Application of Molecular Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) for Disease Resistance in a Practical Potato Breeding Programme

The company Appacale started applying molecular markers in 1998 with the implementation of RYSC3 marker of resistance to Potato virus Y (PVY). Since then, five more molecular markers have been implemented, and now it is possible to select for PVY, Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida resistance with this technology. The markers used have allowed the selection of breeding clones with resistance to one or more pathogens that are currently part of the breeding programme, new cultivars or even being used as resistant parents. The results obtained are presented, as well as the advantages and setbacks found in applying Molecular-Assisted Selection from the point of view of a practical breeding programme developed in a small company.     

Determination of nutritive value of forages in south Texas using an in vitro gas production technique

The objectives of this study were to use the in vitro gas production (IVGP) technique to evaluate the pattern and parameters of anaerobic fermentation of forages from south Texas pastures throughout the year to (i) obtain empirical relationships between the IVGP technique fermentation parameters and chemical composition of the forages and (ii) develop equations to compute total digestible nutrients (TDN). During four consecutive years (2006–2009), forage samples were collected monthly (n = 39) at the King Ranch, TX, and chemical analyses and IVGP were obtained. For 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, the average lag times, h, were 6·47 ± 0·54, 7·75 ± 0·65, 7·49 ± 2·01 and 5·44 ± 1·46, and the average ratio of millilitre of gas per milligram of dry matter was 0·41 ± 0·11, 0·34 ± 0·09, 0·34 ± 0·07 and 0·26 ± 0·10 respectively. There was a moderate negative correlation (r = ?0·53) between lignin and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and a moderate positive correlation (r = 0·58) between crude protein and NDF digestibility. The predicted fractional passage rate (kp) by the large ruminant nutrition system model using the level 2 solution was on average 0·0366 h^?1. The average computed TDN assuming a kp of 0·04 h^?1 was 55·9%. We concluded the IVGP technique may be used to predict TDN values of warm‐season forages.     

Late pleistocene paleosol sequences as an instrument for the local paleographic reconstruction of the Kostenki 14 key section (Voronezh oblast) as an example

A sequence of five paleosol units (with seven individual paleosol profiles) buried in the Late Pleistocene (20–40 ka) deposits was studied at the Kostenki 14 (K14) key section in Voronezh oblast with the use of a set of morphological, physicochemical, and instrumental methods. The upper-lying paleosols differed from the lower-lying paleosols in the less pronounced gley features, stronger aggregation of the soil material, more significant accumulation of carbonates, and higher percentage of calcium humates and fulvates. These features attested to the higher aridity of the paleoclimate and the development of the upper-lying paleosols under grassy vegetation. Within the studied paleosol sequence, the most developed profiles were typical of the soils that formed 27–32 ka ago during the Bryansk interstadial. The good aggregation, the presence of features left by the soil fauna activity, the high magnetic susceptibility, and the morphology of the secondary carbonates in the studied paleosols suggest that they were formed under meadow-steppe vegetation in well-drained positions and resembled modern cryoarid soils.     

How Stallion Sperm Age In Vitro? Scenario for Preservation Technologies

Recent findings on the molecular damage occurring in the stallion spermatozoa are reviewed. Mechanisms leading to cell death or survival are briefly overviewed, and recent discoveries on molecular pathways leading to sperm death and sublethal damage are discussed. Increasing the understanding of this particular area may disclose clues to develop new strategies to improve current sperm conservation methods.     

Dimethylformamide Improves the In vitro Characteristics of Thawed Stallion Spermatozoa Reducing Sublethal Damage

A total of 42 ejaculates were used in the experiment; six ejaculates per stallion, obtained from seven Pure Spanish stallions (PRE), were split and frozen in freezing media with different concentrations and combinations of cryoprotectant (CPA): (i) Cáceres (skim milk based extender) containing 2.5% glycerol (2.5GL), (ii) Cáceres containing 1.5% glycerol and 1.5% dimethylformamide (1.5%GL–1.5%DMFA), (iii) Cáceres extender supplemented with 1.5% glycerol and 2.5% dimethylformamide (1.5%GL–2.5%DMFA) and (iv) Cáceres extender supplemented with 4% dimethylformamide (4%DMFA). After at least 4 weeks of storage in liquid nitrogen (LN), straws were thawed and semen analysed by computer‐assisted sperm analysis and flow cytometry (membrane lipid architecture (Merocyanine 540), integrity and sublethal damage (YoPro‐1) and mitochondrial membrane potential (JC‐1)). After thawing, better results were observed in samples frozen in 4%DMFA or in combinations of 1.5%GL–2.5%DMFA, in fact total motility increased by 16% in the 4%DMFA group compared to 2.5%GL (P < 0.05). Also, there was an increment in the percentage of progressive motile sperm in the 1.5%GL–2.5%DMFA group (9.8% 2.5GL vs 19% in the 1.5%GL–2.5%DMFA group p < 0.05); also, samples frozen in the 4%DMFA group had more intact (YoPro‐1 negative) sperm post‐thawing, 29.3% in 2.5%GL vs 36.7% in 4%DMFA group (p < 0.05). Membrane lipid architecture was not affected by any of the cryoprotectants tested, while samples frozen in 4%DFMA had a lower percentage of mitochondria with lower membrane potential. It is concluded that DMFA improves the outcome of cryopreservation of stallion spermatozoa mainly reducing sublethal cryodamage.     

Temporal dynamic and economic valuation of recreational fisheries of the lower Cuiabá River,Brazilian Pantanal

Fisheries are the most common ecosystem service that fish provide to human populations, yet recreational fisheries are often overlooked when evaluating such services. Here, the socioeconomic profiles of fishers, the composition of their catches and catch per unit effort (CPUE) are described, to estimate the economic value of the recreational fishery on a stretch of the Cuiabá River in the Brazilian Pantanal. Questionnaires were used to obtain socioeconomic information and fishing yield from fishers for 2013 and 2014. Additionally, a census on the number of fishers and fishing platforms along the sampled region was conducted in 2018. This recreational fishery mostly involves middle class adult males, based mostly in the Cuiabá city metropolitan region. They invested, on average, US$41.1 (SD = US$16.5, median = $35.2) per fishing visit, catching around 19 fish species. Overall, mean CPUE from the recreational fishery was 42.20 fish/fisher.day (17.4 kg/fisher/day). Annual economic value of this recreational fishery was estimated at around US$1.8 million, which highlights the importance of this activity to the local economy. Greater environmental conservation efforts are recommend to ensure the long-term viability of this ecosystem service.     

Biochemical properties of range and forest soils in Mediterranean mountain environments

Biochemical properties are at present considered to be the best indicators for assessing soil quality, but their use is limited by the lack of available data, at least for certain ecosystems. In an attempt to offset this lack of data, the present study provides information on different biochemical properties of soils from Sierra Nevada and Sierra María (southern Spain), covering a range of altitudes between 1,000 and 3,000 m. In general, the values of the properties analyzed were similar to those of other mountain soils, although the values of basal respiration were particularly low, possibly due to the low levels of humidity at the time of sampling. The biochemical properties were closely correlated with each other, as observed in soils from other type of environments. Altitude had a clear effect on the biochemical properties because of its effect on climate and vegetation. At both sites, the soil samples showing the most homogenous pattern of biochemical properties (seen through star diagrams) were those corresponding to intermediate altitudes.