Marker-based screening of maize inbred lines using support vector machine regression

The phenomenon of heterosis is widely used in hybrid breeding programmes, despite the fact that no satisfactory molecular explanation is available. Estimators of quantitative genetic components like GCA and SCA values are tools used by the plant breeder to identify superior parental individuals and to search for high heterosis combinations. Obtaining these estimators usually requires the creation of new parental combinations and testing their offspring in multi-environment field trials. In this study we explore the use of ɛ-insensitive Support Vector Machine Regression (ɛ-SVR) for the prediction of GCA and SCA values from the molecular marker scores of parental inbred lines as an alternative to these field trials. Prediction accuracies are obtained by means of cross-validation on a grain maize data set from the private breeding company RAGT R2n. Results indicate that the proposed method allows the routine screening of new inbred lines despite the fact that predicting the SCA value of an untested hybrid remains problematic with the available molecular marker information and standard kernel functions. The genotypical performance of a testcross hybrid, originating from a cross between an untested inbred line and a well-known complementary tester, can be predicted with moderate to high accuracy while this cannot be said for a cross between two untested inbred lines.     

Blood,timber, and the state in West Kalimantan,Indonesia

Abstract: West Kalimantan (West Borneo) has a history of violent communal conflict.¹ It also has extensive forests that have been looted for decades. The argument will be that these two are linked, but not by the grievances of the forest dwellers. Except in its first few days, the two main episodes of 1997 and 1999 were not driven mainly by grievances among marginal groups. Rather, explanations based on the ‘resource curse’ carry more weight. These focus attention on the contested nature of the state, rather than on rebellious activities of marginal groups. When state institutions were thrown into disarray by the sudden resignation of President Suharto in 1998, Dayak militants already close to state power rewrote the rules of local politics by demonstratively ‘cleansing’ certain areas of an unpopular immigrant minority. This theatrical manoeuvre impressed political rivals sufficiently to allow Dayaks to gain control over several timber‐rich districts, which had a thriving black economy. Malays later imitated these techniques to stem the tide.     

Karyotype analysis and physical mapping of 45S rRNA genes in Hydrangea species by fluorescence in situ hybridization

Detailed karyotypes of Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea quercifolia were constructed on the basis of arm lengths and centromeric index, together with 45S rDNA fluorescence in situ hybridization. Although the chromosomes were small, they were well distinguishable for all species. Chromosome morphology and karyotypes were different for the three species. H. macrophylla had six metacentric (M), eight submetacentric (SM) and four subtelocentric (ST) chromosomes. The karyotype of H. paniculata contained seven M, 10 SM and one ST chromosomes and H. quercifolia had six M, 10 SM and two ST chromosomes. The variability among three species also was expressed by 45S rDNA signals. H. macrophylla had a nucleolar organizing region on chromosome 2, H. paniculata had 45S rDNA signals on chromosomes 2, 5 and 11 and H. quercifolia on chromosomes 3 and 8. Hybridization signal always was distally on the short arm but the strength of the signals was different for the three species. The chromosome portraits made in this study will be used to trace chromosome behaviour in interspecific hybrids resulting from breeding work between the three species.     

Nutritional value of bread: Influence of processing,food interaction and consumer perception

The nearly ubiquitous consumption of cereals all over the world gives cereals an important position in international nutrition. Besides the high starch content as energy source, cereals provide dietary fibre, nutritious protein and lipids rich in essential fatty acids. Important micronutrients present in cereals are vitamins, especially many B vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals. In general, cereals provide important amounts of most nutrients. However, processing may decrease or increase the levels of the bioactive components in grains and also modify the bioavailability of these components. In addition, interactions between bread and companion foods have effects on the nutritional quality. The aim of this paper is to review the existing literature on the effects of processing techniques and interactions with other food components in a mixed meal on the nutritional quality of bread. Furthermore, research findings on the consumer perception of bread in Belgium are included. This information can help health professionals and policy-makers to give clear and targeted advice about the positive effects of bread in the human nutrition during consultations and information campaigns.     

New monoterpene glycosides from Paeonia lactiflora

Three new monoterpene glycosides named 4-O-methyl-paeoniflorin (1), isopaeoniflorin (2), and isobenzoylpaeoniflorin (3), together with two known monoterpene glycosides, paeoniflorin (4) and benzoylpaeoniflorin (5), were isolated from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence.     

Modeling the Impacts of Soil Organic Carbon Content of Croplands on Crop Yields in China

This study quantified the impacts of soil organic carbon （SOC） content on the grain yield of crops using a biogeochemical model （DNDC, denitrification-decomposition）. Data on climate, soil properties, and farming management regimes of cropping systems were collected from six typical agricultural zones （northeast, north, northwest, mid-south, east and southwest regions of China, respectively） and integrated into a GIS database to support the model runs. According to the model, if the initial SOC content in the cropland was increased by 1 g C kg^-1, the crop yield may be increased by 176 kg ha^-1 for maize in the northeast region, 454 kg ha^-1 for a maize-wheat rotation in the north region, 328 kg ha^-1 for maize in the northwest region, 185 kg ha^-1 for single-rice in the mid-south region, 266 kg ha^-1 for double-rice in east region, and 229 kg ha^-1 for rice and wheat rotation in southwest region. There is a great potential for enhancing the crop yield by improving the SOC content in each region of China.     

Biochemical analysis of a chlorfenapyr-selected resistant strain of Tetranychus urticae Koch

Tetranychus urticae Koch has recently developed resistance to chlorfenapyr in Australia and Japan, but no attempt has yet been made to describe the biochemical mechanisms involved in chlorfenapyr resistance. In this study a laboratory-selected chlorfenapyr-resistant strain was investigated. Resistance to chlorfenapyr was associated with a strong increase in esterase activity and P450 mono-oxygenase (MO) activity but a decrease in 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMBZ) peroxidation activity. Differences in esterase activities between susceptible and resistant strains increased with increasing carbon number of the aliphatic side-chain of the nitrophenol substrate. A 4.4-fold increase in the O-deethylation of 7-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin (7-EFC) mediated by P450 MOs was detected. Remarkably, the resistant strain showed only half of the total TMBZ peroxidation activity found in the susceptible strain. The activity of these enzymes was further determined on different crosses and back-crosses of both strains. Results indicated that activities correlated with chlorfenapyr susceptibility and could be considered as biochemical markers. Esterase isozymes of both strains and their crosses were separated with isoelectric focusing (IEF) and visualised after activity staining. It was clear that two distinct zones of enhanced esterase activity were present in the chlorfenapyr-resistant strain (EST 11, pI = 4.88 and EST 16, pI = 4.71). EST 11 was identified with inhibitors as a carboxylesterase. The relative presence and intensity of these esterase zones changed in the different crosses and could be seen as a marker for chlorfenapyr resistance. Glutathione-S-transferase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were not significantly different between strains. A twofold decrease in TMBZ peroxidase activity in the resistant strain could reflect decreased activation of chlorfenapyr. On the basis of these results the involvement of P450 MOs and esterases in the activation and detoxification of chlorfenapyr in T. urticae is challenged and discussed.     

A comparative study on Striga hermonthica interaction with a sensitive and a tolerant sorghum cultivar

In this study, the effects of Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. on a sensitive and a tolerant sorghum genotype were investigated, and the underlying tolerance mechanisms were distinguished. The sensitive sorghum cv. CK60-B and the tolerant sorghum landrace Tiemarifing were grown in pots with and without seed infestation. Both sorghum genotypes responded to infection by the parasite, but it was evident that CK60-B was more strongly affected than Tiemarifing. Sorghum plant height, final leaf number, green leaf area, kernel yield, number of kernels and 1000-kernel weight were significantly reduced by infection, which also had a marked effect on the phenological development of CK60-B; the majority of the plants remained vegetative and, in the remaining plants, flowering was delayed by about 2 weeks. No effect on the phenological development of Tiemarifing was observed. The tolerant landrace showed significantly lower and delayed emergence of S. hermonthica than the sensitive cultivar, and this could be explained by a delay in the onset of attachment. Significantly higher numbers of reproductive parasitic plants were found in the pots with the sensitive sorghum plants. It is concluded that differences in root architecture and the resulting early infection and higher S. hermonthica numbers are partly responsible for the stronger effects of the parasite on the sensitive cultivar.     

Effects of dietary Ca/P ratio, P level and microbial phytase supplementation on nutrient digestibilities in growing pigs: precaecal, post-ileal and total tract disappearances of OM,

Eight female pigs (26–61 kg) provided with a simple T-cannula about 10 cm proximal to the ileo-caecal valve, were used in two experiments to investigate the effects of Ca/P ratio, P level and supplementation with phytase (500 FTU/kg) on precaecal, post-ileal and total tract disappearances of organic matter (OM), phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca). In experiment 1, two Ca/P ratios and two P levels were tested according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement within a Latin square design. In experiment 2, the diets of experiment 1 were supplemented with phytase (500 FTU/kg). There was a substantial absorption of OM, P and Ca in the post-ileal tract for all diets. Precaecal and total tract disappearances of OM were reduced by phytase addition (−4.4 and −0.8%, respectively). Supplementation with phytase resulted in an improvement of total tract and post-ileal P disappearances by 10.3 and 12.1%, respectively, without affecting precaecal P disappearance. Addition of feed phosphate resulted in a higher precaecal disappearance of P (+10.8%), resulting in a higher total tract disappearance of P (+5.9%). Addition of limestone had little effect on disappearances of OM, P and Ca, but reduced activity of supplemental phytase and had a negative influence on growth performance. Precaecal, post-ileal and total tract Ca disappearances were hardly affected by the examined dietary factors. The results might indicate that P from feed phosphate is absorbed primarily prececally and that P from phytate, liberated by microbial phytases, is dominantly absorbed post-illeally.