Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Taiana Lopes Rangel Miranda, Marcos Deon Vilela de Resende, Camila Ferreira Azevedo, Andrei Caique Pires Nunes, Elizabete Keiko Takahashi, Guilherme Ferreira Simiqueli, Fabyano Fonseca e Silva, Rodrigo Silva Alves
Summary: This study evaluated and compared the new parameterizations of additive and dominance effects in quantitative genetics and genomic selection with traditional methods. The dominance maximization model and two proposed indices were found to improve the estimates of additive and dominance variances.
Article
Plant Sciences
Fatemeh Pirnajmedin, Mohammad Mahdi Majidi, Mohammad Hadi Taleb, Davoud Rostami
Summary: Better understanding of the genetic structure of economic traits is important for forage plant breeding. The present study used the REML/BLUP procedure to assess genetic variation, estimate genetic parameters, and predict breeding values in tall fescue. The results showed significant genotypic variability for all traits, with non-additive gene actions playing an important role in the inheritance of dry forage yield. Traits related to yield and flowering time were found to have higher heritability and significant genetic correlations with forage yield, suggesting their potential for indirect genetic improvement. The study demonstrated the suitability of the REML/BLUP procedure for identifying and selecting superior genotypes in tall fescue breeding programs.
Article
Agronomy
Maria de la O. Leyva-Perez, Lea Vexler, Stephen Byrne, Corentin R. Clot, Fergus Meade, Denis Griffin, Tom Ruttink, Jie Kang, Dan Milbourne
Summary: We have developed a novel low-cost genome-scanning marker platform called PotatoMASH. By using multiplex amplicon sequencing, PotatoMASH efficiently analyzes 339 multi-allelic regions in the potato genome and has been successfully applied to over 700 potato lines. PotatoMASH is able to diagnose pest-resistance markers, detect quantitative trait loci, and track genetic variation.
Article
Fisheries
Feng Liu, Fei Sun, Gang Qiao Kuang, Le Wang, Gen Hua Yue
Summary: This study discovered natural golden mutants in Mozambique tilapia and uncovered the molecular mechanisms underlying the golden skin color. The insertion in the 3' UTR of the Pmel17 gene was identified as the key factor responsible for the golden skin color, which can be used as a reliable DNA marker to facilitate breeding for golden color in tilapia.
Review
Agronomy
Longlan Xu, Yuhua He, Lingli Tang, Yongyang Xu, Guangwei Zhao
Summary: This review discusses the advancements in genetics, genomics, and breeding of melon, emphasizing the importance of identifying new genetic resources with resistance and special fruit quality traits for the development of effective and useful breeding technologies in melon.
Article
Horticulture
Jack Olson, Cheng Zou, Avinash Karn, Bruce Reisch, Lance Cadle-Davidson, Qi Sun, Matthew Clark
Summary: This study investigated variegation in Vitis hybrids and confirmed the previously proposed single recessive gene inheritance commonly observed in breeding programs. The majority of grape families segregated in a 3 wildtype (WT):1 variegated ratio, while a unique flecking phenotype suggested the interaction of two recessive loci. Marker trait associations identified and mapped two loci on chromosomes 14 and 11, and a total of 252 candidate genes were found at these loci, including a key gene related to photosystem II. These findings can aid breeders in selecting ornamental grapevines or eliminating variegation from breeding programs.
Article
Agronomy
Segolene Maucourt, Frederic Fortin, Claude Robert, Pierre Giovenazzo
Summary: Genetic improvement programs have led to significant productivity gains for most animal species, with honeybees presenting additional challenges due to their complex genetic and reproductive characteristics. Recent advances in informatics have enabled statistical modelling of honeybees, allowing for genetic selection to be possible now. The genetic progress of hygienic behavior, honey production, and spring development in Canadian beekeeping has shown improvements since 2010, contributing to the sustainability of the industry.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Mohammad Ali Nilforooshan, Agustin Ruiz-Flores
Summary: This study investigated the main factors affecting genetic variance and variance of breeding values (EBV). The results showed that larger variation of diag(K-1) and higher concentration of offdiag(K-1) around the mean (0) are responsible for lower h(2) estimate and variance of EBVs.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Ding Lyu, Yang Yu, Quanchao Wang, Zheng Luo, Qian Zhang, Xiaojun Zhang, Jianhai Xiang, Fuhua Li
Summary: This study identified four body weight-related genetic markers in Pacific white shrimp through a genome-wide association study. Further analysis revealed two candidate genes associated with body weight. Marker-assisted best linear unbiased prediction (MA-BLUP) based on these genetic markers showed an increased prediction accuracy compared to traditional methods, providing valuable information for marker-assisted breeding in Litopenaeus vannamei.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Saulo F. S. Chaves, Jeniffer S. P. C. Evangelista, Rodrigo S. Alves, Filipe M. Ferreira, Luiz A. S. Dias, Rafael M. Alves, Kaio O. G. Dias, Leonardo L. Bhering
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of different covariance structures for multi-harvest and multi-site trial analyses and conducted an analysis on datasets D1 and D2. Results showed that the third-order factor analytic model was the most suitable for D1, while the unstructured model showed the best fit for D2. The modeling of covariance structures provides a better understanding of the variance dynamics over the harvest years/sites.
TREE GENETICS & GENOMES
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Ana Kesia Faria Vidal, Rogerio Figueiredo Daher, Moises Ambrosio, Josefa Grasiela Silva Santana, Rafael Souza Freitas, Geraldo de Amaral Gravina, Erina Vitorio Rodrigues, Wanessa Francesconi Stida, Alexandre Gomes de Souza, Cleudiane Lopes Leite, Joao Esdras Calaca Farias, Leandro Heitor Rangel, Antonio Vander Pereira
Summary: The mixed-model methodology is an alternative for selecting genotypes influenced by the environment. This study determines the minimum number of evaluations needed for a reliable selection process and estimates the variance components for predicting genetic gains in elephant grass using the mixed-model methodology.
Article
Forestry
Marcio Jose de Araujo, David John Lee, Evandro Vagner Tambarussi, Rinaldo Cesar de Paula, Paulo Henrique Muller da Silva
Summary: The study focused on the survival, initial productivity, and genetic parameters of three Corymbia species, indicating different breeding strategies needed for each species. Higher mortality and mean annual volume increment were observed in CCC and CCV compared to CT. Genetic parameters suggested the importance of selecting best families and expanding genetic variability in the CT population for improving the species population.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
T. E. Altvater-Hughes, L. C. Wagter-Lesperance, D. C. Hodgins, C. A. Bauman, S. Larmer, B. A. Mallard
Summary: The objective of the study was to identify associations between high immune response in dairy cows and colostral IgG concentrations. The findings showed that high immune response cows produced significantly higher levels of IgG in colostrum compared to cows with average or low immune response. These results suggest that selective breeding to enhance immune response in dairy cows can contribute to higher-quality colostrum in succeeding generations.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samina Naseeb, Federico Visinoni, Yue Hu, Alex J. Hinks Roberts, Agnieszka Maslowska, Thomas Walsh, Katherine A. Smart, Edward J. Louis, Daniela Delneri
Summary: Hybrids can combine beneficial traits from parents and adapt to new environments, but interspecies hybrids are sterile and need restoration of fertility through auto-polyploidisation. Hybrids of Saccharomyces genus, abundant in nature and industrial settings, require selection methods for developing new commercial yeast strains due to their infertility. This study highlights the genetic complexity of hybrid species, paving the way for biotechnological use of yeast biodiversity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Michael D. Casler
Summary: Switchgrass is being developed as a biomass crop for energy production, with plant breeding and selection playing a significant role in this effort. Different types of experimental units have varying predictive values for biomass yield, indicating that careful consideration should be given to the specific conditions of each experimental setup.
BIOENERGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Courtney N. Passow, Thomas J. Y. Kono, Bethany A. Stahl, James B. Jaggard, Alex C. Keene, Suzanne E. McGaugh
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2019)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Suzanne E. McGaugh, Courtney N. Passow, James Brian Jaggard, Bethany A. Stahl, Alex C. Keene
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Suzanne E. McGaugh, Johanna E. Kowalko, Erik Duboue, Peter Lewis, Tamara A. Franz-Odendaal, Nicolas Rohner, Joshua B. Gross, Alex C. Keene
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2020)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laurie S. Stevison, Suzanne E. McGaugh
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Annabel Perry, Suzanne E. McGaugh, Alex C. Keene, Heath Blackmon
Summary: The growing use of genomics has provided a foundation for identifying genomic and transcriptional differences across species and experimental conditions. Databases containing genomic and functional data have played critical roles, and the study of the Mexican tetra provides a system for understanding convergent evolution.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marco Garduno-Sanchez, Jorge Hernandez-Lozano, Rachel L. Moran, Ramses Miranda-Gamboa, Joshua B. Gross, Nicolas Rohner, William R. Elliott, Jeff Miller, Lourdes Lozano-Vilano, Suzanne E. McGaugh, C. Patricia Ornelas-Garcia
Summary: The study focuses on the Astyanax mexicanus complex, which includes surface- and cave-adapted ecotypes. Using genetic analysis and geometric morphometrics, the researchers found evidence of parallel evolution in cave-adapted ecotypes derived from separate lineages, with up to four independent invasions of caves by surface fish. The genetic structure of the cave populations was congruent with their geographical distribution, and no phylogenetic signal was found in body shape evolution.
Article
Biology
Danielle H. Drabeck, Jennifer Holt, Suzanne E. McGaugh
Summary: Convergent evolution is an important aspect in the study of adaptation, and this study explores its prevalence and significance in the context of resistance to snake venom alpha-neurotoxins in mammals. The research finds multiple instances of convergent evolution in feliform carnivores and other mammals, with these adaptations evolving under positive selection. This suggests that these adaptations played a crucial role in the evolution of mammalian physiology and potentially in the evolution of venom.