中国产3种防己科植物细胞学研究

报道了3种国产防己科植物的染色体数目。金线吊乌龟Stephania cepharantha Hayata为二倍体2n=22,部分居群的一些个体存在B染色体;轮环藤Cyclea racemosa Oliv．为二倍体2n=24;木防己CDcculus orbiculatus(L)DC为四倍体2n=4x=52.3个种的染色体基数分别为x=11,12,13。观察了木防己的小孢子母细胞减数分裂过程,其减数分裂过程正常,且花粉粒具较高活性。     

How does the meristem of sunflower capitulum cope with tissue expansion and floret initiation? A quantitative analysis

The coordination between floret initiation and tissue expansion has been studied and quantified in the apical meristem of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) plants grown under different light availability. A method was developed to quantify tissue expansion in the meristem during floret initiation from measurements of meristem area, number of florets and primordium size. Initially, floret initiation and tissue expansion occurred simultaneously at the meristem surface. The duration of this phase remained unchanged across environments, whereas the rate of tissue expansion varied greatly. Floret initiation rate depended on meristem initial size and tissue-expansion rate. Thereafter, floret initiation continued without tissue expansion in the meristem, resulting in a rapid decrease of meristem area. A set of equations was proposed to predict floret initiation rate and floret number as a function of the rates of tissue expansion in the meristem before and during floret initiation. This formalism demonstrated the role of tissue expansion in determining the final number of florets, and provided a framework to analyse the response of floret initiation to genotype and environment.     

Mitochondria and Familial Predisposition to Breast Cancer

Mitochondrial genome and functional alterations are related to various diseases including cancer. In all cases, the role of these organelles is associated with defects in oxidative energy metabolism and control of tumor-induced oxidative stress. The present study examines the involvement of mitochondrial DNA in cancer and in particular in breast cancer. Furthermore, since mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited, hereditary breast cancer has been focused on.     

中国西南六种广义拂子茅属( 禾本科) 植物的染色体数目

广义拂子茅属( Calamagrostis) 是一个世界温带广布的大属, 有些作者又分为拂子茅属和野青茅属, 但近期的研究表明处理为一个属较为合适。中国共有37 种广义拂子茅属植物, 但至今没有任何染色体的研究。本文报道了其中产于中国西南6 种野青茅的染色体数目, 其中Deyeuxia petelotii 4 个居群, D1 diffusa, D1 moupinensis, D1 nivicola 和D1f lavens 各一个居群都是四倍体( 2n= 4x= 28) , D1 neglecta 为六倍体( 2n= 6x= 42) 。根据广义拂子茅属植物染色体倍性特征, 该属植物中至今未发现二倍体, 四倍体是该属中倍性最低和最普遍的, 广义拂子茅属的演化很可能是在四倍体的水平上进行的。由于以上几个四倍体种均是狭域分布的类群, 所以可能是由四倍体的祖先隔离分化形成的。     

Genome-wide association study dissects the genetic control of plant height and branch number in response to low-phosphorus stress in Brassica napus

Background and AimsOilseed rape (Brassica napus) is one of the most important oil crops worldwide. Phosphorus (P) deficiency severely decreases the plant height and branch number of B. napus. However, the genetic bases controlling plant height and branch number in B. napus under P deficiency remain largely unknown. This study aims to mine candidate genes for plant height and branch number by genome-wide association study (GWAS) and determine low-P-tolerance haplotypes.MethodsAn association panel of B. napus was grown in the field with a low P supply (P, 0 kg ha⁻¹) and a sufficient P supply (P, 40 kg ha⁻¹) across 2 years and plant height and branch number were investigated. More than five million single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to conduct GWAS of plant height and branch number at two contrasting P supplies.Key ResultsA total of 2127 SNPs were strongly associated (P < 6·25 × 10⁻⁰⁷) with plant height and branch number at two P supplies. There was significant correlation between phenotypic variation and the number of favourable alleles of associated loci on chromosomes A10 (chrA10_821671) and C08 (chrC08_27999846), which will contribute to breeding improvement by aggregating these SNPs. BnaA10g09290D and BnaC08g26640D were identified to be associated with chrA10_821671 and chrC08_27999846, respectively. Candidate gene association analysis and haplotype analysis showed that the inbred lines carrying ATT at BnaA10g09290Hap1 and AAT at BnaC08g26640Hap1 had greater plant height than lines carrying other haplotype alleles at low P supply.ConclusionOur results demonstrate the power of GWAS in identifying genes of interest in B. napus and provided insights into the genetic basis of plant height and branch number at low P supply in B. napus. Candidate genes and favourable haplotypes may facilitate marker-based breeding efforts aimed at improving P use efficiency in B. napus.