Yield, Yield Components and Nutritional Traits Values of Biofortified Sorghum Hybrids in Mali

To assess the adaptation, yield potential, nutrient content and to identify the traits contributing directly and indirectly to yield increase, a two years’ study was conducted in four locations. Thus, a total of 28 F1 hybrids from two females and 14 male parents, were developed and used in this study along with the parents and four commercial hybrids. Seven (7) hybrids were identified with grain yield ranging from 4015 to 4624 kg-1ha; heading from 64 to 92 days; iron content from 8.63 to 91.15 ppm; Zinc content from 8.14 to 28.71 ppm; lysine content from 2.73 to 5.61 mg/100g; threonine content from 2.50 to 6.28 mg/100g. For both phenotypic and genotypic levels, a significant correlation on grain yield through plant height, panicle length, primary branch per panicle, grain number per panicle and number of whorls per panicle were found. Based on the path analysis, positive and significant direct and indirect effect of correlation were observed in this work for a cycle, grain quality, panicle length, primary branch per panicle, grain number per panicle and number of whorls per panicle at the phenotypic level.

Chemical content and fiber dimension of agarwood branches (Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk)

Potential utilization of agarwood residues from twigs and branches is supported by its chemical content and fiber quality. This study aimed to analyze the chemical content and fiber quality of agarwood branches (Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk). Parameters measured in this study were the chemical contents including extractives, holocellulose, alpha cellulose and lignin based on Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industries (TAPPI) standard. Fibers were obtained after pulping and bleaching to determine its quality. Chemical analysis of the primary branch of agarwood revealed the composition of extractives which were soluble in cold water (2.71%), hot water (3.31%), ethanol benzene (3.81%), and 1% NaOH (10.03%). The proportion of holocellulose, alpha cellulose and lignin in the primary branch was 78.17%, 52.70% and 26.68%, respectively. In addition, the chemical analysis of the secondary branch of agarwood also revealed the soluble extractives in cold water (2.96%), hot water (3.49%), ethanol benzene (4.14%), and 1% NaOH (14.42%). The proportion of holocellulose, alpha cellulose and lignin in the secondary branch was 75.61%, 50.65% and 26.77%. Hence, the fiber quality of agarwood branches was categorized into class II.

VPB1 Encoding BELL-like Homeodomain Protein Is Involved in Rice Panicle Architecture

Inflorescence architecture in rice (Oryza sativa) is mainly determined by spikelets and the branch arrangement. Primary branches initiate from inflorescence meristem in a spiral phyllotaxic manner, and further develop into the panicle branches. The branching patterns contribute largely to rice production. In this study, we characterized a rice verticillate primary branch 1(vpb1) mutant, which exhibited a clustered primary branches phenotype. Gene isolation revealed that VPB1 was a allele of RI, that it encoded a BELL-like homeodomain (BLH) protein. VPB1 gene preferentially expressed in the inflorescence and branch meristems. The arrangement of primary branch meristems was disturbed in the vpb1 mutant. Transcriptome analysis further revealed that VPB1 affected the expression of some genes involved in inflorescence meristem identity and hormone signaling pathways. In addition, the differentially expressed gene (DEG) promoter analysis showed that OsBOPs involved in boundary organ initiation were potential target genes of VPB1 protein. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and dual-luciferase reporter system further verified that VPB1 protein bound to the promoter of OsBOP1 gene. Overall, our findings demonstrate that VPB1 controls inflorescence architecture by regulating the expression of genes involved in meristem maintenance and hormone pathways and by interacting with OsBOP genes.

The Jen language cluster: A comparative analysis of wordlists

A lexicostatistical analysis divides the Jen language cluster into two primary branches Burak-Loo-Maghdi-Mak and Kyak-Moo-Leelau-Tha-Doso-Dza. This is also supported by extensive isoglosses, replacing the older Bikwin-Jen division at least for purposes of genetic classification. For vowels, a 9-vowel system is reconstructed, but its 3-way height contrasts appear unstable in some languages, either in the central vowels or in the front and back vowels. Front and back vowels also vary widely with diphthongs. Prosodic features of nasalisation, tone, and breathiness are reconstructed, with nasalisation developing in more roots in the second primary branch. For consonants, the large inventory includes particularly unstable coronals, and development of voiceless approximants in Doso-Dza. The comparative evidence is conflicting as to whether labialised and palatalised structures are secondary modifications or onset sequences, suggesting the need for a variationist approach. Overall, riverine Jen varieties Tha, Doso, Dza show unusually extensive sound change, in contrast to the more phonologically stable Bikwin varieties. Applications to orthography development include the need to represent implosives and /r/ in languages other than Dza, where they have been lost, and the need to represent vowel nasalisation and /h/ in languages of the second branch only. Initial stem consonant alternations seen in both nouns and verbs need more investigation in Jen languages.

Formation Characteristics of Endosperm Structures in Different Rice Genotypes

To explore the formation characteristics of endosperm structures in different rice genotypes, indica, japonica and glutinous rice cultivars were used and grown in the paddy field. The endosperm structures in the grain during the filling period were investigated. The results showed that the compactness of amyloplast arrangement was positively correlated with grain filling percentage. The endosperm structure varied with the position within a grain. At maturity, the structure was the best in the back, the intermediate in the center, and the worst in the belly of a kernel. However, the filling was better in the center than in the back and in the belly from 5 to 10 days after flowering (DAF). The endosperm structure was different among genotypes. From 5 to 25 DAF, starch accumulation was the earliest in glutinous rice, followed by indica rice and japonica rice. Gaps and pores in endosperm were closely associated with rice transparency. The starch crystallinity in endosperm was negatively correlated with amylose content. Among the three genotypes, glutinous showed the highest crystallinity, followed by japonica and indica rice. The starch crystallinity in a grain was lower on a primary branch than that on a secondary branch. Among all grains, the second grain on a primary branch showed the lowest starch crystallinity. The results indicated that the starch structure of endosperm not only differ between rice genotypes, but also varies with the location of a grain on the panicle, and that it affects the grain-filling, transparency and amylose content of rice.

Deterministic and stochastic rules of branching govern dendritic morphogenesis of sensory neurons

Dendrite morphology is necessary for the correct integration of inputs that neurons receive. The branching mechanisms allowing neurons to acquire their type-specific morphology remain unclear. Classically, axon and dendrite patterns were shown to be guided by molecules providing deterministic cues. However, the extent to which deterministic and stochastic mechanisms, based upon purely statistical bias, contribute to the emergence of dendrite shape is largely unknown. We address this issue using the Drosophila class I vpda multi-dendritic neurons. Detailed quantitative analysis of vpda dendrite morphogenesis indicates that the primary branch grows very robustly in a fixed direction while secondary branch numbers and lengths showed fluctuations characteristic of stochastic systems. Live tracking dendrites and computational modeling revealed how neuron shape emerges from few local statistical parameters of branch dynamics. We report key opposing aspects of how tree architecture feedbacks on the local probability of branch shrinkage. Child branches promote stabilization of parent branches while self-repulsion promotes shrinkage. Finally, we show that self-repulsion, mediated by the adhesion molecule Dscam1, indirectly patterns the growth of secondary branches by spatially restricting their direction of stable growth perpendicular to the primary branch. Thus, the stochastic nature of secondary branch dynamics and the existence of geometric feedback emphasizes the importance of self-organization in neuronal dendrite morphogenesis.

Morphological and reproductive characterization of developed mutants in groundnut

Twenty-eight established groundnut mutants and two check cultivars were studied during Kharif-I (March-June) season of 2017 and 2018 to find out their variability and distinct character(s) as identifying keys. All the mutant lines showed erect type sequential branching habits with two seeds in each pod although they had shown significant variability in all vegetative and reproductive structures. According to cluster analysis, 30 mutants/varieties clustered into three major groups at distance level 60 based on the morphological variability of 14 characters. The variability of 14 morphological characters in three principal components was explained by 98.12% of the total variation. The characters, 100-pod weight had the highest contribution followed by branch length, plant height and 100-kernel weight. Twenty-three mutant genotypes grouped into intermediate type of the extremes in any given identifying key characteristics. Only single genotype of the whole lot showed distinctively the longest primary branch and highest secondary branch number and small seed size (D1/24-29), highest primary branch number (M6/7-25), lowest primary branch number (Mut-2), highest leaflet length and light green leaf colour (Dhaka-1), presence of stem pigmentation and pod beak and highest number of seeds pod-1 (Zhingabadam), leaflet shape lanceolate (M6/54-20). In contrast, only two mutants of the lot showed two buds raceme-1 (M6/36-24 and M6/61-6), bolder pod and seed size and highly constricted pod (Mut-2 and Mut-3). The genotypes with the above distinguished characteristic featured for being ideal genetic markers and could be used in future breeding applications as well as aids in varietal identification.

Interaksi Genotipe x Lingkungan pada Morfologi Malai Galur-galur Padi (Oryza sativa L.) Bermalai Lebat

Breeding rice for heavy panicle is prospective to improve production. However, the information on genotype x environment interaction (GxE) of rice panicle morphology is limited. This study was aimed to evaluate the GxE interaction on panicle morphology of heavy panicle rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes. The experiments were conducted in four environmental conditions. The research was conducted from December 2017 to May 2019 at the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, IPB University, using 24 genotypes (F5-F6 generation) with 6 check varieties. The experimental design was an augmented design (3 replicates of check). Analysis of variance showed that GxE interaction effects were significant on the panicle length, number of axis nodes, primary branches number, secondary branches number, tertiary branches number, number of grains per panicle, and grain density per primary branch. The results showed that the two environments in the rainy season produced higher primary branches number, secondary branches number, tertiary branches number, number of grain per panicle, and grain density per primary branch than the two environments in the dry season. Correlation and path analyses showed that panicle length, number of secondary branches, and grain density per primary branch had a significant and direct positive effect on the number of grains per panicle. Keywords: primary branches, panicle length, secondary branches, tertiary branches

Karakter Percabangan Malai Genotipe Padi Sawah pada Berbagai Level Dosis Fosfor

Yield grain of rice was determined by genetical and environmental factors, one of them was genetic response on levelof phosphorus. Rice panicle branching was one of the key factors on supporting rice yield. The study aimed to find out ricepanicle branching responses to phosphorus. Controlled experiment was conducted on September 2017 - February 2018, usingtwo genotypes planted on poor soil media and six levels of phosphorus as treatments, arranged in completely randomizeddesign. Panicle branching characters were observed on the experiment. The experiment showed the genotype’s effects atall panicle branching except number of tertiary branches and number of grains on tertiary branches. Phosphorus affectedpanicle branching except panicle length, primary branch length, and number of grain on tertiary branches. Genotype andphosphorus interaction appeared at all panicle branching except number of primary branch, number of tertiary branches,number of grains on tertiary branches, and the percentage of grains number on tertiary branches. The panicle of genotypeIPB180-12 was likely more stabil to the various levels of phosphorus, meanwhile the panicle of genotype IPB158-5 moresensitive. According to the polynomial regression evaluation, the optimum level of P2O5 for the sensitive genotype was 421.92kg ha-1, and for the tolerant genotype was 108 kg ha-1 in poor soil.