千粒重(TGW)、穗粒数(GNS)和穗粒重(GWS)是小麦产量的重要组成部分。为了解析其遗传学基础，我们构建了一个由8762/Keyi5214衍生的198个系组成的DH群体，利用基因芯片对该DH群体进行基因型鉴定，并将产量相关性状千粒重、穗粒数和穗粒重表型整合并进行QTL定位。最后，我们共获得18,942个多态性SNP标记，并鉴定出41个与这些性状相关的关键QTL。我们在染色体2D和6A上鉴定出三个稳定的千粒重QTL (QTgw-2D.3, QTgw-2D.4, QTgw-6A.1)，其增效等位基因均来自亲本8762，解释了4.81%-18.67%的表型变异。在染色体3D、5B、5D和6A上鉴定出5个稳定的穗粒数QTL，其中QGns-5D.1来自亲本8762，其余4个来自亲本Keyi5214的QTL解释了5.89-7.08%的表型变异。此外，还发现了一个稳定的小麦穗粒重遗传位点QGws-4A.3，该位点来自亲本8762，可解释6.08-6.14%的表型变异。为了应用鉴定到的QTL，我们为四个重要的QTL (Tgw2D.3-2, Tgw2D.4-1, Tgw6A.1 和 Gns3D.1)开发了STARP标记。本研究结果可为后期小麦千粒重、穗粒数和单穗重相关基因的鉴定和克隆奠定基础。

Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression assays are a convenient alternative to stable expression because they are simple, easy to perform, and achieve gene expression rapidly.  This study investigated the factors affecting transient gene expression efficiency in citrus by observing the cryo-sectioning of leaf samples under a laser confocal microscope.  These factors included the composition of the infiltration buffer, the Agrobacterium cell density, the leaf development stage, the incubation temperature, and plant genotype.  The highest transient expression level of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) was detected in Mexican lime (Citrus aurantifolia) on the third day after the intermediate-aged leaves were infiltrated with the improved infiltration buffer 1 (15 mmol L^-1 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid, 10 mmol L^-1 MgCl₂, and 200 μmol L^-1 acetosyringone), which had an optical density of 0.8 and was incubated at 22°C.  Additionally, this transient expression assay was applied to other citrus genotypes.  Of note, trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) and kumquat (Fortunella obovate) had higher expression efficiency than other six genotypes of the Citrus genus.  Our study provides research basis for the selection of optimization strategies in transient gene expression and improves the method for available genome investigation in citrus.

   Ear size exhibits remarkable diversity in pig breeds. LEM domain-containing 3 (LEMD3) on chromosome 5 is considered as an important candidate for porcine ear size. This is the first study on cloning and characterization of LEMD3 cDNA. The complete cDNA contains 4 843 bp, including a 2 736-bp open reading frame (ORF), a 37-bp 5´-untranslated region (UTR) and a 2 070-bp 3´-UTR. The complete LEMD3 gene is 126 241-bp and contains 13 exons and 12 introns. The ORF encodes a deduced LEMD3 protein of 911 amino acids, which shares 82–94% nucleic acid and 51–96% amino acid identity with other species. A phylogenetic tree constructed based on the amino acid sequences revealed that the porcine LEMD3 protein was closely related with cattle LEMD3. Resequencing of the ORF and promoter of LEMD3 from Minzhu pig and Large White revealed three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): L964C>A in the complete coding region, L4625A>G in the 3´ UTR, and L-394T>C in the promoter region. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) revealed that all of SNPs were shown significant association with ear size in Large White×Minzhu pig intercross population. With conditional GWAS, –log₁₀(P-value) decreased by more than 80% when each of three SNPs was included as a fixed effect. These results suggested direct involvement of LEMD3 or close linkage to the causative mutation for ear size. The findings of this study might form the basis for understanding the genetic mechanism of ear size variation in pigs and provide potential molecular markers for screening ear size diversity in pig breeds.

The bacterial brown spot disease (BBS), caused primarily by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae van Hall (Pss), reduces plant vigor, yield and quality in maize. To reveal the nature of the defense mechanisms and identify genes involved in the effective host resistance, the dynamic changes of defense transcriptome triggered by the infection of Pss were investigated and compared between two maize near-isogenic lines (NILs). We found that Pss infection resulted in a sophisticated transcriptional reprogramming of several biological processes and the resistant NIL employed much faster defense responses than the susceptible NIL. Numerous genes encoding essential components of plant basal resistance would be able to be activated in the susceptible NIL, such as PEN1, PEN2, PEN3, and EDR1, however, in a basic manner, such resistance might not be sufficient for suppressing Pss pathogenesis. In addition, the expressions of a large number of PTI-, ETI-, PR-, and WRKY-related genes were pronouncedly activated in the resistant NIL, suggesting that maize employ a multitude of defense pathways to defend Pss infection. Six R-gene homologs were identified to have significantly higher expression levels in the resistant NIL at early time point, indicating that a robust surveillance system (gene-to-gene model) might operate in maize during Pss attacks, and these homolog genes are likely to be potential candidate resistance genes involved in BBS disease resistance. Furthermore, a holistic group of novel pathogen-responsive genes were defined, providing the repertoire of candidate genes for further functional characterization and identification of their regulation patterns during pathogen infection.

Although quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for number of thoracic-lumbar vertebrae have been identified on Sus scrofa chromosomes (SSCs) 1 and 7, the influence of these QTLs on the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae is not clear. The aim of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with total number of thoracic-lumbar vertebrae and for each trait (number of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae) separately. A total of 581 individuals from an F2 Large White×Minzhu population were genotyped using an SNP60K chip. Performing a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for total number of thoracic-lumbar vertebrae, 38 significant SNPs were identified in two QTL regions located on SSC1 and SSC7. Performing a GWAS for number of thoracic vertebrae only, 72 significant SNPs were located on SSC7. While performing a GWAS for number of lumbar vertebrae only, 17 significant SNPs were identified on SSC1. Gene mining suggested that the gene encoding orphan nuclear receptor, germ cell nuclear factor (NR6A1) on SSC1 was a strong candidate affecting the number of lumbar vertebrae in pigs. Additionally, genes encoding vertnin (VRTN), prospero homeobox 2 (PROX2), Finkel-Biskis-Jinkins murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog (FOS), and transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGFB3) may be important candidates affecting the number of thoracic vertebrae in pigs. QTLs on SSC1 and SSC7 independently influenced the numbers of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. These results shed light on the complex genetic background of vertebrae development in pigs.

Porcine carcass traits and organ weights have important economic roles in the swine industry. A total of 576 animals from a Large White×Minzhu intercross population were genotyped using the Illumina PorcineSNP60K Beadchip and were phenotyped for 10 traits, specifically, backfat thickness (6-7 libs), carcass length, carcass weight, foot weight, head weight, heart weight, leaf fat weight, liver weight, lung weight and slaughter body weight. The genome-wide association study (GWAS) was assessed by Genome Wide Rapid Association using the mixed model and regression-genomic control approach. A total of 31 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (with the most significant SNP being MARC0033464, P value=6.80×10-13) were located in a 9.76-Mb (31.24-41.00 Mb) region on SSC7 and were found to be significantly associated with one or more carcass traits and organ weights. High percentage of phenotypic variance explanation was observed for each trait ranging from 31.21 to 67.42%. Linkage analysis revealed one haplotype block of 495 kb, in which the most significant SNP being MARC0033464 was contained, on SSC7 at complete linkage disequilibrium. Annotation of the pig reference genome suggested 6 genes (GRM4, HMGA1, NUDT3, RPS10, SPDEF and PACSIN1) in this candidate linkage disequilibrium (LD) interval. Functional analysis indicated that the HMGA1 gene presents the prime biological candidate for carcass traits and organ weights in pig, with potential application in breeding programs.

For the users’ convenience of accessing the AGRIS resources quickly and using them fully, the paper decomposes the structure of AGRIS Search net, analyzes the users’ requirement met for conducting a bilingual (ZH/EN) retrieval, the system function extensions based on AGRIS English retrieval system and the key issues which the core function module should resolve. Derived by the application requirement, the paper also puts forward to a bilingual retrieval model on the basis of CAT/AGROVOC mapping, designs and realizes the ZH/EN bilingual retrieval prototype system.

In previous experiment, we isolated a compound dibutyl phthalate (DBP) from Vaccaria segetalis which had galactopoieticfunction on mammary gland epithelial cells of dairy cow (DCMECs). In this experiment, we ascertained the metabolicregulation function of DBP on DCMECs. Many genes related to lactation including Stat5, AMPK, â-casein, Glut1, SREBP-1,PEPCK, and ACC were detected by real-time PCR. Furthermore, Stat5 and AMPK were detected by Western blot andimmunofluorescence co-localization, respectively. The results showed that DBP stimulates the expression of Stat5 andp-Stat5, thus activates Stat5 cell signal transduction pathway and stimulates â-casein synthesis. DBP also raises theactivities of Glut1 and AMPK to stimulate glucose uptake and glycometabolism and activates the expression of AMPKdownstream target genes PEPCK and ACC and expression of SREBP-1 to stimulate milk fat synthesis. In addition, theactivities of HK, G-6-PDH, ICDH, ATPase, and energy charges were stimulated by DBP to increase the energy metabolismlevel of DCMECs. The results showed DBP stimulates energy metabolism related to galactopoietic function in DCMECs.