Phenotypic correlations of somatic and gonad traits of sea urchins Glyptocidaris crenularis in two sampled periods:first insight into its breeding and aquaculture

Prior knowledge of the correlations among commercially important traits in Glyptocidaris crenularis can be used to guide development of breeding and aquaculture programs for this species.We evaluated the phenotypic correlations between somatic and gonadal traits in G.crenularis during two sample periods(October 2010 and April 2011).The coeffi cients of variation(CV%)for body weight(BW),redness(a*),yellowness(b*),gonad wet weight(GW),and gonad index(GI)were>20% in both periods,while those of other traits were very low.GW was signifi cantly correlated with somatic traits(diameter,height,and body weight)in both periods,although the correlation coeffi cients ranged from 0.473 to 0.636(P<0.01).Gonad moisture content(GC),a*,and lightness(L*)were not signifi cantly correlated with somatic traits(P>0.05).The color trait b* was negatively correlated with somatic traits(test diameter,test height,and body weight)during the period when the gonads were well developed(April 2011,P<0.05).We observed little difference in the nature of the phenotypic correlations between the two sample periods.The high variation in the somatic and gonad weight traits in G.crenularis suggests there is considerable potential for selective breeding.However,our results suggest that gonad quality traits cannot be selected indirectly by selecting for body weight.Our study provides an insight into the method for improving the breeding and aquaculture of G.crenulari.

Evaluation of Some Promising Soybean Genotypes to Infestation with Cotton Leafworm (Spodoptera littoralis) under Field Conditions

A two-year study was carried out in Giza Agricultural Experiments and Research Station, Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza, Egypt in the 2020 and 2021 summer seasons to evaluate the relative tolerance of ten soybean genotypes for cotton leafworm infestation under field conditions. Soybean genotypes H11L145, H155, H113, H4L4, H15L17, H129, H30, H19L96, Giza 111, and Crawford were distributed in randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Soybean genotypes differed significantly for cotton leafworm at the 6th, 7th, and 8th week from sowing. Low values of cotton leafworm assemblages were recorded for H113, H4L4, H15L17, Giza 111, and H129. Low percentages of the larval survival number and weight, as well as the number of the survival of pupa were recorded by feeding on leaves of genotypes H4F4, H15L17, and Giza 111 under laboratory conditions. There were significant differences among the studied genotypes in most yield attributes in both seasons. Soybean genotypes H15L17, Giza 111, H113, H129, H19L96, and H4L4 gave higher seed yield per ha, meanwhile soybean genotypes H155, H19L96, H30, Giza 111, and H15L17 had higher seed oil content than the other genotypes in both seasons. The number and weight of larvae surviving, as well as the number of pupa survival, were negatively correlated with leaf total phenols and seed oil content. It can be concluded that soybean genotypes H15L17, H4L4, and Giza 111 are promising genotypes with desirable seed oil content for tolerating cotton leafworm infestation in breeding programs.

Genetic variation in growth traits and stem–branch characteristics and their relationships to Eucalyptus clones

Eucalyptus has become an important genus in China because it displays adaptability to a wide range of site conditions and produces pulp wood and veneer on short rotations. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and relationships and consider impli- cations for development of clonal forestry. We assessed growth traits, stem-branch characteristics, crown diameter and height of fresh branch for 20 Eucalyptus hybrid clones in China measured at the age of 44 months. Analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences in growth traits, height of fresh branch and stem straightness among clones. Significant differences in height, volume, crown diameter, height of fresh branch and branch size among replicates were also recorded. Coefficients of vari- ation ranged from 9.84 to 28.54 % for growth traits, 12.03 to 17.25 % for stem-branch characteristics, 18.26 % for crown diameter and 11.73 % for height of fresh branch. Estimates of repeatabilities for height, diameter at breastheight over bark, volume, crown diameter, height of fresh branch, stem straightness and branch size at clone mean level were 0.86, 0.80, 0.80, 0.54, 0.85, 0.77 and 0.44 respectively. Diameter at breast height over bark and height had strongly positive phenotypic and genotypic correlations with volume, ranging from 0.96 to 1.00. The positive genotypic and phenotypic correlations between growth traits and other studied traits suggested that fast growing clones always had bigger crown diameter, higher height of fresh branch, straighter stems and relatively smaller branches.

Stability of PAC(Psy-2A-Crt I) gene and agronomic traits in the F_(2:3) of IR36/PAC transgenic plants

This study was carried out to evaluate the expression of yellow endosperm color in the progeny of Psy-2A-Crt I（β-carotene gene, PAC） transgenic plants crossed with IR36. The selected 25 lines of F2 progeny exhibited stable expression of yellow endosperm color and high agronomic characteristics. IR36 and PAC transgenic plant of the grain length, width and ratio showed the same tendency of normal distribution. For progeny selection, colorimeters were as employed to distinguish differing visible colors. Correlation analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between b＊ value and the expression of specific genes. b＊ value was associated with the relative expression of the PAC-Rev and MAR product by real-time PCR and t-test revealed significant difference. Based on this study, correlation between colorimetric values and real-time PCR was effective to detect gene expression. Yellow endosperm progenies represent a new genetic pool that might be useful to increase the genetic diversity of yellow endosperm rice.

Dispersal syndrome and landscape fragmentation in the salt-marsh specialist spider Erigone longipalpis

Dispersal and its evolution play a key role for population persistence in fragmented landscapes where habitat loss and fragmentation increase the cost of between-habitat movements.In such contexts,it is important to know how variation in dispersal and other traits is structured,and whether responses to landscape fragmentation are aligned with underlying dispersal-trait correlations,or dispersal syndromes.We,therefore,studied trait variation in Erigone longipalpis,a European spider species specialist of(often patchy)salt marshes.We collected spiders in two salt-marsh landscapes differing in habitat availability.We then reared lab-born spiders for two generations in controlled conditions,and measured dispersal and its association with various key traits.Erigone longipalpis population densities were lower in the more fragmented landscape.Despite this,we found no evidence of differences in dispersal,or any other trait we studied,between the two landscapes.While a dispersal syndrome was present at the among-individual level(dispersers were more fecund and faster growing,among others),there was no indication it was genetically driven:among-family differences in dispersal were not correlated with differences in other traits.Instead,we showed that the observed phenotypic covariations were mostly due to within-family correlations.We hypothesize that the dispersal syndrome is the result of asymmetric food access among siblings,leading to variation in development rates and carrying over to adult traits.Our results show we need to better understand the sources of dispersal variation and syndromes,especially when dispersal may evolve rapidly in response to environmental change.

A Meta-Analysis of the Genome-Wide Association Studies on Two Genetically Correlated Phenotypes Suggests Four New Risk Loci for Headaches

Headache is one of the commonest complaints that doctors need to address in clinical settings.The genetic mechanisms of different types of headache are not well understood while it has been suggested that self-reported headache and self-reported migraine were genetically correlated.In this study,we performed a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies(GWAS)on the self-reported headache phenotype from the UK Biobank and the self-reported migraine phenotype from the 23andMe using the Unified Score-based Association Test(metaUSAT)software for genetically correlated phenotypes(N=397,385).We identified 38 loci for headaches,of which 34 loci have been reported before and four loci were newly suggested.The LDL receptor related protein 1(LRP1)-Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 6(STAT6)-Short chain Dehydrogenase/Reductase family 9C member 7(SDR9C7)region in chromosome 12 was the most significantly associated locus with a leading p value of 1.24×10^(-62)of rs11172113.The One Cut homeobox 2(ONECUT2)gene locus in chromosome 18 was the strongest signal among the four new loci with a p value of 1.29×10^(-9)of rs673939.Our study demonstrated that the genetically correlated phenotypes of self-reported headache and self-reported migraine can be meta-analysed together in theory and in practice to boost study power to identify more variants for headaches.This study has paved way for a large GWAS meta-analysis involving cohorts of different while genetically correlated headache phenotypes.

Analysis of cardiac troponin C gene TNNC1 c. G175C mutation in a Chinese pedigree with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the correlation between genotype and phenotype

Objective To investigate the genotype-phenotype correlation in Chinese familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM)focusing on the cardiac troponic C gene TNNC1 c.G175C mutation.Methods All family members of a Chinese pedigree with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy admitted in Third People’s Hospital of Qingdao