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Hessian fly populations adapt to overcome newly deployed resistance genes within a few years of release. Although more than 34 genes have been identified that confer resistance against Hessian fly [Mayetiola destructor (Say)] attack in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), only five genes currently provide resistance against fly populations in the southeastern United States. But even these genes are not 100% effective, leaving Georgia and North and South Carolina with between one and three effective genes for cultivar development. With the goal of providing much needed resistance for this region in a wheat line suitable for use with marker-assisted selection, we identified a durum wheat line that confers resistance to Hessian fly populations from Maryland, Delaware, North and South Carolina, and Georgia in 100% of the plants tested. Resistance from this tetraploid durum line, PI 134942, was introgressed into hexaploid common wheat to generate the line 97211. Segregating populations of F2:3 families were constructed with the durum donor and with the common wheat recipient to identify resistance genes and provide flanking markers. Although the resistance of the durum donor appeared to involve more than one gene, one partially dominant but very effective gene, H33, was successfully transferred and identified in the hexaploid recipient. This gene was mapped to the short arm of wheat chromosome 3A and is flanked by single sequence repeat markers xgwm218 and hbg284. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in pathotype structure of Phytophthora sojae populations have been attributed to deployment of race-specific resistant Rps genes in soybean that have been incorporated into commercial cultivars to reduce losses due to Phytophthora root and stem rot. To test this hypothesis, a cultivar rotation study was established from 2007 through 2010 in microplots at a site in Iowa with no history of soybean cultivation. All microplots were inoculated with P. sojae isolate PR1, race 1 (vir 7) prior to planting in year 1. Six rotations were tested: (i) continuous planting of a P. sojae-susceptible cultivar, (i) continuous planting of a cultivar with high partial resistance to the pathogen, (iii) continuous planting of a cultivar with the Rps 1k gene, (iv) annual rotation of a susceptible with a resistant cultivar, (v) annual rotation of a partially resistant cultivar with a cultivar with the Rps 1 k gene, and (vi) 4-year rotation of cultivars with Rps 1k, 1c, 3a, and 1k genes in year one, two, three, and four, respectively. The diversity of 121 isolates of P. sojae that were recovered by baiting from soil samples collected from the experiment were assessed using pathotyping and eight microsatellite markers, and compared with PR1. Changes in pathotype and multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were recorded at the second sampling date, indicating that P. sojae has the ability to evolve quickly. In total, 14 pathotypes and 21 MLGs were recovered over the 4-year experiment, and only 49 and 22% of the isolates had the same pathotype and MLG, respectively, as PR1 . The number of isolates of P. sojae recovered varied among rotations, with more isolates recovered from rotations that included a cultivar with partial resistance. Gain of virulence was detected on Rps 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, and 3a and was not dependent on rotation. Using simple-sequence repeat analysis, 10 alleles that were different from those of PR1 were detected throughout the 4-year period. Cultivar rotation affected the genetic structure of the P. sojae population. Recovery of isolates with different MLGs, genotypic diversity (G = 4.7), and gene diversity (UHe = 0.45) were greater under continuous rotation with partial resistance. Phytophthora root and stem rot causes economic losses in the north-central region of the United States annually. An improved understanding of the effect of Rps gene deployment on P. sojae diversity would lead to improved management practices and reduced losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rice cultivar Hikarishinseiki, a semidwarf isogenotype of Koshihikari carrying the Green Revolution sd1 gene, is increasingly grown in both Japan and the United States. Here, we report DNA diagnosis for Hikarishinseiki targeting its Jukkoku-type sd1 locus, which codes for a defective gibberellin 20-oxidase, with a 1 bp substitution in exon 1 (Jukkoku-type GA20ox- 2 mutant allele: Jukkoku_ GA20ox- 2). An allele-specific primer (ASP)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers SD1F3 and SD1JR gave a PCR product specific to Jukkoku_ GA20ox- 2. In addition, ASP-PCR with primers SD1F3 and SD1NRM (which contains a mismatch at the third nucleotide from the 3′-terminus of SD1NR) gave a PCR product specific to non- Jukkoku_ GA20ox- 2. Multiplex ASP-PCR using SD1F3, VIC dye-labeled SD1JR, and FAM dye-labeled SD1NRM enabled simultaneous codominant detection of Jukkoku_ GA20ox- 2 and non- Jukkoku_ GA20ox- 2 among 188 cultivars. Also, Hikarishinseiki is identifiable by RM253 polymorphism from 11 cultivars carrying Jukkoku_ GA20ox- 2. Taken together, our results establish a methodology for distinguishing Hikarishinseiki. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybridization generates similarities among gene pools. This structure can be visualized and analyzed at the systems level using networks. Here we construct a network of the 315 woody plant species native or naturalized in the United States using data compiled by the Forest Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USFS). Each species is represented by a node in the network whose size is proportional to a recent census for live stems in the continental United States. Each of the 416 links between node pairs represents evidence for hybridization compiled from the USFS manual Silvics of North America. The total network resolved into 100 separate connected components or clusters (mean size, 3.15 species), with 44% of species linked to at least one other. Betula had the largest component (18 species) following by the separate Quercus clusters (17 red oaks and 16 white oaks); Q. velutina was the most genetically connected woody plant in the continental US. The number of species held together per component (i.e. size) scaled as a power-law albeit a slightly truncated one. The truncation suggests there are fewer than expected hybridizing species within the large woody genera of plants in the US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the bacterial community in two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and to determine the occurrence and reduction of Arcobacter, along with virulence genes (ciaB and pldA). A total of 48 samples (24 influent and 24 effluent) were collected at two WWTPs in southern Arizona in the United States, monthly from August 2011 to July 2012. Bacterial DNA extract was utilized for 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing. Quantification of Arcobacter 16S rRNA gene was conducted using a recently developed SYBR Green-based quantitative PCR assay. Among 847 genera identified, 113 (13%) were identified as potentially pathogenic bacteria. Arcobacter 16S rRNA gene was detected in all influent samples and ten (83%) and nine (75%) effluent samples at each plant, respectively. Log reduction ratios of Arcobacter 16S rRNA gene in Plant A and Plant B were 1.7 ± 0.9 (n = 10) and 2.3 ± 1.5 (n = 9), respectively. The ciaB gene was detected by quantitative PCR in eleven (92%) and twelve (100%) of 12 influent samples from Plant A and Plant B, respectively, while the pldA gene was detected in eight (67%) and six (50%) influent samples from Plant A and Plant B, respectively. The prevalence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in WWTP effluent indicated the need for disinfection before discharge into the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use change from natural to managed agricultural ecosystems significantly impacts soil bacterial diversity and function. The Eastern Free State (EFS) is one of the most productive agricultural regions in South Africa. However, no studies aiming to understand the changes in bacterial diversity, composition and function due to land-use change in this area have been conducted. This study investigated, using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, the effects of long-term agriculture on bacterial diversity, composition and putative function in the EFS by comparing microbiomes from lands that have been under agronomic activity for over 50 years to those from uncultivated land. Results indicate that agriculture increased bacterial diversity. Soil chemical analysis showed that land-use shifted soils from being oligotrophic to copiotrophic, which changed bacterial communities from being Actinobacteria dominated to Proteobacteria dominated. Predictive functional analysis using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) suggested that agricultural soil was abundant in genes associated with plant fitness and plant growth promotion, while non-agricultural soil was abundant in genes related to organic matter degradation. Together, these results suggest that edaphic factors induced by long-term agriculture resulted in shifts in bacterial diversity and putative function in the EFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research on the use of genes in cultivars from China to develop cold-tolerant sorghum lines. It references a study by Gloria Burow and Halee Hughes et al published in a September 2011 issue of "Molecular Breeding." The scientists and technicians are from the U.S. Agricultural Research Service (ARS). The research team released the 171 inbred cold-tolerant lines to breeders and research groups through the ARS Germplasm Resources Information Network.

Seed researchers, like anybody else working with materials containing genes, have to deal with a variety of rules. Their ‘freedom to operate’ does not only depend on intellectual property rights but also on various rights arising from biodiversity policies and possibly traditional knowledge. The most relevant are, however, patents on both materials and biotechnologies. It is in this field that recent developments indicate that the pendulum of ever-increasing levels of rights has started to swing back a little. This is due to recent court cases both in the USA and Europe, and emerging political debates in various countries. After describing the general policy arena involving national sovereign rights, private rights and ‘group-rights’ we focus on recent trends in the patent system. Seed scientists hardly even had to deal with such rights in the past, but in the 21st century they need to be aware of their implications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]