Fifteen qualitative and 21 morphometric variables on a total of 394 adult horses (282 stallions and 112 mares) from three selected districts were recorded to characterize the horse populations in ...southwestern Ethiopia. General linear model, frequency, and multivariate analysis procedures of Statistical Analysis Software (SAS 9.0) were used to analyze the data. Sex and location significantly affected the studied traits. Stallions were larger than mares, and the Gesha horse population was the tallest, longest, and largest among the studied populations. The majority of the studied horses possess plain body colour patterns with red-coloured medium hair size. A higher frequency of white-coloured horses was observed with increasing age. Stepwise discriminant function analysis revealed that pelvic width, cannon bone length, and height at croup were the top three morphometric variables to discriminate the populations while head length, head neck circumference, chest width, cannon bone circumference, and croup length had the lowest discriminatory power. The results of discriminant function analysis showed advanced classification (76.7%) of the studied horses into their respective populations/locations. Finally, canonical discriminant function analysis categorized the horse populations into three distinct categories. The Gesha horse population was different from Masha and Telo horse populations while having a relatively higher relationship with the Masha horse population. However, the distances calculated in this study show only the relative size differences between each population. Such differences might not necessarily be due to breed (genetic) differences. Therefore, diversity studies through further genetic characterization are recommended to design conservation and breeding programmes.
The study aimed to assess the phenotypic diversity of the local goat populations based on the measurement of qualitative and quantitative traits. The study was conducted in North Shoa and South Wello ...zones of Amhara region, Ethiopia in purposively selected districts. A total of 862 randomly selected goats were considered for phenotypic characterization (i.e., 216 from each of Merehabete, Moretena Jiru, Mojaena Wedera, and Wereillu). From the total measured goat 81% of sampled goats were females and the remaining 19% were male. The chi-square test was used to analyze qualitative data, and analysis of variance was used to analyze quantitative measurements. The red coat color was the most observed color in all the study areas. The Merehabete district goat population has a better (P < 0.05) metric value compared to the Mojaena Wedera goat population for female goats. Pairwise Mahalanobis Distance shows the longest distance (6.5) between Merehabete and Mojaena Wedera goat populations. On the other hand, the Wereillu and Moretena Jiru goat populations show the shortest distance (1.8). The Scrotum circumference of the goat population in the study areas was 25 cm at the age of three pairs of permanent incisors and had variation (P < 0.05) among age groups but did not vary (P > 0.05) among study areas. Pairwise Mahalanobis distance and morphometric measurements results show that the goat population has variation, particularly in the Mojaena Wedera and Merehabete goat populations. The variation may be due to management or genetic variation. Therefore, further investigation may be needed to confirm this variation.
•A three-dimensional model-based approach with universal applicability for crop phenotyping is proposed.•For the first time, the objective and accurate precision quantification of cabbage curling ...traits of nodular cabbage has been carried out, solving the difficulty that the degree of cabbage curling cannot be described objectively.•It is proposed that horizontal and vertical curling of knotted cabbage is correlated.•To provide technical support for the phenotypic study of associated curly genes and the breeding of new varieties of Chinese cabbage.
Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis) has a wide range of cultivation and food value. As a nutrient storage organ, the nodule leaf blade directly affects the quality and economic value of the leaf-ball. Currently, research on leaf curl trait in nodulating cabbage mostly relies on manual measurement or visual inspection methods, and the degree of leaf curl lacks quantitative evaluation criteria to accurately and efficiently utilize this trait to establish a link with gene expression. To address this problem, the present study was carried out to digitize the leaf curl phenotypic characteristics of nodulating cabbage. Selection of 171 leaf samples of different varieties of cabbage at nodulation stage, and the digital evaluation indexes of leaf curl were proposed through the three-dimensional reconstruction method based on multiview images to realize the digital evaluation of anterior-posterior, left-right, and overall leaf curl. The leaf curl phenotypic pattern was obtained from the analysis: the quantitative leaf curl value was distributed between 0-100, the larger the value, the larger the degree of curl, and vice versa, the smaller the degree of curl; the anterior-posterior leaf curl and the left-right curl traits were significantly correlated. This study realized for the first time the objective and accurate quantification of the degree of curling of nodular cabbage leaves, providing an intelligent method and digital standard for the quality identification and grading classification of cabbage. It provides an effective method for subsequent research to get rid of the influence of subjective judgment and realize accurate identification.
Rice yield performance depends on multi-environment trials (MET), which help to understand the complex quantitative traits such as grain yield (GY). The present experiment was designed to evaluate ...yield-performing traits in North-West India (Punjab) under MET (three seasons with two years) at Ludhiana 2020 (E1), Ludhiana 2021 (E2), and Rauni 2021 (E3). Diverse 145 germplasm including advance breeding lines were grown in an augmented design to identify potential donors and perform multivariate analysis (correlation, regression, AMMI model, and GGE-biplot) on 17 different quantitative traits. The studied traits were characterized based on the phenotypic values of all genotypes and groups, and desirable traits of combination donors were identified for further studies. Pooled analysis of variance revealed that significant differences (P-value<0.001) were observed for studied traits. Correlation and regression analysis showed a significant effect on GY with all the yield-performing traits. Regression analysis predicted the GY up to 17.14 q/ha/g, 3.32 q/ha/g/plant, and 2.51 q/ha/test weight by increasing the every gram of panicle weight, seed yield per plant, and test weight, respectively. At reproductive stage, the mean temperature was higher during 2020 in E1 (29.41 °C) as compared to 2021 in E2 (28.67 °C), in E3 (27.88 °C), and GY was significantly lower in E1 (50.99 q/ha) compared to E2 (62.79 q/ha) and E3 (67.32 q/ha). GGE-biplot analysis, AMMI1 and AMMI2 models were used to select G31, G32, and G37 genotypes that were stable, had good grain quality, and out yielded the local check (PR 126) under MET. These genotypes having high-yield potential for cultivation under North-West part of India.
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manifests adaptability to grow under varying agro-climatic scenarios. Assessing quinoa germplasm's phenotypic and genetic variability is a prerequisite for introducing it as a potential candidate in ...cropping systems. Adaptability is the basic outcome of ecological genomics of crop plants. Adaptive variation predicted with a genome-wide association study provides a valuable basis for marker-assisted breeding. Hence, a panel of 72 quinoa plants was phenotyped for agro morphological attributes and association-mapping for distinct imperative agronomic traits. Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were employed to assess genetic relatedness and population structure. Heatmap analysis showed three genotypes were early maturing, and six genotypes were attributed for highest yield. The SD-121-07 exhibited highest yield per plant possessing green, glomerulate shaped, compact density panicle with less leaves. However, SJrecm-03 yielded less exhibiting pink, intermediate shape, intermediate density panicles with less leaves. The phenotyping revealed strong correlation of panicle architecture with yield in quinoa. A genome-wide association study unraveled the associations between ISSR makers and agro-morphological traits. Mixed linear modes analysis yielded nine markers associated with eight traits at
≤ 0.01. Moreover, ISSR markers significantly associated with panicle shape and leafiness were also associated with yield per plant. These findings contribute to the provision of authenticity for marker-assisted selection that ultimately would support quinoa breeding programs.
In this review, we aim to analyse the progress in understanding the genetic basis of the epilepsies, as well as ongoing efforts to define the increasingly diverse and novel presentations, phenotypes ...and divergences from the expected that have continually characterized the field.
A genetic workup is now considered to be standard of care for individuals with an unexplained epilepsy, due to mounting evidence that genetic diagnoses significantly influence treatment choices, prognostication, community support, and increasingly, access to clinical trials. As more individuals with epilepsy are tested, novel presentations of known epilepsy genes are being discovered, and more individuals with self-limited epilepsy are able to attain genetic diagnoses. In addition, new genes causative of epilepsy are being uncovered through both traditional and novel methods, including large international data-sharing collaborations and massive sequencing efforts as well as computational methods and analyses driven by the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO).
New approaches to gene discovery and characterization are advancing rapidly our understanding of the genetic and phenotypic architecture of the epilepsies. This review highlights relevant and groundbreaking studies published recently that have pushed forward the field of epilepsy genetics.
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria or diazotrophs have been isolated for many years using different formulations of N-free semi-solid media. However, the strategies used to isolate them, ...and the recipes of these media, are scattered through the published literature and in other sources that are more difficult to access and which are not always retrievable. Therefore, the aim of this work was to collate the various methods and recipes, and to provide a comprehensive methodological guide and their use by the scientific community working in the field of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), particularly with non-leguminous plants. METHODS: Procedures used for bacterial counting and identification either from rhizosphere soil or on the surface of, or within, plant tissues (to access “endophytic” bacteria) are presented in detail, including colony and cell morphologies. More importantly, appropriate recipes available for each N-free semi-solid culture medium that are used to count and isolate various diazotrophs are presented. RESULTS: It is recognized by those working in the field of BNF with non-legumes that the development of the N-free semi-solid medium has allowed a tremendous accumulation of knowledge on the ecology and physiology of their associated diazotrophs. At least 20 nitrogen-fixing species have been isolated and identified based on the enrichment method originally developed by Döbereiner, Day and collaborators in the 70’s. In spite of all the advances in molecular techniques used to detect bacteria, in most cases the initial isolation and identification of these diazotrophs still requires semi-solid media. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of the N-free semi-solid medium opened new opportunities for those working in the area of BNF with non-legumes not only for elucidating the important role played by their associated microorganisms, but also because some of these bacteria that were isolated using semi-solid media are now being recommended as plant growth-promoting inoculants for sugarcane (Saccharum sp.), maize (Zea mays) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Brazil and other countries. Further progress in the field could be made by using a combination of culture-independent molecular community analyses, in situ activity assessments with probe-directed enrichment, and isolation of target strains using modified or standard semi-solid media.
