Identifying and exploring significant genomic regions associated with soybean yield,seed fatty acids,protein and oil

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] yield and seed fatty acids, protein, and oil content are important traits for which an improved understanding of significant genomic regions would be useful. To accomplish this, a soybean population consisting of 203 F5 derived recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was developed and genotyped with 11,633 polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Each RIL was grown in a single plot at Knoxville, TN in 2010; followed by replicated, multi-location field trials in 2013 and 2014. The data from 2010, 2013, and 2014 were analyzed together in order to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) for these traits, and 30 total QTLs were detected. Five QTLs are candidates for confirmed status and one QTL is a candidate for positional confirmation. Many of the genes with mutations in close proximity to the fatty acid QTLs are involved in biological processes for fatty acids and/or lipids and could be considered possible candidate genes. Similarly, genes with mutations in genomic regions near yield, protein, and oil QTLs were plentiful and may contribute to the variation observed in these traits. Except for yield and stearic acid, each trait displayed pleiotropic effects with other traits in this study. Notable are the pleiotropic effects for oleic and linolenic acid on chromosomes 9, 13, and 19. Overall, the findings from this research contribute new information to the genetic understanding of soybean yield and seed fatty acids, protein and oil content. This understanding will be useful in making trait improvements.     

Temporal disease dynamics and relative importance of sexual and asexual reproduction of grape downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) in an isolated vineyard in the North Georgia Mountains,USA

The North Georgia Mountains are the southernmost region along the United States East Coast where European wine grapes (Vitis vinifera) are grown commercially. Epidemics of downy mildew, caused by Plasmopara viticola, are frequent and severe, but little is known about the epidemiology and population biology of the pathogen in this region. Disease monitoring in an experimental vineyard from 2015 to 2017 indicated that times of disease onset and progress rates were highly variable across years and cultivars. Oospores were observed microscopically, and simulation with a process-based model indicated presence of conditions favourable for oospore germination in the spring and early summer each year. A total of 409 P. viticola isolates collected over three  years were genotyped with seven microsatellite markers, revealing very high genotypic diversity, which when combined with the observation of oospores is indicative of a sexually reproducing population. Among the 409 isolates, 225 multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were identified, of which 164 were detected only once and 61 were repeated (clonal). Eight MLGs (represented by 28 isolates) were detected across years, suggesting the possibility of asexual overwintering of P. viticola in this region. Across sampling dates, the percentage of isolates belonging to nonrepeated (unique) MLGs ranged from 27.3% to 63.2%. Even towards the end of the annual epidemic, the percentage of isolates in nonrepeated MLGs was still relatively high, around 30%. These MLGs may have originated from oospores germinating late during the growing season, although incomplete sampling at earlier dates and contribution by immigration cannot be fully excluded.     

Calcium oxalate accumulation and soil weathering in mats of the hypogeous fungus Hysterangium crassum

Fungal mats of Hysterangium crassum (Tul. and Tul.) Fischer occupied a mean of 9.6% of the upper 10 cm of soil developed under a 40–65 yr old stand of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) in Oregon. This hypogeous basidiomycete exudes large amounts of oxalic acid, some of which precipitates with Ca in microscopic crystals of calcium oxalate, resulting in a mean CaC₂O₄ content of 82g m^?2 for the entire soil. Soil oxalate concentration was significantly greater within fungal mats (P < 0.01) and soil pH was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than in soil adjacent to mats. The quantity of Ca present as CaC₂O₄ is 0.5 the amount of exchangeable Ca in the soil and exceeds the mass of Ca lost annually in runoff. Scanning electron micrographs show intense chemical weathering, attributable to oxalate attack, in the immediate vicinity of hyphae. X-ray diffraction patterns of clay indicate bulk weathering is more intense within the fungal mats than in adjacent uncolonized soil.     

Use of Diet Crossover to Determine the Effects of β‐glucan Supplementation on Immunity and Growth of Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

Juvenile Nile tilapia were fed either a basal (control) diet (n = 6 aquaria) or a diet supplemented with 1 g/kg β‐glucan (n = 24 aquaria) for 4 wk. At the end of this period, fish receiving β‐glucan were continued on the same diet (n = 12 aquaria) or switched to the control diet (n = 12 aquaria) for 2 wk. After 6 wk, tilapia continuously fed the β‐glucan supplemented diets had improved weight gain and feed efficiency than those fed the control diet uninterrupted or switched from the β‐glucan diet to the control after 4 wk. Feeding tilapia β‐glucan for 4 wk and then switching to the basal diet for 2 wk caused a significant increase in the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear lymphocytes (17.77 × 10³ units/1000 white blood cells [WBC]) compared to catfish fed the control diet (13.50 × 10³ units/1000 WBC) or the β‐glucan diet continuously (13.57 × 10³ units/1000 WBC), but other immune parameters were unaffected. Tilapia were then challenged with Streptococcus iniae. The two groups were divided again (n = 6 aquaria) postchallenge and continued on the same diet or switched to the other diet (β‐glucan or control) for another 3 wk. No differences in survival to S. iniae infection occurred between dietary groups.     

Titres of precocene ii (6, 7-dimethoxy-2, 2- dimethylchromene) and its metabolites in the haemolymph of larvae of the african armyworm Spodoptera exempta (walker) following topical treatment with the compound

No precocious metamorphosis or other morphogenetic effects were seen following topical treatment of fifth instar Spodoptera exempta with pre- cocene II. [3H]-Precocene II penetrated the larvae rapidly following topical application. An uptake of 47% was recorded in the first hour and an average of 27% for the first 3 h. Radioactivity in the haemolymph reached a maximum 4 h after treatment at 6–8% of the applied dose. A maximum titre of precocene of 1.1 × 10^?4 _M was observed 2 h after treatment and a biological half-life of around 1 h was recorded for the first 6 h. The metabolite precocene 11–3, 4-dihydrodiol appeared in the haemolymph with a maximum titre of 1.1 × 10^?4 _M at 4 h suggesting metabolism via the 3, 4-epoxide. At the same time an unidentified metabolite was observed possibly corresponding to the 6- and 7-(O)-desmethylated products described by others. Very large quantities of highly polar materials were observed in the haemolymph throughout the experiment and it is thought that these corresponded to conjugates. The evidence suggests that peripheral detoxication mechanisms do not operate sufficiently rapidly to prevent the establishment of a high titre of precocene. This, however, did not affect the corpora allata in this insect, whereas in a sensitive species that has been studied by other workers, necrosis of the glands would have resulted. Alternative explanations for insensitivity are discussed.     

Monitoring insecticide resistance in house flies (Diptera: Muscidae) from New York dairies

House flies were collected from dairies across New York state and the levels of resistance to seven insecticides were measured using standard laboratory assays with three to five diagnostic concentrations. The highest levels of resistance were found for tetrachlorvinphos, permethrin and cyfluthrin. Although levels of resistance to methomyl were somewhat lower, they were among the highest ever reported for field‐collected house flies. Resistance to pyrethrins was limited primarily to the lowest diagnostic concentration. House flies were susceptible to fipronil at all dairies, suggesting that this material would be highly effective for fly control. The levels of resistance were similar at all the dairies, irrespective of their insecticide use, suggesting substantial movement of flies between facilities. Relative to resistance levels found at New York dairies in 1987, resistance levels had increased for permethrin, were unchanged for tetrachlorvinphos and had decreased for dimethoate. To identify a single diagnostic concentration that could be used in the laboratory assays to assess accurately resistance levels in future studies, we carried out a ‘simulated’ field bioassay using formulated materials. A diagnostic concentration for each insecticide is proposed on the basis of a comparison of our bioassays. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry