Chromosomal loci associated with endosperm hardness in a malting barley cross.

A breeding objective for the malting barley industry is to produce lines with softer, plumper grain containing moderate protein content (9-12%) as they are more likely to imbibe water readily and contain more starch per grain, which in turn produces higher levels of malt extract. In a malting barley mapping population, 'Arapiles' × 'Franklin', the most significant and robust quantitative trait locus (QTL) for endosperm hardness was observed on the short arm of chromosome 1H, across three environments over two growing seasons. This accounted for 22.6% (Horsham 2000), 26.8% (Esperance 2001), and 12.0% (Tarranyurk 2001) of the genetic variance and significantly increased endosperm hardness by 2.06-3.03 SKCS hardness units. Interestingly, Arapiles and Franklin do not vary in Ha locus alleles. Therefore, this region, near the centromere on chromosome 1H, may be of great importance when aiming to manipulate endosperm hardness and malting quality. Interestingly, this region, close to the centromere on chromosome 1H, in our study, aligns with the region of the genome that includes the HvCslF9 and the HvGlb1 genes. Potentially, one or both of these genes could be considered to be candidate genes that influence endosperm hardness in the barley grain. Additional QTLs for endosperm hardness were detected on chromosomes 2H, 3H, 6H and 7H, confirming that the hardness trait in barley is complex and multigenic, similar to many malting quality traits of interest.

A genetic map of 1,000 SSR and DArT markers in a wide barley cross.

A high-density genetic map was developed from an F1-derived doubled haploid population generated from a cross between cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare) and the subspecies H. vulgare ssp. spontaneum. The map comprises 1,000 loci, amplified using 536 SSR (558 loci) and 442 DArT markers. Of the SSRs, 149 markers (153 loci) were derived from barley ESTs, and 7 from wheat ESTs. A high level of polymorphism ( approximately 70%) was observed, which facilitated the mapping of 197 SSRs for which genetic assignments had not been previously reported. Comparison with a published composite map showed a high level of co-linearity and telomeric coverage on all seven chromosomes. This map provides access to previously unmapped SSRs, improved genome coverage due to the integration of DArT and EST-SSRs and overcomes locus order issues of composite maps constructed from the alignment of several genetic maps.

The carotid bodies of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR): a functional and morphologic study.

The parameters of the acid-base-state of the arterial blood were measured in spontaneously hypertensive rats of the Okamoto-strain (SHR) and in normotensive Wistar rats (NWR) of a random-bred strain. The animals were anaesthetized with chloralose-urethane and breathed normal air under sea-level conditions. Structure and size of their carotid bodies were studied by light-microscopic methods. When compared with the NWR, the SHR showed a respiratory alkalosis and enlarged carotid bodies. In the SHR, never in the NWR, the lumen of the branches of the glomic arteries was narrowed by pad-like structures. The data suggest that systemic hypertension leads to morphologically and functionally detectable alterations of both carotid body structure and function. The interdependence of arterial chemoreceptor activity, sodium household, and the adjustment of systemic arterial blood pressure is briefly discussed.

[Haemiton compositum in the ambulatory therapy of hypertension]. / Haemiton compositum in der ambulanten Hypertonietherapie.

Comparative treatments of 14 patients suffering from arterial hypertension of the stages II to IV with haemiton and haemiton compositum (haemiton, triamteren and hydrochlorothiazide) lasting three weeks each showed that under influence of haemiton compositum the systolic blood pressure was lower in which case particularly reactions of orthostasis were practically absent. Measured on the approach of the quotient duration of pulse period to duration of basic vibration T/Tfem to the integrity and to the temporary peak value after Jungmann and coworkers which is parallel to the contractility the regulatorily better behaviour of the circulation under haemiton compositum is significantly expressed. In this case no changes of glucose content in the blood and of the potassium content in the serum appear. The sodium content of the serum slightly decreased in the medication of the combination preparation containing the saluretic. Under haemiton compositum the side effects are more insignificant.