Stress associated proteins (SAPs) are the A20/AN1 zinc-finger proteins which confer to abiotic stresses in plants.  In this study, TaSAP7-B, including two AN1 domains, was isolated from B genome of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).  Sequencing analysis on TaSAP7-B illustrated one InDel (insertion-deletion) and one SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) in the promoter region while no diversity was observed in the coding region.  On the basis of SNP in the promoter region (–260 bp), a dCAPS (derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences) marker SNP-260 was developed for TaSAP7-B.  Using a natural population consisting of 262 wheat accessions, significant associations were detected between the marker SNP-260 and agronomic traits, such as plant height (PH), peduncle length (PL), length of penultimate internode (LPI), number of spike per plant (NSP), and 1 000-grain weight (TGW).  Two genotypes were identified using marker SNP-260 in the natural population.  Among them, the genotypes possessing C allele exhibited a higher TGW and shorter PH than the T genotypes.  Hence, base C was considered as the superior allele.  The dCAPS marker of TaSAP7-B can be instrumental for marker-assisted selection for high grain size and short plant height.  

Fructans are major nonstructural carbohydrates in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).  Fructan 1-fructosyltransferase (1-FFT) is the key enzyme in fructan biosynthesis.  In the present study, 96 sequence variants were detected in the 1-FFT-A1 gene among 26 wheat accessions including UR208, and 15 of them result in amino acid substitutions, forming four haplotypes.  Two markers M39 and M2164 were developed based on the InDel21-39 and SNP-2164 polymorphisms to distinguish the three haplotypes in the 1-FFT-A1.  1-FFT-A1 was located on chromosome 4A using marker M2164 and was flanked by markers Xcwm27 and 6-SFT-A1.  By association analysis using a natural wheat population consisted of 154 accessions, the results showed that the two markers were significantly associated with water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content in the lower internode stem and total stem at the early and middle grain filling stages, 1 000-grain weight (TGW) at different grain filling stages and peduncle length (PLE).  Comparison of the effects of three haplotypes on agronomic traits indicated that TGW, PLE and total number of spikelets per spike (TNSS) were signi?cantly influenced by haplotypes.  HapIII showed a significant positive effect on TGW, PLE and TNSS.

The effects of different concentrations of oxytetracycline (OTC) on the dynamics of bacterial and archaeal communities during the mesophilic anaerobic digestion (37°C) of cow manure were investigated. Before anaerobic digestion, OTC was added to digesters at concentrations of 20, 50, and 80 mg L-1, respectively. Compared with no-antibiotic control, all methane productions underwent different levels of inhibition at different concentrations of OTC. Changes in the bacterial and archaeal communities were discussed by using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Results showed that OTC affected the richness and diversity of bacterial and archaeal communities. The bacterial genus Flavobacterium and an uncultured bacterium (JN256083.1) were detected throughout the entire process of anaerobic digestion and seemed to be the functional bacteria. Methanobrevibacter boviskoreani and an uncultured archaeon (FJ230982.1) dominated the archaeal communities during anaerobic digestion. These microorganisms may have high resistance to OTC and may play vital roles in methane production.

Vitamin A deficiency has become a worldwide problem. Biofortified foods can potentially be an inexpensive, locally adaptable, and long-term solution to dietary-nutrient deficiency. In order to improve the b-carotene content in maize grain by breeding and minimize vitamin A deficiency, a complete diallel cross was designed with eight inbred lines of maize, and 64 combinations were obtained in this study. The experimental combinations were planted in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, respectively, with a random complete block design. The b-carotene contents in the grains of the experimental materials were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Among the tested materials, the effect difference of general combining ability of the b-carotene content was significant; however, the effect difference of the special combining ability and the reciprocal effect were not significant. The b-carotene content of maize grain was not influenced significantly by the cross and the reciprocal cross. There was a significant correlation about the b-carotene content in the maize grains between the F1 and their parents. The combinations with high b-carotene content were obviously influenced by the environment, and the mean value of b-carotene content for the experimental materials planted in Ya’an of Sichuan was higher than that planted in Yuanjiang of Yunnan, with the results being significant at the 0.01 level.