Quantitative trait locus analysis of lateral branch-related traits in cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.)using recombinant inbred lines

A group of 224 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was derived from a narrow cross between 2 cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) lines, namely, S94 (Northern China type with weak lateral branch growth potential and early lateral branch sprouting time) and S06 (Northern European type with strong lateral branch growth potential and late lateral branch sprouting time). These lines were then used for investigating lateral branch-related traits. A total of 36 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected for the following 4 lateral branch-related traits: lateral branch average length (LBAL), lateral branch total length (LBTL), lateral branch number (LBN), and first lateral branch node (FLBN). Further, each QTL explained 3.1% (lbtl2.1, spring) to 32.3% (lbn2.3, spring) of the observed phenotypic variance. Eleven QTLs (lbal1.1, lbtl1.1, lbn1.2, flbn1.2, etc.) for different traits were found to be clustered on the e23m18d-ME23EM6c section (7.4 cM) of linkage group (LG) 1; further, 15 QTLs (lbal2.1, lbtl2.1, lbn2.1, flbn2.1, etc.) were found to be clustered on the S94A1-ME4SA4a section (13.9 cM) of LG2. Twenty-one QTLs explained more than 10% of the phenotypic variance. Moreover, lbtl1.3 (autumn, 26.2%, logarithm of odds (LOD) = 17.4; spring, 26.9%, LOD = 17.9) had stable position and contribution in both seasons. Several se-quence-anchor markers (CMBR40, F, CS30, S94A1, CSWTA11B, etc.) were closely linked with some QTLs for LBAL, LBTL, LBN, and FLBN, which can be used for the marker-assisted selection to improve the plant architecture in cucumber breeding.

Molecular Basis of Unique Branching Phenotypes in Salvia splendens and the Role of PSY

The branching system of higher plants plays a very important role in plant morphogenesis,and the number of branches can directly affect crop yield and the ornamental value of plants.It is a complicated development process involving complex molecular mechanisms.The‘Cailinghong’variety of Salvia splendens is characterized by its great branching ability with the ability to grow into a spherical form naturally,without pinching.To gain insight into the molecular events during the branching development of S.splendens,suppressive subtractive hybridization(SSH)technology was used to screen differentially expressed genes between the erect plant type(strain 35)and the spherical plant type(‘Cailinghong’).In total,96 and 116 unigenes were annotated.Four and eight unigenes up-regulated in‘Cailinghong’and strain 35,respectively,were associated with plant hormone anabolism and signal transduction,suggesting that they participate in the branching process.One of these genes,phytoene synthase(PSY),is a precursor of the new plant hormone group strigolactones.Using the PSY fragment(192 bp)as a template,the cDNA sequence of PSY in S.splendens was cloned and named SsPSY.A relative expression analysis and transgenic test results indicated that SsPSY plays an important role in lateral branch development in‘Cailinghong’.These results provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying branching in S.splendens.

Numerical Modeling of the Stability of Horizontal Multidrain Oil Wells

The stability of the horizontal multidrain wells is a crucial issue and several factors are involved in this matter, including in-situ stresses, magnitude and distribution as well as the mainbore trajectories. In this paper, this issue is evaluated by assuming different circumstances for the above mentioned factors, based on finite difference threedimensional modeling by using the finite difference numerical software, FLAC3 D. The stability of the mainbore and lateral branches is analyzed based on the Normalized Yielded Zone Area（NYZA） criterion, i.e. the ratio of the surrounding yielded cross-sectional area to the initial area of the well. Optimum mud pressures are obtained in the mainbore and lateral branches in different mainbore trajectories under three in-situ stress regimes. In addition, the stability of the junction where the lateral branches are bifurcated from the mainbore is assessed in those situations. The optimum trajectory of the mainbore, in which the junction has obtained the most stable condition, is selected in each stress regime. It was concluded that in the Normal Faulting（NF） stress regime, the mainbore and junction stability varies in relation to the mainbore trajectories, inversely. However, in the other two stress regimes, i.e. Strike Slip（SS） and Reverse Faulting（RF）, the variations of the mainbore and junction stability are in the same trend with respect to the mainbore trajectory deviations.

Bract suppression regulated by the miR156/529-SPLs-NL1-PLA1 module is required for the transition from vegetative to reproductive branching in rice

Reproductive transition of grasses is characterized by switching the pattern of lateral branches,featuring the suppression of outgrowth of the subtending leaves(bracts)and rapid formation of higher-order branches in the inflorescence(panicle).However,the molecular mechanisms underlying such changes remain largely unknown.Here,we show that bract suppression is required for the reproductive branching in rice.We identified a pathway involving the intrinsic time ruler microRNAI56/529,their targets SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN LIKE(SPL)genes,NECK LEAF1(NL1),and PLASTOCHRON1(PLA1),which regulates the bract outgrowth and thus affects the pattern switch between vegetative and reproductive branching.Suppression of the bract results in global reprogramming of transcriptome and chromatin accessibility following the reproductive transition,while these processes are largely dysregu-lated in the mutants of these genes.These discoveries contribute to our understanding of the dynamic plant architecture and provide novel insights for improving crop yields.

An improved single-π equivalent circuit model for on-chip inductors in GaAs process

An improved single-π equivalent circuit model for on-chip inductors in the GaAs process is presented in this paper. Considering high order parasites, the model is established by comprising an improved skin effect branch and a substrate lateral coupling branch. The parameter extraction is based on an improved characteristic function approach and vector fitting method. The model has better simulation than the previous work over the measured data of 2.5r and 4.5r on-chip inductors in the GaAs process.