Genetic mapping and utilization of quantitative trichome-mediated insect resistance in potato

Introgression of trichome-mediated insect resistance from the wild speciesSolanum berthaultii has become a major focus of the potato improvement program at Cornell University during the past twelve years. Several quantitative characters are involved in this resistance which is effective against a wide range of pest types. Correlative biochemical assays have been developed to assay specific components of the resistance, and the effects of the resistance on the target pests have been studied. Quantitative laboratory assays and specific measurements of insect behavior and biology have increased the precision of selection and enable the investigation of the genetic control of the resistance.We are currently using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) for genetic mapping of factors controlling the trichome traits fromS. berthaultii. Backcrosses to both the wild and the cultivated species parents have been evaluated for phenotypes contributing to the resistance mechanism, including trichome density, sucrose ester and polyphenol oxidase production by the trichomes, and the enzymatic browning reaction responsible for insect entrapment. Genetic maps are being developed for these progenies, using RFLP markers previously mapped in potato. Field and greenhouse trials under insect infestations are also being conducted with the mapping progeny. Our goal is to locate genes responsible for quantitative insect resistance by correlating RFLP variation at mapped loci with the trichome phenotypes and insect resistance. Genetic markers for these traits will be useful in transfer of the effective wild chromosomal segments into and among tetraploid potatoes, and for a better understanding of the resistance mechanism.     

肉用禽育种中应使用的主要屠宰性状指标的探讨

通过对不同周龄、品种的肉鸡、肉鸭屠宰数据进行分析,发现体重、屠宰重、全净膛重、半净膛重、胴体重这几个指标之间呈高度相关(R＞0.94,P＜0.0001),说明可以把这几个指标合并为一个指标,考虑到育种公司测定的实际需求,建议用屠宰重代替全净膛重、半净膛重.由于腿肌重与腿重呈显著相关,用腿重来代替腿肌重,可以大幅度简化育种工作,提高育种效率.本研究认为可以用宰前体重、腿重、胸肌重、腹脂重作为肉用禽屠宰测定的主要指标,为了计算相关的率,可以考虑测量屠宰重指标.     

Does matrix resistance influence Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris L. 1758) distribution in an urban landscape?

In determining isolation effects in fragmented populations, the landscape matrix is not often considered. Usually simple distance measures are used to quantify degree of isolation. We tested the effect of the matrix on the presence of red squirrels in 354 wooded patches in the Brussels Region, by comparing several isolation measures. These were 1) distance to the nearest source patch, 2) the Hanski-measure (a combination of distance to and size of all possible sources), 3) effective distances calculated from different least cost models using the ArcView grid extension ‘Cost Distance’ (a combination of distance and resistance of the landscape, with different resistances for different landscape types) and 4) some combinations of the Hanski-measure and the effective distances. Size and quality of the target patches were always included in the tests of the predictive power of different isolation measures on squirrel presence/absence. All variables examined (patch size, quality and isolation) significantly influenced squirrel presence. Models using the effective distances gave the best results. Models including the Hanski-measure improved significantly when Euclidean distance was replaced by effective distance, showing that parameterisation of matrix resistance added significant additional explanatory power when modelling squirrel presence. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A leakiness index for assessing landscape function using remote sensing

The cover, number, size, shape, spatial arrangement and orientation of vegetation patches are attributes that have been used to indicate how well landscapes function to retain, not ‘leak’, vital system resources such as rainwater and soil. We derived and tested a directional leakiness index (DLI) for this resource retention function. We used simulated landscape maps where resource flows over map surfaces were directional and where landscape patch attributes were known. Although DLI was most strongly related to patch cover, it also logically related to patch number, size, shape, arrangement and orientation. If the direction of resource flow is multi-directional, a variant of DLI, the multi-directional leakiness index (MDLI) can be used. The utility of DLI and MDLI was demonstrated by applying these indices to three Australian savanna landscapes differing in their remotely sensed vegetation patch attributes. These leakiness indices clearly positioned these three landscapes along a function-dysfunction continuum, where dysfunctional landscapes are leaky (poorly retain resources). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Variation of Parthenium hysterophorus in response to soil quality: implications for invasiveness

Summary The performance of Parthenium hysterophorus , native to the tropical Americas and invasive to several countries, was evaluated for response to soil quality. Phenological (six stages) and quantitative growth variables [relative growth rates in height (R_h) and diameter (R_d)] were measured every fortnight. Based on harvest data, the variables, root:shoot (R:S) ratio, specific leaf area (SLA), relative growth rate in biomass (R_w), net assimilation rate (NAR) and dry matter allocation to plant components, were determined. High clay content in soils prolonged the rosette stage, enhanced R_h and R_d and hampered root growth, but promoted biomass allocation to shoots. The extreme degree of plant mortality was observed, with only 33.3% individuals surviving to reproduce in the soils with highest clay contents. This appears to be one of the most important findings that certainly has a major bearing on the range of adaptation of the weed. Seed mass declined whereas seed production increased in relatively coarser soils with the exception of nearly pure sand. In soils rich in clay, plants produced a smaller number of larger seeds. These data suggest that variation in fundamental functional traits would enable P. hysterophorus to adjust to a variety of habitat conditions.     

种块大小对生姜生长及产量的影响

本试验条件下,生姜出苗期随种块的增大而提早。幼苗期,较大种块处理的植株长势较旺,但茎叶旺盛生长期后,过大或过小的种块处理都不利于生姜的生长和产量的提高。生姜产量以75 g左右的种块处理为最高,达3 572.4 kg·(667 m2)-1,而100、50、25 g种块处理的生姜产量分别为3 250.2、3 077.9、2 600.1 kg·(667 m2)-1。     

Osmolarity,cell volume and proliferation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the relationship between osmolarity, cell volume and cell proliferation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. METHODS: MTT method was applied to detect the proliferation ability of the poorly-differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell (CNE-2Z) under various osmolarity conditions. The flow cytometry was used to analyse cell cycle distribution. Cell volume was obtained by the image analysis of living cells and cell viability was determined by the trypan blue assay. RESULTS: Cultivation of cells under the hypertonic conditions of 370 and 440 mOsmol/L increased cell volume by 8.7% and 27.8% and facilitated cell proliferation by 22.2% and 33.9%, respectively. However, hypotonic incubation of cells with osmolarity of 160 and 230 mOsmol/L decreased cell volume by 12.8% and 4.1% and inhibited cell proliferation by 34.0% and 15.6%, respectively. Cell volume was positively correlated with cell proliferation rate. Long-term cultivation of cells under anisotonic conditions did not significantly alter cell cycle distribution, but hypotonic cultivation decreased cell viability. CONCLUSION: Proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells was closely correlated with the osmolarity of culture medium and cell volume. Hypotonic cultivation may inhibit cell proliferation by decreasing cell volume to facilitate cell death mechanisms.     

秦巴山区养羊户适度经营规模的研究

通过对秦巴山区陕西省西乡县15个典型陕南白山羊养殖专业户的资金投入、羊群结构、草地资源、经济效益等情况的调查，分析了养羊户的资源利用和生产经营状况，确定了与山羊生产密切相关的12个变量，即种公羊数、基础母羊数、后备母羊数、育肥羊数、羊舍面积、草地补种及施肥费用、医杂费、氨化或青贮饲料量、补饲精料量、工作日、投资额，并确定了各变量的参数值，以利润最大为目标函数，然后运用线性规划模型，计算出不同投资、不同人力及草地资源等条件下的适度经营规模。结果表明，养羊户的投资额是决定适度规模的主要因素。根据投资和羊群基础母羊数量设计的三种典型经营条件下，基础母羊全部留种的经营方式可获最大投资收益率(140．1％)；基础母羊数量达到20只以上，自繁种公羊的经营方式的最大投资收益率为74．0％；资金有限，人工授精配种的经营方式的投资收益率最低，为73．1％。     

四川省外种猪雌激素受体基因对繁殖和生长性状的影响

本试验以四川省外种母猪的 3个品种 (大约克、长白、杜洛克 )为研究对象 ,采用PCR RFLPs的方法检测其ESR基因的PvuⅡ多态性 ,分析了该基因与产仔数及生长性状之间的关系。结果表明 :初产胎次中 ,ESR基因型间总产仔数 (TNB)和产活仔数 (NBA)差异极显著 (P <0 .0 1) ,BB和AA纯合子间TNB和NBA分别相差 5 .97和 3.72头 ,基因加性效应分别为每个B基因 2 .98和 1.86头 ;对于经产胎次 ,总产仔数 (TNB)在AA、AB基因型与BB基因型的差异达到 0 .0 1的极显著水平 ,产活仔数 (NBA)在AA基因型与BB基因型间显著差异 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,TNB和NBA母猪每窝BB纯合子比AA纯合子分别多 3.6 8和 2 .89头 ,基因的加性效应为每个B基因分别为 1.84和 1.4 4头。头胎和经产胎次中ESR基因型在初生窝重、2 0日龄头数和窝重、30 / 4 5日龄头数和窝重以及 70日龄窝重之间的差异普遍不显著 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,但是以上 6个性状在ESR基因的 3种基因型间存在BB >AB >AA的趋势     

饲喂柠条对肉兔生产性能及胴体性状影响的研究

选用45～48日龄平均体重1050g的伊普吕(父系)幼兔64只,分成4组,进行柠条饲喂肉兔试验.对照组饲粮中谷草比例为33.4%,试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组分别用10%、20%和33.4%柠条替代等比例谷草.48天试验结果为:对照组、试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组日均采食量、日增重、料肉比分别为89.84g、92.95g、90.77g、79.95g,22.60g、23.30g、19.24g、17.90g,3.98:1、3.99:1、4.72:1、4.47:1.试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ组与对照组日采食量、日增重、料肉比差异不显著(P＞0.05);屠宰试验结果为:试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ与对照组在胴体重、屠宰率、净肉率、肉骨比、心脏、肺脏、肝脏、肾脏等指标方面无显著差异(P＞0.05);而试验Ⅲ组日采食量、日增重均显著较对照组差(P＜0.05).试验结果表明:生长肉兔饲粮中添加10%～20%柠条粉是可行的,且饲粮成本较低.