基于转录组测序的半滑舌鳎长链非编码RNA的初步鉴定与分析

以抗病家系与易感家系半滑舌鳎为材料,进行哈维弧菌感染实验,并对易感家系感染前(CsSU)、易感家系感染后(CsSC)、抗病家系感染前(CsRU)、抗病家系感染后(CsRC)4组进行转录组测序,根据RNA-seq数据挖掘半滑舌鳎长链非编码RNA信息;通过生物信息学分析,筛选出与抗哈维弧菌病相关的差异长链非编码RNA(long non-coding RNA, lncRNA)。结果显示,共识别出4 584个lncRNA座位,包含5 714个转录本;其基本特征与编码基因的比较分析,lncRNA的GC含量低于编码基因,单外显子基因数多于编码基因,转录本的平均长度长于编码基因,基因表达量低于编码基因。对4组样品进行两两比较(CsRU vs CsSU、CsRC vs CsSC、CsRC vs CsRU、CsSC vs CsSU)分别筛选出818、813、261、140个差异表达lncRNA,其中CsRU与CsSU之间、CsRC与CsSC之间lncRNA数目差异最多,通过聚类分析确定了各实验组的表达模式之间的联系,CsRU与CsSU之间的表达模式最为相近。通过共表达分析,预测出lncRNA和274个编码基因可能存在14 539种相互关系,并进行了功能注释,进而筛选出7个关键lncRNA。qRT-PCR结果显示,差异表达lncRNAs的表达模式和转录组数据得到的基本一致。研究结果为揭示lncRNA在半滑舌鳎抗哈维弧菌免疫调控反应中的作用提供重要的参考数据。     

Embryo-mediated genome editing for accelerated genetic improvement of livestock

Selecting beneficial DNA variants is the main goal of animal breeding. However, this process is inherently inefficient because each animal only carries a fraction of all desirable variants. Genome editing technology with its ability to directly introduce beneficial sequence variants offers new opportunities to modernize animal breeding by overcoming this biological limitation and accelerating genetic gains. To realize rapid genetic gain, precise edits need to be introduced into genomically-selected embryos, which minimizes the genetic lag. However, embryo-mediated precision editing by homology-directed repair (HDR) mechanisms is currently an inefficient process that often produces mosaic embryos and greatly limits the numbers of available edited embryos. This review provides a summary of genome editing in bovine embryos and proposes an embryo-mediated accelerated breeding scheme that overcomes the present efficiency limitations of HDR editing in bovine embryos. It integrates embryo-based genomic selection with precise multi-editing and uses embryonic cloning with elite edited blastomeres or embryonic pluripotent stem cells to resolve mosaicism, enable multiplex editing and multiply rare elite genotypes. Such a breeding strategy would enable a more targeted, accelerated approach for livestock improvement that allows stacking of beneficial variants, even including novel traits from outside the breeding population, in the most recent elite genetic background, essentially within a single generation.     

芒果中性/碱性转化酶MiNI基因的克隆与表达分析

采用RT-PCR技术克隆了1个编码NI基因的cDNA序列,命名为MiNI基因,并对不同来源的中性/碱性转化酶的分子特征及系统进化进行比较分析。结果表明：MiNI基因开放阅读框为2034 bp,编码677个氨基酸,相对分子量为76.6 kDa,理论等电点为6.24;生物信息学分析结果显示,NI二级结构α螺旋占38.85%,无规则卷曲占35.45%,伸展链占18.91%,β折叠占6.79%;MiNI具有glycoside hydrolase family 100结构保守域,与克里曼丁桔、龙眼、巴西橡胶树和番木瓜都具有一致的motif位点;MiNI基因编码的氨基酸序列与克里曼丁桔、龙眼氨基酸序列同源性最高;构建NI系统进化树分析表明,与芒果遗传距离最近的是克里曼丁桔,最远的是玉米和枸杞。qRT-PCR分析显示,果皮MiNI基因表达量远高于果肉;花后10~40 d,果皮MiNI基因表达量显著下降;花后40~100 d,果皮MiNI基因表达量维持在一个相对稳定水平;花后100~130 d,随着果实成熟,果皮MiNI基因表达量又显著上升;而花后10~40 d,果肉MiNI基因表达量显著下降,至果实发育后期果肉MiNI基因表达量始终处于极低水平。该研究为进一步了解MiNI基因在芒果果实蔗糖代谢过程中的作用以及从分子角度阐明芒果糖代谢机理奠定理论和技术基础。     

Genetic bases of source-,sink-,and yield-related traits revealed by genome-wide association study in Xian rice

The source-sink relationship determines the ultimate grain yield.We investigated the genetic basis of the relationship between source and sink and yield potential in rice.In two environments,we identified quantitative trait loci(QTL)associated with sink capacity(total spikelet number per panicle and thousand-grain weight),source leaf(flag leaf length,flag leaf width and flag leaf area),source-sink relationship(total spikelet number to flag leaf area ratio)and yield-related traits(filled grain number per panicle,panicle number per plant,grain yield per plant,biomass per plant,and harvest index)by genome-wide association analysis using 272 Xian(indica)accessions.The panel showed substantial variation for all traits in the two environments and revealed complex phenotypic correlations.A total of 70 QTL influencing the 11 traits were identified using 469,377 high-quality SNP markers.Five QTL were detected consistently in four chromosomal regions in both environments.Five QTL clusters simultaneously affected source,sink,source–sink relationship,and grain yield traits,probably explaining the genetic basis of significant correlations of grain yield with source and sink traits.We selected 24 candidate genes in the four consistent QTL regions by identifying linkage disequilibrium(LD)blocks associated with significant SNPs and performing haplotype analysis.The genes included one cloned gene(NOG1)and three newly identified QTL(qHI6,qTGW7,and qFLA8).These results provide a theoretical basis for high-yield rice breeding by increasing and balancing source–sink relationships using marker-assisted selection.     

Basal internode elongation of rice as affected by light intensity and leaf area

Short basal internodes are important for lodging resistance of rice(Oryza sativa L.).Several canopy indices affect the elongation of basal internodes,but uncertainty as to the key factors determining elongation of basal internodes persists.The objectives of this study were(1)to identify key factors affecting the elongation of basal internodes and(2)to establish a quantitative relationship between basal internode length and canopy indices.An inbred rice cultivar,Yinjingruanzhan,was grown in two split-plot field experiments with three N rates(0,75,and 150 kg N ha−1 in early season and 0,90,and 180 kg N ha−1 in late season)as main plots,three seedling densities(16.7,75.0,and 187.5 seedlings m−2)as subplots,and three replications in the 2015 early and late seasons in Guangzhou,China.Light intensity at base of canopy(Lb),light quality as determined from red/far-red light ratio(R/FR),light transmission ratio(LTR),leaf area index(LAI),leaf N concentration(NLV)and final length of second internode(counted from soil surface upward)(FIL)were recorded.Higher N rate and seedling density resulted in significantly longer FIL.FIL was negatively correlated with Lb,LTR,and R/FR(P<0.01)and positively correlated with LAI(P<0.01),but not correlated with NLV(P>0.05).Stepwise linear regression analysis showed that FIL was strongly associated with Lb and LAI(R2=0.82).Heavy N application to pot-grown rice at the beginning of first internode elongation did not change FIL.We conclude that FIL is determined mainly by Lb and LAI at jointing stage.NLV has no direct effect on the elongation of basal internodes.N application indirectly affects FIL by changing LAI and light conditions in the rice canopy.Reducing LAI and improving canopy light transmission at jointing stage can shorten the basal internodes and increase the lodging resistance of rice.     

Change features of time-series climate variables from 1962 to 2016 in Inner Mongolia,China

Detecting change features of climate variables in arid/semi-arid areas is essential for understanding related climate change patterns and the driving and evolution mechanism between climate and arid/semi-arid ecosystems.This paper takes Inner Mongolia of China,a unique arid/semi-arid ecosystem,as the study area.We first detected trend features of climate variables using the linear trend analysis method and then detected their trend-shift features using the breaks for additive seasonal and trend method based on the time-series of monthly precipitation and monthly mean temperature datasets from 1962 to 2016.We analyzed the different change features of precipitation and temperature on a regional scale and in different ecological zones to discover the spatial heterogeneity of change features.The results showed that Inner Mongolia has become warmer-wetter during the past 54 years.The regional annual mean temperature increased 0.4°C per decade with a change rate of 56.2%.The regional annual precipitation increased 0.07 mm per decade with a slightly change rate of about 1.7%,but the trend was not statistically significant.The warmer trend was contributed by the same positive trend in each season,while the wetter trend was contributed by the negative trend of the summer precipitation and the positive trend of the other three seasons.The regional monthly precipitation series had a trend-shift pattern with a structural breakpoint in the year 1999,while the regional monthly mean temperature series showed an increasing trend without a periodical trend-shift.After the year 2000,the warmer-wetter trend of the climate in Inner Mongolia was accelerated.The late 20th century was a key period,because the acceleration of the wetter trend in some local zones(I and II)and the alleviation of the warmer trend in some local zones(Ⅶ,Ⅷand IX)occurred simultaneously.Moreover,the change features had a strong spatial heterogeneity,the southeastern and southwestern of Inner Mongolia went through a warmer-drier trend compared with the other areas.The spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the climate change features is a necessary background for various types of research,such as regional climate change,the evolution of arid/semi-arid ecosystems,and the interaction mechanisms between climate and arid/semi-arid ecosystems based on earth-system models in Inner Mongolia.     

秸秆还田对东北半干旱区玉米‖花生轮作系统土壤水热特性及作物产量的影响

以东北半干旱区玉米‖花生轮作系统为研究对象,试验设传统玉米单作、花生单作、不同秸秆还田量下(30%、60%和100%)玉米‖花生轮作5个处理。通过连续3年田间定位试验,研究玉米秸秆不同还田量对农田土壤水热特性、产量及土地当量比(LER)的影响。结果表明,与传统单作相比,秸秆还田处理玉米区播前0～40 cm土壤平均含水量提高了1.9%～3.9%,花生区提高了11.0%～13.9%;成熟期,秸秆还田花生区0:00～8:00平均地温比传统单作提高了0.2℃～1.1℃,10:00～22:00平均地温较传统单作降低了0.5℃～1.0℃。2016年和2017年玉米‖花生轮作系统LER为1.05～1.16,2018年各处理LER均小于1。吉林半干旱区玉米‖花生轮作系统进行秸秆还田改善了作物播前的土壤水分状况,但对于作物产量的影响在不同年份有所差异。