陆地棉亲本间遗传距离与杂种优势的相关性研究

【目的】通过1 500个陆地棉杂交组合分析杂种优势与其亲本间数量性状遗传距离的相关性,探讨能否利用大规模杂交组合亲本间遗传距离提高陆地棉杂种优势预测效果,以期为棉花杂交育种和杂种优势利用提供理论指导。【方法】选择来自15个国家和中国23个省（市）的305份陆地棉核心种质为亲本,采用L×T（Line×Tester）杂交设计配制1 500个杂交组合。2012—2013年,在中国南北方13个生态环境下考察其株高、单铃重、衣分、纤维长度等10个产量和纤维品质相关性状,分析F₁杂种优势、亲本间遗传距离和群体结构,并采用4种方式（Cor1—Cor4）计算遗传距离与杂种优势的相关性。【结果】10个性状中亲优势（MPH）均值的变幅为1.70%—7.40%,平均为4.36%,按父本不同将F₁分成5组（A,E）,其MPH均值A>E>B>C>D;超亲优势（HB）均值的变幅为-4.17%—1.87%,平均为-0.17%,A、B和E组的HB均值皆为正。10个性状在5组中除D、E组的马克隆值之外,其他性状普遍具有明显的中亲优势,其中,单铃重和纤维长度的中亲优势在5组中均以正优势为主（达80%以上）,最大值分别为34.01%和9.83%,对应的超亲优势分别为24.25%和5.80%。F₁和亲本差异显著性分析表明单铃重、株高、纤维长度、伸长率和整齐度指数整体表现出一定的超亲优势。父本（测试种）与300个母本之间的遗传距离介于2.280—61.430,平均为21.550,5个测试种与母本间的平均遗传距离D>C>E>A>B,其中,最近值为11.721,最远值为33.271。按最小方差聚类,将305个陆地棉亲本划分为2个主群,包括5个亚群。4种遗传距离与杂种优势的相关性分析结果显示,因样本量、遗传距离变幅和父本不同其结果有所差异,相关性随样本量的增大而有所增强。其中,Cor1是Cor2结果的整体体现;Cor3与Cor1和Cor2相比,部分性状的中亲优势与遗传距离的相关性有所不同;Cor4的相关性最弱。综合来看,遗传距离与衣分、断裂比强度、整齐度指数和纺纱均匀性指数的中亲优势呈显著正相关,遗传距离与其他性状的中亲优势的相关性因采用的分析方案不同,结果有所不同;在4种方案中,除整齐度指数外,遗传距离与超亲优势的相关性整体表现负相关。其中,遗传距离与马克隆值、纤维长度和衣分的超亲优势相关性较强。【结论】陆地棉亲本间数量性状遗传距离与杂种优势有一定的线性关系,不同性状的杂种优势与遗传距离的相关性存在正负和强弱差异,且样本量越大相关性越强。说明基于大规模杂交组合研究陆地棉亲本间遗传距离与杂种优势的关系效果显著。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Marsilea quadrifolia:</Emphasis> a New Bioagent for Treating Wastewater

We report for the first time the capability of four-leaf clover (Marsilea quadrifolia), a wetland plant which grows rooted in soil, in efficiently treating sewage. The use of M. quadrifolia was made possible because of the special attributes of the SHEFROL^® (SHEet Flow ROot Level) bioreactor in which it was employed. This bioreactor enables the use of free-floating aquatic plants as well as terrestrial and rooted-in-soil wetland plants by hydroponics. The plants are staked in narrow channels to enable them to support each other while sewage is made to flow rapidly as a sheet of wastewater at a level that covers only the plant roots (hence the name). It was seen that M. quadrifolia was able to treat sewage of strength varying in the chemical oxygen demand (COD) range of 600–1800 mg/L to the extent of >?80% at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of just 4.5 h. There was a near total removal of biological oxygen demand and suspended solids while total Kjeldahl nitrogen, soluble phosphorous, and heavy metal zinc were also substantially removed. The macrophyte was equally effective when used indoors under artificial lighting, as well as when used outdoors.     

Biosolubilization of phosphorus from rock phosphate and other P fertilizers in response to phosphate solubilizing bacteria and poultry manure in a silt loam calcareous soil

‘Phosphate solubilizing bacteria' (PSBs) are able to release unavailable P from native and applied P sources into plant‐available soil pool through their solubilizing and acidifying effects. The effects of three indigenous and one exotic PSBs on P solubilization from different P sources, plant biomass production, and P‐uptake efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.) were examined in an incubation and greenhouse study. For incubation study, surface (0–15 cm) soil was collected from an arable field (Inceptisols) and amended with rock phosphate (RP), single superphosphate (SSP), poultry manure (PM), and RP+PM with and without PSBs. The amended soil was incubated in the control environment at 25 ± 2°C for a total of a 100‐d period to establish relative potential rate of P solubilization of added P sources. A complementary greenhouse experiment was conducted in pots by growing maize as a test crop. Growth characteristics, P‐uptake, and P‐utilization efficiency (PUE) were determined. Phosphate solubilizing bacteria generated a solubilization effect on different P sources by releasing more P into plant‐available soil pool, i.e., 14.0–18.3 µg g^?1 in RP, 5.0–9.9 µg g^?1 in SSP, 1.4–4.4 µg g^?1 in PM, and 4.5–7.8 µg g^?1 in RP+PM compared to their sole application without PSBs. The available P from inorganic SSP declined continuously from the mineral pool (after day 30) and at the end 40% of applied P was unaccounted for. However, P losses were reduced to 28 and 27% when PSBs (PSB₁ and PSB₃) were applied with superphosphate treatments. In the absence of PSBs, the recoveries of applied P (in soil) from RP, SSP, PM and RP+PM were 4, 25, 9, and 12%, respectively, those had been increased to 14, 30, 12 and 15% in the presence of PSBs. Similarly, the plant biomass in RP+PSBs treatments compared to the RP without PSBs increased between 12–30% in first sampling (30 DAG) and 13–30% in the second sampling (60 DAG). The P utilization efficiency (PUE) in plants supplemented with PSBs was 20–73% higher compared to those without PSBs. The detection of oxalic and gluconic acids in culture medium treated with PSBs (7.8–25.0 and 25–90 mg L^?1, respectively) confirmed the production of organic acids by the indigenous bacterial isolates. This study indicate that low P recovery both in plant and soil can likely be improved by using indigenous PSBs and organic amendment poultry manure, which allowed a more efficient capture of P released due to P solubilization.     

Use of IR thermography in screening wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars for salt tolerance

Thermography is proposed to be an alternative non-destructive and rapid technique for the study and diagnosing of salt tolerance in plants. In a pot experiment, 30 cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were evaluated in terms of their leaf temperature and shoot growth and their ion distribution responses to NaCl salinity at two concentration levels: the control with electrical conductivity (EC) of 1 dS m^?1 and salinity treatment with EC of 16 dS m^?1 (150 mM). A completely randomized block design with factorial treatments was employed with three replications. The results indicated that thermography may accurately reflect the physiological status of salt-stressed wheat plants. The salt stress-based increase in leaf temperature of wheat cultivars grown at 150 mM NaCl reached 1.34°C compared to the control. According to the results obtained, it appears that thermography has the capability of discerning differences of salinity tolerance between the cultivars. Three salt-tolerant wheat cultivars, namely Roshan, Kharchia and Sholeh, had higher mean shoot dry matter (0.039 g plant^?1) and higher mean ratio of leaf K⁺/Na⁺ (14.06) and showed lower increase in the mean leaf temperature (0.37°C) by thermography compared to the control. This was while nine salt-sensitive cultivars, namely Kavir, Ghods, Atrak, Parsi, Bahar, Pishtaz, Falat, Gaspard and Tajan, had lower mean plant dry matter production (0.027 g plant^?1), lower mean ratio of K⁺/Na⁺ (9.49) and higher mean increases in leaf temperature (1.24°C).     

Molecular epidemiology of bovine anaplasmosis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Pakistan

Bovine anaplasmosis is endemic in Pakistan where it reduces livestock productivity and leads to high mortality, especially in young animals. This study was aimed to identify the potential risk factors responsible for the occurrence and spread of anaplasmosis in cattle and buffaloes for the first time in Pakistan. A total of 900 (cattle?=?479, buffalo?=?421) blood samples were collected irrespective of age and sex from three distinct zones of Khyber Pakhtunkhhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used for the molecular detection of anaplasmosis. Data collected on a piloted questionnaire including 11 predicting variables which were analyzed using R-statistical software, and association between the dependent and independent variables was assessed using univariable analysis. Automated and manual approaches were exercised, producing comparable models. Key risk factors identified in all the approaches included species of the animal, breed of animal, sex of animal, tick infestation status, previous tick history, tick control status, and acaricides used (odds ratio?>?1). The 611 bp DNA fragment specific for 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasma spp. was produced from 165 samples. The samples were confirmed for anaplasmosis through sequencing and BLAST queries. The findings of the current study conclude that by enhancing the protective measures to control the identified risk factors can reduce the spread of anaplasmosis in Pakistan.

     

First report on molecular surveillance based on duplex detection of Anaplasma marginale and Theileria annulata in dairy cattle from Punjab,Pakistan

The study aimed to investigate if vegetable-based high-energy mash diets supplemented with NaHCO₃, l-arginine?+?vitamin C, and vegetable oils were effective against tachycardia and polycythemia in the broiler chicken. A total of 256 Ross-308 day-old male broiler chicks were randomly distributed into eight dietary treatment groups in a three-way ANOVA with 2?×?2?×?2 factorial arrangement (three factors, i.e., NaHCO₃, l-arginine?+?vitamin C, and vegetable oil each with two levels, e.g., 0 and 0.1% of NaHCO₃ and l-arginine?+?vitamin C; 3 and 4% of vegetable oil supplemented with basal diet) for a period of 35 days. Iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets were formulated and supplied ad libitum. The final live weight (FLW), average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (FE), carcass traits, cardio-pulmonary morphometry, total protein (TP), hemoglobin (Hb), triiodothyronine (T₃), incidence of tachycardia, and polycythemia were examined. Supplementation of NaHCO₃ increased 2.2% ADFI, 5.5% FE, and 23.2% TP. The l-arginine?+?vitamin C increased 2.4% FLW and decreased 1.9% heart rate. Vegetable oil increased 1.3% ADFI, 4.2% ADG, 8.6% FE, 23.1% Hb, and 15.5% PCV. The NaHCO₃, l-arginine?+?vitamin C, and vegetable oil additively interacted to increase 31.5% T₃ at the expense of 21.1% of the weight of the right ventricle (RV). The RV:TV, carcass traits, and hemato-biochemical indices remained within normal range irrespective of the levels of the supplementations of the test ingredients. It was concluded that vegetable-based high-energy mash diets were not susceptible to tachycardia and polycythemia. The addition of NaHCO₃ and l-arginine?+?vitamin C ameliorated the propensity of tachycardia and polycythemia without deteriorating performance, carcass traits, and hemato-biochemical indices of the broiler chicken in a dose-dependent manner.

     

Effectiveness of two insect growth regulators against Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and their impact on population densities of arthropod predators in cotton in Pakistan

Field efficacies of two insect growth regulators (IGRs) at two recommended application rates, buprofezin at 370 and 555 g AI ha(-1) and lufenuron at 37 and 49 g AI ha(-1), were determined against the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), and the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), in experimental plots of cotton at the Directorate of Cotton Research, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Adverse effects of the IGRs on populations of associated arthropod predators, namely geocorids, chrysopids, coccinellids, formicids and arachnids, were also assessed. Both IGRs significantly reduced populations of B. tabaci at each application rate 24, 48 and 72 h after treatment, and higher doses were more effective than lower doses. Buprofezin was not effective against H. armigera at any tested dose for any time of treatment in any spray. Lufenuron applied at 37 and 49 g AI ha(-1) effectively suppressed H. armigera populations, resulting in significant reductions in crop damage. At lower doses, both IGRs appeared safe to predator populations, which did not differ significantly in IGR-treated versus untreated control plots. Population densities of formicids and coccinellids were significantly lower at high concentrations of both IGRs in treatment plots, possibly as a result of reduced prey availability. The potential role of buprofezin and lufenuron for control of B. tabaci and H. armigera in a spray programme and the likelihood of direct toxic effects of IGRs on predatory fauna of cotton are discussed.     

Toxico-pathological effects of cypermethrin upon male reproductive system in rabbits

The objective of this work was to identify the reproductive toxico-pathological effects of cypermethrin (CY) in mature male rabbits. Apparently healthy adult age- and weight-matched rabbits (n = 40) were procured from the local market, kept under similar management conditions and divided into four equal groups. Different doses of CY (50, 100 and 150 mg kg⁻¹ body mass) mixed in mustard oil were injected intraperitonealy at weekly intervals in male rabbits (groups B-D) prior to mating. Group A served as control and each animal in this group received equivalent volume of mustard oil. Treatment was continued for 71 days. Decreased testicular and epididymal sperm counts were recorded mostly in dose and time dependent manner in CY-treated rabbits. The serum testosterone concentrations in CY-treated rabbits were significantly lower than those of control group. Degeneration, arrested spermatogenesis and connective tissue (CT) proliferation in testes, while sperm-less seminal plasma and tailless spermatozoa in epididymis of CY-treated rabbits were observed. It was inferred that CY-induced defects in sperms and pathological alterations in testes and epididymis.     

Estimation of additive and non-additive genetic variance component for growth traits in Adani goats

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Non-additive genetic effects are important to increase the accuracy of estimating genetic parameters for growth traits. The aim of this study was to estimate...