Heat tolerance in common bean derived from interspecific crosses

Many Countries could experience unprecedented heat stress because of global climate change (Battisti and Naylor,2009). Heat sensitivity in common bean is a major limiting factor that can reduce yield, quality, and lead to restricted geographic adaptation (Beebeetal.,2011). Interspecific lines developed with crosses between P.vulgaris and P. acutifolius were evaluated for their tolerance to heat stress. Results from field and greenhouse evaluation confirmed that Phaseolus acutifolius is an important and useful genetic resource for improving heat tolerance in common bean. Results from genomic analysis indicated the introgression of P. acutifolious genes into interspecific INB line that was used as apparent for developing heat tolerant SEF lines

Germline Genetic Findings Which May Impact Therapeutic Decisions in Families with a Presumed Predisposition for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer

In this study, we aim to gain insight in the germline mutation spectrum of ATM, BARD1, BRIP1, ERCC4, PALB2, RAD51C and RAD51D in breast and ovarian cancer families from Spain. We have selected 180 index cases in whom a germline mutation in BRCA1 and BRCA2 was previously ruled out. The importance of disease-causing variants in these genes lies in the fact that they may have possible therapeutic implications according to clinical guidelines. All variants were assessed by combined annotation dependent depletion (CADD) for scoring their deleteriousness. In addition, we used the cancer genome interpreter to explore the implications of some variants in drug response. Finally, we compiled and evaluated the family history to assess whether carrying a pathogenic mutation was associated with age at diagnosis, tumour diversity of the pedigree and total number of cancer cases in the family. Eight unequivocal pathogenic mutations were found and another fourteen were prioritized as possible causal variants. Some of these molecular results could contribute to cancer diagnosis, treatment selection and prevention. We found a statistically significant association between tumour diversity in the family and carrying a variant with a high score predicting pathogenicity (p = 0.0003)

The effect of protective covers on pollinator health and pollination service delivery

Protective covers (i.e., glasshouses, netting enclosures, and polytunnels) are increasingly used in crop production to enhance crop quality, yield, and production efficiency. However, many protected crops require insect pollinators to achieve optimal pollination and there is no consensus about how best to manage pollinators and crop pollination in these environments. We conducted a systematic literature review to synthesise knowledge about the effect of protective covers on pollinator health and pollination services and identified 290 relevant studies. Bees were the dominant taxon used in protected systems (90%), represented by eusocial bees (e.g., bumble bees (Bombus spp.), honey bees (Apis spp.), stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini)) and solitary bees (e.g., Amegilla spp., Megachile spp., and Osmia spp.). Flies represented 9% of taxa and included Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Syrphidae. The remaining 1% of taxa was represented by Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. Of the studies that assessed pollination services, 96% indicate that pollinators were active on the crop and/or their visits resulted in improved fruit production compared with flowers not visited by insects (i.e., insect visits prevented, or flowers were self- or mechanically pollinated). Only 20% of studies evaluated pollinator health. Some taxa, such as mason or leafcutter bees, and bumble bees can function well in covered environments, but the effect of covers on pollinator health was negative in over 50% of the studies in which health was assessed. Negative effects included decreased reproduction, adult mortality, reduced forager activity, and increased disease prevalence. These effects may have occurred as a result of changes in temperature/humidity, light quality/quantity, pesticide exposure, and/or reduced access to food resources. Strategies reported to successfully enhance pollinator health and efficiency in covered systems include: careful selection of bee hive location to reduce heat stress and improve dispersal through the crop; increased floral diversity; deploying appropriate numbers of pollinators; and manipulation of flower physiology to increase attractiveness to pollinating insects. To improve and safeguard crop yields in pollinator dependent protected cropping systems, practitioners need to ensure that delivery of crop pollination services is compatible with suitable conditions for pollinator health

Differential gene expression and alternative splicing in insect immune specificity

Background: Ecological studies routinely show genotype-genotype interactions between insects and their parasites. The mechanisms behind these interactions are not clearly understood. Using the bumblebee Bombus terrestris/trypanosome Crithidia bombi model system (two bumblebee colonies by two Crithidia strains), we have carried out a transcriptome-wide analysis of gene expression and alternative splicing in bees during C. bombi infection. We have performed four analyses, 1) comparing gene expression in infected and non-infected bees 24 hours after infection by Crithidia bombi, 2) comparing expression at 24 and 48 hours after C. bombi infection, 3) determining the differential gene expression associated with the bumblebee-Crithidia genotype-genotype interaction at 24 hours after infection and 4) determining the alternative splicing associated with the bumblebee-Crithidia genotype-genotype interaction at 24 hours post infection. Results: We found a large number of genes differentially regulated related to numerous canonical immune pathways. These genes include receptors, signaling pathways and effectors. We discovered a possible interaction between the peritrophic membrane and the insect immune system in defense against Crithidia. Most interestingly, we found differential expression and alternative splicing of immunoglobulin related genes (Dscam and Twitchin) are associated with the genotype-genotype interactions of the given bumblebee colony and Crithidia strain. Conclusions: In this paper we have shown that the expression and alternative splicing of immune genes is associated with specific interactions between different host and parasite genotypes in this bumblebee/trypanosome model

The Mitochondrial Ca(2+) Uniporter: Structure, Function, and Pharmacology.

Mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake is crucial for an array of cellular functions while an imbalance can elicit cell death. In this chapter, we briefly reviewed the various modes of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake and our current understanding of mitochondrial Ca(2+) homeostasis in regards to cell physiology and pathophysiology. Further, this chapter focuses on the molecular identities, intracellular regulators as well as the pharmacology of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter complex

Genetic mapping for agronomic traits in a MAGIC population of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under drought conditions

Background Common bean is an important staple crop in the tropics of Africa, Asia and the Americas. Particularly smallholder farmers rely on bean as a source for calories, protein and micronutrients. Drought is a major production constraint for common bean, a situation that will be aggravated with current climate change scenarios. In this context, new tools designed to understand the genetic basis governing the phenotypic responses to abiotic stress are required to improve transfer of desirable traits into cultivated beans. Results A multiparent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population of common bean was generated from eight Mesoamerican breeding lines representing the phenotypic and genotypic diversity of the CIAT Mesoamerican breeding program. This population was assessed under drought conditions in two field trials for yield, 100 seed weight, iron and zinc accumulation, phenology and pod harvest index. Transgressive segregation was observed for most of these traits. Yield was positively correlated with yield components and pod harvest index (PHI), and negative correlations were found with phenology traits and micromineral contents. Founder haplotypes in the population were identified using Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS). No major population structure was observed in the population. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) data from the founder lines was used to impute genotyping data for GWAS. Genetic mapping was carried out with two methods, using association mapping with GWAS, and linkage mapping with haplotype-based interval screening. Thirteen high confidence QTL were identified using both methods and several QTL hotspots were found controlling multiple traits. A major QTL hotspot located on chromosome Pv01 for phenology traits and yield was identified. Further hotspots affecting several traits were observed on chromosomes Pv03 and Pv08. A major QTL for seed Fe content was contributed by MIB778, the founder line with highest micromineral accumulation. Based on imputed WGS data, candidate genes are reported for the identified major QTL, and sequence changes were identified that could cause the phenotypic variation. Conclusions This work demonstrates the importance of this common bean MAGIC population for genetic mapping of agronomic traits, to identify trait associations for molecular breeding tool design and as a new genetic resource for the bean research community

Understanding the complexity of disease-climate interactions for rice bacterial panicle blight under tropical conditions

Bacterial panicle blight (BPB) caused by Burkholderia glumae is one of the main concerns for rice production in the Americas since bacterial infection can interfere with the grain-filling process and under severe conditions can result in high sterility. B. glumae has been detected in several rice-growing areas of Colombia and other countries of Central and Andean regions in Latin America, although evidence of its involvement in decreasing yield under these conditions is lacking. Analysis of different parameters in trials established in three rice-growing areas showed that, despite BPB presence, severity did not explain the sterility observed in fields. PCR tests for B. glumae confirmed low infection in all sites and genotypes, only 21.4% of the analyzed samples were positive for B. glumae. Climate parameters showed that Montería and Saldaña registered maximum temperature above 34°C, minimum temperature above 23°C, and Relative Humidity above 80%, conditions that favor the invasion model described for this pathogen in Asia. Our study found that in Colombia, minimum temperature above 23°C during 10 days after flowering is the condition that correlates with disease incidence. Therefore, this correlation, and the fact that Montería and Saldaña had a higher level of infected samples according to PCR tests, high minimum temperature, but not maximum temperature, seems to be determinant for B. glumae colonization under studied field conditions. This knowledge is a solid base line to design strategies for disease control, and is also a key element for breeders to develop strategies aimed to decrease the effect of B. glumae and high night-temperature on rice yield under tropical conditions

SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISM (SNP) MARKER DISCOVERY AND GENETIC MAPPING ASSOCIATED WITH RESISTANCE TO BEAN GOLDEN YELLOW MOSAIC VIRUS

INTRODUCTION: Bean Golden Yellow Mosaic Virus (BGYMV) is a severe disease of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) that causes important yield losses. BGYMV is a geminivirus (family Geminiviridae) transmitted by Whitefly in tropical and sub-tropical countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Breeding for resistance to the virus has been the most effective strategy for controlling the disease. One resistance source, A429, derived from the Durango landrace Garrapato (G2402), and subsequent DOR lines developed at CIAT, were shown to contain a single recessive gene, bgm-1, which reduces mosaic and yellowing symptoms. The marker SR2 has been used in marker-assisted selection programs because it is linked to the bgm-1 gene for resistance to BGYMV. In this study, SNP markers were developed from Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS) data on the region associated with the bgm-1 gene. These SNPs markers could constitute an important tool for marker-assisted selection programs for improvement of common bean cultivars with resistance to BGYMV

Antimicrobial ingredients affect beef snack stick quality

The Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention estimate that 2,500 people become infected with listerosis each year by consuming food containing Listeria monocytogenes. Certain ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, particularly deli meats and hot dogs, are considered high risk products based on a Listeria risk assessment performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service. Meat and poultry processors use various strategies to minimize L. monocytogenes contamination in ready-to-eat products; one strategy is inclusion of antimicrobial ingredients. Meat snacks, including snack sticks, are popular items in the United States; $3 million of meat snacks were sold in the United States during 2007. However, these snacks typically are not produced with antimicrobial ingredients. Ional2, Ional LC, and PURSAL Opti.Form PD43 are three organic acid salts that can be added to product formulations to limit L. monocytogenes growth. Ional contains buffered sodium citrate, and Ional LC is a combination of buffered sodium citrate and sodium diacetate that is optimized for L. monocytogenes control. Opti.Form contains sodium lactate and sodium diacetate. Inclusion of buffered sodium citrate is limited by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service to 1.3% in a formulation, but higher levels might be needed for effective L. monocytogenes control. Our objective was to evaluate quality characteristics and consumer preference of beef snack sticks formulated with these three antimicrobial ingredients

Packaging systems and storage times serve as post-lethality treatments for Listeria monocytogenes on whole muscle beef jerky

Following several outbreaks involving Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service required that processors of these products implement post-processing intervention strategies for controlling L. monocytogenes. The USDA defines a postlethality treatment as a process that reduces L. monocytogenes by at least 1 log. Research has shown that packaging can generate a 1 log L. monocytogenes reduction following 1 or more weeks of storage at room temperature. The objective of our study was to determine the effect of packaging system and storage time on reducing L. monocytogenes on shelf-stable whole muscle jerky