Alien Traits Research Articles

GIATAR: a Spatio-temporal Dataset of Global Invasive and Alien Species and their Traits

Monitoring and managing the global spread of invasive and alien species requires accurate spatiotemporal records of species presence and information about the biological characteristics of species of interest including life cycle information, biotic and abiotic constraints and pathways of spread. The Global Invasive and Alien Traits And Records (GIATAR) dataset provides consolidated dated records of invasive and alien presence at the country-scale combined with a suite of biological information about pests of interest in a standardized, machine-readable format. We provide dated presence records for 46,666 alien taxa in 249 countries constituting 827,300 country-taxon pairs in locations where the taxon’s invasive status is either alien, invasive, or unknown, joined with additional biological information for thousands of taxa. GIATAR is designed to be quickly updateable with future data and easy to integrate into ongoing research on global patterns of alien species movement using scripts provided to query and analyze data. GIATAR provides crucial data needed for researchers and policymakers to compare global invasion trends across a wide range of taxa.

THE INFLUENCE OF ALIEN GENES OF RESISTANCE TO COMMON DISEASES ON AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF BREAD WINTER WHEAT IN THE DRY CONDITIONS OF SOUTHERN UKRAINE

Abstract Introduction. A combination of fungal diseases and drought can cause significant yield losses of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). It is known that alien traits introduced through wide hybridisation into wheat genome contribute to breeding of cultivars with a higher yield potential in arid environments. Aim. The impact of alien genes of resistance to widespread diseases and morphological characters on the main agronomic traits in the arid environments of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine was analysed. Methods. The lines were grown in a control nursery designed in 5 and 10 m2 plots on the black earth area in the 2019–2021 vegetative periods consecutively under the arid system without irrigation. The plant material included 153 experimental wheat lines of different origin with six check cultivars for the arid climate zone of Ukraine. The data on eight agronomic (quantitative scores) and six plant pathological (point scores) traits were collected and subjected to statistical analysis to comprehend the contribution of the diversity and connections between the characters. Results. Due to the successful introgression of alien genes from all sources involved in hybridisation, the majority of lines were resistant to one of the rust species. The lines derived from the sample containing the translocation 1BL.1RS in the karyotype and Triticum timopheevii Zhuk. in the pedigree were resistant to all rust species. The lines containing the alien genes Lr42 and Hs showed a higher yield than the recurrent cultivar and standard ones. There was a negative correlation between the protein content and grain yield in 2020 (r = −0.40***). A weak positive correlation was found between the yield and resistance to yellow rust (Rsp = 0.19* in 2019 and Rsp = 0.26*** in 2020) or tolerance to Septoria leaf blotch (Rsp = 0.14 in 2019 and Rsp = 0.27*** in 2020). Under drought conditions, the yield reduced by 32.5% in 2020 and by 70% in 2021. The drought resistance index directly correlated with the yield in the dry conditions of 2020 (r = 0.69***), and also was inversely proportional to the yield values (r = −0.26**) obtained in favorable conditions. Conclusions. The studied experimental lines have a potential for use in the wheat improvement programs for resistance to the diseases in Southern Ukraine. For further breeding, eighteen lines with a high weight of 1000 kernels, protein content, and yield, and resistance to drought or disease were identified, and four promising drought-tolerant lines have been selected.

Introgressive genotypes for creating bread wheat donors of resistance to powdery mildew, rustes and of other traits

The article presents data on the phenotypic diversity of new introgressive lines – derivatives of complex interspecies hybrids and their backcrosses in terms of resistance to common diseases, performance and other breeding traits. This is necessary to create highly productive donors of resistance and increase the efficiency of using the studied material in wheat breeding. Involvement of the selected donor lines in crossing as starting material can give a possibility not only to more successfully solve the problem of increasing the resistance of varieties to diseases, but also expand and improve their genetic basis in relation to other economically valuable traits. Purpose and objectives . Comparison of breeding assessment of the new introgressive lines with the best check varieties the zone. Evaluation of resistance to common diseases and correlations between resistance and some agronomic and economically valuable traits. Selection of highly productive donor lines combining group resistance to diseases with adaptability to growing conditions. Material and methods . The bread wheat lines of various generations, degrees of saturation and origin, which were introgressive by morphological and basic biological characteristics, were studied. Basically, they were obtained by distant hybridization of several winter bread wheat varieties of the steppe ecotype characterized by different alien traits and properties (Odesskaya 267, Albatros, Nikoniya, Selianka, Kuialnik, Panna, Hurt) with one collection and two original introgressive accessions, as well as with six amphiploids derived from Ae. tauschii . The field experiments were carried out according to the conventional breeding design for self-pollinating crops. The material was phytopathologically assessed for the damage intensity using a 9-point integrated unified scale developed from the modified Saari andPrescott’s scale. Grain quality was monitored by the SDS30’K sedimentation index, which was determined by the method developed in the Department of Genetic Basics of Breeding of the PBGI-NCSCI; the protein content - by the Kjeldahl digestion; the 1000-grain weight – by the conventional method. The data were statistically processed by generally accepted methods. Results and discussion . The field experiments allowed us to identify several lines (NIL2, E218/09, E2608/14, E2793/14, AIL1073/16, AIL1074/16 and others) that are resistant to powdery mildew and to 1 or 3 rust pathogens among introgressive genotypes obtained from different crossings. They can be recommended for breeding as genetic donors of resistance to fungal diseases. In addition, lines Er. 2740/17 (E2785/14), Er. 2742/17 (E2791/14) and Er. 2743/17 (E2792/14-2) having no traits of wild species are practically valuable for breeding, as they are resistant to diseases, and their performance is higher than that of the best check varieties. Conclusions. Trials of the collection and new introgressive lines of bread wheat showed that by massively conducted additional crossings, selections and assessments it is possible to create genetic donors of resistance to powdery mildew, three rust pathogens and of high performance as well as genetically stable lines without traits of wild species with performance exceeding that of the best check varieties. Such lines are promising for direct use in practical breeding

Diversity within mutualist guilds promotes coexistence and reduces the risk of invasion from an alien mutualist.

Biodiversity is an important component of healthy ecosystems, and thus understanding the mechanisms behind species coexistence is critical in ecology and conservation biology. In particular, few studies have focused on the dynamics resulting from the co-occurrence of mutualistic and competitive interactions within a group of species. Here we build a mathematical model to study the dynamics of a guild of competitors who are also engaged in mutualistic interactions with a common partner. We show that coexistence as well as competitive exclusion can occur depending on the competition strength and on strength of the mutualistic interactions, and we formulate concrete criteria for predicting invasion success of an alien mutualist based on propagule pressure, alien traits (such as its resource exchange ability) and composition of the recipient community. We find that intra guild diversity promotes the coexistence of species that would otherwise competitively exclude each other, and makes a guild less vulnerable to invasion. Our results can serve as a useful framework to predict the consequences of species manipulation in mutualistic communities.

People's Intuitions About Innateness.

Few questions in science are as controversial as the origins of knowledge. Whether knowledge (e.g., “objects are cohesive”) is partly innate has been debated for centuries. Here, we ask whether our difficulties with innate knowledge could be grounded in human cognition itself. In eight experiments, we compared reasoning about the innateness of traits that capture knowledge (cognitive traits) with noncognitive (sensorimotor and emotive) traits. Experiments 1–4 examined adult and infant traits; Experiment 5 presented detailed descriptions of published infant experiments. Results showed that people viewed cognitive traits as less likely to be innate in humans—the stronger the association with “thinking,” the lower the rating for “innateness.” Experiments 6–8 explored human, bird, and alien traits that were presented as innate. Participants, however, still considered cognitive traits as less likely to emerge spontaneously (i.e., be innate). These results show that people are selectively biased in reasoning about the origins of knowledge.

Development of Winter Wheat Starting Material Using Interspecific Crossing in Breeding for Increased Protein Content

The results of developing new bread winter wheat starting material using interspecific crosses in breeding for increased protein content are presented. The study comprised 35 initial (2–4 crosses with modern cultivars) and 20 advanced (five and more crosses with modern cultivars) introgression lines of bread winter wheat, and nine genotypes characterized by increased relative protein content and groups of lines that combine relatively high indices of thousand grain weight or protein content with resistance to leaf or stem rust and alien glume hairiness were isolated. The significant effect of lines grouping for the number of crossings with modern cultivars on the productivity, protein content, and the sedimentation value, and the effect of cross combinations, in particular, sources of alien traits, on protein content and thousand grain weight were found. It is shown that higher protein content, observed at the backcrossing, does not always correlate with the improvement of flour quality. The improved lines showed a low frequency of combining the traits of high protein content, large grain size with high productivity, and grain quality. No correlation of the most-studied traits with protein content and weak positive correlation (r = 0.28*…0.30*) of thousand grain weight with both the quality characteristics, sedimentation and protein content, were found. The line productivity had negative correlation with protein content (r = –0.43*) in only one variant of the experiment. The lines B241_09, E2792_14, E1598_12, and Od.267b were isolated, which had relatively higher protein content and combined moderate resistance to certain diseases with relatively high indices of the productivity and sedimentation. The isolated lines are characterized by instable productivity and other properties in different environments and require improved stability of these characteristics. Created on the basis of cv. Odeska 267, the quasi-isogenic lines with resistance to leaf rust (E2363_14, E2368_14, and E2369_14) had higher productivity, protein content, and thousand grain weight than recurrent cv. Odeska 267 on a low agricultural background. Using interspecific hybridization and further complicated step crosses with the elements of recurrent breeding, it was not possible to integrate high productivity in optimal environments with tolerance to hard conditions of drought into one genotype.

Embryogenic Calli Explants and Silicon Carbide Whisker-Mediated Transformation of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

Rapid growth in the genetic transformation of plants is the outcome of versatile transformation methods, explant nature, and media regimes. Modern biotechnologists have now a toolkit embraced with different plant transformation methods to generate specific and targeted genetic variation for performance improvement of crop plants. Genetic information are created by proper custom synthesis/amplification of DNA sequences from natural sources, modification during gene cloning, and choice of regulatory sequences and delivered to plants via different plant transformation techniques. Cotton is known by different names like king of fiber crops, white gold, etc., due to its socioeconomic involvement in society livelihood. So cotton is the host of several transgenes delivered for the purpose of trait development of improvement outcompeting its wild counterparts. At present most of the cotton adopted by farmers is biotech and contributes significantly in meeting farmers and industry demands. It is the versatile nature of cotton that it has been subjected to different genetic transformation methods to provide the breeders with an opportunity to develop alien traits or improve the endogenous gene performance that are very difficult or impossible to develop through conventional breeding methods. Landmark achievements were achieved by expanding explant choice such as calli as explants as it reduces the extent of labor, time, and effort and thereby becoming cost-effective cotton transformation. Cotton calli becomes differentiated into embryogenic and non-embryogenic which requires regular screening, keeping in view texture, color, and growth behavior. Here we describe the calli features which are peculiar in nature when used as explants in a novel physical way of cotton transformation with different genes by using embryogenic calli as continuous source of explants. The dawn of genome editing has opened another horizon in transformation research and development enhancing the scope of cotton transformation.

Monosomic alien addition lines (MAALs) of Oryza rhizomatis in Oryza sativa: production, cytology, alien trait introgression, molecular analysis and breeding application.

Key message Development of MAALs and disomic introgression lines derived from the cross between O. sativa and O. rhizomatis to exploit and utilize the valuable traits for rice improvement. The CC genome wild species, Oryza rhizomatis, possesses valuable traits for rice improvement. Unlike other CC genome wild rice, O. rhizomatis is less studied and none of the research has focused on the utilization of this resource in rice breeding. The transfer of novel genes governing the valuable traits from O. rhizomatis is difficult due to high genome incompatibility with O. sativa. Here we report the development of backcross progenies and complete sets of monosomic alien addition lines (MAALs) for the first time from O. rhizomatis in O. sativa line IR31917-45-3-2. Autotetraploid IR31917-45-3-2 (4x = AAAA) was used to generate allotriploid F1, and the F1 plant was backcrossed to IR31917-45-3-2 (2x). Forty-seven BC1F1 and 73 BC2F1 plants were produced with chromosome numbers ranging from 24 to 33 (2x + 9) and 24 to 27 (2x + 3), respectively. A complete set of MAALs were identified by morphological, cytological and marker-based analysis. A total of 116 CC genome-specific InDel markers across the 12 chromosome of rice were used to detect O. rhizomatis chromosome segments in F1, BC1F1, BC2F2, MAALs and disomic introgression lines (DILs). Expressions of major phenotypic traits inherited from O. rhizomatis were observed in MAAL-derived DILs. Small chromosomal segments of O. rhizomatis for chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 12 were detected in DILs, and some of the introgression lines showed insect resistance against brown planthopper and green leafhopper. These newly developed MAALs and DILs will be useful for gene mining and more precise faster transfer of favorable genes to improve rice cultivars.

Inheritance of Traits Controlled by Odd Chromosomes Using Data on Transmission of Monosomic Addition St Chromosome of the Elymus Sibiricus Genome

On the basis of the winter bread wheat cultivar Obryi, two independent disomic addition lines BC12F∞ with the chromosome of the E. sibiricus St genome are created. A practical algorithm for determining the probabilities of transmission of the odd chromosome separately through male and female gametes in selfpollination of hemizygous hybrids from the equation p2–(1 + f1–f4) × p + f1 = 0 is proposed, where p is the probability of the formation of viable gametes with the considered chromosome and f1 and f4 are the empirical frequencies of the corresponding homozygotes with and without the trait. The probability of transmission of an alien univalent chromosome through pollen (p♂) is associated with the frequency of its transmission through the egg cell (p♀) in backcrosses and in self-pollination (1–f4) by the equation p♂ = 1–f4/(1–p♀). The calculated empirically dependent estimates of the probabilities of transmission of the added chromosome through the egg cell p♀ = 18.7% and through pollen p♂ = 4.3% correspond to the empirical frequencies obtained for backcrosses. The coefficients of the gamete selection V♀ = 0.748 and V♂ = 0.172 are calculated, and the expected segregation for the alien trait controlled by a dominant gene located in the added chromosome is determined—with the trait: without the trait is 0.222: 0.778 in F2; 0.187: 0.813 in equational and 0.043: 0.957 in certational backcrosses.

Comparing traits of native and alien plants: Can we do better?

Abstract A frequent question in invasion ecology is whether the traits of alien plant species differ from natives. This question is increasingly addressed at the plant community scale to assess the role trait differences play in community assembly. Nevertheless, there remains considerable debate as to the value of native vs. alien trait comparisons. Recommendations are made to address seven conceptual and methodological limitations in current approaches used to assess trait differences between native and alien plants: account for spatial scale dependence, make an informed choice of traits, evaluate multiple trait dimensions, incorporate intraspecific trait variation, use appropriate null models, examine environmental gradients, and assess temporal variation in trait spectra. Tackling these limitations will dramatically improve the value of native vs. alien trait comparisons. Traits should be selected based on expectations of abiotic and/or biotic constraints. Phylogenetic distances can provide valuable insights but are no substitute for the measurement of individual traits when contrasting alien and native species. An ideal set of traits would include one or more leaf, stem, seed and root traits as well as flowering phenology and plant height at maturity. Comparisons of intraspecific trait variation among native and alien species within the same plant community are rare but could improve predictions of interspecific competition and the response of communities to plant invasions. The full plant community should be examined rather than selected species subsets and comparisons between native and alien species traits are better undertaken at a neighbourhood scale. The frequency distribution of alien and native species traits may change over time through competitive exclusion as well as contemporary evolution. Repeated surveys of species abundances and traits are required to understand the consequences of trait differences between aliens and natives for plant community assembly. Analyses of the role of species traits in plant invasions need to quantify differences in a priori identified traits within communities along suitable environmental gradients and test hypothetical trait patterns against appropriate null expectations. The infrequent application of such approaches may explain the limited generalisations regarding the role of trait differences between native and alien species in the invasion of plant communities. A plain language summary is available for this article.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization and stripe rust response of a trigeneric hybrid involvingTriticum,Psathyrostachys, andThinopyrum

Trigeneric hybrids offer opportunities to transfer alien traits into cultivated wheat. In this study, a new trigeneric hybrid involving species of Triticum, Psathyrostachys, and Thinopyrum was synthesized by crossing Triticum aestivum L. (wheat)--Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey amphiploid Zhong 3 with wheat--Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng ex Kuo amphiploid PHW-SA. Crossability of the two amphiploids was 19.74%, and the fertility of the hybrid was 16.20%. The mean meiotic configuration of the trigeneric hybrid (2n=56) was 13.06 I+17.24 IIring+3.73 IIrod+0.28 III+0.04 IV. GISH analysis indicated that the trigeneric F1 had seven P. huashanica chromosomes and seven Th. intermedium chromosomes. The mean chromosome numbers of F2, F3, and F4 progenies were 2n=49.24, 2n=48.13, and 2n=46.78, respectively, a gradual decrease. GISH analysis revealed that most F2 and F3 plants had 2–10 Th. intermedium chromosomes and 0–4 P. huashanica chromosomes. In the F4 progenies, 1–7 Th. intermedium chromosomes were labeled, but no P. huashanica chromosomes were detected. It seems that Th. intermedium chromosomes are more likely than P. huashanica chromosomes to be transmitted to the progenies. The stripe rust response of PHW-SA was expressed in the F1 and some F2 and F3 progenies. The trigeneric hybrid could be a useful bridge for transfering P. huashanica and Th. intermedium chromosomes to common wheat.

Detection of intergenomic chromosome rearrangements in irradiatedTriticum aestivum –Aegilops biuncialisamphiploids by multicolour genomic in situ hybridization

The frequency and pattern of irradiation-induced intergenomic chromosome rearrangements were analysed in the mutagenized (M0) and the first selfed (M1) generations of Triticum aestivum L. - Aegilops biuncialis Vis. amphiploids (2n = 70, AABBDDUbUbMbMb) by multicolour genomic in situ hybridization (mcGISH). mcGISH allowed the simultaneous discrimination of individual Ae. biuncialis genomes and wheat chromosomes. Dicentric chromosomes, fragments, and terminal translocations were most frequently induced by gamma-irradiation, but centric fusions and internal exchanges were also more abundant in the treated plants than in control amphiploids. Rearrangements involving the Ub genome (Ub-type aberrations) were more frequent than those involving the Mb genome (Mb-type aberrations). This irradiation sensitivity of the Ub chromosomes was attributed to their centromeric or near-centromeric regions, since Ub-type centric fusions were significantly more abundant than Mb-type centric fusions at all irradiation doses. Dicentrics completely disappeared, but centric fusions and translocations were well transmitted from M0 to M1. Identification of specific chromosomes involved in some rearrangements was attempted by sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization with a mix of repeated DNA probes and GISH on the same slide. The irradiated amphiploids formed fewer seeds than untreated plants, but normal levels of fertility were recovered in their offspring. The irradiation-induced wheat - Ae. biuncialis intergenomic translocations will facilitate the successful introgression of drought tolerance and other alien traits into bread wheat.

La perspectiva antropológica en la adecuación de la actividad de un centro de salud a su entorno físico y social: Barrio Virgen del Remedio (Alicante)

The relationship of a health center with its habitat as an interactive element between people and their environment is described. Within this context, the objectives are: - Describing the habitat, the social and cultural characteristics and the relationship between people and their setting. - Studying aspects of the built setting which can influence quality of life of its inhabitants, not merely considered as health services users. - From this study, redefining the role of the health center as an interactive element to moderate and change that habitat, from an integral concept of health. The data collected from the field work were used to carry out the analysis of the neighborhood, focusing on the private space, the home, as an setting, and the public space, verifying a lack of anthropological settings as places where the individual global needs are met. This neighborhood is anthropologically a outside of and transition place, causing excision and marking the alien trait in front of the rest of the city, besides not creating any communication system for the population within the neighborhood. In this state of things, the health center must become an meeting place and a means of access to social life that not only allow people to recover their identity but also create communication nets within the neighborhood. It is a service that will unify everyone. For this purpose the following needs arise: - The staff must be permanent and has to know the characteristics of the population. The concept of family doctor and family nurse springs up again. - Activities must be adapted to the wider aspect of the definition of health, integrating individuals and environment. - Universality of the public health system, without extra costs or fees for the patient.

X Y Z System of Producing Hybrid Wheat1

A chromosomal recessive male‐sterility factor and a corresponding fertility factor on a homoeologous alien chromosome make available a system of producing hybrid wheat, Triticum aestivum L. era. Thell. Three lines, X, Y, and Z, are homozygous for the male‐sterility factor and contain 2, 1, and 0 doses of the alien chromosome, respectively. Limited roguing of plants possessing an alien trait is involved in the first stage only. Acquisition of required genetic stocks appears feasible.