Bayesian QTL analyses using pedigreed families of an outcrossing species, with application to fruit firmness in apple.

KEY MESSAGE: Proof of concept of Bayesian integrated QTL analyses across pedigree-related families from breeding programs of an outbreeding species. Results include QTL confidence intervals, individuals' genotype probabilities and genomic breeding values. Bayesian QTL linkage mapping approaches offer the flexibility to study multiple full sib families with known pedigrees simultaneously. Such a joint analysis increases the probability of detecting these quantitative trait loci (QTL) and provide insight of the magnitude of QTL across different genetic backgrounds. Here, we present an improved Bayesian multi-QTL pedigree-based approach on an outcrossing species using progenies with different (complex) genetic relationships. Different modeling assumptions were studied in the QTL analyses, i.e., the a priori expected number of QTL varied and polygenic effects were considered. The inferences include number of QTL, additive QTL effect sizes and supporting credible intervals, posterior probabilities of QTL genotypes for all individuals in the dataset, and QTL-based as well as genome-wide breeding values. All these features have been implemented in the FlexQTL(™) software. We analyzed fruit firmness in a large apple dataset that comprised 1,347 individuals forming 27 full sib families and their known ancestral pedigrees, with genotypes for 87 SSR markers on 17 chromosomes. We report strong or positive evidence for 14 QTL for fruit firmness on eight chromosomes, validating our approach as several of these QTL were reported previously, though dispersed over a series of studies based on single mapping populations. Interpretation of linked QTL was possible via individuals' QTL genotypes. The correlation between the genomic breeding values and phenotypes was on average 90 %, but varied with the number of detected QTL in a family. The detailed posterior knowledge on QTL of potential parents is critical for the efficiency of marker-assisted breeding.

Sex-linked AFLP markers indicate a pseudoautosomal region in hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.).

In dioecious plants of hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.), males are regarded as heterogametic XY and females as homogametic XX, although it is difficult to discriminate the X cytologically from the Y. The Y chromosome is somewhat larger than the X. Our aim was to analyse AFLP markers on X and Y, and to use them to gain some insight into the structure of the sex chromosomes. Markers located on the sex chromosomes can be grouped into different classes, depending on the presence or absence of a fragment on the X and/or the Y. They are detected by separately analysing male and female progenies of a single cross. Five markers were found to be located on both chromosomes. A few recombinants were observed for marker pairs of this class in the male progenies. Two completely linked markers located on the Y chromosome in the male parent show a recombination rate of r = 0.25 with sex. Recombination must have occurred between the sex chromosomes in the male parent. The recombination analysis led to the conclusion that there is a pseudoautosomal region (PAR) on the sex chromosomes, allowing recombination between the X and the Y chromosome. The other regions of the sex chromosomes show only a few recombination events, for the Y as well as for the X. These results are discussed in comparison to other dioecious plants.

Uncoupling of glomerular and tubular regulations of urea excretion in rat.

Renal adjustments to diets varying in protein and sodium content were studied in young anesthetized Munich-Wistar rats. Diets were as follows: high (50%) protein (HP), normal (24%) protein (NP), reduced (8%) protein without extra salt (RPNS), and RP with extra salt (RPWS, 2.8% extra salt). Rats grew at the same rate on all diets. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urea, sodium, and osmolar clearances were measured. In series 1, groups of rats were maintained for 4 wk on the four diets and one group on changed diet (CP2d, RPWS diet for 4 wk changed to NP diet for 2 days). GFR was reduced compared with NP rats by 12% in RPNS and RPWS, and by 16% in CP2d rats, but the differences were not statistically significant. Fractional excretion of urea (FEurea) was significantly changed compared with NP. It was 40% higher in HP rats, and 50 and 56% lower in RPNS and RPWS, respectively. In the CP2d group it had increased to the NP value. In series 2, groups of rats were maintained on the RPNS diet for 1, 2, 3, and 4 wk, respectively. GFR decreased 21.6% after only 1 wk but after 4 wk it was not significantly lower than in the NP group. In contrast, no significant reduction was found in FEurea after 1 wk, whereas it decreased by 40% during the 2nd wk, with no further decrease after 3 and 4 wk. GFR was not directly related to protein or salt intake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Organic micropollutants in air and water. Sampling, gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis and computer identification.

Organic micropollutants are sampled by dynamic enrichment on a porous polymer column and subsequently thermally eluted in a flow of helium. The eluted compounds enter gas chromatograph inlet and then pass into two parallel glass capillary columns with different stationary phases, in which they are separated. The separated compounds are detected by gas chromatographic (GC) detectors and by a mass spectrometer that is connected to one or other of the two capillary columns by "heart cutting" systems. The GC and mass spectrometric (MS) signals are fed via interfaces into a minicomputer which controls the MS scan and performs data acquisition, reduction and treatment on-line and off-line. The resulting GC and MS data are displayed on a line printer or a visual display unit. The minicomputer is connected by a telephone line to an IBM 370/165 computer, where a library search system has been implemented. Some difficulties encountered, data on the sampling recovery of model compounds and the identification of compounds in air and water samples by GC-MS data and library searches are discussed.