Genetic analysis of anthocyanin content in purple waxy corn (Zea mays L. var. ceratina Kulesh) kernel and cob

Anthocyanins of pigmented corn become a topic of increasing interest recently due to consumer awareness of their various health benefits. A better understanding on the gene effects to anthocyanin is an important for high antioxidants breeding programs. The objective of the present study was to determine gene effect controlling of anthocyanin content in purple waxy corn kernel and cob by generation mean analysis. For the cross of KND 10-4P (P1) × BW (P2), F2, and backcross generations were developed. All generations were planted in the randomized complete block design (RCB) with 3 replications at the Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Genetic analysis showed that the additive gene effects appeared to be a major contribution to the inheritance for pelargonidin-3-glucosid and peonidin-3-glucoside in the purple corn cob, indicate that selection for these anthocyanins is made at early breeding generations may be possible. Moreover, dominance and dominance × dominance epistatic effects were important for all studied traits in the corn kernel and cyanidin-3-glucoside in purple corn cob so initial selection can be carried out in large populations of later generations with increased homozygosity

To me, Goffman Was a Shakespearean Figure, the Fool Who Spoke the Wisdom of the Play

Dr. Marvin B. Scott, Professor Emeritus at Hunter College, wrote this memoir at the request of Jackie Wiseman

Another Nibble at the Core: Student Learning in a Thematically-focused Introductory Sociology Course

Identifying and assessing core knowledge has been and continues to be a challenge that vexes the discipline of sociology. With the adoption of a thematic approach to courses in the core curriculum at Butler University, faculty teaching Introductory Sociology were presented with the opportunity and challenge of defining the core knowledge and skills to be taught across course sections with a variety of themes. This study of students (N = 280) enrolled in 12 sections of a thematically-focused Introductory Sociology course presents our attempt to both define and assess a core set of concepts and skills through a pretest-posttest questionnaire to measure student learning gains relative to: (1) a sociological perspective, (2) sociological theory, (3) research methods, and (4) key concepts in sociology. Results show significant learning gains on all four dimensions, with the greatest gains coming in sociological theory. There were no significant differences in pretest scores by gender or by whether students had taken a sociology course in high school. Seniors scored significantly higher on both the pretest and the posttest, but after we controlled for pretest scores seniors did significantly better only on the subset of questions related to sociological theory. Students who took a sociology course in high school scored lower on the methods subscale of the posttest and had lower overall total posttest scores than their counterparts

Component count and preliminary assembly considerations for large space truss structures

Expressions for the number of truss components per truss division are presented along with expressions for the area and dimensions of mosaic hexagonal panel arrangements. The expressions were developed by substituting the number of truss components in specific truss divisions into associated polynomial equations and solving for the coefficients of the polynomials. To assist in automated or astronaut truss/panel assembly operations, a concept for assembling a tetrahedral truss with hexagonal panels is presented. The assembly concept minimizes the exchange of truss assembly devices and panel attachment devices, assuming that the number of exchanges is a driving assembly concern

Quantitative Trait Locus Mapping of Winter Hardiness Metabolites in Autotetraploid Alfalfa (M. sativa)

In winter hardy alfalfa cultivars, cold acclimation occurs prior to the onset of freezing temperatures and normally is accompanied with a series of metabolic and morphological adjustments. We are studying the accumulation pattern of metabolites throughout the autumn previous to freezing and relating them to winter survival in an Fl segregating population between the cross of M. sativa subsp. sativa and subsp. falcata. Morphological components and soluble carbohydrates, protein, amino-N groups, and free fatty acids were measured in 2001 and 2002 in the field. Broad sense heritability was intermediate for shoot and root mass and height, and for metabolites, ranged from low (TNC=0.04) to high (starch=0.80). The genetic correlation between winter injury was not significant for most of the metabolites, except for soluble protein and amino-N group concentrations. The presence of allele al of MSAIC B, a cold-related gene, was positively associated with autumn plant height but negatively associated with root mass in the WISFAL-6 parent. Numerous QTL were detected for concentrations of metabolites. Our results suggest that winter injury and autumn biomass are controlled by different loci in this population

Quantitative inheritance of total anthocyanin content in the tassel of small-ear waxy corn (Zea mays var. ceratina)

Information on the gene effects governing the inheritance of traits is very important for crop breeding and germplasm management. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic effects for total anthocyanin content in the tassel of small-ear waxy corn. Six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC11, and BC12) were developed from two crosses of small-ear waxy corn (TB1 × TW1 and TC1 × TB3). TB1 and TB3 had purple tassels, and TW1 and TC1 had green tassels. All generations of each cross were evaluated under field conditions in the rainy season of 2017 and the dry season of 2017/2018. Season, generation, and their (S × G) interaction had significant effects in TB1 × TW1 and TC1 × TB3. For both crosses, generation had the largest effect on the total variance followed by season and S × G interaction. A three-parameter model was adequate for estimating genetic effects. Additive gene effects were significant for controlling the inheritance of total anthocyanin concentration in tassels. The significant additive effect suggested that selection for anthocyanin content in early generations will be effective, and hybrid combinations obtained from superior parental lines with unrelated genetic backgrounds may be an effective option to increase anthocyanin concentration in the tassels of small-ear waxy corn