Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and its isotopic composition in southern Poland: comparison of high-altitude mountain site and a near-by urban environment

International audienceThe results of regular observations of atmospheric CO2 mixing ratios and its carbon isotope composition (?13C, ?14C), carried out at two continental sites located in central Europe are presented and discussed. The sites (Kasprowy Wierch, 49°14' N, 19°59' E, 1989 m a.s.l.; Krakow, 50°04' N, 19°55' E, 220 m a.s.l.), are located in two contrasting environments: (i) high-altitude mountaneous area, relatively free of anthropogenic influences, and (ii) typical urban environment with numerous local sources of carbon dioxide. Despite of relative proximity of those sites (ca. 100 km), substantial differences in both the recorded CO2 levels and their isotopic composition were detected. The CO2 mixing ratios measured in the urban atmosphere revealed quasi-permanent excess concentration of this gas when compared with near-by background atmosphere. The annual mean CO2 concentration recorded in Krakow in 2004 was almost 10% higher than that recorded at high-altitude mountain site (Kasprowy Wierch). Such effect is occuring probably in all urban centers. Carbon isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2 proved to be efficient tool for identification the surface CO2 fluxes into the atmosphere related to fossil fuel burning and their influence on the recorded levels of this gas in the local atmosphere. The available records of ?14C for Krakow and Kasprowy Wierch suggest gradual reduction of 14C-free CO2 fluxes into the urban atmosphere of Krakow in the past several years

Carbon isotopic signature of coal-derived methane emissions to the atmosphere: from coalification to alteration

Currently, the atmospheric methane burden is rising rapidly, but the extent to which shifts in coal production contribute to this rise is not known. Coalbed methane emissions into the atmosphere are poorly characterised, and this study provides representative δ13CCH4 signatures of methane emissions from specific coalfields. Integrated methane emissions from both underground and opencast coal mines in the UK, Australia and Poland were sampled and isotopically characterised. Progression in coal rank and secondary biogenic production of methane due to incursion of water are suggested as the processes affecting the isotopic composition of coal-derived methane. An averaged value of −65 ‰ has been assigned to bituminous coal exploited in open cast mines and of −55 ‰ in deep mines, whereas values of −40 and −30 ‰ can be allocated to anthracite opencast and deep mines respectively. However, the isotopic signatures that are included in global atmospheric modelling of coal emissions should be region- or nation-specific, as greater detail is needed, given the wide global variation in coal type

Global CO2 fluxes inferred from surface air-sample measurements and from TCCON retrievals of the CO2 total column

We present the first estimate of the global distribution of CO2surface fluxes from 14 stations of the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). The evaluation of this inversion is based on 1) comparison with the fluxes from a classical inversion of surface air-sample-measurements, and 2) comparison of CO2mixing ratios calculated from the inverted fluxes with independent aircraft measurements made during the two years analyzed here, 2009 and 2010. The former test shows similar seasonal cycles in the northern hemisphere and consistent regional carbon budgets between inversions from the two datasets, even though the TCCON inversion appears to be less precise than the classical inversion. The latter test confirms that the TCCON inversion has improved the quality (i.e., reduced the uncertainty) of the surface fluxes compared to the assumed or prior fluxes. The consistency between the surface-air-sample-based and the TCCON-based inversions despite remaining flaws in transport models opens the possibility of increased accuracy and robustness of flux inversions based on the combination of both data sources and confirms the usefulness of space-borne monitoring of the CO2 column.It was co-funded by the European Commission under the EU Seventh Research Framework Programme (grants agreements 218793, MACC, and 212196, COCOS

The novel gene Ny-1 on potato chromosome IX confers hypersensitive resistance to Potato virus Y and is an alternative to Ry genes in potato breeding for PVY resistance

Hypersensitive resistance (HR) is an efficient defense strategy in plants that restricts pathogen growth and can be activated during host as well as non-host interactions. HR involves programmed cell death and manifests itself in tissue collapse at the site of pathogen attack. A novel hypersensitivity gene, Ny-1, for resistance to Potato virus Y (PVY) was revealed in potato cultivar Rywal. This is the first gene that confers HR in potato plants both to common and necrotic strains of PVY. The locus Ny-1 mapped on the short arm of potato chromosome IX, where various resistance genes are clustered in Solanaceous genomes. Expression of HR was temperature-dependent in cv. Rywal. Strains PVYO and PVYN, including subgroups PVYNW and PVYNTN, were effectively localized when plants were grown at 20°C. At 28°C, plants were systemically infected but no symptoms were observed. In field trials, PVY was restricted to the inoculated leaves and PVY-free tubers were produced. Therefore, the gene Ny-1 can be useful for potato breeding as an alternative donor of PVY resistance, because it is efficacious in practice-like resistance conferred by Ry genes

Differential gene expression in nearly isogenic lines with QTL for partial resistance to Puccinia hordei in barley

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The barley-<it>Puccinia hordei </it>(barley leaf rust) pathosystem is a model for investigating partial disease resistance in crop plants and genetic mapping of phenotypic resistance has identified several quantitative trait loci (QTL) for partial resistance. Reciprocal QTL-specific near-isogenic lines (QTL-NILs) have been developed that combine two QTL, <it>Rphq</it>2 and <it>Rphq</it>3, the largest effects detected in a recombinant-inbred-line (RIL) population derived from a cross between the super-susceptible line L94 and partially-resistant line Vada. The molecular mechanism underpinning partial resistance in these QTL-NILs is unknown.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An Agilent custom microarray consisting of 15,000 probes derived from barley consensus EST sequences was used to investigate genome-wide and QTL-specific differential expression of genes 18 hours post-inoculation (hpi) with <it>Puccinia hordei</it>. A total of 1,410 genes were identified as being significantly differentially expressed across the genome, of which 55 were accounted for by the genetic differences defined by QTL-NILs at <it>Rphq</it>2 and <it>Rphq</it>3. These genes were predominantly located at the QTL regions and are, therefore, positional candidates. One gene, encoding the transcriptional repressor Ethylene-Responsive Element Binding Factor 4 (<it>HvERF4</it>) was located outside the QTL at 71 cM on chromosome 1H, within a previously detected eQTL hotspot for defence response. The results indicate that <it>Rphq</it>2 or <it>Rphq</it>3 contains a <it>trans</it>-eQTL that modulates expression of <it>HvERF4</it>. We speculate that HvERF4 functions as an intermediate that conveys the response signal from a gene(s) contained within <it>Rphq</it>2 or <it>Rphq</it>3 to a host of down-stream defense responsive genes. Our results also reveal that barley lines with extreme or intermediate partial resistance phenotypes exhibit a profound similarity in their spectrum of <it>Ph</it>-responsive genes and that hormone-related signalling pathways are actively involved in response to <it>Puccinia hordei</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Differential gene expression between QTL-NILs identifies genes predominantly located within the target region(s) providing both transcriptional and positional candidate genes for the QTL. Genetically mapping the differentially expressed genes relative to the QTL has the potential to discover <it>trans</it>-eQTL mediated regulatory relays initiated from genes within the QTL regions.</p

Zdolnosc kombinacyjna wybranych rodow ziemniaka pod wzgledem ogolnego wygladu bulw, ciemnienia enzymatycznego i barwy produktu smazonego

Combining abilities of nine tetraploid potato parental forms for general appearance of tubers, enzymatic browning and fry colour after cold storage (4-6°C) were evaluated at Research Division Młochów of Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute. The progeny test comprised 18 families from hybridization of six maternal forms (M-64, PS-1753, M-62775, M-62812, M-62819, M-62820) with three paternal forms (PS-1742, M-16, cv. Panda). The key characters of parental lines used in above mentioned hybridization were light colour of fry product and resistance to PVY. Each parental combination was represented by 60 unselected seedlings grown on the non-irrigated field in 2004. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among studied families for frequency of individuals with good tuber morphology, enzymatic browning and fry colour after cold storage (4-6°C). Out of nine tested parental forms the M-62819, PS-1742, and PS-1753 were the best at transmitting light fry colour (4-6°C) to their offspring. In addition M-62819 and PS-1742 have increased frequency of individuals with good tuber morphology. The clone M-62775 was identified as the parent with significant positive GCA effect for enzymatic browning and thus can be utilized in a breeding programmes for raw dried potato products.W Instytucie Hodowli i Aklimatyzacji Roślin (Oddział w Młochowie) oceniono zdolność kombinacyjną dziewięciu tetraploidalnych form rodzicielskich pod względem ogólnego wyglądu bulw, ciemnienia enzymatycznego i barwy produktu smażonego. Eksperyment, w układzie North Carolina II obejmował potomstwa 18 rodzin, uzyskane z krzyżowania sześciu form matecznych (M-64, PS-1753, M-62775, M-62812, M-62819, M-62820) z trzema formami ojcowskimi (PS-1742, M-16, odm. Panda). Wiodącymi cechami rodów wykorzystywanych w wyżej wymienionych krzyżowaniach była jasna barwa produktu smażonego oraz odporność na wirus Y ziemniaka. Każda kombinacja rodzicielska była reprezentowana przez 60 nieselekcjonowanych siewek, uprawianych w polu bez nawadniania, w 2004 roku. Analiza wariancji wykazała istotne zróżnicowanie między badanymi rodzinami pod względem: procentowego udziału osobników o dobrym ogólnym wyglądzie bulw, ciemnienia enzymatycznego, barwy produktu smażonego bezpośrednio z bulw przechowywanych w niskiej temperaturze (4-6°C). Spośród dziewięciu badanych form rodzicielskich, rody: M-62819, PS-1742 i PS-1753 najlepiej przekazywały na potomstwo jasną barwę produktu smażonego. Rody M-462819 i PS-1742 również z wyższą frekwencją tworzyły osobniki o dobrej morfologii bulw. Ród M-62775 został zidentyfikowany jako forma rodzicielska o korzystnych efektach GCA pod względem ciemnienia enzymatycznego i może być wykorzystany w programach hodowlanych, ukierunkowanych na uzyskanie odmian przydatnych do przetwórstwa na suszone produkty z surowego miąższu