ANALYSIS OF INTROGRESSIVE LINES OF INTER-SPECIES PEA HYBRIDS BY BAND COMPOSITION OF SEED PROTEINS

Background. The reproductive incompatibility of cultivated (Pisum sativum) and wild (P. fulvum) pea species determines the difficulties of obtaining hybrids as well as the transfer of valuable wild parent alleles into interspecific hybrids and their use in the breeding process. The aim of the research was a comparative study of protein spectra of pea interspecific hybrids BC2F5 P. sativum x P. fulvum obtained by the authors and their parents. Materials and methods. The band composition of seed proteins in the interspecific hybrids of peas BC2F5, variety Stabil (P. sativum) accession from VIR collection I-609881 (P. fulvum) has been studied. Effectiveness of parent gene transfer determining each polymorphic position of electrophoretic spectrum were evaluated. Results. The ratio of the actual frequencies of the bands of the cultivated and wild parents in the introgression lines corresponded to the expected level in 73% of the positions of the electrophoretic spectrum. The introgression rate of individual seed protein bands from wild parent into interspecific pea hybrids in the absence of selection significantly exceeded the expected level, which may indicate the adaptive value of alleles encoding unique seed protein isoforms. Conclusion. The possibility of introgressive transfer of wild-type alleles to the cultivated genotypes of pea, as well as the presence of identified cultivated isoforms of storage proteins in all studied lines of BC2F5 interspecific hybrids in 88.2% of the polymorphic positions of the electrophoretic spectrum, indicates the possibility of using the wild species P. fulvum in pea breeding.

Promising Role of Wolbachia as Anti-parasitic Drug Target and Eco-Friendly Biocontrol Agent

Background: Wolbachia is the most common endosymbiotic bacteria in insectborne parasites and it is the most common reproductive parasite in the world. Wolbachia has been found worldwide in numerous arthropod and parasite species, including insects, terrestrial isopods, spiders, mites and filarial nematodes. There is a complicated relationship between Wolbachia and its hosts and in some cases, they create a mutual relationship instead of a parasitic relationship. Some species are not able to reproduce in the absence of infection with Wolbachia. Thus, the use of existing strains of Wolbachia bacteria offers a potential strategy for the control of the population of mosquitoes and other pests and diseases. Methods: We searched ten databases and reviewed published papers regarding the role of Wolbachia as a promising drug target and emerging biological control agents of parasitic diseases between 1996 and 2017 (22 years) were considered eligible. Also, in the current study several patents (WO008652), (US7723062), and (US 0345249 A1) were reviewed. Results: Endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria, which are inherited from mothers, is transmitted to mosquitoes and interferes with pathogen transmission. They can change the reproduction of their host. Wolbachia is transmitted through the cytoplasm of eggs and have evolved different mechanisms for manipulating the reproduction of its hosts, including the induction of reproductive incompatibility, parthenogenesis, and feminization. The extensive effects of Wolbachia on reproduction and host fitness have made Wolbachia the issue of growing attention as a potential biocontrol agent. Conclusion: Wolbachia has opened a new window to design a costly, potent and ecofriendly drug target for effective treatment and elimination of vector-borne parasitic diseases.

Reproductive incompatibility and fitness components in Neoleucinodes elegantalis races (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from three Solanaceae hosts

Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) is a Neotropical Solanaceae pest that has evolved into four host races due to host plant association. In this study, prezygotic and postzygotic isolation were evaluated in parental and F1 generations collected from Solanum lycopersicum (S. l), S. quitoense (S. q) and S. betaceum (S. b), representing medium size (S. l, S. q) and large size genitalia races (S. b). 617 adults were obtained in the laboratory and 106 copulated. One spermatophore per female was found in the bursa copulatrix, suggesting monoandry. Crosses between adults mostly occurred assortatively. A third of the female’s eggs laid occurred, but females from ♀S. b x ♂ S. l, ♀S. l x ♂S. b and S. l x S. l did not. In the cross, ♀S. l x ♂ S. q and its reciprocal F1 progeny developed into larvae. Reproductive success only occurred in three crosses: S. q x S. q, ♀ S. q x ♂ S. b and its reciprocal progeny. All the progeny from these crosses reached adulthood. The parental population showed differences in pupae and adult measurements according to host. The results on reproductive isolation obtained here suggest speciation in N. elegantalis due to host race differentiation which is relevant for the improvement of the management of this species, especially when the species has evolved reproductive isolation among races. We suggest that the use of their host plants in sympatry might reduce N. elegantalis densities in the field since hybrids between its races have low survival rates and to evaluate the possibility of pheromone composition differentiation among races given the results on assortative mating obtained here.

The marbled crayfish (Decapoda: Cambaridae) represents an independent new species

Marbled crayfish are a globally expanding population of parthenogenetically reproducing freshwater decapods. They are closely related to the sexually reproducing slough crayfish, Procambarus fallax, which is native to the southeastern United States. Previous studies have shown that marbled crayfish are morphologically very similar to P. fallax. However, different fitness traits, reproductive incompatibility and substantial genetic differences suggest that the marbled crayfish should be considered an independent species. This article provides its formal description and scientific name, Procambarus virginalis sp. nov.