Scientific Journals of INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria)
Not a member yet
3042 research outputs found
Sort by
Transferability of microsatellite markers located in candidate genes for wood properties between Eucalyptus species
Get PDFAim of study: To analyze the feasibility of extrapolating conclusions on wood quality genetic control between different Eucalyptus species, particularly from species with better genomic information, to those less characterized. For this purpose, the first step is to analyze the conservation and cross-transferability of microsatellites markers (SSRs) located in candidate genes.Area of study: Eucalyptus species implanted in Argentina coming from different Australian origins.Materials and methods: Twelve validated and polymorphic SSRs in candidate genes (SSR-CGs) for wood quality in E. globulus were selected for cross species amplification in six species: E. grandis, E. saligna, E. dunnii, E. viminalis, E. camaldulensis and E. tereticornis.Main results: High cross-species transferability (92% to 100%) was found for the 12 polymorphic SSRs detected in E. globulus. These markers revealed allelic diversity in nine important candidate genes: cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR), cellulose synthase 3 (CesA3), the transcription factor LIM1, homocysteine S-methyltransferase (HMT), shikimate kinase (SK), xyloglucan endotransglycosylase 2 (XTH2), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and peroxidase (PER).Research highlights: The markers described are potentially suitable for comparative QTL mapping, molecular marker assisted breeding (MAB) and for population genetic studies across different species within the subgenus Symphyomyrtus.Keywords: validation; cross-transferability; SSR; functional markers; eucalypts; Symphyomyrtus
Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at candidate genes involved in abiotic stress in two Prosopis species of hybrids
Get PDFAim of the study: Identify and compare SNPs on candidate genes related to abiotic stress in Prosopis chilensis, Prosopis flexuosa and interspecific hybridsArea of the study: Chaco árido, Argentina. Material and Methods: Fragments from 6 candidate genes were sequenced in 60 genotypes. DNA polymorphisms were analyzed.Main Results: The analysis revealed that the hybrids had the highest rate of polymorphism, followed by P. flexuosa and P. chilensis, the values found are comparable to other forest tree species.Research highlights: This approach will help to study genetic diversity variation on natural populations for assessing the effects of environmental changes.Keywords: SNPs; abiotic stress; interspecific variation; molecular markers.
Effect of seed mass and number of cotyledons on seed germination after heat treatment in Pinus sylvestris L. var. iberica Svob.
Get PDFAim of study: We investigated the combined effect of seed mass and number of cotyledons on the seed germination of Pinus sylvestris var. iberica (Iberian Scots pine) in simulated fire conditions.Material and Methods: We used 3,600 fresh seeds extracted from 158 cones obtained from 10 pine trees located at the Biological Station of the Complutense University (Guadarrama mountains, Madrid region). All the seeds were individually weighed and assigned to one of the two following seed mass classes: class I (1.6-12.5 mg) and class II (12.6-145.0 mg). Germination capacity (GC) and mean germination time (MGT) were studied in combined experiments of four different temperatures (100°, 125°, 150° and 175°C) and two exposure times (1 and 5 minutes) together with a control (no treatment). Four replicates of 50 seeds each were used for each treatment and hydrated daily for 14 days to germinate under constant illumination. The number of cotyledons was counted in seedlings.Main results: Germination was depressed at above 125°C for 5 min. GC and MGT were negatively related, and were influenced by temperature and exposure time. Seed mass was found to have a significant effect on GC at some moderate heat treatment but not on MGT. The number of cotyledons was positively correlated to seed mass but there was not found correlated with germination after seed heat treatments.Research highlights: In the case of the Iberian Scots pine, higher seed mass mitigate the negative effects of temperature on seed germination after moderate heat treatment simulating fire.Keywords: Fire disturbance; germination; Mediterranean mountains; Pinus sylvestris L. var. Iberica; temperature.
EuMIXFOR Introduction: integrating scientific knowledge in sustainable management of mixed forests
Get PDFNo abstrac
Pyrenean meadows in Natura 2000 network: grass production and plant biodiversity conservation
Get PDFIn semi-natural mountain meadows, yield and forage quality must be reconciled with plant biodiversity conservation. This study was performed to analyze the relationships between these three parameters. To quantify plant biodiversity and pastoral value (PV), phytosociological inventories were performed in 104 semi-natural meadows in the Central Spanish Pyrenees included in the Natura 2000 network. Forage yields were calculated and forage samples were analyzed for relative feed value (RFV). We identified two main types of meadows: (i) those that had “more intensive management,” relatively close to farm buildings, with little or no slope, dominated by grasses, with low plant biodiversity, high PV and yield, but low forage quality and (ii) those that had “less intensive management,” distant from farm buildings, on slopes, richer in “other forbs”, with high plant biodiversity and forage quality, but low PV and yield. Conservation policies should emphasize less intensive management practices to maintain plant diversity in the semi-natural meadows in the Pyrenees. The widespread view that “other forbs” have low nutritional value should be revised in future research. These species often are undervalued by the PV method, because their nutritional quality, digestibility and intake are poorly understood
Genotype by environment interaction for carcass traits and intramuscular fat content in heavy Iberian pigs fattened in two different free-range systems
Get PDFGenotype by environment interaction (G×E) is a potential source of reduced efficiency in genetic improvement programs in livestock. The objective of the current work consisted of checking the existence of G×E interaction in carcass traits and in intramuscular fat content (IMF) in Iberian pigs fattened in two free-range systems. Genetic component and estimated breeding values (EBV) of the percentage of hams, shoulders and loins and IMF in loin were obtained from records of 4,348 and 1,818 pigs fattened in campo (C) and montanera (M) systems, respectively. A multitrait model where the performances of each system are considered as different traits was implemented. Three selection indexes were built with different treatments about the quality trait, two of them based in the optimal trait theory. The Pearson correlation between EBV and indexes and the Spearman correlation between the rankings of progenies of 21 boars fattened in both systems were calculated. Heritability results were different in both systems (h2 range from 0.43 to 0.66 and from 0.24 to 0.33 in C and M system, respectively) and genetic correlation of same traits expressed in the two systems also pointed out to a weak G×E interaction (0.64, 0.67 and 0.66 in hams, shoulders and IMF, respectively). Pearson and Spearman correlations were always significantly different to 1. The obtained results advised to consider this G×E interaction in the analysis model of a breeding program focused on free range production system and to include IMF in the index selection assuming an optimum range for this quality trait, in order to avoid negative effects of selection for carcass performances
Mixed model with spatial variance–covariance structure for accommodating of local stationary trend and its influence on multi-environmental crop variety trial assessment
Get PDFThe most common procedure for analyzing multi-environmental trials is based on the assumption that the residual error variance is homogenous across all locations considered. However, this may often be unrealistic, and therefore limit the accuracy of variety evaluation or the reliability of variety recommendations. The objectives of this study were to show the advantages of mixed models with spatial variance–covariance structures, and direct implications of model choice on the inference of varietal performance, ranking and testing based on two multi-environmental data sets from realistic national trials. A model comparison with a chi-square test for the trials in the two data sets (wheat data set BW00RVTI and barley data set BW01RVII) suggested that selected spatial variance-covariance structures fitted the data significantly better than the ANOVA model. The forms of optimally-fitted spatial variance-covariance, ranking and consistency ratio test were not the same from one trial (location) to the other. Linear mixed models with single stage analysis including spatial variance-covariance structure with a group factor of location on the random model also improved the real estimation of genotype effect and their ranking. The model also improved varietal performance estimation because of its capacity to handle additional sources of variation, location and genotype by location (environment) interaction variation and accommodating of local stationary trend
A comparison of controlled self-pollination and open pollination results based on maize grain quality
Get PDFMaize (Zea mays L.) grain endosperm is triploid (3n), of which 2n come from the male (transferred by pollen) and only 1n from the female plant, thus a major impact of the male form can be expected on grain quality parameters. A good example of this relationship is the phenomenon of xenia. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pollen on grain quality. The field experiment was conducted in 2011; seeds were harvested from eight cultivars: Bosman, Blask, Tur, Kozak, Bielik, Smok, SMH 220 and Kresowiak, derived from free pollination and controlled self-pollination of maize. Analyses of nutrient contents and starch content in the grain were conducted in the laboratory. In addition, 1000 grain weight and the hectoliter weight of all grain samples were recorded. The results confirmed differences in grain quality of maize hybrids obtained by self-pollination and by open pollination. Grain of maize plants obtained by open-pollination was characterised by higher contents of N-free extract and starch, and lower protein content. Undertaking further studies on this subject may indicate specific recommendations for agricultural practice, such as mixtures of hybrids with good combining abilities, which will contribute to improved grain quality without additional costs
Simulating of Top-Cross system for enhancement of antioxidants in maize grain
Get PDFBlue maize (Zea mays L.) is grown for its high content of antioxidants. Conversion of yellow and white to blue maize is time consuming because several genes affect blue color. After each backcross selfing is needed for color to be expressed. In order to overcome the problem of time and effort needed for conversion to blue kernel color, we have set a pilot experiment simulating a Top-cross system for increasing antioxidants in maize grain. The idea is to alternately sow six rows of sterile standard quality hybrid and two rows of blue maize in commercial production. Five commercial ZP hybrids were crossed with a blue pop-corn population. Xenia effect caused by cross-pollination produced blue grain on all hybrids in the same year. Chemical analyses of the grains of five selfed original hybrids, five cross-pollinated hybrids and selfed blue popcorn pollinator were performed. Cross-fertilization with blue popcorn had different impact on antioxidant capacity and phytonutrients, increasing them significantly in some but not all cross-pollinated hybrids. Popcorn blue pollinator had higher values for all the analyzed traits than either selfed or cross-pollinated hybrids. Selfed vs. pollinated hybrids showed significant difference for total antioxidant capacity (p<0.1), total phenolics and total yellow pigments (p<0.01), with the increase of total phenolics and decrease of total yellow pigments in pollinated ones. Total flavonoids showed a little non-significant decrease in pollinated hybrids, while total anthocyanins were not detected in selfed yellow hybrids. Blue maize obtained this way has shown good potential for growing high quality phytonutrient genotypes
Surface fertigation: a review, gaps and needs
Get PDFSurface fertigation is a common choice when it comes to applying fertilizers in surface irrigated crops. The inherent complexity of the concepts and equations governing surface fertigation has made this technique a challenging research issue in the past decades. A number of researchers have used field experiments and/or modelling results to develop recommendations aiming at improving surface fertigation management. In this paper, these recommendations are reviewed and classified considering the particular type of surface irrigation system. Key factors affecting surface fertigation performance, such as the inflow hydrograph, soil and water quality, effective root depth for fertilizer uptake and the specific surface irrigation method are discussed. The history of surface fertigation modelling is reviewed, introducing key developments, accomplishments and open issues. Finally, current research gaps and needs are identified and discussed, such as the coupling of two-dimensional surface and subsurface simulation models or the use of performance optimization approaches. Research gaps require an intensification of modelling and/or experimental efforts