bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Airborne viable fungi in Riyadh and allergenic response of their extracts
Authors: Al‐Suwaini A. S. , Bahkali A. H. , Hasnain S. M.
Published: March 2003

Summary. The allergenicity and antigenicity of various airborne fungi isolated from the atmosphere of Riyadh were studied. Protein nitrogen contents were estimated and found to range from 0.9 mg ml−1 for Cladosporium to 2.1 mg ml−1 for Aspergillus extracts. Sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis for those extracts exhibited a number of protein bands of higher molecular weight between 13 and 80 kDa for Alternaria, Ulocladium, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Cladosporium. Extracts in both aqueous and lyophilized forms were sterilized and tested for diagnostic skin prick test in 100 consecutive patients having bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. Overall, 13% of patients reacted positively to fungal extracts, revealing allergic sensitization to these fungi. These findings necessitate further investigation as regards the purification and characterization of these local extracts for better diagnostic use in patients in Saudi Arabia.
Dermatophytes and other fungi associated with skin mycoses in Tripoli, Libya
Authors: Ellabib M. S. , Khalifa Z. , Kavanagh K.
Published: March 2003

Summary.  This study sought to determine the prevalence of skin infections and their causative agents in the Libyan population. Samples were collected from 2224 patients attending the Dermatology Clinics of the Tripoli Medical Centre (TMC) between August 1997 and December 1999 and were submitted to a mycology laboratory for analysis. Diagnosis was confirmed by microscopic examination in 1180 cases (53.1%) and the causative agent was isolated and cultured in 1160 cases (52.2%). Dermatophytes, Malassezia furfur and Candida albicans were the most common etiological agents isolated. Tinea corporis accounted for 45.9% of cases (85% of cases occurred in children below 15 years of age). The frequency of the other clinical types in descending order was pityriasis versicolor 27.8% (322 cases), candidiosis 13.4% (156 cases), tinea pedis 8.1% (94 cases), tinea manuum 2.6% (30 cases) and tinea barbae 2.2% (26 cases). Trichophyton violaceum was the most common etiological agent, responsible for 44% (300 cases) of dermatophyte infections. Malassezia furfur was ranked the second most frequent causative agent being found in 27.8% of cases, followed by Trichophyton rubrum 13.8% (160 cases) and Candida albicans 10% (116 cases). Other species isolated included Microsporum canis 8.1% (94 cases), Epidermophyton floccosum 6.6% (76 cases) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes 3.1% (36 cases).
Susceptibility testing of Malassezia pachydermatis using the urea broth microdilution method
Authors: Murai T. , Nakamura Y. , Kano R. , Watanabe S. , Hasegawa A.
Published: March 2003

Summary.  The in vitro susceptibility of 24 isolates of Malassezia pachydermatis to four antifungal drugs in combination with lysozyme was determined using a urea broth microdilution method. The antifungal activities of each drug alone against 24 isolates of M. pachydermatis were determined as the mean minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs). MICs of bifonazole, itraconazole, amorolfine and terbinafine were 3.2 µg ml−1, 1.6 µg ml−1, 25 µg ml−1 and 3.2 µg ml−1, respectively. Lysozyme alone inhibited the growth of M. pachydermatis in a dose‐dependent manner, although the lysozyme was unable to kill the cells of M. pachydermatis at the highest concentration of 20 µg ml−1. Furthermore, the mean MICs of bifonazole, itraconazole, amorolfine and terbinafine in combination with lysozyme were the same as the results for each drug alone. Although the activity of antifungal drugs in combination with lysozyme is enhanced for other fungi. These results suggested that M. pachydermatis might not be affected by the host's natural defences.
Molecular taxonomy of theAlternariaandUlocladiumspecies from humans and their identification in the routine laboratory
Authors: De Hoog G. S. , Horré R.
Published: March 2003

Summary. TheAlternariaandUlocladiumspecies reported from humans are studied taxonomically using rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data. The ITS variability within the genus is relatively limited. The two most important, longicatenate species,Alternaria alternataandA. infectoria, clearly differ in their ITS domains, due to a 26‐bp insert in ITS1 of the latter species. A number of taxa inhabiting particular plant species, such asA. longipeson tobacco andA. malion apple, but also the common saprobic speciesA. tenuissimacannot reliably be distinguished fromA. alternatausing this method. The large number of described noncatenate, obligatory plant pathogens are extremely rare as agents of human disease; clinical routine identification does not need to include these taxa. The predictivity of a simplified polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism procedure of rDNA for the recognition of the relevant species or species aggregates is established in a randomized test. The method was found to be rapid and cost‐effective. Its efficacy extended to the identification of sterile and meristematicAlternariastrains, some of them previously classified in genera such asChmeliaandBotryomyces. Microscopic morphology and some additional tests remain necessary to allow identification of the aggregates of potential etiological agents of human disease. About 14% of the sequences deposited in GenBank were found to be misidentified.Alternaria infectoriais one of the most common clinicalAlternariaspecies, despite its low degree of melanization. The lack of pigmentation has frequently led to misidentification of such isolates.
Prevalence of tinea capitis as well as of asymptomatic carriers in school children in Nablus area (Palestine)
Authors: Ali‐Shtayeh M. S. , Salameh A‐A. M. , Abu‐Ghdeib S. I. , Jamous Rana M. , Khraim H.
Published: March 2003

Summary.  A study of tinea capitis was carried out during October 1998, involving 8531 school children aged 6–14 years (4718 males and 3813 females), attending 12 primary schools located in urban, rural, and refugee camp communities in the Nablus district in the Palestinian Authority. A total of ∼1389 of the school children aged 6–12 years (724 males and 665 females) were also surveyed on three occasions at 2–3 month intervals, over a 9‐month period (October 1998–May 1999) using the hair brush technique, for prevalence of asymptomatic tinea capitis carriage. Twenty‐three(0.27%) mycologically proven cases of tinea capitis were detected.
Case Report. Bullous tinea pedis in an elderly man
Authors: El‐Segini Y. , Schill W.‐B. , Weyers W.
Published: March 2003

Summary. We report a case of recurrent bullous tinea pedis that had been misdiagnosed for a long time and treated with oral steroids. Initially, direct microscopy of potassium hydroxide preparations was negative and culture did not reveal any fungal organism. In a biopsy taken simultaneously from the edge of a bulla and stained with periodic acid‐Schiff, septate mycelia were clearly visible. Trichophyton mentagrophytes was later identified in repeated cultures. The infection resulted in two clinical variants of tinea: initially, the vesiculobullous type and later – after intake of steroids because of an unrelated disease – the dry squamous hyperkeratotic type. The change of the clinical pattern indicates the important role of the host's immune response in determining the clinical presentation of the disease.
Case Report. Disseminated aspergillosis complicating pregnancy
Authors: Klock C. , Cerski M. , Dargel A. , Goldani L. Z.
Published: March 2003

Summary. We report a case of disseminated aspergillosis in a hitherto healthy 24‐year‐old woman during her 24th week of pregnancy. Relevant findings at autopsy revealed innumerable septate, dichotomously branched (45°) hyphae compatible with Aspergillus in lung and liver tissues. Cerebral histology showed cerebral vessels occluded by hyphae causing cerebral infarction. There was no evidence of invasive aspergillosis in the placenta and fetal tissues. Aspergillus sp. was confirmed by amplification of a specific 357‐base‐pair amplicon from a paraffin block containing lung tissue. This case illustrates a previously uncharacterized spectrum of disseminated aspergillosis, indicating the need for a heightened awareness that Aspergillus species are opportunistic agents for invasive and disseminated infection in pregnancy.
Ground red hot pepper agar in the isolation and presumptive identification of Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Stepanović S. , Vuković D. , Radonjić I. , Dimitrijević V. , Švabić‐Vlahović M.
Published: March 2003

Summary. The study compared ground red hot pepper agar (GRHP) and Guizotia abyssinica creatinine agar (GACA), a medium routinely used for isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans. In order to confirm the capacity of GRHP to support the Cr. neoformans growth and pigment production, 15 strains were inoculated onto GRHP and GACA. No significant differences in the growth and pigmentation of the tested strains on the two media were noted. As heavily contaminated specimens, 50 samples of pigeon droppings were examined by plating on GRHP and GACA, which resulted in the isolation of 14 and nine Cr. neoformans strains, respectively. The results indicate that GRHP, as a result of its superior selectivity and significant reduction of contaminant growth, provides better conditions than GACA for isolation and presumptive identification of Cr. neoformans from heavily contaminated specimens.
Immunohistochemical study of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycoses
Authors: Romano C. , Miracco C. , Presenti L. , Massai L. , Fimiani M.
Published: March 2003

Summary.Immunohistochemical study of inflammatory infiltrate was carried out in five cases of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis before and after therapy. The infections were due to the genusAlternariain four cases and genusCladosporiumin one. In four cases, infiltrating T cells with helper memory phenotype were slightly more abundant after therapy (70–80% versus 75–90% of T lymphocytes) and those with suppressor cytotoxic phenotype were slightly less abundant (20–25% versus 10–15%). In one case, CD8+, Tia‐1+ lymphocytes constituted 50% of the T‐cell infiltrate before and after therapy. In all cases, the infiltrate contained many CD79a+ plasmacells, which increased slightly after therapy, and a high CD1a positivity of dendritic cells (presumably Langerhans cells) before and after therapy. The CD1a+ cells were detected in the epidermis and in granulomatous infiltrate; in the dermis and subcutis, many were close to fungal structures. In four cases, intra‐epidermal CD1a+ cell number was slightly lower than in control skin. CD68+ cells were not found in the epidermis.
QTL analysis of Cercospora leaf spot resistance in sugar beet
Authors: Nilsson N.‐O. , Hansen M. , Panagopoulos A. H. , Tuvesson S. , Ehlde M. , Christiansson M. , Rading I. M. , Rissler M. , Kraft T.
Published: March 2003

The inheritance of Cercospora leaf spot resistance in sugar beet was investigated by means of quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of a segregating population of 193 individuals, using 110 AFLP and 35 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers. Five QTL were found through composite interval mapping on linkage groups 1, 2, 3, and 9, respectively, two of which were linked on linkage group 3. The significance of these QTL was tested by permutation analysis The QTL had mostly additive, but also certain negative dominance effects; all the resistance alleles came from the Cercospora‐resistant parent. Each quantitative trait locus accounted for 7‐18% of the phenotypic variation, leaving 37% of the variation unexplained. The results are discussed in relation to the potential use of marker‐assisted breeding for Cercospora leaf spot resistance in sugar beet.
Gliadins as biochemical markers for Aegilops turcomanica genes in wheat lines
Authors: Vahl U. , Bringezu T. , Muller G.
Published: March 2003

An Aegilops turcomanica‐typical gliadin was discovered in sodium dodecyl sulphate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) patterns of ethanol‐soluble seed proteins from wheat lines Tr. 476, 482 and 492, which had been derived from a direct cross of Ae. turcomanica and Triticum aestivum and which revealed powdery mildew resistance due to a putative Ae. turcomanica‐introgression. This Ae. turcomanica‐derived gliadin was tested for its suitability as biochemical marker. For this purpose, doubled‐haploid lines were produced via anther culture from crosses of Tr. 482 and Tr. 492 with actual winter wheat cultivars and breeding lines. Until now, 173 lines with Ae. turcomanica‐gene(s) have been selected from 297 doubled haploid wheat lines.
Breeding strategies for seed protein content and trypsin inhibitors inferred from combining ability and heterosis in test‐crosses of Vicia faba
Authors: Filippetti A. , Azadegan G. H. , Pace C. de
Published: March 2003

The relative importance of general and specific combining ability (GCA and SCA, respectively), amount and causes of heterosis and inferences for breeding strategies were assessed for trypsin inhibitors activity (TIA) and seed protein content (SPC) in Vicia faba test‐crosses. Four lines with low (‘Bond’) and high (‘H2OS’, ‘98/Tunesien’ and ‘Canner Express’) TIA, and two testers (‘Rowena’ and ‘Felicia’) with low TIA were used to produce test‐crosses. GCA accounted for 89% and 57% of the test‐cross sums of squares for SPC and TIA, respectively; SCA accounted for 48% and 34%, and differences between reciprocals for 6% and 9%. Specific heterosis was large only in low TIA × low TIA test‐crosses and tended towards an increased TIA. Epistatic interaction explained the observed specific heterosis for high TIA. Breeding faba bean hybrids for high SPC and low TIA is not convenient because non‐additive gene actions exert minimal effects on SPC or are in the undesired direction for TIA. Selecting inbred lines which combine low TIA, good SPC and satisfactory grain yield is more promising] Rowena and Rowena × Bond are adequate as base materials.
Influence of HMW and LMW glutenin subunits on gluten strength in hexaploid tritordeum
Authors: Alvarez J. B. , Campos L. A. C. , Martiín A. , Martín L. M.
Published: March 2003

In hexaploid tritordeum, the storage proteins of advanced progenies from two crosses between three hexaploid tritordeum lines were analysed. The effects of allelic variation at the Glu‐B1, Glu‐Hch1 and Glu‐A3/Glu‐B3 loci on gluten strength, as measured by the sodium dodecyl sulphate sedimentation test, were determined using seeds from both crosses. Neither of the two alleles found at the Glu‐B1 locus in the crosses analysed had significant effects on gluten strength, but allelic variation at the Glu‐Hch1 and Glu‐A3/Glu‐B3 loci showed significant differences in effects on gluten strength.
Interspecific hybridization in sexual diploid Allium senescens var. minor× apomictic tetraploid A. nutans and sexual diploid A. senescens var. minor× apomictic hexaploid A. senescens
Authors: Kim B. J. , Kwon Y. C. , Kwack Y. H. , Lim M. S. , Park E. H.
Published: March 2003

Fourteen interspecific hybrids in sexual diploid Allium senescens var. minor× apomictic tetraploid Allium nutans L. crosses, and eight interspecific hybrids in sexual diploid A. senescens var. minor× apomictic hexaploid A. senescens L. crosses were produced. The number of chromosomes was 2n= 24 in interspecific hybrids of diploid × tetraploid, and 2n= 32 in diploid × hexaploid crosses. Triploid and tetraploid interspecific hybrids showed intermediate parental morphological characteristics. Tetraploid interspecific hybrids of A. senescens var. minor×A. senescens crosses formed two groups based on leaf colour and leaf width. Seeds were formed in 11 out of 14 triploid interspecific hybrids under natural conditions. In cytological observations of parthenogenesis, three out of 12 triploid interspecific hybrids and five out of eight interspecific tetraploid hybrids were observed. Parthenogenesis ranged from 26.0% to 86.0% in five tetraploid interspecific hybrids. Non‐parthenogenesis to parthenogenesis segregated in a 3:5 ratio in A. senescens var. minor×A. senescens crosses.
Inheritance of nitrogen and phosphorus utilization efficiency in spring barley at the vegetative growth stages under high and low nutrition
Authors: Górny A. G.
Published: March 2003

Inheritance of the nitrogen and phosphorus utilization efficiencies (NUE and PUE, respectively) and that of the tolerance (T) to limited NP nutrition was investigated in spring barley crosses at the vegetative growth stages. Plants were grown in sand‐vermiculite cultures under high and low NP nutrition. In a diallel set (Ps and F2s), both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were significant for the variation in NUE and PUE, while the variation in T was mainly associated with GCA effects. The contribution of nonadditive genes for the utilization efficiencies was found to increase under nutrient shortages. Overdominance of genes was detected. The characters exhibited low heritabilities (0.10‐0.42). Generation means analysis in two cross‐combinations revealed significant effects of epistatic gene interactions. It was assumed that the involvement of both the dominance effects and epistatic interactions would not facilitate selection efforts to improve the characters in spring barley at its vegetative growth. Such selection should be performed among families of later generations. The genotype‐nutrition interactions observed suggest that selection under diverse nutrition rates would be necessary for the more precise evaluation of barley efficiency under less favourable soil fertility.
Barley—Pyrenophora graminea interaction: QTL analysis and gene mapping
Authors: Pecchioni N. , Vale G. , Toubia‐Rahme H. , Faccioli P. , Terzi V. , Delogu G. , Fischbeck G.
Published: March 2003

Pyrenophora graminea is a seed‐borne pathogen and is the causal agent of the barley leaf stripe disease. Our aim is to study the genetic basis of barley resistance to leaf stripe. A qualitatively acting resistance factor has been identified in the cultivar ‘Vada’ and the partial resistance of the cultivar ‘Proctor’ to a P. graminea isolate has been demonstrated to be dominated by a major quantitative trait locus (QTL), mapped on barley chromosome 1. Map colinearity between the leaf stripe ‘Proctor’ resistance QTLs,‘Vada’ resistance to leaf stripe, and other disease resistance loci have been investigated in this work using molecular markers. Moreover, since inoculation of barley rootlets by the fungus had been shown to induce the accumulation of several PR (pathogen‐related) mRNA families, seven barley PR genes have been mapped as RFLPs, and one assigned to a chromosome arm via ditelosomic analysis to verify possible map associations with resistance QTLs. This work discusses the genetic relationships between the known leaf stripe resistance loci, resistance loci towards other seed‐borne pathogens and defence gene loci.
Relationship between molecular marker heterozygosity and hybrid performance in intra‐ and inter‐subspecific crosses of rice
Authors: Zhao M. F. , Li X. H. , Yang J. B. , Xu C. G. , Hu R. Y. , Liu D. J. , Zhang Q.
Published: March 2003

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between molecular marker diversity and heterosis in both intra‐and inter‐sub‐specific hybrids of rice to evaluate the feasibility of predicting hybrid performance using molecular markers. Eleven elite lines were intermated resulting in a diallel set including 10 indica × indica, 15 japonica × japonica and 30 indica × japonica crosses. The F1 hybrids and parents were evaluated for agronomic performance in a replicated field trial. The parental lines were tested for DNA polymorphisms with 113 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) probes covering the 12 rice chromosomes. Inter‐subspecific crosses showed better performance and higher heterosis than intrasubspecific hybrids. Correlations of marker heterozygosity with hybrid performance and heterosis differed considerably between the two subspecies; they were higher in crosses within japonica subspecies than within indica subspecies. Very little correlation was detected in intersubspecific crosses. It was concluded that relationships between marker heterozygosity and hybrid performance were complex owing to germplasm diversity and the complexity of the genetic basis of heterosis. The implications of the results in predicting hybrid performance using molecular markers are discussed.
Genetic variation for carotenoid pigment content in the amphiploid Hordeum chilense × Triticum turgidum conv. durum
Authors: Alvarez J. B. , Martín L. M. , Martín A.
Published: March 2003

Hexaploid tritordeum, the amphiploid Hordeum chilense x Triticum turgidum conv. durum has a higher grain carotene content than durum wheat. In order to decide strategies for introgressing this character into durum wheat, the effect on the carotene content of tritordeum synthesized with H. chilense and durum wheat differing in carotene content was analysed. Carotene content was evaluated in 35 primary tritordeum lines and their parents, 27 H. chilense accessions and 19 durum wheat cultivars. Some amphiploids have either one barley or wheat parent in common. In general, the influence of H. chilense is more important than that of wheat in the amphiploid carotene content. Nevertheless, the interactions between both parents on the amphiploid carotene content are also important.
Microspore culture of white cabbage, Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.: Genetic improvement of non‐responsive cultivars and effect of genome doubling agents
Authors: Rudolf K. , Bohanec B. , Hansen M.
Published: March 2003

For the efficient application of haploid induction procedures in cabbage breeding, a sufficient number of regenerants should be achieved in a broad spectrum of genotypes. However, the majority of genotypes are somewhat recalcitrant. The efficiency of microspore culture was tested by crossing a responsive (28.7 embryos per Petri dish) and a non‐ responsive (0.1 embryo) cabbage cultivar. The embryo yield of one progeny was intermediate (18.9) while two were superior to the best parent cultivar (52.9 and 64.0 embryos). Thus, genes for haploid embryogenesis, present in responsive lines, can be effectively transmitted to responsive × non‐responsive hybrids. Abscisic acid‐induced desiccation of embryos was used for the efficient regeneration of plants. High germination percentages (54.7‐70.6%) followed by normal plantlet development were achieved. Spontaneous genome doubling measured at the plantlet stage differed markedly in untreated genotypes. The percentage of diploids ranged from 21 to 67%. The effects of two antimitotic drugs applied to freshly isolated microspores were determined in two experiments. In the first experiment, trifluralin (0.5 and 1.0 mg:l) had no effect on embryo induction while oryzalin partly (0.125‐0.25mg/l) or completely (0.5.mg/l) inhibited the formation of embryos. In the second experiment, higher concentrations of trifluralin increased the proportion of diploidized plants. Application of anti‐mitotic drugs to microspores did generally not improve the overall production of haploid plants, which was higher in an untreated control.
Genotype‐environment interaction of barley doubled haploids with regard to malting quality
Authors: Kaczmarek Z. , Adamski T. , Surma M. , Jezowski S. , Leśniewska‐Frątczak M.
Published: March 2003

The genotype‐environment (GE) interaction of barley doubled haploid (DH) lines was studied in relation to some malting quality characters. DH lines were obtained, using the bulbosum method, from F1 hybrids between the cultivars ‘Grit’ and ‘Havila’. Thirty DH lines, the parental forms, F2 and F3 hybrids of ‘Grit’×‘Havila’ and the standard cultivar ‘Rudzik’ were studied in a series of field experiments repeated at six environments. Malt protein content, Kolbach index, extract yield and malt fine‐coarse difference were measured. The statistical analysis was performed using the computer program SERGEN. For protein content, it was found that most of the lines studied were stable, i.e. their GE interactions were not significant. Among the malt traits, phenotypic values of Kolbach index and fine‐coarse difference were most dependent on environmental conditions. For Kolbach index, only one line was found to be stable, while for fine‐coarse difference, all lines displayed interaction with the environment.
A polymorphic microsatellite in the 3’end of ‘waxy’ genes of wheat, Triticum aestivum
Authors: Shariflou M. R. , Sharp P. J.
Published: March 2003

Potential polymorphism of an (AT)N microsatellite at the 3’end of waxy genes in bread wheat was examined. Primers were designed from a published cDNA sequence of a wheat waxy gene. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of genomic DNA from 135 mainly Australian cultivars revealed eight alleles on chromosome 7A. This polymorphic microsatellite is a potential codominant marker for the Wx‐A1 locus in breeding programmes. A distinguishable fragment was also amplified from chromosome 7D. This fragment was absent where a plant was null for the waxy gene on chromosome 7D, being a dominant marker for the Wx‐D1 locus. The primers were also useful for amplifying genomic DNA from barley, rye and triticale and can be used to detect potential polymorphism in these species.
Durum wheat × maize crosses for haploid wheat production: Influence of parental genotypes and various experimental factors
Authors: Cherkaoui S. , Lamsaouri O. , Chlyah A. , Chlyah H.
Published: March 2003

To improve haploid plant production in durum wheat, the haplomethod involving intergeneric crossing with maize followed by embryo rescue was used. The influence of parental genotypes and various experimental factors were studied. Ten cultivars of Triticum turgidum ssp. durum (female parent) were crossed with eight genotypes of Zea mays. After pollination, plant stems were either maintained in situ or cut near the base and kept in a 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4‐D)‐sucrose solution. Ten to 18 days after pollination, embryos were excised from developed ovaries and cultured on one of MS, MS/2, or B5 media. Haploid embryos and plants were obtained (78 green haploid plants regenerated in 0 year). The wheat genotype was significant for ovary development, embryo and plant formation, whereas the maize genotype was significant only for embryo formation. Detailed results of all crosses showed the best crossing partner for each wheat genotype. Cutting the plant stems after pollination gave better results than maintaining them in situ. The optimal stage for embryo rescue was 14 days and B5 and MS/2 media were more efficient than MS for embryo culture.
Effects of the dominant glandless gene Gl2e on agronomic and fibre characters of Upland cotton
Authors: Yuan Y. L. , Chen Y. H. , Tang C. M. , Jing S. R. , Liu S. L. , Pan J. J. , Kohel R. J. , Zhang T. Z.
Published: March 2003

Seven pairs of near‐isogenic lines (glandless vs. glanded) and the recurrent parents were used to determine the effects of the dominant glandless gene from ‘Hai 1’(Gossypium barbadense) on agronomic, fibre, and seed characters in Upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum, backgrounds. The results showed that there were no apparent linkage associations of the glandless gene on most agronomic, fibre and seed characters of Upland cotton, except for seed quality. The glandless line derived from ‘Liaomian 7’had significantly more protein (489.6 g/kg), and that from H237 had significantly more oil (362.4 g/kg) and had the largest oil index (2.70 g) and protein index (3.03 g). The gossypol content of seed in dominant glandless lines in Upland cotton was very low (<0.04 g/kg). Therefore, it is suggested that the glandless gene can play an important role in breeding glandless or low seed‐gossypol Upland cotton cultivars.
Molecular markers linked to the Aegilops variabilis‐derived root‐knot nematode resistance gene Rkn‐mn1 in wheat
Authors: Barloy D. , Lemoine J. , Dredryver F. , Jahier J. , McIntosh R. A.
Published: March 2003

Aegilops variabilis no. 1 is the only known source of resistance to the root‐knot nematode Meloidogyne naasi in wheat. Previous studies showed that a dominant gene, Rkn‐mn1, was transferred to a wheat translocation line from the donor Ae. variabilis. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was performed on the wheat cultivar ‘Lutin’, on Ae. variabilis, on a resistant disomic addition line and on a resistant translocation line. For genetic and molecular studies, 114‐117 BC3F2 plants and F3‐derived families were tested. Five DNA and one isozyme marker were linked to Rkn‐mn1. Three RAPD markers flanking the Rkn‐mn1 locus were mapped at 0 cM (OpY16‐1065), 0.8 cM (OpB12‐1320) and 1.7 cM (OpN20‐1235), respectively. Since the Rkn‐mn1 gene remained effective, its introduction into different wheat cultivars by marker‐assisted selection is suggested.
RFLP analysis allows for the identification of alfalfa ecotypes
Authors: Pupilli F. , Labombarda P. , Scotti C. , Arcioni S.
Published: March 2003

Three seed lots, obtained from different ‘foundation farms’, for each of the alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., ecotypes ‘Vogherese’ and ‘Maremmana’, together with the variety ‘Iside’ as a control, were studied to test the possibility of distinguishing them through restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Twenty plants per seed lot were analysed with 25 DNA probes that yielded 155 informative polymorphic fragments. Variance partitioning showed that within‐population variability accounted for nearly 98% of the total variance, while a small but significant contribution to the total variance was due to among‐lot variability.‘Vogherese’ was more homogeneous than ‘Maremmana’, as a consequence of the greater environmental homogeneity of the adaptation area of the former ecotype compared with the latter. Bulk analysis yielded eight variety‐specific bands, 12 bands present in both ecotypes and absent in the variety and one band specific of ‘Maremmana’. Results are discussed in relation to the practical use of molecular markers for alfalfa ecotype identification.
A mutant of Brassica napus with increased palmitic acid content
Authors: Schnurbusch T. , Möllers C. , Becker H. C.
Published: March 2003

An induced mutant from European winter oilseed rape with increased palmitic acid content was phenotypically characterized and genetically analysed. The mutant showed a palmitic acid content of 9.2% compared with 4.5% in the parental cultivar. The oleic acid content decreased from 61.6% to 44.2%, whereas the linoleic and linolenic acid contents increased. The mutant plants grew poorly and their seed oil content was only 31.2% compared with 42.8% in the parental cultivar. The inheritance of the mutant was oligogenic and determined by at least four genes. In the F2 generation, palmitic acid content was negatively correlated with oil content. This mutant may be useful to improve understanding of the genetic regulation of storage lipid synthesis, but has no immediate value for oilseed rape improvement.
Marker analysis for quantitative traits in sugar beet
Authors: Weber W. E. , Borchardt D. C. , Koch G
Published: March 2003

Many economically important traits are inherited quantitatively and are analysed by breeders in replicated field trials. If dense maps are available, chromosomal regions containing quantitative trait loci (QTL) can be identified and this opens up the possibility of preselecting for quantitative traits in the laboratory. In this study, QTL analysis for yield and yield components in sugar beet is used in two different populations tested in several environments in both populations, QTL were detected for all traits investigated, and their predictive value in breeding schemes was analysed by correlating predicted with observed values. Tolerance to Rhizomania, caused by a gene on chromosome 3, was the main source of genotype‐environment interaction in one population, allowing selection on a QTL basis within macro‐environments with or without Rhizomania infestation, respectively. No clear results were found for the second population tested in environments with and with‐out Cercospora infestation. Consequences for breeding strategies are discussed.
Genetic relationships between South African wheat cultivars as measured by gliadin banding patterns
Authors: Labuschagne M. T. , De Swardt A. M. , Viljoen C. D.
Published: March 2003

The use of gliadins in cultivar identification is a well‐known practice that is used in many countries. The aim of this study was to determine the gliadin banding patterns of 35 commercial South African wheat cultivars and to use these data to determine genetic relationships between the cultivars using sodium dodecyl sulphate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The index of genetic similarity was used to calculate pairwise distance matrices, which were converted to a dendogram. Most of the gliadin bands fell within the nomenclature used. Fourteen cultivars had one novel band and six had two novel bands. All the cultivars could be distinguished from one another. Genetic distances between clusters were small. This suggested that there was not enough unique genetic variability to set any cluster apart from the others.
Integration of AFLP markers into an RFLP‐based map of durum wheat
Authors: Lotti C. , Salvi S. , Pasqualone A. , Tuberosa R. , Blanco A.
Published: March 2003

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) is a powerful technique which can readily be applied to a wide range of species for mapping purposes. AFLPs were added to a linkage map of durum wheat constructed using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). The mapping population included 65 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between the durum wheat cultivar ‘Messapia’ and accession ‘MG4343’ of the wild Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides (Körn.). Genomic DNA was digested with MseI (4‐cutter) and Sse83871 (8‐cutter). Using a silver‐staining protocol, 14 primer combinations revealed 421 clearly scorable amplicons including 100 polymorphisms. The presence of nine pairs of bands linked in repulsion phase with each pair generated by one primer combination suggested the presence of codominant alleles; sequence analysis of four band pairs confirmed their codominant nature. The integration of 80 AFLP loci extended the map in several telomeric regions, reduced the size of four large gaps present in the previous map, and eliminated one gap. The new map obtained after the inclusion of the 80 AFLP loci and eight additional RFLP loci spans 2063cM which represent a 52.6% increment compared with the previous map. Compared with the distribution of RFLPs, no significant clustering of AFLP markers was observed.
Regeneration of fertile doubled haploid plants from colchicine‐supplemented media in wheat anther culture
Authors: Zamani I. , Kovács G. , Gouli‐Vavdinoudi E. , Roupakias D. G. , Barnabás B.
Published: March 2003

The effect of colchicine added to induction medium for the production of fertile doubled haploid plants after in‐vitro anther culture was studied in wheat, Triticum aestivum L. For this, one winter and two spring wheat varieties were used. Anther cultures of the three genotypes were treated with 0.03% colchicine for 3 days at the beginning of microspore induction. Colchicine had no significant effect on anther response and embryoid production of the genotypes examined. However, in the winter wheat genotype ‘Mv Szigma’, colchicine caused a significant reduction in microspore‐derived structures. A significant decrease was also observed in plant regeneration ability of two genotypes (‘Vergina’ and ‘Acheloos’) after colchicine treatment. In addition, a significant reduction of the albinos produced was observed in all genotypes after olchicine treatment. In contrast, the regenerants obtained from the colchicine‐supplemented induction media produced significantly higher percentages of fertile plants in all genotypes. However, the level of fertility, was significantly different among the fertile plants obtained. This, together with the observation that in the case of the winter wheat variety the colchicine treatment resulted in 100% completely fertile plants with a high seed‐setting ability indicate that there is space for further improvement of the method when it is applied to spring cultivars. Finally, the increased number of seeds per 100 plated anthers obtained from all three genotypes after colchicine treatment, clearly demonstrates that the addition of colchicine to induction medium was superior to the conventional anther culture method and it could therefore be introduced into wheat breeding programmes.
Genetic diversity in tropical maize inbred lines: heterotic group assignment and hybrid performance determined by RFLP markers
Authors: Benchimol L. L. , de Souza C. L. , Garcia A. A. F. , KONO P. M. S. , Mangolin C. A. , Barbosa A. M. M. , Coelho A. S. G. , de Souza A. P.
Published: March 2003

Tropical maize inbred lines, eight derived from a Thai synthetic population (BR‐105) and 10 from a Brazilian composite population (BR‐106), were assayed for restriction fragment length polymorphisms with 185 clone‐enzyme combinations. The aim of this study was to investigate genetic distances among tropical maize material and their relationship to heterotic group allocation and hybrid performance. Genetic distances (GDs) were on average greater for BR‐105×BR‐106 lines (0.77) than for BR‐106×BR‐106 (0.71) and for BR‐105×BR‐105 (0.69) lines. Cluster analysis resulted in a clear separation of BR‐105 and BR‐106 populations and was according to pedigree information. Correlations of parental GDs with single crosses and their heterosis for grain yield were high for line crosses from the same heterotic group and low for line combinations from different heterotic groups. Our results suggest that RFLP‐based GDs are efficient and reliable to assess and allocate genotypes from tropical maize populations into heterotic groups. However, RFLP‐based GDs are not suitable for predicting the performance of line crosses from genetically different heterotic groups.
Analysis of diallel crosses between wheat genotypes with genetically different resistance to Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides (Fron) Deighton
Authors: Lind V.
Published: March 2003

Two diallels were analysed for general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) to study the resistance of crosses‐between wheat genotypes, advanced to the F5 generation, to Pseudocer‐cosporella herpotrichoides. The parents either carried the resistance‐gene Pch‐1 or had different levels of quantitative resistance, one genotype was susceptible. At medium milk‐ripening, significant effects were‐found for GCA and SCA. GCA effects were the more important. Diallel crosses between genotypes, all carrying Pch‐1, revealed interactions‐of the gene with the genotypic background. Some combinations had a‐higher level of resistance than the best parent. In these populations'CH‐75417’ was involved as a parent. Both ‘CH‐75417’ and ‘F–210.13.4.42’ had significant GCA effects. Crosses between quantitatively resistant parents yielded populations that transgressed both parents. The increased resistance level was associated with ‘Cappelle‐Desprez’, distinguished by its high GCA. In some crosses SCA contributed significantly to an increase in resistance level. Selection for resistance within the best advanced populations is recommended since it‐takes advantage of additive gene action and the high heritability estimates based on ELISA values in plant progenies.
Molecular mapping of a new gene for resistance to frogeye leaf spot of soya bean in ‘Peking’
Authors: Yang W. , Weaver D. B. , Nielsen B. L. , Qiu J. , Salamini F.
Published: March 2003

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and microsatellite (simple sequence repeat, SSR) techniques were used to map the _RGSpeking gene, which is resistant to most isolates of Cercospora sojina in the soya bean cultivar ‘Peking’. The mapping was conducted using a defined F2 population derived from the cross of ‘Peking’(resistant) ×‘Lee’(susceptible). Of 64 EcoRI and MseI primer combinations, 30 produced polymorphisms between the two parents. The F2 population, consisting of 116 individuals, was screened with the 30 AFLP primer pairs and three mapped SSR markers to detect markers possibly linked to RcsPeking. One AFLP marker amplified by primer pair E‐AAC/M‐CTA and one SSR marker Satt244 were identified to be linked to ResPeking. The gene was located within a 2.1‐cM interval between markers AACCTA178 and Satt244, 1.1 cM from Satt244 and 1.0 cM from AACCTA178. Since the SSR markers Satt244 and Satt431 have been mapped to molecular linkage group (LG) J of soya bean, the ResPeking resistance gene was putatively located on the LG J. This will provide soya bean breeders an opportunity to use these markers for marker‐assisted selection for frogeye leaf spot resistance in soya bean.
Production and characterization of Raphanus sativus‐Brassica rapa monosomic chromosome addition lines
Authors: Kaneko Y. , Yano H. , Bang S. W. , Matsuzawa Y.
Published: March 2003

Breeding of Raphanus sativus‐Brassica rapa monosomic chromosome addition lines (MALs, 2n = 19) was carried out by backcrossing the synthesized amphidiploid line, Raphanobrassica (R. sativus×B. rapa, 2n = 38, RRAA, line RA89) with R. sativus cv. ‘Shogoin’ (2n = 18, RR). In the first cross of Raphanobrassica× radish, four sesquidiploidal BC1 plants (2n = 28, RRA, RA89‐36‐1, RA89‐31‐1, RA89‐31‐2, RA89‐31‐3) were successfully developed. In these plants, the chromosome configurations of 9II + 10I and 10II + 8I were observed frequently at first metaphase (MI) of meiosis in pollen mother cells (PMCs). The RA 89‐36‐1 plant produced many seeds in the reciprocal backcrosses with radish. About 50% of the BC2 plants obtained from the cross of RA89‐36‐1 plant × radish were 2n = 19 plants, followed by 2n = 18 plants (24%) and 2n = 20 plants (19%). In the reciprocal cross, 2n = 19 plants were also developed at the rate of 40%. From analysis of specific morphological traits, 2n = 19 plants were classified into eight types (a‐h). When 25 selected primers were used in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers derived from B. rapa for each type of MAL were detected in numbers between three for e‐type and 16 for b‐type. RAPD markers specific for each type alone were from one (OPE 05‐344) for h‐type to nine for b‐type. In the g‐type, no marker specific to this type alone was observed. However, 19 bands were common between at least two types. These MAL plants exhibited predominantly the chromosome configuration of 9II + 1I at MI of PMCs, pollen and seed fertility being the same level as the radish cv. ‘Shogoin’. From the morphological traits and DNA markers, eight different MAL types among 10 expected were identified.
Congruence of conventional and molecular studies to locate genes that control flavone synthesis in maize silks
Authors: WIDSTROM N. W. , SNOOK M. E.
Published: March 2003

The presence of maysin, a flavone glycoside, and its analogues in the silks of corn is an important defence against invasion of the ear by corn earworm in the southeastern USA. Three dent maize inbreds with high silk‐maysin concentrations were evaluated for chromosomal location of major genes controlling synthesis of three antibiotic chemicals by crossing them to a series of waxy‐marked chromosome 9 reciprocal translocations. The data indicated that genes for maysin and its analogues are probably present on the short arms of chromosomes 1 and 10, and long arms of chromosomes 5 and 8 for inbred line GT114, the short arms of chromosome 1 and 6, and the long arms of chromosome 5 and 8 for inbred line GE37, and the short arms of chromosomes 1 and 10, and the long arm of chromosome 4 for inbred line SC102. These results are in general agreement with other translocation studies on corn earworm injury to sweet corn inbreds and gene and restriction fragment length polymorphism marker studies to locate quantitative trait loci (QTL) for maysin synthesis, with the exception that QTL on chromosome 9 have been found to be strongly associated with flavone synthesis. The most significant concordance between conventional and molecular techniques for locating chromosome regions influencing synthesis of antibiotic chemicals from silks of high silk antibiosis sources is found for the short arm of chromosome 1. This region is the most likely one on which to place emphasis during the initial stages of transferring high‐maysin silks to elite inbred lines. A chromosome 1 marker plus at least one more from any chosen high‐maysin inbred source should be sufficient to transfer high maysin silks to other lines. Other markers may be needed for transfer of specific traits when recovering recurrent parent genome types in a backcrossing procedure.
Genetic relationships between Sicilian wild populations of Brassica analysed with RAPD markers
Authors: Geraci A. , Divaret I. , Raimondo F. M. , Chèvre A.‐M.
Published: March 2003

Brassica comprises very variable species, both morphologically and genetically. Among these species, the Sicilian populations of Brassica sect. Brassica, species related to kale crops form a complex group. The genetic relationships among 15 populations occurring in Sicily and one from Calabria, representing the existing diversity, have been investigated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. This assay, carried out with 22 arbitrary primers, generated 236 polymorphic fragments, 21 of which were specific for single populations (mainly Brassica insularis, Brassica incana and Brassica macro‐carpa). Jaccard's genetic distances were computed and the phylogenic tree was established using the UPGMA algorithm. The dendrogram obtained showed four branches grouping: (1) B. incana populations; (2) B. insularis and B. macrocarpa, occurring in small islands around Sicily; (3) B. rupestris populations; and (4) B. villosa populations. Within B. rupestris, only B. rupestris subsp. brevisiliqua was clustered in the B. villosa group. The classification obtained is discussed with regard to the morphological, ecological and geographical data.
Application of AFLP for the detection of sex‐specific markers in hemp
Authors: Flachowsky H. , Schumann E. , Weber W. E. , Peil A.
Published: March 2003

Two dioecious hemp accessions (Can18 and Can17) were tested by bulked segregant analysis for polymorphisms between male and female bulks with amplified fragment length polymorphisms. Thirty‐nine primer combinations were tested and 20 of these yielded one to three male‐specific bands. In contrast, no female‐specific band was detected. Eight of these primer combinations were used for testing 80 progeny plants from a cross between two plants from Can18 and 30 plants from Can17. A total of 16 and 17 male‐specific fragments were obtained for Can 18 and Can 17, respectively. Eleven fragments exhibited the same fragment size in both accessions. All male plants, but not one female plant, showed the respective polymorphic band with each of the eight primer combinations. Problems regarding sex determination under field conditions were successfully overcome by testing plants that had been grown in small pots in a greenhouse. The abundant number of potential markers for the male sex, their complete cosegregation with male plants and the absence of markers for the female sex support the presence of a male sex chromosome in hemp.