Forensic Analysis and Genetic Structure Construction of Chinese Chongming Island Han Based on Y Chromosome STRs and SNPs.

Y-chromosome short tandem repeat (Y-STR) and Y-chromosome single nucleotide polymorphism (Y-SNP) are genetic markers on the male Y chromosome for individual identification, forensic applications, and paternal genetic history analysis. In this study we successfully genotyped 38 Y-STR loci and 24 Y-SNP loci of Pudong Han (n = 689) and Chongming Han (n = 530) in Shanghai. The haplotype diversity of the Y filer platinum genotyping system was the highest in the Han population in the Pudong area of Shanghai (0.99996) and Chongming Island (0.99997). The proportion of unique haplotypes was 97.10% (Pudong) and 98.49% (Chongming), respectively. The multidimensional scaling analysis and phylogenetic analysis were performed according to the genetic distance Rst, which was calculated based on the Y-STR gene frequency data. Moreover, we made a comparison on the frequency distribution analysis and principal component analysis of haplogroups in both populations. As a result, Shanghai Pudong Han, Chongming Island Han, and Jiangsu Han were determined to have a strong genetic affinity. The haplogroup distribution characteristics of the Pudong Han and Chongming Han populations were similar to those of the southern Han population. The results of haplotype network analysis showed that Jiangsu Wujiang Han and Jiangsu Changshu Han had more paternal genetic contributions to the formation of Shanghai Pudong Han and Chongming Island Han. Through the joint analysis of SNPs and STRs, this study deeply analyzed the paternal genetic structure of the Pudong Han and Chongming Han populations. The addition of Y-SNP haplogroups to forensic applications can provide information for pedigree investigation.

Persistence of Metarhizium (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) and Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) in Tobacco Soils and Potential as Biocontrol Agents of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), such as Metarhizium spp. and Beauveria bassiana, are widely used in the biocontrol of many species of insect pests. Tobacco is an economically important crop in Guangdong Province of China, but insect pests, such as Spodoptera litura Fabricius, are a major threat to production. Here, we tested the persistence of five Metarhizium species and B. bassiana in glasshouse pot and field experiments and assessed their long-term efficacy against S. litura. We found that the colony forming units of these EPF decreased by c. 93% by 180 d in the pot soils declines tended to be exponential. In contrast, declines of c. 99% in field soils were more gradual (linear), occurring throughout the 360 d experiment. Metarhizium anisopliae Ma09 had the longest estimated half-life of 41 d, while that of B. bassiana was the shortest (9 d). Fungal density in the upper soil layer (0-5 cm) decreased rapidly and was undetectable after 150 d, whereas density was consistently greatest in the mid-layer (10-15 cm). At 180 d after inoculation, strain Ma09 elicited highest rates of mortality in S. litura. We conclude that soils in Guangdong Province are all suitable for the use of Metarhizium as a biocontrol agent, where M. anisopliae Ma09 offers greatest residual activity.

A Comparison of Genetic Diversity of COX-III Gene in Lowland Chickens and Tibetan Chickens.

To obtain a full understanding of the genetic diversity of the cytochrome oxidase III gene (COX-III) and its association with high altitude adaptation in Tibetan chickens, we sequenced COX-III in 12 chicken populations (155 Tibetan chickens and 145 other domestic chickens). We identified a total of 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 12 haplotypes (Ha1-Ha12). Low genetic diversity (haplotype diversity = 0.531 ± 0.087, nucleotide diversity = 0.00125) was detected for COX-III, and haplotype diversity of Tibetan chicken populations (0.750 ± 0.018) was markedly higher than lowland chicken populations (0.570 ± 0.028). Obvious genetic differentiation (nucleotide divergence = 0.092~0.339) and conspicuous gene communication (gene flow = 0.33~32.22) among 12 populations suggested that Tianfu black-bone fowl (white feather) was possibly introduced from Tibetan chicken. SNP m.10587 T>C affects the specific functions of the COX enzyme. Haplotype Ha3 was found in Tibetan chickens, and SNP m.10115G>A caused an amino acid substitution (Val62Ile) associated with phospholipid binding, while mutations m.10017C>A and m.10555G>A and the previously reported SNP m.10065T>C reduced the hydropathy index to some extent. Together, this indicates that the mitochondrial membrane is more hydrophobic in Tibetan chickens.