Inheritance of microsatellite loci in the polyploid lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)

Inheritance in the expression of amplicons for four microsatellite primer pairs was determined using 10 families created from gametes of wild lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens). Loci Afu34 and Afu68 expressed a maximum of two even-intensity bands per individual and had progeny genotype ratios that fit disomic inheritance (P > 0.05). Some variation exhibited at Afu34 and Afu68 was attributable to a null allele. Genotype expression at both loci also indicated that one female parent had transmitted unreduced gametes. Primer Afu39 amplified products that exhibited four gene doses, where genotype counts fit expected ratios for disomic inheritance (P > 0.05) indicating amplification of products from two disomic loci that share alleles. Meiotic drive was evident at the Afu39 loci based on a test for random segregation (P < 0.05). Only the expression of Afu19 gave evidence of tetrasomic inheritance based on a single progeny potentially produced by a double reduction gamete. No evidence for proposed octoploid inheritance was observed.Key words: diploid, tetraploid, octoploid, meiotic drive.

Genetics of reciprocal differences for quantitative characters in wheat

Reciprocal differences for days to flowering, plant height, number of grains per plant, and 100-grain weight were analysed following the analysis of 40 reciprocal generation means of a bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell.) cross 'WG 377' × 'Sonalika.' For all traits, none of the earlier fitted models of disomic inheritance to the 21 averaged means was adequate. For number of grains per spike, responsible sources of reciprocal differences were progeny and maternal line genotypes, and maternal × paternal interaction effects. For days to flowering, in addition to these sources, maternal epistasis, maternal × progeny genotype, and cytoplasm × nuclear gene interactions were responsible. For plant height and 100-grain weight, all the sources of former two characters were important. Further, contribution of the progeny genotype was maximum and duplicate type of epistasis in the progeny genotype was observed for all characters. Neither the cytoplasmic inheritance nor the maternal effects was exclusively operating for the present material. The results have been discussed considering all the sources of reciprocal differences.Key words: Triticum aestivum, wheat, reciprocal differences, genetics, nucleocytoplasmic interactions.