QTLs for seedling traits under salinity stress in hexaploid wheat

<div><p>ABSTRACT: Soil salinity limits agricultural production and is a major obstacle for increasing crop yield. Common wheat is one of the most important crops with allohexaploid characteristic and a highly complex genome. QTL mapping is a useful way to identify genes for quantitative traits such as salinity tolerance in hexaploid wheat. In the present study, a hydroponic trial was carried out to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with salinity tolerance of wheat under 150mM NaCl concentration using a recombinant inbred line population (Xiaoyan 54×Jing 411). Values of wheat seedling traits including maximum root length (MRL), root dry weight (RDW), shoot dry weight (SDW), total dry weight (TDW) and the ratio of TDW of wheat plants between salt stress and control (TDWR) were evaluated or calculated. A total of 19QTLs for five traits were detected through composite interval mapping method by using QTL Cartographer version 2.5 under normal and salt stress conditions. These QTLs distributed on 12 chromosomes explained the percentage of phenotypic variation by individual QTL varying from 7.9% to 19.0%. Among them, 11 and six QTLs were detected under normal and salt stress conditions, respectively and two QTLs were detected for TDWR. Some salt tolerance related loci may be pleiotropic. Chromosome 1A, 3A and 7A may harbor crucial candidate genes associated with wheat salt tolerance. Our results would be helpful for the marker assisted selection to breed wheat varieties with improved salt tolerance.</p></div

Comparison of mortality rates in children aged under 5 years (U5MR) in Zhejiang Province, China in 1997, 2006, and 2012 (per 1000 livebirths).

<p>AARR: annual average rate of reduction; CI: confidence interval.</p><p>Comparison of mortality rates in children aged under 5 years (U5MR) in Zhejiang Province, China in 1997, 2006, and 2012 (per 1000 livebirths).</p

Trends of mortality rates in Zhejiang Province, China (1997–2012) in neonates, postneonatal infants and all children (< 5 years).

<p>Trends of mortality rates in Zhejiang Province, China (1997–2012) in neonates, postneonatal infants and all children (< 5 years).</p

Difference of mortality rates of children under five years in urban and rural areas in Zhejiang Province, China (1997–2012).

<p>Difference of mortality rates of children under five years in urban and rural areas in Zhejiang Province, China (1997–2012).</p

Trends in proportional contribution of most common causes of child deaths in Zhejiang Province during 2006–2012.

<p>A: Province-level; B: Urban area; C: Rural area.</p

A Highly Efficient Single-Chain Metal–Organic Nanoparticle Catalyst for Alkyne–Azide “Click” Reactions in Water and in Cells

We show that copper-containing metal–organic nanoparticles (MONPs) are readily synthesized via Cu­(II)-mediated intramolecular cross-linking of aspartate-containing polyolefins in water. In situ reduction with sodium ascorbate yields Cu­(I)-containing MONPs that serve as highly efficient supramolecular catalysts for alkyne–azide “click chemistry” reactions, yielding the desired 1,4-adducts at low parts per million catalyst levels. The nanoparticles have low toxicity and low metal loadings, making them convenient, green catalysts for alkyne–azide “click” reactions in water. The Cu-MONPs enter cells and perform efficient, biocompatible click chemistry, thus acting as intracellular nanoscale molecular synthesizers