QTL Mapping for the Sensitivity of the Traits Related to Outcrossing of Japonica Rice to Exogenous GA_3

[Objective] The research aimed to map QTL for the sensitivity of the traits related outcrosssing of Japonica rice to exogenous GA3 and provide theoretical basis for breeding and improving the high-sensitivity sterile line.[Method] Taking Japonica rice Xiushui 79 and C bao and their recombinant inbred line population 260 lines as test materials,the sensitivity of 4 traits related outcrossing to Exogenous GA3 and their QTL mapping were studied by using composite interval mapping..[Result]Three QTLs,which cont...

QTL Mapping for Stalk Related Traits in Maize (Zea mays L.) Under Different Densities

Stalk related traits, comprising plant height （PH）, ear height （EH）, internode number （IN）, average internode length （ALL）, stalk diameter （SD）, and ear height coefficient （EHC）, are significantly correlated with yield, density tolerance, and lodging resistance in maize. To investigate the genetic basis for stalk related traits, a doubled haploid （DH） population derived from a cross between NX531 and NX110 were evauluated under two densities over 2 yr. The additive quantitative trait loci （QTLs）, epistatic QTLs were detected using inclusive composite interval mapping and QTL-by-environment interaction were detected using mixed linear model. Differences between the two densities were significant for the six traits in the DH population. A linkage map that covered 1 721.19 cM with an average interval of 10.50 cM was constructed with 164 simple sequence repeat （SSR）. Two, two, seven, six, two, and eight additive QTLs for PH, IN, AIL, EH, SD, and EHC, respectively. The extend of their contribution to penotypic variation ranged from 10.10 to 31.93%. Seven QTLs were indentified simultaneously under both densities. One pair, two pairs and one pair of epistatic effects were detected for AIL, SD and EHC, respectively. No epistatic effects were detected for PH, EH, and IN. Nineteen QTLs with environment interactions were detected and their contribution to phenotypic variation ranged from 0.43 to 1.89%. Some QTLs were stably detected under different environments or genetic backgrounds comparing with previous studies. These QTLs could be useful for genetic improvement of stalk related traits in maize breeding.

Relationship Between Heterosis and Parental Genetic Distance Based on Molecular Markers for Functional Genes Related to Yield Traits in Rice

The genetic distances among 18 cytoplasmic male sterile lines and 11 restorer lines were analyzed with molecular markers derived from yield-related functional genes. The correlation between parental genetic distance and heterosis was investigated by analyzing the performance of 47 combinations. The results showed that the genetic distance was significantly correlated with yield heterosis （r=0.29^＊）, but not significantly correlated with heterosis for other traits, such as number of effective panicles per plant, seed setting rate, 1000-grain weight, number of grains per panicle and theoretical yield. However, the correlation coefficient was so small that the parental genetic distance could not to be used to predict heterosis.

Dissection of heterosis for yield and related traits using populations derived from introgression lines in rice

Despite the great success achieved by the exploitation of heterosis in rice,the genetic basis of heterosis is still not well understood.We adopted an advanced-backcross breeding strategy to dissect the genetic basis of heterosis for yield and eight related traits.Four testcross(TC) populations with 228 testcross F1 combinations were developed by crossing57 introgression lines with four types of widely used male sterile lines using a North Carolina II mating design.Analysis of variance indicated that the effects of testcross F1 combinations and their parents were significant or highly significant for most of the traits in both years,and all interaction effects with year were significant for most of the traits.Positive midparent heterosis(HMP) was observed for most traits in the four TC populations in the two years.The relative HMPlevels for most traits varied from highly negative to highly positive.Sixty-two dominant-effect QTL were identified for HMPof the nine traits in the four TC populations in the two years.Of these,22 QTL were also identified for the performance of testcross F1.Most dominant-effect QTL could individually explain more than 10% of the phenotypic variation.Four QTL clusters were observed including the region surrounding the RM9–RM297 region on chromosome 1,the RM110–RM279–RM8–RM5699–RM452 region on chromosome 2,the RM5463 locus on chromosome 6 and the RM1146–RM147 region on chromosome 10.The identified QTL for heterosis provide valuable information for dissecting the genetic basis of heterosis.

Identification of QTLs for Yield-Related Traits in the Recombinant Inbred Line Population Derived from the Cross Between a Synthetic Hexaploid Wheat-Derived Variety Chuanmai 42 and a Chinese Elite Variety Chuannong 16

Synthetic hexaploid wheat （SHW） represents a valuable source of new resistances to a range of biotic and abiotic stresses. A recombinant inbred line （RIL） population with 127 recombinant inbred lines derived from a SHW-derived variety Chuanmai 42 crossing with a Chinese spring wheat variety Chuannong 16 was used to map QTLs for agronomic traits including grain yield, grains per square meter, thousand-kernel weight, spikes per square meter, grain number per spike, grains weight per spike, and biomass yield. The population was genotyped using 184 simple-sequence repeat （SSR） markers and 34 sequence-related amplified polymorphism （SRAP） markers. Of 76 QTLs （LOD〉2.5） identified, 42 were found to have a positive effect from Chuanmai 42. The QTL QGy.saas-4D.2 associated with grain yield on chromosome 4D was detected in four of the six environments and the combined analysis, and the mean yield, across six environments, of individuals carrying the Chuanmai 42 allele at this locus was 8.9% higher than that of those lines carrying the Chuannong 16 allele. Seven clusters of the yield-coincident QTLs were detected on 1A, 4A, 3B, 5B, 4D, and 7D.

Major Gene Identification and Quantitative Trait Locus Mapping for YieldRelated Traits in Upland Cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Segregation analysis of the mixed genetic model of major gene plus polygene was used to identify the major genes for cotton yield-related traits using six generations P1, P2, F1, B1, B2, and F2 generated from the cross of Baimian 1 x TM-1. In addition to boll size and seed index, the major genes for the other five traits were detected： one each for seed yield, lint percentage, boll number, lint index; and two for lint yield. Quantitative trait locus/loci （QTL） mapping was performed in the F2 and F2：3 populations of above cross through molecular marker technology, and a total of 50 QTL （26 suggestive and 24 significant） for yield-related traits were detected. Four common QTL were discovered： qLP-3b（F2）/qLP-3（F2：3） and qLP-19b （F2）/qLP-19（F2：3） for lint percentage, qBN-17（F2）/qBN-17（F2：3） for boll number, and qBS-26b（F2）/qBS-26（F2：3） for boll size. Especially, qLP- 3b（Fz）/qLP-3（F2：3）, not only had LOD scores 〉3 but also exceeded the permutation threshold （5.13 and 5.29, respectively）, correspondingly explaining 23.47 and 29.55% of phenotypic variation. This QTL should be considered preferentially in marker assisted selection （MAS）. Segregation analysis and QTL mapping could mutually complement and verify, which provides a theoretical basis for genetic improvement of cotton yield-related traits by using major genes （QTL）.

Response of phenology- and yield-related traits of maize to elevated temperature in a temperate region

Extreme high temperatures detrimental to maize production are projected to occur more frequently with future climate change.Phenology and yield-related traits were investigated under several levels of elevated temperature in two early-maturing hybrid cultivars:Junda 6(grown in northeastern China)and Chalok 1(grown in South Korea).They were cultivated in plastic houses in Suwon,Korea(37.27°N,126.99°E)held at target temperatures of ambient(AT),AT+1.5°C,AT+3°C,and AT+5°C at one sowing date in 2013 and three different sowing dates in 2014.Vegetative and reproductive growth durations showed variation depending on sowing date,experimental year,and cultivar.Growth duration tended to decrease,but not necessarily,with temperature elevation,but somewhat increased again above a certain temperature.High temperature-dependent variation was greater during grain filling than in the vegetative period before anthesis.Elevated temperature showed no significant effects on duration or peak dates of silking and anthesis,and thus on anthesis–silking interval.Grain yield tended to decrease with temperature elevation above ambient,showing a sharper linear decrease with mean growing season temperature increase in Junda 6 than in Chalok 1.The decrease in kernel number accounted for a much greater contribution to the yield reductions due to temperature elevation than did the decrease in individual kernel weight in both cultivars.Individual harvestable kernel weight was not significantly affected by temperature elevation treatments.Kernel number showed a linear decrease with mean growth temperature from early ear formation to early grain-filling stage,with Junda 6 showing a much severer decrease than Chalok 1.Kernel number reduction due to temperature elevation was attributable more to the decrease in differentiated ovule number than to the decrease in kernel set in Chalok 1,but largely to the decrease of kernel set in Junda 6.

Detection of Favorable Alleles for Quality- and Yield-related Traits in Wheat Using a Backcross Population

Development of wheat varieties with high yield and good quality has been a major objective in wheat breeding.A BC 1 F 2-3 population was used to detect QTLs for wheat quality related traits: SDS-sedimentation value (Ssd),grain protein content (GPC),grain hardness (GH) and 11 mixograph parameters,as well as five agronomic traits: spike length (SL),spikelet number per spike (SPN),grain number per spike (GN),thousand-grain weight (TGW),and plant height (PH).A total of 44 putative QTLs were detected in the present study,31 for quality parameters and 13 for important agronomic traits,including three important major QTLs.One major QTL for Ssd QSsd.saas-1B.1,linked to barc137,explained on average 21.1% of the phenotypic variation in three environments.The allele increasing Ssd at this locus also significantly increased GN.The second locus on chromosome 1B with the linked marker Barc 61 was a major locus for mixograph parameters.It explained 21.3%-32.5%,24.3%-30.6%,30.6%-37% and 20.1%-22.7% of phenotypic variation for mixing tolerance (MT),weakening slope (WS),midline peak time (MPTi) and midline time x =8 value (MTxW),respectively.The third major QTL,explaining above 40% of plant height variation,close to Rht-B 1 on the short arm of chromosome 4BS,co-located with QTL for quality and yield-related traits.

QTL analysis of leaf photosynthetic rate and related physiological traits in rice(Oryza sativa L.)

Photosynthesis is one of the most important factors that influence the biomass and yield. Recently, more attention has been paid to genetic study on rice photosynthesis and rice breeding for the physiological traits related to high efficient photosynthesis. Chlorophyll content, stomatal resistance, and transpiration rate were very important physiological traits related to photosynthesis. But until now, no genetic study on these traits has been reported. A DH population derived from anther culture of ZYQ8/JX17, a typical indica/japonica hybrid was developed,

Genetic analysis of morphological index and its related taxonomic traits for classification of indica

The Cheng index distinguishes indica andjaponica rice based on six taxonomic traits.This index has been widely used for classifi- cation of indica and japonica varieties in China.In this study,a double haploid(DH)popula-tion derived from anther culture of ZYQ8/JX17 F,a typical inter-subspecies hybrid,was used to investigate the six taxonomictraits,i.e.leaf hairiness(LH),color of hullwhen heading(CHH),hairiness of hull(HH),length of the first and second panicle internode(LPI),length/width of grain(L/W),andphenol reaction(PH).The morphological in- dex(MI)was also calculated.Based on themolecular linkage map constructed from this

Variation in Expression of <i>Sub</i>1 Gene and Association with Submergence Stress Related Traits in Advance Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i>L.) Genotypes as a Tool of Climate Change Adaptation

Floods have now become most detrimental natural catastrophe worldwide due to radical climatic fluxes. Therefore, there is a dire necessity to develop a high yielding rice lines to deal with this scenario. For this purpose, a large scale experiment was conducted including one hundred and fifteen (115) rice genotypes having SUB1 gene imported from International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Philippines, six local cultivars/approved varieties and three high yielding rice varieties i.e. Sabitri, IR6 and NSICRC222 being used as potential varieties in different countries of Asia as susceptible check and IR64-SUB1 as tolerant check. The genotypic screening was performed using two PCR-based DNA markers i.e. ART5 and SC3. Phenotypic screening was conducted in a natural pond to assess the interaction of SUB1 gene in natural stagnant flood water as well as the suitability of introgression of SUB1 gene into approved varieties and elite rice lines. The genotypes were assessed in terms of plant survival percentage, submergence tolerance index, physical condition, stem elongation, number of grains per panicle, thousand grain weight, grain yields and deviations in these traits after submergence stress. The PCR results suggested that both the primers ART5 and SC3 may be used as potential PCR-based markers for molecular screening of rice genotypes for SUB1 QTL. Furthermore, it confirmed the presence of SUB1 gene in all the lines imported from IRRI, while it was absent in all the local cultivars studied. All the genotypes with submergence tolerant gene (SUB1) showed significantly greater tolerance level in submergence stress of 14 days, as compared to other local cultivars/varieties, authenticating the effectiveness of SUB1QTL in conferring submergence tolerance. Significantly different performances of all the SUB1 genotypes in terms of all the studied traits indicate high Genotypic and Genotypic Environment Interaction (GEI) of SUB1QTL. Employment of SUB1 lines such as R105479:149-18, IR64-SUB1 and Rl05469:81-22-3 in breeding programs for developing flood tolerant rice varieties might further upsurge rice yields in flash flood areas. Correlation analysis revealed that plant survival percentage after submergence, reduced stem elongation during submergence and submergence tolerance index are very important traits for developing submergence tolerant lines.

Behavioral inhibition in female college students with schizotypal traits: An event-related potential study

This study investigated behavioral inhibition in female college students with psychometrically defined schizotypal traits using a Go/NoGo task and event-related potentials (ERPs). The schizotypal-trait (n = 15) and normal control (n = 15) groups were selected based on scores of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). The Go/NoGo task consisted of Go (requires response) and NoGo (requires no response) conditions. In terms of response time and accuracy rate for the Go/NoGo task, the two groups did not differ significantly. In terms of ERPs, the control group showed greater N2 amplitudes in response to NoGo (NoGo-N2) than to Go stimuli (Go-N2), whereas the schizotypal-trait group showed no significant difference in NoGo-N2 and Go-N2 amplitudes. In addition, the schizotypal-trait group showed reduced NoGo-N2 amplitudes at the frontal site compared to controls, and an association between SPQ scores and NoGo-N2 amplitudes measured at the frontal site. The two groups did not differ in P3 amplitudes. Since the N2 reflects the detection of response conflict and behavioral inhibition, the present results indicate that nonclinical individuals with schizotypal traits have difficulties in detecting response conflict and behavioral inhibition.

Relationships among Event-Related Potentials, Memory, and Schizophrenic Symptoms in College Students with Schizotypal-Traits

The present study investigated the relationships among event-related potentials (ERPs), memory, and schizophrenic symptoms in college students with schizotypal-traits. Scores on the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) were used to categorize the participants into schizotypal-trait (n = 30) and normal control (n = 37) groups. ERPs were assessed using an auditory oddball paradigm, in which a series of standard tones (1000 Hz) and target tones (1500 Hz) were presented;participants were asked to count the number of presented target tones. The verbal memory and visual memory of the participants were evaluated using the Korean version of the California Verbal Learning Test (K-CVLT) and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (RCFT), respectively. The schizotypal-trait and control groups did not differ in terms of age, educational level, IQ score, accuracy on the auditory oddball task, or performance on the K-CVLT and RCFT measures. However, the schizotypal-trait group exhibited significantly smaller P300 amplitudes than the control group. Additionally, the P300 amplitudes measured at Cz and Pz were negatively correlated with the cognitive-perceptual factor scores on the SPQ. Thus, the present results indicate that reduced P300 amplitudes may represent a biological marker of schizophrenia.

Genetic relationship of rapeseed yield-related traits revealed by elite lines under multiple environments

To provide a theoretical basis for further improvement of Brassica napus yield, additive dominance with additive - by - additive epistatic effects （ ADAA） genetic model and a 6 X 8 partial dial- lel cross design were used to analyze the genetic effects and correlations of five yield related traits of 14 excellent Brassica napus parental lines and their 46 and F2 populations. The results showed that silique density （SD） , siliques per plant （SPP） , seeds per silique （SPS） and thousand - seed weight （TSW） exhibited not only additive and dominant effects, but also significant epistatic effects. The dominant effects of all five yield - related traits were obviously greater than their additive effects and epistatic effects. Yield per plant （YPP） showed significant genetic correlation with SD, SPP and SPS, and the main component of the genetic correlation was the dominance correlation. SPP and SPS both showed a significant negative correlation with TSW. The SD of rapeseed was genetically correlated with all three components of yield to a certain extent, and there were different components of genetic effects positively correlated with the three yield components, indicating that SD is a potential trait to reconcile the conflict between TSW and SPP as well as SPS.

Allele Frequency Distribution of the NCAPG c.1326T>G SNP Associated with Growth-Related Traits in Niigata Population of Japanese Black Beef Cattle

Growth performance as well as marbling is the main breeding objectives in Japanese Black cattle, the major beef breed in Japan. A previous study has identified the c.1326T>G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the NCAPG (non-SMC condensin I complex, subunit G) gene that leads to the amino acid change p.Ile442Met in the NCAPG protein, which is a candidate causative variation for a bovine carcass weight (CWT) quantitative trait locus (QTL). In this study, we first confirmed the association of the c.1326T>G SNP with the growth-related traits, CWT, rib eye area (REA) and rib thickness (RT), and showed significant effect of the SNP genotypes on the marbling trait, beef marbling score (BMS), in the Japanese Black beef cattle population of the Niigata prefecture, with the G allele being associated with a favorable phenotype of these traits. Thus, we concluded that the c.1326T>G SNP is useful for effective marker-assisted selection to increase meat quality and meat productivity in Japanese Black beef cattle of the Niigata prefecture. Furthermore the frequency of the favorable G allele of the c.1326T>G SNP in the Niigata prefecture population was significantly lower than the frequency of this allele in Japanese Black cattle population of the Kagoshima prefecture. However, no statistically significant difference was detected between the allele frequencies estimated by maternal alleles in the half-sib progeny steers in the Niigata prefecture population and obtained in Japanese Black cattle population of the Kagoshima prefecture.

Electrophysiological correlates of cognitive inhibition in college students with schizotypal traits

Objective: We investigated cognitive inhibition in non-clinical individuals with schizotypal traits using event-related potentials. Methods: College students with psychometrically defined schizotypal traits (n = 16) and normal controls (n = 15) participated. The computerized Stroop task with three types of stimuli, i.e., congruent, incongruent, and neutral words, was used to measure cognitive inhibition. Results: The schizotypal-trait group committed significantly more errors in response to incongruent words than did the control group. The control group showed frontal negativity (FN) of significantly greater amplitude in response to incongruent than to congruent and neutral stimuli, whereas the schizotypal-trait group showed no significant difference in FN amplitude between incongruent and congruent/neutral stimuli at 300 - 400 ms poststimulus. A source localization analysis conducted in different waveforms for incongruent minus congruent conditions at 300-400 ms poststimulus showed reduced activation in the left cingulate cortex and in the middle/medial prefrontal cortex in the schizotypal-trait group compared with the control group. The two groups did not differ in the sustained potential amplitudes observed at 550-650 ms after stimulus-onset at parietal sites. Conclusions: These results suggest that individuals with schizotypal traits have difficulties in conflict detection and cognitive inhibition, possibly mediated by the cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex.

Root morphological traits and their relations with yield components of dry-raised mid-season indica rice

Research on root morphological traits of dry-raised seedlings (D-RS) at different growth stages of rice have so far attracted less attention. In this study, using mid-season indica hy-

Relative position of seeds driven the seedling growth are mediated by root-leaf traits

Variations in plant traits are indicative of plant adaptations to forest environments,and studying their relationships with tree growth provides valuable insights into forest regeneration.The spatial arrangement of plant seeds within the forest litter or soil critically infuences the variations of root-leaf traits,thereby affecting the adaptive strategies of emerging seedlings.However,our current understanding of the impacts of individual root-leaf traits on seedling growth in different relative position,and whether these traits together affect growth,remains limited.This study focuses on the dominant tree species,Castanopsis kawakamii,within the Sanming C.kawakamii Nature Reserve of China.The present experiment aimed to examine the variations in root-leaf traits of seedling,focus on the relative positions of seeds within different layers:beneath or above the litter layer,or within the bare soil layer(without litter).Our fndings provided evidence supporting a coordinated relationship between root and leaf traits,wherein leaf traits varied in conjunction with root traits in the relative positions of seeds.Specifcally,we observed that seedlings exhibited higher values for specifc leaf area and average root diameter,while displaying lower root tissue density.The mixed model explained 86.1%of the variation in root-leaf traits,surpassing the variation explained by the relative positions.Furthermore,soil nitrogen acted as a mediator,regulating the relationship between seedling growth and root-leaf traits,specifcally leaf dry matter content and root tissue density.Therefore,future studies should consider artifcially manipulating tree species diversity based on root-leaf traits characteristics to promote forest recovery.

Hepatitis C virus eradication with directly acting antivirals improves health-related quality of life and psychological symptoms

BACKGROUND Alterations in health-related quality of life(HRQoL)and neuropsychological disorders were described in the hepatitis C virus(HCV)patients.Although several studies investigated the modifications of HRQoL after HCV eradication,no data exists on the modifications of neuropsychological symptoms.AIM To investigate the effect of directly acting antivirals(DAAs)treatment on HRQoL and neuropsychological symptoms.METHODS Thirty nine patients with HCV infection underwent a neuropsychological assessment,including Zung-Self Depression-Rating-Scale,Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y1-Y2 and the Toronto-Alexithymia Scale-20 items before and after DAAs treatment.HRQoL was detected by Short-Form-36(SF-36).RESULTS All HRQoL domains,but role limitation physical and bodily pain,significantly improved after treatment.Interestingly,after DAAs treatment,all domains of HRQoL returned similar to those of controls.Each neuropsychological test significantly improved after HCV eradication.A significant correlation was observed among each psychological test and the summary components of SF-36.At multiple linear regression analysis including each psychological test as possible covariates,Zung-Self Depression Rating Scale(Zung-SDS)score was independently and significantly related to summary components of the SF-36 in the basal state and the difference between Zung-SDS score before and after treatment was the only variable significantly and independently related to the modification of HRQoL induced by the treatment.CONCLUSION Neuropsychological symptoms strongly influenced HRQoL in HCV patients and there was a significant improvement of neuropsychological tests and HRQoL after DAAs treatment.

Combining Ability and Genetic Effects of Germination Traits of Brassica napus L.Under Waterlogging Stress Condition

Cross combinations from six rapeseed cultivars and lines were evaluated under waterlogging stress condition in order to understand the genetic mechanism of waterlogging tolerance of Brassica napus L.and provide reasonable improvement programs.There were six germination traits investigated on combining ability and heritability using complete diallel crossing method designed for 30 combinations from those six cultivars and lines.The traits included relative root length,stem length,fresh weight per plant,survival rate,electrical conductivity,and vigor index.After flooding treatment,the six traits of parents and F1 were analyzed.The general combining ability（GCA） and special combining ability（SCA） of germination traits were analyzed using Griffing I method.Among 30 cross combinations,the GCA was significantly different among six waterlogging resistance traits.The SCA of these traits was significantly different except the SCA of electrical conductivity.As a representative trait of waterlogging tolerance in rapeseed,relative vigor index had the highest narrow heritability and relatively low broad heritability.The cultivars Zhongshuang 9 and P79 had higher tolerance potential to waterlogging stress.It can be concluded that combining ability and genetic effects of relative vigor index during germination stage could be used to identify the waterlogging tolerance of rapeseed in breeding program.