Recent advances in molecular genetics of forest trees

The use of molecular markers has greatly enhanced our understanding of the genome structure of forest trees. Conifers, in particular, have a relatively large genome, containing a very high proportion of repeated DNA, consisting of tandemly repetitive and dispersed repetitive DNA sequences. The nature of highly conserved tandemly repetitive rRNA genes has been investigated in a number of tree species, and their sites mapped on specific chromosomes by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Different families of retrotransposons (IFG, and TPE1) have been isolated and characterized from the dispersed repetitive DNA of pines. Genome maps have been constructed in a number of forest tree genera: Pinus, Picea, Pseudotsuga, Cryptomeria, Taxus, Populus, and Eucalyptus. EST databases have been established from cDNA clones of pines and poplars. The structure and maternal or paternal modes of inheritance of organelle genomes have been investigated in forest trees. Comparative mapping in conifers has shown that gene families are conserved across genera. Due to lack of polyploidy in conifers, the evolution of this group of trees may have occurred primarily by duplication and dispersal of genes, probably by retrotranspositions, to form complex gene families. The evolution of angiosperm tree species has presumably involved both gene duplication as well as genome duplication (polyploidy). Application of genetic engineering has shown that genes from phylogenetically unrelated organisms can be introduced and expressed in trees, thus offering prospects of genetic improvement of forest trees. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ecology,physiology and genetics of a phycodnavirus infecting the noxious bloom-forming raphidophyte <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heterosigma akashiwo</Emphasis>

Abstract:   Heterosigma akashiwo virus (HaV) is a large icosahedral virus (∼0.2 μm) harboring a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome (∼294 kbp). The virus is the only member of the genus Raphidovirus in the family Phycodnaviridae. Since its first discovery, a number of ecologic, physiologic and genetic studies about HaV have been conducted; especially, the relationship between H. akashiwo and HaV in nature was studied and viral infection is now regarded as a significant factor influencing the dynamics and termination of H. akashiwo blooms. HaV infection has considerable impacts on H. akashiwo populations in both aspects of fluctuation in biomass (quantity) and changes in clonal composition (quality). Partial sequencing of the HaV genome revealed that a number of genes showed considerable similarity to those of other protist-infecting viruses; still, the phylogenetic position of HaV suggested a number of enigmas in host–virus coevolution. Here are summarized the ecology, physiology and genetics of HaV especially from the viewpoint of the host–virus relationship.     

Mitochondrial DNA deletion of the brain tissue of aged rats with learning and memory deficit

AIM and METHODS: The ratio of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion was measured to find the relationship between mtDNA deletion and aged learning and memory deficit. The aged rats were divided into two groups, aged learning and memory deficit group and aged learning and memory normal group. The ratio of mtDNA deletion was measured by dilution polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: There are deleted mtDNA (about 4834 bp) in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum of both young and aged rats. The ratios of deleted mtDNA were similar in the cerebral cortex,hippocampus and cerebellum of young rats (about 0.00018%). The ratio mtDNA of aged learning and memory normal rats had increased by five-fold in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, or one-fold in the cerebellum over young rats. The ratio of aged learning and memory dificit rats had increased by one-fold in the cerebral cortex or 0.8-fold in the hippocampus or two-fold in the cerebellum over aged learning and memory normal rats.CONCLUSIONS: There was really the increase of mtDNA in aging rat brain. And this increase was double in amount in aged learning and memory deficit rats compared to the normal learning and memory aged rats. It is suggested that the mtDNA deletions in the brain regions associated with learning and memory may be contributed to the cellular and molecular mechanism of learning and memory deicit with aged rats.     

Selection of soybean elite cultivars based on phenotypic and genomic characters related to lodging tolerance

Soybean lodging can result in serious yield reduction. Detecting the quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with lodging tolerance for their further application in marker‐assisted selection (MAS) has the potential to enhance soybean breeding efficiency. In this study, a genome‐wide association analysis (GWAS) was performed to identify soybean accessions that could potentially be used to produce lodging‐tolerant varieties, based on the comprehensive evaluation of lodging scores (LS) obtained for the parental cultivar “Tokachi nagaha” and its 137 derived cultivars. Results showed that genotype, environment and genotype × environment interaction significantly influenced LS. Of the 31 significant SNPs identified, 22 were consistently detected in two or more environments and 27 SNPs were located in or close to agronomically important QTL mapped by linkage analysis. Best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs) of LS tend to decrease with the elite alleles contained by accessions increasing. Some excellent accessions, with lower BLUPs and D_i (stability coefficients) values and more elite alleles, were selected. This study contributed to understand the genetic mechanism of lodging, providing genetic and phenotypic information for MAS.     

Genomewide association study reveals novel quantitative trait loci associated with resistance towards Septoria tritici blotch in North European winter wheat

Fungal diseases are a major constraint for wheat production. Effective disease resistance is essential for ensuring a high production quality and yield. One of the most severe fungal diseases of wheat is Septoria tritici blotch (STB), which influences wheat production across the world. In this study, genomewide association mapping was used to identify new chromosomal regions on the wheat genome conferring effective resistance towards STB. A winter wheat population of 164 North European varieties and breeding lines was genotyped with 15K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) wheat array. The varieties were evaluated for STB in field trials at three locations in Denmark and across 3 years. The association analysis revealed four quantitative trait loci, on chromosomes 1B, 2A, 5D and 7A, highly associated with STB resistance. By comparing varieties containing several quantitative trait loci (QTL) with varieties containing none of the found QTL, a significant difference was found in the mean disease score. This indicates that an effective resistance can be obtained by pyramiding several QTL.     

入侵昆虫基因组研究进展

随着全球贸易的加速发展,入侵物种对农林业、生态环境及人类健康的威胁日益严重。基因组学研究为阐明外来有害生物入侵的分子机制与生态适应性过程以及研发新型防控技术提供了新手段、新平台与大数据。本文综述了入侵昆虫基因组学研究的发展现状,系统总结了基因/基因家族、转座子/重复序列等基因组信息在决定昆虫入侵性中的重要作用,着力探讨了基因组学研究在助力害虫RNAi、昆虫不育技术(SIT)、化学生态防治和物理防治等防控新技术/新产品开发方面的潜力,并展望了基因组学研究应用于入侵昆虫综合防控的前景。     

棉铃虫膨胀线粒体基因组的鉴定与分析

以已公布的棉铃虫线粒体DNA序列对来自4头棉铃虫雄蛹的DNA的三代测序数据进行筛选,获得了11条与线粒体DNA有同源性的三代read序列,并根据其中的read 66003鉴定出了一种膨胀的线粒体基因组。该线粒体基因组大小为27 113 bp,其保守区域包含13个蛋白编码基因、2个rRNA基因、22个tRNA基因以及1个AT富集区,与已公布的棉铃虫线粒体基因组的结构相似。膨胀区域位于cox1基因编码区内部,大小为11 467 bp,经预测含有一个完整的真核基因(依赖ATP的RNA解旋酶)以及多种转座元件的片段,但与线粒体DNA无同源性,也无I类或Ⅱ类内含子存在的证据。对田间和室内棉铃虫DNA样品的PCR扩增未能检测到膨胀线粒体基因组的存在。以上结果表明膨胀片段可能是细胞核DNA序列通过偶然的水平转移事件而整合到线粒体基因组中的,且该种膨胀方式的发生概率极低。本文报道的膨胀线粒体基因组为日后动物线粒体基因组学的研究提示了一种独特的变异方式。