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Objectives: We aimed to investigate the influence of preoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy duration on perioperative epididymectomy complications in patients with epididymal tuberculosis (ETB). Methods: This retrospective study examined patients with ETB between January 1, 2013, and March 31, 2023, who underwent unilateral epididymectomy at our hospital. We selected preoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy duration of 2, 4, and 8 weeks as the cutoffs for this study, to explore whether there are differences in the incidence of intraoperative and 30‐day postoperative complications among the patients with different preoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy durations. Intraoperative complications were graded according to the Satava classification, and 30‐day postoperative complications were defined according to the Clavien–Dindo classification. The study groups were compared using the unpaired t‐test, Wilcoxon rank‐sum test, Pearson's chi‐square test, or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. Results: Overall, 155 patients were included. Statistical analysis revealed that there were no significant differences in the incidence of intraoperative and 30‐day postoperative complications between patients with shorter preoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy duration and those with longer preoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy duration. Conclusions: In patients with ETB, preoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy duration did not significantly affect the incidence of perioperative complications after epididymectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background In order to help establish heterotic groups of Chinese northern wheat cultivars (lines), Diversity arrays technology (DArT) markers were used to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of Chinese common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Results In total, 1637 of 7000 DArT markers were polymorphic and scored with high confidence among a collection of 111 lines composed mostly of cultivars and breeding lines from northern China. The polymorphism information content (PIC) of DArT markers ranged from 0.03 to 0.50, with an average of 0.40, with P > 80 (reliable markers). With principal-coordinates analysis (PCoA) of DArT data either from the whole genome or from the B-genome alone, all lines fell into one of two major groups reflecting 1RS/1BL type (1RS/1BL and non-1RS/1BL). Evidence of geographic clustering of genotypes was also observed using DArT markers from the A genome. Cluster analysis based on the unweighted pair-group method with algorithmic mean suggested the existence of two subgroups within the non-1RS/1BL group and four subgroups within the 1RS/1BL group. Furthermore, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed highly significant (P < 0.001) genetic variance within and among subgroups and among groups. Conclusion These results provide valuable information for selecting crossing parents and establishing heterotic groups in the Chinese wheat-breeding program.

Summary: Wheat awn plays a vital role in photosynthesis, grain production, and drought tolerance. However, the systematic identification or cloning of genes controlling wheat awn development is seldom reported. Here, we conducted a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) with 364 wheat accessions and identified 26 loci involved in awn length development, including previously characterized B1, B2, Hd, and several rice homologs. The dominant awn suppressor B1 was fine mapped to a 125‐kb physical interval, and a C2H2 zinc finger protein Awn Length Inhibitor 1 (ALI‐1) was confirmed to be the underlying gene of the B1 locus through the functional complimentary test with native awnless allele. ALI‐1 expresses predominantly in the developing spike of awnless individuals, transcriptionally suppressing downstream genes. ALI‐1 reduces cytokinin content and simultaneously restrains cytokinin signal transduction, leading to a stagnation of cell proliferation and reduction of cell numbers during awn development. Polymorphisms of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in ALI‐1 promoter region are diagnostic for the B1/b1 genotypes, and these SNPs are associated with awn length (AL), grain length (GL) and thousand‐grain weight (TGW). More importantly, ali‐1 was observed to increase grain length in wheat, which is a valuable attribute of awn on grain weight, aside from photosynthesis. Therefore, ALI‐1 pleiotropically regulates awn and grain development, providing an alternative for grain yield improvement and addressing future climate changes. Significance Statement: We systematically identified the loci controlling wheat awn length at genome level, and cloned the ALI‐1 underlying major awn inhibitor B1. Natural variations in the promoter of ALI‐1 are associated with awn elongation and grain length in common wheat, providing explanations for the effects of wheat awn on grain production. This work provides an alternative to achieve improved grain yield and address future extreme climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Dwarfing and semi‐dwarfing are important agronomic traits that have great potential for the improvement of wheat yields. Rht12, a dominant gibberellic acid (GA)‐responsive dwarfing gene from the gamma‐ray‐induced wheat mutant Karcagi 522M7K, is located in the long arm of chromosome 5A, which is closely linked with the locus Xwmc410. Rht12 is likely an ideal gene for GA biosynthesis and deactivation research in common wheat. However, information on the Rht12 locus and sequence is lacking. In this study, Rht12 significantly shortened stem cell length and decreased GA biosynthetic components. Using bulked segregant RNA‐Seq, wheat 660k single nucleotide polymorphism chip detection, and newly developed simple sequence repeat markers, Rht12 was mapped to a 11.21‐Mb region at the terminal end of chromosome 5AL, and was found to be closely linked with the Xw5ac207SSR marker with a 10.73‐Mb fragment deletion in all of the homologous dwarfing plants. Transcriptome analyses of the remaining 483‐kb region showed significantly higher expression of the TraesCS5A01G543100 gene encoding the GA metabolic enzyme GA 2‐β‐dioxygenase in dwarfing plants than in high stalk plants, suggesting that Rht12 reduces plant height by activating TaGA2ox‐A14. Taken together, our findings will promote cloning and functional studies of Rht12 in common wheat. Significance statement: The wheat dominant dwarfing gene, Rht12, reduces stem cell length and decreases bioactive gibberellic acid synthesis, mapped in a region with a 10.73‐Mb fragment deletion on chromosome 5AL terminal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]