Grafting versus seed propagated apricot populations: two main gene pools in Tunisia evidenced by SSR markers and model-based Bayesian clustering

Apricot was introduced into the Mediterranean Basin from China and Asian mountains through the Middle-East and the Central Europe. Traditionally present in Tunisia, we were interested in accessing the origin of apricot species in the country, and in particular in the number and the location of its introductions. A set of 82 representative apricot accessions including 49 grafted cultivars and 33 seed propagated ‘Bargougs’ were genotyped using 24 microsatellite loci revealing a total of 135 alleles. The model-based Bayesian clustering analysis using both Structure and InStruct programs as well as the multivariate method revealed five distinct genetic clusters. The genetic differentiation among clusters showed that cluster 1, with only four cultivars, was the most differentiated from the four remaining genetic clusters, which constituted the largest part of the studied germplasm. According to their geographic origin, the five identified groups (north, centre, south, Gafsa oasis and other oases groups) enclosed a similar variation within group, with a low level of differentiation. Overall results highlighted the distinction of two apricot gene pools in Tunisia related to the different mode of propagation of the cultivars: grafted and seed propagated apricot, which enclosed a narrow genetic basis. Our findings support the assumption that grafting and seed propagated apricots shared the same origin

New microsatellite loci for annatto (Bixa orellana), a source of natural dyes from Brazilian Amazonia

Annatto (Bixa orellana) is a tropical crop native to the Americas with Amazonia as the likely center of origin of domestication. Annatto is important because it produces the dye bixin, which is widely used in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and textile industries. A total of 32 microsatellite loci were isolated from a microsatellite-enriched genomic library, of which 12 polymorphic loci were used to characterize four populations of B. orellana and B. orellana var. urucurana, the wild relative. Higher genetic diversity estimates were detected for the wild populations when compared to the cultivated populations. Also, higher apparent outcrossing rates were found for the two wild than the cultivated populations. These results indicate a mixed mating system for the species. All markers described herein have potential to be used in further studies evaluating the genetic diversity, population dynamics, domestication, breeding, and conservation genetics of annatto. © 2018, Brazilian Society of Plant Breeding. All rights reserved

Regulation of aromatase gene expression in Leydig cells and germ cells

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Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) is useful for finding markers associated with QTL for architectural trait in Hedysarum coronarium L.

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) has been proposed as a valuable tool for finding mol- ecular markers linked to QTL controlling architectural trait. Segregation of polymorphic AFLP frag- ments was followed in F 2 offsprings Hedysarum coronarium derived from two native wild accesions crossing: Jebel Zit × El Haouaria, which had previously characterised by morphological and AFLP mark- ers. A comparison of profiles from the morphologically contrasted parental individuals and F 2 offspring has been assessed using five AFLP primer combinations. These generated 178 bands revealed by silver- stained denaturing polyacrylamide gels, of which 150 were polymorphic. Several AFLP markers appeared to be implied in the orthotropic form that can assist the selection and improve Hedysarum for- age crop

Expression of aromatase in human ejaculated spermatozoa : a putative marker of motility

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