ABSTRACT
The complete mitochondrial genome of the olive cultivar Mehras was determined using high-throughput sequencing technology. It consisted of 710,808 base pairs and comprised 70 genes, including 44 protein-coding genes, 23 tRNA genes, and three rRNA genes, with a GC content of 44.7%. Significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions/deletions (InDels) were detected throughout the mitogenome. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using other genotypes, including five olive cultivars, three related species, and Olea exasperata as an out-group. The analysis revealed that the olive cultivar Mehras shares an ancient common ancestor with the Frantoio cultivar from Italy and the Manzanilla cultivar from Spain, which confirms previous findings based on plastome sequencing.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to develop novel SSR markers in tomato. Several BAC clones along chromosome 3 in tomato were selected based on their content. The criteria was the availability of genes, either directly or indirectly related to stress response (drought, salinity, and heat) in tomato. A total of 20 novel in silico SSR markers were developed and 96 important nearby genes were identified. The identified nearby genes represent different tomato genes involved in plant growth and development and biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. The developed SSR markers were assessed using tomato landraces. A total of 29 determinate and semi-determinate local tomato landraces collected from diverse environments were utilized. A total of 33 alleles with mean of 1.65 alleles per locus were scored, showing 100% polymorphic patterns, with a mean of 0.18 polymorphism information content (PIC) values. The mean of observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.19 and 0.24, respectively. The mean value of the Jaccard similarity index was used for clustering the landraces. The developed microsatellite markers showed potential to assess genetic variability among tomato landraces. The genetic distance information reported in this study can be used by breeders in future genetic improvement of tomato for tolerance against diverse stresses.
ABSTRACT
Using high-throughput sequencing technology, the complete mitochondrial genome of Awassi-Jo breed (Ovis aries) was decoded. Mitochondrial genome was 16,617 bp in length. The genome contained 37 genes (13 protein-coding, 22 tRNA, and 2 rRNA) and a control region (D-loop region). The genes were encoded on the H-strand, except for the ND6 gene and 8 tRNA genes, which were encoded on the L-strand. The GC content is 38.9%. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to compare Awassi-Jo with other sheep breeds. The phylogenetic tree showed that Awassi-Jo diverged earlier than related breeds (Turkey, Italy, Germany, and Netherland) with a common ancestor in haplogroup HB. The results revealed the importance of mitochondrial data in studying sheep evolution and domestication.
ABSTRACT
The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Olea europaea subsp. europaea cultivar Mehras was determined using high-throughput sequencing technology. Chloroplast genome was 155,897 bp in length, containing a pair of 25,742 bp inverted repeat (IR) regions, which were separated by large and small single-copy regions (LSC and SSC) of 86,622 and 17,791 bp, respectively. The chloroplast genome contained 130 genes (85 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, and eight rRNA). GC content was 37.8%. We performed phylogenetic analysis with other isolates. The analysis showed that O. e. subsp. europaea cultivar Mehras has an ancient common ancestor with cultivated olives in Italy, Spain, and Cyprus.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Blepharis constitutes an important part of the vegetation of the Jordanian arid and semi-arid regions, yet whether one or more species of this genus occurs in the Jordanian area is uncertain. We addressed this question by assessing morphological characters and testing Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers from three populations of Blepharis: two northern (lower slopes of Kufranjah valley and the Dead Sea region) and one southern (Wadi al Yutm). RESULTS: Shoots from randomly chosen Blepharis plants were harvested from each of the three populations for morphological and molecular analyses. In the northern populations, spikes were lax and bract width was significantly shorter than length of the longest lateral spine compared to the southern population. A multivariate linear discriminant analysis distinguished the northern populations from the southern one by internode length, bract width, longest lateral spine length, and bract width to spine length ratio. The ISSR analysis revealed that 44 markers across eight primers were polymorphic with major allele frequency of 83.6% and an average of 5.5 polymorphic markers per primer. The genetic resemblance among individuals ranged from 0.27 to 0.96. The three Blepharis populations were accordingly clustered into two distinct groups, similar to the analysis of morphological differences and corresponding with the "northern" and "southern" population designations. CONCLUSIONS: Our results strongly indicate the occurrence of two discrete Blepharis species in Jordan and reject the hypothesis that the genus is represented by only one species. We propose that the Blepharis species in Jordan are B. attenutata Napper (represented by the northern populations) and B. ciliaris (L.) B. L. Burtt (represented by the southern population). These findings are important for informing and revising floristic work within the region and an updated key has been included in our findings.
ABSTRACT
Apis mellifera syriaca is the native honeybee subspecies of Jordan and much of the Levant region. It expresses behavioral adaptations to a regional climate with very high temperatures, nectar dearth in summer, attacks of the Oriental wasp and is resistant to Varroa mites. The A. m. syriaca control reference sample (CRS) in this study was originally collected and stored since 2001 from "Wadi Ben Hammad", a remote valley in the southern region of Jordan. Morphometric and mitochondrial DNA markers of these honeybees had shown highest similarity to reference A. m. syriaca samples collected in 1952 by Brother Adam of samples collected from the Middle East. Samples 1-5 were collected from the National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension breeding apiary which was established for the conservation of A. m. syriaca. Our objective was to determine the success of an A. m. syriaca honey bee conservation program using genomic information from an array-based comparative genomic hybridization platform to evaluate genetic similarities to a historic reference collection (CRS). Our results had shown insignificant genomic differences between the current population in the conservation program and the CRS indicated that program is successfully conserving A. m. syriaca. Functional genomic variations were identified which are useful for conservation monitoring and may be useful for breeding programs designed to improve locally adapted strains of A. m. syriaca.
