Journal of Genetic Resources
Volume:4 Issue: 2, Summer-Autumn 2018

This is the first study on phylogenetic relationships in the genus Artemia Leach, 1819 using the pattern and sequence of secondary structures of internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1). Significant intraspecific variation in the secondary structure of ITS1 rRNA was found in Artemia tibetiana. In the phylogenetic tree based on joined primary and secondary structure sequences, Artemia urmiana and parthenogenetic populations displayed new lineages, and two New World species (Artemia franciscana and Artemia persimilis) were located in a basal clade that was not detected in previous studies. The close evolutionary relationship between A. franciscana and A. persimilis are expressively supported by the previous empirical and experimental investigation on the ability of hybridization (in natural habitats and lab conditions) and analysis on allozyme markers.

Detection of tumor-specific microRNAs (miRs) in the blood of cancer patients may provide a unique and valuable biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma levels of microRNA-4270 could serve as a potential marker for breast invasive ductal carcinoma. A total of 40 breast cancer patients and 28 controls were recruited in this study. Total RNA was extracted from plasma samples andmiR-4270 expression was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The correlation between miR-4270 expression and clinicopathological characteristics were also studied. Our data showed that plasma miR-4270 is significantly up-regulated in patients compared to control group (P-value=0.00). In addition, data analysis illustrated a correlation between low plasma levels of miR-4270 and larger tumor size, lymph node metastasis and higher stages of malignancy (P-value > 0.05). The area under the curve of the ROC revealed thatmiR-4270 expression was not able to distinguish between tumor plasmas and nontumoral specimens. Current work shows preliminary data on the expression profile of-4270 in plasma of breast cancer patients. However, further studies are required to fully elucidate the role of circulating mix-4270 in breast ductal carcinoma.

DREB1A (Dehydration Responsive Element Binding 1A) transcription factor is involved in plant responses to abiotic stresses. An A. thaliana DREB1A T-DNA insertional mutant (dreb1a) alongside previously reported DREB1A over-expressing plants (OX28) were detailed in molecular and phenotypic characterizations. The T-DNA of the dreb1a line was inserted at position -253, and segregation ratio confirmed a single T-DNA locus in its T0 plant population. The RT-PCR analysis on dreb1a seedlings also revealed a null mutant in DREB1A gene. The phenotypes of the dreb1a seedlings subjected to cold stress were not different from those of the wild type (WT-Col0), but under salinity dreb1a plants showed about 11% less seed germination and the four times less survival rate, compared to WT-Col0 plants. Under normal growth conditions and in comparison to their wild type counterparts, there was direct correlation between DREB1A expression levels and the root length as the dreb1a, in contrast to the OX28 line, showing 29% longer roots than that in the WT-Col0 plants. Interestingly, this root phenotype had association with accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in dreb1a by 31% less, and in OX28 by 97% more than that in the control seedlings. In addition, the dreb1a plant possessed significantly higher activities in superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and significantly lower activity in catalase than WT-Col0, but no differences in extracellular peroxidase activity. On the other hand, the OX28 plant possessed a higher extracellular peroxidase activity. Overall, these results suggest that a precise expression level of DREB1A is required for proper growth and development in A. thaliana.

Endophyte bacteria refers to the bacteria that live within plants. Fresh leaves of 23 sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) plants were collected from the west of Iran. After superficial disinfection, endophytic bacteria were isolated from the host tissue. Isolates were grouped based on their whole-cell protein electrophoresis patterns. One representative from each electrotype was selected and its morphological feature characterized according to the standard bacteriological criteria. The 16S rRNA encoding gene from these representatives was amplified using fD1 and rD1 universal primers, subjected to sequencing and aligned in the NCBI. The major occurring fingerprint types (electrotypes) were identified as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (25, 23, and 22 strains respectively). The other minor occurring electrotypes were identified as Streptomyces spp, Acetobacter spp, and Agrobacterium spp. This is the first report of A. calcoaceticus, P. aeruginosa, and S. maltophilia as an endophyte in the leaves of sugar beet.

A new species of genus Acanthobothrium Blanchard, 1848 is described from the spiral intestine of Pastinachus cf. sephen (Forsskal, 1775) from Iranian coasts of the Gulf of Oman. The morphological characteristics of specimens were analyzed with light and scanning electron microscopy. Acanthobothrium chabahariense n. sp. is a category 1 species (with Pastinachus. It is distinguished from the other species from the region within the genus by a combination of the following morphological features: total length, number of proglottids, hook length, number of testes and ovarian lobe length. Pastinachus sephen is a complex group still with no taxonomic resolution; therefore, the identity of the host in this study area is in question. Because of the molecular study of specimens from the Gulf of Oman did not completely correspond with P. sephen since they were introduced as P. cf. sephen. This brings the total number of species of Acanthobothrium from Pastinachus to 11 and the total number of Acanthobothrium species described from the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to seven. In addition, an identification key to the Acanthobothrium species occurring in the Pastinachus species was provided.

The economic value of different rice varieties depends on their characteristics. Knowing the genetic control of the traits will help the breeder. Genetic diversity of 85 rice genotypes evaluated using six iPBS, one IRAP, and nine ISSR markers. The studied traits included the grain area, grain length, grain width, and diameter and grain perimeter, eccentricity of brown and white. The polymorphic alleles detected by each marker (varied from 3 to 8 alleles), and an average of 5.33 alleles per locus was observed. The iPBS1854 and iPBS2242 markers with 11 bands have the highest number of bands and the iPBS2240 and iSSR55 markers with 5 bands of the least band bands. The content of the polymorphic information varied from 0.018 (iPBS2241) to 0.241 (iPBS2240) and averaged 0.195. The iPBS2240 marker with high levels of polymorphic information identified as the best marker for genetic diversity evaluation. Regression analysis was performed between phenotypic traits and molecular data for association analysis. 54 alleles were identified for evaluated traits. Of these, in a normal condition of one allele linked to the area, length, width, the eccentricity of the brown rice grain. Also, two, three, four alleles associated with the area, length and width of the white grain. In Drought stress, one single allele correlated to the area, length and width of the brown rice grain. Eight and one alleles detected for exertion from canter and perimeter of the brown rice. Also, two, four, four and eight alleles associated with the area, length, width, from canter and perimeter of the heard rice grain, respectively. Among identified alleles, ISSR1-2, iPBS2241-2, ISSR16-4, ISSR55-1, ISSR57-1, iPBS2242-2 and iPBS2240-1 associated with several traits in both normal and stress conditions The presence of common alleles is probably due to the linkage of genetic locations which control these traits or pleiotropy. We suggest that linked markers with common traits be used for breeding programs.

Salinity is an increasing concern for the productivity of staple food crop. Crops with improved salt tolerance are highly needed to cultivate saline lands. Groundnut demand is increasing in countries like India, where saline land could be put under groundnut cultivation. The objective of this study was to identify groundnut genotypes with salinity tolerance for breeding programs. A set of 275 groundnut germplasm accessions were screened across three different seasons for salinity tolerance. Shoot biomass and seed yield under saline and non-saline conditions were recorded. Shoot biomass under saline conditions showed limited genotypic variation and was not determined as a selection criterion in the subsequent trials. While a six-fold range of variation for pod yield under salinity (10-12.5 dSm-1 NaCl) was observed. Pod weight under saline and control conditions had week correlation. Although there was a considerable genotypic variation of pod yield under saline conditions, the G×E interaction was observable as well. We report a set of 14 tolerant and 17 sensitive groundnut genotypes based on pod-seed yield and pod-seed numbers under saline conditions in the seasons studied. Among all the genotypes, ICGV 87187 and ICGS 76 were the most tolerant lines and ICG 6993 and ICG 4746 were the most susceptible lines in 2006 and 2006-2007, respectively. The suggested lines could be used in further breeding programs such as populations mapping. Our assumption to identify salt tolerant groundnut lines from selected landraces of putative saline areas did not help successfully to get more promising lines nevertheless the mini-core set of germplasm provided most of the salinity tolerant entries.