A chromosome-level Amaranthus cruentus genome assembly highlights gene family evolution and biosynthetic gene clusters that may underpin the nutritional value of this traditional crop

Traditional crops historically provided accessible and affordable nutrition to millions of rural dwellers but have been neglected, with most modern agricultural systems over reliant on a small number of internationally-traded crops. Traditional crops are typically well-adapted to local agro-ecological conditions and many are nutrient-dense. They can play a vital role in local food systems through enhanced nutrition (especially where diets are dominated by starch crops), food security and livelihoods for smallholder farmers, and a climate-resilient and biodiverse agriculture. Using short-read, long-read and phased sequencing technologies we generated a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly for Amaranthus cruentus, an under-researched crop with micronutrient- and protein-rich leaves and gluten-free seed, but lacking improved varieties, with respect to productivity and quality traits. The 370.9 MB genome demonstrates a shared whole genome duplication with a related species, Amaranthus hypochondriacus. Comparative genome analysis indicates chromosomal loss and fusion events following genome duplication that are common to both species, as well as fission of chromosome 2 in A. cruentus alone, giving rise to a haploid chromosome number of 17 (versus 16 in A. hypochondriacus). Genomic features potentially underlying the nutritional value of this crop include two A. cruentus-specific genes with a likely role in phytic acid synthesis (an anti-nutrient), expansion of ion transporter gene families, and identification of biosynthetic gene clusters conserved within the amaranth lineage. The A. cruentus genome assembly will underpin much-needed research and global breeding efforts to develop improved varieties for economically viable cultivation and realisation of the benefits to global nutrition security and agrobiodiversity

North American Wild Relatives of Grain Crops

The wild-growing relatives of the grain crops are useful for long-term worldwide crop improvement research. There are neglected examples that should be accessioned as living seeds in gene banks. Some of the grain crops, amaranth, barnyard millet, proso millet, quinoa, and foxtail millet, have understudied unique and potentially useful crop wild relatives in North America. Other grain crops, barley, buckwheat, and oats, have fewer relatives in North America that are mostly weeds from other continents with more diverse crop wild relatives. The expanding abilities of genomic science are a reason to accession the wild species since there are improved ways to study evolution within genera and make use of wide gene pools. Rare wild species, especially quinoa relatives in North American, should be acquired by gene banks in cooperation with biologists that already study and conserve at-risk plant populations. Many of the grain crop wild relatives are weeds that have evolved herbicide resistance that could be used in breeding new herbicide-resistant cultivars, so well-documented examples should be accessioned and also vouchered in gene banks

Maltodextrin and oils in the diet of weaned piglets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of piglets fed two sources of oil (soybean and palm oil) combined with maltodextrin and a blend of palm oil microencapsulated with maltodextrin, as well as the apparent digestibility coefficients of these diets. A total of 162 piglets weaned at 21 days, with a mean initial weight of 5.42 ± 0.55 kg, were allocated in a randomized block design consisting of three treatments and 18 replicates of three animals each. The following treatments were evaluated: T1: diet containing soybean oil [3.03% in the pre-initial (I) and initial (II) diets] and maltodextrin (10.0% in I and 5.93% in II); T2: diet containing palm oil (3.03% in I and II) and maltodextrin (10.0% in I and 5.93% in II); T3: diet containing a blend of palm oil microencapsulated with maltodextrin (10.0% in I and II) and maltodextrin added to the blend (4.07% in I) so that the percentage of maltodextrin would be identical in the diets of the three treatments. The performance and digestibility data were submitted to analysis of variance using the MIXED and GLM procedures, respectively, of the SAS package and means were compared by the Tukey test (P0.05) in DFI, ADG or FC were observed between piglets submitted to the different treatments. The ADC of dry matter was 4.25% lower (P<0.05) for the diet containing palm oil microencapsulated with maltodextrin compared to the soybean oil diet. The ADC of ether extract was 54% higher (P<0.05) in the soybean oil diet compared to the palm oil diet, which negatively affected the ether extract digestibility coefficient. In conclusion, palm oil microencapsulated or not with maltodextrin can replace soybean oil in the diets of weaned piglets without compromising their performance

Meta-análise em pesquisas científicas: enfoque em metodologias Meta analysis in scientific research: a methodological approach

Este texto descreve os princípios básicos de sistematização com enfoque em meta-análise. É apresentado o estado da arte da meta-análise, recuperando informações de sua evolução e metodologias básicas para sua realização. São descritos seus antecedentes históricos, os limites das abordagens clássicas de revisão de literatura, as bases conceituais, os objetivos e justificativas. É indicada uma metodologia geral para realização da meta-análise. São apresentados os critérios para a definição dos objetivos. São descritos os procedimentos de sistematização das informações e gestão de base bibliográfica de dados destinada aos estudos meta-analíticos (seleção, codificação, filtragem de dados). São apresentadas as análises mais comuns (gráfica, ponderações), a escolha do modelo estatístico (um fator explicativo qualitativo, um efeito qualitativo ou quantitativo), os fatores de interferência, os procedimentos pós-analíticos (variações residuais, heterogeneidade entre resultados). Em síntese, este texto mostra que a meta-análise é superior às formas tradicionais de revisão de literatura por estimar com maior precisão os efeitos dos tratamentos, ajustando-os para a heterogeneidade experimental. No entanto, a meta-análise exige os efeitos na sistematização e análise dos resultados da pesquisa.<br>This text describes a basic approach of systematization with focus on meta-analysis. It is presented the art state of the meta-analysis, recovering information of its evolution and basic methodologies for its accomplishment. In this text are described the historical antecedents of meta-analysis, the limits of the classic approaches of literature review, the conceptual bases and the objectives. It is indicated a general methodology for meta-analysis procedures. The criteria for the definition of the objectives are presented. The procedures of the systematization and management of bibliographical data base selected to meta-analytic studies are described (selection, code, data filtration). The most common analysis (graph, adjustments) are presented, the choice of the statistical model (a qualitative explanatory factor, a qualitative or quantitative effect), the interference factors and the post-analytic procedures (residual variations, heterogeneity among results). In conclusion, this text shows that meta-analysis is better than traditional methods of literature review for esteeming with more precision the treatments effects adjusting it's for the experimental heterogeneity. However, the meta-analysis requires discipline in the systematization and analysis of the research results