the non-zoonotic but important disease in cage birds known as megabacteriosis. At the time of death, megabacteriosis was diagnosed respectively in 28% of canaries and 22.5% of budgerigars (P value for Fisher's exact test=0.5576), but was not diagnosed in parrots (P value for Fisher's exact test <0.0001). The incidence of megabacteriosis significantly increases along the years (P value for chi2 test <0.0001, Cramer's coefficient=0.3405). The most common gross lesions seen at necropsy of the 59 megabacteriosis cases was proventricular dilatation (86.1%). All the birds diagnosed as typical megabacteriosis cases were free of Salmonella spp. infections and of any parasitic infections. Four megabacteriosis cases (three canaries, one parakeet) were not included in statistical analysis as salmonellosis, pseudotuberculosis, coccidiosis and chlamydophilosis were diagnosed concomitantly in these birds. With the exception of megabacteriosis, the most frequent causes of death were protozoan (coccidiosis, lankesterellosis) infections (18.4%) and salmonellosis (17.1%) in canaries, and psittacosis (31.5%) and viral hepatitis (26.3%) in parakeets. In parrots, the most common causes of death were psittacosis (28.6%) and aspergillosis (28.5%).     

Phenotypic Correlations of Stride Traits and Body Measurements in Lipizzaner Stallions and Mares

Besides being well known for their use in classical dressage, Lipizzaner horses are today becoming more and more popular for use in driving sport, with Croatia as the largest breeder in the world. To estimate their phenotypic predisposition for driving sport, this research analyzes the correlation between body measurements and traits of length and speed of walk and hand-led trot in 18 stallions (LS) and 53 mares (LM) by using a digital camera. Statistical analysis of the data concerning phenotypic correlations among the indicated traits has revealed the potential of documenting a large number of structural exterior body characteristics and quantitative measurements in Lipizzaner horses, and technical equipment has been found to be useful in research of stride traits. Higher withers height (WH) achieved through breeding was found to be negatively correlated with the number of strides per second during walk and trot, but positively correlated with walk stride length, especially in LS. Higher values for chest girth (CG) and cannon bone circumference (CBC) were found to be positively correlated with speed, as well as with stride length in LS, and negatively correlated with the number of strides per second during walk and trot in both LS and LM. Because for many years the goal of breeding Lipizzaners in Croatia has been to obtain a bigger body format and longer stride, leading to better results in a driving sport, these findings confirm breeding goals in selection work guided toward better stride length and extended stride as the most desirable traits for driving sport.