Sorghum Landrace Collections from Cooler Regions of the World Exhibit Magnificent Genetic Differentiation and Early Season Cold Tolerance

Citation: Maulana, F., Weerasooriya, D., & Tesso, T. (2017). Sorghum Landrace Collections from Cooler Regions of the World Exhibit Magnificent Genetic Differentiation and Early Season Cold Tolerance. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8, 12. doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.00756Cold temperature is an important abiotic stress affecting sorghum production in temperate regions. It reduces seed germination, seedling emergence and seedling vigor thus limiting the production of the crop both temporally and spatially. The objectives of this study were (1) to assess early season cold temperature stress response of sorghum germplasm from cooler environments and identify sources of tolerance for use in breeding programs, (2) to determine population structure and marker-trait association among these germplasms for eventual development of marker tools for improving cold tolerance. A total of 136 sorghum accessions from cooler regions of the world were phenotyped for seedling growth characteristics under cold temperature imposed through early planting. The accessions were genotyped using 67 simple sequence repeats markers spanning all ten linkage groups of sorghum, of which 50 highly polymorphic markers were used in the analysis. Genetic diversity and population structure analyses sorted the population into four subpopulations. Several accessions distributed in all subpopulations showed either better or comparable level of tolerance to the standard cold tolerance source, Shan qui red. Association analysis between the markers and seedling traits identified markers Xtxp34, Xtxp88, and Xtxp319 as associated with seedling emergence, Xtxp211 and Xtxp304 with seedling dry weight, and Xtxp20 with seedling height. The markers were detected on chromosomes previously found to harbor QTLs associated with cold tolerance in sorghum. Once validated these may serve as genomic tools in marker-assisted breeding or for screening larger pool of genotypes to identify additional sources of cold tolerance

Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interactions (AMMI) and genotype by environment interaction (GGE) biplot analyses aid selection of high yielding and adapted finger millet varieties

Background and justification: Lack of stable high yielding cultivars is one of the major bottlenecks for production and productivity of finger millets in Ethiopia. Identification of adaptable, stable and high yielding genotypes under varying environmental conditions prior to release as a cultivar is the first and foremost steps for plant breedingr and this has direct bearing on the adoption of the variety, its productivity and total production of the crop.Objective: The major objectives of the present study were to (i) assess the stability and yield performance of advanced finger millet genotypes  evaluated in multiple environments, and (ii) identify stable high yieldingcandidate cultivar (s) for possible release using different statistical tools.Material and methods: A total of 30 advanced finger millet genotypes were evaluated against two standard checks (Gute and Taddese) across four locations (Arsi Negele, Assosa, Bako and Gute) in 2012 and 2013 main cropping seasons. The trial was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times.Summary result and application of the study: Additive Main effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI), Genotype and Genotype by Environment interaction (GGE) biplot analysis and, Eberhart and Russellmodel revealed that Acc. 203544 is stable high yielding (3.16 ton ha-1) with a yield advantage of 13.7% over the best standard check, Gute (2.78 ton ha-1), and thus should be recommended for possible release with wider environmental adaptability. Acc. 242111 (3.08 ton ha-1), Acc. BKFM0051 (3.07 ton ha-1) and Acc.229738 (2.99 ton ha-1) were also high yielding, but showed narrow stability and thus should be recommended for verification and possible release for specific environments.Key words/phrases: Additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI), Finger millet (Eleusine coracana subsp. coracana), Genotype by Environment Interaction (GEI

Microvascular Perfusion Abnormalities of the Thalamus in Painful but Not Painless Diabetic Polyneuropathy: A clue to the pathogenesis of pain in type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE The pathogenesis of painful diabetic neuropathy (DN) remains undetermined, with both central and peripheral mechanisms implicated. This study investigates whether thalamic perfusion abnormalities occur in painful DN. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Eighteen subjects with type 1 diabetes (no DN = 6, painful DN = 5, painless DN = 7) and six healthy volunteers (HV) were recruited. Microvascular perfusion characteristics (relative cerebral blood volume [rCBV], flow [rCBF], and transit time [ttFM]) of the thalamus and caudate nucleus were assessed using magnetic resonance perfusion imaging. The caudate nucleus was chosen to serve as an in vivo control region. RESULTS Subjects with painful DN had significantly greater thalamic rCBV (means [SD]; painful DN, 228.7 [19.5]; no DN, 202.3 [25.8]; painless DN, 216.5 [65.5]; HV, 181.9 [51.7]; P = 0.04) and the longest ttFM(s) (painful DN, 38.4 [3.6]; no DN, 35.3 [13.2]; painless DN, 35.9 [13.7]; HV, 33.7 [14.9]; P = 0.07). There was no significant difference in markers of caudate nucleus perfusion. CONCLUSIONS Painful DN is associated with increased thalamic vascularity. This may provide an important clue to the pathogenesis of pain in DN

Early experience on obstetric outcomes of pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19 in Ethiopia: A case series analysis

Severe acute respiratory syndrome affects all groups of population including pregnant women. Currently, there are limited evidences to show an increased risk of infection or increased mortality among pregnant women than the general population. On the 13th of March 2020, Ethiopian government reported the first case of COVID-19. Since then, until the time of this research compilation, more than 40 pregnant women have been managed at Eka Kotebe General Hospital, which is the first COVID-19 designated center in the country. The aim of this case series is to do an in-depth case review of the first four cases of pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19. Out of the four cases discussed in this series, there was one maternal death, and three out of the four newborns delivered tested positive for COVID-19

Calibration of the Thermal Infrared Sensor on the Landsat Data Continuity Mission

The Landsat series of satellites provides the longest running continuous data set of moderate-spatial-resolution imagery beginning with the launch of Landsat 1 in 1972 and continuing with the 1999 launch of Landsat 7 and current operation of Landsats 5 and 7. The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) will continue this program into a fourth decade providing data that are keys to understanding changes in land-use changes and resource management. LDCM consists of a two-sensor platform comprised of the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensors (TIRS). A description of the applications and design of the TIRS instrument is given as well as the plans for calibration and characterization. Included are early results from preflight calibration and a description of the inflight validation

Permeation of CO₂ and N₂ through glassy poly(dimethyl phenylene) oxide under steady- and presteady-state conditions

Glassy polymers are often used for gas separations because of their high selectivity. Although the dual‐mode permeation model correctly fits their sorption and permeation isotherms, its physical interpretation is disputed, and it does not describe permeation far from steady state, a condition expected when separations involve intermittent renewable energy sources. To develop a more comprehensive permeation model, we combine experiment, molecular dynamics, and multiscale reaction–diffusion modeling to characterize the time‐dependent permeation of N₂ and CO₂ through a glassy poly(dimethyl phenylene oxide) membrane, a model system. Simulations of experimental time‐dependent permeation data for both gases in the presteady‐state and steady‐state regimes show that both single‐ and dual‐mode reaction–diffusion models reproduce the experimental observations, and that sorbed gas concentrations lag the external pressure rise. The results point to environment‐sensitive diffusion coefficients as a vital characteristic of transport in glassy polymers

Fatty Acid Profile, Total Phenolic Content, and Antioxidant Activity of Niger Seed (Guizotia abyssinica) and Linseed (Linum usitatissimum)

Fatty acid composition and antioxidant content are major determinants of vegetable oil quality. Antioxidants are important food components, and there is an increasing interest of replacing synthetic antioxidants with those from natural sources for food industry. The objective of this study was to evaluate fatty acid composition, total phenolic, carotenoid and chlorophyll contents, and antioxidant capacity of different varieties of two oilseed crops. Five niger seed and eight linseed varieties were used. For the analysis of fatty acid composition of the seed oil, gas chromatography method was used. Standard methods were used for total phenolic, carotenoid and chlorophyll contents, and antioxidant properties. In niger seed oil, linoleic acid (C18:2) was the dominant fatty acid, accounting for 73.3% (variety Esete) to 76.8% (variety Ginchi) of the total fatty acids. In linseed oil, linolenic acid (C18:3) was the dominant fatty acid accounting for 55.7 (variety Chilalo) to 60.1 (variety Belaye-96). The total phenolic content ranged from 22.4 mg GAE/g (variety Esete) to 27.9 mg GAE/g (variety Ginchi) in niger seed and from 20.5 mg GAE/g (variety Belay-96) to 25.4 mg GAE/g (variety Ci-1525) in linseed. In niger seed, variety Fogera had the highest values for FRAP and radical scavenging activity. The carotenoid content also showed significant variation among the varieties ranging from 2.57 (Esete) to 8.08 (Kuyu) mu mol/g for niger and 4.13 (Tole) to 8.66 (Belay-96) mu mol/g for linseed. The FRAP assay showed that variety Fogera of niger seed and variety Chilalo of linseed came on top among their respective varieties with values of 57.2 and 30.6, respectively. Both niger seed and linseed were shown to be rich in bioactive compounds. However, significant variation was observed among the varieties of each crop and among the two crops in their total phenolic and carotenoid contents as well as ferric reducing potential and radical scavenging capacity. Principal component analysis revealed the presence of more than one group in both niger seed and linseed. Hence, genetic variation among the varieties should be utilized for improving their desirable characteristics through breeding. Both oil crops can be used as the source of antioxidants for replacing synthetic compounds

Morphological Variation and Inter-Relationships of Quantitative Traits in Enset (Ensete ventricosum (welw.) Cheesman) Germplasm from South and South-Western Ethiopia

This is the final version. Available on open access from MDPI via the DOI in this recordEnset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) is Ethiopia's most important root crop. A total of 387 accessions collected from nine different regions of Ethiopia were evaluated for 15 quantitative traits at Areka Agricultural Research Centre to determine the extent and pattern of distribution of morphological variation. The variations among the accessions and regions were significant (p ≤ 0.01) for all the 15 traits studied. Mean for plant height, central shoot weight before grating, and fermented squeezed kocho yield per hectare per year showed regional variation along an altitude gradient and across cultural differences related to the origin of the collection. Furthermore, there were significant correlations among most of the characters. This included the correlation among agronomic characteristics of primary interest in enset breeding such as plant height, pseudostem height, and fermented squeezed kocho yield per hectare per year. Altitude of the collection sites also significantly impacted the various characteristics studied. These results reveal the existence of significant phenotypic variations among the 387 accessions as a whole. Regional differentiations were also evident among the accessions. The implication of the current results for plant breeding, germplasm collection, and in situ and ex situ genetic resource conservation are discussed.This study was part of the PhD research work of the first author, and we acknowledge the McKnight Foundation for financial support