Retrotransposon molecular markers resolve cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) and taro (Colocasia esculenta) by type and variety

Retrotransposon-based molecular markers were applied for the first time within the genera Xanthosoma and Colocasia to assess intraspecific variability among 27 accessions of cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) and taro (Colocasia esulenta). Over 16 distinct retrotransposon fragments were isolated, sequenced, and LTR primers were designed to obtain Inter-Retrotransposon Amplified Polymorphism (IRAP) fingerprints. The set of six polymorphic LTR primers yielded 433 reproducible bands across a set of 20 X. sagittifolium samples. Out of the 433 bands, 400 fragments (92%) were polymorphic. In seven C. esculenta accessions, the six primers amplified a total of 354 reproducible, informative data points, of which 285 (80.5%) were polymorphic. Data concerning the number of polymorphic bands and Shannon’s index in X. sagittifolium accessions suggest that retrotransposon activity continued after Xanthosoma speciation. Cluster analysis placed all the accessions in two groups according to their species delimitation. The accessions of X. sagittifolium were further divided into two subgroups corresponding to their ploidy level. Moreover, our results showed that the genetic variability accessed by IRAP markers allows separation of X. sagittifolium and C. esculenta accessions according to their type and botanical variety respectively. These data provide a basis for better germplasm management, future systematic studies and genetic improvement, as well as for exploration of the role of retrotransposons in cocoyam and taro polyploid formation and genome dynamics.Peer reviewe

High-resolution identification and abundance profiling of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) microRNAs.

BACKGROUND: Small RNAs (sRNAs) are endogenous sRNAs that play regulatory roles in plant growth, development, and biotic and abiotic stress responses. In plants, one subset of sRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) exhibit tissue-differential expression and regulate gene expression mainly through direct cleavage of mRNA or indirectly via production of secondary phased siRNAs (phasiRNAs) that silence cognate target transcripts in trans. RESULTS: Here, we have identified cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) miRNAs using high resolution sequencing of sRNA libraries from leaf, stem, callus, male and female flower tissues. To analyze the data, we built a cassava genome database and, via sequence analysis and secondary structure prediction, 38 miRNAs not previously reported in cassava were identified. These new cassava miRNAs included two miRNAs not previously been reported in any plant species. The miRNAs exhibited tissue-differential accumulation as confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis, largely reflecting levels observed in sequencing data. Some of the miRNAs identified were predicted to trigger production of secondary phased siRNAs (phasiRNAs) from 80 PHAS loci. CONCLUSIONS: Cassava is a woody perennial shrub, grown principally for its starch-rich storage roots, which are rich in calories. In this study, new miRNAs were identified and their expression was validated using qRT-PCR of RNA from five different tissues. The data obtained expand the list of annotated miRNAs and provide additional new resources for cassava improvement research

Seroprevalence, geographical distribution, and risk factors of peste des petits ruminants in the Republic of Chad

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, geographical distribution, and main risk factors for peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in the Republic of Chad. Materials and methods: A total of 3,546 sera collected from unvaccinated small ruminants including 1,699 goats and 1,847 sheep in 19 of the 23 regions in Chad were randomly sampled. The competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technics were used for serological analysis. Results: The overall seroprevalence at the individual level was 52.9%±1.6% (48.9% for goats and 56.2% for sheep). Seroprevalence observed in the Chari Baguirmi, Ouaddaï, and NDjamena regions was significantly higher than those in the other regions. Transhumant herds are the most exposed than the sedentary ones. Older animals were more affected than the young ones. Kababich sheep are the most affected than other breeds. Conclusion: This study has shown that the PPR virus is circulating in the Republic of Chad. In view of the results obtained, the disease is enzootic in the country. Epidemiological information obtained including seroprevalence rate, risk factors (sex, breed, age, and mode of rearing), and geographical distribution will help to define an appropriate strategy for PPR control in the Republic of Chad. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2018; 5(4.000): 420-425

The Behaviour of Players behind Poker Tables

The bachelor thesis deals with the behaviour of poker players, which can be encountered in the game of poker. In my work I am gradually engaged in non-verbal communication, verbal communication and the ethics of poker players. In the section of non-verbal communication, I analyse individual parts of the body from the most important for reading to the least important. I also deal with psychological effects that can greatly influence the behaviour of the players. In the section of verbal communication, I focus mainly on what verbal communication in poker can serve and how to use this knowledge. In the last part I present the issue of ethical behaviour. In the practical part I use the knowledge from my own research as well as the knowledge of the players who were willing to share with me their knowledge. I also use the analysis of the video which is available on YouTube

Biochemical aspects of single-node cuttings of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) in relation with rooting

Ricinodendron heudelotii (Njansang) is a valuable multipurpose tree species retained for domestication in Central and Western African regions. To measure the ability of rooting in relation with biochemical changes, basal single-node leafy cuttings were treated with different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and cultured in fine sand media under poly-propagator system. The adventitious rooting was obtained in three distinct stages: Induction (0 to 20 days), initiation (20 to 30 days) and expression (30 to 40 days). Rooting response was higher within nodal cuttings pretreated with IBA than those pretreated with NAA. Polyphenoloxidase activity started to increase both in treated and control cutting during the initiation stage of the experiment and decreased after root emergence only in treated cuttings. Indole-3 acetic acid (IAA)-oxidase activity of auxin treated cuttings decreased as compared to the control. The peroxidase activity in IBA-treated cuttings increased slowly at the initiation stages and lightly at the expression stage. Total phenolic content was higher in IBA-treated cutting particularly at the initiation and expression stages. Phenolics andpolyphenoloxidase might be playing key role for emergence of adventitious rooting and can be used as rooting enhancer in R. heudelotii.Keywords: Auxins, enzyme activity, nodal cutting, Ricinodendron heudelotii, vegetative propagationAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(10), pp. 1049-105

Additional file 3: Figure S2. of High-resolution identification and abundance profiling of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) microRNAs

Predicted secondary structure of miRNA precursors identified in this study. Most of the miRNAs were from unbranched terminal loops as while a few had branched terminal loops. The miRNAs are colored in red. (PPTX 473 kb

Additional file 2: Figure S1. of High-resolution identification and abundance profiling of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) microRNAs

The sum of abundances of sequences matching to all new cassava miRNAs identified in this study. Precursors are plotted against their locations and the overall sRNA distribution within a 3 kb vicinity in the genomic chunk. The most abundant sequence is denoted with a red arrow; other sRNAs of different sizes are also shown. Some miRNAs were mapped to loci with high levels of sRNAs as well as to loci with low levels of sRNAs. (PPTX 270 kb