Identification of resistance gene analogue markers closely linked to wheat powdery mildew resistance gene Pm31

Specific oligonucleotide primers, designed for the sequences of known plant disease resistance genes, were used to amplify resistance gene analogues (RGAs) from wheat genomic DNA. This method was applied in a bulked segregant analysis to screen for the RGA markers linked to the powdery mildew resistance gene Pm31, introgressed into common wheat from wild emmer. Two RGA markers (RGA200 and RGA390) were found to be closely linked to Pm31 and completely co‐segregating with the marker allele of Xpsp3029 linked to Pm31, with a genetic distance of 0.6 cM. These two RGA markers were then integrated into the formerly established microsatellite map of Pm31 region. The result showed the effectiveness of the RGA approach for developing molecular markers linked to disease resistance genes and demonstrated the efficiency of denaturing polyacrylamide‐gel electrophoresis for detecting polymerase chain reaction polymorphism.     

Can supplemental food increase winter survival of a threatened cottontail rabbit?

Populations of New England cottontails (Sylvilagus transitionalis) have declined substantially in recent decades in response to habitat loss and fragmentation. Among some remnant populations, cottontails occupy small patches of thicket habitat where they experience high mortality rates as a consequence of limited food during winter. This limitation causes rabbits to forage away from cover where they are exposed to predators. Although conservation efforts are emerging to reverse the decline of New England cottontails, most are directed toward improving long-term viability by increasing the abundance of suitable habitats. Such efforts do little to improve the short-term survival of remaining cottontails. To address this immediate need, we evaluated the use of supplemental food as an approach to improve overwinter survival rates. We speculated that by positioning feeders in close proximity to escape cover, rabbits would be less vulnerable to predators. We evaluated this approach using eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) as a research surrogate because this species is readily available and has similar habitat requirements to New England cottontails. Transmitter-equipped eastern cottontails were randomly assigned to either a fed or unfed group. Remotely-triggered cameras were also used to gauge use of feeders by cottontails and visits by other species. Winter survival rates were substantially greater for fed rabbits (70%) than for unfed rabbits (32%). Cameras revealed that rabbits were the most frequent consumer and that there was only limited carnivore activity near feeders. We conclude that supplemental feeding may improve survival of remaining New England cottontails as efforts to increase habitat availability continue to develop.     

The nature of Solanum × chaucha Juz. et Buk., a triploid cultivated potato of the South American Andes

Summary The variation in Solanum × chaucha Juz. et Buk. (2n=3x=36) was studied using 114 accessions from the Potato Collection maintained by the International Potato Center. These accession represented less than 5% of the collection originally screened for ploidy. Twenty morphological characters of the tubers, inflorescences and leaves were scored. The accessions were grouped into 20 morphotypes on the basis of the tuber characters. Two-qualitative characters, red-anther tip and sky-blue flowers were diagnostic of 4 morphotypes, but the variation of the quantitative characters overlapped among morphotypes, and were of limited value. Electrophoretic separation of tuber proteins in 7.5% polyacrylamide gels generally confirmed the morphotype groupings. It is concluded that each of the morphotypes represents a single genotype, and these are named according to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. The variation within S. × chaucha apparently has been restricted by its hybrid origin.     

Inter- and intraspecific sequence variations of the chloroplast genome in wild and cultivated Raphanus

To assess the differentiation of the chloroplast genome in wild and cultivated species of Raphanus , nucleotide sequence polymorphisms were investigated for approximately 2 kbp ranging from trnL (UAA) to psbG in R. raphanistrum and R. sativus . Eighteen plants of wild species, 10 Japanese wild radish plants ( R. sativus ), and 31 cultivated plants were used for sequence analysis. Intraspecific variations of the chloroplast genome were present both in wild and cultivated Raphanus . All three genes investigated ( trnL , trnF and ndhJ ) contained nucleotide substitutions within the genus. Whereas, larger numbers of mutations were observed in the intergenic regions. Using the detected variations, the 59 radish plants were classified into 11 haplotypes, seven of which were unique to wild species. Among the haplotypes, one type corresponded completely with the Ogura male sterile cytoplasm. All the cultivated radishes belonged to one of four types, of which three were also observed in Japanese wild radish. The haplotypes were classified into four groups by cluster analysis, and the distribution in the dendrogram confirmed that cultivated radish has multiple origins. On the other hand, the seven haplotypes uniquely observed in R. raphanistrum were considered as useful materials to provide genetic diversity of cytoplasm for breeding of cultivated radishes.     

Effects of intraspecific hybridisation between two hatchery‐reared strains of Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar,on juvenile survival and fitness‐related traits

Intraspecific hybridisation may result in hybrid offspring exhibiting superior (heterosis) or inferior (outbreeding depression) fitness relative to their parental populations. As both have been demonstrated in salmonids, consequences of interbreeding between divergent populations are relevant to their conservation. Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. were extirpated from Lake Ontario by the late 19th Century due to anthropogenic causes. Multiple allopatric populations of hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon are being stocked in an effort to re‐establish a self‐sustaining population. This study evaluated whether interbreeding between Sebago Lake (Maine) and LaHave River (Nova Scotia) individuals will result in heterosis or outbreeding depression in juveniles. This was accomplished through full‐factorial 2 × 2 mating crosses between the strains and comparing multiple fitness‐related traits between the cross types. Hybrid juveniles displayed no signs of outbreeding depression nor heterosis. Further studies on comparative fitness of backcross and F₂ hybrids are recommended to assess potential consequences for this and similar restoration efforts.     

Securing Garbage from Florida Black Bears: Why are the Appropriate Measures Not Implemented at the Municipal Level?

Anthropogenic food conditioning of bears has resulted in recent increases in human–bear conflicts (HBCs) in Florida. Garbage is the leading cause of food conditioning of bears. Despite increased HBCs and related human safety concerns, municipal governments in Florida have generally not taken independent steps to prevent HBCs through altered garbage management. Rather, governments have relied on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to manage garbage-related HBCs. We used semi-structured interviews to identify obstacles to securing garbage from bears at the municipal level. Respondents included local government administrations and waste service providers. Political and economic costs of implementing bear-resistant garbage management practices were the major obstacles to securing garbage. Respondents argued that households will not pay for, or support, the implementation of bear-resistant trash cans. Recent adoption by four counties of ordinances requiring residents to secure their garbage from bears suggests that objections to adopting bear-resistant garbage management were overstated.