Dissection of genetic overlap of salt tolerance QTLs at the seedling and tillering stages using backcross introgression lines in rice

QTLs for salt-tolerance(ST)related traits at the seedling and tillering stages were identified using 99 BC2F8 introgression lines(IL)derived from a cross between IR64(indica)as a recurrent parent and Binam(japonica)from Iran as the donor parent.Thirteen QTLs affecting survival days of seedlings(SDS), score of salt toxicity of leaves(SST),shoot K concentration(SKC)and shoot Na concentration(SNC) at the seedling stage and 22 QTLs underlying fresh weight of shoots(FW),tiller number per plant(TN) and plant height(PH)at the tillering stage were identified.Most QTLs detected at the tillering stage showed obvious differential expression to salt stress and were classified into three types based on their differential behaviors.Type I included 11 QTLs which were expressed only under the non-stress condition.Type II included five QTLs expressed in the control and the salt stress conditions,and three of them(QPh5,QPh8 and QTn9)had similar quantity and the same direction of gene effect,suggesting their expression was less influenced by salt stress.Type III included six QTLs which were detectable only under salt stress,suggesting that these QTLs were apparently induced by the stress.Thirteen QTLs affecting trait difference or trait stability of ILs between the stress and non-stress conditions were identified and the Binam alleles at all loci except QPh4,QTn2 and QFw2a decreased trait difference.The three QTLs less influenced by the stress and 13 QTLs affecting trait stability were considered as ST QTLs which contributed to ST.Comparing the distribution of QTLs detected at the seedling and tillering stages,most(69%)of them were genetically independent.Only four were the same or adjacent regions on chromosomes 1,2,8 and 11 harboring ST QTLs detected at the two stages,suggesting that partial genetic overlap of ST across the two stages occurs.It is likely,therefore,to develop ST rice variety for both stages by pyramiding of ST QTLs of different stages or selection against the overlapping QTLs between the two stages via marker-assisted selection(MAS).     

Quantitative Trait Loci for Panicle Layer Uniformity Identified in Doubled Haploid Lines of Rice in Two Environments

Uniformity of stem height in rice directly affects crop yield potential and appearance, and has become a vital index for rice improvement. In the present study, a doubled haploid （DH） population, derived from a cross between japonica rice Chunjiang 06 and indica rice TN1 was used to analyze the quantitative trait locus （QTL） for three related traits of paniclelayer-uniformity; that is, the tallest panicle height, the lowest panicle height and panicle layer disuniforrnity in two locations：Hangzhou （HZ） and Hainan （HN）. A total of 16 QTLs for three traits distributed on eight chromosomes were detected in two different environments. Two QTLs, qTPH-4 and qTPH-8 were co-located with the QTLs for qLPH-4 and qLPH-8, which were only significant in the HZ environment, whereas the qTPH-6 and qLPH-6 located at the same interval were only significant in the HN environment. Two QTLs, qPLD-10.1 and qPLD-10.2, were closely linked to qTPH-10, and they might have been at the same locus. One QTL, qPLD-3, was detected in both environments, explaining more than 23% of the phenotypic variations. The CJ06 allele of qPLD-3 could increase the panicle layer disuniformity by 9.23 and 4.74 cm in the HZ and HN environments. Except for qPLD-3, almost all other QTLs for the same trait were detected only in one environment, indicating that these three traits were dramatically affected by environmental factors. The results may be useful for elucidation of the molecular mechanism of panicle-layer-uniformity and marker assisted breeding for super-rice.     

Mapping QTLs for heading synchrony in a doubled haploid population of rice in two environments

Simultaneous heading of plants within the same rice variety, also refer to heading synchrony, is an important factor that affects simultaneous ripening of the variety. Understanding of the genetic basis of heading synchrony may contribute to molecular breeding of rice with simultaneous heading and ripening. In the present study, a doubled haploid （DH） population, derived from a cross between Chunjiang 06 and TN1 was used to analyze quantitative trait locus （QTL） for heading synchrony related traits, i.e., early heading date （EHD）, late heading date （LHD）, heading asynchrony （HAS）, and tiller number （PN）. A total of 19 QTLs for four traits distributed on nine chromosomes were detected in two environments. One QTL, qHAS-8 for HAS, explained 27.7% of the phenotypic variation, co-located with the QTLs for EHD and LHD, but it was only significant under long-day conditions in Hangzhou, China. The other three QTLs, qHAS-6, qHAS-9, and qHAS-10, were identified under short-day conditions in Hainan, China, each of which explained about 11% of the phenotypic variation. Two of them, qHAS-6 and qHAS-9, were co-located with the QTLs for EHD and LHD. Two QTLs, qPN-4 and qPN-5 for PN, were detected in Hangzhou, and qPN-5 was also detected in Hainan. However, none of them was co-located with QTLs for EHD, LHD, and HAS, suggesting that PN and HAS were controlled by different genetic factors. The results of this study can be useful in marker assisted breeding for improvement of heading synchrony.     

Novel pleiotropic loci controlling panicle architecture across environments in japonica rice （Oryza sativa L.）

To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling panicle architecture in japonica rice, a genetic map was constructed based on simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and 254 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between cultivars Xiushui 79 and C Bao. Seven panicle traits were investigated under three environments. Single marker analysis indicated that a total of 27 SSR markers were highly associated with panicle traits in all the three environments. Percentage of phenotypic variation explained by single locus varied from 2% to 35%. Based on the mixed linear model, a total of 40 additive QTLs for seven panicle traits were detected by composite interval mapping, explaining 1.2%-35% of phenotypic variation. Among the 9 QTLs with more than 10% of explained phenotypic variation, two QTLs were for the number of primary branches per panicle (NPB), two for panicle length (PL), two for spikelet density (SD), one for the number of secondary branches per panicle (NSB), one for secondary branch distribution density (SBD), and one for the number of spikelets per panicle (NS), respectively. qPLSD-9-1 and qPLSD-9-2 were novel pleiotropic loci, showing effects on PL and SD simultaneously. qPLSD-9-1 explained 34.7% of the phenotypic variation for PL and 25.4% of the phenotypic variation for SD, respec- tively. qPLSD-9-2 explained 34.9% and 24.4% of the phenotypic variation for PL and SD, respectively. The C Bao alleles at the both QTLs showed positive effects on PL, and the Xiushui 79 alleles at the both QTLs showed positive effects on SD. Genetic variation of panicle traits are mainly attributed to additive effects. QTL × environment interactions were not significant for additive QTLs and additive × additive QTL pairs.     

Fine mapping quantitative trait loci affecting milk production traits on bovine chromosome 6 in a Chinese Holstein population

To fine map the previously detected quantitative trait loci （QTLs） affecting milk production traits on bovine chromosome 6 （BTA6）, 15 microsatellite markers situated within an interval of 14.3 cM spanning from BMS690 to BM4528 were selected and 918 daughters of 8 sires were genotyped. Two mapping approaches, haplotype sharing based LD mapping and single marker regression mapping, were used to analyze the data. Both approaches revealed a quantitative trait locus （QTL） with significant effects on milk yield, fat yield and protein yield located in the segment flanked by markers BMS483 and MNB209, which spans a genetic distance of 0.6 cM and a physical distance of 1.5 Mb. In addition, the single marker regression mapping also revealed a QTL affecting fat percentage and protein percentage at marker DIK2291. Our fine mapping work will facilitate the cloning of candidate genes underlying the QTLs for milk production traits.     

Genetic Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci for Contents of Mineral Nutrients in Rice Grain

In present study, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Ca, Mg, P and K contents of 85 introgression lines （ILs） derived from a cross between an elite indica cultivar Teqing and the wild rice （Oryza rufipogon） were measured by inductively coupled argon plasma （ICAP） spectrometry. Substantial variation was observed for all traits and most of the mineral elements were significantly positive correlated or independent except for Fe with Cu. A total of 31 putative quantitative trait loci （QTLs） were detected for these eight mineral elements by single point analysis. Wild rice （O. rufipogon） contributed favorable alleles for most of the QTLs （26 QTLs）, and chromosomes 1,9 and 12 exhibited 14 QTLs （45%） for these traits. One major effect of QTL for zinc content accounted for the largest proportion of phenotypic variation （11%-19%） was detected near the simple sequence repeats marker RM152 on chromosome 8. The co-locations of QTLs for some mineral elements observed in this mapping population suggested the relationship was at a molecular level among these traits and could be helpful for simultaneous improvement of these traits in rice grain by marker assisted selection.     

猪重要胴体性状的遗传定位

为了寻找影响猪重要胴体性状主基因在染色体的位置,我们以大白猪和梅山猪为父母本建立了F2资源家系。随机选留81头F2代个体,经屠宰获得猪胴体性状数据。结合家系个体的48个微卫星标记基因型,用线性模型最小二乘法对各胴体性状进行数量性状基因座（QTL）的区间定位。定位结果表明位于猪染色体（SSC）4号的瘦肉率和瘦肉量QTL达到基因组极显著水平;SSC1、2和4上眼肌面积QTL达到染色体显著水平;位于SSC1和4上的眼肌高度QTL与眼肌面积QTL在同一染色体区域;而眼肌宽度QTL位于SSC6;位于SSC7同一标记区间的皮重、皮率、骨重和骨率QTL表现出很好的一致性,均达到染色体显著水平。SSC6和7的体长QTL达到染色体显著水平。 Abstract: To detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) for body composition traits in pigs, a resource family with three-generation was developed by using Large White grand sires and Meishan grand dams. A total of 81 F2 progenies were phenotyped for body composition. All animals were genotyped for microsatellite markers. The main results are as follows:, the strongest linkages at genome-wise level of lean meat percentage and total meat content were detected on SSC1 and 4. QTLs for loin eye area were located on SSC1, 2 and 4, QTLs for loin eye height on SSC 1 and 4, and QTLs for loin eye width on SSC 6. The best positions estimated for QTLs of skin percentage and of skin weight were in the same marker interval. Two QTLs significant at genome-wise level or highly significant at chromosome-wide level for carcass length were located on SSC6 and 7.     

METHODS FOR DETECTION AND ESTIMATION OF LINKAGE BETWEEN A MARKER LOCUS AND QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI Ⅰ. USING F_2 FAMILY SUBPOPULATION

Several methods heve been proposed over the years to detect linkage between a marker gene and a quantitative trait locus (QTL). Use of isozymes and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) as genetic markers has encouraged the development of new methods to detect linkage. In the paper authors present three methods to detect linkage and two methods to measure recombination frequency (r). The three methods that detect linkage are fit for the test of one or several QTLs of quantitative trait considered as long as the net gene effect vaIue of all loci belonging to a linkage cluster is greater significantly than zero, irrespective of their linkage relationship among the several QTLs.     

LSCHL4 from Japonica Cultivar,Which Is Allelic to NAL 1, Increases Yield of Indica Super Rice 93-11

The basic premise of high yield in rice is to improve leaf photosynthetic efficiency and coordinate the sourcesink relationship in rice plants. Quantitative trait loci （QTLs） related to morphological traits and chlorophyll content of rice leaves were detected at the stages of heading to maturity, and a major QTL （qLSCHL4） related to flag leaf shape and chlorophyll content was detected at both stages in recombinant inbred lines constructed using the indica rice cultivar 93-11 and the japonica rice cultivar Nipponbare. Map-based cloning and expression analysis showed that LSCHL4 is allelic to NAL1, a gene previously reported in narrow leaf mutant of rice. Overexpression lines transformed with vector carrying LSCHL4 from Nipponbare and a near-isogenic line of 93-11 （NIL-9311） had significantly increased leaf chlorophyll content, enlarged flag leaf size, and improved panicle type. The average yield of NIL-9311 was 18.70% higher than that of 93-11. These results indicate that LSCHL4 had a pleiotropic function. Exploring and pyramiding more high-yield alleles resem- bling LSCHL4 for super rice breeding provides an effective way to achieve new breakthroughs in raising rice yield and generate new ideas for solving the problem of global food safety.     

Correlation and Quantitative Trait Loci Analyses of Total Chlorophyll Content and Photosynthetic Rate of Rice （Oryza sativa） under Water Stress and Well-watered Conditions

In order to explore the relevant molecular genetic mechanisms of photosynthetic rate （PR） and chlorophyll content （CC） in rice （Oryza sativa L.）, we conducted a series of related experiments using a population of recombinant inbred lines （Zhenshan97B x IRAT109）. We found a significant correlation between CC and PR （R = 0.19＊＊） in well-watered conditions, but no significant correlation during water stress （r = 0.08）. We detected 13 main quantitative trait loci （QTLs） located on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10, which were associated with CC, including six QTLs located on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 during water stress, and seven QTLs located on chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 6, and 10 in well-watered conditions. These QTLs explained 47.39% of phenotypic variation during water stress and 56.19% in well-watered conditions. We detected four main QTLs associated with PR; three of them （qPR2, qPR10, qPR11） were located on chromosomes 2, 10, and 11 during water stress, and one （qPR10） was located on chromosome 10 in well-watered conditions. These QTLs explained 34.37% and 18.41% of the phenotypic variation in water stress and well-watered conditions, respectively. In total, CC was largely controlled by main QTLs, and PR was mainly controlled by epistatic QTL pairs.     

Recent advances in the study of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus replication and pathogenesis

It has now been over twenty years since a novel herpesviral genome was identified in Kaposi's sarcoma biopsies. Since then, the cumulative research effort by molecular biologists, virologists, clinicians, and epidemiologists alike has led to the extensive characterization of this tumor virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus(KSHV; also known as human herpesvirus 8(HHV-8)), and its associated diseases. Here we review the current knowledge of KSHV biology and pathogenesis, with a particular emphasis on new and exciting advances in the field of epigenetics. We also discuss the development and practicality of various cell culture and animal model systems to study KSHV replication and pathogenesis.     

The structure, reproduction and taxonomy of Vidalia and Osmundaria (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae)

Comprises species occurring mostly in subtidal habitats in tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate areas of the world. An analysis of the type species, V. spiralis (Sonder) Lamouroux ex J. Agardh, a species from Australia, establishes basic characters for distinguishing species in the genus. These characters are (1) branching patterns of thalli, (2) flat blades that may be spiralled on their axis, (3) width of the blade, (4) primary or secondary derivation of sterile and fertile branchlets and (5) position of sterile and fertile branchlets on the thalli. Application of the latter two characters provides an important basic method for separation of species into three major groups. Osmundaria , a genus known only in southern Australia, was studied in relation to Vidalia , and its separation from the Vidalia assemblage is not accepted. Species of Vidalia therefore are transferred to the older genus name, Osmundaria. Two new species, Osmundaria papenfussii and Osmundaria oliveae are described from Natal. Confusion in the usage of the epithet, Vidalia fimbriala Brown ex Turner has been clarified, and Vidalia gregaria Falkenberg, described as an epiphyte on Osmundaria pro/ifera Lamouroux, is revealed to be young branches of the host, Osmundaria prolifera.     

New or rare chromosome counts in Artemisia L. (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) and related genera from Kazakhstan

Fifteen chromosome counts of six Artemisia taxa and one species of each of the genera Brachanthemum, Hippolytia, Kaschgaria, Lepidolopsis and Turaniphytum are reported from Kazakhstan. Three of them are new reports, two are not consistent with previous counts and the remainder are confirmations of very scarce (one to four) earlier records. All the populations studied have the same basic chromosome number, x = 9, with ploidy levels ranging from 2x to 6x. Some correlations between ploidy level, morphological characters and distribution are noted.     

肝癌中HBV和HCV基因和抗原的分布及意义

采用原位分子杂交方法检测HCV RNA及HBV X基因;采用免疫组织化学方法研究HCV核心抗原,非结构区C33c抗原及HBxAg在肝细胞肝癌中的定位及分布.结果表明(1)HCV RNA、HBV X基因在肝细胞肝癌组织检出率分别为40%(55/136)和82%(112/136).HCV RNA定位于癌细胞的胞浆内,阳性细胞呈散在、灶状及弥漫分布三种形式;HBV X基因在肝癌细胞中的分布呈胞浆型、核型及核浆型,阳性细胞也呈上述三种分布形式;(2)HCV C33c抗原、核心抗原在肝细胞肝癌中的阳性率为81%(133/164)及86%(141/164).C33c抗原定位于癌细胞及肝细胞的胞浆内;核心抗原既定位于癌细胞核中,又可定位于胞浆中.C33c抗原阳性细胞以灶状分布为主;而核心抗原阳性细     

Selection with two alleles and complete dominance

For a plant selection model with frequency-independent viabilities, fertilities and selfing rates, it is shown that apart from global fixation, for certain parameter combinations a protected polymorphism and facultative fixation (either allele may become fixed according to initial frequencies) may both occur. Facultative fixation requires different selling rates for the dominant and recessive type. Protection of the polymorphism requires resource allocation for male and female function. In this connection the problem of purely genetically caused population extinction is discussed.
For general frequency dependence and regular segregation, the chances for establishment of a completely recessive gene are compared to those of a completely dominant gene. It is proven that the process of establishment of the recessive gene, despite a fitness advantage, may be considerably endangered by drift effects if random mating prevails. The recessive gene may reach the same effectivity in establishment as a dominant gene, only if the recessive homozygote mates exclusively with its own type during the period of establishment.