Reproductive roles predict sexual dimorphism in internal and external morphology of lake whitefish,Coregonus clupeaformis

Abstract – The different reproductive roles of the sexes can predict the direction and magnitude of sexual dimorphism of external and internal morphology. Males should have enlarged structures that enhance the acquisition of mating opportunities, whereas females are predicted to have enlarged organs that are associated with the production of eggs. We tested these predictions in male and female lake whitefish, a species in which both sexes have similar overall body size and shape. After controlling for body size, male lake whitefish had significantly longer jaws and pectoral and pelvic fins, larger hearts, and more muscle than females. Sexual dimorphism in relative muscle mass may be one of the most fundamental morphological differences between males and females. Females had relatively heavier livers than males. Because the liver is important for the breakdown of fats and vitellogenesis, selection should favour an enlarged liver in females for the processing of energy and the production of large numbers of eggs.     

茄子早熟育种研究Ⅱ选择指数与早熟性选择

研究结果表明,由性状果实最大周长,果实体积,门茄显蕾期,单株产量等性状构成的选择指数较好;进一步进行遗传相关分析结果认为,应用选择指数时应注意果实体积这个性状,单株产量是一个重要的辅助性状,门茄显蕾期是一个限制性因子。应用选择指数对品种评价结果认为,早熟性较好的品种有:天津早茄、西安绿茄、二民、七叶茄、白线茄和汉中荷包。     

德南牛全基因组变异解析和功能基因挖掘

[目的]研究德南牛的群体遗传结构和解析影响其重要性状的关键基因。[方法]通过主成分分析、群体进化树分析、群体遗传结构分析等方法,研究德南牛的遗传结构和与其他品种的亲缘关系;同时,利用全基因组SNP数据,计算德南牛与德国黄牛、南阳牛群体固定指数(Fst)和核苷酸多样性比值(π ratio)、复合似然比(CLR)、XP-EHH等多种选择信号指标,以筛选出德南牛基因组上受到选择的信号,鉴定出重要的候选基因。[结果] 德南牛具有欧洲普通牛(0.789)、东亚牛(0.176)、中国瘤牛(0.035)的混合血统。在θπ和CLR方法中鉴定出93个共有基因,使用FST和XP-EHH方法鉴定出17个共有基因。进行富集以及基因功能注释后,发现这些基因可能与生殖性能(TUBB3、NSD2、GRM1、ERBB4)、生长性状(RFX3、FGFR3、GABRB1、PDE4D)、环境适应性(PGR、GRIA4)和免疫系统反应(P2RY12、P2RY13、GPR87、P2RY14、GPR171)有关。[结论]本项研究发现德南牛血统受德国黄牛影响较多,且挖掘了德南牛基因组内可能具有经济意义的性状相关的选择特征,为德南牛种群的选育提高提供理论支撑。     

Challenges facing arthropod biological control: identifying traits for genetic improvement of predators in protected crops

Biological control is an efficient pest control method but there are still limitations that are hindering its wider adoption. Genetic improvement of biological control agents (BCAs) can help to overcome these constraints, but the choice of key attributes for better performance that need to be selected is still an open question. Several characteristics have been suggested but the harsh reality is that selective breeding of BCAs has received a lot of attention but resulted in very little progress. Identifying the appropriate traits to be prioritized may be the first step to reverse this situation. In our opinion, the best way is to look at the factors limiting the performance of key BCAs, especially generalist predators (pesticide compatibility, prey‐density dependence, non‐suitable crops, and extreme environmental conditions), and according to these challenges, to choose the attributes that would allow BCAs to overcome those limitations. The benefits of selection for higher resistance to toxins, whether artificially applied (pesticides) or plant produced (plant defenses); increased fitness when feeding on non‐prey food (supplemented or plant‐derived); and better adaptation to extreme temperature and humidity are discussed. In conclusion, genetic improvement of BCAs can bring about new opportunities to biocontrol industry and users to enhance biocontrol resilience. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

豌豆潜蝇姬小蜂对4种寄主植物上美洲斑潜蝇幼虫的选择性及适合度

在室内研究了豌豆潜蝇姬小蜂对4种寄主植物上美洲斑潜蝇2龄末-3龄初幼虫的选择性和寄生蜂子代生长发育及存活情况。结果表明,豌豆潜蝇姬小蜂雌蜂对不同寄主植物具有选择性差异,对菜豆选择性最强,对番茄选择性最低,斑潜蝇被致死率和被寄生率分别为96.1%、71.4%和73.4%、52.1%;在4种寄主植物上,寄生蜂对寄主的寄生数与致死数比值无显著差异。寄生不同寄主植物上斑潜蝇幼虫的豌豆潜蝇姬小蜂从卵发育到成虫的历期存在差异,在黄瓜上历期最长,为10.21d;寄生蜂蛹期稍短于卵期与幼虫期之和;但寄生不同寄主植物上斑潜蝇幼虫的寄生蜂卵孵化率、幼虫存活率、羽化率无显著差异。     

An assay for quantitative virulence in Rhynchosporium commune reveals an association between effector genotype and virulence

Detailed knowledge of the evolutionary genetics of virulence is needed to understand and predict host–pathogen dynamics. This study used a virulence assay based on digital image analysis and treated virulence as a quantitative rather than a binary trait. Such quantitative data may better reflect the genetic underpinning of virulence in many pathogen systems and provide better resolution in statistical investigations. A greenhouse experiment based on a common garden design was conducted to measure virulence (% of leaf area covered by lesions) of 126 genetically distinct isolates of the barley scald pathogen, Rhynchosporium commune, originating from nine field populations around the world. Virulence in this pathosystem was found to be a quantitative trait with a continuous distribution in all populations. By comparing population genetic differentiation for virulence and neutral microsatellite markers (i.e. a Q_ST/G_ST comparison), evidence that virulence is under stabilizing selection across populations was found. Heritability values were high and ranged from 0·52 to 0·96 with a mean heritability of 0·84. Virulence was positively correlated with spore production as predicted by the trade‐off theory of virulence evolution. Furthermore, an association analysis between virulence and sequence haplotypes of three known necrosis‐inducing effector genes (NIP1, NIP2 and NIP3) revealed a significant effect of NIP2 haplotypes and NIP1 deletions. Overall, the results support a quantitative model for virulence in the R. commune–barley pathosystem and very high evolutionary potential for this trait.     

Sperm competition and the evolution of sperm form and function in mammals

Sperm competition is a powerful selective force that has influenced many reproductive traits in males and females although additional evolutionary explanations may help to understand the diversity of mammalian reproduction. Sperm morphology varies considerably in mammals with extreme examples in several rodent lineages in which a wide range of sizes and complex head morphologies have been identified. Mammalian spermatozoa also differ in function, with swimming velocity and trajectory showing much divergence. Underlying processes mediating function have received little attention so far, but differences in timing and proportion of sperm undergoing capacitation or acrosomal exocytosis may be related to variation in signalling processes. Furthermore, energy required for sperm functions (such as motion, signalling and overall maintenance of cell integrity) can be produced and consumed, following different patterns among species and this could be the result of several selective forces. A more thorough understanding of the diversity in structure and function of sperm cells, and underlying selective forces, may help us develop better methods to assess them taking into account particulars and generalities of sperm form and performance. Such tests could then become more reliable in estimations of the impact of cryopreservation or effect of changes in the environment and their relevance for fertility.     

Tagging and mapping a second resistance gene for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> wilt race 0 in chickpea

A second gene conferring resistance to the chickpea wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp ciceris race 0, has been mapped to linkage group 2 (LG2) of the chickpea genetic map. Resistance to race 0 is controlled by two genes which segregate independently; one present in accession JG62 (Foc0 ₁ /foc0 ₁ ) and mapping to LG5 and the second present in accession CA2139 (Foc0 ₂ /foc0 ₂ ) but remaining unmapped. Both genes separately confer complete resistance to race 0 of the wilt pathogen. Using a Recombinant Inbred Line (RIL) population that segregated for both genes (CA2139 × JG62) and the genotypic information provided by two markers flanking Foc0 ₁ /foc0 ₁ ten resistant lines containing the resistant allele Foc0 ₂ /foc0 ₂ were selected. Genotypic analysis using these ten resistant lines paired with ten susceptible RILs, selected in the same population, revealed that sequence tagged microsatellite sites (STMS) markers sited on LG2 were strongly associated with Foc0 ₂ /foc0 ₂ . Linkage analysis, using data from two mapping populations (CA2139/JG62 and CA2156/JG62), located Foc0 ₂ /foc0 ₂ in a region where genes for resistance to wilt races 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 have previously been reported and which is highly saturated with tightly-linked STMS markers that could be used in marker-assisted selection (MAS).     

DNA去甲基化参与提高白菜型冬油菜抗寒性的生理机制

利用来自不同育种环境的10份白菜型冬油菜材料,通过半致死温度的测定分析其抗寒性与环境的关系,并利用不同浓度DNA甲基化抑制剂5-azaC处理,分析DNA去甲基化对白菜型冬油菜DNA整体甲基化水平及低温胁迫下苗期生理特性的影响。结果表明,不同育种环境选育的材料,其半致死温度具有显著差异,其中材料2018-FJT、DT-7、DT-9与MXW-1的半致死温度分别为-16.04℃、-15.98℃、-15.63℃、-15.04℃;材料CT-2360、CT-2380、CT-2400、CT-2420、CT-2440、CT-2460的半致死温度分别为-11.32℃、-11.6℃、-11.42℃、-11.44℃、-12.97℃、-13.28℃。依据半致死温度,10个白菜型冬油菜抗寒性由强到弱依次为:2018-FJTDT-7DT-9MXW-1CT-2460CT-2400CT-2380CT-2420CT-2440CT-2360。抗寒性的形成与育成环境的纬度和年平均气温呈极显著正相关。选择抗寒性及产地不同的4个材料CT-2360、MXW-1、2018-FJT、DT-7进行生理测定,结果表明,1 000μmol·L~(-1) 5-azaC处理能显著抑制幼苗的根生长,4个材料的根长较对照减少93.14%～95.06%;低温下5-azaC处理对抗寒性较弱材料CT-2360幼苗的相对电导率、丙二醛含量以及强抗寒性材料DT-7幼苗的脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白含量影响最显著(P0.05);低温处理过程中,4个材料的SOD、POD、CAT活性均上升,以低温处理5d最显著(P0.05),其中2018-FJT的SOD活性增幅最高,为45.85%,DT-7的POD活性增幅最大,为460%,CT-2360的CAT活性增幅最显著,为321.02%。HPLC分析发现常温下抗寒性较弱材料CT-2360的甲基化水平为77.48%,高于其他3个抗寒性强的材料;经过5-azaC处理后发生明显的去甲基化作用,证明抗寒能力受DNA去甲基化的调控。     

柽柳有效天敌昆虫筛选标准的建立

参照前人对杂草天敌筛选标准、植物与昆虫互作理论和近年来对柽柳原产地主要天敌生物学特性的研究结果，制定出柽柳天敌遴选量化标准，共计10项特征，满分为47分。并以此对取食柽柳的12种天敌进行了筛选。柽柳条叶甲得分最高（43分），其次是斯氏伞锥象（41分），推荐这2种天敌昆虫作为首选天敌引入美国做进一步评价。