Marker-assisted selection efficiency in multiple connected populations: a simulation study based on the results of a QTL detection experiment in maize

Many studies already investigated marker-assisted selection (MAS) efficiency but mainly in biparental populations. Connected multiparental populations address a broader diversity and confer a gain of power for QTL detection which must be beneficial for MAS. Our objective was to compare multiparental connected designs to biparental populations taken separately for MAS and phenotypic selection. We first detected QTL for flowering time and grain yield in an experimental maize design involving four parental inbred lines crossed to produce six different biparental populations and confirmed the advantage of multiparental connected designs over biparental populations for QTL detection. Based on these results we performed stochastic simulations to evaluate the expected efficiency of four generations of MAS and phenotypic selection. Different parameters were considered: trait heritability, genetic architecture and whether QTL were assumed to be known or have to be detected. Genetic gains were higher in the multiparental design than on average over the biparental populations considered separately, especially when favourable alleles were equally distributed among parental lines. When QTL detection was included in the simulation process, we found that type I error risk considered for declaring QTL as significant should be adapted to the design. Type I error risks leading to the best response were higher for the biparental populations than for the multiparental design. Besides addressing a broader diversity, multiparental designs increase the power of QTL detection, which reinforces their superiority over biparental designs for MAS. Application of MAS to multiparental designs therefore appears promising to accelerate genetic gain in plant breeding programs.     

Cytotoxic activity of Origanum dictamnus

Several extracts of Origanum dictamnus, an endemic plant of Greece growing only in the island of Crete and the bioassay-directed isolated ursolic acid, were tested in vitro against the P388 (murine leukemia) and the human bronchial epidermoid cancer NSCLC-N6 (non small cell lung cancer) cell lines. Both the initial dichloromethane extract and the isolated from it ursolic acid exhibited cytotoxic activity. Ursolic acid was also tested in vivo, on murine ascite leukemia P388, where it exhibited at a dose of 50 mg/kg a marginal antileukemic activity.     

Hematologic and serum biochemistry values in two species of free-ranging porcupines (Coendou prehensilis, Coendou melanurus) in French Guiana.

Individuals of two porcupine species (Coendou prehensilis and Coendou melanurus) were translocated during the flooding of a forest at a hydroelectric dam site in French Guiana. Blood samples were collected for 11 mo to determine hematologic and serum chemistry reference mean values and ranges and to look for blood parasites. Male C. prehensilis had significantly higher hemoglobin levels, packed cell volumes, and creatinine and potassium values than did females of the same species. Coendou prehensilis had significantly lower amylase levels but higher creatinine, calcium, lactate dehydrogenase, and gamma glutamyl transferase levels than C. melanurus.     

Long‐term Effects of Pyrethrin and Cyfluthrin,a Type II Synthetic Pyrethroid,Insecticide Applications on Bull Reproductive Parameters

The objectives of this study were to determine effects of cyfluthrin and pyrethrin spray products, used in combination with cyfluthrin topical and ear tag applications, on bull reproductive parameters over 18 weeks. Angus or Angus x Simmental bulls were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: (i) no exposure to pyrethrins/cyfluthrin (CONT; n = 10), (ii) cyfluthrin ear tag and topical applications (ET; n = 10), or (iii) cyfluthrin ear tag, topical, premise spray and pyrethrin fog spray applications (ET+S; n = 8). Bull body weight was measured every 3 week, and body condition score and scrotal circumference were recorded on weeks 0, 9 and 18. Semen and serum were collected every 3 weeks for sperm evaluation and testosterone measurement, respectively. There was a treatment × week interaction (p < 0.01) for sperm with primary defects; bulls in CONT group had a greater (p = 0.01) percentage of sperm with primary defects than bulls treated with insecticides at week 18. Overall and progressive sperm motility, normal sperm morphology, secondary sperm defects and serum testosterone concentrations changed (p < 0.01) over time in all bulls; however, treatment did not affect (p ≥ 0.13) any of these parameters. There were also no treatment effects (p ≥ 0.08) on bull body weight, body condition score or scrotal circumference. The use of pyrethrin‐ and cyfluthrin‐based insecticides, regardless of application, did not negatively affect reproductive parameters in beef bulls when administered over 18 weeks.     

橡胶树树皮坏死:症状学、病原学、流行病学方面的发展和树干生理病症的发因

橡胶树排胶障碍是制约全球橡胶种植园发展的主要因素,它是由以下两个不同病症导致的:(1)割面干涸(TPD)-过度割胶引起的可逆生理反应,(2)割面树皮坏死(BN)-由橡胶树根颈韧皮部扩展的不可逆病变。树皮坏死(BN)目前危害了世界大部分胶园,胶园受害严重度取决于橡胶品种、树龄、种植地和种植地区。橡胶树树皮病的多态性一直是一个有争议的问题,通过对许多胶园的调研,该问题最近得到了解决。虽然前期和最近的病原分析不具决定性,但是环境因素却显示出同树皮坏死有联系。在对近期开割的胶园进行流行病调查,发现早期患病胶树地点呈非随机性。这些易发病区主要靠近沼泽地、路旁、风干行、原推土机过道、树林树桩残余地和斜坡缓冲地段的附近区域。在树皮坏死发生区,虽然没有发现与土壤化学因素有明显的关系,但是,土壤物理分析(如透度法)却表明,土壤的较高紧实度常同患病胶树的根系生长较弱有关联。另外,通常在芽接点接合处可以很好地观察到树皮坏死早期症状。通过PMS压力室获得的大量可比生态生理的测量数据显示,患病胶树呈现水分协迫特征,意味着病树树干同其根系存在着一种非理想的维管关系。因此,同土壤紧实度相关的土壤缺水状况、旱季不能满足胶树水分需求的脆弱根系、被扰乱的树液流动和土壤排水等因素的共同作用,被怀疑是诱导树干接芽区树皮坏死(坏死向上扩展到割面) 生理的一个主要外部诱因。在这些协迫的作用下,细胞与分子研究显示,橡胶树生理失调是导致树皮坏死迅速扩展的原因。在这些协迫的作用下,在胶树芽接部位的细胞破裂,释放极具扩散性的高浓度氰化物。在患病胶树的韧皮部生氰和解氰活动的极不协调,以及氰化物的释放,导致其周围的细胞受到毒害。最后, 这样一种多学科的研究方法为由协迫诱导的多因素生理病害研究提供了一个完整的新模式。     

Phylogeny of the ants: diversification in the age of angiosperms

We present a large-scale molecular phylogeny of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), based on 4.5 kilobases of sequence data from six gene regions extracted from 139 of the 288 described extant genera, representing 19 of the 20 subfamilies. All but two subfamilies are recovered as monophyletic. Divergence time estimates calibrated by minimum age constraints from 43 fossils indicate that most of the subfamilies representing extant ants arose much earlier than previously proposed but only began to diversify during the Late Cretaceous to Early Eocene. This period also witnessed the rise of angiosperms and most herbivorous insects.     

Humoral and cellular immune responses to Fasciola gigantica experimental infection in buffaloes

Humoral and cellular immune responses to Fasciola gigantica experimental infection in buffaloes were studied. The results showed that 33.4+/-9.1% of the infection dose was recovered as adult flukes from infected animals at necropsy. Significant differences of weight gain between infected and non-infected buffaloes was observed at 4 MPI (months post-infection). Anti F. gigantica excretory-secretory products (FgESP)-IgG levels increased significantly from 3 WPI (weeks post-infection) and displayed a peak at 13 WPI. Western blot indicated that in FgESP six major bands of 11.5, 19.0, 23.4, 29.8, 47.5 and 53.2kDa were recognized by F. gigantica-infected buffaloes sera after 0 WPI. Eosinophil numbers increased significantly from 3 WPI in F. gigantica-infected buffaloes and displayed a peak at 8 WPI. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) proliferation induced by FgESP increased from 2 WPI with a peak at 5 WPI. IFNgamma secretion by FgESP-stimulated PBMC appeared early from 1 WPI with three peaks at 2, 5 and 8 WPI, respectively. IL-10 production was observed from 2 WPI with two peaks at 4 and 9 WPI, respectively. Our results suggested that buffaloes were highly susceptible to F. gigantica infection, and this susceptibility could be associated with the late and weak cellular immune response in the early phase of infection and the Th0-like response throughout the infection.