A physical map of the 1-gigabase bread wheat chromosome 3B

As the staple food for 35% of the world's population, wheat is one of the most important crop species. To date, sequence-based tools to accelerate wheat improvement are lacking. As part of the international effort to sequence the 17-billion-base-pair hexaploid bread wheat genome (2n = 6x = 42 chromosomes), we constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-based integrated physical map of the largest chromosome, 3B, that alone is 995 megabases. A chromosome-specific BAC library was used to assemble 82% of the chromosome into 1036 contigs that were anchored with 1443 molecular markers, providing a major resource for genetic and genomic studies. This physical map establishes a template for the remaining wheat chromosomes and demonstrates the feasibility of constructing physical maps in large, complex, polyploid genomes with a chromosome-based approach.     

Resistance to septoria nodorum blotch in the Aegilops tauschii accession RL5271 is controlled by a single gene

Septoria nodorum blotch is the most important leaf disease of wheat in Western Australia. A potentially useful source of resistance has been identified in an accession of Aegilops tauschii. To study the genetics of resistance of this source a cross was made between the resistant Ae. tauschii accession, RL5271, and a susceptible accession, CPI110889. The resistant parent took significantly longer to develop symptoms, developed significantly fewer lesions and expressed significantly lower levels of disease than the susceptible parent. The F1 mean response for disease severity indicated there was no complete dominance. The F3 families were classified using three approaches. In the first approach the individual F3 plant response was used to classify the F3 families. In the second approach the F3 family means and standard errors were used to classify the F3 families. In the final approach Best Linear Unbiased Predictors of disease score and standard error for each F3 family derived from a REML analysis were used to classify the F3 families. The genotypic ratios generated by each of the approaches suggested that resistance is controlled by a single gene. The effectiveness of the resistance and its simple genetic control in the Ae. tauschii, accession RL5271 may be a useful resistance source for use in a bread wheat breeding program. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Classification of the parenchymal cells in Fasciola gigantica based on ultrastructure and their expression of fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs)

Parenchymal cells in adult Fasciola gigantica can be classified into three types based on their ultrastructural features and different quantities of fatty acid binding protein (FABP) being stored. Parenchymal cell type 1 (Pc1) has pale cytoplasm consisting largely of a loose network of fine fibers, and it contains few mitochondria but numerous glycogen particles. This cell type may be specialized in the storage and metabolism of glycogen and glucose. Parenchymal cell type 2 (Pc2) has similar cytoplasmic features as Pc1 but contains more numerous mitochondria, and high concentration of FABP as reflected by high density of immunostaining and immunogold labeling using specific monoclonal antibody (MoAb) to FABP as probe. Pc2 may, thus, specialize in the storage and metabolism of fatty acids and other lipids. Parenchymal cell type 3 (Pc3) has dense cytoplasm containing large amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex and mitochondria, which is typical of a secretory cell. Furthermore, Pc3 has very little glycogen particles and is not stained by MoAb against FABP. It could, thus, be concerned with the synthesis of fibers, which form the scaffold of the parenchyma.     

Megaparks for metapopulations: Addressing the causes of locally high elephant numbers in southern Africa

Conservation management options for southern African elephants range from local to regional scales. Here we review these options and argue in favour of actions that will deal with the causes rather than symptoms of elephant numbers that are locally high. Metapopulation theory ensures population persistence, while our approach extends this in order to stabilise elephant numbers regionally. By allowing for the development and maintenance of regional sinks, we may also limit numbers in sources. This application of the metapopulation metaphor is a powerful ecological platform from which to manage elephant numbers and impact through southern Africa. Our approach engages the causes of the apparently high abundance of elephants in parts of southern Africa. It moves away from the practice of dealing only with numbers (symptoms) when managing the impact of elephants on other species. While providing an ecological basis for the development of elephant management options, this needs to be melded with social, political and economic realities through southern Africa. In this regard we are encouraged by the ongoing development of several Transfrontier Conservation programmes and Peace Parks across the region.     

Preparation and Characterization of Microcrystalline Cellulose from Sacred Bali Bamboo as Reinforcing Filler in Seaweed-based Composite Film

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) isolated from cheap, fast-growing and abundant accessible Sacred Bali bamboo (Schizostachyum brachycladum) was utilized as reinforcement material in the seaweed-based composite film. Isolation of MCC was carried out by using a combination of pulping, bleaching and acid hydrolysis process. This study emphasized on the feasibility of MCC production from Sacred Bali bamboo by studying its properties using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The commercial-MCC (CMCC) was used as reference material. Results showed that the production yield, moisture content (MC) and fiber length of bamboo-MCC (BMCC) were 83.37±1.48 %, 4.50±0.5 %, and 0.47±0.02 mm, respectively. According to the chemical analysis by FTIR, both lignin and hemicellulose were completely removed from BMCC, and thus, improved the crystallinity (78 %) and thermal stability (≈325 °C) of BMCC. This study also revealed that MCC produced from Sacred Bali bamboo demonstrated strong mechanical reinforcement effect in the seaweed-based film. Hence, Sacred Bali bamboo-MCC could be used as reinforcement material in the polymer.     

Elephant seasonal vegetation preferences across dry and wet savannas

As African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) become increasingly confined to smaller fragmented landscapes, concern over their potential detrimental impacts on vegetation and biodiversity has increased. Understanding elephant vegetation preferences across relevant spatial and temporal scales is a critical step towards managing protected areas for the persistence of both elephants and biodiversity. To better understand elephant vegetation selection, we fitted 68 elephants with GPS collars across a strong rainfall gradient spanning seven southern African countries over a period of 6 years. We compared elephant locations with remotely-sensed environmental data that measure bi-monthly vegetation greenness across the study area. Elephants consistently seek out greener than expected vegetation throughout the year. Interestingly, they do so by utilizing vegetation with different phenologies and by selecting landscapes when they are greener than their surroundings. We found no differences between dry and wet savannas. These patterns persist even when elephants are constrained by seasonally available water. In the wet season, elephants select seasonally variable landscapes such as open woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands. These landscapes have a lower average annual greenness but become very green for a few months in the wet season. In the dry season, elephants prefer less variable landscapes that are more consistently green year-round such as well-wooded areas and closed woodlands. Because elephants prefer different vegetation types at different times of the year, small homogeneous protected areas may be unsuitable for elephants. Since elephants prefer woody vegetation during the dry season when they are constrained by water, human actions that increase dry season water availability may contribute to detrimental elephant impacts on vegetation and biodiversity.     

The Influence of a Particle Separation Technology on the Generation of Airborne Particles from Different Roughages and Bedding Materials Used for Horses

Four different types of bedding materials (wheat straw, wood shavings, hemp shives, flax shives) and two roughages (hay, haylage) were treated using an air-driven particle separation technology. The airborne particle and mold generation of both treated and untreated samples were then analyzed under standardized laboratory conditions. In addition, samples of all the treated materials were stored for 8 weeks either in a pressed or incoherent form and then analyzed again for their ability to generate airborne particles. The airborne particle concentrations were detected online with the gravimetrically measuring analyzer tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) 1400a that was equipped successively with different inlets to measure the particle fractions PM₂₀, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM_1.0 (PM = Particulate matter). The particle separation resulted in a reduction in the airborne particle (PM₂₀) generation in all materials: hay 49.16 to 22.79 mg/m³ (53.6%), haylage 28.57 to 25.04 mg/m³ (12.3%), wood shavings 141.68 to 15.04 mg/m³ (89.4%), wheat straw 143.08 to 22.97 mg/m³ (83.9%), flax 135.11 to 53.31 mg/m³ (60.5%), and hemp 63.67 to 17.64 mg/m³ (72.3%). The 8-week storage of the treated materials as compressed materials led to a renewed significant increase in the airborne particle (PM₁₀) concentration in the haylage (+29.9%), wheat straw (+104.0%), wood shavings (+40.4%), and hemp shives (+30.7%). Storage of the incoherent materials caused a significant increase in these particles only in the wheat straw (+44.2%). The separation treatment reduced the mold production by 92.4% in the wood shavings, 88.0% in the wheat straw, and 85.8% in the hay.     

Reduction of (E)-2-nonenal and (E,E)-2,4-decadienal during sourdough fermentation

(E)-2-Nonenal and (E,E)-2,4-decadienal are key aroma compounds in wheat bread crumb. The fate of these unsaturated aldehydes in sourdoughs fermented with homo- and heterofermentative lactobacilli or baker's yeast was investigated, and the metabolic pathways in these microorganisms identified. Clear differences were observed between homofermentative lactobacilli, heterofermentative lactobacilli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Heterofermentative strains rapidly reduced the concentrations of these aldehydes in dough, whereas S. cerevisiae displayed a lower activity. Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis reduced the aldehydes to the corresponding unsaturated alcohols, whereas S. cerevisiae reduced both the aldehyde moiety and the double bond, resulting in the formation of the corresponding saturated alcohols. S. cerevisiae first reduced the aldehyde moiety and then the double bond. In L. sanfranciscensis, the reduction of aldehydes is coupled to the oxidation of NADH to NAD⁺, which enables this heterofermentative strain to produce additional ATP from glucose. L. sakei, a strain that produces only lactic acid during sourdough fermentation, did not metabolise the unsaturated aldehydes at all. Both L. sakei and S. cerevisiae appeared to enhance aldehyde formation during the first hours of dough fermentation, probably due to the hydrogen peroxide production by these two strains.     

Differential recovery of lupin proteins from the gluten matrix in lupin-wheat bread as revealed by mass spectrometry and two-dimensional electrophoresis

Bread made from a mixture of wheat and lupin flour possesses a number of health benefits. The addition of lupin flour to wheat flour during breadmaking has major effects on bread properties. The present study investigated the lupin and wheat flour protein interactions during the breadmaking process including dough formation and baking by using proteomics research technologies including MS/MS to identify the proteins. Results revealed that qualitatively most proteins from both lupin and wheat flour remained unchanged after baking as per electrophoretic behavior, whereas some were incorporated into the bread gluten matrix and became unextractable. Most of the lupin α-conglutins could be readily extracted from the lupin-wheat bread even at low salt and nonreducing/nondenaturing extraction conditions. In contrast, most of the β-conglutins lost extractability, suggesting that they were trapped in the bread gluten matrix. The higher thermal stability of α-conglutins compared to β-conglutins is speculated to account for this difference.