The association of CAPN1 316 marker genotypes with growth and meat quality traits of steers finished on pasture

The objective of this paper was to determine the association of a SNP in the μ-calpain gene at position 316 with growth and quality of meat traits of steers grown on pasture. Fifty-nine Brangus and 20 Angus steers were genotyped for CAPN1 316. Warner Bratzler shear force was measured in l. lumborum samples after a 7-day aging period. A multivariate analysis of variance was performed, including shear force (WBSF), final weight (FW), average daily gain (ADG), backfat thickness (BFT), average monthly fat thickness gain (AMFTG), rib-eye area (REA), and beef rib-eye depth (RED) as dependent variables. The CAPN1 316 genotype was statistically significant. Univariate analyses were done with these variables. The marker genotype was statistically significant (p < 0.05) for WBSF (kg: CC: 4.41 ± 0.57; CG: 5.58 ± 0.20; GG: 6.29 ± 0.18), FW (kg: CC: 360.23 ± 14.71; CG: 381.34 ± 5.26; GG: 399.23 ± 4.68), and ADG (kg/d: CC: 0.675 ± 0.046; CG: 0.705 ± 0.016; GG: 0.765 ± 0.014) Shear force, final weight and average daily gain were significantly different according to the CAPN1 316 marker genotypes. The marker genotype was statistically significant in the multivariate analysis (p = 0.001). The first characteristic root explained 89% of the differences among genotypes. WBSF, FW and ADG were the most important traits in the first vector, indicating that animals with the marker genotype for lowest WBSF also have the lowest FW and ADG.     

Crossbreeding effects on pig growth and carcass traits from two Iberian strains

An experiment of a 2×2 full diallelic cross between two contemporary Iberian pig strains (Retinto: RR, and Torbiscal: TT) was conducted to estimate the crossbreeding effects for growth and carcass traits. Phenotypic records were obtained under intensive management and consisted of two different data sets. The first set comprised growth traits until weaning and was collected at two different farms (6236 and 1208 records, respectively). Specific data included individual piglet weight at birth and at weaning at 28 days and average daily gain from birth to weaning at 28 days (ADG28) for both RR and TT and their reciprocal crosses. The second set comprised growth data from birth to slaughter (~340 days and ~160 kg) and carcass traits from 349 individuals (randomly) sampled at weaning from the first dataset. Data were analyzed through a Bayesian analysis by using a reparameterization of Dickerson’s model that allowed estimation of the posterior distributions of the following crossbreeding effects: average maternal breed effect (gM), average paternal breed effect (gP) and individual heterosis (hI). Results showed that the relative magnitude of crossbreeding effects depends on the trait analyzed. Crosses where Torbiscal strain was used as mother (RT and TT) achieved the greatest performance for all growth traits at weaning, leading to remarkable gM effects. The most outstanding example is the case of ADG28 where the probability of relevance was one. In contrast, TR cross showed the greatest differences from RR cross for all growth at slaughter and carcass traits. These differences were mainly due to hI and gP crossbreeding parameters. In particular, the posterior mean of hI was more noticeable for live weight at slaughter, average daily gain at slaughter and carcass length, while gP was more relevant for hams (kg) and loins (kg) representing from 3% to10% of average performance of traits. Hence, growth traits at weaning did not reveal any notable advantage of the crossbreeding scheme because of the superiority of the Torbiscal strain with respect to its mothering ability and the small hI. However, results from growth and carcass traits at slaughter would support the implementation of a TR crossbred system. It would allow exploitation of both the gP of the Torbiscal strain and the hI between these two Iberian pig strains. Additionally, gP estimates and phenotypic differences between reciprocal crosses might suggest signs of the presence of paternal genetic imprinting in primal cuts traits.     

Polymorphisms in the 5' regulatory region of myostatin gene are associated with early growth traits in Yorkshire pigs

Myostatin is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. The present study cloned the 5' regulatory region of porcine myostatin gene, screened its polymorphisms and analyzed their associations with early growth traits in Yorkshire pigs. The results indicated that a fragment length polymorphism and a polymorphism concerning two nucleotide changes exist in the 5' regulatory region of porcine myostatin gene. At sites 435 and 447, allele A and allele B have the haplotypes of A-G and G-A, respectively. The allelic frequency of B is 0.475 in Yorkshire pigs. No homozygous BB genotype was detected in 9 Laiwu Black pigs. Allele B was found to have positive effect on body weight on day 21 (BW21) (P＜0.01), body weight on day 28 (BW28) (P＜0.05), body weight on day 70 (BW70) (P＜0.05), average daily gain from birth to 21 d (ADG1) (P＜0.01), average daily gain from birth to 28 d (ADG2) (P＜0.05) and average daily gain from 21 d to 70 d (ADG3) (P＜0.01), respectively. The additive effect of allele B on BW21, BW28, BW70, ADG1, ADG2 and ADG3 was 0.596±0.205 kg (P=0.0041), 0.498±0.200 kg (P=0.0136), 1.409±0.551 kg (P=0.0112), 28.39±9.74 g P=0.0041), 17.78±7.15 g (P=0.0136) and 37.00±16.92 g (P=0.0304), respectively, whereas its effect on average daily gain from 28 d to 70 d (ADG4) was not significant (P＞0.1), although BB individuals are superior in average daily gain to AA and AB.     

Relationship of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 genotypes with growth and carcass traits in swine

The contribution of chromosomal regions linked to growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) loci to variation in preweaning average daily gain, postweaning average daily gain (ADG), 10th rib backfat, loin-eye area and muscle pH were evaluated. Offspring of four purebred sires (A–D; n = 150, 195, 148 and 136, respectively) and two crossbred sires (E and F; n = 157 and 145, respectively) were genotyped initially with GH and IGF-1 markers. When results of single marker analysis suggested possible linkage with a quantitative trait locus (QTL), additional flanking markers were typed for the family and interval mapping was performed. Growth hormone genotype was not associated with the traits evaluated in the study. Evidence suggestive of linkage was found for IGF-1 genotype and ADG in one sire family (lod = 2·3) where differences were 0.032 ± 0·01 kg/day for alternative sire alleles. Evidence for a putative ADG QTL was greatest in the interval between IGF-1 and Sw1071. A similar genomic region has been associated with growth variation in mice; however, QTL mapping precision in the current study is insufficient to establish similarity.     

大白×梅山猪资源家系生长性状QTL的检测

以大白猪和梅山猪为父母本建立F2 资源家系 ,在 2 0 0 0年 ,随机选留 6 6头F2 代个体 ,获得出生重、6 0日龄体重、出生至 6 0日龄平均日增重及 6 0日龄至屠宰前平均日增重的表型数据。结合 4 8个微卫星标记构建的猪 1、2、3、4、6和 7号染色体遗传连锁图谱 ,用线性模型最小二乘法对各数量性状进行QTL区间作图 ,利用置换法(permutation)确定显著性阈值。研究发现 ,猪 4号染色体上有一个染色体水平极显著 (P <0 0 1)的QTL影响 6 0日龄至屠宰前平均日增重 ,并达到基因组显著水平 (P <0 0 5 )。在染色体水平 ,出生至 6 0日龄平均日增重QTL位于 2号染色体 ,6 0日龄体重QTL位于 1号染色体。 6号染色体的出生至 6 0日龄平均日增重QTL达到建议显著水平     

Fertility response of yearling beef heifers after prebreeding energy manipulation, estrous synchronization and timed artificial insemination

The effect of dietary energy and weight class on the fertility of yearling beef heifers (Angus, Hereford, and Angus x Hereford) was investigated over 2 years. In year 1, heifers (n=58) were classed as heavy (HW; > or =340 kg) or light weight (LW; <340kg) and then assigned to receive either a low (LE; 0.23 kg/day) or high energy (HE; 0.68 kg/day) diet. In year 2, heifers (n=60) were also classified as heavy (> or =335kg) or light weight (<335 kg), but the energy content of the diet was raised so that heifers on the LE and HE were targeted to gain 0.46 and 0.79 kg/day, respectively. Heifers in the four groups, LELW (n=14 and 12), LEHW (n=16 and 17), HELW (n=13 and 15), and HEHW (n=15 and 16) received restricted amounts of concentrate (HE > LE) and free choice hay over 47 or 42 days (year 1 and year 2, respectively). To synchronize estrus, heifers were fed capsules containing MGA (0.5 mg/animal each day) beginning 11 days before the end of the feeding trial (day 0), PGF(2alpha) (25mg i.m.) and estradiol benzoate (Ebeta; 400 microg i.m.) was given on days 8 and 10, respectively. Estrous behavior was observed (days 10 and 11) and all heifers were inseminated on day 11. Following AI, heifers were re-grouped and a bull was introduced (days 27-39) for the second service in both years. Pregnancy diagnosis for the first (days 41-42) and second services (days 69-97) was performed by transrectal ultrasonography. Transrectal ultrasonic observations of ovarian follicle number and size were completed for a subset of heifers (n=5-8) from each experimental group at the end of the feeding trial. The effect of year was not significant for any of the reproductive performance variables measured. The mean ADG was (0.72 +/- 0.04 kg/day) and was greater in LW than HW heifers and in heifers in the HE than LE treatment groups (P <0.05). In heifers receiving the LE diet, ADG was lower in HW than LW heifers (weight x diet; P=0.02; 0.54 +/- 0.04 and 0.62 +/- 0.03 kg/day for HW and LW heifers, respectively). The diameter of the largest follicle was greater in heifers receiving the HE diet (P < 0.05; 11.3 +/- 0.4 mm) than those on the LE diet (10.3 +/- 0.3), and in LW (P <0.05) compared to HW heifers. The HE diet increased the size of the largest follicle in LW but not HW heifers (diet x weight, P <0.05). The percentage of pubertal heifers at the end of the feeding period (59.3%), estrous response (56.4%), conception rate (47.7%), ovulation rate (88.9%), and first service pregnancy rate (36.2%) were not significantly affected by initial weight or diet. There was a tendency for first service pregnancy rates to be greater in LW than HW heifers consuming the LE diet (diet x weight, P <0.1; 54.2 +/- 15 and 30.3 +/- 10% for LELW and LEHW heifers, respectively). Pregnancy rate after two services was greater (P=0.01) in LW (82 +/- 10%) than in HW (64.5 +/- 10%). The LE diet achieved moderate rates of gain and allowed high level of reproductive performance in LW but not HW heifers.     

Advanced backcross QTL analysis for the identification of quantitative trait loci alleles from wild relatives of wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.)

Advanced backcross QTL (AB-QTL) analysis was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for yield and yield components in a BC(2)F(2) population derived from a cross between the German winter wheat variety 'Prinz' and the synthetic wheat line W-7984 developed by CIMMYT. Two hundred and ten microsatellite markers were employed to genotype 72 pre-selected BC(2)F(2) plants and phenotypic data were collected for five agronomic traits from corresponding BC(2)F(3) families that were grown at four locations in Germany. Using single-marker regression and interval mapping, a total of 40 putative QTLs derived from W-7984 were detected, of which 11 were for yield, 16 for yield components, eight for ear emergence time and five for plant height. For 24 (60.0%) of them, alleles from the synthetic wheat W-7984 were associated with a positive effect on agronomic traits, despite the fact that synthetic wheat was overall inferior with respect to agronomic appearance and performance. The present study indicated that favorable QTL alleles could be transferred from wild relatives of wheat into an elite wheat variety for improvement of quantitative trait loci like yield by the advanced backcross QTL strategy and molecular breeding. To our knowledge, the results presented here were the first report on AB-QTL analysis in wheat.     

Health and immune traits of Basque and Large White pigs housed in a conventional or enriched environment

Since decades, production traits such as growth rate, feed efficiency or body composition have been drastically increased in pigs by genetic selection. Whether this selection impacted animal robustness is still unclear. In this study, we compared Large White (LW) pigs, a breed submitted to intense genetic selection for production traits, and Basque (B) pigs, a local rustic breed, reared in two different housing environments (conventional v. enriched). Adaptation to housing conditions among each breed was evaluated at the level of endocrine and immune traits. These are known to be impacted by housing conditions and breed; however, the interaction effects between genotype and environment are less described. Animals (20 per breed and housing environment) entered the experiment at 35 kg of live weight. Levels of cortisol, acute-phase inflammatory proteins, immunoglobulins and hydrogen peroxide, blood formula, lymphocyte proliferation and in-vitro cytokine expression were measured at ∼115 kg of live weight. Animals were checked for skin injuries during the growing period. At slaughter, at the average live weight of 145 kg, carcasses were examined for pathological conditions of the respiratory tract. The major result was that the two breeds exhibited differences in response to the housing environment. Among the 24 sanitary, endocrine or immune traits investigated, the housing conditions affected eight variables in both breeds (salivary cortisol at 0700 and 1900 h, severity of pneumonia at slaughter) or only in B pigs (severe skin lesions) or LW pigs (salivary cortisol at 1500 h, granulocyte numbers and lymphocyte/granulocyte ratio and lymphocyte proliferation). These observations strengthen the hypothesis that selection for high meat production level might be associated with an increased susceptibility of animals to environmental stressors.     

Polymorphisms in the 5′ regulatory region of myostatin gene are associated with early growth traits in Yorkshire pigs

Myostatin is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. The present study cloned the 5' regulatory region of porcine myostatin gene, screened its polymorphisms and analyzed their associations with early growth traits in Yorkshire pigs. The results indicated that a fragment length polymorphism and a polymorphism concerning two nucleotide changes exist in the 5' regulatory region of porcine myostatin gene. At sites 435 and 447, allele A and allele B have the haplotypes of A-G and G-A, respectively. The allelic frequency of B is 0.475 in Yorkshire pigs. No homozygous BB genotype was detected in 9 Laiwu Black pigs. Allele B was found to have positive effect on body weight on day 21 (BW21) (P＜0.01), body weight on day 28 (BW28) (P＜0.05), body weight on day 70 (BW70) (P＜0.05), average daily gain from birth to 21 d (ADG1) (P＜0.01), average daily gain from birth to 28 d (ADG2) (P＜0.05) and average daily gain from 21 d to 70 d (ADG3) (P＜0.01), respectively. The additive effect of allele B on BW21, BW28, BW70, ADG1, ADG2 and ADG3 was 0.596±0.205 kg (P=0.0041), 0.498±0.200 kg (P=0.0136), 1.409±0.551 kg (P=0.0112), 28.39±9.74 g P=0.0041), 17.78±7.15 g (P=0.0136) and 37.00±16.92 g (P=0.0304), respectively, whereas its effect on average daily gain from 28 d to 70 d (ADG4) was not significant (P＞0.1), although BB individuals are superior in average daily gain to AA and AB.     

Polymorphisms in the 5′ regulatory region of myostatin gene are associated with early growth traits in Yorkshire pigs

Myostatin is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. The present study cloned the 5′ regulatory region of porcine myostatin gene, screened its polymorphisms and analyzed their associations with early growth traits in Yorkshire pigs. The results indicated that a fragment length polymorphism and a polymorphism concerning two nucleotide changes exist in the 5′ regulatory region of porcine myostatin gene. At sites 435 and 447, allele A and allele B have the haplotypes of A-G and G-A, respectively. The allelic frequency of B is 0.475 in Yorkshire pigs. No homozygous BB genotype was detected in 9 Laiwu Black pigs. Allele B was found to have positive effect on body weight on day 21 (BW21) (P<0.01), body weight on day 28 (BW28) (P<0.05), body weight on day 70 (BW70) (P<0.05), average daily gain from birth to 21 d (ADG1) (P<0.01), average daily gain from birth to 28 d (ADG2) (P<0.05) and average daily gain from 21 d to 70 d (ADG3) (P<0.01), respectively. The additive effect of allele B on BW21, BW28, BW70, ADG1, ADG2 and ADG3 was 0.596±0.205 kg (P=0.0041), 0.498±0.200 kg (P=0.0136), 1.409±0.551 kg (P=0.0112), 28.39±9.74 g P=0.0041), 17.78±7.15 g (P=0.0136) and 37.00±16.92 g (P=0.0304), respectively, whereas its effect on average daily gain from 28 d to 70 d (ADG4) was not significant (P>0.1), although BB individuals are superior in average daily gain to AA and AB.     

Effects of the Booroola (FecB) genotypes on growth performance, ewe's productivity efficiency and litter size in Garole x Malpura sheep

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of FecB genotypes on body weight, average daily gain (ADG), ewe's productivity efficiency (EPE) and litter size in FecB introgressed GarolexMalpura (GM) crossbred sheep. A total of 235 GM lambs were selected randomly and screened for FecB mutation using forced RFLP-PCR. The majority (69.8%) of GM individuals were carriers (BB and B+) for the FecB mutation and frequency of the FecB allele was about 0.40. The FecB genotypes were significantly (P<0.01) associated with the lamb's body weights from birth to 12 months of age. The generation wise (F(1), F(2) and F(3)), lamb's body weight did not differ significantly at birth, 6 and 12 months of the age, while it differed significantly (P<0.05) at 3 and 9 months of age. The ADG1 (0-3 months) was significantly associated (P<0.05), but not the ADG2 (3-6 months) and ADG3 (6-12 months) between genotypes. Type of birth and sex significantly (P<0.01) affected the body weight from birth to 12 months of age; and body weight of single born lambs was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of twins and triplets from birth to 12 months of age. Type of birth significantly (P<0.01) affected the ADG1, but had no significant effect on ADG2 and ADG3. Year of birth did not affect the birth and weaning weights, but it significantly affected (P<0.01) the body weight and ADG's after weaning ages. The EPE was affected significantly (P<0.01) by the FecB genotypes at birth, 3 and 12 months of age. The EPE of B+ and BB ewes were 7.86 kg (36.9%) and 2.32 kg (10.9%) higher as compared to ++ ewes at 12 months of age, respectively. The mean litter size of BB ewes (2.17+/-0.24) was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of B+ ewes (1.73+/-0.04) and ++ ewes (1.03+/-0.23). The present study indicated that the body weight and ADG of carrier lambs (BB and B+) was comparatively lower than that of non-carriers (++), while EPE of B+ ewes was comparatively higher than that of BB and ++ ewes. Further, it is interesting to note that heterozygous and homozygous state of individuals increased 0.70 and 1.14 extra lambs as compared to non-carriers (++), respectively.     

牛FABGL基因的克隆及其与牛生物经济学性状的相关分析

运用同源序列克隆技术结合反转录PCR技术和3′,5′cDNA末端快速扩增技术得到了牛FABGL基因的完整CDS,3′非翻译区和部分5′非翻译区.序列分析和生物信息学研究表明,所获得的牛FABGL基因的cDNA包含994个核苷酸和780 bp的开放阅读框及198 bp的完整的3′非翻译区.该基因编码260个氨基酸残基蛋白,在氨基酸水平上与人的同源基因具有高度的相似性(88%).采用PCR-SSCP方法,在递交的包含完整CDS的长为1 925 bp的该基因的基因组DNA序列(GenBank接受号DQ409814)1 065 bp 和1 792 bp处,分别发现了两个单核苷酸碱基突变Y=C/T,R=A/G;它们分别位于该基因的第五和第八内含子.对包含这两个多态位点的3个品种(安格斯、海福特和西门塔尔)牛的共179个个体等位基因频率与部分肉质及生长性状进行了关联分析,结果发现,在第八内含子内具有GG基因型的个体的肉用性能指数(4.283±.0.475kg/cm)较具有AA基因型个体的(4.008±0.465kg/cm)高(P≤0.01);而且同一位点具有GG基因型的个体的眼肌面积(73.380±13.005 cm2)显著高于具有AA基因型的个体(67.744±12.777 cm2)(P≤0.05).在第五内含子内,具有CC、CT、TT3种不同基因型的个体之间,平均日增重差异均达到极显著水平(P≤0.01),以具有TT基因型的个体平均日增重最高(0.652±0.330kg/d),CC基因型的最低(0.421±0.178kg/d).     

A novel single nucleotide polymorphism in exon 7 of LPL gene and its association with carcass traits and visceral fat deposition in yak (Bos grunniens) steers

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is considered as a key enzyme in the lipid deposition and metabolism in tissues. It is assumed to be a major candidate gene for genetic markers in lipid deposition. Therefore, the polymorphisms of the LPL gene and associations with carcass traits and viscera fat content were examined in 398 individuals from five yak (Bos grunniens) breeds using PCR–SSCP analysis and DNA sequencing. A novel nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-C→T (nt19913) was identified located in exon 7 in the coding region of the LPL gene, which replacement was responsible for a Phe-to-Ser substitution at amino acid. Two alleles (A and B) and three genotypes designed as AA, AB and BB were detected in the PCR products. The frequencies of allele A were 0.7928, 0.7421, 0.7357, 0.6900 and 0.7083 for Tianzhu white yak (WY), Gannan yak (GY), Qinghai-Plateau yak (PY), Xinjiang yak (XY) and Datong yak (DY), respectively. The SNP loci was in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in five yak populations (P > 0.05). Polymorphism of LPL gene was shown to be associated with carcass traits and lipid deposition. Least squares analysis revealed that there was a significant effect on live-weight (LW) (P < 0.01), average daily weight gain (ADG) and carcass weight (P < 0.05). Individuals with genotype BB had lower mean values than those with genotype AA and AB for loin eye area and viscera fat weight (% of LW) in 25–36 months (P < 0.05). The results indicated that LPL gene is a strong candidate gene that affects carcass traits and fat deposition in yak.     

Effect of level of fibre on performance and digestion traits in growing rabbits

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of level of fibre on production performance, gastrointestinal tract development, caecum fermentation and fibrolytic activity in weaner to 2-month-old New Zealand rabbits. One hundred weaner rabbits were allocated in individual cages for five treatments in which they were fed each diet with ADF at 130 (NDF, 274.1; ADL, 39.7; CP, 158.4; EE, 26.8; starch, 252.5 g/kg), 160 (NDF, 292.9; ADL, 41.9; CP, 160.3; EE, 25.6; starch, 249.4 g/kg), 190 (NDF, 312.4; ADL, 50.5; CP, 157.6; EE, 24.2; starch, 218.2 g/kg), 220 (NDF, 343.9; ADL, 51.2; CP, 158.5; EE, 22.2; starch, 217.6 g/kg), and 250 g/kg (NDF, 375.7; ADL, 66.0; CP, 156.9; EE, 22.4; starch, 220.8 g/kg) original matter basis, respectively. The results were: ADG and F/G deteriorated with increasing fibre (P<0.05); ADI increased with increasing dietary ADF (P=0.002). The stomach relative weight (g/kg LW), small intestine relative weight (g/kg LW), caecum weight, caecum content weight and caecum relative weight (g/kg LW) all increased with increasing ADF (P=0.003, 0.007, 0.002, 0.010 and <0.001, respectively). Quadratic effects of level of ADF on the villus height, villus height/crypt depth of the duodenum and the villus height/crypt depth of the jejunum were obtained; cubic effects of level of ADF on the crypt depth of the jejunum and the villus height/crypt depth of the ileum were obtained. Cubic effects of level of ADF on the pH, the butyric acid (% total VFA) and C2/C4 were obtained. The NH₃–N concentration dropped and the acetic acid (% total VFA) increased when the dietary ADF increased (P<0.001). The fibrolytic activity measured in the caecal contents increased when the dietary ADF increased (P<0.001). Providing a ration consisting mainly of clover meal, wheat straw and peanut hulls, the optimum dietary ADF content for weaner to 2-month-old growing meat rabbits was shown to be 190 g/kg feed.     

Breeding maize as biogas substrate in Central Europe: II. Quantitative-genetic parameters for inbred lines and correlations with testcross performance

Breeding maize for use as a biogas substrate (biogas maize) has recently gained considerable importance. To optimize hybrid breeding programs, information about line per se performance (LP) of inbreds and its relation to their general combining ability (GCA) is required. The objectives of our research were to (1) estimate variance components and heritability of LP for agronomic and quality traits relevant to biogas production, (2) study correlations among traits as well as between LP and GCA, and (3) discuss implications for breeding of biogas maize. We evaluated 285 diverse dent maize inbred lines in six environments. Data were recorded on agronomic and quality traits, including dry matter yield (DMY), methane fermentation yield (MFY), and their product, methane yield (MY), as the main target trait. In agreement with observations made for GCA in a companion study, variation in MY was mainly determined by DMY. MFY, which showed moderate correlation with lignin but only weak correlation with starch, revealed only low genotypic variation. Thus, our results favor selection of genotypes with high DMY and less focus on ear proportion for biogas maize. Genotypic correlations between LP and GCA [r _g (LP, GCA)] were highest (≥0.94) for maturity traits (days to silking, dry matter concentration) and moderate (≥0.65) for DMY and MY. Multistage selection is recommended. Selection for GCA of maturity traits, plant height, and to some extent also quality traits and DMY on the level of LP looks promising.     

猪肌肉组织Col3a1基因表达的发育性变化及其对肌内胶原特性的影响

以30—90妇体重莱芜猪和40—100kg体重鲁莱黑猪共84头去势公猪为试验对象（每组6头）,采用相对定量RT-PCR方法,以β-actin作为内标,研究肌肉中编码Ⅲ型胶原的Col3al基因表达的发育性变化及其对肌肉中胶原蛋白含量和性质（溶解度）的影响。结果表明：研究的两个品种猪肌肉中Col3al基因表达的发育性变化基本一致,即随体重的增加,肌肉中Col3al mRNA表达呈逐渐增加趋势,但莱芜猪和鲁莱黑猪分别在70妇和80妇体重组表达量略有下降。总体上莱芜猪肌肉组织Col3al mRNA表达丰度显著高于鲁莱黑猪（P〈0．05）。相关分析表明,莱芜猪肌肉组织Col3al mRNA表达的发育性变化与总胶原和不溶性胶原含量呈极显著正相关（P〈0．01）,与胶原溶解度呈极显著负相关（P〈0．01）。鲁莱黑猪肌肉组织Col3al mRNA表达的发育性变化与不溶性胶原和胶原溶解度分别呈显著正相关和负相关妒〈0．05）。研究结果提示：猪肌肉组织中Col3al基因表达具有明显的体重发育和品种特征,其mRNA表达对于肌内胶原的含量和性质有重要影响。     

Breeding maize as biogas substrate in Central Europe: I. Quantitative-genetic parameters for testcross performance

Biofuels have gained importance recently and the use of maize biomass as substrate in biogas plants for production of methane has increased tremendously in Germany. The objectives of our research were to (1) estimate variance components and heritability for different traits relevant to biogas production in testcrosses (TCs) of maize, (2) study correlations among traits, and (3) discuss strategies to breed maize as a substrate for biogas fermenters. We evaluated 570 TCs of 285 diverse dent maize lines crossed with two flint single-cross testers in six environments. Data were recorded on agronomic and quality traits, including dry matter yield (DMY), methane fermentation yield (MFY), and methane yield (MY), the product of DMY and MFY, as the main target trait. Estimates of variance components showed general combining ability (GCA) to be the major source of variation. Estimates of heritability exceeded 0.67 for all traits and were even much greater in most instances. Methane yield was perfectly correlated with DMY but not with MFY, indicating that variation in MY is primarily determined by DMY. Further, DMY had a larger heritability and coefficient of genetic variation than MFY. Hence, for improving MY, selection should primarily focus on DMY rather than MFY. Further, maize breeding for biogas production may diverge from that for forage production because in the former case, quality traits seem to be of much lower importance.     

Genetic parameters between slaughter pig efficiency and growth rate of different body tissues estimated by computed tomography in live boars of Landrace and Duroc

In this study, computed tomography (CT) technology was used to measure body composition on live pigs for breeding purposes. Norwegian Landrace (L; n = 3835) and Duroc (D; n = 3139) boars, selection candidates to be elite boars in a breeding programme, were CT-scanned between August 2008 and August 2010 as part of an ongoing testing programme at Norsvin's boar test station. Genetic parameters in the growth rate of muscle (MG), carcass fat (FG), bone (BG) and non-carcass tissue (NCG), from birth to ～100 kg live weight, were calculated from CT data. Genetic correlations between growth of different body tissues scanned using CT, lean meat percentage (LMP) calculated from CT and more traditional production traits such as the average daily gain (ADG) from birth to 25 kg (ADG1), the ADG from 25 kg to 100 kg (ADG2) and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) from 25 kg to 100 kg were also estimated from data on the same boars. Genetic parameters were estimated based on multi-trait animal models using the average information-restricted maximum likelihood (AI-REML) methodology. The heritability estimates (s.e. = 0.04 to 0.05) for the various traits for Landrace and Duroc were as follows: MG (0.19 and 0.43), FG (0.53 and 0.59), BG (0.37 and 0.58), NCG (0.38 and 0.50), LMP (0.50 and 0.57), ADG1 (0.25 and 0.48), ADG2 (0.41 and 0.42) and FCR (0.29 and 0.42). Genetic correlations for MG with LMP were 0.55 and 0.68, and genetic correlations between MG and ADG2 were -0.06 and 0.07 for Landrace and Duroc, respectively. LMP and ADG2 were clearly unfavourably genetically correlated (L: -0.75 and D: -0.54). These results showed the difficulty in jointly improving LMP and ADG2. ADG2 was unfavourably correlated with FG (L: 0.84 and D: 0.72), thus indicating to a large extent that selection for increased growth implies selection for fatness under an ad libitum feeding regime. Selection for MG is not expected to increase ADG2, but will yield faster growth of the desired tissues and a better carcass quality. Hence, we consider MG to be a better biological trait in selection for improved productivity and carcass quality. CT is a powerful instrument in conjunction with breeding, as it combines the high accuracy of CT data with measurements taken from the selection candidates. CT also allows the selection of new traits such as real body composition, and in particular, the actual MG on living animals.     

一个嵌合型药用野生稻7号染色体单体附加系及其回交后代的分析

对一个药用野生稻(Oryza officinalis Wall ex Watt,基因组型CC)异源单体附加系(monosomic alien addition line,MAAL)及其回交后代进行了分析,应用分子标记技术确定了该异源单体附加系所附加的染色体是一条嵌合的7号染色体,药用野生稻贡献了其长臂部分,而短臂和着丝粒则来源于栽培稻。将该植株与栽培稻亲本回交,得到109株回交后代,考察了回交群体的主要农艺性状并进行了分子标记分析,发现野生稻染色体片段的渗入影响了回交后代的株高、千粒重、结实率、结实密度、叶宽等农艺性状,而且这些性状之间正相关度很大。