Mapping QTLs using a novel source of salinity tolerance from Hasawi and their interaction with environments in rice

Background

Salinity is one of the most severe and widespread abiotic stresses that affect rice production. The identification of major-effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for traits related to salinity tolerance and understanding of QTL × environment interactions (QEIs) can help in more precise and faster development of salinity-tolerant rice varieties through marker-assisted breeding. Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from IR29/Hasawi (a novel source of salinity) were screened for salinity tolerance in the IRRI phytotron in the Philippines (E1) and in two other diverse environments in Senegal (E2) and Tanzania (E3). QTLs were mapped for traits related to salinity tolerance at the seedling stage.

Results

The RILs were genotyped using 194 polymorphic SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms). After removing segregation distortion markers (SDM), a total of 145 and 135 SNPs were used to construct a genetic linkage map with a length of 1655 and 1662 cM, with an average marker density of 11.4 cM in E1 and 12.3 cM in E2 and E3, respectively. A total of 34 QTLs were identified on 10 chromosomes for five traits using ICIM-ADD and segregation distortion locus (SDL) mapping (IM-ADD) under salinity stress across environments. Eight major genomic regions on chromosome 1 between 170 and 175 cM (qSES1.3, qSES1.4, qSL1.2, qSL1.3, qRL1.1, qRL1.2, qFWsht1.2, qDWsht1.2), chromosome 4 at 32 cM (qSES4.1, qFWsht4.2, qDWsht4.2), chromosome 6 at 115 cM (qFWsht6.1, qDWsht6.1), chromosome 8 at 105 cM (qFWsht8.1, qDWsht8.1), and chromosome 12 at 78 cM (qFWsht12.1, qDWsht12.1) have co-localized QTLs for the multiple traits that might be governing seedling stage salinity tolerance through multiple traits in different phenotyping environments, thus suggesting these as hot spots for tolerance of salinity. Forty-nine and 30 significant pair-wise epistatic interactions were detected between QTL-linked and QTL-unlinked regions using single-environment and multi-environment analyses.

Conclusions

The identification of genomic regions for salinity tolerance in the RILs showed that Hasawi possesses alleles that are novel for salinity tolerance. The common regions for the multiple QTLs across environments as co-localized regions on chromosomes 1, 4, 6, 8, and 12 could be due to linkage or pleiotropic effect, which might be helpful for multiple QTL introgression for marker-assisted breeding programs to improve the salinity tolerance of adaptive and popular but otherwise salinity-sensitive rice varieties.

     

Mapping landscapes: Integrating GIS and social science methods to model human-nature relationships in Southern Cameroon

Participatory mapping and GIS are both necessary to model the interactions between humans and their environment. A case study from the forest margin in the Congo Basin demonstrates how data from participatory community mapping and other social science methods can be prepared for quantitative modelling. This approach bridged the gap between spatial modelling data and social decision-making in space by elaborating a geographically consistent social representation of the landscape and giving a geographical base to the connection between land use, its cultural representation, and its social management. This was achieved through an iterative process of GIS cartography, using feedback from village informants and field checking, to transpose the spatial references from participatory mapping sketches into reliable geographic locations. As well as demonstrating the utility of such data for modelling, this work clarified the distribution of land rights among the six main owner-clans spread through the eight hamlets in the watershed. The ‘basin’ of spatial resources and its relation to the rules of land use and natural resource management were defined for each clan. Land-use systems at the forest-agriculture interface in the study area proved to be complex, strongly driven by social rules and influenced by history and settlement strategies. These social and historical aspects established the framework within which communities make current decisions and interventions. The authors thank the people of Akok for their collaboration and hospitality. Village technician Michel Engueng and village contact Adolphe Ze facilitated and assisted this work. Our thanks also to Julie Mbazo’o and Remy Assoumou, both members of the ‘social side’ working group of the FLORES modelling team. Christopher Legg’s contribution to the discussion of this work through his constant reviewing of the CamFlores model is gratefully recognized. Finally, thanks to the whole CIFOR-ACM team for numerous scientific and methodological inputs. The Italian Foreign Ministry funded the work of Valentina Robiglio (APO-GIS specialist) through an APO contract with IITA. The European Union (Tropical Forestry budget line DG VIII) contributed to the CIFOR’s research program on the ‘Adaptive Collaborative Management of Forests’ (ACM) in Africa, and to the Alternative to Slash and Burn (ASB) program in Cameroon on ‘Environmental Services and Rural Livelihoods’ through the World Agroforestry Centre.     

Vaginal prolapse in a pregnant Maine coon cat: a case report

Vaginal prolapse is a condition characterised by excessive accumulation of mucosal oedema and protrusion of hyperplastic tissue through the vulva. It has been reported in ruminants and canines, but has not been characterised in felines. This report describes the history, clinical signs and treatment of a pregnant Maine coon cat with a Type III vaginal prolapse diagnosed approximately 54 days after the first day of mating. Prior to queening, the prolapse was reduced and retained using a vulvar cruciate suture. Due to the risk of dystocia and recurrence, a caesarean section with ovariohysterectomy was performed. Postoperatively, a stay suture was maintained in the vulva for 2 weeks, resulting in permanent reduction of the vaginal prolapse. To the authors’ knowledge, this case represents the first report of the successful management of vaginal prolapse in a pregnant cat.     

Resistance to drought of mollusks of the genus Bulinus, vectors of human and animal trematode infections in Senegal. II. Study under natural conditions in the North-Sudan area. Ecology and resistance to drought of Bulinus umbilicatus and B. senegalensis

The authors report on the results of a 2-year study on the ecology and resistance to drought of B. umbilicatus and B. senegalensis on 3 temporary ponds in the North-Sudan area (region of Tambacounda, Senegal). The variations in some abiotic factors like the temperature and the pH of water do not seem to have a strong influence on the ecology while rainfall has a great importance on the distribution and the density of molluscs. As a fact, the quantity of water and the drying out period of these ponds depend upon rain factors which rule the existence and the survival of the malacological fauna. In the second part of the rainy season, the population reaches its maximum, i.e., during the reproduction period. Monthly observations show that the relative abundance of B. umbilicatus is higher than that of B. senegalensis. These ponds are dry during 6 to 8 months per year. However the populations of molluscs regenerate regularly, a fact which presupposes a certain ability to resist drought. Some come through this period successfully, but the middle-sized ones (7 to 9.9 mm) resist better than others (70 to 80 per cent of the population). Immediately after the first rains they resume their activity and lay intensively in order to reconstitute the population. B. umbilicatus and B. senegalensis are potential intermediate hosts for human and animal trematode infections, but in the studied region only B. umbilicatus intervenes in the transmission of S. haematobium and S. curassoni which occurs between September and November. Under natural Sahel conditions the epidemiological cycle is short and everything happens within 4 to 6 months with the regeneration and the growth of the population of molluscs, its infestation and the transmission of trematode infections. The ecological behaviour of these molluscs in the North-Sudan region is very important in the epidemiology of human and animal trematode infections and requires a new controlling strategy. The destruction of molluscs is more effective and more economic at the end of the rain season, which is the beginning of the drying of ponds, a period in which they concentrate in the residual water pools.     

Haemoperitoneum in a pregnant mare with an ovarian haematoma

Haemoperitoneum is a rarely reported but life‐threatening complication of a multitude of disease processes that can affect horses. This report describes an unusual case of haemoperitoneum in a pregnant mare attributed to a unilateral ovarian haematoma during early gestation. The mare was treated with supportive care and discharged 8 days after initial presentation. Following discharge, the mare maintained her pregnancy to term and delivered a live colt at 321 days of gestation.     

Midline Cysts of Colliculus Seminalis Causing Ejaculatory Problems in Stallions

Cystic structures are often seen during ultrasound examination of the internal genitalia of stallions. They are located between the ampullae of deferent ducts, either within the urogenital fold, or under the isthmus of the prostate (uterus masculinus). Occasionally, cystic dilatations are also found more caudally, behind the prostate, at the colliculus seminalis (urethral cyst, utriculus masculinus). These cysts are detected less frequently during routine examinations, possibly because of the fact that this area is screened less carefully for the pathologies than the more proximal portion of the internal reproductive tract of stallions. We have recently noticed that many stallions with ejaculatory problems have large cysts at the colliculus seminalis. This article describes the typical clinical presentation of these cases, diagnostic procedures, and management. In addition, we discuss the discrepancies in the currently used terminology pertinent to this condition, as well as introducing a new term, which seems to best describe the root cause of this disorder. Finally, this article presents new diagnostic and therapeutic options used in human medicine in similar cases, and proposes to investigate the applications of these methods in veterinary medicine.