Experimental validation of inter-subspecific genetic diversity in rice represented by the differences between the DNA sequences of ＇Nipponbare＇ and ＇93-11＇

The pedigrees of three sequenced rice cultivars were analyzed to show that a majority of the genetic composition of ＇Nipponbare＇ originates from japonica cultivars while the minority originates from indica cultivars. In contrast, ＇93-11＇ is derived mainly from indica cultivars with a smaller contribution from japonica cultivars. All ancestors of ＇Guang lu ai 4＇ appeared to be indica lines. A set of molecular markers （46 InDels and 53 SSRs） polymorphic between ＇Nipponbare＇ and ＇93-11＇ were examined in 46 typical indica and 47 typical japonica cultivars selected from 443 accessions according to Cheng＇s index. All cultivars were divided into indica and japonica groups without overlapping when clustered by Cheng＇s index, InDels and SSRs. Much higher InDel and SSR diversity between groups than within groups implies that the marker polymorphisms between ＇Nipponbare＇ and ＇93-11＇ represent a large proportion of inter-subspecific diversity. About 85% of indica cultivars and more than 90% of japonica cultivars were confirmed to have the same PCR banding patterns as ＇93-11＇ and ＇Nipponbare＇, respectively. Some polymorphic loci between ＇Nipponbare＇ and ＇93-11＇ cannot be validated in other indica and japonica cultivars, either as subspecies-specific but not predominant alleles, or alleles not specific between the two groups. It was concluded that molecular markers developed from sequence polymorphism between ＇Nipponbare＇ and ＇93-11＇ often represent inter-subspecific diversity, although some exceptions were sensitive to either particular marker loci or particular cultivars.     

Genetic structure and diversity of Oryza sativa L. in Guizhou, China

Preserving many kinds of rice resources and rich variations, Guizhou Province is one of the districts with the highest genetic diversity of cultivated rice （Oryza sativa L.） in China. In the current research, genetic diversity and structure of 537 accessions of cultivated rice from Guizhou were studied using 36 microsetellite markers and 39 phenotypic characters. The results showed that the model-based genetic structure was the same as genetic-distance-based one using SSRs but somewhat different from the documented classification （mainly based on phenotype） of two subspecies. The accessions being classified into indica by phenotype but japonica by genetic structure were much more than that being classified into japonica by phenotype but indica by genetic structure. Like Ding Ying＇s taxonomic system of cultivated rice, the subspecific differentiation was the most distinct differentiation within cultivated rice. But the differentiation within indica or japonica population was different： japonica presented clearer differentiation between soil-watery ecotypes than indica, and indica presented clearer differentiation between seasonal ecotypes than japonica. Cultivated rices in Guizhou revealed high genetic diversity at both DNA and phenotypic levels. Possessing the highest genetic diversity and all the necessary conditions as a center of genetic diversity, region Southwestern of Guizhou was suggested as the center of genetic diversity of O. sativa L. from Guizhou.     

Studies of new EST-SSRs derived from Gossypium barbadense

Existing cotton EST-SSR markers are mostly derived from Gossypium arboreum and Gossypium hir-sutum, but EST-SSR markers from Gossypium barbadense are scarce. One hundred and nineteen EST-SSRs were developed based on 98 unique ESTs from a cDNA library constructed in our laboratory using developing fibers from G. barbadense cv. Pima3-79. Among the SSRs, trinucleotide AAG appeared at a high frequency of 11.76%. 36 accessions (consisting of 13 diploids of the A genome, 11 diploids of the D genome and 12 allotetraploids of the AD genome) were employed to test new EST-SSRs. 76 EST-SSRs were successfully amplified, and 313 polymorphic fragments were yielded, with an average of 4.11 fragments per primer pair. The PIC ranged from 0.17 to 0.95 with an average of 0.53. Based on Jaccard’s genetic similarity coefficient, these 36 accessions were clustered into three groups. 21 EST-SSRs exhibited polymorphisms in BC1 population ((Emian22 × Pima3-79) × Emian22), 24 polymor- phic loci were generated, while 22 of the 24 polymorphic loci were integrated with our interspecific BC1 backbone genetic linkage map, and anchored in 12 chromosomes. This study effectively proved that EST-SSRs from G. barbadense are valuable for genetic diversity analysis and genetic mapping.     

Genetic diversity of Chinese summer soybean germplasm revealed by SSR markers

There are abundant soybean germplasm in China. In order to assess genetic diversity of Chinese summer soybean germplasm, 158 Chinese summer soybean accessions from the primary core collection of G max were used to analyze genetic variation at 67 SSR loci. A total of 460 alleles were detected, in which 414 and 419 alleles occurred in the 80 Huanghuai and the 78 Southern summer accessions, respectively. The average number of alleles per locus was 6.9 for all the summer accessions, and 6.2 for both Huanghuai and Southern summer accessions. Marker diversity (D) per locus ranged from 0.414 to 0.905 with an average of 0.735 for all the summer accessions, from 0.387 to 0.886 with an average of 0.708 for the Huanghuai summer accessions, and from 0.189 to 0.884 with an average of 0.687 for the Southern summer accessions. The Huanghuai and Southern summer germplasm were different in the specific alleles, allelic-frequencies and pairwise genetic similarities. UPGMA cluster analysis based on the similarity data clearly separated the Huanghuai from Southern summer soybean accessions, suggesting that they were different gene pools. The results indicate that Chinese Huanghuai and Southern summer soybean germplasm can be used to enlarge genetic basis for developing elite summer soybean cultivars by exchanging their germplasm.     

Study on heterosis of intersubspecies between indica and japonica rice （Oryza sativa L.） using chromosome segment substitution lines

Great heterosis exists in the inter-subspecific crossesbetween indica and japonica rice cultivars[1,2] and the ex-ploitation of this heterosis has long been considered as apromising method to further increase rice yield potential[3].Previous studies indicated that there were large differencesbetween the two subspecies with respect to morphology,isozyme, polymorphism of molecular markers and DNAstructure due to long time genetic differentiation[4,5]. Thosedifferences were identified to be clos…     

Identifying neutral allele Sb at pollen-sterility loci in cultivated rice with Oryza rufipogon origin

Pollen sterility is commonly found in the intra-specific hybrids of indica and japonica rice, which is one of the main constrains for the utilization of heterosis between indica and japonica. Six loci controlling the pollen sterility of F1 between indica and japonica have been identified from previous studies. Neutral alleles at each locus are potential to overcome the F1 pollen sterility associated with the locus. Therefore, exploitation and utilization of neutral alleles are of significant importance. The present research was based on fine mapping of the F1 pollen-sterility gene Sb and the abundant genetic diversity of Oryza rufipogon Griff. indigenous to Gaozhou, Guangdong Province （referred to as Gaozhou wild rice）. Crosses were made using Taichung65 （with the genotype of Sb^jSb^j and referred to as El） and its near-isogenic line of F1 pollen sterility gene Sb（with the genotype of Sb^iSb^i, E2） as female parents, and 12 different accessions of Gaozhou wild rice as male parents. F1 pollen fertility was examined to identify the materials having the neutral alleles at the F1 pollen-sterility locus. Segregation of 4 molecular markers tightly linked with the Sb locus was analyzed in the F2 populations derived from the FlS carrying the neutral gene. The pollen fertility related to the 3 genotypes of the molecular markers was also checked by statistical test to determine whether it was consistent with the hypothesis. The results showed that the pollen fertility of two F1s from one accession of Gaozhou wild rice （GZW099） with E1 and E2 was （89.2±21.07）% and （85.65±1.05）%, respectively. Both of them were fertile and showed no significant difference by t-test. Segregation of the 3 genotypes of the 4 molecular markers followed the expected Mendelian ratio （1：2：1） in the F2 populations. There was no significant difference for the averaged pollen fertility of the plants related to the 3 genotypes, suggesting that no interaction exists between the alleles at the Sb locus in GZW099 and Taichung65 or E2. Evidentially, GZW099 carried the neutral gene （named Sb″Sb″） at the Sb locus, which provides valuable theoretical basis and resources for further studying and overcoming the sterility of indica-japonica hybrids.     

Advances in the understanding of inter-subspecific hybrid sterility and wide-compatibility in rice

Hybrid sterility is a major form of postzygotic reproductive isolation and frequently occurs in hybrids between divergent populations, such as the indica and japonica subspecies of Asian cultivated rice （Oryza sativa L.）. It has been a major barrier for utilization of the strong heterosis expressed in hybrids between indica and japonica. A large number of loci for rice inter-subspecific hybrid sterility have been identified by genetic analysis. Cytological studies revealed that male and female gamete abortions and reduced affinity between the uniting gametes all occurred in indica-japonica hybrids, suggesting the complexity of the causes for inter-subspecific hybrid sterility. Two genes conditioning embryo-sac and pollen sterility respectively in indica-japonica hybrids have been cloned recently, providing opportunities for molecular characterization of the indica-japonica hybrid sterility and wide-compatibility. Future studies should aim at cloning more genes for indica-japonica hybrid sterility, characterizing the underlying molecular mechanism, and utilization of the findings for the development of inter-subspecific hybrids to increase rice productivity.     

Development, chromosome location and genetic mapping of EST-SSR markers in wheat

A number of 151695 wheat expression sequence tags （ESTs） that originated from GenBank/dbEST from July 14, 2003 to August 24, 2004 were used to search for simple sequence repeats （SSRs） with motif 2-5 bp, and 2038 simple sequence repeats （EST-SSRs）, which accounted for 1.34% of EST database, were identified. Based on these SSR sequences, 249 EST-SSR primer pairs and 166 amplified clear bands in various wheat cultivars were designed. These EST-SSR markers can be used as new molecular markers in wheat and related species. Using Chinese Spring nulli-tetrasomic lines, 93 EST-SSR primer pairs and 193 EST-SSR loci were located on 19 wheat chromosomes except for 4A and 4B. Forty-three loci were mapped on 11 chromosomes of the genetic framework map previously constructed using recombinant inbred lines.     

Genetic linkage map of Brassica campestris L.using AFLP and RAPD markers

A genetic linkage map comprised of 131 loci was constructed with an F2 population derived from an inter-subspecific cross between Brassica campestris L.ssp.chinensis cv.aijiaohang” and ssp.rapifera cv.,”‘isihai”.The genetic map included 93 RAPD loci,36 AFLP loci and 2 morphological loci organized into 10 main linkage groups(LGs) and 2 small groups,covering 1810.9cM with average distance between adjacent markers being approximately 13.8cM.The map is suitable for identification of molecular markers linked to important agronomic traits.QTL analysis,and even for marker-assisted selection in breeding programs of Chinese cabbage and turnip.     

RAPD Analysis for Genetic Variation within the Endangered Quillwort Isoetes hypsophila （Isoetaceae）

The genetie variation in the critically endangered species Isoetes hypsophila was investigated using Random Amplified Polymorphism DNA (RAPD) markers. Thirteen primers were screened from sixty primers, and a total of 104 DNA fragments were scored, of which, 52 were polymorphic loci. Low-level genetic diversity within populations with PPB values ranging from 7.69% to 25.96% was found. An Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) indicated that the most of variance (78.30%) occurred between Yunnan and Sichuan. The variances among populations within regions and within populations were only 3.89% and 17.82%, respectively.     

Genetic diversity of rice cultivars （Oryza sativa L.） in China and the temporal trends in recent fifty years

Public concern is often expressed at cultivars because the domestication and modern plant breeding have led to a reduction in the genetic diversity of crops and loss of genes, which could result in crops' genetic vulnerability to changes in the spectrum of pestssity of varieties in this zone is very important to the whole rice production in China. REZV, a important japonica rice production areas with more than 278 thousands ha rice which was about 71% of rice area in north China, accounted fo…     

Efficient indica and japonica rice identification based on the InDel molecular method: Its implication in rice breeding and evolutionary research

An efficient molecular method for the accurate and efficient identification of indica and japonica rice was created based on the poly-morphisms of insertion/deletion (InDel) DNA fragments obtained from the basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) to the entire genomic sequences of indica (93-11) and japonica rice (Nipponbare). The 45 InDel loci were validated experimentally by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) in 44 typical indica and japonica rice varieties, including 93-11 and Nipponbare. A neutrality test of the data matrix generated from electrophoretic banding patterns of various InDel loci indicated that 34 InDel loci were strongly associated with the differentiation of indica and japonica rice. More extensive analyses involving cultivated rice varieties from 11 Asian countries, and 12 wild Oryza species with various origins confirmed that indica and japonica characteristics could accurately be determined via calculating the average frequency of indica- or japonica-specific alleles on different InDel loci across the rice genome. This method was named as the "InDel molecular index" that combines molecular and statistical methods in determining the indica and japonica characteristics of rice varieties. Compared with the traditional methods based essentially on morphology, the InDel molecular index provides a very accurate, rapid, simple, and efficient method for identifying indica and japonica rice. In addition, the InDel index can be used to determine indica or japonica characteristics of wild Oryza species, which largely extends the utility of this method. The InDel molecular index provides a new tool for the effective selection of appropriate indica or japonica rice germplasm in rice breeding. It also offers a novel model for the study of the origin, evolution, and genetic differentiation of indica and japonica rice adapted to various environmental changes.     

基于InDel分子标记的20个水稻品种的籼粳属性分析

水稻品种的籼粳属性分析是培育高产优质杂交水稻亲本选择的重要依据之一。本研究以93-11与日本晴分别为籼粳稻参考标准,利用均匀分布于水稻基因组12条染色体并具有较高籼粳特异性的37对In Del分子标记,对20份水稻育种材料进行In Del标记的籼粳属性分析。结果表明:所选取的20份水稻材料中,有8份为典型籼稻,3份为典型粳稻,4份为偏籼类型,另有5份为偏粳类型。NTsys聚类分析结果显示,在遗传相似系数为0.43处,20份水稻材料被分为两大类群;在遗传相似数为0.70处,所有水稻材料则被分为4个类群。     

云南改良稻及元阳地方稻磷高效研究

 在土壤有效磷质量比分别为0.26mg·kg^-1和80.0mg·kg^-1条件下对云南111份改良稻和77份元阳地方稻进行形态性状与程氏指数间的磷高效研究,以明确籼粳分化和米色与磷高效间相互关系,对比改良稻和地方稻间磷高效差异.结果表明:①相对地上干物质量、相对地下干物质量、相对总干物质量和相对分蘖力4个耐低磷指标性状可作为水稻耐低磷能力强弱评价的理想指标,能明确反映出磷高效能力强弱;②元阳地方稻各亚种间平均耐低磷能力均明显高于云南改良稻,且差异明显,4个耐低磷指标性状平均值为籼>偏籼>偏粳>粳,无色米>有色米,耐低磷能力随程氏指数的增大呈递减趋势;③总体而言,程氏指数和耐低磷指标性状间多数呈显著负相关,磷高效特性和籼粳分化密切相关.     

青藏高原栽培青稞SSR标记遗传多样性研究

利用SSR标记评估了64份青藏高原栽培青稞的遗传多样性。选择的30个SSR标记中,22个标记扩增良好且具有多态性,每位点检测出的等位基因数为2~15个,共检测出等位基因132个,平均6.0个;各多态位点检测出基因型为2~11种,多态信息指数为0.16~0.91,平均为0.65。这些表明青藏高原栽培青稞具有丰富的遗传多样性。同时发现,青藏高原栽培青稞在麦芽性状、淀粉性状、病虫及裸粒等重要农艺性状存在丰富的变异,是遗传育种的宝贵资源库。不同来源的群体材料的遗传多样性不同,具有区域特异稀有基因。聚类分析将材料分为四组,材料聚类与材料来源地和生长习性无相关性。聚类图显示了不同材料间的遗传距离或遗传相似程度,可为材料选择提供参考。     

Genome-wide identification of R genes and exploitation of candidate RGA markers in rice

By scanning the whole genomic sequence of japonica rice using 45 known plant disease resistance (R) genes, we identified 2119 resistance gene homologs or analogs (RGAs) and verified that RGAs are not randomly distributed but tend to cluster in the rice genome. The RGAs were classified into 21 families according to their functional domain based on Hidden Markov model (HMM). By comparing the RGAs of japonica rice with the whole genomlc sequence of indica rice, we found 702 RGAs allelic between the two subspecies and revealed that 671 (95.6%) of them have length difference (InDels) in their genomic sequences (including coding and non-coding regions) between the two subspecies, suggesting that RGAs are highly polymorphic between the two subspecies in rice. We also exploited 402 PCR-based and co-dominant candidate RGA markers by designing primer pairs on the regions flanking the lnDels and validating them via e-PCR. The length differences of the candidate RGA markers between the two subspecies are from 1 to 742 hp, with an average of 10.26 hp. All related information of the RGAs is available from our web site(http://ibi.zju.edu.cn/RGAs/index.html).     

微卫星标记分析籼粳亚种间的遗传多样性

208对引物中具有多态性的引物123对,占所用引物的59．13％,不同染色体的微卫星分析的多态性不同,染色体9,10微卫星的多态性高于其它染色体,染色体12上的微卫星标记的多态性最差,仅为46．15％．聚类分析表明,所有的供试材料可分为两群,即籼稻群和粳稻群,聚类结果与亲本材料亲缘关系基本一致,说明微卫星标记能较好地区分籼稻和粳稻,由于农艺性状是基因表达的结果,易受环境影响,聚类结果不能从整体上充分反应品种间的遗传变异,42份常用杂交水稻亲本材料聚类分析表明,恢复系和不育系遗传基础均较狭窄,但恢复系和不育系之间的遗传距离相对较远,从一定程度上反映了遗传距离与杂种优势正相关。     

An active DNA transposon family in rice

The publication of draft sequences for the two subspecies of Oryza sativa (rice), japonica (cv. Nipponbare) and indica (cv. 93-11), provides a unique opportunity to study the dynamics of transposable elements in this important crop plant. Here we report the use of these sequences in a computational approach to identify the first active DNA transposons from rice and the first active miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) from any organism. A sequence classified as a Tourist-like MITE of 430 base pairs, called miniature Ping (mPing), was present in about 70 copies in Nipponbare and in about 14 copies in 93-11. These mPing elements, which are all nearly identical, transpose actively in an indica cell-culture line. Database searches identified a family of related transposase-encoding elements (called Pong), which also transpose actively in the same cells. Virtually all new insertions of mPing and Pong elements were into low-copy regions of the rice genome. Since the domestication of rice mPing MITEs have been amplified preferentially in cultivars adapted to environmental extremes-a situation that is reminiscent of the genomic shock theory for transposon activation.     

Identification of salt-tolerance QTL in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling salt-tolerance at the seedling stage in rice (Oryza sativa L.) were identified by interval mapping (SIM) and composite interval mapping (CIM) using a doubled haploid population ZJDH and its high resolution genetic linkage map. The population was derived from an inter-subspecific cross between an indica variety Zhaiyeqing8 (ZYQ8) and a japonica variety Jingxi17 (JX17). Analysis of survival days of seedlings treated with 0.7% NaCI revealed that a major salt-tolerance quantitative trait locus (QTL), Std, was present between markers RG612 and C131 on chromosome 1 when using both MAPMAKER/QTL 1.1 and PLABQTL 1.0 (SIM). Its allele which contributes to salt-tolerance was from ZYQ8. In addition, seven more QTLs which give additive effect on salt-tolerance are identified when using PLABQTL (CIM), and most of them were from JX17.