Genetic diversity of the Algerian peanut population analyzed using morphological markers and seed storage proteins

Background. The peanut is one of the most important oil crops suitable for cultivation in the tropical areas of the world. Despite its agronomic importance, few studies have been carried out to assess the morphogenetic diversity of Arachis hypogaea L., especially in East African countries. The major interest of this morphologic study lies in the potential of this species to provide useful genes for the improvement of cultivated peanuts. To date, no study has been performed in Algeria to characterize local peanut varieties.Materials and methods. Thirty peanut accessions were collected from four principal areas of peanut production in Algeria. Genetic characterization using 15 agronomic characters and 25 morphological descriptors showed a high level of diversity among accessions. Principal Component Analysis and the Hierarchical Ascendant Classification were made to clarify the genetic relationship between peanut accessions.Results and discussion. Results showed that leaflet size (length and width), seed shape and size, oil content, and branching pattern were the principal characters to discriminate the screened A. hypogaea accessions. In addition to that, the weights of 10 pods and 100 seeds were the most variable traits and presented a CV of 42.53% and 40.12%, respectively. On the other hand, total storage proteins extracted were separated using SDS-PAGE and revealed thirty bands that were used to generate a matrix and make a cluster analysis using the UPGMA method, exhibiting different storage proteins compositions. Moreover , the phenotypic diversity observed agrees with the storage protein profile diversity, while the accessions grouped in similar clusters belong to the two subspecies of A. hypogaea. The results of the current study show that morphological traits and seed storage proteins can be useful for exploring the diversity among A. hypogaea accessions

The Genetic Potential of a Germplasm of Interspecific Crosses between Durum Wheats (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum (Desf.) Husn.) and their Relatives (T. dicoccum Schübl. and T. polonicum L.) in Five Glutenin Loci

Wheat endosperm storage proteins are the major components of gluten. They play an important role in dough properties and in bread making quality in various wheat varieties. In the present study, the different alleles encoded at the 5 glutenin loci were identified from a set of 38 tetraploid wheat germplasm obtained from interspecific crosses between durum wheats (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum (Desf.) Husn.) and their relatives (T. dicoccum Schübl. and T. polonicum L.) using SDS-PAGE. At Glu-A1 and Glu-B1, encoding high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS), 2 and 4 alleles were observed, respectively. Low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) displayed similar polymorphism, as 3, 5 and 3 alleles were identified at loci Glu-A3, Glu-B3 and Glu-B2, respectively. One new allele was detected at Glu-B3 locus and appeared in nine accessions obtained from five crosses. This allele codes for five subunits (2 + 8 + 9 + 13 + 18), encoded by the Glu-B3b without subunit 16 plus subunits 2 and 18. A total of 38 patterns resulted from the genetic combination of the alleles encoding at the five glutenin loci. This led to a significantly higher Nei coefficient of genetic variation in Glu-1, Glu-3 and Glu-B2 loci (0.54). The germplasm analyzed exhibited allelic variation in HMW and LMW glutenin subunit composition and the variation differed from that of tetraploid wheats of other countries. The presence of high quality alleles in glutenin loci have led the accessions to be considered as an asset in breeding programs aimed for wheat quality

Polymorphism at High Molecular Weight Glutenin Subunits and Morphological Diversity of Aegilops geniculata Roth Collected in Algeria

A collection of 35 accessions of the tetraploid wild wheat Aegilops geniculata Roth (MM, UU) sampled in northern Algeria was evaluated for morphological and biochemical variability. Morphological and ecological analyses based on morphological traits and bioclimatic parameters, respectively, were assessed using principal component analysis (PCA). Accessions were differentiated by width characters, namely spike’s width, and a weak relationship between morphological traits and ecological parameters was found. Polymorphism of high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunits was carried on by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Among accessions analyzed, 27 alleles were identified at the two loci Glu-M1 and Glu-U1: resulting in twenty-nine patterns and a nomenclature was proposed. Two alleles at the Glu-U1 locus expressed a new subunit with a slightly slower mobility than subunit 8. These results provide new information regarding the genetic variability of HMW glutenin subunits, as well as their usefulness in cultivated wheat quality improvement

Training physicians about caring for persons with disabilities: Nothing about us without us!

According to the World Report on Disability, physicians worldwide generally lack training about caring for persons with disabilities, thus frequently compromising their health care experiences and health outcomes. Many U.S. physicians are similarly untrained about critical aspects of providing care to persons with disabilities, perhaps contributing to disparities in their care. Recognizing these inadequacies, U.S. medical educators are beginning to develop core competencies for trainees relating to the care of patients with disabilities, including understanding patients\u27 perceptions of their quality of life and skills in providing patient-centered care. Having today\u27s physicians, even when genuinely well-intentioned, retain control over designing disability-related training programs for future doctors may miss critical issues in caring empathically and effectively for persons with disabilities. Involving persons with disabilities in identifying training needs and implementing curricula for future physicians may offer important opportunities for ensuring their competency to provide patient-centered care to persons with disabilities

Allelic variation in Glu-1 and Glu-3 loci of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. aestivum L. em. Thell.) germplasm cultivated in Algeria

Wheat endosperm storage proteins are the major components of gluten. They play an important role in dough properties and in bread making quality in various wheat varieties. In the present study, the different alleles encoded at the 6 glutenin loci were identified from a set of 71 hexaploid wheat germplasm cultivated in Algeria using SDS-PAGE. At Glu-A1, Glu-B1 and Glu-D1, encoding high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS), 3, 6 and 5 alleles were observed, respectively. Low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) displayed similar polymorphism, as 4, 9 and 3 alleles were identified at loci Glu-A3, Glu-B3 and Glu-D3, respectively. A total of 52 patterns resulted from the genetic combination of the alleles encoding at the six glutenin loci. This led to a significantly higher Nei coefficient of genetic variation in Glu-1 and Glu-3 loci (0.54). The Algerian hexaploid wheats exhibited allelic variation in HMW and LMW glutenin subunit composition and the variation differed from that of hexaploid wheats of other countries. The presence of high quality alleles in glutenin loci have led the Algerian wheat cultivars to be considered as an asset in breeding programs aimed for wheat quality

Prevalence of Eimeria species, detected by ITS1-PCR, in broiler poultry farms located in seven provinces of northeastern Algeria.

Coccidiosis is an important global chickens' disease which can cause serious economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. Little is known about the extent of infection or diversity, of the causative agent Eimeria spp., in Algeria. A priority, therefore, is to determine the prevalence and species composition to inform strategies on treatments and control measures. Samples were collected from 187 broiler farms, located in 7 Northeastern Algerian provinces (Jijel, Constantine, Skikda, Mila, Setif, Batna, Bordj bou-Arreridj), and Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 PCR (ITS1-PCR) was used to determine the prevalence and composition of Eimeria species in chickens. The survey revealed the presence of all seven species of Eimeria at different prevalences (E. maxima (69%), E. acervulina (68.4%), E. necatrix (11.2%), E. tenella (8%), E. praecox (4.3%), E. mitis (2.1%), E. brunetti (2.1%). Multiple infections, with up to 4 different Eimeria species present on a single farm, were the most frequent situation in our samples (51.9% mixed infections versus 47.6% single infections). All farms revealed infected samples, and we conclude that this parasite is a significant problem in these provinces

Investigation into the potential of using UV-treated sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella as a local solution to immunization of chickens against caecal coccidiosis

In this study, we aim to evaluate the immune response of chickens to UV-treated sporulated oocysts as a means of protection against caecal coccidiosis caused by field strains of Eimeria tenella. Two groups of chicks were immunized using prepared UV-treated oocysts of E. tenella and challenged at day 20 post hatching. The first group was immunized only once at day 1 post hatching, the second group was immunized twice (day 1 and day 8 post hatching). Two non-immunized control groups were used: the first group was challenged with E. tenella, while the second group remained uninfected. The effectiveness of immunization on production and animal health was evaluated by the following criteria: body weight, feed conversion ratio, blood in faeces, mortality, lesion scores and oocyst output. The two immunized groups showed a significantly better performance in body weight, weight gain and lesion scores than the non-immunized group. However, all three groups performed significantly worse than the unchallenged group. The mortality of the non-immunized infected group was high (70%) while mortality in both immunized and unchallenged groups of chickens was significantly lower (range 2.2 to 4.4%) than the infected group (p < 0.05). The production of oocysts in faeces, post-infection, was significantly higher in the non-immunized group compared to the immunized group (p < 0.05) and both were significantly higher than the uninfected group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, immunization by prepared UV-irradiated oocysts is effective in stimulating at least a partial protective immunity in immunized chickens against caecal coccidiosis

A perinatal health framework for women with physical disabilities

BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that women with disabilities experience health and health care disparities before, during, and after pregnancy. However, existing perinatal health and health care frameworks do not address the needs and barriers faced by women with physical disabilities around the time of pregnancy. A new framework that addresses perinatal disparities among women with physical disabilities is needed. OBJECTIVE: To propose a framework for examining perinatal health and health care disparities among women with physical disabilities. METHODS: We developed a perinatal health framework guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the integrated perinatal health framework by Misra et al. RESULTS: The proposed framework uses a life span perspective in a manner that directly addresses the multiple determinants specific to women with physical disabilities around the time of pregnancy. The framework is based on longitudinal and integrated perspectives that take into account women\u27s functional status and environment over their life course. CONCLUSION: The perinatal health framework for women with physical disabilities was developed to inform the way researchers and health care professionals address disparities in perinatal health and health care among women with physical disabilities