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.     

Combining different resistance components enhances resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> head blight in spring wheat

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating disease in wheat throughout the world. FHB resistance consists of two components: resistance to initial infection (type I) and resistance to spread within infected spikes (type II). Current wheat breeding programs for FHB focus on type II resistance, which limits pathogen spread but may not be sufficiently durable. To combine type I with existing type II resistance, 113 F₉-derived recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were developed from a cross between three wheat genotypes Frontana, W9207, and Alsen. The RILs were evaluated for resistance to initial infection, FHB spread within spike, kernel damage, and deoxynivalenol (DON) content in two independent greenhouse experiments in 2006 and 2007. Among the 113 RILs, 20% lines showed ≤10% initial disease severity (IDS) and ≤11 to 30% final disease severity (FDS), and 19% had DON content ≤5 μg/g. Approximately 11% of the RILs showed tendency of higher resistance (as exhibited by lower IDS, FDS, and DON content) than the resistant parents. The 42 of the FHB-resistant RILs were analyzed with seven simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers or microsatellites known to be linked to FHB resistance. Approximately half of the RILs had molecular markers linked to both types of FHB resistance indicated the presence of type I and II resistance alleles in the RILs. The resistant RILs identified in this study should be useful for the future improvement of FHB resistance in spring wheat.     

Assessment of growth performance,immune responses,serum metabolites,and prevalence of leg weakness in broiler chicks submitted to early-age water restriction

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two methods of early-age water restriction on performance, some immune responses, serum metabolites, and prevalence of leg weakness in broiler chicks. One-hundred-eighty-seven-day-old chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to three treatments with four replicates based on a completely randomized design. Treatments included the control group, where birds had free access to water, and water-restricted groups, where access to water was limited to three 2-h periods (WRT1) or a 12-h period (WRT2) per day from days 7 to 17. Chicks in the control group were significantly heavier (P < 0.05) at 17 and 46 days of age compared to the restricted birds. In the WRT2 group, feed intake decreased significantly over the 17- to 28-day period while feed conversion ratio was poorer during water restriction (P < 0.05). Antibody titers against Newcastle and SRBC were higher (P < 0.05) for chicks with ad libitum access to water. Birds in the restricted groups exhibited a higher heterophil to lymphocyte ratio compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The treatments had no significant impact on serum metabolites including protein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterols, calcium, and phosphorus concentrations. Walking ability, tibial dyschondroplasia, foot pad, hock burn, and valgus/varus angulation were not significantly influenced by water restriction. In conclusion, the current results indicate that early-age water restriction negatively influenced productive traits and immunological responses of broiler chicks and failed to have any favorable impacts on leg health.     

Quality of Spaghetti Made from Full and Partial Waxy Durum Wheat

The waxy character is achieved in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) when the granule‐bound starch synthase activity is eliminated. The result is a crop that produces kernels with no amylose in the starch. The presence of two Waxy loci in tetraploid wheat permits the production of two partial waxy wheat genotypes. Advanced full and partial waxy durum wheat genotypes were used to study the effect of waxy null alleles on pasta quality. Semolina from full and partial waxy durum wheats was processed into spaghetti with a semicommercial‐scale extruder, and pasta quality was evaluated. Cooked waxy pasta was softer and exhibited more cooking loss than pasta made from traditional durum cultivars. These features were attributed to lower setback of waxy starch as measured with the Rapid Visco Analyser. High cooking loss may be due to the lack of amylose‐protein interaction, preventing the formation of a strong protein network and permitting exudates to escape. Waxy pasta cooked faster but was less resistant to overcooking than normal pasta. Partial waxy pasta properties were similar to results obtained from wild‐type pasta. This indicates that the presence of a single pair of functional waxy genes in durum wheat was sufficient to generate durum grain with normal properties for pasta production. Waxy durum wheat is not suitable for pasta production because of its softening effect. However, this property may offer an advantage in other applications.     

A major QTL for gluten strength in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum)

Gluten strength is an important characteristic, determining the end product quality of durum wheat semolina. To identify the genetic basis of gluten strength in North Dakota durum cultivars, a doubled haploid population was developed from the cross of a weak gluten cultivar ‘Rugby’ and a strong gluten cultivar ‘Maier’. A framework linkage map consisting of 228 markers was constructed and used with phenotypic data on gluten strength (measured by sedimentation volume) to conduct single- and two-locus QTL analyses. Only one consistent QTL (QGs.ndsu-1B) contributing up to 90% of the phenotypic or 93% of the genotypic variation was detected on 1BS. No QTL × QTL or QTL × environment interactions were observed. The QGs.ndsu-1B was flanked by two DArT markers which were converted to STS markers and used along with SSR and EST-SSRs to develop a map of 1BS. QTL analysis delineated QGs.ndsu-1B in a 7.3 cM region flanked by an STS marker (STS-wPt2395) and a SSR marker (wmc85). The adapted background of this material and availability of PCR-based markers closely associated with this locus represent invaluable resources for marker-assisted introgression of gluten strength into other durum wheat varieties. A single QTL segregating in this population also makes it an ideal target for map-based cloning.     

Interactive effects of molasses by homofermentative and heterofermentative inoculants on fermentation quality,nitrogen fractionation,nutritive value and aerobic stability of wilted alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) silage

The effect of adding molasses (0, UM or 50 g/kg on DM basis, M) and two types of inoculant including homofermentative (HO) and a combination of homofermentative and propionate‐producing bacterial (HOPAB) inoculants on silage fermentation quality, nitrogen fractionation and aerobic stability of pre‐bloom, wilted alfalfa (AS) was determined in laboratory silos. The HOPAB inoculant was more effective than HO in reducing the alfalfa silage pH but increased propionate content in the absence of M (p < 0.05). Inoculation of HOPAB reduced (p < 0.01) acid detergent fibre (ADF) and increased (p < 0.01) lactate to acetate ratio compared with uninoculated AS. Acetate concentration was lower (p < 0.01) in HOPAB‐inoculated than other AS. This difference was more pronounced in M‐added AS (inoculants × M interaction, p = 0.01). Both inoculants reduced (p < 0.01) ammonia‐N content in AS added with M, whereas only HOPAB decreased (p < 0.01) ammonia‐N concentration in silage without M. Inoculants increased (p < 0.01) B₂ fraction in AS with M addition but had no effect on AS without M. Treating silages with HO‐UM increased (p < 0.05) C fraction (acid‐detergent insoluble‐N) but HOPAB decreased C fraction at two levels of M. Treating alfalfa crop with M and HOPAB improved aerobic stability by increasing the concentration of acetate and propionate of AS respectively. Adding M tended (p < 0.10) to increase short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA) and cumulative gas production (CGP). HOPAB alone increased DM disappearance at 24 h post‐incubation and effective degradability assuming outflow rate of 8%/h relative to untreated AS (p < 0.05). It was concluded that adding M had no pronounced effects on AS fermentation quality, but increased aerobic stability. HOPAB‐inoculated AS with no addition of M improved fermentation quality and increased DM degradability compared with HO.     

Separation of Ag(I) Ions from Lepidium draba L. Plant and Water and Standard Samples by Carrier Element-Free Coprecipitation Method Prior to their Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Determination

In this work, silver iodide (Ag(I)) ions were separated via the carrier element-free coprecipitation (CEFC) method using an organic coprecipitating agent, 1,6-diamino-4-(4-chlornphenyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile [DCODD] prior to its determination by ?ame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Analytical parameters including pH of aqueous solution, amount of DCODD, standing time, centrifugation rate and time, and sample volume were studied and optimized. Under the best experimental conditions, it was found that extraction can be performed from the sample volume of 500.0 for silver ion (preconcentration factor of 100.0). Linearity was maintained between 0.006 and 1.50 µg.mL^?1 for silver. Detection limit for silver based on 3Sb was 1.60 ng.mL^?1. The relative standard deviation of eight replicate measurements of 0.20 µg.mL^?1of silver was 2.10%. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to extraction and determination of the silver ions in the Lepidium draba L plant, water and standard samples and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Preparation of Modified Magnetic Cobalt Nanoparticles as a New Magnetic Sorbent for the Preconcentration and Determination of Trace Amounts of Lead Ions in Environmental Water and Soil (Air-Dust) Samples

In this study, cobalt magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized and then modified by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethyl aminophenol ligand (5-Br-PADAP), through a chemical precipitation method. Characterization of the prepared MNP adsorbents was performed by Fourier transform infrared and transmission electron microscopy. Cobalt nanoparticles (NPs) surface modified with SDS and 5-Br-PADAP was evaluated as a nanoparticulate solid-phase extraction (SPE) absorbent for lead ions Pb(II) from water and standard samples, prior to its flame atomic absorption spectrometry determination. Effects of pH, amount of sorbent, desorption solvent, adsorption time, desorption time, and interfering ion concentration on extraction efficiency were investigated. Under optimal conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the range of 1.0–500 ng mL^?1of Pb(II) with R² = 0.998. Detection limit was 1.6 ng mL^?1 in the original solution (3S_b/m), and the relative standard deviation for replicate determination of 0.5 μg mL^?1 Pb(II) was ±2.7%.     

Grain Quality Characteristics and Milling Performance of Full and Partial Waxy Durum Lines

Mutation of the gene coding for the granule bound starch synthase (waxy protein) leads to reduced amylose content in cereal endosperm. Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) has one waxy locus in each of its two genomes. Full waxy durum wheat is produced when both genomes carry the waxy null alleles. When only one locus is mutated, partial waxy durum wheat is obtained. Partial and full waxy near‐isogenic lines of durum wheat developed by a breeding program were analyzed as to their quality characteristics. Amylose was largely eliminated in full waxy lines; however, no reduction in amylose content was detected in partial waxy lines. The waxy mutation did not affect grain yield, kernel size, or kernel hardness. Full waxy durum lines had higher kernel ash content, α‐amylase activity, and a unique nonvitreous kernel appearance. Protein quality, as evaluated by SDS microsedimentation value, gluten index, and wet gluten was slightly lower in the full waxy lines than in the other genotypes. However, comparisons with current cultivars indicated that protein quality of all derived lines remained in the range of strong gluten cultivars. Semolina yield was lowered by the waxy mutations due to lower friability that resulted in less complete separation of the endosperm from the bran. Waxy semolina was more sensitive to mechanical damage during milling, but modified tempering and milling conditions may limit the damage. Overall, quality characteristics of waxy durum grain were satisfactory and suitable for application testing.     

Trait inheritance,fertility, and genomic relationships of some n = 9 Brassica species

Summary Karyotypic differences among n = 9 Brassica species, as well as the inheritance of some morphological characteristics, are reported. Annual habit, anthocyanin pigmentation in leaf and stem, enlarged stem, glossy foliage, dark green foliage, white flower and leaf pubescence were all expressed as dominant characteristics and in most cases were determined by one or two genes. 172 intra- and interspecific hybrids of the species belonging to the Brassica oleracea cytodeme were analyzed for fertility and meiotic chromosome behavior. B. alboglabra, B. bourgeaui, B. cretica spp. cretica, B. montana and B. oleracea produced fertile interspecific hybrids, indicating that geographical isolation is the only barrier to gene exchange. Interspecific hybrids generated from crosses of B. incana, B. insularis and B. rupestris to other n = 9 species were semi-sterile. This was shown to be associated with abnormal meiotic behavior. The former two species, when crossed, produced fully fertile hybrids. Therefore, three different karyotypes are identified among the n = 9 Brassica species. Frequent changes in the genome of the species belonging to the Brassica oleracea cytodeme could have led to the formation of accessory chromosomes present in certain accessions.