Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Barley mlo-gene: an important powdery mildew resistance source

This review briefly summarises recently generated knowledge about mlo powdery mildew resistance in barley. Barley mlo resistance has remained highly effective since commercial spring barley varieties with the resistance were first released in 1979. Currently, this resistance is the most used resistance in spring barley grown throughout Europe. Barley mlo resistance confers nearly total resistance against fungal penetration attempts. However, the efficiency of the resistance depends on several factors including epidermal cell type, host genetic background, environmental conditions and fungal genotype. Recently, the barley Mlo-gene has been cloned, but the exact function of the gene is not known. The Mlo-gene most likely regulates several mechanisms involved in penetration resistance against powdery mildew, and mlo mutations cause disfunction of the wild type Mlo-protein leading to increased resistance. The resistance mechanisms involved probably include earlier deposition and increased size of the host papilla response, callose deposition, production of phenolic compounds and cell wall strengthening by cross binding.
Biological timing in plants

Abstract Plants present unique advantages for the study of circadian rhythms. One is the variety of physiological processes that exhibit circadian rhythmicity. The use of novel luminescent reporters of gene expression and of calcium levels recently provided the first clues as to how the clock orchestrates many different activities in parallel. Signaling cascades for the transduction of light signals are the subject of intensive studies, making plants an unparalleled system for the dissection of phototransduction pathways for the entrainment of the clock to daily light–dark cycles. Finally, mutants with aberrant circadian rhythms have been isolated in the small weed Arabidopsis , that may lead to the identification of molecular cogs of the circadian oscillator in plants.
Distributions and phylogeographic data of rheophilic freshwater fishes provide evidences on the geographic extension of a central-brazilian amazonian palaeoplateau in the area of the present day Pantanal Wetland

The analysis of the distribution patterns presented by examples of freshwater fishes restricted to headwater habitat: the anostomid Leporinus octomaculatus, the characins Jubiaba acanthogaster, Oligosarcus perdido, Moenkhausia cosmops, Knodus chapadae, Planaltina sp. , the loricariid Hypostomus cochliodon, and the auchenipterid Centromochlus sp. provided evidences of a relatively recent shared history between the highlands of the upper rio Paraguay and adjoining upland drainage basins. Restricted to headwater of the uplands in the upper rio Paraguay and adjoining basins, these species provide biological evidence of the former extension of the central Brazilian plateau before the origin of the Pantanal Wetland. Disjunction took place due to an ecological barrier to these rheophilic taxa represented tectonic subsidence related to the origin of the Pantanal Wetland. Molecular analysis of Jubiaba acanthogaster revealed that the sample from the upper rio Xingu basin are the sister-group of a clade that includes samples from the upper rio Arinos (upper rio Tapajos) plus the upper rio Paraguay basin, supporting the assumption that the origin of the upper rio Paraguay basin causing vicariance between this basin and the upper rio Tapajos is the least vicariant event in the evolutionary history of the group. A analise do padrao de distribuicao apresentado por exemplos de peixes de agua doce neotropicais restritos a habitats reofilicos de cabeceira: o anostomideo Leporinus octomaculatus, os caracideos Jubiaba acanthogaster, Oligosarcus perdido, Moenkhausia cosmops, Knodus chapadae, Planaltina sp. , o loricariideo Hypostomus cochliodon e o auquenipterideo Centromochlus sp. fornecem evidencias de uma historia compartilhada relativamente recente entre as terras altas do alto rio Paraguai e bacias de terras altas vizinhas. Restritas as cabeceiras das areas altas nas bacias do alto rio Paraguai e bacias vizinhas, estas especies fornecem evidencias biologicas da preterita extensao do Planalto Central Brasileiro anteriormente a origem tectonica da planicie alagavel do Pantanal. Disjuncoes ocorreram devido a barreira ecologica para estes taxons reofilicos representada pela subsidencia tectonica associada a origem do Pantanal. A analise molecular de Jupiaba acanthogaster revelou que amostras da bacia do alto rio Xingu consistem no grupo-irmao de um clado mais inclusivo que inclui amostras do alto rio Arinos (alto rio Tapajos) mais o alto rio Paraguai, suportando a suposicao de que a origem do alto rio Paraguai causou vicariância entre esta bacia e o alto rio Tapajos no ultimo evento vicariante na historia evolutiva do grupo.
A new record of Limnognathia maerski Kristensen & Funch, 2000 (Micrognathozoa) from the subantarctic Crozet Islands, with redescription of the trophi

Limnognathia maerski , class Micrognathozoa, so far known only from Arctic Greenland, is reported from the subantarctic Crozet Islands. Fine morphology of the trophi is redescribed using scanning electron microscopy. Results show that the trophi are composed of the same functional units, i.e. incus, paired mallei and epipharynx, as found in Rotifera Monogononta. The zoogeography of the species is briefly discussed.
Phytoplankton community relationship to environmental variables in three Kenyan Rift Valley saline-alkaline lakes

Temporal changes in total alkalinity, ionic composition and nutrient concentrations were studied in the saline, alkaline endorheic Kenyan Rift Valley Lakes Bogoria, Nakuru and Elmentaita to understand the association of these variables with phytoplankton community structure. In total, 24 taxa were found, with L. Bogoria having the fewest species. Although the cyanobacterium Arthrospira fusiformis dominated the phytoplankton biomass, especially in L. Bogoria, other groups came into play especially during high water levels in L. Nakuru and L. Elmentaita. Cluster analysis based on species biomass resulted in four groups, characterised by 13 indicator taxa. Most of the variation in these groups appeared to be associated with hydrological stability and perhaps biological factors rather than water chemistry, which only explained 44% of the variance in taxa composition on the first four axes derived from redundancy analysis. Species numbers decreased with elevated conductivity and water temperature. Synechocystis sp. occurrence coincided with phosphorus, water temperature and conductivity increase, whereas the distributions of Arthrospira fusiformis and Arthrospira platensis were mainly influenced by both light attenuation and elevated nitrate concentrations. Increases in silica and ammonium and declines in conductivity, total phosphorus and water temperature enhanced diatom abundances. Not only do the results of the present study indicate the unexpectedly high variability of phytoplankton community composition and water chemistry in these three alkaline tropical lakes, but also the data assist our understanding of the factors influencing flamingo populations on these lakes, which are significant conservation reserves and tourist attractions.
The genus Oidiodendron: species delimitation and phylogenetic relationships based on nuclear ribosomal DNA analysis

Nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences (ITS region) of fifteen species in the hyphomycete genus Oidiodendron and ten species from the 4 genera in the Myxotrichaceae, Byssoascus, Gymnostellatospora, Myxotrichum, and Pseudogymnoascus, were analysed to: (i) reveal the levels of intra- versus interspecific sequence variation within the genus Oidiodendron, clarify species delimitation and examine the useful- ness of some morphological characters used for iden- tification; (ii) assess the possible conspecificity of doc- umented ericoid mycorrhizal strains of Oidiodendron; and (iii) test the hypothesis based on morphological inference that the genus Oidiodendron belongs with the genus Myxotrichum in the Myxotrichaceae (Ony- genales). Comparison of molecular and morpholog- ical data for multiple strains of 0. griseum, 0. tenuis- simum and 0. maius revealed that conidiophore length and the production of a diffusing pigment are not reliable key characters for the genus. Several his- torically important ericoid mycorrhizal strains, doc- umented as 0. griseum, were reidentified as 0. maius. Parsimony analyses of 23 Oidiodendron strains showed that three highly supported monophyletic groups, each one consisting of a pair of species, are resolved within the genus. A low level of sequence divergence between the species in these pairs suggests conspe- cificity for each pair. Other interspecific relationships were not well-supported by bootstrap values. Parsi- mony analysis of a second dataset composed of mi- totic and meiotic taxa showed that Oidiodendron, My- xotrichum and Byssoascus form a well-supported monophyletic group within the Myxotrichaceae, and
Transgenic wheat plants derived from Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of mature embryo tissues.

Although significant progress has been made on Agrobacterium -mediated wheat transformation, the current methodologies use immature embryos as recipient tissues, a process which is labor intensive, time consuming and expensive. In this study, we have managed to develop an Agrobacterium -based transformation scheme using explants derived from mature embryos. Based on transient expression of β -glucuronidase (GUS) marker, mature embryo halves prepared from freshly imbibed seeds were generally most susceptible to Agrobacterium -mediated T-DNA transfer. According to the results of callus induction and shoot production, Yumai 66 and Lunxuan 208 showed higher selection and regeneration efficiency than Bobwhite. In line with this finding, fertile T 0 transgenic plants were most readily obtained for both spring and winter wheat when mature embryo halves were used for co-inoculation by Agrobacterium cells. The presence of the antibiotic selection marker ( nptII , encoding neomycin phosphotransferase II) in the T 0.
Long-term monitoring of boat-based recreational fishing in Shark Bay, Western Australia: providing scientific advice for sustainable management in a World Heritage Area

Effective management of a recreational fishery must include long-term monitoring programs that allow determination of trends in temporal and spatial variability of catch and effort data. Such monitoring becomes of inherently greater importance when managing a recreational fishery in a World Heritage Area, such as Shark Bay, Western Australia. Between 1998 and 2010, 11 12-month bus-route surveys of boat-based recreational fishing were undertaken at three key boat ramps in Shark Bay. These surveys demonstrated that, in response to the progressive implementation of new management measures, the estimated annual recreational fishing-boat effort decreased by 46%. As a consequence, the estimated annual retained and released catches of the key species, pink snapper (Pagrus auratus), declined and the proportions of the catches of this species that were released each year increased. Annual catches of other species also declined, however, the composition of species retained and released each year varied. The study demonstrated that monitoring of the recreational fishery within Shark Bay provided both immediate and longer-term data on the responses by recreational fishers to changes in management. This produced the information necessary to assess the effectiveness of management measures that were introduced and to modify these as required.
A coupled carbon and water flux model to predict vegetation structure

A coupled carbon and water flux model (BIOME2) captures the broad-scale environmental controls on the natural distribution of vegetation structural and phenological types in Australia. Model input consists of latitude, soil type, and mean monthly climate (temperature, precipitation, and sunshine hours) data on a 1/10 degrees grid. Model output consists of foliage projective cover (FPC) for the quantitative combination of plant types that maximizes net primary production (NPP). The model realistically simulates changes in FPC along moisture gradients as a consequence of the trade-off between light capture and water stress. A two-layer soil hydrology model also allows simulation of the competitive balance between grass and woody vegetation including the strong effects of soil texture.
The effect of nitrogen deposition on forest carbon sequestration: a model‐based analysis

The perturbation of the global nitrogen (N) cycle due to the increase in N deposition over the last 150 years will likely have important effects on carbon (C) cycling, particularly via impacts on forest C sequestration. To investigate this effect, and the relative importance of different mechanisms involved, we used the Generic Decomposition And Yield (G'DAY) forest C–N cycling model, introducing some new assumptions which focus on N deposition. Specifically, we (i) considered the effect of forest management, (ii) assumed that belowground C allocation was a function of net primary production, (iii) assumed that foliar litterfall and specific leaf area were functions of leaf N concentration, (iv) assumed that forest canopies can directly take up N, and (v) modified the model such that leaching occurred only for nitrate N. We applied the model with and without each of these modifications to estimate forest C sequestration for different N deposition levels. Our analysis showed that N deposition can have a large effect on forest C storage at ecosystem level. Assumptions (i), (ii) and (iv) were the most important, each giving rise to a markedly higher level of forest C sequestration than in their absence. On the contrary assumptions (iii) and (v) had a negligible effect on simulated net ecosystem production (NEP). With all five model modifications in place, we estimated that the C storage capacity of a generic European forest ecosystem was at most 121 kg C kg−1 N deposited. This estimate is four times higher than that obtained with the original version of G'DAY (27.8 kg C kg−1 N). Thus, depending on model assumptions, the G'DAY ecosystem model can reproduce the range of dC : dNdep values found in the literature. We conclude that effects of historic N deposition must be taken into account when estimating the C storage capacity of a forest ecosystem.
The Function of Feathers in Tree Swallow Nests: Insulation or Ectoparasite Barrier?

Abstract. Altricial young face two significant energetic challenges in the nest: thermoregulation and stress caused by ectoparasites. Ectoparasites feed on blood of nestlings and serve as vectors for bacterial and viral infections. Many bird species line their nests with feathers, which insulate the nest and reduce heat loss from chicks. Feathers may also affect ectoparasite numbers by serving as a parasite barrier. We tested the possible roles of nest feathers and the effects of nest parasites on the growth and survival of Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nestlings by comparing young in control nests with those in nests from which we removed feathers and removed feathers plus used an insecticide in an attempt to reduce ecotoparasites. On the day chicks fledged, control nests had seven times more feathers in them than both categories of nests from which we removed feathers. Nestlings in control nests were larger than those in nests from which feathers were removed, and chick growth was positively related to number of feathers in the nest. Among the three categories, however, time between hatching and fledging and number of chicks fledged did not differ. Time between hatching and fledging may have been influenced by amount of rain just prior to fledging. The abundance and composition of arthropods in the nest did not differ among the categories either, suggesting that our treatments did not significantly reduce parasite numbers. Therefore, the effect of parasites on chick growth and survival remains equivocal. We concluded that feathers did not serve as an ectoparasite barrier, though they affected nestlings' growth rates positively.
Comparison of the effects of supplemental Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) powder and antibiotic on growth performance, serum cholesterol profiles, and meat quality of broilers

Abstract The effects of Korean mistletoe (KM) powder on the growth performance, serum cholesterol profiles, and meat quality of broiler chickens were assessed. A total of 150 male broilers (n = 30 birds/treatment) were randomly assigned to one of five groups (0.05% chlortetracycline or 0, 0.5%, 1%, or 2% KM). No significant differences were observed in growth performance, proximate composition of meat, and meat color, except for crude fat and L* values. The KM-treated groups showed significantly reduced serum cholesterol levels (but not high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol) as the amount of KM in the diet increased. Meat groups that received KM showed a decline in pH and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and an increase in total phenol and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging compared with the antibiotics and control groups. The addition of 1% and 2% KM at the optimal rate can help develop practical broiler diets and improve the antioxidant effects.
Response of mangroves to drought and non-tidal conditions in St Lucia Estuary, South Africa

The effect of a prolonged closed-mouth state on the condition of mangrove habitats was studied in May 2010 at St Lucia Estuary, KwaZulu-Natal. The mouth had been closed to the sea since 2002 as a result of artificial mouth closure and drought, which had resulted in non-tidal, dry and hypersaline aquatic conditions. Sediment characteristics, mangrove population structure, and snail and crab abundance, were measured at four sites of differing salinity and water level to determine if there was a relationship between environmental characteristics and biotic response. A site fringing the main channel had the lowest elevation and the highest density of mangrove seedlings and saplings at the water's edge, whereas a dry site at the highest elevation had the lowest density of mangroves with mostly tall adult trees and few saplings. At these two sites the salinity (>34.5) was significantly higher and the surface sediment water content (<30%) was significantly lower than at other sites. Highest tree density was found at a freshwater seepage site, where all size classes were represented, while the permanently flooded site between the Mfolozi River and St Lucia Estuary had the tallest trees but no seedlings or saplings. At the freshwater seepage and permanently flooded sites, porewater and sediment salinity (<10) were significantly lower, while sediment moisture (>55.5%) was significantly higher, than at the fringing and dry sites. Low sediment moisture was unfavourable for mangrove growth and recruitment. Long-term monitoring is needed to document the response of the mangroves to closed-mouth, non-tidal conditions.
Genetic variability for root morph-architecture traits and root growth dynamics as related to phosphorus efficiency in soybean

Root morphology and architecture are believed to be important for plant phosphorus (P) efficiency, but their genetic information is relatively scarce. In the present study, a field and a specially designed minirhizotron experiments were conducted using two soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) genotypes and their 88 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) to elucidate the genetic variability for root morph-architecture traits and root growth dynamics as related to P efficiency in soybean. The results indicated that the root morph-architecture traits were continually segregated in the RILs with a normal distribution, indicating which are possibly controlled by quantitative trait loci. Significantly positive correlations were found between root and P traits, suggesting feasibility of screening P efficient genotype through simple selection of root traits in field. Most root morph-architecture traits were closely correlated, showing a coordinating contribution to P efficiency. Furthermore, root morphological traits always had higher heritability than architecture traits, thus, could serve as more reliable index in field selection. The dynamic parameters of root growth from the minirhizotron experiment showed that the P efficient genotype established longer and larger root system with preferring distribution in surface layer and also kept more active roots, therefore, had a better growth performance in field, than the P-inefficient genotype. Taken together, this is the first report on in situ root growth dynamics and its relation to P efficiency using minirhizotron systems in crops. Our findings help to better understand the relationships between P efficiency and root traits and, thus, facilitate development of P efficient genotypes in crops.
Comparison of body mass estimation techniques, using Recent reptiles and the pelycosaur Edaphosaurus boanerges

ABSTRACT Body mass estimation is important for the study of relative brain size, biomechanics, and other physiological and ecological aspects of extinct vertebrates. Body mass of Edaphosaums boanerges (ROM 7985), a mounted skeleton with a fibreglass model built around the left side was estimated by various methods: (1) Graphic Double Integration (GDI) on the fibreglass model divided into measurable components; (2) regression equations using total body length (TL), snout-vent length, and TL and tail-girth (TG); (3) three QBASIC programs which predict body mass from leg bone dimensions (humerus, ulna, femur and tibia) using regression equations from Recent amniotes; specifically: lengths and parasagittal diameters in mammals; lengths and mediolateral and anteroposterior diameters in alligators; and lengths and circumferences in alligators; and (4) prediction from an equation relating body mass to femur and humerus circumferences. GDI yielded 92.79 kg (including fin volume of 3.57 kg), within the body mass r.
Novel phytoalexins including elemental sulphur in the resistance of cocoa (Theobroma cocoaL.) to Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliaeKleb.)

Four phytoalexins were identified from inoculated stems of cocoa genotypes resistant toVerticillium dahliae.Following purification by repeated flash chromatography and TLC, they were identified by NMR and GC-MS. The most abundant and polar compound was the triterpenoid arjunolic acid; two related phenolics were 3,4 dihydroxyacetophenone and 4-hydroxyacetophenone. The least polar was unambiguously identified as the most stable form of elemental sulphur, cyclo-octasulphur S8, by GC-MS and X-ray crystallography. Respective toxicities toV. dahliaeconidia 13585 after 10 and 3 days respectively, were present in the wood of stems at levels well above (>×13) those required for toxicity and they persisted for long (>50 days) periods; they were found only after infection whereas the phenolics were detected in control stems and were enhanced to similar extents by infection or wounding. Sulphur accumulation was localized to xylem cells. In contrast, condensed tannins, although increasing approx. two-fold after infection, were preformed, of low toxicity (ED50>383μgml−1) and concentrations in two resistant and one susceptible genotypes were not significantly different. This is the first report of phytoalexins inT. cacaoand of sulphur accumulation in plants linked with active defence.