Physiologic Specialization of \u3ci\u3ePuccinia recondita\u3c/i\u3e f. sp. \u3ci\u3etritici\u3c/i\u3e in Nebraska During 1995 and 1996

Field samples of Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici, collected from four wheat-growing regions in Nebraska in 1995 and from three in 1996, were characterized for virulence. Twenty virulence phenotypes were identified in 1995 and 18 in 1996. Virulence phenotypes MBR-10,18 (virulent on Lr genes, 1, 3, 3ka, 10, 11, 18, and 30) and MDR-10,18 (virulent on Lr genes 1, 3, 3ka, 10, 11, 18, 24, and 30) were the most prevalent, with each phenotype comprising 21.6% of the isolates characterized in 1995. Of the 1995 isolates, 24% were virulent on 10 or more host genes. No virulence to Lr16 and Lr17 was detected. In 1996, virulence phenotype MBR-10,18 was the most prevalent and comprised 20.5% of the isolates characterized. Of the 1996 isolates, 33% were virulent on 10 or more host genes. All isolates in both years were virulent on Lr1, Lr3, and Lr10. New virulence phenotypes were detected in 1996 that were not detected in 1995. In 1996, virulence was more frequent on Lr2a, Lr16, and Lr17 and less frequent on Lr3ka, Lr18, Lr24, Lr26, and Lr30. The number of isolates virulent on Lr24 and Lr26 has decreased from 83 and 53%, respectively, in 1992, to 34 and 1%, respectively, in 1996

EC88-102 Nebraska Spring Small Grain Variety Tests 1988

Extension circular 88-102 is about Nebraska spring small grain variety tests in 1988

SIMULATION AND RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY TO OPTIMIZE WINTER WHEAT RESPONSE TO GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

Future climate changes can have a major impact on crop production. But, whatever the climatic changes, crop production can be adapted to climate change by implementing alternative management practices and developing new genotypes that will take full advantage of the future climatic conditions. Since the classical agronomic research approach is not possible in identifying these new agronomic technologies for the future climatic conditions, we used response surface methodology (RSM) in connection with the CERES-Wheat crop model and the HADCM2 climate simulation model to identify optimal configuration of plant traits and management practices that maximize yield of winter wheat under high CO2 environments. The simulations were conducted for three Nebraska locations (Havelock, Dickens and Alliance), which were considered representative of winter wheat growing areas in the central Great Plains. At all locations, the identified optimal winter wheat cultivar under high CO2 conditions had a larger number of tillers, larger kernel size, shorter days to flower, grew faster and had more kernels per square meter than the check variety under normal CO2 conditions, while the optimal planting dates were later and planting densities were lower than under normal conditions. We concluded that RSM used in conjunction with crop and climate simulation models was a useful approach to understanding the complex relationship between wheat genotypes, climate and management practices

Populations of doubled haploids for genetic mapping in hexaploid winter triticale.

To create a framework for genetic dissection of hexaploid triticale, six populations of doubled haploid (DH) lines were developed from pairwise hybrids of high-yielding winter triticale cultivars. The six populations comprise between 97 and 231 genotyped DH lines each, totaling 957 DH lines. A consensus genetic map spans 4593.9 cM is composed of 1576 unique DArT markers. The maps reveal several structural rearrangements in triticale genomes. In preliminary tests of the populations and maps, markers specific to wheat segments of the engineered rye chromosome 1R (RM1B) were identified. Example QTL mapping of days to heading in cv. Krakowiak revealed loci on chromosomes 2BL and 2R responsible for extended vernalization requirement, and candidate genes were identified. The material is available to all parties interested in triticale genetics

Education, employment and marriage in long-term survivors of teenage and young adult cancer compared with healthy controls

QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY: Teenage and young adult (TYA) cancer patients are faced with the diagnosis during a challenging period of psychosocial development that may affect social outcomes in the long term. Therefore, we aimed to: (1) determine differences in social outcomes between long-term TYA cancer survivors and healthy controls and (2) identify factors associated with adverse social out-comes. METHODS: We sent a questionnaire to TYA cancer survivors (aged 16-25 years at diagnosis, ≥5 years after diagnosis) registered in the Cancer Registry Zurich and Zug. Information on controls was obtained from the Swiss Health Survey 2012. We assessed educational achievement, employment status, marital status and life partnership (survivors only), and compared these outcomes between survivors and controls. We used logistic regression to identify sociodemo-graphic and cancer-related factors associated with social outcomes. RESULTS: We included 160 TYA cancer survivors and 999 controls. Educational achievement of survivors differed significantly from controls (p = 0.012): more survivors than controls reported upper secondary education (33 vs 27%) and fewer survivors reported uni-versity education (12 vs 21%). No significant differences were found for employment (p = 0.515) and marital status (p = 0.357). The major-ity of survivors (91%) and controls (90%) were employed, and 37% of survivors were married, compared with 41% of controls. There were no cancer-related factors associated with having only basic educa-tion. Unemployment was associated with younger age at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] 5.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-30.8) and self-reported late effects (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.3-19.5). Survivors of younger age at diagnosis were more likely not to be married (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3-5.7) and not to have a life partner (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.0-5.2). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that TYA cancer survivors com-pleted applied higher education rather than a university education. Future studies including larger samples of TYA cancer survivors are needed to validate our findings and to explore the reasons for and satisfaction with the observed educational pathway

"I wish someone had once asked me how I'm doing": Disadvantages and support needs faced by parents of long-term childhood cancer survivors

BACKGROUND: Childhood cancer affects the whole family and can have a lasting impact on parents of childhood cancer survivors (CCS). We aimed to (1) describe parents' perspective of currently experienced disadvantages and of their support needs during treatment, after treatment, and today; (2) identify characteristics associated with disadvantages and support needs; and (3) describe the use of existing support services. PROCEDURE: In this population-based study, we identified parents of CCS (diagnosed ≤16 years of age, ≥5 years since diagnosis, aged ≥20 years at study) through the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry (SCCR). Parents completed a questionnaire on perceived disadvantages (e.g., job-related, financial, etc.), support needs (e.g., job-related, financial, etc.), and socio-demographics. Cancer-related characteristics were available from the SCCR. We used multivariable multilevel logistic regression to identify characteristics associated with disadvantages and support needs. RESULTS: An average of 24 years after diagnosis, one-fifth of parents (n = 59/308; 19.2%) reported disadvantages, and 7.1% reported support needs. Many parents had desired more support during (66.9%) or after (34.4%) their child's cancer treatment. Parents whose child experienced late effects (OR = 26.6; 95% CI, 2.9-241.0) or was dependent on parents (OR = 10.6; 95% CI, 2.1-53.7) reported greater current need for more support. Almost half of parents (43.5%) reported having used existing support services. CONCLUSIONS: Many parents need more support during and after active treatment of their child's cancer, and some experience support needs and disadvantages long into survivorship. Better promotion of existing services for parental and familial support and setting up new services, where needed, may help parents in the long term