Divergence Analysis for Yield and Quality Traits in Some Indigenous Basmati Rice Genotypes [Oryza sativa L.].

Genetic divergence was assessed among 23 genotypes of basmati rice representing different regions of India on the basis of yield and quality characteristics utilizing Mahalanobis D2 analysis. Based on the genetic distance (D2 values), the rice genotypes were grouped into six clusters. Of the six clusters formed cluster VI consisted of maximum eight genotypes followed by cluster V accommodating six genotypes, cluster I with four genotypes, cluster III and IV with three genotypes each and cluster II with one genotype. The results indicated that there was some degree of similarity of genotypes clustered together on the basis of their origin. However, the pattern of distribution of some genotypes from different eco-geographical regions was found random, indicating that geographical diversity and genetic diversity were not related. The maximum intra cluster distance was observed for the cluster III. The highest genetic divergence was observed between the clusters IV and I exhibiting wide diversity. The genotypes representing cluster VI are more yielding combined with excellent cooking quality. Among different traits, plant height, kernel length, elongation ratio and amylose content had maximum contribution towards total divergence may be used as selection parameters in segregating generations. Intelligent selection of genotypes from the clusters may be used as potential donors for future hybridization programmes to develop varieties and hybrids of high yield without much compromise on quality.

Expression profiles and polymorphism analysis of CDIPT gene on Qinchuan cattle

Background CDIPT (CDP-diacylglycerol-inositol 3-phosphatidyltransferase, EC 2.7.8.11) was found on the cytoplasmic side of the Golgi apparatus and the endoplasmic reticulum. It was an integral membrane protein performing the last step in the de novo biosynthesis of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns). In recent years, PtdIns has been considered to play an essential role in energy metabolism, fatty acid metabolic pathway and intracellular signal transduction in eukaryotic cells. Results In this study, the results of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that the expression of CDIPT gene was remarkably different in diverse tissues. We also detected the polymorphism of bovine CDIPT gene and analyzed its association with body measurement and meat quality traits of Qinchuan cattle. Blood samples were obtained from 638 Qinchuan cattle aged from 18 to 24 months. DNA sequencing and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were used to find CDIPT gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Three SNPs g.244T>C (NCBI: rs42069760), g.1496G>A and g.1514G>A were found in this study. g.244T>C located at 5'untranslated region (5'UTR) of exon 1 showed three genotypes: TT, TC and CC. g.1496G>A and g.1514G>A detected the first time were located in intron 3 and showed the same genotypes: GG, GA and AA. Conclusions Analysis results showed that these three SNPs were significantly associated with body measurement traits (BMTs) and meat quality traits (MQTs). We suggested that CDIPT gene may have potential effects on BMTs and MQTs and can be used for marker-assisted selection.

Polymorphisms of the bovine chemokine receptor-like 1 gene and their associations with meat quality traits in Qinchuan cattle (Bos taurus)

Background: We investigated the polymorphisms of the bovine chemokine receptor-like 1(CMKLR1) gene. The coding region of CMKLR1 was screened in Qinchuan cattle by PCR-RFLP technology. Results: In this study, we discovered two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (264G > C and 762C > T) in the coding region of the CMKLR1 gene. Hence, we described the BmgT120l and Pdm1 PCR-RFLP methods for detecting the 64G > C and 762C > T mutations, respectively. PCR-RFLP and sequencing were used to analyze the two loci of CMKLR1 gene in 324 individuals, which were randomly selected from breeding populations. Furthermore, meat quality traits in another 80 Qinchuan individuals were analyzed by the comparison between the genotypes and their phenotypic data. Conclusions: The results showed that the G264C SNP and C762T SNP of bovine CMKLR1 were significantly associated with backfat thickness (BFT) and water holding capacity (WHC), respectively.

Effect of the supplementation of the laying quails ration with sesame (Sesamum Indicum) seeds and oil on egg quality traits.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of feeding diet containing different levels of sesame seeds and oil on egg quality of laying quail. A total of 120, 10 weeks old were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary groups, and were fed for 12 weeks diets containing 0 % sesame seeds + 0 % sesame oil (control group; C) or 0.5 % sesame oil (T1), 1 % sesame oil (T2), 1 % sesame seeds (T3), and 2 % sesame seeds (T4). The study was terminated when the birds were 22 weeks of age. Egg quality characteristics involved in the present study were egg weight, yolk diameter, yolk height, yolk weight, albumen height, albumen weight, Haugh unit, shell weight, shell thickness, shell percentage, yolk percentage, and albumen percentage. The addition of sesame seeds and oil to the diets of laying quail (T1; T2; T3; T4) resulted in significant improvement in the total means of the traits and the mean of trait during all periods of study respecting egg weight, yolk diameter, yolk height, yolk weight, albumen height, albumen weight, Haugh unit, shell weight, shell thickness, shell percentage, yolk percentage, and albumen percentage in comparison with control group (C), with the exclusion of shell percentage when has been observed that there was no significant difference between treatments C and T1 during period 4 and between treatments C, T1, and T2 during period 5. The results obtained in this study suggested that the inclusion of sesame seeds and its' oil into laying quail diets caused significant positive effect on egg quality criteria. Therefore, incorporation of sesame seeds and oil into the diets of Japanese quail may have practical value in manipulating egg quality.

Stability of some quality traits in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotypes.

This study was carried out in order to determine some quality traits such as thousand grain weight (TGW), hectoliter weight (HW), grain protein content (GPC), Zeleny sedimentation volume (ZSV) and stability of quality traits of 25 bread wheat genotypes. The experiment was conducted at seven environmental conditions during 2 growing periods (2003-2004 and 2004-2005) using randomized complete block design with four replicates. The ANOVA showed that out of the total sum of squares, 48.4, 28.0 and 23.6% for TGW, 71.4, 14.9 and 13.7% for HW, 54.4, 23.0 and 22.6% for GPC, 44.7, 41.7 and 13.6% for ZSV was attributable to E, G and G x E interaction effects, respectively. Thousand grain weight, hectoliter weight, grain protein content and Zeleny sedimentasyon volume of genotypes changed from 34.5 to 41.4 g, from 76.5 to 80.4 Kg, from 11.49 to 13.37% and from 22.1 to 46.0 ml, respectively. Seven stability parameters, covering a wide range of statistical approaches, were used so as to predict the genotypes. The study of genotypic stability showed that Bezostaya and advanced lines numbered 11 and 24 had high stability for quality traits and proved to be the best within the pool of the studied genotypes. Also, 8 and 17 numbered genotypes demonstrated high stability for TGW, HW, GPC and HW, GPC and ZSV, respectively.

Seleção assistida por marcadores para teor de matéria seca e açúcares redutores em tubérculos de batata / Marker assisted selection for dry matter and reducing sugars in potato tubers

A seleção precoce de clones que possuam níveis elevados de matéria seca e baixos teores de açúcares redutores é uma necessidade nos programas de melhoramento para a qualidade de processamento da batata (Solanum tuberosum L.) na forma de palitos fritos ou chips. A seleção precoce tornou-se possível com a utilização de marcadores genéticos, visto que permitem a identificação precisa de indivíduos superiores. Assim, procura-se cada vez mais encontrar marcadores capazes de caracterizar tais indivíduos e utilizá-los via seleção assistida. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência da seleção assistida, utilizando os marcadores identificados por ANDREU (2004) que estariam associados ao teor de matéria seca e açúcares redutores em tubérculos de batata. Clones provenientes de 20 famílias foram avaliados nas gerações de plântula (P), primeira geração clonal (C1) e segunda geração clonal (C2). As estimativas das correlações simples para os caracteres entre gerações foram significativas, porém, baixas, confirmando a inviabilidade de se efetuar a seleção precoce nas primeiras gerações com base apenas em informações fenotípicas. Os marcadores utilizados forneceram um total de 16 marcas. Pela regressão múltipla stepwise, apenas sete dessas marcas tiveram associação com os caracteres estudados. Além disso, nenhuma marca associada ao teor de matéria seca de tubérculos na geração C1 teve associação significativa na geração C2. Isso também foi observado com o teor de açúcares redutores, o que é um indicativo da interação QTLs x ambientes. A seleção assistida não se mostrou eficiente em relação à fenotípica em nenhum dos casos avaliados, portanto, não sendo útil em uma possível seleção precoce. Esses resultados indicam que tais marcadores não estão próximos aos genes controladores dos caracteres desejados, sendo necessária a identificação de novos marcadores mais associados que possibilitem maior eficiência da seleção assistida.

Early generation selection for clones with high content of tuber dry matter and low levels of reducing sugars is required for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) processing. Selection of superior clones at early generations became possible with the deployment of genetic markers, and can precisely identify the superior individuals. Therefore, it is necessary to identify genetic markers closely linked to genes of interest to do assisted selection. The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of marker assisted selection with genetic markers previously identified by ANDREU (2004), which are assumed to be associated with dry matter and reducing sugars content in potato tubers. Clones from 20 families were evaluated during the seedling generation (S), first clonal generation (C1) and second clonal generation (C2). The estimated coefficients of correlation for all traits among generations were significant, even though of low magnitude, confirming that selection at early generation based only on phenotypic traits is inviable. A total of sixteen bands were amplified using these markers. However, by multiple stepwise regression, only seven of these bands showed association with the evaluated traits. Moreover, no markers associated with dry matter and reducing sugars content in the C1 were significantly associated with these traits in the C2, suggesting the existence of QTLs x environment interactions. The marker assisted selection resulted less efficient than the phenotypic selection in all cases studied, and thus is not recommended for early generation selection of clones for the processing industry. These results suggest that the markers used are not closely linked to the genes controlling the traits most important for processing. Therefore, it is important to identify new markers closely linked with such traits of interest that could improve the efficiency of marker assisted selection.

Analysis of the genetic relationships from different genetic systems between the amylose content and the appearance quality of indica rice across environments

The genetic relationships between amylose content (AC) and appearance quality traits of indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) were investigated using conditional analysis and unconditional analysis in present experiment. The results from the unconditional analysis indicated that AC of rice positively correlated with brown rice (BR, i.e., dehulled but unmilled rice) length (BRL), width (BRW) and thickness (BRT), but was negatively correlated with the ratio of length to width (RLW). The conditional analysis showed that weight of brown rice (WBR) negatively affected the genetic relationships between AC and the appearance quality traits of rice except between AC and BRW, while the genetic relationships between AC and most appearance quality traits were negatively affected by protein content (PC). However, these influences were not apparent due to the impact of WBR or PC on the most covariance components of the different genetic systems between AC and the appearance quality traits. The conditional analysis showed that it was possible to improve AC while significantly reduce BRL and BRT under maintaining WBR. Furthermore, AC could be improved when BRL was reduced under maintaining PC, but BRW and BRT could be significantly increased.