Quantitative trait loci for fruit size and flowering time-related traits under domestication and diversifying selection in cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

In cucumber, the genetic basis of traits under domestication and/or diversifying selection is not well understood. Here, we reported QTL mapping for flowering time and fruit size-related traits with segregating populations derived from a cultivated × wild cross. Phenotypic data of flowering time (FT), fruit size (FS), fruit number (FN) and fruit weight per plant (FW) were collected in multiple environments. QTL analysis identified 19 QTL for these traits. We found that the major-effect QTL FT1.1 played an important role in regulating flowering time in cultivated cucumber, whereas the minor-effect QTL FT6.3 contributed to photoperiod sensitive flowering time during domestication. Two novel consensus FS QTL, FS1.4 and FS2.3, seem to be the targets of selection during breeding for the US processing cucumber. All other FS QTL were co-localized with previously detected QTL using populations derived from cultivated cucumbers, suggesting that they were under selection during both initial domestication and subsequent improvement. Results from this study also suggested that the wild cucumber is a useful resource for capturing positive transgressive segregation and novel alleles that could be explored in cucumber breeding.     

鸡无尾性状的分子机制研究进展

动物的尾巴具有改变方向、控制升降、调整速度、支撑身体、防御、攻击、保温、示警、逃生和捕食等作用。鸟类的尾巴在飞行过程中起到平衡身体的关键作用，但在进化过程中尾部却出现了缩短和融合现象，如中国的瓢鸡及智利的Araucana鸡。作者简述了近年来关于鸡无尾性状的解剖学研究成果，发现无尾鸡在胚胎发育HH19期（Hamburger和Humilton标准分期）就已经出现无尾现象，而在结构上无尾鸡缺乏尾脂腺、尾羽、镰羽、尾椎骨和尾综骨。同时作者分析了导致尾部体节停止发育的分子遗传机制，包括周期性表达基因的转录调控影响尾部延伸过程、后端化因子梯度诱导尾部形成、Hox基因影响体节特化过程及基因突变有可能导致的无尾现象等，从而提出了可能导致家禽无尾性状的胚胎发育时期的关键分子及信号通路，包括Irx1和Irx2基因、Notch信号通路、Wnt信号通路、Fgf信号通路、RA信号通路等。研究鸡无尾性状的分子机制不仅可深入了解脊椎动物胚胎发育中尾部发育机制，更有利于揭示鸟类在进化过程中发生的尾部缩短及融合的机理。     

Ostrich meat: Production,quality parameters,and nutritional comparison to other types of meats

The poultry industry is considered one of the most efficient industries in producing animal protein. Poultry production consists of several main segments: broilers, commercial eggs, turkeys, ducks, and other poultry, including geese, guinea-fowl, pheasants, quail, and ratites. Currently, ostrich meat is marketed as a healthy red meat because it is characterized by high polyunsaturated fatty acid contents, low saturated fatty acid content, and low cholesterol level compared with red meats, such as beef, while tasting similar to lean beef. Ostrich meat contains lower sodium and higher iron contents than other kinds of meat, making it preferable to hypertensive people and those with anemia. Taken together, ostrich meat is considered as an ideal red meat for individuals seeking healthier lifestyle. Moreover, many different ostrich products, such as leather and feathers, are used by people. The current review paper considers the quality characteristics of ostrich meat, including physical traits, and compares it to other types of meats, such as bovine and other poultry meats.     

多叶苜蓿自交二代农艺性状分析

多叶苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)的形态特征与苜蓿的产量和品质有直接关系,建立多叶苜蓿自交系进一步研究评估苜蓿多叶性状的遗传特性和规律,为多叶苜蓿新品系的选育提供科学依据。筛选多叶苜蓿自交亲本,进行亲本选配,田间试验观察测量多叶苜蓿自交S2代的多叶率、株高等农艺性状,与亲本材料进行比较分析。发现多叶苜蓿自交S2代农艺性状变异较为丰富,变异系数达19.54%~55.66%,分离出单株多叶率达100%的单株,S2群体生长速率变缓,多叶性状的表达呈多样化。     

Genetic analysis for sow stayability at different parities in purebred Landrace and Large White pigs

Genetic parameters for sow stayability were estimated from farrowing records of 10,295 Landrace sows and 8192 Large White sows. The record for sow stayability from parity k to parity k + 1 (k = 1, …, 6) was 0 when a sow had a farrowing record at parity k but not at parity k + 1, and 1 when a sow had both records. Heritability was estimated by using single-trait linear and threshold animal models. Genetic correlations among parities were estimated by using two-trait linear–linear and single-trait random regression linear animal models. Genetic correlations with litter traits at birth were estimated by using a two-trait linear–linear animal model. Heritability estimates by linear model analysis were low (0.065–0.119 in Landrace & 0.061–0.157 in Large White); those by threshold model analysis were higher (0.136–0.200 & 0.110–0.283). Genetic correlations among parities differed between breeds and models. Genetic correlation between sow stayability and number born alive was positive in many cases, implying that selection for number born alive does not reduce sow stayability. The results seem to be affected by decisions on culling made by farmers.     

分叉管流动的数值模拟

采用非结构、非均匀的网格和有限元方法,通过求解Navier-Stokes方程,对90°分叉管的流动进行了并行数值模拟的研究。计算网格为500000个有限单元,计算Reynolds数为1500。计算结果给出了90°分叉管详细的流动结构。     

中国现有葡萄品种叶片形态评价与分析

以中国农业科学院郑州果树研究所葡萄资源圃中保存的342个葡萄品种的成熟叶片为试材,采用度量性状与非度量性状相结合的调查方法,研究了供试葡萄品种的叶宽等9个度量性状和叶片形状等8个非度量性状,以期为进一步建立葡萄种质资源叶片性状数据库奠定基础。结果表明:现有栽培葡萄品种的叶片形状主要为楔形和五角形;9个度量性状具有明显的变异性,且与长度有关的度量性状变异系数均大于16.51%;主成分分析表明与长度有关的度量性状为第一主成分,与角度有关的为第二主成分,与比值有关的为第三主成分,累计贡献率达到77.186%。     

Development and evaluation of pyramiding lines carrying early or late heading QTLs in the indica rice cultivar ‘IR64’

The heading date is an important trait for determining regional and climatic adaptability in rice. To expand the adaptability of the indica rice cultivar ‘IR64’, we pyramided multiple early or late heading quantitative trait locus (QTLs) in the ‘IR64’ genetic background by crossing previously developed near-isogenic lines (NILs) with a single QTL for early or late heading. The effects of pyramiding QTLs were observed in three different climatic zones of the Philippines, Madagascar, and Japan. The early heading pyramiding lines (PYLs) headed 6.2 to 12.8 days earlier than ‘IR64’ while the late heading PYLs headed 18.8 to 27.1 days later than ‘IR64’. The PYLs tended to produce low grain yield compared to ‘IR64’. The low yield was not improved by combining SPIKE, which is a QTL that increases the number of spikelets per panicle. Conversely, ‘IR64-PYL(7+10)’ carrying Hd5 and Hd1 headed earlier, produced more tillers, and more panicles per m² than ‘IR64’, and mitigated the yield decrease in early heading. These results suggest that the effects of pyramided QTLs on heading date were consistent across various environments and PYLs could be used to enhance the adaptation of ‘IR64’ in other rice growing environments.     

3个美国油梨品种在粤西产区引种表现评价

为了解引入国家热带果树种质资源圃(广东湛江)的3个美国油梨品种Hass,Tonnage和Wilson的生育期、果实品质性状和适应性等情况,对这些品种花形态、开花特性、开花授粉受精生理特征和主要果实性状等指标进行了观测和比较分析。结果表明,3个引进油梨品种在粤西地区均能正常开花结果,果实生理成熟期Hass为11月上旬,Tonnage为8月旬,Wilson为9月初。花期均为2月下旬至4月中旬,花期比原产地短10~20天,Hass和Tonnage为A型花, Wilson为B型花;Hass、Tonnage和Wilson花粉萌发率均较高,分别为87%、75%和82%,开花后3h为最佳授粉期。果实风味、口感、颜色等性状与引种地基本一致,而Wilson平均单果重比引种地提高了2倍左右,而Tonnage单果重只达到引种地的70%, Hass与原产地相近。以上结果可为引进品种在我国的生产和利用提供参考。     

Genomic Prediction of Arsenic Tolerance and Grain Yield in Rice: Contribution of Trait-Specific Markers and Multi-Environment Models

Many rice-growing areas are affected by high concentrations of arsenic(As). Rice varieties that prevent As uptake and/or accumulation can mitigate As threats to human health. Genomic selection is known to facilitate rapid selection of superior genotypes for complex traits. We explored the predictive ability(PA) of genomic prediction with single-environment models, accounting or not for trait-specific markers, multi-environment models, and multi-trait and multi-environment models, using the genotypic(1600 K SNPs) and phenotypic(grain As content, grain yield and days to flowering) data of the Bengal and Assam Aus Panel. Under the base-line single-environment model, PA of up to 0.707 and 0.654 was obtained for grain yield and grain As content, respectively; the three prediction methods(Bayesian Lasso, genomic best linear unbiased prediction and reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces) were considered to perform similarly, and marker selection based on linkage disequilibrium allowed to reduce the number of SNP to 17 K, without negative effect on PA of genomic predictions. Single-environment models giving distinct weight to trait-specific markers in the genomic relationship matrix outperformed the base-line models up to 32%. Multi-environment models, accounting for genotype × environment interactions, and multi-trait and multi-environment models outperformed the base-line models by up to 47% and 61%, respectively. Among the multi-trait and multi-environment models, the Bayesian multi-output regressor stacking function obtained the highest predictive ability(0.831 for grain As) with much higher efficiency for computing time. These findings pave the way for breeding for As-tolerance in the progenies of biparental crosses involving members of the Bengal and Assam Aus Panel. Genomic prediction can also be applied to breeding for other complex traits under multiple environments.