Implementation of marker-assisted selection for lodging resistance in pea breeding

Non-Peer ReviewedLodging resistance is a key criterion in pea breeding programs. In traditional breeding, a large number of lines are discarded in F3 or later generations, because of susceptibility to lodging and much labor and other costs are wasted. Implementation of selection using molecular markers for lodging resistance at earlier generations will significantly enhance the efficiency of the pea breeding process. Ten F2 populations consisting of a total of 869 plants were grown in the field in Saskatoon in the summer of 2002. These 10 populations were derived from crosses between the lodging susceptible variety Carrera, crossed with ten other lodging resistant lines. DNA samples were extracted from each individual plant. Each plant was scored for the presence of coupling phase linked SCAR markers A001 and A002, as well as a repulsion phase linked SCAR marker A004. The results showed that the frequency of marker presence is similar to the estimated frequency, obeying the rule of independent single gene segregation. Chi-Square analysis showed that the combination of A001 and A004 markers also followed a two gene model (P>0.05) in 8 populations. Due to linkage between A001 and A002 markers, population No. 3 and No. 4 did not follow the two or three independent gene segregation model. F3 populations will be planted in the field in 2003 to evaluate the effectiveness of Marker Assist Selection for lodging resistance in pea

Mapping QTL associated with yield and yield components and Ascochyta blight in chickpea

Non-Peer ReviewedChickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the third important legume crop in production among the world pulse crops. A better understanding of the genetic basis of yield and disease traits and their association with flowering time could contribute to their use in the breeding strategies of the crop in the Canadian Prairies. The objective of this study was to evaluate a set of Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) of chickpea for yield and disease traits and to locate Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) associated with these traits. This study used a RIL population derived from across between ICCV 96029 (a desi market class, an extra early maturing, highly susceptible to ascochyta blight and CDC Frontier (a kabuli market class, late maturing, moderately resistant to ascochyta blight. A population consisting of 92 RILs together with the 2 parents were grown in a field at Elrose, Saskatchewan in 2011 in a micro plot with 2 replications. Measurements on agronomic traits were made on an individual plant basis and the means of five plants were used for analysis. Plants were air-dried at 35°C for 48 h before measuring the above-ground biomass. Traits measured were grain yield (in gm /plant), above ground biomass (in g/ plant), number of grains /plant, number of pods/ plant, and 1000 seed weight. Harvest index (HI) = grain weight/total above ground dry weight. The result indicated that, there was significant difference in plant height (in cm), number of seeds /plant, number of seeds/pod, 1000 seeds weight (in gm/plant) and Harvest Index (%). The same lines were evaluated in the greenhouse for Ascochyta blight reaction and in the growth chambers for their flowering responses to different photoperiod. Mapping of QTL will be performed on the line mean data for single years of the field observation and for different photoperiod treatments in the growth chamber

Steganography: Forensic, Security, and Legal Issues

Steganography has long been regarded as a tool used for illicit and destructive purposes such as crime and warfare. Currently, digital tools are widely available to ordinary computer users also. Steganography software allows both illicit and legitimate users to hide messages so that they will not be detected in transit. This article provides a brief history of steganography, discusses the current status in the computer age, and relates this to forensic, security, and legal issues. The paper concludes with recommendations for digital forensics investigators, IT staff, individual users, and other stakeholders

Rapid introgression of common bacterial blight resistance genes into dry bean elite varieties by marker-assisted backcrossing

Non-Peer Reviewe

Moving pulse crop breeding into the 21st century

Non-Peer Reviewe

Early maturity strategies in chickpea: pyramiding key genetic traits

Non-Peer ReviewedChickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a highly indeterminate species which continues to grow and produce pods through fall, especially in cooler and wetter seasons. This exposes the crop to frost damage resulting in reduced yield and quality. We hypothesized that earliness could be induced through some strategic traits including double podding, reduced internode length and early flowering. The objective of this study was, therefore, to determine the individual and combined effects of these traits on earliness in chickpea. Four single crosses were made: two with the early flowering parent, and one each with the double podding and short internode length parents. Segregating populations of F2–F4 generations were evaluated along with their parents in greenhouse and field trials. Significant genetic variability was observed for days to maturity of lower pods and percent pod maturity at four months after planting. In general, each trait had some effect on earliness, though the magnitude differed, and combining them into a single genotype may help to achieve the desired earliness in chickpea. The F2 population from the multiple cross (gene pyramiding) showed a wide range in maturity. Several had nearly complete maturity of pods at four months after planting. These were more determinate types as judged by smaller increases in height between flowering and maturity stages and uniform maturity of pods

Pulse crop breeding update

Non-Peer ReviewedThe pulse crop breeders at the Crop Development Centre (CDC)/Department of Plant Sciences are developing improved cultivars of lentil, field pea, chickpea, dry bean and faba bean for producers in western Canada. General objectives include improvement of yield, disease resistance, earliness, and quality for diverse markets

Early flowering, short internode length, and double podding as components of early maturity in chickpea

Non-Peer ReviewedLate maturity, resulting from the indeterminate nature of the crop, is a critical production constraint in chickpea (Kumar and Abbo, 2001). In western Canada, the chickpea crop is often killed by fall frost while seeds/pods are yet filling, which reduces both the quantity and quality of economic yield (grain). It was hypothesized that incorporating early flowering, short internode length and double podding traits may shorten the overall duration of growth in chickpea. Early flowering would advance onset of reproduction, while the latter two traits hasten the rate of pod formation and then progress towards maturity. Hence, a study was initiated to determine the effect of these key traits on time (days) to maturity in chickpea

Don’t Even Think About It! The Effects of Antineutralization, Informational, and Normative Communication on Information Security Compliance

Organizations use security education, training, and awareness (SETA) programs to counter internal security threats and promote compliance with information security policies. Yet, employees often use neutralization techniques to rationalize noncompliant behavior. We investigated three theory-based communication approaches that can be incorporated into SETA programs to help increase compliance behavior: (1) informational communication designed to explain why policies are important; (2) normative communication designed to explain that other employees would not violate policies; and (3) antineutralization communication designed to inhibit rationalization. We conducted a repeated measures factorial design survey using a survey panel of full-time working adults provided by Qualtrics. Participants received a SETA communication with a combination of one to three persuasion statements (informational influence, normative influence statement, and/or an antineutralization), followed by a scenario description that asked for their intentions to comply with the security policy. We found that both informational (weakly) and antineutralization communication (strongly) decreased violation intentions, but that normative communication had no effect. In scenarios where neutralizations were explicitly suggested to participants, antineutralization communication was the only approach that worked. Our findings suggest that we need more research on SETA techniques that include antineutralization communication to understand how it influences behavior beyond informational and normative communication

Effects of hatching timing on red-eyed treefrog tadpoles: relative vulnerability varies among predators but not with hatchling age-structure, growth varies with the presence of more vulnerable tadpoles [poster]

In Gamboa, Panama, undisturbed red-eyed treefrog embryos typically hatch at age 6 days, but they can hatch as early as 4 days if attacked by egg predators. Early hatchlings are less developed and more vulnerable to predatory shrimp and fish. Here we assess the effect of hatching timing on risk of predation by three common insects, with different foraging styles, that prey on red-eyed treefrog larvae. Further, we examine whether the consequences of hatching early vary with the presence of later-hatched tadpoles. We induced hatching at 4 and 6 days and exposed tadpoles to giant water bugs or aeshnid or libellulid dragonfly larvae over 24 hrs, quantifying tadpole behavior and mortality. We used substitutive designs with three treatments: early hatched, late hatched and mixed hatching ages. In no case did presence of the other age class alter mortality. Hatching age did not affect libelullid predation, which was low in both cases. Early-hatched tadpoles had higher mortality than late hatchlings with water bugs, which move throughout the water column. In contrast, early hatchlings had lower mortality than late hatchlings with aeshnids, which cue strongly on movement. Late-hatched tadpoles were more active than early hatchlings, and movement was reduced in the presence of aeshnids. Combining across this and previously published studies, early hatchlings are more vulnerable than late hatchlings to most (3/5) predators. Variation in relative, age-specific hatchling vulnerability to predators with different foraging styles is consistent with developmental changes in tadpole behavior