Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci for Plant Height, Crown Diameter, and Plant Biomass in a Pseudo-F2 Population of Switchgrass

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a perennial warm-season grass that produces high biomass yield. Identification of mechanisms for genetic regulation of biomass traits has potential to facilitate genetic manipulation of switchgrass for enhancing biomass yield. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci for biomass-related traits in a pseudo-F2 population of switchgrass derived from an upland cross with a lowland switchgrass cultivar. Plant height (HT), crown diameter (CD), and plant biomass (PB) were assessed in field studies in 2015 and 2016. Plant height was positively correlated with PB in both years but only correlated with CD in 2016. Positive correlations between CD and PB were found in both years. Six quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected, including three QTLs on chromosome 2b for HT (2015) or CD (2016), two 2 QTLs on chromosome 2a for CD and PB in 2016, and one QTL on chromosome 5b for CD in 2016. The logarithm of the odds scores for these QTLs ranged from 4.9 to 8.2, and percentage variance explained ranged from 7.1 to 12.9%. One QTL on chromosome 2b appeared to simultaneously control HT in 2015 and CD in 2016. Homologs of candidate genes related to cell wall development and biosynthesis, hormone regulation, and metabolism were identified within the confidence interval of these QTLs. The findings from this study indicate that these QTLs can be important signals for genetic control of switchgrass growth

Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Drought Tolerance in Brachypodium distachyon

The temperate wild grass Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) serves as model system for studying turf and forage grasses. Brachypodium collections show diverse responses to drought stress, but little is known about the genetic mechanisms of drought tolerance of this species. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with drought tolerance traits in Brachypodium. We assessed leaf fresh weight (LFW), leaf dry weight (LDW), leaf water content (LWC), leaf wilting (WT), and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) under well-watered and drought conditions on a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population from two parents (Bd3-1 and Bd1-1) known to differ in their drought adaptation. A linkage map of the RIL population was constructed using 467 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers obtained from genotyping-by-sequencing. The Bd3-1/Bd1-1 map spanned 1,618 cM and had an average distance of 3.5 cM between adjacent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Twenty-six QTLs were identified in chromosome 1, 2, and 3 in two experiments, with 14 of the QTLs under well-watered conditions and 12 QTLs under drought stress. In Experiment 1, a QTL located on chromosome 2 with a peak at 182 cM appeared to simultaneously control WT, LWC, and Fv/Fm under drought stress, accounting for 11–18.7% of the phenotypic variation. Allelic diversity of candidate genes DREB2B, MYB, and SPK, which reside in one multi-QTL region, may play a role in the natural variation in whole plant drought tolerance in Brachypodium. Co-localization of QTLs for multiple drought-related traits suggest that the gene(s) involved are important regulators of drought tolerance in Brachypodium

Bismuth-doped zinc aluminosilicate glasses and glass-ceramics with ultra-broadband infrared luminescence

Abstract Broadband infrared luminescence covering the optical telecommunication wavelength region of O, E and S bands was observed from bismuth-doped zinc aluminosilicate glasses and glass-ceramics. The spectroscopic properties of the glasses and glass-ceramics depend on the thermal-treatment history. With the appearance of gahnite (ZnAl 2 O 4 ) crystalline phase, the fluorescent peak moves to longer wavelength, but the fluorescent intensity decreases. The $1300 nm fluorescence with a FWHM larger than 250 nm and a lifetime longer than 600 ls possesses these optical materials with potential applications in laser devices and broadband amplifiers. The broad infrared luminescence from the bismuth-doped zinc aluminosilicate glasses and glass-ceramics might be from BiO or bismuth clusters rather than from Bi 5+ and Bi 3+

CHD7 and Runx1 interaction provides a braking mechanism for hematopoietic differentiation.

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) formation and lineage differentiation involve gene expression programs orchestrated by transcription factors and epigenetic regulators. Genetic disruption of the chromatin remodeler chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 7 (CHD7) expanded phenotypic HSPCs, erythroid, and myeloid lineages in zebrafish and mouse embryos. CHD7 acts to suppress hematopoietic differentiation. Binding motifs for RUNX and other hematopoietic transcription factors are enriched at sites occupied by CHD7, and decreased RUNX1 occupancy correlated with loss of CHD7 localization. CHD7 physically interacts with RUNX1 and suppresses RUNX1-induced expansion of HSPCs during development through modulation of RUNX1 activity. Consequently, the RUNX1:CHD7 axis provides proper timing and function of HSPCs as they emerge during hematopoietic development or mature in adults, representing a distinct and evolutionarily conserved control mechanism to ensure accurate hematopoietic lineage differentiation.Bloodwise, CRUK, MRC, Wellcome Trust, NIH, Leukemia and Lymphoma Societ

Development of Keshen ultra-deep and ultra-high pressure gas reservoirs in the Kuqa foreland basin, Tarim Basin: Understanding and technical countermeasures

The Keshen Gas Field in the Kuqa foreland basin, Tarim Basin, is a rare fractured tight sandstone gas reservoir with ultra-depth and ultra-high pressure. During its pilot period of gas field development, the development effect is poor with a low development well success rate, a low utilization rate of production capacity and a rapid decline of gas well productivity. In view of these problems, development experiments and technological researches were carried out continuously after the geological characteristics of gas reservoirs, productivity control factors, reservoir connectivity, seepage characteristics, gas and water relations and water invasion laws were studied thoroughly. And consequently, the development countermeasures of “well placement in high position, moderate stimulation and early-stage drainage” were prepared, and five matching development technologies were formed, such as description technology of ultra-deep complex structures, well pattern optimization technology for fractured tight sandstone gas reservoirs, fracture net acid fracturing technology for fractured tight sandstone reservoirs, dynamic monitoring technology for ultra-deep and ultra-high pressure gas wells, wellbore integrity management and evaluation technology for high pressure gas wells. The following remarkable application results were achieved in the process of gas field development. First, the drilling depth error of the target formation drops from 125 m to less than 30 m. Second, the utilization rate of production capacity in the Keshen 8 Block reaches 100%. Third, the average absolute open flow rate is increased by 5 times to 273 × 104 m3/d from 50 × 104 m3/d before the stimulation. Fourth, safe and smooth production under high temperature and high pressure conditions is realized in the Keshen Gas Field. In conclusion, the successful and efficient development of the Keshen Gas Field provides experiences for the development of similar gas reservoirs at home and abroad, and its development countermeasures and matching technologies have important guidance and reference significance. Keywords: Tarim basin, Keshen gas field, Cretaceous, Bashijiqike Fm, Ultra-deep, Ultra-high pressure, High temperature, Fractured, Tight sandstone gas reservoir, Development technologies and countermeasur

Association of Candidate Genes With Submergence Response in Perennial Ryegrass

Perennial ryegrass is a popular cool-season grass species due to its high quality for forage and turf. The objective of this study was to identify associations of candidate genes with growth and physiological traits to submergence stress and recovery after de-submergence in a global collection of 94 perennial ryegrass accessions. Accessions varied largely in leaf color, plant height (HT), leaf fresh weight (LFW), leaf dry weight (LDW), and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) at 7 days of submergence and in HT, LFW and LDW at 7 days of recovery in two experiments. Among 26 candidate genes tested by various models, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 10 genes showed significant associations with traits including 16 associations for control, 10 for submergence, and 8 for recovery. Under submergence, Lp1-SST encoding sucrose:sucrose 1-fructosyltransferase and LpGA20ox encoding gibberellin 20-oxidase were associated with LFW and LDW, and LpACO1 encoding 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase was associated with LFW. Associations between Lp1-SST and HT, Lp6G-FFT encoding fructan:fructan 6G-fructosyltransferase and Fv/Fm, LpCAT encoding catalase and HT were also detected under submergence stress. Upon de-submergence, Lp1-SST, Lp6G-FFT, and LpPIP1 encoding plasma membrane intrinsic protein type 1 were associated with LFW or LDW, while LpCBF1b encoding C-repeat binding factor were associated with HT. Nine significant SNPs in Lp1-SST, Lp6G-FFT, LpCAT, and LpACO1 resulted in amino acid changes with five substitutions found in Lp1-SST under submergence or recovery. The results indicated that allelic diversity in genes involved in carbohydrate and antioxidant metabolism, ethylene and gibberellin biosynthesis, and transcript factor could contribute to growth variations in perennial ryegrass under submergence stress and recovery after de-submergence

Online MTPA Trajectory Tracking of IPMSM Based on a Novel Torque Control Strategy

The maximum-torque-per-ampere (MTPA) scheme is widely used in the interior permanent magnet synchronous machine (IPMSM) drive system to reduce copper losses. However, MTPA trajectory is complicated to solve analytically. In order to realize online MTPA trajectory tracking, this paper proposes a novel torque control strategy. The torque control is designed to be closed form. Considering the machine reluctance torque as the torque feedback, when this is compared with the torque reference, then the excitation torque reference can be obtained. Since the excitation torque is proportional to the q-axis current, the q-axis current reference can be fed by the excitation torque reference through a proportional regulator. Once the q-axis current reference is given, the d-axis current reference can be calculated based on the per-unit model, which aims to simplify the calculation and make the control strategy independent of machine parameters. In this paper, the stability of the control system is demonstrated. Meanwhile, simulation and experiment results show this torque control strategy can realize MTPA trajectory tracking online and have success in transients