Description of Aurelia pseudosolida sp. nov. (Scyphozoa, Ulmaridae) from the Adriatic Sea

Until 2021, the genus Aurelia contained eleven described species (WoRMS, 2020), with many genetic species still awaiting a formal description. In 2021, ten new species of Aurelia were described almost solely from genetic data in a novel attempt to use genetic characters as diagnostic characters for species descriptions, leaving seven genetic species still undescribed. Here we present the description of a new Aurelia species from the Adriatic Sea using an integrative taxonomy approach, i.e., employing molecular as well as morphological characteristics in order to describe this new Aurelia species. The species is described based on a single medusa sampled from the town of Rovinj (Croatia), North Adriatic, amidst combined blooms of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidy and cnidarian Aurelia solida in the summer of 2020. Based on genetic data, the newly described Aurelia pseudosolida sp. nov. has never been sequenced in any of the previous investigations of the molecular diversity of Aurelia. This is the second species belonging to Discomedusae described from the North Adriatic in little more than half a decade, which could be yet another indication of the susceptibility of the North Adriatic to proliferation of non-indigenous gelatinous species, especially if we take into account historical as well as recent blooms of suspected non-indigenous gelatinous species such as Muggiaea atlantica, Aurelia solida, Mawia benovici and Mnemiopsis leidy.

Genetic Profiling of Sida rhombifolia Originated from Several Indonesian Ethnicities Based on Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphism Markers

Sida rhombifolia is one of wild flowering plants that grows easily in many habitats with moderate humidity, with some usefulness in traditional medicine. Genetic characterization of Sida rhombifolia accessions originated from 12 ethnicities of Indonesia was analyzed based on Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) Markers. The genomic DNA were extracted from leaf samples and then were characterized by using the SRAP marker system according to Li and Quiros (2001). Nine pairs of SRAP primer resulted high polymorphic bands and were used in the genetic profiling. The data analysis was performed using GenAlEx to calculate genetic distance, Principal coordinate analysis, and Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA), also using POPGENE to assess genetic diversity (Hs and Ht) and Nm to predict gene flow among populations. The coordinate analysis showed that the accessions originated from ethnicities along Wallacean line tend to differ genetically from most other locations. However, the results of analysis of molecular variance suggested that there were only slight differences (0.1%) found between ethnicities, while most genetic variances (99.9%) were found mostly among accessions within populations. The results suggested that there was an extensive genetic flow and plant spreading among Sida rhombifolia plant populations, resulting more homogenous genetic characters among most populations, while high diversity within population. The calculation of the number of migration (Nm = 1.7341) confirmed that the high rate of gene flow had occurred between populations.

Domestication Strategies of Tinfoil Barb Barbonymus schwanenfeldii (Bleeker, 1854): Potential Candidate for Freshwater Aquaculture Development

This paper discussed domestication strategies of Tinfoil barb from different populations for evaluation of potential fish candidate for freshwater aquaculture development. Collection and maintenance of wild-caught adult fish was the first step in domestication strategies followed by characterization of fish, broodstocks selection and maturation, control of fish reproduction, and larval rearing. The Tinfoil barb presented an excellent performance to adapt to the new environment. This was indicated by survival rate of the fish acclimated in the captive environment of about 69.28 ± 19.64% for five weeks. Phenotypic characterization revealed that Tinfoil barb collected from Borneo, Java, and Sumatra have different morphological characters. Based on genetic characters, polymorphism percentage and heterozygosity of the Borneo tinfoil barb population provided the highest performance followed by Java and Sumatra. The growth model of all Tinfoil barb populations was allometric negative indicating a faster increase in length than in weight. Reproductive performance presented that the fecundity of Tinfoil barb female from Borneo was the highest (2795-5099 eggs/gram) followed by Sumatra (1822-2976 eggs/gram) and Java (2210 eggs/gram). The artificial reproduction performance of broodstock from Borneo also presented more excellent performance than other population after hormonal treatment. Fertility rate and hatching rate were 94,33+0,29 % and 77,44+1,03%, respectively. Java Tinfoil barb had fertility rate 93+0,05% and hatching rate 73,67+3,15%, while it was no fertility rate and hatching rate obtained from Sumatra brood-stock group. Wild-caught adult Tinfoil barb from Borneo population presented the best performance used for potential brood-stock regarding genetic characters, reproductive performances, and response to artificial reproduction. Future studies need to be concerned with the acceleration of gonad maturation and the improvement of larval rearing technology for improvement of domestication strategies of Tinfoil barb as a potential candidate for freshwater aquaculture development.

Complex assessment of narrow-leaved lupine (Lupinus angustifolius L.) accessions from the VIR collection in Belarus

Fifty narrow-leaved lupine accessions of various origin from the VIR collection were studied in Minsk District, Republic of Belarus, and described by a set of morphobiological, biochemical and molecular-genetic characters. According to the results of field and laboratory studies, 10 promising accessions were selected. They are recommended for use in regional breeding programs and included in the working collection of the Belarusian State University.

ANALISIS HOMOGENITAS GENETIK KLON APEL (Malus spp.) HASIL PERBANYAKAN EX VITRO BERDASARKAN PENANDA SSR

Analysis of the Genetic Homogeneity of Apple (Malus spp.) Clones Propagated by Ex Vitro Culture Based on SSR Markers Propagation of apple plants (Malus spp.) vegetatively has the advantage of genetic homogeneity between clones and their parents. However, the possibility of cytological and off-type deviations persists during mass propagation. This study aims to analyze the genetic homogeneity of apple plants using SSR markers in ex vitro propagation techniques. Morphological observations between the parental plant and the ex vitro propagation derived clones and also among themselves did not show any differences. To analyze the genetic heterogeneity of these plants, 15 SSR primers were screened on 29 propagation clones of apple var. Anna and Manalagi. Genetic characters were scored for group analysis using Darwin 6.05. Eight SSR primers (IPA 2, IPA 3, IPA 4, 5 PA, 6 PA, 12 PA, 13 PA, and 14 PA) produced 82 clear and easily visible bands in the size range of 90-365 bp. This study successfully detected the uniformity of all band patterns from the plant samples. The SSR markers could be used to analyze the genetic stability of the ex vitro propagation of apple clones. Perbanyakan tanaman apel (Malus spp.) secara vegetatif memiliki keunggulan homogenitas genetik antara klon dengan induknya. Namun kemungkinan terjadi penyimpangan sitologi dan off type tetap ada saat perbanyakan massal. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji homogenitas genetik tanaman apel menggunakan penanda SSR pada teknik perbanyakan ex vitro. Pengamatan secara morfologi antara tanaman induk dengan hasil perbanyakan secara ex vitro dan dengan sesamannya tidak menunjukkan perbedaan. Untuk menganalisis homogenitas genetik tanaman ini kami menyaring 15 primer SSR pada 29 klon perbanyakan tanaman apel varietas Anna dan Manalagi. Karakter genetik dihitung untuk analisis kelompok menggunakan Darwin 6.05. Sebanyak 8 primer SSR (IPA 2, IPA 3, IPA 4, 5 PA, 6 PA, 12 PA, 13 PA, dan 14 PA) menghasilkan 82 pita yang jelas dan mudah terlihat dalam kisaran ukuran 90-365 bp. Studi ini juga berhasil mendeteksi keseragaman pola pita semua sampel tanaman. Penanda SSR dapat digunakan untuk analisis stabilitas genetik perbanyakan ex vitro dari tanaman apel.

The spatio-temporal co-occurrence of free-ranging common fallow deer and domestic caprines on the island of Rhodes, Greece

The Dama dama dama population of the island of Rhodes has an important conservation significance because of its unique genetic characters. Currently, many are the factors that threaten its survival. Aim of this paper is to provide the first data on the spatio-temporal co-occurrence between the only free-ranging Greek population of common fallow deer and local domestic caprines. Kilometric abundance index (KAI) was derived from spotlight counts. The unattended domestic caprines appear to impact on fallow deer, in particular during fawning season. Livestock monitoring over time can act as a proxy indicator of the status of this deer population.

The systematic status of the Libyan bats of the genus Plecotus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

This paper briefly reviews the taxonomic history of the Plecotus kolombatovici complex, the bat populations which occur in isolated ranges surrounding the Mediterraean Basin, including Maghreb, Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, Anatolia, Balkans, and Italy, plus numerous Mediterranean islands. Since this complex exhibts genetic characters close to Plecotus teneriffae from the Canary Islands, the samples of the complex from Cyrenaica (NE Libya) were described as a subspecies P. teneriffae gaisleri. However, this name was later used for all populations of the complex inhabiting North Africa as P. gaisleri, a full species separated from P. kolombatovici. However, the available results of molecular genetic analyses of the complex support the opinion that these allopatric populations are conspecific and referrable to P. kolombatovici and reopens the question regarding the systematic status of P. teneriffae.

Mobilization of genetic diversity of the genus Malus on the basis of information technologies for the breeding of varieties with complex resistance to fungal pathogens

Breeding renewal of the southern assortment of apple trees for the Russian fruit growing industry based on the accelerated process of creating domestic genotypes with a complex increased resistance to the main fungal pathogens of the culture (Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) Wint., Podosphaera leucotricha (Ell. & Ev.) E.S. Salmon, Phyllosticta mali Pr. et. Del., Phyllosticta briardi Sacc.) is due to the systematic use of modern methods, innovative breeding techniques and improved techniques. The purpose of the study is to develop and create a database of representatives of the genus Malus Mill., which is promising for use in the production and accelerated breeding of new domestic genetic resources for the southern region of Russia. During the research work, Russian modern and generally accepted programs and methods of breeding, variety study for fruit plants were used. The formed database “Main economically valuable, morphological and molecular-genetic characters of representatives of the genus Malus Mill. with resistance to the main fungal pathogens in the south of Russia”; filed an application for its patent. Using the data of the obtained information system will significantly speed up the solution of practical selection problems and reduce the costs of organizing the breeding process.

Retroviral analysis reveals the ancient origin of Kihnu native sheep in Estonia: implications for breed conservation

Native animal breeds constitute an invaluable pool of genetic resources in a changing environment. Discovering native breeds and safeguarding their genetic diversity through specific conservation programs is therefore of high importance. Endogenous retroviruses have proved to be a reliable genetic marker for studying the demographic history of sheep (Ovis aries). Previous research has revealed two migratory episodes of domesticated sheep from the Middle East to Europe. The first episode included predominantly ‘primitive populations’, while the second and most recent is hypothesised to have included sheep with markedly improved wool production. To examine whether the recently discovered Kihnu native sheep in Estonia have historically been part of the first migratory episode and to what extent they have preserved primitive genetic characters, we analysed retroviral insertions in 80 modern Kihnu sheep and 83 ancient sheep from the Bronze Age to Modern Period (850 BCE–1950 CE). We identified that the Kihnu sheep have preserved ‘primitive’, ‘Nordic’, and other ‘ancient’ retrotypes that were present both in archaeological and modern samples, confirming their shared ancestry and suggesting that contemporary Kihnu native sheep originate from the first migratory episode. However, over the course of history, there has been a gradual decrease in the frequency of primitive retrotypes. Furthermore, Kihnu sheep possessed several ‘novel’ retrotypes that were absent in archaeological individuals, but were shared with improvement breeds, suggesting recent crossing within the last two centuries. To preserve these ancient lineages, our results are being applied in the conservation program of the Kihnu Native Sheep Society.