Spatial analysis increases efficiency of progeny testing of Chinese fir

We used spatial, global trend and post-blocking analysis to examine the effectiveness of a progeny trial in a tree breeding program for Chinese fir （Cunninghamia lanceolata （Lamb.） Hook） on a hilly site with an environmental gradient from hill top to bottom. Diameter at breast height （DBH） and tree height data had significant spatial auto-correlations among rows and columns. Adding a firstorder separable autoregressive term more effectively modelled the spatial variation than did the incomplete block （IB） model used for the experimental design. The spatial model also accounted for effects of experimental design factors and greatly reduced residual variances. The spatial analysis rel- ative to the IB analysis improved estimation of genetic parameters with the residual variance reduced 13 and 19% for DBH and tree height, respectively; heritability increased 35 and 51% for DBH and tree height, respectively; and genetic gain improved 3-5%. Fitting global trend and postblocking did not improve the analyses under IB model. The use of a spatial model or combined with a design model is recommended for forest genetic trials, particularly with global trend and local spatial variation of hilly sites.

Evaluation of the Protection against Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) Challenge in Progeny Born to Parents Having Received a Vaccination Program Using a Herpesvirus of Turkey-Infectious Bursal Disease (HVT-IBD) Vector Vaccine

Broiler breeder vaccination against IBD is usually based on the injection of at least one inactivated vaccine in oil adjuvant, typically included in a combined vaccine. Priming using one or several IBD vaccine (s) has been the most common way to immunize the breeders so far. In summary, protection against vvIBD challenge in chicks of one commercial genetic line vaccinated in ovo with the HVT-IBD vector vaccine was demonstrated. The parents’ IBD vaccination program, using the HVT-IBD vector vaccine alone, the HVT-IBD vector vaccine plus IBD inactivated vaccine, and inactivated IBD vaccine alone, did not impair their progeny’s in ovo HVT-IBD vector vaccine take and subsequent protection against vvIBD virus challenge. An advantage in terms of immunization of the progeny against vvIBD was shown in the chicks born to breeders vaccinated with the HVT-IBD vaccine as a primer, as compared to breeders vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine alone. High level of IBD maternally-derived antibodies transmitted to the progeny by their parents induces together with an early onset of immunity by in ovo injection of a HVT-IBD vector vaccine clinical protection, as monitored on bursas, after vvIBD virus challenge.

Progeny Test on the Natural Populations and Selection of Excellent Populations from Fraxinus Mandshurica

Fraxinus mandshurica is one of the ancient relict flora species originated from the Tertiary period, which is mainly produced in the eastern mountains in Northeast China. It has an important scientific value for studying the Tertiary flora and the Quaternary glacial climate. In order to make rational use of the natural genetic resources of F. mandshurica , and to increase the scientific and technological added value of improved varieties, this study used the method of positional observation of fixed standard fields to discuss the genetic variations of tree height and DBH of the natural populations and its open-pollinated progenies, systematically analyze the heritability and genetic gains in growth characters based on the analysis of progeny test, growth dynamic and heredity effects. The populations with good growth, stress resistance and adaptability were selected. The results showed that there were extremely significant difference in the growth characters among the natural populations, and the coefficients of variance for tree height （22.99%） were smaller, while the coefficients of variance for DBH （41.37%） were larger. On the other hand, there were extremely significant differences in the growth characters among the open-pollinated progenies, and the interaction between these progenies and the blocks was significant. Meanwhile, the growth characters had strong heritability, high genetic gain, and remarkable heredity effects. The heritability of tree height and DBH were 0.825 and 0.781, and the genetic gains were 15.16% and 25.85%, respectively. Therefore, Shanhetun （SHT） and Xinglong （XIL） were determined to be excellent natural populations both in the growth, resistance and adaptation with growth traits as the main evaluation index, which could be widely applied in the advanced generation improvement breeding.

Estimation of genetic parameters on growth characteristics of a 35-year-old Pinus koraiensis progeny trial in South Korea

The effects of genetic and environmental factors on Pinus koraiensis growth were studied based on a35 year-old progeny trial composed of open-pollinated offspring of twenty-one plus trees.Height,DBH and volume of the offspring was analyzed using restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction in mixed model analysis.Significant site and family effects on the three traits were observed.The distinct growth of offspring by site with disparate climates corroborated the importance of planting species in suitable conditions.Growth differences by family was significant,emphasizing the importance of identifying families with either superior or inferior performance.The parental ranking was assigned in the sites,inferring the breeding value of each plus tree.The estimates of individual heritability(h_(i)^(2))of height,DBH and volume growth were 0.169-0.645,0.108-0.331 and 0.129-0.343 respectively,with higher h_(i)^(2) of the height than DBH on each site.Coefficient of variance of genetic effect was higher with DBH in some cases,indicating the scope for selection is larger for this trait despite the lower heritability compared to height.For the variation between families in terms of the performance stability across sites,consideration of the genotype by environment interaction is required in selecting materials to be used in reforestation with Korean pine.A few families with either superior or inferior performance retained their parental ranking for at least a decade.Other families with increased growth on a particular site were identified,indicating their high breeding value and low stability.Differences in the genetic performance of the families by site requires delineation of the breeding region of the species.

Daily variation of radon gas and its short-lived progeny concentration near ground level and estimation of aerosol residence time

Atmospheric concentrations of radon（^（222）Rn） gas and its short-lived progenies^（218）Po,^（214）Pb, and^（214）Po were continuously monitored every four hours at the ground level in Jeddah city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The measurements were performed three times every week, starting from November 2014 to October 2015. A method of electrostatic precipitation of positively charged^（218）Po and ^（214）Po by a positive voltage was applied for determining^（222）Rn gas concentration. The short-lived^（222）Rn progeny concentration was determined by using a filter holder connected with the alpha-spectrometric technique. The meteorological parameters（relative air humidity, air temperature, and wind speed） were determined during the measurements of^（222）Rn and its progeny concentrations.^（222）Rn gas as well as its short-lived progeny concentration display a daily and seasonal variation with high values in the night and early morning hours as compared to low values at noon and in the afternoon. The observed monthly atmospheric concentrations showed a seasonal trend with the highest values in the autumn/winter season and the lowest values in the spring/summer season. Moreover, and in parallel with alphaspectrometric measurements, a single filter-holder was used to collect air samples. The deposited activities of^（214）Pb and the long-lived^（222）Rn daughter ^（210）Pb on the filter were measured with the gamma spectrometric technique. The measured activity concentrations of^（214）Pb by both techniques were found to be relatively equal largely. The highest mean seasonally activity concentrations of ^（210）Pb were observed in the autumn/winter season while the lowest mean were observed in the spring/summer season. The mean residence time（MRT） of aerosol particles in the atmospheric air could be estimated from the activity ratios of ^（210）Pb/^（214）Pb.

Measurements of ^(222) Rn and ^(220)Rn with a Large Size Collector of Radon Progeny

Radon concentrations in high background radiation areas in the south are higher than those of others in China, especially 220 Rn concentration is significantly high. Therefore, measurements of 222 Rn and 220 Rn concentrations should be carried out there. This paper introduces a large size collector of radon progeny and its applications. The collector is a sheet of polyvinyl chloride fiber with electrostatics of (-500 V)-(-700 V). Its size (60 mm in diameter) is larger than those of others (26 mm in diameter) that work with the same principle. The collector is more effective to adsorb radon progeny than most of others. The equipment of ZnS(Ag) Scintillation Counting System is available for large size collectors to detect radon progeny. Therefore, its sensitivity of measurement is higher than that of others. According to the different half lives of radon progeny, and based on both theory and experiments, a formula for discrimination and calculation of 222 Rn and 220 Rn concentrations is deduced. The 222 Rn and 220 Rn concentrations were surveyed with electrostatic collectors of radon progeny on the campus of commercial school and some other areas in Hainan, southern China. Neither 222 Rn nor 220 Rn concentration was found significantly high. However, several faults underground were delineated. The collector is also used to study radon transportation. Results indicate that radon changes regularly with date when it has transported for a certain distance. Velocities of radon migration in the four media are quite different. Radon migrates more quickly in vertical tube than in the horizontal tube.

Comparison, Selection and Progeny Test of Natural Populations of White Birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.) in Northern China

[Objectives]This study was conducted to rationally and effectively use natural genetic resources of white birch(Betula platyphylla Suk.),and improve the scientific and technological content of improved varieties.[Methods]With the progeny of the white birch populations naturally distributed in northern China as objects,based on genetic effect analysis and comprehensive evaluation,the genetic variation,heritability and genetic gain of the growth characters in the progeny forest were systematically analyzed,by which populations or individuals with good growth vigor and strong stress resistance and adaptability were finally selected.[Results]There were extremely significant differences in the growth characters between the natural populations of white birch in northern China.The variation was the smallest in tree height,followed by crown width,and largest in DBH,and the average coefficients of variation were 20.56%,32.25%and 33.00%,respectively.The differences in characters between progeny of the same population were also extremely significant.The growth characters of white birch were more controlled by genes,and the genetic gains were larger.The heritability of tree height,DBH and crown width was 0.971,0.816 and 0.576,respectively,and the genetic gains were 15.97%,21.54%and 13.87%,respectively.[Conclusions]With the growth characters as the main evaluation indexes,taking various influencing factors into account,the Shanxi[SX]population,Hebei[HB]population and Liaoning[LN]population were selected to be excellent populations,and LN305,SX516 and HB403 were excellent individuals,which are advised to be widely used in multi-generation genetic improvement breeding.

Growth Performance of Cypress (Cupressus funebris) Trees in Progeny Test Plantations

Based on the 6-year-old young forests of 40 cypress(Cupressus funebris) families from four provenances(Fengdu County, Youyang County and Zhong County of Chongqing City, and Qiandao Lake in Zhejiang Province), differences in growth traits between families and provenances were studied to select excellent families, so as to provide necessary data support for the upgrading of cypress seed gardens and inferior thinning of seed gardens. The results showed that there were significant differences in tree height, diameter at one meter height, crown width and growth potential between families and provenances. The coefficients of variation among families were 10.25%, 7.19%, 5.91% and 0.98%, respectively, and the coefficients of variation in tree height and diameter at one meter height among provenances were 7.25% and 12.58%, respectively, indicating that the tree height and diameter at one meter height of the superior cypress tree families were rich in variation among families and provenances, and there was potential for high-generation breeding. According to the selection rate of 15%, six excellent families for afforestation(Feng 8, Shi 4, Feng 1, Ye 14, Shi 3, and Ye 6) were screened. The average diameter at one meter height, tree height and crown width of the six excellent families were, respectively, 2.97 cm, 3.39 and 0.78 m, which were 18.82%, 12.70% and 15.42% higher than the family average, respectively, and 15.09%, 9.79% and 15.53% higher than the control group, respectively.

Identification of F1 Cassava (<i>Manihot esculenta</i>Crantz) Progeny Using Microsatellite Markers and Capillary Electrophoresis

Generation of genetic diversity is necessary in improving on the potential of cassava when faced with various biotic and abiotic challenges. Presently, cassava breeders are breeding for a number of traits, such as drought tolerance, early root bulking, yield, starch, beta-carotene, protein, dry matter, pest and disease resistance, by relying on genetic diversity that exists in manihot esculenta germplasm. Controlled pollination is one of the main methods used to generate genetic diversity in cassava. However, the process of controlled pollination especially in an open field is prone to contamination by illegitimate pollen right from the time of pollination, seed collection, nursery bed establishment to planting of the trials. Therefore, authentication of the progeny obtained from cassava crosses is very important for genetic studies. Twelve informative microsatellite markers were used to verify the authenticity of 364 F1 progeny thought to come from four controlled parental crosses. The transmission of each allele at nine microsatellite loci was tracked from parents to progeny in each of the four Namikonga-derived F1 cassava families. Out of the 364 F1 progeny, 317 (87.1%) were true-to-type, 44 (12.1%) were a product of self-pollination and 3 (0.8%) were a product of open pollination. The consistency of the results obtained using microsatellite markers makes this technique a reliable tool for assessing the purity of progeny generated from cassava crosses.

A Sequential Quantitative Trait Locus Fine-Mapping Strategy Using Recombinant-Derived Progeny

A thorough understanding of the quantitative trait loci （QTLs） that underlie agronomically important traits in crops would greatly increase agricultural productivity. Although advances have been made in QTL cloning, the majority of QTLs remain unknown because of their low heritability and minor contributions to phenotypic performance. Here we summarize the key advantages and disad- vantages of current QTL fine-mapping methodologies, and then introduce a sequential QTL fine-mapping strategy based on both genotypes and phenotypes of progeny derived from recombinants. With this mapping strategy, experimental errors could be dramat- ically diminished so as to reveal the authentic genetic effect of target QTLs. The number of progeny required to detect QTLs atvarious R2 values was calculated, and the backcross generation suitable to start QTL fine-mapping was also estimated. This mapping strategy has proved to be very powerful in narrowing down QTL regions, particularly minor-effect QTLs, as revealed by fine-mapping of various resistance QTLs in maize. Application of this sequential QTL mapping strategy should accelerate cloning of agronomically important QTLs, which is currently a substantial challenge in crops.

On Total Progeny of Multitype Galton-Watson Process and the First Passage Time of Random Walk on Lattice

In this paper,we form a method to calculate the probability generating function of the total progeny of multitype branching process.As examples,we calculate probability generating function of the total progeny of the multitype branching processes within random walk which could stay at its position and（2-1） random walk.Consequently,we could give the probability generating functions and the distributions of the first passage time of corresponding random walks.Especially,for recurrent random walk which could stay at its position with probability 0 〈 r 〈 1,we show that the tail probability of the first passage time decays as 2/√π（1-r）1/√n= when n →∞.

Genetic expression in progeny of transgenic plants obtained by using pollen-tube pathway (or delivery) method and approach to the transformation mechanism

The origin and the recent progress of pollen_tube pathway method (PTPM) is described. The results of transforming wheat during 1990 to 1994 are reported briefly. They are: (ⅰ) Transformation frequencies were 3%-6%, even reached 13.5%; (ⅱ) the genetic expression of four continuous generations obtained from single individuals of transgenic plants by self_fertilization was investigated. Plants with higher expression of foreign gene were found in every generation (from T1 to T4), but a phenomenon of gene silence, in which the genotype contained foreign gene but did not express, was also observed. In addition, from the angle of fertilization biology the transformation mechanism of PTPM (or PTDM) was analyzed and discussed. It was considered that the essential principle of this method was just like that of protoplast method.

Comparison of genetic impact on growth and wood traits between seedlings and clones from the same plus trees of Pinus koraiensis

To evaluate the relationships among clones and open pollinated families from the same plus trees and to select elite breeding materials,growth,and wood characteristics of 33-year-old Pinus korainsis clones and families were measured and analyzed.The results show that growth and wood characters varied significantly.The variation due to clonal effects was higher than that of family effects.The ratio of genetic to phenotypic coefficient of variation of clones in growth and wood traits was above 90%,and the repeatability of these characteristics was more than 0.8,whereas the ratio of genetic to phenotypic coefficient of variation of families was above 90%.The broad-sense heritability of all characteristics exceeded 0.4,and the narrow-sense family heritability of growth traits was less than 0.3.Growth characteristics were positively correlated with each other,but most wood properties were weakly correlated in both clones and families.Fiber length and width were positively correlated between clones and families.Using the membership function method,eleven clones and four families were selected as superior material for improved diameter growth and wood production,and two families from clonal and open-pollinated trees showed consistently better performance.Generally,selection of the best clones is an effective alternative to deployment of families as the repeatability estimates from clonal trees were higher than narrow-sense heritability estimates from open pollinated families.The results provide valuable insight for improving P.koraiensis breeding programs and subsequent genetic improvement.

Selection of superior families of Pinus massoniana in southern China for large-diameter construction timber

This study addresses the increasing demand for large-diameter production timber,and considers the time and space variability of half-sib families of Pinus massoniana.Height,diameter at breast height(DBH)and timber volume of 440 open-pollinated half-sib progeny families were investigated in 14 progeny trials in different years and production regions.An evaluation of the genetic variation of all half-sib families was carried out during the sustainable rapid growth period and individual volumes were characterized as a major index.ANOVA analysis showed that there was considerable variance in the growth traits of most families in different years and on different sites.The variations caused by temporal and spatial changes of the mating system required three selection methods for analysis.The results show that there were differences among the heritabilities of different growth traits by different halfsib progenies.Average heritability values of height,DBH and volume were 0.33,0.34 and 0.36,respectively.Fortyfive superior families were selected in every progeny test,12 were selected in progeny trials by different years and five in different habitat progeny trials.Three superior families(Gui GC553A,Gui GC414A and Gui GC431A)were selected,although in different years and production regions.The genetic gains of timber volume of these selected r families ranged from 1.20 to 47.00%,which could provide a foundation for superior wood property selection and serve as material for seed improvement and extension in surrounding areas.

Inheritance of growth and survival in two 9-year-old, open-pollinated progenies of an advanced breeding population of Chinese firs in southeastern China

Tree growth traits （tree height, DBH and stem volume） and survival from two 9-year-old, open-pollinated progeny tests of Chinese fir were investigated for heri- tability, genotype × environment interaction, age-age genetic correlation and selection efficiency. The 97 and 79 families planted at two sites were collected from the thirdcycle seed orchard. Individual heritability was estimated between 0.05 and 0.21 for tree height, DBH, and volume and between 0.45 and 1.0 for survival. Family heritability was between 0.20 and 1.14. Significant genotype x envi- ronment interaction was observed for the three growth traits. Type B genetic correlation was between 0.41 and 0.67 with an increasing trend as tree grows. High age-age genetic correlation was observed with correlation reaching 0.9 after age 4 for height, DBH, and volume. The genetic gains were estimated at 3.26, 3.39 and 5.98 % for tree height, DBH, and volume with 10 % selection intensity. The implication for advanced tree breeding in Chinese fir is discussed.

Changes in Activities of Key Enzymes for Starch Synthesis and Glutamine Synthetase in Grains of Progenies from a Rice Cross During Grain Filling

The progenies differed in amylose and protein contents in grains, which derived from a rice cross, Dongnong 423×Toukei 180, were used to study changes in the activities of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase （AGPP）, soluble starch synthetase （SSS）, starch branching enzyme （SBE） and glutamine synthetase （GS） in rice grains during grain filling. The activities of AGPP, SSS and SBE gradually increased and then declined as a single-peak curve with the process of grain filling in the progenies with high and low amylose contents in grains. The progenies with high amylose content peaked earlier in the AGPP, SSS and SBE activities and had higher AGPP, SSS and SBE activities at the early grain filling stage than those with low amylose content. The GS activity peaked earlier and was higher at the late stage of grain filling in the progenies with high protein content than in those with low protein content. It is suggested that the activities of key enzymes for starch synthesis and glutamine synthetase could be changed in oriented breeding for amylose and protein contents in grains.

Correlating common breakage modes with impact breakage and ball milling of cement clinker and chromite

Understanding the mechanisms of the breakage of ore particles is important to predict the particle size distribution in size reduction operations.This paper aims to show the presence of common breakage modes in impact breakage and ball milling of the cement clinker and chromite samples.For that purpose,narrow size fractions of the two samples were broken in a drop-weight tester or ball mill by changing the degree of applied energy.Then the resultant size distributions were evaluated to seek evidence for the common breakage modes.The results showed that increasing the breakage energy will produce a systematic change in the shapes of the size distributions,suggesting a sequential set of breakage modes.The breakage is initially due to tensile stresses at low breakage energies and compressive stresses at high breakage energies.Further studies should be done to assess if these breakage modes occur at sizereduction of different ores.

Wound Healing Is a First Response in a Cancerous Pathway: Hyperplasia Developments to 4n Cell Cycling in Dysplasia Linked to Rb-Inactivation

In a series of publications, the hypothesis of a special-type of endo-polyploidy, marked by 4-chromatid chromosomes (diplochromosomes), in the initiation of tumorigenesis has been presented from in vitro experiments. This review uses cellular happenings in benign pre-neoplasia to substantiate this idea, which appears to be linked to the wound-healing process of injured tissue. Rarer association between a wound healing process and a cancer occurrence has long been known. The wound healing multi-program-system involved a phase of tetraploidy that showed diplochromosomes. The hypothesis is that the inflammatory phase may not always be sufficient in getting rid of dead and damaged cells (by apoptosis and autophagy), such that cells with genomic damage (DNA breakage) may survive by genomic repair associated with change to diplochromosomal tetraploidy. In vitro data have shown division of these cells to be an orderly, mechanistic two-step, meiotic-like system, resulting in only two types of progeny cells: 4n/4C/G1 and 2n/2C/G1 pseudo-diploid cells with hyperplastic-like growth-morphology. In vivo damage to tissues can be from many sources for example, physical, toxic environment or from a disease as in Barrett’s esophagus (BE) with acid reflux into the esophagus. For this condition, it is acknowledged that damage of the esophagus lining is a pre-condition to hyperplastic lesions of pre-neoplasia. These initial lesions were from “diploid” propagating cells and, 4n cells with G2 genomic content (no mitosis) accumulated in these lesions before a change to dysplasia. Cell cycle kinetics put these 4n cells in G1, which with S-phase entry would lead to asymmetric tetraploid mitoses, characteristic for dysplastic lesions. This change in hyperplasia to dysplasia is the root-essential condition for a potential progression of pre-neoplasia to cancer. In BE the hyperplastic lesion showed increasing gains of cells with inactivated p53 and p16[ink4a] genes, which destroyed the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein-control over S-phase entry from G1. Rb-protein is a key controller of cycling advancement from G1 (also for normal cells), and is frequently inactivated in tumor cells. Thus in BE, 4n/4C/G1 cells with mutated p53 and p16[ink4a] genes gained cycling ability to tetraploid aneuploid cell cycles, which constituted the change from hyperplasia to dysplastic lesions. In general, such lesions have high predictive value for a cancerous change. Proliferation rates of pre-neoplasia and progression have been shown to be increased by a component of the wound healing program.

Study on the Variation of the Distant Crossing Rice by Ion Beam Implantation

In this paper, the following contents including the original receptor EI213 and other two control materials, RAPD polymorphism, photosynthetic efficiency, and the number of vascular bundles of the first internodes below the peduncle have been studied for the eight F7 transgenic lines obtained from ion beam implantation. The results showed that there was a significant variation in genomes of maize-rice line, compared with the receptor EI213, after the total exogenous maize DNA was introduced into EI213. The number of the vascular bundles of maize-rice progeny’s lines was obviously much larger than those of the original receptor EI213 and other two controls GER-3 and MH63, and along with the photosynthetic efficiency of maize-rice progeny’s lines being gone up. Moreover, the parenchyma cells around the vascular bundles of the transgenic lines became much larger in number and in size than those around the controls. All these indicated that the maize-rice progeny’s lines are really different from and superio