A Transcriptomic Variation Map Provides Insights into The Genetic Basis of Pinus massoniana Evolution and Association of Oleoresin Yield

Background: Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.), the dominant native coniferous species in South China, is commercially important for timber and oleoresin. However, knowledge of the genetic variability of the masson pine germplasm is still scarce. Here, the genetic diversity and population structure of masson pine germplasm were assessed using 204 wild accessions from 10 main distribution regions by 94,194 core SNPs obtained from transcriptome sequencing data. Results: The average expected heterozygosity was 0.2724, implying abundant genetic diversity within masson pine germplasm. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that 3.29% variation sourced from the genetic differentiation. Structure analysis identified two geographically distinct groups. Discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) showed one geographically distinct group was divided two clusters furtherly. Sichuan and Chongqing provenance is the geographical origin, and diffuses outward along two lines. Oleoresin yield might be reflected by the evolution, and exhibits two different changing trends between two diffusing line. It may be associated with the genes of chitinase, CYP720B, Cytochrome P450, ABC transporter and AP2/ERF based on SNPs and expression. Conclusions: SNP markers by transcriptome sequencing have a strong power in evaluating genetic diversity within species and the genetic control of objective trait. The function of these genes will be verified and the strong associated genes with oleoresin yield will be used in the improvement of oleoresin yield by early genotype selection or genetic engineering.

Characterization of Aegilops kotschyi Boiss. x Triticum aestivum L. hybrid lines

A study of four F5 and one BC1F1 <em>Aegilops kotschyi </em>Boiss. x <em>Triticum aestivum </em>L. hybrid lines was conducted to determine their quantitative morphological and qualitative features as well as a molecular investigation was carried out. Observations of ten quantitative traits showed that the F5 hybrid lines exhibited intermediate values between <em>Ae. kotschyi </em>Boiss. and <em>T. aestivum </em>L., or had similar traits to one of the parents. These hybrid lines had a significantly lower number and weight of grains per main spike, main spike fertility and 1000-grain weight than <em>T. aestivum </em>L. cv. ‘Rusałka’. The BC1F1 hybrid line was characterized by wheat-like fertility and phenotype. The F5 hybrid lines were characterized by much higher variability of the analysed morphological traits than <em>T. aestivum </em>L. cv. ‘Rusałka’. Grains of the hybrid lines had higher protein and micronutrient (iron and zinc) content than wheat grains. The presence of DNA fragments specific to <em>Ae. kotschyi </em>Boiss. in the genotypes of the hybrid lines was confirmed by seven ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats) molecular markers. Two ISSR markers – ISSR23690 and ISSR33650 – were the most effective for germplasm analysis of the hybrid lines. The analysed lines can become a source material for improvement of common wheat <em>T. aestivum </em>L. in crossing programs.

Fruit Anthocyanin Profile and Berry Color of Muscadine Grape Cultivars and Muscadinia Germplasm

Anthocyanin content and composition and CIE 1976 (L*, a*, b*) color space (CIELAB) color coordinates were examined for the skin of 22 muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.) cultivars and Muscadinia Planch germplasm. Analysis of berry skin extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determined that anthocyanin content varied from less than 100 μg·g−1 in bronze and pink berries to over 5500 μg·g−1 in highly pigmented black berries. The anthocyanins delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, pelargonidin, peonidin, and malvidin were detected in their 3,5-diglucosidic forms. Analysis of berry color with a colorimeter revealed chroma (C*) ranged from 2.4 to 22.8 with the highest values occurring in bronze- and red-colored berries. As anthocyanin concentration increased, lightness (L*) decreased to a low of 20 to 23 in black-colored berries. Pink and red skin colors were primarily a result of lower levels of total anthocyanins, although there was also a shift away from delphinidin and petunidin production toward more cyanidin and peonidin. Malvidin, the most important anthocyanin for muscadine wine and juice color stability, was only abundant in a few clones, all of which had V. munsoniana (Simpson ex Munson) Small or V. popenoei (Fennell) Small in their pedigree. The interspecific hybrid ‘Fennell’s 3-way Hybrid’ had the largest proportion of malvidin, contributing ≈58% of the total anthocyanin content. This clone also had low levels of delphinidin and high total levels of anthocyanin, making it a promising source for the improvement of muscadine grape pigment profiles.

Repertoire of SSRs in the Castor Bean Genome and Their Utilization in Genetic Diversity Analysis inJatropha curcas

Castor bean andJatrophacontain seed oil of industrial importance, share taxonomical and biochemical similarities, which can be explored for identifying SSRs in the whole genome sequence of castor bean and utilized inJatropha curcas. Whole genome analysis of castor bean identified 5,80,986 SSRs with a frequency of 1 per 680 bp. Genomic distribution of SSRs revealed that 27% were present in the non-genic region whereas 73% were also present in the putative genic regions with 26% in 5′UTRs, 25% in introns, 16% in 3′UTRs and 6% in the exons. Dinucleotide repeats were more frequent in introns, 5′UTRs and 3′UTRs whereas trinucleotide repeats were predominant in the exons. The transferability of randomly selected 302 SSRs, from castor bean to 49J. curcasgenotypes and 8Jatrophaspecies other thanJ. curcas, showed that 211 (~70%) amplified onJatrophaout of which 7.58% showed polymorphisms inJ. curcasgenotypes and 12.32% inJatrophaspecies. The higher rate of transferability of SSR markers from castor bean toJatrophacoupled with a good level of PIC (polymorphic information content) value (0.2 inJ. curcasgenotypes and 0.6 inJatrophaspecies) suggested that SSRs would be useful in germplasm analysis, linkage mapping, diversity studies and phylogenetic relationships, and so forth, inJ. curcasas well as otherJatrophaspecies.