Genetic Variation in Salt Stress Response and Germplasm Resource Evaluation among <i>Lycium</i>Accessions

Genetic variation between naturally occurring ecotypes can be helpful to elucidate the mechanism controlling salt stress response in different environments. The salt stress response of 20 natural accessions or cultivars of Lycium was characterized at a physiological level, following exposed to 300 mM NaCl for 15 days. It is shown that salt stress increased Na+, betaine and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, as well as the relative permeability of plasma membranes, but decreased K+, chlorophyll and glutathione (GSH) content, as well as K+/Na+ ratio compared with their respective control value in most of the varieties, though the increasing or decreasing extent has a clear genetic diversity. The physiological response was utilized to evaluate the salt-tolerant capacity of these varieties by principal component analysis and clustering analysis, and in which total chlorophyll, K+/Na+ ratio and partially GSH have the maximum weight relatively. These varieties could be categorized into four sub-groups, means greatly resistance (Heiguo, Ninqi No. 2 and Beifang), moderately resistant, sensitive, and mostly sensitive (Ninqi No. 7) to salt stress. Our results provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the improvement of saline-alkali land and rational utilization of Lycium germplasm resources in the future.

Genetic Diversity Analysis of Rice Germplasm in Tripura State of Northeast India Using Drought and Blast Linked Markers

We genotyped 74 rice germplasms including Tripura＇s local landraces, improved varieties, cultivars and breeding lines and other rice varieties using molecular markers for genetic diversity, drought QTLs, and blast resistance genes. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 5 with an average of 2.9. The polymorphic information content value per locus ranged from 0.059（RM537） to 0.755（RM252） with an average of 0.475. Cluster analysis based on 30 simple sequence repeat markers revealed 5 clusters and also indicated the presence of variability within the rice accessions. The drought QTL q DTY2.1 was found in 56.0% of germplasms and q DTY1.1 was detected in only 6.8% of the germplasms. Out of seven rice blast resistance genes screened, only two rice varieties, RCPL-1-82 and Buh Vubuk（Lubuk）, were positive for four blast resistance genes while only Releng possessed two blast resistance genes. Among 74 rice germplasms, only three accessions, Releng, RCPL1-82 and Buh Vubuk（Lubuk）, possessed both drought-related QTLs and blast resistance genes. Overall, the 74 indigenous rice genotypes showed low level of genetic diversity, which is in contrast to high level of genetic diversity among rice varieties in northeast India, where highlights the good farming practice, conservation of germplasms and the limitation of molecular markers employed in this study. The presence of both drought related QTLs and blast resistance genes in some of the germplasms can be useful in future breeding programmes.

GNP6,a novel allele of MOC1,regulates panicle and tiller development in rice

The yield of rice is mostly affected by three factors,namely,panicle number,grain number and grain weight.Variation in panicle and grain numbers is mainly caused by tiller and panicle branches generated from axillary meristems(AMs).MOC1 encodes a putative GRAS family nuclear protein that regulates AM formation.Although several alleles of MOC1 have been identified,its variation in germplasm resources remains unclear.In the present study we characterized a novel mocl allele named gnp6 which has a thymine insertion in the coding sequence of the SAW motif in the GRAS domain.This mutation causes arrested branch formation.The SAW motif is necessary for nuclear localization of GNP6/MOC1 where it functions as a transcription factor or co-regulator.Haplotype analysis showed that the coding region of GNP6/MOC1 was conserved without any non-synonymous mutations in 240 rice accessions.However,variation in the promoter region might affect the expression of it and its downstream genes.Joint haplotype analysis of GNP6/MOC1 and MOC3 showed that haplotype combinations H9,H10 and H11,namely MOC1-Hap1 in combination with MOC3-Hap3,MOC3-Hap4 or MOC3-Hap5 could be bred to promote branch formation.These findings will enrich the genetic resources available for rice breeders.

Stable Carbon Isotope Discrimination (δ13C) of Cotton Burrs and Seeds as a Season-Long Integrator of Crop Water Stress

Plant-based irrigation management schemes typically use surrogates such as canopy temperature, alone, or in conjunction with environmental variables, to infer the degree of “crop stress” (biological strain) induced by drought. Few systematic studies of the relationship between “crop stress”, as defined by such surrogates, and physiological estimates of water use efficiency (WUE) exist over both daily and seasonal time scales relevant to agronomic irrigation control. The systematic application of stable carbon isotope discrimination (δ13C) might allow post hoc evaluation of irrigation scheduling schemes and might also be a useful germplasm screening tool if the source(s) of variability can be uncovered and/or controlled. Results from preliminary efforts comparing leaf and cotton seed δ13C to season-long water deficits showed that seeds are more useful indicators of season-long water stress and water use efficiency during crop development.