Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Genotypic Differences (genotypic + difference)
Selected AbstractsGenotypic difference for the susceptibility of Japanese, Chinese and European pears to Venturia nashicola, the cause of scab on Asian pearsPLANT BREEDING, Issue 4 2008K. Abe Abstract Venturia nashicola, the cause of scab on Asian pears, is distinct from Venturia pirina, a causal fungus of European pear scab. Although scab caused by V. nashicola is one of the most serious diseases in the Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai var. culta Nakai), information available regarding resistant breeding against V. nashicola is limited. In this study, 12 genotypes of Japanese pear, seven genotypes of Chinese pear (Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim.) and four genotypes of European pear (Pyrus communis L. var. sativa DC.) and/or their offspring were evaluated for susceptibility to V. nashicola with leaf and fruit inoculation tests. At 30,40 days after full bloom in their developmental stage, unfolded young leaves and fruit were inoculated with conidial suspensions of V. nashicola for each genotype, and the responses were rated at 30 days postinoculation for the inoculated leaves and at 42 days postinoculation for the inoculated fruits. No visible symptoms were found in European pear ,Bartlett' and ,La France' and their respective offspring ,290-36' and ,282-12', in the Japanese pear ,Kinchaku' and in the Chinese pears ,Cangxili' and ,Hongli'; these genotypes were evaluated as highly resistant to V. nashicola. Necrotic lesions without sporulation were observed in the Chinese pears ,Qiubaili', ,Manyuanxiang', ,Yuanbali' and ,Xiangyali', which were regarded as resistant. Sporulating lesions were formed on the other genotypes, such as the major Japanese pear cultivars ,Kosui' and ,Nijisseiki', which were regarded as susceptible. The response of inoculated leaves coincided well with that of inoculated fruit for each genotype. When the severity of scab symptoms on scab-susceptible genotypes was further rated with disease severity (DS) values, a genotypic difference was observed for overall DS values in a successive 2-year measurement among the susceptible genotypes. Based on the DS values of leaf and fruit scabs, the Japanese pears ,Niitaka', ,Shinko', ,Nijisseiki', ,Gold Nijisseiki', ,Osa Nijisseiki' and ,Shinsui' were considered to be less susceptible to V. nashicola than the typical susceptible cultivar ,Kosui'. [source] Life-history, genotypic, and environmental correlates of clutch size in the Glanville fritillary butterflyECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2007MARJO SAASTAMOINEN Abstract 1.,Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia) females lay up to 10 clutches of 50,300 eggs in their lifetime. Clutch size is an important life-history trait as larval group size affects survival throughout larval development. 2.,Two experiments were carried out in a large population cage in the field to investigate the life-history and environmental correlates of clutch size. 3.,Clutch size decreased with the cumulative number of eggs laid previously, increased with both female body weight and the number of days between consecutive clutches. 4.,Genotypic differences among females in the glycolytic enzyme phosphoglucose isomerase had a significant influence on clutch size, partly because females of particular genotypes were able to initiate oviposition earlier in the day and thereby take advantage of the most favourable environmental conditions for oviposition. 5.,Factors influencing clutch size were partly different in two summers, indicating the modulating effect of prevailing environmental conditions on reproductive performance. [source] Crops and genotypes differ in efficiency of potassium uptake and usePHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM, Issue 4 2008Zed Rengel Cultivars with increased efficiency of uptake and utilization of soil nutrients are likely to have positive environmental effects through reduced usage of chemicals in agriculture. This review assesses the available literature on differential uptake and utilization efficiency of K in farming systems. Large areas of agricultural land in the world are deficient in K (e.g. 3/4 of paddy soils in China, 2/3 of the wheatbelt in Southern Australia), with export in agricultural produce (especially hay) and leaching (especially in sandy soils) contributing to lowering of K content in the soil. The capacity of a genotype to grow and yield well in soils low in available K is K efficiency. Genotypic differences in efficiency of K uptake and utilization have been reported for all major economically important plants. The K-efficient phenotype is a complex one comprising a mixture of uptake and utilization efficiency mechanisms. Differential exudation of organic compounds to facilitate release of non-exchangeable K is one of the mechanisms of differential K uptake efficiency. Genotypes efficient in K uptake may have a larger surface area of contact between roots and soil and increased uptake at the root,soil interface to maintain a larger diffusive gradient towards roots. Better translocation of K into different organs, greater capacity to maintain cytosolic K+ concentration within optimal ranges and increased capacity to substitute Na+ for K+ are the main mechanisms underlying K utilization efficiency. Further breeding for increased K efficiency will be dependent on identification of suitable markers and compounding of efficiency mechanisms into locally adapted germplasm. [source] Rubisco expression in rice leaves is related to genotypic variation of photosynthesis under elevated growth CO2 and temperaturePLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 12 2003R. W. GESCH ABSTRACT Genetic modifications of agronomic crops will likely be necessary to cope with global climate change. This study tested the hypotheses that genotypic differences in rice (Oryza sativa L.) leaf photosynthesis at elevated [CO2] and temperature are related to protein and gene expression of Rubisco, and that high growth temperatures under elevated [CO2] negatively affect photosystem II (PSII) photochemical efficiency. Two rice cultivars representing an indica (cv. IR72) and japonica type (cv. M103) were grown in 350 (ambient) and 700 (elevated) µmol CO2 mol,1 at 28/18, 34/24 and 40/30 °C sinusoidal maximum/minimum, day/night temperatures in outdoor, sunlit, environment-controlled chambers. Leaf photosynthesis of IR72 favoured higher growth temperatures more than M103. Rubisco total activity and protein content were negatively affected in both genotypes by high temperatures and elevated CO2. However, at moderate to high growth temperatures, IR72 leaves averaged 71 and 39% more rbcS transcripts than M103 under ambient and elevated CO2, respectively, and likewise had greater Rubisco activity and protein content. Expression of psbA (D1 protein of PSII) in IR72 leaves increased with temperature, whereas it remained constant for M103, except for a 20% decline at 40/30 °C under elevated CO2. Even at the highest growth temperatures, PSII photochemical efficiency was not impaired in either genotype grown under either ambient or elevated CO2. Genotypic differences exist in rice for carboxylation responses to elevated CO2 and high temperatures, which may be useful in developing genotypes suited to cope with global climate changes. [source] Multilocus sequence typing confirms synonymy but highlights differences between Candida albicans and Candida stellatoideaFEMS YEAST RESEARCH, Issue 5 2008Mette D. Jacobsen Abstract We used multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) to investigate 35 yeast isolates representing the two genome-sequenced strains plus the type strain of Candida albicans, four isolates originally identified as Candida stellatoidea type I and 28 representing type strains of other species now regarded as synonymous with C. albicans. DNA from all 32 C. albicans synonyms readily formed PCR products with the C. albicans MLST primer sets. Their sequences placed all of them within the existing C. albicans clade structure, represented by 1516 isolates. One isolate, originally received as Mycotorula sinensis, was resistant to flucytosine, but no other unusual susceptibilities were found to polyene, azole or echinocandin antifungal agents. The four isolates of C. stellatoidea type I coclustered with two other sucrose-negative isolates, originally identified as examples of Candida africana, in a group of strains highly distinct from the majority of C. albicans. Our results not only confirm the synonymity of all the isolates with C. albicans but also confirm an obvious genotypic difference in the case of C. stellatoidea type I. [source] Genotypic difference for the susceptibility of Japanese, Chinese and European pears to Venturia nashicola, the cause of scab on Asian pearsPLANT BREEDING, Issue 4 2008K. Abe Abstract Venturia nashicola, the cause of scab on Asian pears, is distinct from Venturia pirina, a causal fungus of European pear scab. Although scab caused by V. nashicola is one of the most serious diseases in the Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai var. culta Nakai), information available regarding resistant breeding against V. nashicola is limited. In this study, 12 genotypes of Japanese pear, seven genotypes of Chinese pear (Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim.) and four genotypes of European pear (Pyrus communis L. var. sativa DC.) and/or their offspring were evaluated for susceptibility to V. nashicola with leaf and fruit inoculation tests. At 30,40 days after full bloom in their developmental stage, unfolded young leaves and fruit were inoculated with conidial suspensions of V. nashicola for each genotype, and the responses were rated at 30 days postinoculation for the inoculated leaves and at 42 days postinoculation for the inoculated fruits. No visible symptoms were found in European pear ,Bartlett' and ,La France' and their respective offspring ,290-36' and ,282-12', in the Japanese pear ,Kinchaku' and in the Chinese pears ,Cangxili' and ,Hongli'; these genotypes were evaluated as highly resistant to V. nashicola. Necrotic lesions without sporulation were observed in the Chinese pears ,Qiubaili', ,Manyuanxiang', ,Yuanbali' and ,Xiangyali', which were regarded as resistant. Sporulating lesions were formed on the other genotypes, such as the major Japanese pear cultivars ,Kosui' and ,Nijisseiki', which were regarded as susceptible. The response of inoculated leaves coincided well with that of inoculated fruit for each genotype. When the severity of scab symptoms on scab-susceptible genotypes was further rated with disease severity (DS) values, a genotypic difference was observed for overall DS values in a successive 2-year measurement among the susceptible genotypes. Based on the DS values of leaf and fruit scabs, the Japanese pears ,Niitaka', ,Shinko', ,Nijisseiki', ,Gold Nijisseiki', ,Osa Nijisseiki' and ,Shinsui' were considered to be less susceptible to V. nashicola than the typical susceptible cultivar ,Kosui'. [source] Male and female Fmr1 knockout mice on C57 albino background exhibit spatial learning and memory impairmentsGENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 6 2010K. B. Baker Impaired spatial learning is a prominent deficit in fragile X syndrome (FXS). Previous studies using the Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse model of FXS have not consistently reported a deficit in spatial learning. Fmr1 KO mice bred onto an albino C57BL/6J- Tyrc-Brd background showed significant deficits in several primary measures of performance during place navigation and probe trials in the Morris water maze. Fmr1 KO mice were also impaired during a serial reversal version of the water maze task. We examined fear conditioning as an additional cognitive screen. Knockout mice exhibited contextual memory deficits when trained with unsignaled shocks; however, deficits were not found in a separate group of KO mice trained with signaled shocks. No potentially confounding genotypic differences in locomotor activity were observed. A decreased anxiety-like profile was apparent in the open field, as others have noted, and also in the platform test. Also as previously reported, startle reactivity to loud auditory stimuli was decreased, prepulse inhibition and social interaction increased in KO mice. Female Fmr1 KO mice were tested along with male KO mice in all assays, except for social interaction. The female and male KO exhibited very similar impairments indicating that sex does not generally drive the behavioral symptoms of the disorder. Our results suggest that procedural factors, such as the use of albino mice, may help to reliably detect spatial learning and memory impairments in both sexes of Fmr1 KO mice, making it more useful for understanding FXS and a platform for evaluating potential therapeutics. [source] Common variations in the pretest environment influence genotypic comparisons in models of anxietyGENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 7 2005G. S. Izídio The behavioral characterization of rodent strains in different studies and laboratories can provide unreplicable results even when genotypes are kept constant and environmental control is maximized. In the present study, the influence of common laboratory environmental variables and their interaction with genotype on the results of behavioral tests of anxiety/emotionality were investigated. To this end, the inbred rat strains Lewis (LEW) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), which are known to differ for numerous emotionality-related behaviors, were tested in the open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM) and black/white box (BWB), while three environmental factors were systematically controlled and analyzed: (1) the experimenter handling the animal (familiar or unfamiliar); (2) the position of the home cage (top or bottom shelf of the rack) and (3) the behavioral state of the animal immediately before the test (arousal or rest). Experimenter familiarity did not alter the behavior of rats in the OF. Cage position, on the other hand, influenced the behavior in the OF and BWB, with rats housed in top cages appearing less anxious like than those housed in the bottom. In the BWB (but not in the OF), these effects were genotype dependent. Finally, the behavioral state of the animals prior to testing altered the results of the EPM in a strain-dependent manner, with some anxiety-related genotypic differences being found only among rats that were aroused in their home cages. This study showed that common variations in the laboratory environment interact with genotype in behavioral tests of anxiety/emotionality. Recognizing and understanding such variations can help in the design of more effective experiments. [source] Genetic and Pathogenic Variation Among Tobacco Black Shank Strains of Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae from the Main Tobacco Growing in ChinaJOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2003X. G. Zhang Abstract Pathogenic and genetic variability among seven populations of Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae from individual tobacco fields (Yunnan, Shandong, Henan, Heilongjiang, Shanxi, Fujian and Sichuan provinces) were investigated using pathogenicity and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses; 63 strains were isolated from different fields of seven tobacco growing regions, using tobacco cv. Hongda as a baiting host. Pathogenic variability was evaluated in greenhouse studies using five tobacco cultivars that have different levels of resistance to tobacco black shank; 75 and 73% of the strains were pathogenic on M3 and M4, 29 and 33% on M1 and M2, and 94% were pathogenic on M5, respectively. Disease severity incited by different strains varied significantly on individual tobacco cultivars. The percentage of strains pathogenic on different cultivars varied among locations. Genotypic variation among 63 strains was evaluated by RAPD analysis. Ten primers detected 89 polymorphic bands. Cluster and principal coordinates analysed cluster groups. the minor group contained 26 strains, and major group contained 37 strains. Estimates of genetic diversity based on RAPD analysis ranged from 0.24 to 0.34 within populations to 0.36 among all strains from all populations. Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae populations were genotypically and phenotypically variable, but no distinct genotypic differences were identified among populations from the seven locations. [source] Differences in growth and yield in response to cadmium toxicity in cotton genotypesJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2004Feibo Wu Abstract A greenhouse hydroponic experiment was conducted to study the effects of cadmium (Cd; 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10 ,M in nutrient solution) on yield and yield components as well as Cd concentration and accumulation in three cotton genotypes (Simian 3, Zhongmian 16, Zhongmian 16,2). The results showed that Cd concentration in different organs increased with increasing Cd levels in the nutrient solution in the following order: root > petiole > xylem > fruiting branch, leaf > phloem in vegetative organs and seed coat, seed nut > boll shell > fiber in reproductive organs. There were significant genotypic differences in functional leaf and petiole Cd concentrations at 1 and 10 ,M Cd treatments, with the cultivar Simian 3 showing higher Cd concentrations and greater reductions in lint yield than the other two genotypes. [source] Nitrogen uptake and utilization efficiency of European maize hybrids developed under conditions of low and high nitrogen inputPLANT BREEDING, Issue 6 2002T. Presterl Abstract Maize varieties with improved nitrogen(N)-use efficiency under low soil N conditions can contribute to sustainable agriculture. Tests were carried to see whether selection of European elite lines at low and high N supply would result in hybrids with differential adaptation to these contrasting N conditions. The objective was to analyze whether genotypic differences in N uptake and N-utilization efficiency existed in this material and to what extent these factors contributed to adaptation to low N supply. Twenty-four hybrids developed at low N supply (L × L) were compared with 25 hybrids developed at high N supply (H × H). The N uptake was determined as total above-ground N in whole plants, and N-utilization efficiency as the ratio between grain yield and N uptake in yield trials at four locations and at three N levels each. Highly significant variations as a result of hybrids and hybrids × N-level interaction were observed for grain yield as well as for N uptake and N-utilization efficiency in both hybrid types. Average yields of the L × L hybrids were higher than those of the H × H hybrids by 11.5% at low N supply and 5.4% at medium N level. There was no significant yield difference between the two hybrid types at high N supply. The L × L hybrids showed significantly higher N uptake at the low (12%) and medium (6%) N levels than the H × H hybrids. In contrast, no differences in N-utilization efficiency were observed between the hybrid types. These results indicate that adaptation of hybrids from European elite breeding material to conditions with reduced nitrogen input was possible and was mainly the result of an increase in N-uptake efficiency. [source] Intraspecific variation in the Populus balsamifera drought transcriptomePLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 10 2010ERIN T. HAMANISHI ABSTRACT Drought is a major limitation to the growth and productivity of trees in the ecologically and economically important genus Populus. The ability of Populus trees to contend with drought is a function of genome responsiveness to this environmental insult, involving reconfiguration of the transcriptome to appropriately remodel growth, development and metabolism. Here we test hypotheses aimed at examining the extent of intraspecific variation in the drought transcriptome using six different Populus balsamifera L. genotypes and Affymetrix GeneChip technology. Within a given genotype there was a positive correlation between the magnitude of water-deficit induced changes in transcript abundance across the transcriptome, and the capacity of that genotype to maintain growth following water deficit. Genotypes that had more similar drought-responsive transcriptomes also had fewer genotypic differences, as determined by microarray-derived single feature polymorphism (SFP) analysis, suggesting that responses may be conserved across individuals that share a greater degree of genotypic similarity. This work highlights the fact that a core species-level response can be defined; however, the underpinning genotype-derived complexities of the drought response in Populus must be taken into consideration when defining both species- and genus-level responses. [source] Differential gene expression in senescing leaves of two silver birch genotypes in response to elevated CO2 and tropospheric ozonePLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 6 2010SARI KONTUNEN-SOPPELA ABSTRACT Long-term effects of elevated CO2 and O3 concentrations on gene expression in silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) leaves were studied during the end of the growing season. Two birch genotypes, clones 4 and 80, with different ozone growth responses, were exposed to 2× ambient CO2 and/or O3 in open-top chambers (OTCs). Microarray analyses were performed after 2 years of exposure, and the transcriptional profiles were compared to key physiological characteristics during leaf senescence. There were genotypic differences in the responses to CO2 and O3. Clone 80 exhibited greater transcriptional response and capacity to alter metabolism, resulting in better stress tolerance. The gene expression patterns of birch leaves indicated contrasting responses of senescence-related genes to elevated CO2 and O3. Elevated CO2 delayed leaf senescence and reduced associated transcriptional changes, whereas elevated O3 advanced leaf senescence because of increased oxidative stress. The combined treatment demonstrated that elevated CO2 only temporarily alleviated the negative effects of O3. Gene expression data alone were insufficient to explain the O3 response in birch, and additional physiological and biochemical data were required to understand the true O3 sensitivity of these clones. [source] Next generation of elevated [CO2] experiments with crops: a critical investment for feeding the future worldPLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 9 2008ELIZABETH A. AINSWORTH ABSTRACT A rising global population and demand for protein-rich diets are increasing pressure to maximize agricultural productivity. Rising atmospheric [CO2] is altering global temperature and precipitation patterns, which challenges agricultural productivity. While rising [CO2] provides a unique opportunity to increase the productivity of C3 crops, average yield stimulation observed to date is well below potential gains. Thus, there is room for improving productivity. However, only a fraction of available germplasm of crops has been tested for CO2 responsiveness. Yield is a complex phenotypic trait determined by the interactions of a genotype with the environment. Selection of promising genotypes and characterization of response mechanisms will only be effective if crop improvement and systems biology approaches are closely linked to production environments, that is, on the farm within major growing regions. Free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiments can provide the platform upon which to conduct genetic screening and elucidate the inheritance and mechanisms that underlie genotypic differences in productivity under elevated [CO2]. We propose a new generation of large-scale, low-cost per unit area FACE experiments to identify the most CO2 -responsive genotypes and provide starting lines for future breeding programmes. This is necessary if we are to realize the potential for yield gains in the future. [source] Rubisco expression in rice leaves is related to genotypic variation of photosynthesis under elevated growth CO2 and temperaturePLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 12 2003R. W. GESCH ABSTRACT Genetic modifications of agronomic crops will likely be necessary to cope with global climate change. This study tested the hypotheses that genotypic differences in rice (Oryza sativa L.) leaf photosynthesis at elevated [CO2] and temperature are related to protein and gene expression of Rubisco, and that high growth temperatures under elevated [CO2] negatively affect photosystem II (PSII) photochemical efficiency. Two rice cultivars representing an indica (cv. IR72) and japonica type (cv. M103) were grown in 350 (ambient) and 700 (elevated) µmol CO2 mol,1 at 28/18, 34/24 and 40/30 °C sinusoidal maximum/minimum, day/night temperatures in outdoor, sunlit, environment-controlled chambers. Leaf photosynthesis of IR72 favoured higher growth temperatures more than M103. Rubisco total activity and protein content were negatively affected in both genotypes by high temperatures and elevated CO2. However, at moderate to high growth temperatures, IR72 leaves averaged 71 and 39% more rbcS transcripts than M103 under ambient and elevated CO2, respectively, and likewise had greater Rubisco activity and protein content. Expression of psbA (D1 protein of PSII) in IR72 leaves increased with temperature, whereas it remained constant for M103, except for a 20% decline at 40/30 °C under elevated CO2. Even at the highest growth temperatures, PSII photochemical efficiency was not impaired in either genotype grown under either ambient or elevated CO2. Genotypic differences exist in rice for carboxylation responses to elevated CO2 and high temperatures, which may be useful in developing genotypes suited to cope with global climate changes. [source] Physiological responses of lupin genotypes to terminal drought in a Mediterranean-type environmentANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2007J.A. Palta Abstract Field experiments concerning lupin grown in a low-rainfall environment of the Mediterranean climatic region of Western Australia were conducted over three seasons to identify and evaluate the characteristics that maximise yield per unit of rainfall. The characteristics of early flowering and podding, high pod retention, fast rates of seed filling, osmotic adjustment and the degree of dry matter transfer from stem to the seed were studied in 12 lupin genotypes differing in seed yield under conditions of terminal drought. To allow recently released cultivars and advanced breeding lines to be evaluated, five to six genotypes were included in the first and the third year and nine in the second year. The genotypes were grown rainfed until pod set and then under a rainout shelter. Flowering and podding dates, pod retention, seed growth rate and osmotic adjustment were measured in detail, together with leaf water potential, seed yield and its components. The timing and intensity of development of the terminal drought varied from average in 1998 and 1999 to extreme in 2000. In each year, the seed yield under terminal drought showed genotypic differences, which appeared consistent with the timing and intensity of the development of terminal drought. Early flowering and podding were significantly correlated with seed yield. Fast rates of seed growth were highly and significantly correlated with high yields regardless of the intensity of development of terminal drought. Pod retention was highly correlated with yield in seasons in which the intensity of the development of terminal drought was average but not under extreme conditions of terminal drought. This was because the seed number per pod was markedly reduced to compensate for the high number of pods retained. Osmotic adjustment did not occur during the development of terminal drought in any of the genotypes. Dry matter transfer from stems to seeds was insignificant and not related to seed yield, suggesting that it is not a useful characteristic in screening for high yield under terminal drought. [source] Osmotic adjustment of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is not associated with changes in carbohydrate composition or leaf gas exchange under droughtANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2007P.S. Basu Abstract Genetic differences in osmotic adjustment (OA) have been reported among chickpea (Cicer arietinum) cultivars. In this study eight advanced breeding lines (ABLs) derived from a cross between CTS 60543 (high OA) and Kaniva (low OA) and Tyson (medium OA) and Kaniva, along with the parents, were evaluated for OA, leaf carbohydrate composition and leaf gas exchange under dryland field conditions in India. The water potential (WP) decreased to lower values (less than ,2.5 MPa) in Tyson, M 110 and M 86 than in the other genotypes. With decrease in WP, OA increased by 0.5 MPa in Kaniva and CTS 60543 to 1.3 MPa in M 55. As the decrease in WP varied with genotype, when OA was regressed against WP M 39 and M 55 had greater increases in OA with decrease in WP than the remaining nine genotypes, including the parents. As WP decreased, leaf starch content decreased while total soluble sugars, hexoses and sucrose increased: the decrease in starch was much smaller in M 93 and M 129 than in Tyson and M 51, but genotypic differences could not be detected in the increase in total sugars, hexoses or sucrose. The rates of photosynthesis and transpiration decreased as the WP became more negative, but M 129 reached low rates of photosynthesis (2 ,mol m,2 s,1) and transpiration at a WP of ,1.7 MPa, whereas Tyson reached the same low rate at ,2.4 MPa. While OA varied among the chickpea genotypes, the differences were not associated with the changes in carbohydrate composition or the rates of gas exchange at low values of WP. Further, the degree of OA of the 11 genotypes was not the same as when they were selected for differences in OA under rainout shelter conditions in the field in Australia, suggesting that OA may show poor stability depending upon the stress level, location or physiological stage of the plant. This suggests that OA is not a valuable drought-resistance trait to select for in chickpea breeding programmes. [source] Glutathione peroxidase activity modulates recovery in the injured immature brain,ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 5 2009Kyoko Tsuru-Aoyagi MD Objective Mice subjected to traumatic brain injury at postnatal day 21 show emerging cognitive deficits that coincide with hippocampal neuronal loss. Here we consider glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity as a determinant of recovery in the injured immature brain. Methods Wild-type and transgenic (GPxTg) mice overexpressing GPx were subjected to traumatic brain injury or sham surgery at postnatal day 21. Animals were killed acutely (3 or 24 hours after injury) to assess oxidative stress and cell injury in the hippocampus or 4 months after injury after behavioral assessments. Results In the acutely injured brains, a reduction in oxidative stress markers including nitrotyrosine was seen in the injured GPxTg group relative to wild-type control mice. In contrast, cell injury, with marked vulnerability in the dentate gyrus, was apparent despite no differences between genotypes. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an emerging cortical lesion during brain maturation that was also indistinguishable between injured genotypes. Stereological analyses of cortical volumes likewise confirmed no genotypic differences between injured groups. However, behavioral tests beginning 3 months after injury demonstrated improved spatial memory learning in the GPxTg group. Moreover, stereological analysis within hippocampal subregions demonstrated a significantly greater number of neurons within the dentate of the GPx group. Interpretation Our results implicate GPx in recovery of spatial memory after traumatic brain injury. This recovery may be attributed, in part, to a reduction in early oxidative stress and selective, long-term sparing of neurons in the dentate. Ann Neurol 2009;65:540,549 [source] Association study of 5,-UTR polymorphisms of the human dopamine transporter gene with manic depressionBIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 5p1 2006Gerald Stöber Objectives:, To determine the degree of association of five single nucleotide polymorphisms at the 5,-untranslated region (5,-UTR) of the human dopamine transporter gene (hSLC6A3; hDAT1) in bipolar affective disorder. Methods:, In a case,control design study, the polymorphisms were genotyped for allelic and genotypic distribution between 105 index cases (50 males) with bipolar affective disorder according to DSM IV and 199 unaffected control subjects (120 males). Results:, At the 5,-UTR locus of hSLC6A3, no significant allelic or genotypic differences were observed between index cases and controls. However, distinct 5-locus genotypes accumulated in subjects with bipolar affective disorder compared to control subjects (p = 0.029, odds ratio 1.84, 95% confidence interval 1.12,3.02). Conclusions:, In conclusion, our data do not provide evidence for a major role of the 5,-UTR of the dopamine transporter gene in bipolar affective disorder. A minor contribution of distinct genotypes may be possible and warrants replication in extended samples. [source] | |||||||||||||