STEM RUST SEEDLING RESISTANCE GENES IN ETHIOPIAN WHEAT CULTIVARS AND BREEDING LINES

Stem rust caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici is one of the major biotic limiting factors for wheat production in Ethiopia. Host plant resistance is the best option to manage stem rust from its economic and environmental points of view. Wheat cultivars are released for production without carrying race specific tests against stem rust. Hence, genes responsible for resistance in commercial wheat cultivars are not known. The objective of this study was to postulate stem rust resistance genes present in Ethiopian commercial wheat cultivars and advanced breeding lines. Thirty durum wheat (19 commercial cultivars and 11 breeding lines) and 30 bread wheat (20 commercial cultivars and 10 breeding lines) were tested for gene postulation. Stem rust infection types produced on wheat cultivars and breeding lines by ten Pgt races was compared with infection types produced on 40 near isogenic lines carrying single stem rust resistance genes. A total of 11 stem rust resistance genes (Sr5, Sr7a, Sr7b, Sr8a, Sr9e, Sr11, Sr21, Sr27, Sr29, Sr30 and Sr37) were postulated to be present either singly or in combination in the durum and wheat cultivars and breeding lines. Except Sr30, the other postulated genes were susceptible to most of the prevalent Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici races in Ethiopia. Since Sr30 is also ineffective against Ug99, a gene management strategy that incorporates a combination of genes (gene pyramiding) that provide sufficient protection should be devised to achieve a durable control of stem rust. In addition, the significance of Sr27, Sr29 and Sr37 has to be investigated for Ethiopian agriculture.La rouille de tiges caus\ue9e par Puccinia graminis f. sp. triticiest un facteur majeur limitant de la production du bl\ue9 en Ethiopie. La r\ue9sistance de la plante h\uf4te constitue une meilleure optionpour la gestion de cette rouille sur le plan \ue9conomique et environnemental. Les cultivars du bl\ue9 sont \ue9mis pour la production sans aucun test sp\ue9cifique contre la rouille de tiges. Ainsi, les g\ue8nes responsables de r\ue9sistance dans les cultivars de bl\ue9 commercial ne sont pas connus. L'objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de postuler les g\ue8nes de r\ue9sistance de la rouille de la tige pr\ue9sents dans les cultivars de bl\ue9 commercial et lign\ue9es am\ue9lior\ue9es.Trente vari\ue9t\ue9s de bl\ue9 dur (19 cultivars de bl\ue9commercial et 11 vari\ue9t\ue9s am\ue9lior\ue9es) et 30 vari\ue9t\ue9s de bl\ue9 pour p\ue2tisserie (20 cultivars de bl\ue9 commercial et 10 de lign\ue9esam\ue9lior\ue9es) \ue9taienttest\ue9s).Les types d'infections de la rouille produits sur les cultivars de bl\ue9 et sur les lign\ue9es am\ue9lior\ue9es par 10 races Pgt \ue9taient compar\ue9saux types d'infection produits sur 40 lign\ue9es isogoniques portant des g\ue8nes de r\ue9sistance \ue0 la rouille de tiges. Un total de 11 g\ue8nes de r\ue9sistance \ue0 la rouille (Sr5, Sr7a, Sr7b, Sr8a, Sr9e, Sr11, Sr21, Sr27, Sr29, Sr30 and Sr37) \ue9taientpr\ue9sum\ue9es pr\ue9sents soit singuli\ue8rement ou en combinaison dans les cultivars debl\ue9 dur et lign\ue9esam\ue9lior\ue9es.A l'exception de Sr30, d'autres g\ue8nes postul\ue9s \ue9taient susceptibles \ue0 la plupart des races pr\ue9valences dePuccinia graminis f. sp. triticien Ethiopie. Du fait que Sr30est aussi inefficace contre Ug99, une strat\ue9gie de gestion g\ue9n\ue9tique incluant une combinaison des g\ue8nes (gene pyramiding) qui fournitune protection suffisante pourrait \ueatre formul\ue9e pour un control durable de la rouille de tiges. En plus, une recherche sur l'implication de Sr27, Sr29etSr37 devra \ueatre faite en agriculture \ue9thiopienne

The Associations of Breastfeeding Status at 6 Months with Anthropometry, Body Composition, and Cardiometabolic Markers at 5 Years in the Ethiopian Infant Anthropometry and Body Composition Birth Cohort

(1) Background: Breastfeeding (BF) has been shown to lower the risk of overweight and cardiometabolic disease later in life. However, evidence from low-income settings remains sparse. We examined the associations of BF status at 6 months with anthropometry, body composition (BC), and cardiometabolic markers at 5 years in Ethiopian children. (2) Methods: Mother–child pairs from the iABC birth cohort were categorised into four BF groups at 6 months: 1. “Exclusive”, 2. “Almost exclusive”, 3. “Predominantly” and 4. “Partial or none”. The associations of BF status with anthropometry, BC, and cardiometabolic markers at 5 years were examined using multiple linear regression analyses in three adjustment models. (3) Results: A total of 306 mother–child pairs were included. Compared with “Exclusive”, the nonexclusive BF practices were associated with a lower BMI, blood pressure, and HDL-cholesterol at 5 years. Compared with “Exclusive”, “Predominantly” and “Almost exclusive” had shorter stature of −1.7 cm (−3.3, −0.2) and −1.2 cm (−2.9, 0.5) and a lower fat-free mass index of −0.36 kg/m2 (−0.71, −0.005) and −0.38 kg/m2 (−0.76, 0.007), respectively, but a similar fat mass index. Compared with “Exclusive”, “Predominantly” had higher insulin of 53% (2.01, 130.49), “Almost exclusive” had lower total and LDL-cholesterol, and “Partial or none” had a lower fat mass index. (5) Conclusions: Our data suggest that children exclusively breastfed at 6 months of age are overall larger at 5 years, with greater stature, higher fat-free mass but similar fat mass, higher HDL-cholesterol and blood pressure, and lower insulin concentrations compared with predominantly breastfed children. Long-term studies of the associations between BF and metabolic health are needed to inform policies

Associations of fat mass and fat-free mass accretion in infancy with body composition and cardiometabolic risk markers at 5 years:The Ethiopian iABC birth cohort study

BackgroundAccelerated growth in early childhood is an established risk factor for later obesity and cardiometabolic disease, but the relative importance of fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) accretion is not well understood. We aimed to study how FM and FFM at birth and their accretion during infancy were associated with body composition and cardiometabolic risk markers at 5 years.Methods and findingsHealthy children born at term were enrolled in the Infant Anthropometry and Body Composition (iABC) birth cohort between December 2008 and October 2012 at Jimma University Specialized Hospital in the city of Jimma, Ethiopia. FM and FFM were assessed using air displacement plethysmography a median of 6 times between birth and 6 months of age. In 507 children, we estimated individual FM and FFM at birth and their accretion over 0-3 and 3-6 months of age using linear-spline mixed-effects modelling. We analysed associations of FM and FFM at birth and their accretion in infancy with height, waist circumference, FM, FFM, and cardiometabolic risk markers at 5 years using multiple linear regression analysis. A total of 340 children were studied at the 5-year follow-up (mean age: 60.0 months; girls: 50.3%; mean wealth index: 45.5 out of 100; breastfeeding status at 4.5 to 6 months post-partum: 12.5% exclusive, 21.4% almost exclusive, 60.6% predominant, 5.5% partial/none). Higher FM accretion in infancy was associated with higher FM and waist circumference at 5 years. For instance, 100-g/month higher FM accretion in the periods 0-3 and 3-6 months was associated with 339 g (95% CI: 243-435 g, p ConclusionsFM accretion in early life was positively associated with markers of adiposity and lipid metabolism, but not with blood pressure and cardiometabolic markers related to glucose homeostasis. FFM accretion was primarily related to linear growth and FFM at 5 years

Higher weight and weight gain after 4 years of age rather than weight at birth are associated with adiposity, markers of glucose metabolism, and blood pressure in 5-year-old Ethiopian children

BACKGROUND: Fetal and early life growth is associated with adult risk of obesity and cardiometabolic disease. However, little is known about the relative importance of birth weight and successive periods of weight gain on markers of cardiometabolic risk in childhood in low-income populations. // OBJECTIVES: The objective was to study associations of birth weight and weight gain velocities in selected age intervals from birth to 60 mo with height, fat-free mass (FFM), and markers of adiposity and cardiometabolic risk at 60 mo. // METHODS: In a prospective cohort study of 375 Ethiopian children aged 60 mo, we estimated individual weight gain velocities in the periods between birth and 3, 6, 24, 48, and 60 mo using linear-spline mixed-effects modeling. Subsequently, we analyzed associations of birth weight, weight gain velocities, and current weight with height, FFM, and markers of adiposity and cardiometabolic risk. // RESULTS: Weight gain from 48 to 60 mo and weight at 60 mo rather than birth weight were the strongest correlates of insulin, C-peptide, HOMA-IR, blood pressure, height, FFM, waist circumference, and fat mass at 60 mo. For instance, 1 SD higher (1 SD = 50 g/mo) weight accretion from 48 to 60 mo was associated with a higher insulin of 23.3% (95% CI: 9.6%, 38.8%), C-peptide of 11.4% (2.7%, 20.8%), systolic blood pressure of 1.4 mm Hg (0.6, 2.3 mm Hg), fat mass of 0.72 kg (0.59, 0.85 kg), and FFM of 0.70 kg (0.56, 0.85 kg). Weight gain from 0 to 3 mo was positively associated with LDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, height, and the body composition indices, and weight gain from 24 to 48 mo was inversely associated with blood glucose. // CONCLUSIONS: In 60-mo-old Ethiopian urban children, weight gain and weight after 48 mo rather than weight at birth may represent a sensitive period for variations in markers of adiposity and glucose metabolism. The birth cohort is registered at https://www.isrctn.com/ as ISRCTN46718296

Associations of weight and body composition at birth with body composition and cardiometabolic markers in children aged 10 y: the Ethiopian infant anthropometry and body composition birth cohort study

Background: Although birth weight (BW) has been associated with later cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, the role of birth fat mass (BFM) and birth fat-free mass (BFFM) on cardiometabolic health is unclear. // Objectives: To examine associations of BW, BFM, and BFFM with later anthropometry, body composition, abdominal fat, and cardiometabolic markers. // Methods: Birth cohort data on standardized exposure variables (BW, BFM, and BFFM) and follow-up information at age 10 y on anthropometry, body composition, abdominal fat, and cardiometabolic markers were included. A linear regression analysis was used to assess associations of exposures with outcome variables, adjusting for maternal and child characteristics at birth and current body size in separate models. // Results: Among 353 children, mean (SD) age was 9.8 (1.0) y, and 51.5% were boys. In the fully adjusted model, 1-SD higher BW and BFFM were associated with 0.81 cm (95% CI: 0.21, 1.41 cm) and 1.25 cm (95% CI: 0.64, 1.85 cm) greater height at 10 y, respectively. The 1-SD higher BW and BFM were associated with 0.32 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.14, 0.51 kg/m2) and 0.42 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.25, 0.59 kg/m2) greater fat mass index at 10 y, respectively. In addition, 1-SD higher BW and BFFM were associated with 0.22 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.34 kg/m2) greater FFM index, whereas a 1-SD greater BFM was associated with a 0.05 cm greater subcutaneous adipose tissue (95% CI: 0.01, 0.11 cm). Furthermore, 1-SD higher BW and BFFM were associated with 10.3% (95% CI: 1.4%, 20.0%) and 8.3% (95% CI: −0.5%, 17.9%) greater insulin, respectively. Similarly, 1-SD higher BW and BFFM were associated with 10.0% (95% CI: 0.9%, 20.0%) and 8.5% (95% CI: −0.6%, 18.5%) greater homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, respectively. // Conclusions: BW and BFFM rather than BFM are predictors of height and FFM index at 10 y. Children with higher BW and BFFM showed higher insulin concentrations and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance at 10 y of age. // This trial was registered at ISRCTN as ISRCTN46718296

Associations of weight and body composition at birth with body composition and cardiometabolic markers in children aged 10 y: the Ethiopian infant anthropometry and body composition birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although birth weight (BW) has been associated with later cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, the role of birth fat mass (BFM) and birth fat-free mass (BFFM) on cardiometabolic health is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To examine associations of BW, BFM, and BFFM with later anthropometry, body composition, abdominal fat, and cardiometabolic markers. METHODS: Birth cohort data on standardized exposure variables (BW, BFM, and BFFM) and follow-up information at age 10 y on anthropometry, body composition, abdominal fat, and cardiometabolic markers were included. A linear regression analysis was used to assess associations of exposures with outcome variables, adjusting for maternal and child characteristics at birth and current body size in separate models. RESULTS: Among 353 children, mean (SD) age was 9.8 (1.0) y, and 51.5% were boys. In the fully adjusted model, 1-SD higher BW and BFFM were associated with 0.81 cm (95% CI: 0.21, 1.41 cm) and 1.25 cm (95% CI: 0.64, 1.85 cm) greater height at 10 y, respectively. The 1-SD higher BW and BFM were associated with 0.32 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.14, 0.51 kg/m2) and 0.42 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.25, 0.59 kg/m2) greater fat mass index at 10 y, respectively. In addition, 1-SD higher BW and BFFM were associated with 0.22 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.34 kg/m2) greater FFM index, whereas a 1-SD greater BFM was associated with a 0.05 cm greater subcutaneous adipose tissue (95% CI: 0.01, 0.11 cm). Furthermore, 1-SD higher BW and BFFM were associated with 10.3% (95% CI: 1.4%, 20.0%) and 8.3% (95% CI: -0.5%, 17.9%) greater insulin, respectively. Similarly, 1-SD higher BW and BFFM were associated with 10.0% (95% CI: 0.9%, 20.0%) and 8.5% (95% CI: -0.6%, 18.5%) greater homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: BW and BFFM rather than BFM are predictors of height and FFM index at 10 y. Children with higher BW and BFFM showed higher insulin concentrations and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance at 10 y of age. This trial was registered at ISRCTN as ISRCTN46718296

Rapid Plant Identification Using Species- and Group-Specific Primers Targeting Chloroplast DNA

Plant identification is challenging when no morphologically assignable parts are available. There is a lack of broadly applicable methods for identifying plants in this situation, for example when roots grow in mixture and for decayed or semi-digested plant material. These difficulties have also impeded the progress made in ecological disciplines such as soil- and trophic ecology. Here, a PCR-based approach is presented which allows identifying a variety of plant taxa commonly occurring in Central European agricultural land. Based on the trnT-F cpDNA region, PCR assays were developed to identify two plant families (Poaceae and Apiaceae), the genera Trifolium and Plantago, and nine plant species: Achillea millefolium, Fagopyrum esculentum, Lolium perenne, Lupinus angustifolius, Phaseolus coccineus, Sinapis alba, Taraxacum officinale, Triticum aestivum, and Zea mays. These assays allowed identification of plants based on size-specific amplicons ranging from 116 bp to 381 bp. Their specificity and sensitivity was consistently high, enabling the detection of small amounts of plant DNA, for example, in decaying plant material and in the intestine or faeces of herbivores. To increase the efficacy of identifying plant species from large number of samples, specific primers were combined in multiplex PCRs, allowing screening for multiple species within a single reaction. The molecular assays outlined here will be applicable manifold, such as for root- and leaf litter identification, botanical trace evidence, and the analysis of herbivory