Preliminary Study on Geographical Distribution and Evolutionary Relationships Between Cultivated and Wild Adzuki Bean (Vigna angular is var. angularis and var. nipponensis) by AFLP Analysis

A set of representative 146 adzuki (Vigna angular is var. angularis, and var. nipponensis) germplasm from 6 Asian countries traditionally for adzuki bean production, together with an out group standard rice bean (Vigna umbellata), were analyzed by AFLP methodology using 12 informative primer pairs. 313 unambiguous polymorphic bands were created. According to the dendrogram by cluster analysis based on AFLP banding, 143 of the accessions were distinct and revealed enough genetic diversity for identification and classification of accessions within Vigna angularis. A neighbor joining tree was generated using newly developed Innan's nucleotide diversity estimate from the AFLP data. From analysis, 7 distinct evolutionary groups, named as "Chinese cultivated", "Japanese cultivated", "Japanese complex-Korean cultivated", "Chinese wild", "China Taiwan wild", "Nepal-Bhutan cultivated" and "Hymalayan wild", were detected. Nucleotide diversity with geographical distribution of each group is discussed, regarding the evolutionary relationships between wild and cultivated adzuki beans. The preliminary results indicated that cultivated adzuki bean should be domesticated from at least 4 progenitors in at least 3 geographical origins.

Investigation on Evolutionary Relationships of the Subgenomes in Interspecific Triploid Cotton via Meiotic FISH

We report in this paper primary studies on interspecific species of cotton vis GISH(genomic in situ hybridization).We use interspecific triploid hybrids(F1 from hybridization of allotetraploid cultivated species with diploid A,D,or C genome species) and two cultivated tetraploids to study

Revaluation of deuterostome phylogeny and evolutionary relationships among chordate subphyla using mitogenome data

The traditional knowledge in textbooks indicated that cephalochordates were the closest relatives to vertebrates among all extant organisms. However, this opinion was challenged by several recent phylogenetic studies using hundreds of nuclear genes. The researchers suggested that urochordates, but not cephalochordates, should be the closest living relatives to vertebrates. In the present study, by using data generated from hundreds of mtDNA sequences, we revalue the deuterostome phylogeny in terms of whole mitochondrial genomes （mitogenomes）. Our results firmly demonstrate that each of extant deuterostome phyla and chordate subphyla is monophyletic. But the results present several alternative phylogenetic trees depending on different sequence datasets used in the analysis. Although no clear phylogenetic relationships are obtained, those trees indicate that the ancient common ancestor diversified rapidly soon after their appearance in the early Cambrian and generated all major deuterostome lineages during a short historical period, which is consistent with ＂Cambrian explosion＂ revealed by paleontologists. It was the 520-million-year＇s evolution that obscured the phylogenetic relationships of extant deuterostomes. Thus, we conclude that an integrative analysis approach rather than simply using more DNA sequences should be employed to address the distant evolutionary relationship.

Evolutionary relationship of three mitten crabs(Eriocheir sp)revealed by mitogenome and 5S ribosomal DNA analysis

To reveal the evolutionary relationship of three mitten crabs(Eriocheir sinensis,E.hepuensis,and E.japonica),complete mitogenomes and nuclear 5S rDNA sequences were analyzed.Sequencing revealed that the mitogenomes analyzed shared conserved organization of the coding and non-coding regions but genetic variation was identified.Among the three mitten crabs distinct tandem repeats were identified in the mitochondrial D-loop region.The 5S gene(5S rDNA)sequence was highly conserved across the three species,whereas non-transcribed spacer(NTS)region exhibit high levels of variation including insertions,deletions and point mutations.Cluster analysis suggested that the three mitten crabs had their own independent 5S rDNA sequence variation and evolutionary pattern.Both mitogenome and 5S rDNA sequence analysis revealed significant genetic variation across the mitten crabs species.Phylogenetic analysis using mitogenome and 5S rDNA sequences demonstrated that E.japonica was relatively more distant from E.sinensis and E.hepuensis.This study extended our previous knowledge and confirmed that the three mitten crabs are likely to be genetically differentiated species.In addition,our study also provided insights into the conservation of pure natural resources of E.sinensis,an important aquaculture species.

Identification and Characterization of ZF-HD Genes in Response to Abscisic Acid and Abiotic Stresses in Maize

The zinc finger homeodomain(ZF-HD)genes belong to the homeobox gene family,playing critical roles in flower development and stress response.Despite their importance,however,to date there has been no genome-wide identification and characterization of the ZF-HD genes that are probably involved in stress responses in maize.In this study,24 ZF-HD genes were identified,and their chromosomal locations,protein properties,duplication patterns,structures,conserved motifs and expression patterns were investigated.The results revealed that the ZF-HD genes are unevenly distributed on nine chromosomes and that most of these genes lack introns.Six and two ZF-HD genes have undergone segmental and tandem duplication,respectively,during genome expansion.These 24 ZF-HD transcription factors were classified into six major groups on the basis of protein molecular evolutionary relationship.The expression profiles of these genes in different tissues were evaluated,resulting in producing two distinct clusters.ZF-HD genes are preferentially expressed in reproductive tissues.Furthermore,expression profiles of the 24 ZF-HD genes in response to different kinds of stresses revealed that ten genes were simultaneously up-regulated under ABA,salt and PEG treatments;meanwhile four genes were simultaneously down-regulated.These findings will pave the way for deciphering the function and mechanism of ZF-HD genes on how to implicate in abiotic stress.

Molecular Diversity of Fusarium oxysporum and Geotrichum candidum Isolated from Two Tomato Varieties Commonly Consumed in Some Southwestern Town in Nigeria

Fusarium oxysporum and Geotrichum candidum, which are among important pathogens of Solanum lycopersicum L. (Tomato), are sometimes misidentified during morphological misidentification. The study was carried out to evaluate molecular diversity of F. oxysporum and G. candidum isolated from two tomato varieties obtained from Akure, Ilorin and Ibadan, Nigeria. The tomato samples were collected and brought back to the laboratory for fungal isolation. Isolation of the pathogens were done following standard procedures. DNA extraction from pure cultures of the pathogens was done at the Centre Laboratory of University of Ibadan. Genetic relationships among the organisms were also estimated by constructing a Dendrogram through UPGMA using the Mega6 Software and genetic distance was computed also using the Mega6 Software. Five strains of F. oxysporum and seven strains of G. candidum were identified. Percentage similarity of the pathogens with those in GenBank was 99.17% - 100.00% for F. oxysporum and 98.48% - 100.00% for G. candidum. The T-01 marker showed the lowest major allele frequency of 0.0833, while T-10 marker has the highest value for major allele frequency of 0.6667 and an average value of 0.3958. Evolutionary relationship showed that the two strains of G. candidum (MN650247 and MN650250) were similar. The three strains of F. oxysporum (MN650246 and MN650248, MN650245 and MN650253) were also similar. Genetic distances among pairs of the fungal strains ranged from 0.12 to 6.30 in pairwise fashion, with an average of 1.32. Evolutionary relationship or closeness among strains of a fungal species can thus be said not to depend on location.

The widely reported but poorly studied ciliate family Folliculinidae(Protozoa,Ciliophora,Heterotrichea):a revision with notes on its taxonomy,morphology and phylogenetic relationships

Ciliates of the heterotrich family Folliculinidae are widespread in various habitats and are distinguished by their transparent loricae of various shapes,conspicuous peristomial lobes,and dimorphic life cycles.They usually attach firmly to the surface of substrates,feed on bacteria and microalgae,and play a significant role in energy flow and material cycling in the microbial food web.However,little is known regarding their biodiversity and systematics.In this work,we establish the terminology of the family Folliculinidae and select six crucial features for genus recognition.Based on previous studies,we revise the classification of Folliculinidae,supply improved diagnoses for each of the 33 folliculinid genera,and provide a key to their identification.Moreover,phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit ribosomal DNA(SSU rDNA)sequences revealed that the family is monophyletic and comprises two subclades(subclades I II)which can be identified by the flexibility of their peristomial lobes and the sculpturing of their necks.Furthermore,we investigate the evolutionary relationships of folliculinids using the six chosen generic features.