Genetic effects of Agropyron cristatum 2P chromosome translocation fragments in a wheat background

Agropyron cristatum(2n=4x=28,PPPP)is a wild relative of common wheat which contains a large number of desirable genes that can be exploited for wheat improvement.Wheat–A.cristatum 2P alien translocation lines exhibit many desirable traits,such as small flag leaves,a high spikelet number and density,and a compact plant type.An agronomic trait evaluation and a genetic analysis were carried out on translocation lines and backcross populations of these lines carrying different translocation fragments.The results showed that a translocation fragment from 2PT-3(2PL)reduced the length of the flag leaves,while translocation fragments from 2PT-3(2PL)and 2PT-5(2PL(0.60–1.00))reduced the width of the flag leaves.A translocation fragment from 2PT-13(2PS(0.18–0.36))increased the length and area of the flag leaves.Translocation fragments from 2PT-3(2PL)and 2PT-8(2PL(0.86–1.00))increased the density of spikelets.Translocation fragments from 2PT-7(2PL(0.00–0.09)),2PT-8(2PL(0.86–1.00)),2PT-10(2PS),and 2PT-13(2PS(0.18–0.36))reduced plant height.This study provides a scientific basis for the effective utilization of wheat–A.cristatum translocation lines.

Genetic Effects and Heterosis in Plant Height and Internode Traits of Japonica-Indica Hybrid Rice

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the genetic effects and heterosis of plant height and internode traits of japonica-indica hybrid rice. [Methed] Incomplete diallel crosses were made between six japonica CMS lines and nine indica widecompatibility restorer lines; the genetic effects of plant height and internode traits of japonica-indica hybrid rice were analyzed using the additive-dominance genetic model. [Result] The ple, nt height, panicle length and the length of internode 1 of japonica-in- dica hybrid rice were mainly controlled by the additive effects; but the length of in- ternode 3, internode 4 and internode 5 were mainly controlled by dominance effects. Both the narrow sense heritability and broad sense heritability of plant height, panicle length, number of elongated internodes and length of most internodes reached signifi- cance level. The positive phenotypic correlation, genetic correlation, additive correla- tion and dominance correlation between plant height and panicle length, number of e- longated internodes and internode length were significant; and most of the other paired traits were significantly positively correlated. Heterosis analysis showed that the positive heterosis value over mid-parent and positive heterosis value over better- parent of the length of internode 3, internode 4, internode 5 and internode 6 reached significant level, and the heterosis value over mid-parent of plant height reached extreme significance level. [Conclusion] This study will provide reliable theoretical basis for the genetic improvement and heterosis utilization of plant height and internode traits in japonica-indica hybrid rice.

A Novel Genetic Polymorphism and Its Genetic Effects of Porcine Heart Fatty Acid-Binding(H-FABP)Gene in Intron 1

[Objective] The aim was to provide basic reference for the use of H-FABP gene in marker-assisted selection of the breeding process of pig.[Method] Single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the H-FABP gene in Shanxi White pig,Mashen pig,Large White pig,Landrace and Duroc were tested by PCR-SSCP,and the correlation between genotype and intramuscular fat content in pigs were analyzed.[Result] One polymorphism was found in the amplified region of intron 1 of porcine H-FABP gene,in which two alleles（A and B）and three genotypes（AA,AB,and BB）were examined.C→T transition was detected by sequencing the homozygotes.The multiple comparison of the distribution of genotype in different pig varieties revealed that Mashen pig showed extremely significant difference（P0.01）in genotype distribution with Shanxi White,Landrace,Large White and Duroc breeds;whereas no significant differences（P0.05）were found in genotype distribution between other breeds.Based on the fixed effect model,extremely significant differences（P 0.01）were found in the intramuscular fat content among different H-FABP genotypes.Using least square analysis,it was found that there was significant differences（P 0.05）in the intramuscular fat content between the individuals of the BB genotypes and those of the AA genotypes.[Conclusion] The H-FABP genotype had significant effects on the meat quality.

A post-GWAS confirming the genetic effects and functional polymorphisms of AGPAT3 gene on milk fatty acids in dairy cattle

Background: People are paying more attention to the healthy and balanced diet with the improvement of their living standards. Milk fatty acids(FAs) have been reported that they were related to some atherosclerosis and coronary heart diseases in human. In our previous genome-wide association study(GWAS) on milk FAs in dairy cattle, 83 genomewide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) were detected. Among them, two SNPs, ARS-BFGL-NGS-109493 and BTA-56389-no-rs associated with C18 index(P = 0.0459), were located in the upstream of 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 3(AGPAT3) gene. AGPAT3 is involved in glycerol-lipid, glycerol-phospholipid metabolism and phospholipase D signaling pathways. Hence, it was inferred as a candidate gene for milk FAs. The aim of this study was to further confirm the genetic effects of the AGPAT3 gene on milk FA traits in dairy cattle.Results: Through re-sequencing the complete coding region, and 3000 bp of 5′ and 3′ regulatory regions of the AGPA T3 gene, a total of 17 SNPs were identified, including four in 5′ regulatory region, one in 5′ untranslated region(UTR),three in introns, one in 3′ UTR, and eight in 3′ regulatory region. By the linkage disequilibrium(LD) analysis with Haploview4.1 software, two haplotype blocks were observed that were formed by four and 12 identified SNPs,respectively. Using SAS9.2, we performed single locus-based and haplotype-based association analysis on 24 milk FAs in 1065 Chinese Holstein cows, and discovered that all the SNPs and the haplotype blocks were significantly associated with C6:0, C8:0 and C10:0(P < 0.0001–0.0384). Further, with Genomatix, we predicted that four SNPs in 5′ regulatory region(g.146702957 G > A, g.146704373 A > G, g.146704618 A > G and g.146704699 G > A) changed the transcription factor binding sites(TFBSs) for transcription factors SMARCA3, REX1, VMYB, BRACH, NKX26, ZBED4, SP1, USF1, ARNT and FOXA1. Out of them, two SNPs were validated to impact transcriptional activity by performing luciferase assay that the alleles A of both SNPs, g.146704373 A > G and g.146704618 A > G, increased the transcriptional activities of AGPAT3 promoter compared with alleles G(P = 0.0004).Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings first demonstrated the significant genetic associations of the AGPAT3 gene with milk FAs in dairy cattle, and two potential causal mutations were detected.

Genetic and Genotype × Environment Interaction Effects for Appearance Quality of Rice

This study was conducted to generate genetic information in rice varieties based on a complete diallel crosses over two years. The results indicated that genotype effect was significant for all traits. Genotype × environment interaction effects were significant only for cooked grain length （CGL） and cooked grain shape （CGSH）. General combining ability （GCA） and specific combining ability （SCA） effects were significant for entire traits, which indicated the important roles of both additive and non-additive gene actions. GCA x environment interaction effects were significant for CGL, CGSH and grain elongation index （GEI）. In the controlling of the inheritance of milled grain shape （GSH）, milled grain width （MGW）, GEI, milled grain length （MGL）, CGSH and cooked grain width （CGW）, the additive gene effects were more important than non-additive one. The average degree of dominance was within the range of partial dominance for all of the traits. The narrow-sense heritability was ranged from 0.65 （GSH） to 0.36 （CGL）. GCA effects were significant for all of the parents in milled grain length and it was significant for some of the parents in other traits. The crosses of Deilmani × IRFAON-215 exhibited significant SCA for GEI. The positive mean of heterosis was observed for CGW. The highest maximum values of heterosis were revealed in GEI, flowed by GSH, MGW and CGW. GCA and MPV were significantly and positively correlated together for all traits.

Genetic Analysis of Embryo, Cytoplasm and Maternal Effects and Their Environment Interactions for Isoflavone Content in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]

Soybean seed products contain isoflavones （genistein, daidzein, and glycitein） that display biological effects when ingested by humans and animals. These effects are species, dose and age dependent. Therefore, the content and quality of isoflavones in soybeans is a key factor to the biological effect. Our objective was to identify the genetic effects that underlie the isoflavone content in soybean seeds. A genetic model for quantitative traits of seeds in diploid plants was applied to estimate the genetic main effects and genotype x environment （GE） interaction effects for the isoflavone content （IC） of soybean seeds by using two years experimental data with an incomplete diallel mating design of six parents. Results showed that the IC of soybean seeds was simultaneously controlled by the genetic effects of maternal, embryo, and cytoplasm, of which maternal genetic effects were most important, followed by embryo and cytoplasmic genetic effects. The main effects of different genetic systems on IC trait were more important than environment interaction effects. The strong dominance effects on isoflavone from residual was made easily by environment conditions. Therefore, the improvement of the IC of soybean seeds would be more efficient when selection is based on maternal plants than that on the single seed. Maternal heritability （65.73%） was most important for IC, followed by embryo heritability （25.87%） and cytoplasmic heritability （8.39%）. Based on predicated genetic effects, Yudou 29 and Zheng 90007 were better than other parents for increasing IC in the progeny and improving the quality of soybean, The significant effects of maternal and embryo dominance effects in variance show that the embryo heterosis and maternal heterosis are existent and uninfluenced by environment interaction effects.

Analysis of genetic effects and correlations for nutrient quality traits of indica rice in different environments

Understanding the variation for the expressionof genes in different environments is one of themajor goals in qualitative genetics. In this pa-per, the genetic models for quantitative traitsof endosperm in cereal crops were used to eval-uate the seed, cytoplasm and maternal geneticeffects as well as the genotype × environment(GE) interaction effects, and to predict thebreeding value of parents and genotypic corre-lation for nutrient quality traits of indica rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Dissection of Genetic Effects of Quantitative Trait Loci(QTL) in Transgenic Cotton

When alien DNA inserts into cotton genome in multi-copy manner,several QTL in cotton genome are disrupted,which are called dQTL in this study.Transgenic mutant line is near-isogenic to its recipient which is divergent for the dQTL from remaining QTL.So,a set of data from a

Genetic and Environmental Effects on the Bone Development of the Hand and Wrist in Chinese Young Twins

We assessed genetic and environmental effectson bone development of the hand and wrist, andon key anthropometric measures in Chinese youngtwins. In total, 139 monozygotic and 95 dizygotictwin pairs aged from 5 to 18 years were recruited.The twin correlations of total hand and wrist scoresfor monozygotic （MZ） and dizygotic （DZ） twins were0.71 and 0.36, respectively. Bivariate modelanalysis showed moderate genetic correlations onlyfor total skeletal maturity vs. weight and totalskeletal maturity vs. waist circumference （r, 0.51and 0.46, respectively）. Our findings demonstratedthat genetic factors played important roles in bonedevelopment of the hand and wrist in Chineseyoung twins, and that these genetic effects mightbe distinct from those influencing anthropometricmeasures.

Coherent estimates of genetic effects with missing information

Genetic effect estimates for loci detected in quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping experiments depend upon two factors. First, they are parameterizations of the genotypic values determined by the model of genetic effects. Second, they are consequently also affected by the regression method used to estimate the genotypic values from the observed marker genotypes and phenotypes. There are two common causes for marker-genotype data to be incomplete in those experiments—missing marker-genotypes and within-interval mapping. Different regression methods tend to differ in how this missing information is represented and handled. In this communication we explain why the estimates of genetic effects of QTL obtained using standard regression methods are not coherent with the model of genetic effects and indeed show intrinsic inconsistencies when there is incomeplete genotype information. We then describe the interval mapping by imputations (IMI) regression method and prove that it overcomes those problems. A numerical example is used to illustrate the use of IMI and the consequences of using current methods of choice. IMI enables researchers to obtain estimates of genetic effects that are coherent with the model of genetic effects used, despite incomplete genotype information. Furthermore, because IMI allows orthogonal estimation of genetic effects, it shows potential performance advantages for being implemented in QTL mapping tools.

Genetic expression and effects of the rolled leaf gene Rl(t) in hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.)

We constructed a nearisogenic line of rolled leaf gene Rl(t), which ex-pressed incompletely dondnance for the character of rolled leaf(RL), with ge-netic background of Zhenshan 97B. Using RL Zhenshan 97B and the originalZhenshan 97B as the female parents, and Minghui 63 and Yanhui 559 as themale parents, crosses of RL Shanyu 63 (RS63) and Shanyu 63(S63), RLShanyou 559 (RS559) and Shanyou 559 (S559) were made. Inheritance andeffects of Rl(t) in hybrid rice were studied at the flowering and at the 20 d afterflowering, respectively. Results were as follow:

Analysis of genetic effects and heritabilities for amylose content of indica rice in different environments

An understanding of the genetic effects of em-bryo genes for rice quality traits is of impor-tance for rice quality improvement. Analysisof embryo, endosperm, cytoplasmic, and ma-ternal genetic effects and genotype×environ-

Analysis of seed and maternal genetic effects on cooking quality characters in indica hybrid rice

We analysed seed and maternal genetic effects on characters of cooking quality in indica hybrid rice by using the model for quantitative characters of seeds of cereal crops. Incomplete diallel crosses were made by using six male sterile lines (Zhenshan 97A, Erjiuqing A, Erjiunan 1A, V20A, Zhe’nan 1A and Zhe’nan 3A)as females and three restorer lines(Cezao 2-2, T49 and 26715)as males. Sampled seeds were used to measure the cooking quality characters, including amylose content(%), gelatinization temperature(alkali spreading score)and gel consistency(mm). Results indicated that some rice cooking quality characters were controlled by both seed genes and maternal genes (see table). Gel consistency was mainly controlled by maternal effects, but also

Genomic prediction of yield performance among single-cross maize hybrids using a partial diallel cross design

Genomic prediction(GP)in plant breeding has the potential to predict and identify the best-performing hybrids based on the genotypes of their parental lines.In a GP experiment,34 elite inbred lines were selected to make 285 single-cross hybrids in a partial-diallel cross design.These lines represented a mini-core collection of Chinese maize germplasm and comprised 18 inbred lines from the Stiff Stalk heterotic group and 16 inbred lines from the Non-Stiff Stalk heterotic group.The parents were genotyped by sequencing and the 285 hybrids were phenotyped for nine yield and yield-related traits at two locations in the summer sowing area(SUS)and three locations in the spring sowing area(SPS)in the main maizeproducing regions of China.Multiple GP models were employed to assess the accuracy of trait prediction in the hybrids.By ten-fold cross-validation,the prediction accuracies of yield performance of the hybrids estimated by the genomic best linear unbiased prediction(GBLUP)model in SUS and SPS were 0.51 and 0.46,respectively.The prediction accuracies of the remaining yield-related traits estimated with GBLUP ranged from 0.49 to 0.86 and from 0.53 to 0.89 in SUS and SPS,respectively.When additive,dominance,epistasis effects,genotype-by-environment interaction,and multi-trait effects were incorporated into the prediction model,the prediction accuracy of hybrid yield performance was improved.The ratio of training to testing population and size of training population optimal for yield prediction were determined.Multiple prediction models can improve prediction accuracy in hybrid breeding.

Developmental Genetic Analysis of Brown Rice Weight Under Different Environmental Conditions in indica Rice

Analysis of genetic main effects and genotype x environment (GE) interaction effects for brown rice weight (BRW) at four different filling stages in indica lice (Oryza sativa L.) was conducted for two-year experimental data by using developmental genetic models and corresponding statistical approaches for quantitative traits of seeds in cereal crops. It was indicated that the genetic main effects and their GE interaction effects of triploid endosperm, cytoplasmic and diploid maternal plant genes were important for BRW at different filling stages of rice, especially for endosperm or maternal additive main effects and their additive interaction effects. Because of the higher additive effects and additive interaction effects for BRW at different filling stages, the better improving effects for this trait could be expected by selection in rice breeding. The results of conditional genetic variance components showed that the new expression of quantitative genes in endosperm and maternal plant for BRW was mostly found at all different filling stages of rice. The gene expression, however, was most active at the early filling stages especially for the first (1-7 d) and the second filling stages (8-14 d after flowering). The phenomena that some genes were spasmodically expressible among filling stages of rice were detected for some genetic effects especially for net cytoplasmic main effects or its interaction effects and net dominance main effects. Predicted genetic effects at different filling stages of rice showed that some parents such as V20 and Zuo 5 were better than others for improving the BRW.

Genetic study on seed coat characteristics in multiploid watermelon

[ Objective] This study is to provide basis for the genetic improvement of triploid watermelon cultivars from seed coat characteristiscs by analyzing its genetic properties. [ Method ] Genetic effects of seed coat characteristics and their related characteristics in tdploid watermelon were analyzed by additive dominant genetic model based on 36 F1 hybrids which were crossed by six female parents of four ecotypes and six male parents of same ecotype according to North Carolina II crossing design. [ Result] The seed coat number characteristics was controlled by additive effects, dominant effects and error variance of genetic together. The additive effects of the length and width of abortive seed coat were significant, and the error variance was significant or highly significant. It was observed that there was a significant negative correlation of additive effects between the seed coat number and fringe soluble sugar. Also there was a significant negative correlation of dominant effects between lycopenes, dry matter and the seed coat number. However, there was a highly significant positive correlation in additive effects between the length and width of abortive seed coat. [ Conclusion ] The results provide guidance for genetic breeding of triploid watermelon cultivars.

Genetic Analysis on Plant Height in Rice in Different Growing Seasons

[Objective] The aim was to carry out the genetic analysis on plant height of rice（Oryza sativa L.）cultivated in different seasons.[Method] Three rice parents with great difference in plant height including CB1（83.1 cm）,CB4（105.5 cm）and CB7（115.6 cm）were chosen to construct two parental combinations：CB1×CB4 and CB7×CB4,and the corresponding filial generations P1,F1,P2,B1,B2 and F2 were obtained.The 6 populations were planted in middle and late seasons respectively to measure their height traits.The Akaike＇s information criterion（AIC）of the mixed major gene and polygene model was used to indentify the existence of major genes affecting quantitative traits in B1,B2,F2 populations.When the major genes existed,the genetic effects of the major genes and polygenes and their genetic variance were estimated through segregation analysis.[Result] One additive major gene plus additive-dominance polygenes was the most fitted genetic model for the trait in all B1,B2,F2 populations in two planting seasons.The heritability values of the major genes varied from 38.63% to 78.53% and those of polygenes varied from 1.72% to 36.04%,and the total heritability values were 45.52-92.93%.The additive effect d value of the two genetic populations under two planting seasons was-4.56,-9.16,-7.19,and-9.38,respectively,as suggested that additive effect of the major genes would decrease the express of the plant height trait.[Conclusion] The heritability of plant height trait was affected by planting seasons and the combinations clearly as a whole.

Genetic analysis of fruit shape traits at different maturation stages in sponge gourd

The fruit shape is important quantitative trait closely related to the fruit quality. However, the genetic model of fruit shapes has not been proposed. Therefore, in the present study, analysis of genetic effects for fruit shape traits （fruit length and fruit perimeter） in sponge gourd was conducted by employing a developmental genetic model including fruit direct effects and maternal effects. Analysis approaches of unconditional and conditional variances were applied to evaluate the genetic behavior of fruit shape traits at economical and physiological maturation times. The results of variance analysis indicated that fruit length and fruit perimeter were simultaneously affected by fruit direct genetic effects and maternal effects. Fruit direct genetic effects were relatively more important for fruit shape traits at whole developmental period. The gene expression was most active at the economical maturation stage （1-12 d after flowering） for two shape traits, and the activation of gene was mostly due to direct dominance effects at physiological maturation stage （13-60 datter flowering）. The coefficients due to different genetic effects, as well as the phenotypic correlation coefficients, varied significantly between fruit shape traits themselves at various maturation stages. The results showed that it was relatively easy to improve fruit shape traits for industrial purpose by carefully selecting the parents at economical maturation stage instead of that at physiological maturation stage.

Developmental quantitative genetic analysis of body weights and morphological traits in the turbot, Scophthalmus maximus

In order to elucidate the genetic mechanism of growth traits in turbot during ontogeny, developmental genetic analysis of the body weights, total lengths, standard lengths and body heights of turbots was conducted by mixed genetic models with additive-dominance effects, based on complete diallel crosses with four different strains of Scophthalmus maximus from Denmark, Norway, Britain, and France. Unconditional genetic analysis revealed that the unconditional additive effects for the four traits were more significant than unconditional dominance effects, meanwhile, the alternative expressions were also observed between the additive and dominant effects for body weights, total lengths and standard lengths. Conditional analysis showed that the developmental periods with active gene expression for body weights, total lengths, standard lengths and body heights were 15–18, 15 and 21–24, 15 and 24, and 21 and 27 months of age, respectively. The proportions of unconditional/conditional variances indicated that the narrow-sense heritabilities of body weights, total lengths and standard lengths were all increased systematically. The accumulative effects of genes controlling the four quantitative traits were mainly additive effects, suggesting that the selection is more efficient for the genetic improvement of turbots. The conditional genetic procedure is a useful tool to understand the expression of genes controlling developmental quantitative traits at a specific developmental period（t-1→t） during ontogeny. It is also important to determine the appropriate developmental period（t-1→t） for trait measurement in developmental quantitative genetic analysis in fish.

Identification and Genetic Analysis of Fertility Restoration Ability in Dongxiang Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon)

Two populations of Dongxiang wild rice （Oryza rufipogon）, Shuitaoshu and Dongtangshang, were crossed with five male sterile rice lines with different cytoplasmic backgrounds （B06S, Zhenshan 97A, Xieqingzao A, Zhong 9A, and Yuetai A）, and the seed setting rate of the F1 was used to judge the fertility restoration ability in the Dongxiang wild rice. With P1, F1, P2, and F2 populations as materials, the Akaike＇s Information Criterion （AIC） was used to identify the major genes affecting quantitative traits, and when the major genes existed, the genetic effects of the major gene and the polygene and their genetic variance were estimated through segregation analysis. The seed setting rates of the F1 generation varied from 45.98% to 76.57%, suggesting that the Dongxiang wild rice had the fertility restoration ability. One major gene plus polygene mixed inheritance model was the most fitted genetic model for this trait in all the F2 populations. The heritability values of the major genes varied from 56.63% to 88.29% and those of the polygenes from 2.74% to 30.97%, and the total heritability values were from 63.17% to 94.01%. The major gene inheritance of the combination Zhong 9A/Dongtangshang was controlled by the additive effect without dominant effect, and the other nine combinatfons were by the completely dominant inheritance.