Molecular diversity of Egyptian cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium barbadense</Emphasis> L.) and its relation to varietal development

Twenty-eight Egyptian cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) genotypes (varieties and hybrids) were used for analysis of genetic diversity using DNA based markers (ISSR, SSR, and EST) and to study varietal development of cotton. The ISSR markers gave the highest percentage of polymorphic bands as well as polymorphic information content compared with the other molecular markers (i.e. EST and SSR markers). Using clustering analysis, no general clustering according to the pedigree history of the genotypes was observed. Using principal coordinate analysis (PCOORDA), cotton genotypes were separated by the first three principal coordinates (PC1, PC2, and PC3) accounting for 11.5, 8.6, and 7.2% of the total genetic variance, respectively. The cotton genotypes were distributed into three parts based on the first PC, each part containing a group of varieties having a common ancestor. ‘Giza 12’ variety was the common ancestor for the varieties included in the first part and ‘Ashmouni’ variety was the common ancestor for the varieties included in the second part, while both ‘Sakha 3’ and ‘Sakha 4’ varieties were common ancestors for the varieties included in the third part. The results of the PCOORDA also showed better resolution of the genetic diversity than cluster analysis especially in the illustration of the varietal development of cotton. That means that principal coordinate analysis can be strongly used either alone or in combination with cluster analysis to discuss both genetic diversity and varietal development in the cotton genotypes.     

Effects of dietary oregano essential oil supplementation on growth performance,intestinal antioxidative capacity,immunity, and intestinal microbiota in yellow-feathered chickens

Essential oils are plant-derived aromatic volatile oils, and they contain bioactive compounds that have been shown to improve poultry nutrition. In this study, we investigated the effects of oregano essential oil (OEO) on intestinal antioxidative capacity, immunity, and gut microbiota of young yellow-feathered chickens. A total of nine hundred and sixty 1-d-old female Qingyuan partridge chickens were randomly allocated to four treatment groups with six replicates of 40 birds each, and the feeding trial was lasted for 30 d. The controls were fed on a basal diet without in-feed antibiotics; the birds in the antibiotic group were fed the basal diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg virginiamycin; the remaining birds were fed the basal diet containing 150 or 300 mg/kg OEO, respectively. Dietary supplementation with 150 or 300 mg/kg OEO increased average daily feed intake (P = 0.057) and average daily gain (P < 0.05). The activities of glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidative capacity in plasma, jejuna, and ileal mucosa were increased by OEO supplementation (P < 0.05), with a trend of lower jejunal content of malonaldehyde (P = 0.062). Moreover, dietary OEO increased the content of secretory immunoglobulin A (P = 0.078) and the relative expression of Claudin 1, Mucin 2, and Avain beta-defensin 1 in ileum (P < 0.05). Sequencing data of 16S rRNA indicated that dietary OEO increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes phylum, and Clostridium and Lactobacillus genera, and decreasing that of Romboutsia. Functional analyses indicated that microbial amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, replication, and repair systems were higher in OEO groups than those of controls and antibiotic treatment. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with OEO enhanced growth performance, alleviated local oxidative stress in intestine, improved production of natural antibodies, and favorably modulated intestinal microbiota composition.     

Assessment of mating types and resistance to metalaxyl of Canadian populations ofPhytophthora infestans in 1997

The distribution of A1 and A2 mating types, and of metalaxyl-sensitive (MS), metalaxyl-intermediate (MI), and metalaxyl-resistant (MR) strains ofPhytophthora infestans, the causal pathogen of late blight, were determined in Canada in 1997. Potato plants or tubers and tomato plants or fruits, suspected to have late blight infection, were received from seven Canadian provinces in 1997, and were assessed for the presence ofP. infestans. Among 220 samples suspected to have late blight,P. infestans was recovered from 132 samples (60%) received from British Columbia (BC), Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec. From the 132 samples, 364 isolates were obtained and tested for their mating type and response to metalaxyl. Populations ofP. infestans within Canadian provinces were homogeneous for mating types, except within BC, where populations comprised both A1 and A2 mating types both within fields and sometimes within samples. The A2 mating type was found in all provinces where late blight was present. The A1 mating type was found only in Manitoba (1 isolate) and in BC (38 isolates). Unlike the old A1 isolates, those found in BC in 1997 were highly resistant to metalaxyl. These A1 isolates are even more resistant than A2 isolates. Based on assays with 10 ug.ml^?1 of metalaxyl, 14% of all tested isolates were MS, 69.8% were MI and 16.2% were MR. In addition, all provinces contained MS, MI, and MR isolates. No specific mating type or metalaxyl sensitivity level were specific to tomato or potato.     

Variability in responses of US-8 and US-11 genotypes of potato and tomato isolates ofPhytophthora infestans to commercial fungicidesin vitro

Isolates ofPhytophthora infestans collected in Canada from potato and tomato plants from 1994 to 1998 were tested for their responsein vitro to equal active ingredient concentrations (1, 2.5, and 5 μg a.i/mL) of six commercial fungicides: Acrobat MZ (dimethomorph and mancozeb), Ridomil Gold (metalaxyl-m), Dithane (mancozeb), Curzate (cymoxanil), Bravo (chlorothalonil), and Tattoo C (propamocarb and chlorothalonil). Relative mycelial growth of isolates estimated on fungicideamended vs fungicide-free media was compared among isolates of the US-8 and US-11 genotypes from the two host plants. The effects of these fungicides on spore germination of isolates from the two genotypes were also estimated. Mycelial growth of US-8 and US-11 isolates was most affected by Bravo and Tattoo C, followed by Acrobat, and then Curzate and Dithane. Ridomil Gold was not effective in inhibitingin vitro growth of US-11 isolates at the concentrations tested. Variations in sensitivity to different fungicides among isolates of the same genotype collected in different years were observed. For example, based on 2.5 and 5 μg a.i./mL, potato/US-11 isolates collected from 1995 to 1997 showed increased sensitivity to Curzate and Ridomil Gold, while decreased sensitivity was recorded with Dithane. For US-8 isolates, responses to the fungicides varied according to fungicide and year. Variations were generally not significant for Acrobat, Curzate, Bravo, and Tattoo C over time. Conversely, potato/US-8 isolates from 1995 and 1998 were less sensitive to Dithane and Ridomil Gold than those from 1994, 1996, and 1997.     

Functional properties and characterization of dietary fiber from Mangifera pajang Kort. fruit pulp

A dried high fiber product from bambangan (Mangifera pajang Kort.) fruit pulp was prepared and evaluated for proximate composition, functional properties, and soluble and insoluble dietary fiber composition. Mangifera pajang fibrous (MPF) consisted of 4.7% moisture, 0.8% fat, 4% protein, and 30 mg total polyphenol per g of dry sample, and 9, 79 and 88% soluble, insoluble and total dietary fiber, respectively. Water holding capacity, oil holding capacity, swelling, and solubility were found to be 9 g/g dry sample, 4 g/g dry sample, 16 mL/g dry sample, and 11%, respectively. The glucose dialysis retardation index of MPF was approximately double that of cellulose fiber. Soluble dietary fiber contained mannose, arabinose, glucose, rhamnose, erythrose, galactose, xylose, and fucose at 1.51, 0.72, 0.39, 0.16, 0.14, 0.05, 0.04, and 0.01%, respectively, with 5.8% uronic acid, while insoluble dietary fiber was composed of arabinose (18.47%), glucose (4.46%), mannose (3.15%), rhamnose (1.65%), galactose (1.20%), xylose (0.99%), and fucose (0.26%) with 15.5% uronic acid and 33.1% klason lignin. These characteristics indicate that MPF is a rich source of dietary fiber and has physicochemical properties which make it suitable as an added ingredient in various food products and/or dietetic, low-calorie high-fiber foods to enhance their nutraceutical properties.     

Evaluation of variability in argan oil content through different environments and preselection of elite genotypes

This investigation was carried out to determine the variability in oil content with the aim to identify genotypes of argan tree expressing high oil yield. The 150 argan trees were collected from five provenances in south west of Morocco over 3 years (2008–2010) and were screened from their oil content using Soxhlet method based on the 840 samples. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to study the genetic variation between and within provenances. According to the results on the mean of the 3 years, the oil content was ranged from 38.45 to 62.54 %. The genotypes from Aoulouz and Had Dra expressing high oil yield. Variance components for fruit, seed, kernel traits and oil content showed significant differences (P < 0.01) among years, provenances, genotypes and their interaction. Principal component analysis proved that fruit, seed, kernel, weight traits are correlated with oil content and are discriminate characters between the genotypes. The results of the cluster analysis support the results of the principal component analysis, showing no correlation between oil content with geographical localization parameters. For all the promising genotypes, at least 25 % were found to be better and exceed the oil mean of the provenance for 3 years. So, 31 promising elite genotypes were preselected, and open new ways for future comparative test of them in diverse environments.     

New strategies for increasing heterozygosity in crops: Vicia faba mating system as a study case

Our research assesses the feasibility of using artificial selection on pre-mating floral traits to modify the mating system of faba bean (Vicia faba). This analysis considered two synthetic populations, which were derived from different genetic pools and had undergone five years of multiplication. For these populations, we identified floral and inflorescence traits that influence outcrossing per plant and examined the relative importance of these traits in governing yield. Codominant isozyme loci and the mixed-mating model were used to estimate the multilocus female outcrossing rate. A maternal half-sib design was used to evaluate the additive genetic component of floral and inflorescence traits, yield and yield components. Multiple regression was used to assess the effects of floral and inflorescence traits on outcrossing and yield and components of yield. The two populations exhibited mixing mating. Self-fertilization appears to result from the action of pollinating bees, so that its incidence could be modified by selection on floral and inflorescence traits that affect pollination. Floral and inflorescence traits affected individual differences in outcrossing unequally, with most variation being associated with the numbers of displayed flowers and inflorescences. Variation among plants in reward traits and in shape, although statistically significant, had limited and inconsistent influences on individual differences in outcrossing. Yield and its components varied strongly with aspects of floral display and, to a lesser extent, floral design, except for seed weight. Overall, our results imply that both outcrossing and yield could be enhanced by selection for plants that produce more inflorescences, each with relatively few flowers.     

Absorption of calcium fumarate salts is equivalent to other calcium salts when measured in the rat model

Calcium absorption from fumarate salts (calcium fumarate and calcium malate fumarate), which have recently been considered for use as sources for food and beverage enrichment, was compared to that from calcium citrate malate, calcium citrate, and calcium carbonate. Salts were instrinsically labeled with 45Ca and orally administered to Sprague-Dawley rats. Fractional absorption of calcium from each salt was determined using the femur uptake model. Fractional absorption from the five salts (0.30-0.27) was not significantly different (p > 0.05). Thus, when measured in the rat model, calcium from calcium fumarate and calcium malate fumarate is absorbed equally well as compared to other salts, which are common calcium sources in many foods, beverages, and supplements.