Evaluation of strategies to optimize training populations for genomic prediction in oat (Avena sativa)

Genomic selection is a promising breeding methodology that could increase selection accuracy and intensity and reduce generation interval. As the cost of genotyping decreases, it will be important to optimize training populations for costly phenotypic experiments for many complex traits. The aim of this research was to evaluate different optimization strategies, by using historical data from the Norwegian oat breeding programme at Graminor. In this paper, we focus on the optimization criteria: genetic diversity, phenotypic variance and genetic similarity between the training and testing populations. The four training population strategies—prediction core, diversity core, phenotypic selection and random selection—were applied to an oat candidate population of 1124 lines. An independent testing population was used to calculate the mean prediction abilities for the traits days to heading and plant height. Moreover, the strategies were tested in three independent wheat populations. The results showed that prediction core was the most promising strategy to select training populations with high genetic similarity to the testing set, high genetic diversity, and high phenotypic variance, which resulted in higher prediction ability across population sizes and traits.     

Reoxidation Behavior of Wheat and Rye Glutelin Subunits

The ability of HMW and LMW subunits of wheat glutelin to form a polymeric gluten network by intermolecular disulfide bonds is responsible for the unique rheological properties and baking quality of wheat dough. Because the mechanism of gluten formation is not fully understood, the reoxidation behavior of HMW and LMW subunits of wheat glutelin and HMW subunits of rye glutelin was studied. The subunits were isolated from wheat flour cv. Rektor (REK) and from rye flour cv. Danko (DAN) with a selective extraction and precipitation method. For reoxidation, different oxidants (KBrO₃ and KIO₃), protein concentrations (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0%), solvent compositions, pH values (2.0 and 8.0), and reaction times (0–360 min) were compared. The characterization of reoxidized products was achieved by the determination of the thiol content with the Ellman's reagent, and of the M_r distribution by gel‐permeation chromatography. The results demonstrated that both HMW and LMW subunits could be slowly reoxidized with KBrO₃ to polymers with M_r up to several millions. Yield and M_r distribution of polymers were dependent both on the protein concentration and on the molar ratio of oxidants to thiol groups. The HMW subunits of wheat glutelin (HMW‐REK) yielded slightly higher quantities of polymeric proteins than did the HMW subunits of rye (HMW‐DAN). Reoxidation with KIO₃ proceeded much faster than with KBrO₃ and led to lower proportions of polymerized proteins for HMW‐REK and HMW‐DAN. Obviously, more intra‐ and fewer intermolecular disulfide bonds were formed by reoxidation with KIO₃ compared with KBrO₃. In contrast, LMW‐REK was reoxidized with KIO₃ to higher amounts of polymeric aggregates, which indicated that LMW subunits formed intermolecular disulfide bonds with both KIO₃ and KBrO₃. Independent of the protein type and the oxidant used for reoxidation, more inter‐ and fewer intramolecular disulfide bonds were formed when the protein concentration was increased. Single subunits 5, 7, and 10 were isolated from HMW‐REK by preparative acid‐PAGE and were reoxidized with KBrO₃ for 360 min. The M_r distribution indicated that x‐type subunit 5 had a greater tendency to form polymers than x‐type subunit 7. The y‐type subunit 10 was characterized by a lower proportion of polymers after reoxidation than x‐type subunits 5 and 7.     

Additive and interactive effects of functionally dissimilar soil organisms on a grassland plant community

The productivity and diversity of plant communities are affected by soil organisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), root herbivores and decomposers. However, it is unknown how interactions between such functionally dissimilar soil organisms affect plant communities and whether the combined effects are additive or interactive. In a greenhouse experiment we investigated the individual and combined effects of AMF (five Glomus species), root herbivores (wireworms and nematodes) and decomposers (collembolans and enchytraeids) on the productivity and nutrient content of a model grassland plant community as well as on soil microbial biomass and community structure. The effects of the soil organisms on productivity (total plant biomass), total root biomass, grass and forb biomass, and nutrient uptake of the plant community were additive. AMF decreased, decomposers increased and root herbivores had no effect on productivity, but in combination the additive effects canceled each other out. AMF reduced total root biomass by 18%, but decomposers increased it by 25%, leading to no net effect on total root biomass in the combined treatments. Total shoot biomass was reduced by 14% by root herbivores and affected by an interaction between AMF and decomposers where decomposers had a positive impact on shoot growth only in presence of AMF. AMF increased the shoot biomass of forbs, but reduced the shoot biomass of grasses, while root herbivores only reduced the shoot biomass of grasses. Interactive effects of the soil organisms were detected on the shoot biomasses of Lotus corniculatus, Plantago lanceolata, and Agrostis capillaris. The C/N ratio of the plant community was affected by AMF.In soil, AMF promoted abundances of bacterial, actinomycete, saprophytic and AMF fatty acid markers. Decomposers alone decreased bacterial and actinomycete fatty acids abundances but when decomposers were interacting with herbivores those abundances were increased. Our results suggests that at higher resolutions, i.e. on the levels of individual plant species and the microbial community, interactive effects are common but do not affect the overall productivity and nutrient uptake of a grassland plant community, which is mainly affected by additive effects of functionally dissimilar soil organisms.     

Species-specific responses to environmental stress on germination and juvenile growth of two Bolivian Andean agroforestry species

Integrating native trees in farmland can support soil, water and biodiversity conservation. This is particularly important in regions characterized by long periods of drought and soil erosion, such as the Bolivian Andes, where agroforestry with native woody species is rarely applied. Better knowledge on the effects of environmental stress on propagation and establishment of such native plants is needed to optimize their cultivation. In our study, we tested the effects of temperature and scarification on seed germination, and assessed seedling survival and juvenile growth of two potential agroforestry species (Prosopis laevigata var. andicola, Schinus molle) under diverse soil and water conditions. Temperatures above 30 °C accelerated germination, but they increased fungi infestation in the case of S. molle. The application of acid and mechanical scarification significantly improved the germination capacity of P. laevigata var. andicola. Medium to high moisture levels in sand provided the most favourable conditions for plant growth. S. molle was more sensitive to dry and P. laevigata var. andicola more vulnerable to water-saturated clay loam. Mulching enhanced the survival and growth of S. molle juveniles, but increased P. laevigata var. andicola’s growth in sand and dry soils only. Our results may facilitate guidance on improving propagation of these two potential agroforestry species under environmental stress conditions. More generally, our study shows that easily applicable treatments, such as mulching, can significantly improve the cultivation of native species, provided that their habitat requirements and limiting factors are well known. This highlights the relevance of identifying and closing such knowledge gaps for native trees and shrubs in order to promote their potential for use in agroforestry.     

Das antioxidative System der Fichte: Einflu? von verschiedenen Stre?faktoren

Die Auswirkungen verschiedener Stre?faktoren auf das antioxidative System wurden in sechsj?hrigen Klonfichten untersucht. überflutung und Dunkelheit hatten nur geringen Einflu?. Im Gegensatz dazu wirkten sich die Stre?faktoren Trockenheit, K?lte, Starklicht und sehr hohe Ozonkonzentrationen stark auf das antioxidative System aus. Die Effekte waren jedoch nicht einheitlich, sondern waren je nach Stre?faktor unterschiedlich. Dies wird als ein Hinweis dafür gewertet, da? die Sch?den bei diesen Stre?faktoren durch unterschiedliche toxische Sauerstoffspezies entstehen und da? sich die Sch?den unter Freilandbedingungen synergistisch verst?rken k?nnen. The effects of different stress factors on the antioxidative system of 6-year-old Norway spruces of the same clone were examined. Flooding and permanent darkness had only minor effects. On the other hand drought, chilling, intense light, and very high ozone concentrations showed strong but distinct consequences. This indicates that the damages by these stress factors are due to different toxic oxygen species, and that the stress factors could produce synergistic damages under natural field conditions.     

Monitoring recreational activities in urban forests using long-term video observation

Urban forest management needs information about the amount andkinds of recreation use, in particular about emerging recreationalactivities such as Nordic walking and winter bicycling. Between2003 and 2004, year-round use levels of recreational activitieswere investigated in a forest in Vienna using permanent time-lapsevideo recording and counts by human observers on sampling days.The amount of use, yearly, weekly and daily use patterns, aswell as the group size of the traditional activity groups werecompared with Nordic walking and winter bicycling to characterizethese activities and to better understand recreation use. Forall activity groups, the rates of participation varied significantlyacross most of the time dimensions, and the relationships betweenthe time of day and rates of participation were different forindividuals and groups. Nordic walkers displayed a temporaluse pattern similar to that of jogging with workday eveningand weekend morning use peaks, while winter bicycling was similarto bicycling activities with afternoon use peaks during snowyperiods. Nordic walking and winter bicycling activities addedto the multi-use character of the heavily used forest, but seemednot to increase the potential for user conflicts because ofthe current low participation rates and the Nordic walking group'savoidance of times of heavy use.     

Dead wood in European beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest reserves

Data were analysed on the volume of dead wood in 86 beech forest reserves, covering most of the range of European beech forests. The mean volume was 130 m³/ha and the variation among reserves was high, ranging from almost nil to 550 m³/ha. The volume depended significantly on forest type, age since reserve establishment and volume of living wood. More dead wood was found in montane (rather than lowland/submontane) reserves, longer-established reserves (time since designation) and reserves with higher volumes of living wood.

On average, fallen dead wood contributed more to the total dead wood volume than standing dead wood. The percentage of dead wood that was standing was almost twice as high in montane than in lowland/submontane forest reserves (45% versus 25%). The volume of dead wood at selected sites changed considerably over time. The fluctuations were significantly higher in lowland/submontane than montane reserves, possibly connected with differences in the disturbance regimes and especially damage caused by windstorms. In NW Europe, the blow down of formerly managed, even-aged stands led to extraordinary high volumes of dead wood shortly after reserve establishment.

The implications for forest management and biodiversity conservation are discussed. An increase in dead wood volumes must be carried out in accordance with the local/regional forest type and disturbance regime. Thus, in order to fulfil the requirements of as many wood-depending organisms as possible, it is important to preserve not only larger amounts of dead wood, but also dead wood of different types and dimensions as well as securing a long-term continuity of dead wood.     

Pomegranate ellagitannin-derived metabolites inhibit prostate cancer growth and localize to the mouse prostate gland

Our group has shown in a phase II clinical trial that pomegranate juice (PJ) increases prostate specific antigen (PSA) doubling time in prostate cancer (CaP) patients with a rising PSA. Ellagitannins (ETs) are the most abundant polyphenols present in PJ and contribute greatly towards its reported biological properties. On consumption, ETs hydrolyze to release ellagic acid (EA), which is then converted by gut microflora to 3,8-dihydroxy-6H-dibenzo[b, d]pyran-6-one (urolithin A, UA) derivatives. Despite the accumulating knowledge of ET metabolism in animals and humans, there is no available data on the pharmacokinetics and tissue disposition of urolithins. Using a standardized ET-enriched pomegranate extract (PE), we sought to further define the metabolism and tissue distribution of ET metabolites. PE and UA (synthesized in our laboratory) were administered to C57BL/6 wild-type male mice, and metabolite levels in plasma and tissues were determined over 24 h. ET metabolites were concentrated at higher levels in mouse prostate, colon, and intestinal tissues as compared to other tissues after administration of PE or UA. We also evaluated the effects of PE on CaP growth in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice injected subcutaneously with human CaP cells (LAPC-4). PE significantly inhibited LAPC-4 xenograft growth in SCID mice as compared to vehicle control. Finally, EA and several synthesized urolithins were shown to inhibit the growth of human CaP cells in vitro. The chemopreventive potential of pomegranate ETs and localization of their bioactive metabolites in mouse prostate tissue suggest that pomegranate may play a role in CaP treatment and chemoprevention. This warrants future human tissue bioavailability studies and further clinical studies in men with CaP.