Quantitative trait loci mapping for yield-related traits under low and high planting densities in maize (Zea mays)

Average maize yield per hectare has increased significantly because of the improvement in high-density tolerance, but little attention has been paid to the genetic mechanism of grain yield response to high planting density. Here, we used a population of 301 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross YE478 × 08–641 to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for 16 yield-related traits under two planting densities (57,000 and 114,000 plants per ha) across four environments. These yield-related traits responded differently to high-density stress. A total of 110 QTLs were observed for these traits: 33 QTLs only under low planting density, 50 QTLs under high planting density and 27 QTLs across both densities. Only two major QTLs, qCD6 and qWKEL2-2, were identified across low- and high-density treatments. Seven environmentally stable QTLs were also observed containing qED6, qWKEL3, qRN3-3, qRN7-2, qRN9-2 and qRN10 across both densities, as well as qRN9-1 under low density. In addition, 16 and eight pairs of loci with epistasis interaction (EPI) were detected under low and high planting densities, respectively. Additionally, nine and 17 loci showed QTL × environment interaction (QEI) under low- and high-density conditions, respectively. These interactions are of lesser importance than the main QTL effects. We also observed 26 pleiotropic QTL clusters, and the hotspot region 3.08 concentrated nine QTLs, suggesting its great importance for maize yield. These findings suggested that multiple minor QTLs, loci with EPI and QEI, pleiotropy and the complex network of “crosstalk” among them for yield-related traits were greatly influenced by plant density, which increases our understanding of the genetic mechanism of yield-related traits for high-density tolerance.     

GDFs基因家族候选基因对崇仁麻鸡生长性状的影响

利用崇仁麻鸡差异性状的重测序结果,将生长分化因子(GDFs)基因家族作为候选基因,筛选与崇仁麻鸡生长性状相关的多态位点。结果发现,GDF-2、GDF-8和GDF-10基因的多态位点对崇仁麻鸡的生长性状有着显著或极显著的影响。单倍型分析结果显示,GDF-2和GDF-10基因的单倍型H3H3为劣势单倍型组合可以选择淘汰。研究结果表明,GDFs基因家族候选基因对崇仁麻鸡的生长性状有一定的影响。     

灌草立体配置对退化草地土壤水分和养分的影响

【目的】比较灌草立体配置模式下3种不同生境的土壤水分、养分和植物根系相关参数的差异,探究灌草立体配置30年对退化草地土壤水分和养分以及植物根系的影响,为黄土高原水土保持和生态恢复提供理论依据。【方法】以位于黄土高原云雾山国家草原自然保护区种植30年的人工柠条和野山桃搭配灌丛带样地为研究对象,采集灌丛带内部、灌丛带边缘和灌丛带外部不同土层的土样和植物根系,比较3种位置下土壤水分、养分含量和植物根系特征的差异,并分析了根长与土壤水分和养分含量的相关性。【结果】在0～80 cm土层,灌丛带内部的土壤含水量明显高于灌丛带边缘和灌丛带外部。在0～80 cm土层,随着土层深度增加,灌丛带3个位置土壤全氮、碱解氮和有机碳含量均呈下降趋势,而全磷含量变化不明显;在同一土层,灌丛带内部的全氮、碱解氮和有机碳含量均明显高于灌丛带边缘和灌丛带外部。在灌丛带内部、灌丛带边缘和灌丛带外部3个位置,植物根系生物量呈减小的趋势。从垂直分布来看,灌丛带内部、灌丛带边缘和灌丛带外部0～15 cm土层的植物根系生物量分别占0～40 cm土层植物根系生物量的90.86%,90.79%,92.91%,说明植物根系生物量主要集中分布于0～15 cm土层。3个取样位置中,灌丛带内部植物根长、根表面积和根体积均最大。相关性分析表明,灌丛带植物根长与0～20 cm土层的土壤含水量,0～40 cm土层土壤有机碳和全氮、0～80 cm土层碱解氮均呈显著或极显著正相关。【结论】在黄土高原退化草地上进行灌草立体配置可以促进植物根系生长,提高土壤水分和养分含量,有利于退化草地的恢复。     

青海省寒潮天气过程中的气温变化影响因素分析

利用常规气象观测资料,分析了2011年3月13—14日青海省一次大范围的寒潮天气过程的成因,并在此基础上根据局地温度方程,定量分析了过程中影响温度变化的主要因子和各自的贡献,结论如下:(1)此次过程是青海省一次典型的横槽转竖型寒潮天气,并且自西向东爆发。过程前期形成典型的寒潮中期倒大“Ω”流型。上游有强冷平流输送,500 hPa冷中心-44℃,700 hPa冷中心-28℃。青海上空西北风风速26 m/s,300 hPa高空西风急流入口区的横向非地转正次级环流也利于地面降温。(2)地面蒙古冷高压中心1060 hPa,影响青海的冷高压达1050 hPa。过程中青海西部的24 h最大正变压18 hPa,24 h负变温最大为-18℃,最低气温平均下降10~13℃,格尔木站下降幅度最大,达到16℃。东部的24 h最大正变压18 hPa,24 h时负变温最大-11℃,最低气温平均下降6~8℃,河南站下降幅度最大,达到16℃。同时东部和西部的地面风速在13日、14日白天都增大,并以偏西风为主。(3)此次过程中的温度变化主要由温度平流项和对流变化项决定,且这2项对青海西部的降温贡献大于青海东部。冷气团的个别变化项对降温也有一定贡献,对东部和西部的贡献基本相等。非绝热项对西部起增温作用,对东部的温度变化没有作用。(4)由强冷空气引起的寒潮天气过程中,温度平流变化和对流变化对降温起主导作用,过程前期应关注温度平流变化的影响,过程结束时应关注对流变化。个别变化项的影响程度依赖于冷空气强度和冷气团变性程度。非绝热项的影响决定于大气中发生相态变化的水汽含量,对温度变化有约束效应。     

Quantitative trait loci analysis for root traits in synthetic hexaploid wheat under drought stress conditions

Synthetic hexaploid wheat(SHW), possesses numerous genes for drought that can help breeding for drought-tolerant wheat varieties. We evaluated 10 root traits at seedling stage in 111 F9 recombinant inbred lines derived from a F2 population of a SHW line(SHW-L1) and a common wheat line, under normal(NC) and polyethylene glycol-simulated drought stress conditions(DC). We mapped quantitative trait loci(QTLs) for root traits using an enriched high-density genetic map containing 120 370 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs), 733 diversity arrays technology markers(DArT) and 119 simple sequence repeats(SSRs). With four replicates per treatment, we identified 19 QTLs for root traits under NC and DC, and 12 of them could be consistently detected with three or four replicates. Two novel QTLs for root fresh weight and root diameter under NC explained 9 and 15.7% of the phenotypic variation respectively, and six novel QTLs for root fresh weight, the ratio of root water loss, total root surface area, number of root tips, and number of root forks under DC explained 8.5–14% of the phenotypic variation. Here seven of eight novel QTLs could be consistently detected with more than three replicates. Results provide essential information for fine-mapping QTLs related to drought tolerance that will facilitate breeding drought-tolerant wheat cultivars.     

玉米脱粒破碎率关键影响因子及其最优预测模型研究

子粒破碎率高是当前中国玉米机械收获子粒的重要限制因素,解析破碎率变化原因,建立其简便预测模型是需要解决的重要问题。本文采集7个玉米品种在3个种植密度下组合的果穗,在不同子粒含水率梯度条件下开展单穗脱粒试验。种植密度在6万～9万株/hm2范围内对子粒破碎率没有影响,品种、子粒的含水率、抗侧压碎力和穿刺强度等的影响均达到统计显著水平。品种对破碎率变化的偏贡献率为12.7%,且品种的偏贡献率子粒含水率的偏贡献率抗侧压碎力的偏贡献率穿刺强度的偏贡献率,种植密度的偏贡献率接近于零。破碎率的最优预测因子是穿刺强度,预测模型:破碎率=10.25×0.990穿刺强度,满足破碎率不高于5%约束的穿刺强度值不得低于60 MPa。研究结果可为玉米破碎率预测、宜机收玉米新品种培育与鉴定、脱粒机具设计与制造提供数据支撑和技术参考。     

水分和盐胁迫下小麦种子萌发相关性状的QTL定位

小麦萌发期对水分和盐胁迫敏感,对该时期水分和盐胁迫下种子萌发性状进行QTL定位具有重要的意义。本研究以小麦“泰农18×临麦6号” RIL群体为材料,以20%PEG-6000溶液和100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl溶液分别模拟水分和盐胁迫环境,对种子萌发期10个性状进行了QTL定位。结果表明,在正常、水分胁迫和盐胁迫3种不同处理下各性状变异较大。相关分析表明,抗旱和耐盐可能是两个独立遗传的性状,胚芽鞘长可以作为节水抗旱的鉴定指标。3种处理下共检测到10个萌发相关性状的103个QTL,其中,17个为相对高频QTL（RHF-QTL）,分布在7条染色体（1A、3A、3B、4B、7A、7B和7D）上,平均贡献率为7.55%~15.97%。这些RHF-QTL形成4个QTL簇（QTL cluster,QC）,分布在3A、7A和7D染色体上。其中,7A染色体上的QC2包括3个RHF-QTLs（ QSdw-7A.1、 QGf-7A.1和 QGi-7A.1）,均与小麦耐盐性相关;7D染色体上的QC3包括2个RHF-QTLs（ QGi-7D.1、 QGdrc-7D.1）,均与小麦节水抗旱性相关。这2个QCs增加效应均来自母本泰农18。本研究获得的RHF-QTLs和QCs,可为小麦萌发期节水抗旱和耐盐分子标记辅助选择提供理论和技术支持。     

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.     

Diversity,plant growth-promoting traits,and biocontrol potential of fungal endophytes of Sorghum bicolor

The diversity of fungal endophytes in Sorghum bicolor was investigated in samples collected from 10 different geographical regions of Karnataka state, India. A total of 360 endophytes were isolated from leaf, stem, and root tissues and were assigned to 26 fungal species based on morphology and molecular characterization using ITS sequences. All the endophytes belonged to the phylum Ascomycota. The diversity (Shannon H, 2.57; Simpson_1-D, 0.92) and species richness (Margalef's, 4.68; Menhinick, 3.61) were found to be higher for the endophytes isolated from leaf tissues. The species evenness of the endophytic assemblage was strongly influenced by tissue type, followed by geographical location. The biocontrol potential of isolated endophytes was evaluated against economically destructive sorghum grain mould pathogens such as Fusarium thapsinum, Epicoccum sorghinum, Alternaria alternata, and Curvularia lunata using the dual culture method. Biocontrol potential was exhibited by 26 endophytic isolates, of which Trichoderma asperellum recorded broad-spectrum activity against target pathogens, followed by E. nigrum and A. longipes. Most (82%) endophytes showed plant growth-promoting traits. Biosynthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was observed in 84% of isolates, and phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, and cellulase activity was observed in 69%, 23%, and 27% of isolates, respectively. Seeds treated with T. asperellum exhibited a significantly higher seed vigour index (2096), germination percentage (94%), and yield under greenhouse and field conditions. The results were substantiated by the confocal microscopy analysis, which clearly demonstrated the colonization of treated endophyte in root tissues. The present study reveals an ecofriendly approach to explore T. asperellum in sorghum disease management.     

植物数量抗病基因克隆及其抗性机理的研究进展

培育广谱、持久抗病的作物品种,不仅需要深入研究质量抗病性,而且需要更深入地洞悉数量抗病性的可能作用机理。而目前,人们对数量抗病基因的可能特征和数量抗病性的机理的认识还相当模糊,这在很大程度上限制了数量抗病基因在育种实践中的应用。本文首先综述数量性状座位（quantitative trait loci,QTL）的克隆策略和精确获取数量抗病性状值的方法;其次根据数量抗性座位（quantitative resistance loci。QRL）的相关研究进展,对QRL的可能特征进行一定的综述,认为部分QRL的抗性机理直接对应于R基因、抗病基因类似物（resistance geneanalogs,RGA）、防卫基因、防卫反应途径中的相关基因等在植物抗病性上的作用机理;最后,作者推测存在4种抗性特征的QRL,即小种特异性或非特异性QRL和“病原菌”特异性或广谱性QRL,并认为数量抗性持久性的遗传基础与这些不同特征的QRL间有着密切的联系。该综述将对QRL的候选基因分析和克隆、数量抗病机理研究和QRL的育种应用提供有益的参考。