Selection of Example Varieties Used in the DUS Test Guideline of Tagetes L.

[Objective] Taking the characteristic of flower diameter of Tagetes L.as an example,this study aimed to select example varieties used in the DUS Test Guideline of Tagetes L.[Method] Two continuous years of measurements of flower diameter of 25 varieties were collected and then analyzed by using the box plot to illustrate the uniformity and stability of flower diameter of each variety.[Result] According to the information of variability,distribution symmetry of measurements and outliers of flower diameter of varieties provided by box plots,variety 16,2 and 4 were selected as the example varieties for the three expression states with respective flower diameter of 3.0-4.4,6.0-7.4 and 9.0-10.4 cm.[Conclusion] The box plot is an efficient method for the general analysis of varieties,which provides information covering the actual and possible expression range,median and outliers of measurements of flower diameter of each variety.It also provides references for selecting example varieties for other quantitative characteristics and evaluating the quality of varieties.

Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis of Fagopyrum tataricum Varieties(Lines)

In order to reveal the genetic differences and agronomic traits of Fagopy-rum tataricum_ varieties （lines） intuitively, explore good resources and avoid the blindness of parent selection during the breeding process, six primary agronomic traits of 45 F. tataricum_ varieties （lines） that came from the eleven buckwheat breeding departments across the country were analyzed with principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The results of principal component analysis showed that the six agronomic traits could be simplified into three principal components, and the cumulative contribution rate reached 83%. The results of cluster analysis showed that the 45 F. tataricum varieties （lines） were classified into four groups：high stalk, medium yield and smal grain type, medium stalk, high yield and large grain type, medium stalk, low yield and smal grain type and high stalk, medium yield and medium grain type. Among them, performance of comprehensive trait of the second type was better than that of the other types. Thus, the F. tataricum_va-rieties （lines） that were classified into the second type could be considered as good varieties （lines） or breeding materials. The genetic differences among F. tataricum_varieties （lines） had no necessary correlations with origin and geographical distance. ln addition to complementary traits and geographical distance, genetic distances （dif-ferent populations） should be taken into consideration during parent selection in cross breeding.

Characterization of QTL for unique agronomic traits of new-plant-type rice varieties using introgression lines of IR64

To enhance the yield potential of an elite indica rice cultivar,an introgression(BC_3-derived) line of IR64,YTH288,was developed using a new-plant-type cultivar,IR66215-44-2-3,as a donor parent.YTH288 has agronomically valuable characteristics such as large panicles,few unproductive tillers,and large leaves inherited from NPT.To identify the genetic basis of these traits,we used 167 F_2 plants derived from a cross between IR64 and YTH288 to conduct QTL analysis for five agronomic traits:days to heading(DTH),culm length(CL),flag leaf length(FLL),flag leaf width(FLW),and filled spikelet number per panicle(FSN).Six putative QTL were detected:four on chromosome4(for CL,FLL,FLW,and FSN) and two on chromosome 2(for DTH and FLL).All QTL with the IR66215-44-2-3 allele,except that for FLL on chromosome 2,had positive effects on each trait.To confirm the effects of these putative QTL,we developed NILs with the IR64 genetic background by marker-assisted selection.We observed significant differences in several agronomic traits between IR64 and NILs that carried these QTL on chromosomes2 and 4.Additionally,four IR64-NILs carrying chromosomal segments derived from different NPT varieties on the long arm of chromosome 4 exhibited similar pleiotropic To enhance the yield potential of an elite indica rice cultivar, an introgression(BC3-derived) line of IR64, YTH288, was developed using a new-plant-type cultivar,IR66215-44-2-3, as a donor parent. YTH288 has agronomically valuable characteristics such as large panicles, few unproductive tillers, and large leaves inherited from NPT.To identify the genetic basis of these traits, we used 167 F2 plants derived from a cross between IR64 and YTH288 to conduct QTL analysis for five agronomic traits: days to heading(DTH), culm length(CL), flag leaf length(FLL), flag leaf width(FLW), and filled spikelet number per panicle(FSN). Six putative QTL were detected: four on chromosome4(for CL, FLL, FLW, and FSN) and two on chromosome 2(for DTH and FLL). All QTL with the IR66215-44-2-3 allele, except that for FLL on chromosome 2, had positive effects on each trait. To confirm the effects of these putative QTL, we developed NILs with the IR64 genetic background by marker-assisted selection. We observed significant differences in several agronomic traits between IR64 and NILs that carried these QTL on chromosomes2 and 4. Additionally, four IR64-NILs carrying chromosomal segments derived from different NPT varieties on the long arm of chromosome 4 exhibited similar pleiotropiceffects for unique agronomic traits. These NILs can be used as research materials for studying each trait and as breeding materials for yield improvement of indica rice cultivars.

Development of DUS Test Guidelines for new varieties of Viburnum L.

Distinctness,uniformity and stability(DUS)Test Guidelines for new varieties of Viburnum L.were developed according to the principles and requirements of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants(UPOV)and China.The development processes,including selection and determination of testing characteristics,determination of expression states of characteristics,selection of example varieties,determination of the order of characteristics,and assessment of distinctness,uniformity and stability,are described in this paper.There were 54 testing characteristics:24 qualitative characteristics(QL),15 quantitative characteristics(QN),15 pseudoqualitative characteristics(PQ)and 34 example varieties in the DUS Test Guidelines.Among the 54 testing characteristics,20 were asterisked and 34 were non-asterisked.Seven were selected for variety groupings and 18 were adopted in the Technical Questionnaire.The development of these DUS Test Guidelines will be useful for the application and protection of new Viburnum varieties.The Guidelines will provide technical support for DUS testing of Viburnum and serve as a reference for the development of new varieties in other countries.

Nutritional and Technological Characteristics of New Cowpea (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i>) Lines and Varieties Grown in Eastern Kenya

Protein sources in the diet of people living in semi-arid land of Kenya are lacking and if available it is costly to them. In terms of safe food and a healthy food supply, cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata.) are a significant source of protein, carbohydrates, and minerals especially for poor populations in the Kenya, it is said to be poor man’s meat. The aim of this study was to determine nutritional composition of newly bred ten cowpea lines and five varieties commonly grown in Eastern Kenya of Kitui, Machakos and Makueni counties to understand their potential utilization in curbing rising food and nutrition insecurity in arid and semi-arid lands ASALs and in any other food applications in Kenya. The experiment was arranged in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) whereby proximate composition and minerals were determined using standard AOAC and AACC methods and technological characteristics checked using modified methods used by other researchers. Collected data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using SAS (2006) version 9.1, mean separation was done using Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) method at 5% level of significance. Cowpeas composition ranged from 12.28% - 13.35% for moisture content, 49.37% - 55.74% for total carbohydrates, 2.99% - 3.34% for crude ash, 0.13% - 0.81% for crude lipids, 23.37% - 29.70% for crude protein and 1.40% - 4.34% for crude fibers. Cowpea samples recorded highest percentage of essential amino acids (60.71%) and non-essential amino acids (39.29%). Minerals ranged from 1.97 - 2.69 mg/100g for calcium, 3.23 - 3.90 mg/100g for magnesium, 205.53 - 223.30 mg/100g for sodium, 0.80 - 1.23 mg/100g for zinc, 1071.15 - 1152.62 mg/100g for potassium and 0.62 - 1.06 mg/100g for phosphorus. For technological properties, lines absorbed water equivalent to their weights and they were comparable to varieties grown in the region. From the results it showed that cowpea line IT97K-1042-3, TEXAN PINKIYE, TX123, IT85F-867-5, IT82D-889-1 and IT82D-889 have desirable attributes such as high crude protein contents, good water absorption capacities and volumetric expansion. They compared well with existing K80 variety. These cowpea lines could possibly be bred and combined into a single cowpea line and further improved by breeders to have other good properties such as higher levels of water absorption during soaking hence reduced cooking times. Therefore, this work has shown that cowpea lines developed can be used as food security crop, industrial food applications and enriching foods of low protein like in complementary foods for healthy food supply in Eastern Kenya.

Comparison of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Models for Determining Protein and Amylose Contents Between Calibration Samples of Recombinant Inbred Lines and Conventional Varieties of Rice

The near infrared spectra of 178 recombinant inbred lines （RILs） from the cross of Ⅱ-32B/Yuezaoxian 6 （YZX6） and 511 varieties in rice were acquired. A total of 80 RILs and 96 cultivars were selected as modeling samples by comparing the spectra similarity primarily. Three partial least square （PLS） regression models were developed, based on the RILs （RIL-model）, the varieties （Var-model） and their mixture （Mix-model）, for protein content （PC） and amylose content （AC）, respectively. Cross validation and outer prediction showed that the models were largely influenced by the range and distribution of modeling samples. The regression model of PC based on the cultivars and the model of AC based on RILs had higher coefficient of determination （r^2 ≥ 0.9） and lower root mean square error of cross validation （RMSECVs）. The disadvantages of RIL samples for PC model and variety samples for AC model were probably caused by the narrow range of variance. Aberrant predictions were obtained for outer sample with PC or AC outside the range or within the distribution gap of modeling samples. The Mix-models gave more reliable prediction as the distribution of RIL and variety modeling samples were complementary to each other.

Correlation of Inhibitor Proteinase in Varieties and Lines of Cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.) to Different Geographic Population of Verticillium dathliae Klebahn

Breeding for wilt resistance and its theoretical basis are primarily responsible for increases in cotton yield and fiber quality. Breeding for immunity is the most efficient method in our struggle with infectious diseases.

Research on the Adaptability of New Flue-cured Tobacco Varieties(Lines) in Ankang Tobacco Growing Area

In order to screen new flue-cured tobacco varieties （lines） with mountain characteristics of Ankang tobacco growing area, the adaptable selection experiments of 6 newly introduced flue-cured tobacco varieties （lines） were carried out at the 2 set test sites in Ankang producing areas with K326, ＇Yunyan 87＇ and ＇Qinyan 96＇ as controls. The results showed that YN105 had more leaves per plant and coordi- nate chemical composition, and the yield per unit area was 2 221.05 kg/hm2 with the single output of 33 960.00 yuan/hm^2. Its rate of high and medium class leaves was 80.17%, presenting good performances in testing varieties （lines）. The flowering of YN99 was late but showed coordinate chemical composition, and the yield per unit area was 2 128.50 kg/hm^2 with the single output of 33 454.05 yuan/hm^2. Its rate of high and medium class leaves was 83.17%, which also had good perfor- mances in testing varieties （lines）. It was recommended that YN105 and YN99 be moderate planted in Ankang tobacco growing area, but further experiment is needed to confirm.

Effect of Daidzein on Ileum Microflora Biodiversity in Hy-Line Variety Brown Layers

Daidzein is always added into poultry feed to make the production performance and immunity of poultry better. In this study, a total of 600 40-week-old Hy-Line variety brown layers were randomized into five groups and fed with a corn-soybean-mixed basal diet supplement with 0, 10, 50, 100, and 500 mg · kg^-1 daidzein, respectively. Then, two PCR-based typing methods（RAPD-PCR and ERIC-PCR） were combined to analyze the ileum content and explore the changes of ileum microflora biodiversity. The results of RAPD-PCR and ERIC-PCR showed that bands under 10 mg · kg^-1 and 50 mg · kg^-1 were the most, and their similarity was the largest. Bands under 500 mg · kg^-1 were the least and similarity with other groups was the minimum. Ileum microflora biodiversity under 10 mg · kg^-1 or 50 mg · kg^-1 was richer than that under 500 mg · kg^-1. A corn-soybean-mixed basal diet supplement with 10 mg · kg^-1 to 50 mg · kg^-1 of daidzein might be beneficial to Hy-Line variety brown layers intestinal bacteria.

Boehmeria nivea var. strigosa (Urticaceae), a new variety from Southwest China

Boehmeria nivea var.strigosa Zeng Y.Wu&Y.Zhao,a new variety of B.nivea(Urticaceae)from Southwest China,is here described based on evidence from morphology and molecular phylogeny.This new variety is mainly characterized by its green abaxial leaf blade,partly connate stipules,and densely patent strigose hairs on stems and potioles.The phylogenetic analysis based on rbc L,nrDNA and rbc L+nrDNA datasets,revealed that all individuals of B.nivea var.strigosa formed a monophyletic group.The conservation status of B.nivea var.strigosa is assessed as“Near Threatened”(NT)according to IUCN evaluation criteria.The discovery of this new variety is not only crucial for the taxonomy of ramie,but also provides reference for the exploration and utilization of ramie.

Screening of Tobacco Varieties/Lines Suitable for Ankang Tobacco-growing Area of Shaanxi Province

In order to screen excellent tobacco varieties/lines that can be promoted in Ankang tobacco-growing area, this article analyzed the growth stages, botanical characteristics, agronomic characteristics, disease resistance, flue-cured leaf appearance and economic characteristics of five tobacco varieties （lines）： Yunyan 99, Yunyan 105, 6517, PVH19 and K326. The results showed that, compared with the control K326, Yunyan 105 had good appearance of flue-cured leaves, long growth duration and high disease resistance; its floral buds appeared early; it produced 22.8 leaves per plant, high yield of 2 134.5 kg/hm2 and high economic output of 39 274.8 Yuan/hm2. The percentage of first-class leaves of Yunyan 105 reached 39.07%, and the weight per leaf was 8.4 g. Yunyan 99 also had good appearance of flue-cured leaves, large stem diameter, large middle leaves high disease resistance; the sand leaves of Yunyan 99 matured early; its tobacco leaf yield was 2 058 kg/hm2, and its economic output reached 36 838.5 Yuan/hm2; the percentage of first-class leaves of Yunyan 99 was 40.4%. In summary, both Yunyan 105 and Yunyan 99 performed well in all tested traits, and thus can be selectively planted in Ankang tobaccogrowing area.

Experimental,Numerical,and Analytical Studies on the Bending of Mechanically Lined Pipe

Mechanically lined pipe(MLP)is often used for offshore oil and gas transport because of its low cost and corrosion resistance.During installation and operation,the pipe may undergo severe bending deformation,which causes the liner to separate from the outer pipe and buckles,affecting the stability of the whole line.In this paper,the buckling response of MLP subjected to bending is investigated to clarify its bending characteristics by employing both experiments,numerical simulation,as theoretical methods.Two types of MLPs were manufactured with GB 45 carbon steel(SLP)and Al 6061(ALP)used as the outer pipe material,respectively.The hydraulic expansion and bending experiments of small-scale MLPs are conducted.In addition to the ovalized shape of the cross-section for the SLP specimens,the copper liner was found to wrinkle on the compressive side.In contrast,the liner of ALP remains intact without developing any wrinkling and collapse mode.In addition,a dedicated numerical framework and theoretical models were also established.It was found both the manufacturing and bending responses of the MLP can be well reproduced,and the predicted maximum moment and critical curvatures are in good agreement with the experimental results.

<i>In-Vitro</i>Determination of Biological and Anabolic Functions of Weak Androgen Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Using a Variety of Cell Lines

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a weak androgen and is shown to have anti-cancer, anti-atherogenic, anti-adipogenic and anti-inflammatory effects on mouse, rat and rabbit models. However, human clinical trials data did not support animal findings and were inconclusive. These systemic differences in biological actions between rodents and humans were attributed to the low level of DHEA in rodents. In order to further understand the differences in biological functions between rodents and humans, we resorted to an in-vitroapproach involving mouse, rat and human cell lines to assess DHEA biological and anabolic functions separately and independently without systemic influence. Results indicated that DHEA was effective on mouse and rat cell lines but not on human cell lines, as observed in in-vivo studies. In addition, our in-vitrostudy showed that DHEA was able to induce myogenesis in mouse mesenchymal cells revealing its anabolic function, even though DHEA was considered as a weak androgen. This observation lent credence to the ban on DHEA by IOC medical commission, citing DHEA as an anabolic steroid. These in-vitro experiments suggested that the differences in biological actions of DHEA between rodents and humans existed not only in-vivo at the systemic level, but also in-vitro at the cellular level and thus paving the way to study the mechanism responsible for these differences at the cellular level itself.

A genetic evidence of chromosomal fragment from bridge parent existing in substitution lines between two common wheat varieties

Locating of important agronomic genes onto chromosome is helpful for efficient development of new wheat varieties. Wheat chromosome substitution lines between two varieties have been widely used for locating genes because of their distinctive advantages in genetic analysis, compared with the aneuploid genetic materials. Apart from the substituted chromosome, the other chromosomes between the substitution lines and their recipient parent should be identical, which eases the gene locating practice. In this study, a set of chromosome substitution lines with cv. Wichita （WI） as the recipient parent and cv. Cheyenne （CNN） as the donor parent were studied for the composition of high molecular weight glutenin subunits （HMW-GS） as well as a range of agronomic important traits. Results revealed that the substitution lines of WI（CNN5D）, WI（CNN6A） and WI（CNN7B） had higher plant heights than the two parents of WI and CNN, and WI（CNN3D） had later maturity than the parents. By sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis （SDS-PAGE） and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF-MS） analysis, a substitution line WI（CNN5B） was found to contain different HMW-GS patterns from its two parents, in which 1 By9 was replaced by 1 By8 on chromosome 1BL. Simple sequence repeat （SSR） analysis confirmed that the variation on 1BL in WI（CNN5B） was originated from Chinese Spring （CS）. It is concluded that chromosomal fragments from bridge material and donor parent were quite often retained in intracultivaral chromosome substitution lines except the substituting chromosomes.

Identification of variety of rice and determination of content of each rice in mixtures of two rices by nonlinear chemical analysis

Fingerprints of two varieties of rice and their mixtures were investigated by a nonlinear chemical reaction system consisting of rice components,sodium bromate,manganese sulfate,sulfuric acid and acetone.The variety of rice was identified by the visual characteristic of fingerprint and system similarity pattern recognition,and the content of each variety of rice in the mixture was determined by the quantitative information of fingerprint.The results show that nonlinear chemical analysis may be used to exactly identify the variety of pure rice and to accurately determine the content of each variety of rice in the mixture,indicating the method is simple and convenient.

NEW VARIETIES AND LINES

Ⅱ-you 92: a new hybrid rice for late seasonⅡ-you 92 is an indica hybrid rice that was developed by Jinhua Agri Res Inst, Zhejiang Province.Ⅱ-you 92 has a suitable growth duration of 122-125 d as double-cropping late season rice, 3-4 dshorter than that of Shanyou 64 and 6-7 d shorter than Shanyou 10. It has a compact plant type, high tiller-ing ability and plant height of 85-90 cn. A number of 3.4-3.6 million effective panicles per ha can be

NEW VARIETIES AND LINES

Qixiuzhan 3:a new high-yielding, good-quality indica rice varietyBy crossing Qishanzhan with Xinxiu 299, a new variety Qixiuzhan 3 was developed by the Rice Res Inst ofGuangdong Acad of Agri Sci.Being planted in the early season, this variety belongs to mid-late-maturity rice, with the same ma-

Cultivar Mixture Cooperation(CMC)of rice varieties(lines) with different blast resistant gene

We studied Cultivar Mixture Cooperation(CMC)of rice varieties(lines)by screening mixture ofrice varieties which possess different genes,1983-1996.

LociScan,a tool for screening genetic marker combinations for plant variety discrimination

To reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of plant genetic marker fingerprinting for variety discrimination,it is desirable to identify the optimal marker combinations.We describe a marker combination screening model based on the genetic algorithm(GA)and implemented in a software tool,Loci Scan.Ratio-based variety discrimination power provided the largest optimization space among multiple fitness functions.Among GA parameters,an increase in population size and generation number enlarged optimization depth but also calculation workload.Exhaustive algorithm afforded the same optimization depth as GA but vastly increased calculation time.In comparison with two other software tools,Loci Scan accommodated missing data,reduced calculation time,and offered more fitness functions.In large datasets,the sample size of training data exerted the strongest influence on calculation time,whereas the marker size of training data showed no effect,and target marker number had limited effect on analysis speed.

Canine Myofascial Kinetic Lines: A Descriptive Dissection Study Including Related Function and Locomotion and Comparison of the Human and Equine Myofascial Kinetic Lines

Aim: This dissection study was conducted to verify if the Myofascial kinetic lines, outlined in detail in humans and recently documented in horses, were present in dogs. These dynamic lines present rows of interconnected muscles, myofascia and other fascia structures, which influence the biomechanics of the spine and limbs. Methods: Forty-two dogs of different breeds and genders were dissected, imaged, and videoed. Results: Similar kinetic lines were verified in the dog, as described in humans and horses, and additionally, three new branches of the lines were discovered. The kinetic lines described were three superficial lines: Dorsal, Ventral, and Lateral, which all started in the hindlimb and ended in the temporal and occipital regions. These lines act respectively in spinal extension, flexion, and lateral flexion. Three profound lines, which started in the tail and ended in the head. The Deep Dorsal Line followed the transversospinal myofascia. The Deep Ventral Line showed an additional start deep in the medial hind limb, continued in the hypaxial myofascia, and enveloped all the viscera. Also, the Deep Lateral Line started in the hindlimb but parted along the trunk in the deep lateral myofascial structures. Two helical lines crossed the midline two or three times and served to rotate the spine. The Functional Line established a sling from the axilla to the contralateral stifle and presented a new ipsilateral branch. The Spiral Line connected the head and the ipsilateral tarsus and additionally presented a new straight branch. The four front limb lines describe their motion: the Front Limb Protraction and Retraction, Adduction, and Abduction Lines. Conclusion: The canine lines mirrored the equine and human lines with exceptions due to differences in anatomy, foot posture, lumbosacral flexibility, and their biomechanical constitution as predator versus prey animals. Additionally, three new canine branches were verified and described.