Analysis of Genetic Variability and Agronomic Performance of Indian Lettuce (Lactuca Indica Linn.)

Lactuca indica is a undomesticated medicinal crop in the Asteraceae family. Present study was carried out to identify elite genotype for cultivation and breeding improvement of lettuce. Data was recorded for 19 morphological and developmental traits across 38 accessions (Acc). In addition to this, the morphological cluster was compared with the simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker. The genotypic mean square variance was significant for all characters. The higher extent of genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation obtained for basal branch, leaf blade width, and node number. The broad-sense heritability (H2B) ranged from 45.85% (seed length) to 98.59% (node number), whereas genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (GAM%) ranged from 9.33 to 191. Vegetative characters such as node number, plant hight, basal branch were conjugated with high H2B and high GAM% indicating additive gene effect and selection of these traits based on phenotypic observation is effective for better gain. Reproductive traits, including bolting duration, flowering duration, and seed weight were linked with high H2B, and moderate GAM% trevealing that these traits are amenable to genetic improvement, these traits also showed a significant positive correlation. Acc 55 and 8 showed the best performance for the majority of the attributes could be good material for further research and breeding. In the Wards’ phylogenetic tree of morphological traits, accessions were clustered based on their phenotypic characters rather than the geographic origin. Morphological characteristics showed no or very week corelation with the SSR genotyped data.

An ancient glaucophyte c6-like cytochrome related to higher plant cytochrome c6A is imported into muroplasts

Cytochrome c6 is a redox carrier in the thylakoid lumen of cyanobacteria and some eukaryotic algae. Although the isofunctional plastocyanin is present in land plants and the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, these organisms also possess a cytochrome c6-like protein designated as cytochrome c6A. Two other cytochrome c6-like groups, c6B and c6C, have been identified in cyanobacteria. In this study, we have identified a novel c6-like cytochrome PetJ2 which is encoded in the nuclear genome of Cyanophora paradoxa belonging to glaucophytes – the basal branch of the Archaeplastida. We propose that glaucophyte PetJ2 protein is related to cyanobacterial c6B and c6C cytochromes, and that cryptic green algal and land plant cytochromes c6A evolved from an ancestral archaeplastidial PetJ2 protein. In vitro import experiments with isolated muroplasts revealed that PetJ2 is imported into plastids. Although it harbors a twin-arginine motif in its thylakoid targeting peptide which is generally indicative of thylakoid import via Tat import pathway, our import experiments with isolated muroplasts and the heterologous pea thylakoid import system revealed that PetJ2 uses the Sec instead of the Tat import pathway.

Electric Blue: Molecular Evolution of Three-Finger Toxins in the Long-Glanded Coral Snake Species Calliophis bivirgatus

The genus Calliophis is the most basal branch of the family Elapidae and several species in it have developed highly elongated venom glands. Recent research has shown that C. bivirgatus has evolved a seemingly unique toxin (calliotoxin) that produces spastic paralysis in their prey by acting on the voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels. We assembled a transcriptome from C. bivirgatus to investigate the molecular characteristics of these toxins and the venom as a whole. We find strong confirmation that this genus produces the classic elapid eight-cysteine three-finger toxins, that δδ-elapitoxins (toxins that resemble calliotoxin) are responsible for a substantial portion of the venom composition, and that these toxins form a distinct clade within a larger, more diverse clade of C. bivirgatus three-finger toxins. This broader clade of C. bivirgatus toxins also contains the previously named maticotoxins and is somewhat closely related to cytotoxins from other elapids. However, the toxins from this clade that have been characterized are not themselves cytotoxic. No other toxins show clear relationships to toxins of known function from other species.

Novel procedural method for balloon pulmonary angioplasty to treat chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Background The current strategy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is to dilate branches as many as possible without lung injury to normalize mean pulmonary artery pressure and oxygenation. The shape of guiding catheter is one of the important factors to achieve this strategy. However, conventional guiding catheters which are typically used for BPA are difficult to introduce into particular branches. The Ikari-curve left (IL) guiding catheter may be suitable for this purpose by adjusting its curves (Figure 1); however, its utility and effectiveness for lung injury are unclear. Purpose The aim of this study is to clarify utility and safety of IL guiding catheter for BPA. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 202 consecutive BPA sessions of 40 patients with CTEPH from November 2016 to October 2019 and divided them into two groups; IL group, in which we used IL guiding catheter; and non-IL group in which we used others. IL guiding catheter was used for branches of left lung which are difficult to introduce by conventional catheter prior Nov. 2018. After Nov.2018, we also used it for the same type branches of right lung. The occurrence of lung injury was determined by the presence of bloody sputum during the perioperative period. We compared success rate of introduction into target vessels and of occurrence of lung injury. Results The average age of enrolled patients was 60.3±14.4 year-old and female was 65%. There were 99 sessions in IL group. The median treated branches significantly differed between groups (IL group: 15 vs. non-IL group: 10, p<0.05). The lung injury rate tended to low in the IL group (4.0% vs. 11.7%, p=0.07). The IL group had more successful insertions into branches than did the non-IL group (right lung: middle lobe*, 84.4% vs. 57.5%; medial basal branch*, 46.9% vs. 7.5%; left lung: anterior ascending and descending branches, 82.9% vs. 70.8%; lingular branches*, 90.0% vs. 62.5%; anterior basal branch, 75.7% vs. 62.5%, * p<0.05). Conclusion IL guiding catheter can be introduced into branches that cannot be accessed via conventional guiding catheters and has potential to reduce the occurrence of lung injury. 2228 characters including space Figure1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Review of the scorpionfly genus Dicerapanorpa Zhong & Hua (Mecoptera: Panorpidae), with descriptions of two new species

The current knowledge of the scorpionfly genus Dicerapanorpa Zhong & Hua, 2013 is taxonomically reviewed. Two new species of Dicerapanorpa are described and illustrated, increasing the species number of this genus to 20. Dicerapanorpa bifurcata sp. nov. from the Minshan Mountains, Sichuan Province, is characterized by the absence of the paramere basal branch and the elongated mesal branch in males, and the medigynium having a short basal stalk in females. Dicerapanorpa zhengkuni sp. nov. from the Wuling and Miaoling Mountains, Guizhou Province, is distinguishable by the greatly elongated hypovalves, the very short basal branch of the paramere, and the dorsomedially curved lateral branch in males, and the rounded main plate of the medigynium in females. An updated key to species of Dicerapanorpa is presented.

Molecular variation and phylogenetic status of ponyfish (Perciformes: Leiognathidae) in Karaikal, South India

The family Leiognathidae, commonly known as ponyfish and they are mainly classified by mouth morphology. In this study, genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships among nine genera and 13 species of Leiognathidae, inferred from Cytochrome Oxydase I gene. The Neighbour Joining tree showed the paraphyly of the studied species form genus Secutor and monophyly status all the other eight genera. Leiognathus equulus is occupying a basal branch of the family NJ tree. The highest genetic distance (0.349) showed between Eubleekeria and Nuchequula. The lowest genetic distance (0.007) showed between the genus Nuchequula and Leiognathus. Among the nine genera, very less nucleotide diversity (π= 0.1100) was in Secutor and higher value (π = 0.7558) was recorded in Leiognathus. The Tajima’s test statistic (D) value was positive, so, the entire genus is in balancing selection.

Effects of the phenological stage, type of cutting and plant growth regulators on the propagation by stem cutting of Poiretia latifolia Vogel, a brazilian native medicinal plant

Poiretia latifolia Vogel has bioactive potential that includes antibiotic properties for human uses. The aim of this research was to develop an efficient method for vegetative propagation of P. latifolia by using cuttings as an aid to the selection and multiplication of interesting genotypes. In the first experiment, the cuttings were collected in vegetative and reproductive stages and treated with six plant growth regulators and distilled water. In the second experiment, the treatments consisted of cuttings from the apical, median, and basal branch segments. The treatment with the immersion of cuttings in 4,000 mg L-1 of IBA provided greater number and length of the roots, while high dilution of Calcarea phosphorica at 20CH produced longer branches. The cuttings of the middle and basal part of the branch were found to be more viable. It was achieved 79.17% of cuttings rooting using Calcarea phosphorica 20CH. The vegetative propagation employed in this work is a feasible option for the domestication, preservation, and cultivation of Poiretia latifolia.

Yamadazyma cocois f.a., sp. nov., an ascomycetous yeast isolated from coconuts

During studies on the endophytic yeast communities associated with fruits from Vietnam, three fermenting yeast strains were isolated from fruits of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of the ITS regions and D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that these strains represented a single species of the Yamadazyma clade that was distinct from the other related species. The new species represented a basal branch of the clade formed by the Yamadazyma species i.e. Y. insecticola and Y. takamatsuzukensis. Based on the phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic characteristics, the studied strains were assigned to a novel species of the genus Yamadazyma, for which the name Yamadazyma cocois f.a., sp. nov. is proposed. The holotype is VCIM 4241, with the ex-type cultures VTCC 920004=VKM Y-3049=KBP Y-6091 code 17–68. The MycoBank number is MB 834435.

Description of the karyotype of Sphyracephala detrahens (Diptera, Diopsidae)

The eye stalks in Diopsidae (Bilberg, 1820) have been widely examined, but the evolutionary origin of this unique trait remains unclear. Thus, further studies of Sphiracephala (Say, 1828), the extant genus forming a basal branch of Diopsinae, are needed. The present study aimed to identify the karyotype of Sphyracephala detrahens (Walker, 1860) with conventional Giemsa staining. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a diploid number of 2n = 10 including two pairs of metacentric chromosomes, a pair of telocentric chromosomes, a pair of dot-like chromosomes, and a pair of sex chromosomes in S. detrahens. The congener Sphyracephala brevicornis (Say, 1817) has been reported to have the same diploid number, 2n = 10, but different chromosome formula. These results demonstrate that chromosome rearrangements often occur in the genus Sphyracephala.

Inheritance of branching in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Aim. The purpose of our research was to study genetic diversity and establish the inheritance of the branching trait in the collection of sunflower lines of the Institute of Oilseeds of the National Academy of Sciences. Methods. 47 lines were used as a material for studying the genetics of the branching feature. Methods of crossing with pre-castration, self-pollination and analysis of offspring were used. Results. In 25 lines, a monogenic recessive control of the trait of the upper branching to the continuous branch was established. In 9 lines of the collection, the sign of continuous branching is due to the dominant allele of the gene. In two lines, the presence of two genes of the dominant alleles of which cause the sign of continuous branching is established. In 1 lines, the trait of continuous branching is controlled by the dominant alleles of the three genes. In 5 lines, the sign of the basal branch is due to the recessive homozygote of one gene b2. In 4 lines, the trait of the basal branch is due to the recessive homozygote for the two genes b3 and b4. Conclusions. In total, four genes are found in our collection, recessive alleles of which cause branching and three genes whose dominant alleles cause branching.Keywords: genetics, sunflower, branching, gene, inheritance.