Heterotrophic Bacteria Play an Important Role in Endemism of Cephalostachyum pingbianense (Hsueh & Y.M. Yang ex Yi et al.) D.Z. Li & H.Q. Yang, 2007, a Full-Year Shooting Woody Bamboo

The previous studies show soil microbes play a key role in the material and nutrient cycles in the forest ecosystem, but little is known about how soil microbes respond to plant distribution, especially in the soil bacterial community in woody bamboo forests. Cephalostachyum pingbianense (Hsueh & Y.M. Yang ex Yi et al.) D.Z. Li & H.Q. Yang, 2007 is known as the only bamboo species producing shoots all year round in natural conditions. Endemic to the Dawei mountain in Yunnan of China, this species is a good case to study how soil bacteria respond to plant endemic distribution. In this work, we assayed the soil chemical properties, enzyme activity, changes in the bacterial community along the distribution range of the C. pingbianense forest. The results showed that soil nutrients at the range edge were nitrogen-rich but phosphorus-deficient, and soil pH value and soil urease activity were significantly lower than that of the central range. No significant difference was detected in soil bacterial diversity, community composition, and function between the central and marginal range of C. pingbianense forest. Notably, the relative abundance of heterotrophy bacteria, such as Variibacter and Acidothermus, in the soil of the C. pingbianense forest was significantly higher than that of the outside range, which may lead to a higher soil organic carbon mineralization rate. These results imply that abundant heterotrophy bacteria were linked to the endemism and full-year shooting in C. pingbianense. Our study is amongst the first cases demonstrating the important role of heterotrophy bacteria in the distribution formation of endemic woody bamboos in special soil habitats, and provides insight into germplasm conservation and forest management in woody bamboos.

Genetic and Morpho-Agronomic Characterization of Sicilian Tetraploid Wheat Germplasm

Cereal landraces are a very valuable resource in contemporary agriculture. A renewed focus for breeding purposes could ameliorate some negative consequences of modern agriculture and conventional breeding, such as the loss of genetic diversity. One strategy combining molecular genotyping and characterization of morpho-agronomic traits related to productivity is proposed to assess a group of tetraploid wheat landraces named Bufala, historically cultivated in the mountain areas of Sicily and characterized by adaptability in terms of cold tolerance, ability to grow in marginal soils, weed competitiveness and resistance to diseases. A total of 55 SSR molecular markers were used to detect patterns of diversity in 30 rivet and durum wheat genotypes. Furthermore, phenotyping was then conducted for 8 morpho-agronomic traits. Discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC), STRUCTURE and phylogenetical analysis allowed to identify three groups, two of them genetically close and including both Bufala and Bufala-related rivet landraces. To the third group, old and more recent durum wheat varieties, constituting the outgroup, were assigned. Clustering was confirmed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Finally, a correlation analysis showed that Bufala genotypes are characterized by lower ear density, major ear length and later earing time compared with the other studied genotypes. The levels of diversity and population structure could be an important contribution to parent selection in tetraploid wheat breeding programs, as well as to germplasm conservation and management.

Macro and Micro Anatomical Observation on the Testes of Local Dog (Canis lupusfamiliaris) of Assam

Background: The study on testes of local dog of Assam is of great value in regard to germplasm conservation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the gross and histomorphological examination of testes of male reproductive system. Methods: The testes were collected at the time of castration from Department of Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapra, Guwahati, Assam, India. The research was carried out for a period of one year in Department of Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam. Then gross anatomical studies were made on it and the tissue samples were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution and were processed as per the standard technique of procedure (Luna, 1968). The paraffin blocks were sectioned in Shandon Finesse microtome at 5 µm thickness and the sections were stained with Mayer’s Haematoxylin and Eosin staining technique for Cellular details as per the method of Luna (1968). Result: Grossly, the testes of local dog consisted of two surface viz., lateral and medial and two ends i.e. upper end and lower end. The upper end of the testes was occupied by the head of the epididymis and the lower end of the testes was occupied by the tail of the epididymis. Mediastinum testis was observed in the centre of testes of local dog. Histologically, the testes were covered by serous layer (Tunica vaginalis), connective tissue layer (Tunica albugenia) and vascular layer (Tunica vasculosa) from outside to inwards. Spermatogenic cells like spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa, and sertoli cells were observed in seminiferous tubules. The sertoli cells were attached to the basement membrane of seminiferous tubules. Cluster of Leyding cells were found between the semineniferous tubules and it contained large spherical nuclei. The epididymides were lined by pseudo stratified ciliated columnar epithelium.

The Response of Vegetable Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam) Nodes to Different Concentrations of Encapsulation Agent and MS Salts

As an emerging technology, shoot encapsulation has been employed in germplasm conservation, distribution, and micropropagation of elite plant species. However, the production of synthetic seeds of sweet potato via non-zygotic embryogenesis requires a large number of embryos per cultured callus suspension and is labour-intensive. Here, we reported a simple method of encapsulating in vitro derived vegetable sweet potato nodal segments with sodium alginate, calcium chloride (CaCl2), and Murashige and Skoog (MS) salts. The nodes encapsulated with 4% sodium alginate (w/v) and 100 mM CaCl2 were the most suitable for propagation. They had uniform spherical beads and took the least number of days to shoot and root emergence. These plantlets produced more leaves, roots, and long shoots. Further evaluation of the MS salts concentration revealed that the plantlets encapsulated and grown with ½ MS salts had the least days to shoot and root emergence. They also had a longer shoot, the highest conversion rate (99%), and the least leaf abscission (17%). Thus, the sweet potato nodal segments encapsulated with 4% sodium alginate, 100 mM CaCl2, and ½ MS salts could be used as excellent material for micropropagation, germplasm conservation, and exchange of sweet potato planting materials.

Development and characterization of Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) markers in durian kura-kura (Durio testudinarius Becc.) using NGS data

Durian Kura-kura (Durio testudinarius Becc.) belongs to the Malvaceae family and is an endemic species of Borneo. Recently, genomic-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches have been carried out for germplasm conservation and plant breeding programs. The NGS technologies allow plant genomes to be sequenced quickly and inexpensively and enable the efficient development of SSR markers through the in-silico approaches. This study aimed to develop and characterize simple sequence repeats (SSRs) from the assembled genome. The 1203929 scaffolds of the assembled genome were produced from the Ray assembler. The SSRs were identified and extracted using the MISA program produced 4315 sequences containing SSRs. The six motif repeats of SSRs were identified; consist of 431 sequences of dinucleotide (the most motif is AT), 3257 sequences of trinucleotide (the most motif is TTA), 516 sequences of tetranucleotide (the most motif is AAAT), 89 sequences of pentanucleotide (the most motif is ATTTT), 18 sequences of hexanucleotide and four sequences of heptanucleotide. The new SSRs markers will be used in further studies of genetic population of D. testudinarius and plant breeding programs.

Genetic variability and population structure of Ethiopian chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germplasm

Evaluation of the genetic diversity and an understanding of the genetic structure and relationships of chickpea genotypes are valuable to design efficient germplasm conservation strategies and crop breeding programs. Information is limited, in these regards, for Ethiopian chickpea germplasms. Therefore, the present study was carried out to estimate the genetic diversity, population structure, and relationships of 152 chickpea genotypes using simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers. Twenty three SSR markers exhibited polymorphism producing a total of 133 alleles, with a mean of 5.8 alleles per locus. Analyses utilizing various genetic-based statistics included pairwise population Nei’s genetic distance, heterozygosity, Shannon’s information index, polymorphic information content, and percent polymorphism. These analyses exemplified the existence of high genetic variation within and among chickpea genotypes. The 152 genotypes were divided into two major clusters based on Nei’s genetic distances. The exotic genotypes were grouped in one cluster exclusively showing that these genotypes are distinct to Ethiopian genotypes, while the patterns of clustering of Ethiopian chickpea genotypes based on their geographic region were not consistent because of the seed exchange across regions. Model-based population structure clustering identified two discrete populations. These finding provides useful insight for chickpea collections and ex-situ conservation and national breeding programs for widening the genetic base of chickpea.

A Performance Management System for Long-Term Germplasm Conservation in CGIAR Genebanks: Aiming for Quality, Efficiency and Improvement

UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 Target 2.5 focuses on the conservation of genetic diversity in soundly managed genebanks. In examining the term “soundly managed”, it becomes quickly evident that there is much more to long-term conservation than placing samples of seeds or other germplasm in long-term conservation conditions. There are several important factors that determine whether germplasm samples will remain viable in storage for long periods of time. To manage these factors efficiently and effectively, genebanks require sound data and quality management systems. The CGIAR Genebank Platform, coordinated by the Crop Trust, put in place a number of mechanisms that enabled effective online reporting, performance management, quality management, audit and external review and validation. These mechanisms do not conform to the usual monitoring systems put in place for research programs and have only been possible thanks to the flexibility of CGIAR in recognising that the genebanks were exceptional. As a result, in the past 10 years, CGIAR genebanks have significantly improved their performance and the conservation status of collections.

Genetic diversity assessment of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) in northern Nigeria

Neem is a tropical tree that can adapt to a wide range of places and particularly to semi- arid conditions. As at present, it is grown in many Asian countries and also in the tropical regions of the western hemisphere. Genetic variability and diversity are a major requirement needed for both immediate results and the one ones thereafter adaptation of plant types in their original domain. The evaluation of genetic diversity of any species is extremely crucial for their sustainability, continuity, survival and gene manipulation. Major breakthroughs in the field of molecular biology was able to develop several tools for the investigation of genetic diversity at the genome level to determine phylogenetic relationships among inter or intra-species. The advent of molecular markers for the detection and exploitation of DNA polymorphism is one of the major breakthroughs in the world of molecular genetics. The importance of genetic diversity in plant germplasm conservation, especially in economically important species such as Azadirachtaindica, is enormous, particularly in Nigeria. The question is whether A. indica from different Agro-ecological zones have genetic variations or similarities. This was the bane of the current study, which used RAPD to look atgenetic diversity of 27 randomly selected neem trees within the agro-ecological zones in Northern Nigeria. A total of 9 primers were employed out of which only 5 were responsive (OPA-02, OPA-03, OPA-15 and OPA-19). These primers showed dissimilarities in the visible DNA bands among the various tree samples. There was evidence of genetic dissimilarities among the trees sampled. Differences in percentage polymorphism was reported, where it was reportedly highest among the Borno State tree samples (97.44%), compared to those in Yobe State with no polymorphism.

Relationship of Cultivated Grain Amaranth Species and Wild Relative Accessions

Amaranthus is a genus of C4 dicotyledonous herbaceous plants, and three New World species have been domesticated to produce grain crops with light colored seed which are classified as pseudo-cereals rich in protein and minerals. A core collection of grain amaranths and immediate precursor species has been established, representing the closest related species. The goal of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity in that collection of cultivated and wild species, using competitive allele single nucleotide polymorphism markers. A secondary objective was to determine the relationships among the three cultivated species and non-domesticated Amaranthus, while a third objective was to evaluate the utility of the markers in detecting diversity in the 276 genotypes. The markers were found to be highly variable with an average polymorphism information content of 0.365. All markers were bi-allelic; and the major allele frequency ranged from 0.388 to 0.871. Population structure analysis of the cultigens revealed the presence of two sub populations. Phylogeny confirmed that the two Mesoamerican species, Amaranthus cruentus and Amaranthus hypochondriacus, were related and distant from the South American species Amaranthus caudatus, which in turn was very closely clustered with Amaranthus quitensis, even though this is considered a weedy relative. The first pair of species were likely to have inter-crossed, while the latter two likely exist in a wild-cultivated hybrid state. In conclusion, the results of this SNP study provided insights on amaranth cultivars and their relationship to wild species, the probable domestication events leading to the cultivars, and possible crop breeding or germplasm conservation strategies.

Totipotency of Daucus carota L. Somatic Cells Microencapsulated Using Spray Drying Technology

The carrot is considered a model system in plant cell culture. Spray drying represents a widely used technology to preserve microorganisms, such as bacteria and yeasts. In germplasm conservation, the most used methods are freeze drying and cryopreservation. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of spray drying on the viability and totipotency of somatic carrot cells. Leaf, root and stem explants were evaluated to induce callus with 2 mg/L of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Calli obtained from the stem were cultivated in a liquid medium with 1 mg/L of 2,4-D. Cell suspensions were spray dried with maltodextrin-gum Arabic and maltodextrin-xanthan gum mixtures, two outlet air temperatures (50 and 60 °C) and 120 °C inlet air temperature. Results showed that carrot cells were viable after spray drying, and this viability remained for six months at 8 °C. The totipotency of the microencapsulated cells was proven. Cells that were not spray dried regenerated 24.6 plantlets, while the spray dried cells regenerated 19 plantlets for each gram of rehydrated powder. Thus, spray drying allowed researchers to obtain viable and totipotent cells. This work is the first manuscript that reported the spray drying of plant somatic cells.