Ampelisca lusitanica (Crustacea: Amphipoda): new species for the Atlantic coast of Morocco

Background This study reports for the first time the presence of the Lusitanian ampeliscid amphipod Ampelisca lusitanica Bellan-Santini & Marques, 1986 in the northwestern Atlantic coast of Morocco. Methods Specimens were collected in January 2015 from intertidal rock pools along the El Jadida shoreline associated with the brown algae Bifurcaria bifurcata and Sargassum muticum. Results Systematic description of the species is presented, as well as a discussion of its ecological and geographical distribution. Conclusion This new finding extends the geographical distribution from the Lusitanian (Europe) to the Mauritanian (Africa) region and increases knowledge of the ecology and the global distribution of A. lusitanica found, previously, only on Portuguese and Spanish coasts.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A first AFLP-based genetic linkage map for brine shrimp Artemia franciscana and its application in mapping the sex locus

We report on the construction of sex-specific linkage maps, the identification of sex-linked markers and the genome size estimation for the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. Overall, from the analysis of 433 AFLP markers segregating in a 112 full-sib family we identified 21 male and 22 female linkage groups (2n = 42), covering 1,041 and 1,313 cM respectively. Fifteen putatively homologous linkage groups, including the sex linkage groups, were identified between the female and male linkage map. Eight sex-linked AFLP marker alleles were inherited from the female parent, supporting the hypothesis of a WZ-ZZ sex-determining system. The haploid Artemia genome size was estimated to 0.93 Gb by flow cytometry. The produced Artemia linkage maps provide the basis for further fine mapping and exploring of the sex-determining region and are a possible marker resource for mapping genomic loci underlying phenotypic differences among Artemia species

Induced polyploidization in Brassica campestris L. (Brassicaceae)

Present experimental design has been made up to obtain crop with higher ploidy level via synthetic polyploidization. Since ploidy manipulation is generally associated with the obtainment of some increased enviable traits of the crop and also provides them greater adaptability to unfavorable or harsh circumstances as compared to its diploids counterparts. Thus, herein present research autotetraploids of Brassica campestris L. have been lucratively achieved by the application of colchicine. Two methods of treatment were utilized i.e. seed treatment and seedling treatment. No polyploidy could be obtained through seed treatment while seedling treatment responded well towards polyploidy. However, the status of autotetraploidy has been confirmed by cytomorphological investigations of treated plants as against its diploids counterparts. For the purpose, morphological parameters such as increased stomata size, pollen diameter, flower size, reproductive organs whereas reduction in plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, stomata frequency, number of flowers/inflorescence etc. were appraised. Further, cytological observations were made that had clearly revealed the doubling of genome in the autotetraploids as compared to diploids. Meanwhile, pollen fertility and size of pollen grains were evaluated as well.Разработана экспериментальная схема получения сельскохозяйственных культур с более высокой плодиностью путем искусственной полиплоидизации. Изменение плоидности обычно связано с приобретением некоторых важных признаков у таких культур, а также обеспечивает их более высокую приспособляемость к неблагоприятным или суровым условиям внешней среды по сравнению с диплоидными аналогами. В настоящем исследовании представлено успешное получение автотетраплоидов Brassica campestris L. с помощью колхицина. Для этого применяли два метода обработки – семян и проростков. Никакой полиплоидии не обнаружено при обработке семян, тогда как после обработки проростков полиплоиды были получены. С помощью цитоморфологических исследований подтверждено наличие автотетраплоидности у обработанных растений по сравнению с их диплоидными аналогами. Для этого оценивали такие морфологические параметры, как увеличенные размер устьиц, диаметр пыльцы, размер цветка, репродуктивные органы, а также уменьшенные высота растений, длина листа, ширина листа, частота устьиц, число цветков и соцветий. Более того, в результате цитологических исследований четко установлено удвоение генома у автотетраплоидов по сравнению с диплоидами. Наряду с этим в работе оценивали фертильность пыльцы и величину пыльцевых зерен