Identification of Lens Cultivars in Market by Molecular Tools: DNA Barcoding and SSRs

Substitution of plant cultivars of high commercial value with a cheaper, lower-quality one is a common fraud committed against consumers and producers. Since it is one of the most widely grown legumes, lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) are a suitable for such frauds. This study aimed to identify lentil cultivars which are registered and authorized in the market in Turkey by using current molecular methods. For this purpose, 26 lentil cultivars were analyzed for 15 SSR markers and 2 DNA barcode loci (trnH-psbA and matK). A high allele diversity was observed by 12 scorable SSR markers, and the average number of alleles was determined to be 16. One of the important findings was the presence of “cultivar-specific alleles” that can be used to identify each cultivar in the lentil market in Turkey. At least one “cultivar-specific allele” was obtained for each cultivar. The lentil cultivars were analyzed in terms of 2 DNA barcode regions as trnH-psbA and matK. Sequences that could identify 14 of the 26 cultivars were obtained. While the rate of the intra-species variation for the trnH-psbA region was observed to be low, a higher rate was found for matK. Nevertheless, it was observed that intra-species discrimination can be made more effective when both loci are used together. We expect that the results of this study, especially the cultivar-specific SSR alleles and DNA barcoding sequence data may be used routinely to identify on production and packaged products that are commercially available in markets.

Comparison of human and faunal enamel isotopes reveals diverse paleodiet and exchange patterns at the highland Maya Site of Kaminaljuyu, Guatemala

This study provides an isotopic examination of both human and animal paleodiets and mobility patterns at a highland Maya community. Kaminaljuyu, Guatemala, was a large Prehispanic center located in a distinctly cooler, drier setting compared with the majority of Maya sites in the surrounding lowlands. Previous archaeological research at Kaminaljuyu revealed it played an important political and economic role in the Maya region, assisting in the obsidian trade network and maintaining ties with communities as far away as Teotihuacan in central Mexico. By examining the strontium (87Sr/86Sr), carbon (δ13C), and oxygen (δ18O) isotope values from dental enamel of humans and terrestrial mammals at the site, this study provides direct evidence of long-distance animal trade, explores the nature and timing of such activities, and compares highland dietary patterns with faunal studies in the lowlands. Our results indicate that isotopically non-local humans and animals are most frequently found in special and ceremonial contexts, indicating that long-distance movements of people and products were motivated for politically or ritually significant events. Although dietary patterns showed cross-species variation, diets within species were similar between highland and lowland settings.

Introduction pages

Notulae Scientia Biologicae (http://www.notulaebiologicae.ro), Issue 4, Volume 13, 2021: The papers published in this issue represent interesting novelties in different topics of life science. Among the exciting researches or reviews, we invite readers to find news about: Haemato-biochemical alterations and acute toxicity study of hydro-methanol root extract of Anacardium occidentale in cockerels; Diversity of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; Molecular detection of Trypanosoma species and haematological alterations in four trypanosome-infected Nigerian horses; Cryopreservation of aromatic ginger Kaempferia galanga L. by encapsulation-dehydration; Comparative study of some physicochemical and biological properties of effect host species variation on the relationship Saharan parasitic plant Cistanche violaceae (Desf.) Beck.; Comparative leaf anatomy of ten Nepenthes L. species (Nepenthaceae) from Peninsular Malaysia; Seed germination response of Indian wild pear (Pyrus pashia) to gibberellic acid treatment and cold storage; Molecular and morphological characterization of Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber, 1923) Skarbilovich, 1959 from Egypt.

Variation in Bird Eggs—Does Female Factor, Season, and Laying Order Impact the Egg Size, Pigmentation, and Eggshell Thickness of the Eggs of Capercaillie?

Despite numerous studies, intra-species variation in bird eggs is still not well explained. In the presented studies, we investigated the possible sources of this variation: female factor, laying order, and season, using the following traits of Capercaillie eggs as an example: egg size and shape, eggshell lightness, and thickness. Samples were collected for three years from three Capercaillie breeding centres located in different parts of Poland, where birds are kept in conditions close to their natural habitat and have a similar diet. The obtained results showed no significant impact of laying order on egg size, shape, pigmentation, nor eggshell thickness. This indicates that the provided nutrition ensures an adequate supply of minerals for the entire laying period. Most results did not show statistically significant differences between eggs from different breeding centres, but in one breeding centre, eggshells had lighter pigmentation. We assume the observed differences may result from females’ individual features or local environmental conditions. Egg traits were highly consistent for individual females, proving that visual identification can be useful in identifying the eggs of different females.

The size and shape of parasitic larvae of naiads (Unionidae) are not dependent on female size

The naiads, large freshwater mussels (Unionida), have very long life spans, are large-bodied, and produce thousands to millions of larvae (glochidia) which typically must attach to host fish tissues to metamorphose into a juvenile mussel. Glochidia develop within a female's marsupial gill demibranch, thus their number is restricted by female size. However, larger mussels acquire more energy, which could be invested in either larger-sized glochidia, in a more glochidia, or a combination of both. The high level of host specialization seen in many naiads may constrain glochidial size and shape around a narrow optimum, while naiads that use a wide range of host fishes may be predicted to possess greater plasticity in glochidial morphology. In this paper, we investigated the relationship between maternal body size and progeny body size and shape, aided by modern digital microscopy. We analyzed the between- and within- species variation of glochidia size and shape relative to female size in four widespread species of European naiads: Anodonta anatina, Anodonta cygnea, Unio crassus and Unio tumidus. Whereas the total reproductive output is collinear with female body size, substantial differences between species in glochidia size were found within genus Anodonta, but not genus Unio where glochidial size is remarkably consistent. The glochidial shape, however, differed within both Unio and Anodonta. We interpret this constant within-species glochidial size in Unio as reflecting a constraint imposed by the likelihood of successful transmission onto and off from a narrow range of hosts, whereas their shape seems to be less constrained. The Anodonta species, inhabiting a wide spectrum of habitats and using more than twice the number of fish hosts than Unio spp., have larger glochidia with greater variation in size and shape. Our results suggest that measures of glochidial variability may also serve as an indicator of host specificity in other naiads.

Phenological diversity in wild and hybrid grapes (Vitis) from the USDA-ARS cold-hardy grape collection

Wild grape relatives and hybrids have been useful in breeding for tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress, however, few studies have emphasized wild and hybrid grapevines for phenological diversity. Utilization of phenological diversity in grapevine breeding could facilitate expansion of grape production into more varied climate regions. Budbreak, bloom, and veraison observations for 1583 accessions from 20 taxa from the United States Department of Agriculture Vitis collection in Geneva, New York, USA. Genotypic and species variation were estimated. Vitis vinifera ancestry was estimated in Vitis hybrids using principal components analysis. Observations ranged 26.6–162.1 (79–141 JD) with an average of 82.6 GDD (118 JD) for budbreak, 206.8–1055.2 (141–222 JD) with an average of 371.9 GDD (163 JD) for bloom, and 849.9–1627.0 (202–290 JD) with an average of 1207.9 GDD (235 JD) for veraison. Seasonal correlations were high for bloom and veraison (0.85–0.95) and moderate for budbreak (0.61–0.65). Moderate heritability was estimated for veraison (0.62) and bloom (0.49), and weak heritability for budbreak (0.2). The species effect was greatest in bloom and explained 42% of the variation, with increasing bloom GDD associated with increasing contribution of V. vinifera in Vitis hybrids.

Embryonic Development of Grasshopper Populations Along Latitudinal Gradients Reveal Differential Thermoaccumulation for Adaptation to Climate Warming

Climate warming has a remarkable effect on the distribution, phenology, and development of insects. Although the embryonic development and phenology of non-diapause grasshopper species are more susceptible to warming than those of diapause species, the responses of developmental traits in conspecifically different populations to climate warming remain unknown. Here, we compared the mtDNA sequences and embryonic development of eight populations of grasshopper species (Chorthippus dubius) in field-based manipulated warming and laboratory experiments. The mtDNA sequences showed a significant genetic differentiation of the southernmost population from the other seven populations on the Mongolian Plateau. The embryonic development of the southernmost population was significantly slower than those of the northern populations at the same incubation temperatures. Interestingly, laboratory experiments showed that a significant difference exists in the effective accumulated degree days (EADD) but not in the lower development threshold temperatures (LDTT) among the different populations. The high-latitude populations required less EADD than the low-latitude populations. The warming treatments significantly accelerated the embryonic development in the field and decreased duration from embryos to hatchlings of all eight populations in the incubation. In addition, warming treatments in field significantly increased EADD requirement per stage in the incubation. Linear regression model confirmed that the embryonic development characteristics of eight populations were correlated with the annual mean temperature and total precipitation of embryonic development duration. The results indicated that grasshopper species have evolved a strategy of adjusting their EADD but not their LDTT to adapt to temperature changes. The variations in the EADD among the different populations enabled the grasshopper eggs to buffer the influences of higher temperatures on development and preserve their univoltine nature in temperate regions while encountering warmer climatic conditions. Thus, the findings of this study is valuable for our understanding species variation and evolution, and as such has direct implication for modeling biological response to climate warming.

Postmortem Evaluation of Rabbit Carcasses Using Insect Populations in Keffi Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Untimely, forceful, and unexpected death is inevitable and common worldwide. Evidence for causes of death may be obtained through the knowledge of insects’ successional pattern and postmortem interval on dead carcasses. Two rabbits (Lepus cuniculus) weighing 2.5 kg each were used as the experimental animals. The rabbits were sacrificed by poisoning and stabbing, postmortem evaluation was achieved by taking record of the insect’s successional pattern. The insects’ successional pattern revealed the following insects’ species in order in which they arrived on the carcasses: Musca domestica, Lucilia sericata, Chrysomya albiceps, Dermestes maculatus, and Armadillidium vulgare (usual sp). The family Formicidae were represented by two unidentified species. M. domestica arrived first on the stabbed carcass while L. sericata on poisoned carcass. A total of 105±50 insects were collected throughout the study period, with stabbed rabbit contributing 61±10 and poisoned 44±60 insects’ species. Variation in the number of forensically important insects’ species encountered in the study site did not show any significant difference (p>0.05) in relation to each decomposition stage. There was however a significant difference (p<0.05) between insects’ relative abundance and mode of killing. Insect evidence was found 3 minutes after death on the stabbed carcass and 3 days after on the poisoned carcass. The study has shown that insects' population can be used to establish postmortem evidence in rabbit carcasses.

Comparison of Ostracoda (Crustacea) species composition between lakes and streams at high elevations in Turkey

Ostracods are one of the most suitable organisms because of their ecological and morphological preferences for habitat types to study the diversity between streams and lakes. Here, 24 streams and 16 lakes were sampled in 2019 to evaluate the species compositions between streams and lakes. Environmental heterogeneity in the sense of the physico-chemical variables was found among the habitats. 24 of the 29 species with 923 individuals were found in the lakes when 13 species with 898 individuals were found in the streams. Eight species were common in both habitat types. Species contributing about 70.81% to the significant differences in the species composition between the habitats showed cosmopolitan characteristics. Species variation among the replicates of lakes were higher than streams. Results indicated that the species composition was probably associated to dissolved oxygen in lakes, while electrical conductivity in streams. Relationship amid elevational range and ostracod species richness was negative in lakes when there was no clear relationship in the streams. Overall, results suggested that determination of influential regional factors in different aquatic bodies can provide important contributions to the estimation of which habitat types can be chosen by species, and the using of species as bioindicators.

Can You Teach an Old Parrot New Tricks? Individual Variation in the Problem-Solving Abilities of Wild Kaka (Nestor Meridionalis)

<p>Identifying factors that may influence cognitive variation in the wild is essential for furthering our understanding of how ecological and evolutionary mechanisms shape cognitive phenotypes. Yet, studies on cognitive variation in the wild and its causes and consequences are still rare. In both the wild and captivity, birds have become a centre of attention, revealing striking cognitive abilities that may rival the great apes. While much of this research has focused on corvids, few parrot species have been studied thoroughly. One of these species is the kea (Nestor notabilis), which has shown remarkable social and physical cognitive skills, including the use of tools. This thesis explores the innovative problem-solving skills of the only other Nestor species, the kaka (Nestor meridionalis), with the overall aim to investigate ecological, developmental and genetic factors influencing within-species variation of these abilities in the wild. When confronted with a series of novel problems at a familiar feeding station, juvenile kaka outperform adult kaka, especially in their ability and efficiency to find an innovative solution to acquiring the food reward. This is particularly the case when modification of a pre-learned behavioural response is required and is further expressed in the juveniles’ higher individual persistence and exploration diversity, which suggests they may be more behaviourally flexible. Testing for this hypothesis using a Multi-Access-Box approach confirmed faster, more flexible discovery of alternative solving strategies in younger birds. Further analysis of the kaka’s innovation abilities uncovered potential genetic effects on solving ability as shown by full sibling comparison. This provides first potential evidence for heritability of a cognitive trait in the wild and thus presents an important step for furthering our understanding of how natural selection may act on cognitive traits. Between-species comparison of kaka and kea in the physical and social cognitive domains reveals striking similarities. This suggests that the differences in the life histories of these two species play a secondary role in the evolution of Nestor parrot cognitive abilities, which may instead be retained from their common ancestor.</p>