bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of resistance to tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici‐repentis) in Hordeum chilense and its expression in its amphiploids with diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid Triticum species
Authors: Sillero Josefina C. , Rubiales Diego 
Published: June 2012

With 4 tablesAbstractHordeum chilense Roem. et Schult. is a native South American diploid wild barley with high potential for cereal breeding purposes, given its high crossability with other members of the Triticeae tribe. Amphiploids have been obtained from crosses of H. chilense with diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid Triticum species that have been postulated as a potential new crop named tritordeum or as bridges to transfer useful genes to cultivated cereals. In this paper we describe resistance in H. chilense to tan spot disease, caused by Pyrenophora tritici‐repentis (Died.) Drechs. Twenty‐two tritordeum lines together with their wheat and H. chilense parents were inoculated with three different races of P. tritici‐repentis. While all H. chilense accessions studied were resistant, wheat accessions response ranged from susceptibility to high resistance. The two tetraploid tritordeum accessions studied were very resistant as was their T. tauschii (Coss.) Schmalh. parent line. Hexa‐ and octoploid tritordeum accessions were more resistant than their parental wheat accessions. Consequently, H. chilense appears as a good reservoir of resistance to P. tritici‐repentis, accessible for wheat breeding.
Competitive underutilized crops will depend on the state funding of breeding programmes: an opinion on the example of Europe
Authors: Stamp Peter , Messmer Rainer , Walter Achim 
Published: June 2012

AbstractToday, food security depends on very few major grain crops, actually an outcome of breeding success and globalization. This will not change in the near future. But action must be taken to stop the unprecedented pace of the erosion of biodiversity on arable fields; this is a prerequisite to ensure robust cropping systems as well as complementary food production for coming generations. Although this has been discussed for decades, little progress has been made. Most underutilized crops are no longer suitable for today’s agriculture. Success can be achieved only by planning long‐term breeding programmes instead of screening underutilized crops again and again. This cannot be realized, however, by market‐driven private breeders. State funding is mandatory to launch a programme of a set of well‐chosen crops. Guidelines are provided, based on case examples from cool temperate regions, where promising crops undergo stepwise selection process. In Europe, a programme could be established in the frame of a virtual institute, wisely investing a small part of the direct payments that go to farmers today, thereby safeguarding their future.
Genetic dissection of leaf area by jointing two F2 : 3 populations in maize (Zea Mays L.)
Authors: Ku Lixia , Zhang Jun , Zhang Jia Chen , Guo Shulei , Liu Haiying , Zhao Ruifang , Yan Quxia , Chen Yanhui 
Published: June 2012

With 1 figure and 5 tablesAbstractLeaf area (LA) is the most important photosynthesis acceptor, and therefore, size of LA (especially the three ear‐leaves) plays a vital role in dry matter accumulation and grain yield in maize. Genetic mechanisms on LA have a theoretical significance for breeding maize with high yield. However, the genetic control of LA remains unknown in maize. In this study, QTL for LA were mapped using two sets of connected F2 : 3 populations with 229 and 245 families evaluated in two to three environments. Meta‐analysis was used to integrate genetic maps and detect QTL across two populations. A total of 38 QTL were detected, 17 in population 1 and 21 in population 2. Thirty‐eight QTL were integrated in 13 meta‐QTL (mQTL). The novel mQTL2‐1 was found to include two initial QTL, and mQTL5‐2 to include four initial QTL. Both of them had one of the initial QTL with R2 over 10%. Therefore, the chromosome regions for these two mQTL with high QTL co‐localization might be hot spots for important QTL for LA. Seven key candidate genes controlling related traits of LA were observed to be coincided with five corresponding mQTL, including Arlng1, ArPFL2/OsH1, ArCLF/ArCyCB2;3(LL), ArCYCD3;2, and Osnrl. Especially, Arlng1 was mapped within the important mQTL2‐1 interval. Fine mapping for genetic regions of such mQTL is worth further study and could be put into use in marker‐assisted breeding. The results provide useful information for further researching and understanding of the molecular mechanisms with regard to LA.
Molecular markers linked to resistance to the gall mite in blackcurrant
Authors: Mazeikiene Ingrida , Bendokas Vidmantas , Stanys Vidmantas , Siksnianas Tadeusas 
Published: June 2012

With 1 figure and 3 tables
AbstractGall mite (Cecidophyopsis ribis Westw.) is one of the most damaging pests of blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum L.) and is a vector of blackcurrant reversion virus. Ce and P genes provide resistance of blackcurrant to gall mite. A linkage map around the resistance locus controlled by predicted P gene was constructed. Forty‐three amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and 19 microsatellite polymorphic markers obtained from analysis of the progeny obtained in cross with P gene donor ‘Dainiai’ were mapped. The obtained consensus map covers 691.196 cM, with an average marker spacing of 14.706 cM. AFLP fragment CTA‐ACC‐107 was closely linked to resistance to blackcurrant gall mite and was detected in the sixth linkage group. Screening of cultivars and hybrids with known resistance to gall mite confirmed that this dominant 107‐bp AFLP marker is linked to gall mite resistance in a comprehensive range of available Ribes germplasm with different genetic background and it may be used for early diagnosis of resistant to gall mite hybrids.
Evidence‐based practice in occupational therapy services for children with autism spectrum disorders in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Kadar Masne , McDonald Rachael , Lentin Primrose 
Published: July 2012

BackgroundThe current practice of occupational therapy services provided for children with autism spectrum disorders in Victoria, Australia was investigated – specifically, practice in terms of the theories, assessments and intervention strategies utilised. Identification of professional development needs was also explored. The purpose was to identify how occupational therapy practice may have changed over the last decade and to explore what additional developments are required in the field.MethodA self‐administered survey was mailed to 322 registered members of Occupational Therapy Australia Limited, Victoria Branch.ResultsA valid response rate of 20.5% was obtained. The majority of the participants worked in private practice, and had between one and five years of work experience. Theories, assessments and interventions that are associated with or based on, sensory integration and/or processing approaches are highly utilised by the participants in their service delivery with children with autism spectrum disorders. Participants indicated that they felt they needed training and courses around sensory integration.ConclusionsWe concluded that there were few changes in occupational therapy practice related to the selection of theoretical models, assessments and interventions by the participants in this study over the last decade. It is essential for occupational therapists not to neglect the goals of providing occupation‐based interventions to children with autism spectrum disorders by focusing only on sensory‐based approaches. An urgent need for occupation‐based approaches to working with children with autism spectrum disorders and their families is required.
Tephrostratigraphy of the Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene Series in Honshu and Kyushu Islands, Japan
Authors: SATOGUCHI YASUFUMI , NAGAHASHI YOSHITAKA 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe Pliocene to Pleistocene Series in each sedimentary basin or area of Japan has been investigated and described; however, their stratigraphic correlation is difficult because of complex geological structures. Regional stratigraphy has therefore been established using many intercalated tephra beds, i.e. by correlating tephra beds between distant areas. A standardized stratigraphic model of the Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene Series in Japan is put forward in this paper on the basis of tephrostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, and biostratigraphy. This stratigraphic model is important for studies of environmental changes and explosive volcanism in this period around the Japanese island‐arc.
Tangible evidence of historic Australian indigenous savanna management
Authors: PREECE NOEL D. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractKnowledge of historic indigenous management practices in north Australian tropical savannas can benefit contemporary management by providing a long‐term ecological context. This study provides understanding of how indigenous peoples managed their resources during the period of colonization by Europeans. Traditional management practices and resource use were observed by the European explorers and missionaries, anthropologists and ethnographers who followed. The historic record shows that the savannas were managed intensively by indigenous peoples, even during the colonization era. Across the region they used fire throughout the dry seasons, which is recognized by ecologists today. Importantly, and not previously reported in the ecological literature, they constructed water wells that provided them with extended use of country into the dry seasons, built and managed fisheries to enhance and extend their food supplies, and created extensive walking paths. These findings are significant because previous ecological research has assumed implicitly that indigenous people in the region were dependent on natural waters and therefore subject to seasonal availability of water to enable them to penetrate and live in dry country, and has given scant acknowledgement of manipulation of resources. The anthropological studies were compromised by the devastating social disruptions caused by the colonizers (mostly cattle ranchers and miners) and subsequent missionaries and government administrators. Despite these disruptions, the evidence demonstrates continuity of knowledge and management practices in much of the region. This history provides contemporary ecologists and managers with evidence of consistent patterns of resource management from earlier times. The evidence also shows that indigenous people were less at the mercy of the environment than has been assumed previously. The combined evidence suggests that contemporary management should consider that traditional management practices over many thousands of years were active and ubiquitous, and continued into the present era and probably shaped the biota of the region.
Biotic and abiotic constraints to a plant invasion in vegetation communities of Tierra del Fuego
Authors: RAUBER RUTH B. , COLLANTES MARTA B. , CIPRIOTTI PABLO A. , ANCHORENA JUAN 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe biotic resistance theory relates invader success to species richness, and predicts that, as species richness increases, invasibility decreases. The relationship between invader success and richness, however, seems to be positive at large scales of analysis, determined by abiotic constraints, and it is to be expected that it is negative at small scales, because of biotic interactions. Moreover, the negative relationship at small scales would be stronger within species of the same functional group, because of having similar resource exploitation mechanisms. We studied the relationship between the cover of a worldwide invader of grasslands, Hieracium pilosella L., and species richness, species diversity and the cover of different growth forms at two different levels of analysis in 128 sites during the initial invasion process in the Fuegian steppe, Southern Patagonia, Argentina. At regional level, the invader was positively correlated to total (r = 0.28, P = 0.003), exotic (r = 0.273, P = 0.004), and native species richness (r = 0.210, P = 0.026), and to species diversity (r = 0.193, P = 0.041). At community level, we found only a weak negative correlation between H. pilosella and total richness (r = −0.426, P = 0.079) and diversity (r = −0.658, P = 0.063). The relationship between the invader and other species of the same growth form was positive both at regional (r = 0.484, P < 0.001) and community (r = 0.593, P = 0.012) levels. Consequently, in the period of establishment and initial expansion of this exotic species, our results support the idea that invader success is related to abiotic factors at large scales of analysis. Also, we observed a possible sign of biotic constraint at community level, although this was not related to the abundance of species of the same growth form.
Functional characterization of a sex pheromone receptor in the pest moth Spodoptera littoralis by heterologous expression in Drosophila
Authors: Montagné Nicolas , Chertemps Thomas , Brigaud Isabelle , François Adrien , François Marie‐Christine , de Fouchier Arthur , Lucas Philippe , Larsson Mattias C. , Jacquin‐Joly Emmanuelle 
Published: July 2012

AbstractMoth sex pheromone communication is recognised as a long‐standing model for insect olfaction studies, and a widespread knowledge has been accumulated on this subject thanks to numerous chemical, electrophysiological and behavioural studies. A key step has been the identification of candidate sex pheromone receptors, opening new routes to understanding the specificity and sensitivity of this communication system, but only few of these receptors have as yet been functionally characterised. In this context, we aim at unravelling the molecular bases of pheromone reception in the noctuid moth Spodoptera littoralis. Taking advantage of a collection of antennal‐expressed sequence tags, we previously identified three fragments of candidate pheromone receptors in this species. Here, we report full‐length cloning of one of these receptors, named SlitOR6. Both sequence and expression pattern analyses were consistent with its annotation as a pheromone receptor, which we further confirmed by functional characterization. Using Drosophila antennae as a heterologous expression system, we identified a single component of the pheromone blend of S. littoralis, (Z,E)‐9,12‐tetradecadienyl acetate, as the ligand of SlitOR6. Two strategies were employed: (i) expressing SlitOR6 in the majority of Drosophila olfactory neurons, in addition to endogenous receptors, and monitoring the responses to pheromone stimuli by electroantennography; (ii) replacing the Drosophila pheromone receptor OR67d with SlitOR6 and monitoring the response by single sensillum recordings. Results were fully congruent and responses to (Z,E)‐9,12‐tetradecadienyl acetate were highly specific in both heterologous systems. This approach appears to be efficient and reliable for studying moth pheromone receptors in an in vivo context.
Characterization of a rat model of Huntington’s disease based on targeted expression of mutant huntingtin in the forebrain using adeno‐associated viral vectors
Authors: Gabery Sanaz , Sajjad Muhammad U. , Hult Sofia , Soylu Rana , Kirik Deniz , Petersén Åsa 
Published: June 2012

AbstractHuntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the huntingtin (htt) gene. Neuropathology is most severe in the striatum and cerebral cortex. As mutant htt is ubiquitously expressed, it has not been possible to establish clear structure‐to‐function relationships for the clinical aspects. In the present study, we have injected recombinant adeno‐associated viral vectors of serotype 5 (rAAV5) expressing an 853‐amino‐acid fragment of htt with either 79 (mutant) or 18 (wild‐type) glutamines (Q) in the dorsal striatum of neonatal rats to achieve expression of htt in the forebrain. Rats were followed for 6 months and compared with control rats. Neuropathological assessment showed long‐term expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene (used as a marker protein) and accumulation of htt inclusions in the cerebral cortex with the rAAV5‐htt‐79Q vectors. We estimated that around 10% of NeuN‐positive cells in the cerebral cortex and 2% of DARPP‐32 neurons in the striatum were targeted with the GFP‐expressing vector. Formation of intracellular htt inclusions was not associated with neuronal loss, gliosis or microglia activation and did not lead to altered motor activity or changes in body weight. However, the same mutant htt vector caused orexin loss in the hypothalamus – another area known to be affected in HD. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that widespread forebrain expression of mutant htt can be achieved using rAAV5‐vectors and suggest that this technique can be further explored to study region‐specific effects of mutant htt or other disease‐causing genes in the brain.
Aggressive females become aggressive males in a sex‐changing reef fish
Authors: Sprenger Dennis , Dingemanse Niels J. , Dochtermann Ned A. , Theobald Jennifer , Walker Stefan P. W. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractMany animal populations display consistent individual differences in suites of correlated behaviours. While these so called ‘animal personalities’ can substantially influence the ecology and evolution of populations, little is known about cross‐sex correlations of behaviour and thus the potential of personality to limit sex‐specific behavioural adaptations. Here, we experimentally induced sex‐change in the sequentially hermaphroditic reef fish Parapercis cylindrica and demonstrate the existence of tight cross‐sex correlations for two behaviours with presumed different sex‐specific optima. Individuals that were relatively more active and aggressive females were found to become relatively more active and aggressive males. By identifying personality as a potential genetic constraint on the resolution of intralocus sexual conflict over behaviour, our findings have important ecological and evolutionary implications for a wide range of species.
Wolbachia in a major African crop pest increases susceptibility to viral disease rather than protects
Authors: Graham Robert I. , Grzywacz David , Mushobozi Wilfred L. , Wilson Kenneth 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWolbachia are common vertically transmitted endosymbiotic bacteria found in < 70% of insect species. They have generated considerable recent interest due to the capacity of some strains to protect their insect hosts against viruses and the potential for this to reduce vector competence of a range of human diseases, including dengue. In contrast, here we provide data from field populations of a major crop pest, African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta), which show that the prevalence and intensity of infection with a nucleopolydrovirus (SpexNPV) is positively associated with infection with three strains of Wolbachia. We also use laboratory bioassays to demonstrate that infection with one of these strains, a male‐killer, increases host mortality due to SpexNPV by 6–14 times. These findings suggest that rather than protecting their lepidopteran host from viral infection, Wolbachia instead make them more susceptible. This finding potentially has implications for the biological control of other insect crop pests.
Simple rules describe bottom‐up and top‐down control in food webs with alternative energy pathways
Authors: Wollrab Sabine , Diehl Sebastian , De Roos André M. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractMany human influences on the world's ecosystems have their largest direct impacts at either the top or the bottom of the food web. To predict their ecosystem‐wide consequences we must understand how these impacts propagate. A long‐standing, but so far elusive, problem in this endeavour is how to reduce food web complexity to a mathematically tractable, but empirically relevant system. Simplification to main energy channels linking primary producers to top consumers has been recently advocated. Following this approach, we propose a general framework for the analysis of bottom‐up and top‐down forcing of ecosystems by reducing food webs to two energy pathways originating from a limiting resource shared by competing guilds of primary producers (e.g. edible vs. defended plants). Exploring dynamical models of such webs we find that their equilibrium responses to nutrient enrichment and top consumer harvesting are determined by only two easily measurable topological properties: the lengths of the component food chains (odd–odd, odd–even, or even–even) and presence vs. absence of a generalist top consumer reconnecting the two pathways (yielding looped vs. branched webs). Many results generalise to other looped or branched web structures and the model can be easily adapted to include a detrital pathway.
Invasion of diverse habitats by few Japanese knotweed genotypes is correlated with epigenetic differentiation
Authors: Richards Christina L. , Schrey Aaron W. , Pigliucci Massimo 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe expansion of invasive species challenges our understanding of the process of adaptation. Given that the invasion process often entails population bottlenecks, it is surprising that many invasives appear to thrive even with low levels of sequence‐based genetic variation. Using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) and methylation sensitive‐AFLP (MS‐AFLP) markers, we tested the hypothesis that differentiation of invasive Japanese knotweed in response to new habitats is more correlated with epigenetic variation than DNA sequence variation. We found that the relatively little genetic variation present was differentiated among species, with less differentiation among sites within species. In contrast, we found a great deal of epigenetic differentiation among sites within each species and evidence that some epigenetic loci may respond to local microhabitat conditions. Our findings indicate that epigenetic effects could contribute to phenotypic variation in genetically depauperate invasive populations. Deciphering whether differences in methylation patterns are the cause or effect of habitat differentiation will require manipulative studies.
Behavioural traits of colony founders affect the life history of their colonies
Authors: Pruitt Jonathan N. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractSocial arthropods are a major feature in terrestrial ecosystems, and understanding the factors leading to their success is of broad interest. Although many studies have attempted to link colonies' phenotypic composition with their productivity, no study has linked phenotypic composition with the number of offspring colonies formed in the field. I tested whether the behavioural composition of newly founded colonies predicted colony life history patterns in the social spider Anelosimus studiosus. Individual A. studiosus exhibit either an ‘aggressive’ or ‘docile’ behavioural type (BT) and BT composition varies among colonies. I constructed artificial colonies of known BT composition and monitored their performance under two conditions: (1) foreign heterospecific spiders present and (2) foreign spiders removed. When heterospecifics were present, colonies founded by docile individuals were invaded by heterospecific spiders more quickly, grew more rapidly in size, produced more offspring colonies per year, but suffered reduced longevity. The life history trade‐offs (reproduction, longevity) experienced by colonies resemble those experienced by individuals.