Intermediate Branching Research Articles

Identification of superior and rare haplotypes to optimize branch number in soybean

Key messageUsing the integrated approach in the present study, we identified eleven significant SNPs, seven stable QTLs and 20 candidate genes associated with branch number in soybean.Branch number is a key yield-related quantitative trait that directly affects the number of pods and seeds per soybean plant. In this study, an integrated approach with a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and haplotype and candidate gene analyses was used to determine the detailed genetic basis of branch number across a diverse set of soybean accessions. The GWAS revealed a total of eleven SNPs significantly associated with branch number across three environments using the five GWAS models. Based on the consistency of the SNP detection in multiple GWAS models and environments, seven genomic regions within the physical distance of ± 202.4 kb were delineated as stable QTLs. Of these QTLs, six QTLs were novel, viz., qBN7, qBN13, qBN16, qBN18, qBN19 and qBN20, whereas the remaining one, viz., qBN12, has been previously reported. Moreover, 11 haplotype blocks, viz., Hap4, Hap7, Hap12, Hap13A, Hap13B, Hap16, Hap17, Hap18, Hap19A, Hap19B and Hap20, were identified on nine different chromosomes. Haplotype allele number across the identified haplotype blocks varies from two to five, and different branch number phenotype is regulated by these alleles ranging from the lowest to highest through intermediate branching. Furthermore, 20 genes were identified underlying the genomic region of ± 202.4 kb of the identified SNPs as putative candidates; and six of them showed significant differential expression patterns among the soybean cultivars possessing contrasting branch number, which might be the potential candidates regulating branch number in soybean. The findings of this study can assist the soybean breeding programs for developing cultivars with desirable branch numbers.

Enhanced gene transfection and induction of apoptosis in melanoma cells by branched poly(β-amino ester)s with uniformly distributed branching units

Melanoma, one of the most devastating forms of skin cancer, currently lacks effective clinical treatments. Delivery of functional genes to modulate specific protein expression to induce melanoma cell apoptosis could be a promising therapeutic approach. However, transfecting melanoma cells using non-viral methods, particularly with cationic polymers, presents significant challenges. In this study, we synthesized three branched poly(β-amino ester)s (HPAEs) with evenly distributed branching units but varying space lengths through a two-step “oligomer combination” strategy. The unique topological structure enables HPAEs to condense DNA to form nano-sized polyplexes with favorable physiochemical properties. Notably, HPAEs, especially HPAE-2 with intermediate branching unit space length, demonstrated significantly higher gene transfection efficiency than the leading commercial gene transfection reagent, jetPRIME, in human melanoma cells. Furthermore, HPAE-2 efficiently delivered the Bax-encoding plasmid into melanoma cells, leading to a pronounced pro-apoptotic effect without causing noticeable cytotoxicity. This study establishes a potent non-viral platform for gene transfection of melanoma cells by harnessing the distribution of branching units, paving the way for potential clinical applications of gene therapy in melanoma treatment.

Deciphering the quest in the divergent total synthesis of natural products.

The divergent synthesis of natural products is rapidly developing towards achieving the goal of efficiency and economy in total synthesis. However, presently, the sustainable development of the synthesis of natural products does not permit the linear synthesis of a single target. In this case, divergent total synthesis is based on the identification of an advanced intermediate with structural features that can be mapped in more than two molecules. However, the identification of this intermediate and its scalable synthesis in enantiopure form are challenging. Herein, we present the details of the ingenious efforts by researchers in the last six years toward the divergent synthesis of two to as many as eight natural products initially via a single route, and then diverging from a common intermediate and further branching out toward several natural products. The planning and strategies adopted can serve as guidelines for the future development of efficient divergent routes aimed at achieving higher efficiency toward multiple targets, causing divergent synthesis to become an accepted common practice.

A subperiodic tree whose intermediate branching number is strictly less than the lower intermediate growth rate

A subperiodic tree whose intermediate branching number is strictly less than the lower intermediate growth rate

Naomi Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch) variety for indoor spaces

Objective: To evaluate the behavior of the Naomi poinsettia variety and its varietal description applying the guidelines of the Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).Design/Methodology/Approach: The variety was generated through the following methods: plant genetic hybridization, individual selection, and use of the grafting technique. The varietal description was based on the document of the Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). A completely randomized experimentaldesign with 10 replications was used. Vegetative and reproductive characteristics of the plant were recorded. The data was subjected to an analysis of variance and Tukey’s mean comparison test (P ≤ 0.05).Results: The Naomi variety is tall with intermediate width and branching. It has a very intense green color in the middle third of the stem. It has oval-shaped leaves of intermediate size, with a rounded base, and without curvature in the main nerve. Its elliptical bract does not have a torsion, but it has an intermediate roughness between itsnerves.Study Limitations/Implications: The variety is propagated asexually via cuttings andthe plants from which the cuts are made are preserved as mother plants. It needsadequate nutrition and light and temperature conditions that hinder floral differentiation.Findings/Conclusions: The new poinsettia material has phenotypic attributes demanded by the market. The varietal description indicates that it is comparable with other INIFAP varieties and with commercially available varieties. This plant can be considered a competitive candidate for the diversification of the offer of poinsettia plants in the Christmas season.

First Report of Corynespora cassiicola Causing Target Spot on Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) in South India.

Target spot with unusual symptoms was observed in upland cotton at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lam, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India in 2017. Symptoms appeared in about 60-65 days after planting with minute pinhead size light orange to brick red spots that gradually expanded as circular to oval or irregular concentric spots that finally developed as target spot with yellow halo. These symptoms were also observed during 2019-20 and 2020-21 diagnostic field visits at Krishna zone of Andhra Pradesh, India. Frequent showers had intensified disease severity and defoliation of different cultivars (L 1060, RCH 659 BGII, NDLH-1938 and Jaadoo BG II) examined. Leaf bits containing healthy and diseased portions of the specimens were surface sterilized with 0.1% HgCl2 for a minute and rinsed in three changes of distilled water and were placed on PDA at 27±1˚C for pathogen development. Obtained pathogen was purified using single spore isolation technique. Purified colonies exhibited grey colour on top of culture plate and greyish brown on bottom of culture plate with flat, aerial round colonies having fibrous texture with dense mycelium. Conidiophore were indeterminate septate with intermediate branching. Enteroblastic conidiogenous cells produced conidia subhyaline that were solitary or in chains, straight to curved, 83.43±31.73 x 7.61±1.43 µm with 7.27±2.19 pseudospeta. Morphological characteristics of the isolated fungus were consistent with original description of Corynespora cassiicola on cotton (Jones 1961; Fulmer et al., 2012; Conner et al., 2013) which confirmed it as Corynespora morphologically. Pathogenicity test was conducted on popular hybrid Jaadoo BG II using three isolates Lam (CGGL 19001), Koniki (CPIK 19009) and Venkatapuram (CKMB 19011) obtained during 2019-20 survey. After 50 days of sowing conidial suspension containing 1x104 spores per ml was sprayed on healthy plants maintained in pots under protected conditions. Immediately after spraying, the plants were covered with poly propylene covers for 48 h to prevent cross contamination and to ensure humidity for pathogen establishment. Healthy plants sprayed with sterile water served as control. After seven days of incubation, inoculated plants developed brick red spots initially which later developed into target spot. Absence of symptoms in control plants indicated pathogenic nature of the fungus. Pathogen was re-isolated from diseased tissue to confirm its pathogenicity according to Koch's postulates. The identity of the pathogen was further examined using ITS primers. The DNA was isolated from 10 days old culture using CTAB method. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of three isolates were amplified using ITS1 and ITS4 primers and obtained amplicon (550 bp) were used for sequencing. The sequenced data was deposited in NCBI and accession numbers were obtained as MZ314930, MZ314928 and MZ314927. BLAST search in GeneBank revealed 99% homology of CGGL 19001 isolate with sequences of C. cassiicola (accession number of MN393240) while CPIK 19009 and CKMB 19011 isolates showed 100% homology with C. cassiicola in cotton having accession numbers of MN393238, MN228955, MN733135, MN288934 and MN393238. Based on symptoms, fungal morphology, pathogenicity test and ITS sequences obtained, the fungus was identified as C. cassiicola the pathogen of cotton causing target spot disease. Earlier, Sarma and Nayudu (1970) isolated Corynespora from different host plants including cotton but could not prove its pathogenicity on cotton. Later target spot of cotton associated with C. cassiicola had been reported from Central India (Salunkhe et al., 2019) and this is the first report of C. cassiicola in cotton from South India. Hence, this report of C. cassiicola on cotton is the first report from Souh India. Identification of target spot pathogen is very important as it is emerging as a dominant foliar pathogen for which management strategies are to be worked out.

Branching angles of several cocoa genotypes and their effect on determining optimum plant spacing

Identification of the type of branching architecture will be one for the considerations in determining specific spacing recommendations for cocoa plantation. The research was conducted at Kaliwining Experimental Station, Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute. The aim of this study was to investigate of branching angle characteristics of cocoa clones that can be used in determining planting space in cocoa farms. This research usied a completely randomized block design (RCBD) consisting of 21 genotypes as treatments. Each treatment was repeated three times and each replication consisted of three sample plants. Parametersobserved were branch angle and the type of branching. Branch angle is the angle formed by the outermost primary branch and was measured using a protractor. The results showed that each genotype had a different angle on the primary branch, while the secondary and tertiary branch angles did not shown any significantdifference. The results of the analysis showed that of the 21 genotypes tested, ICCRI 03, BAL 209, and KW 411 showed horizontal branching type; Sulawesi 1 and Sulawesi 3 showed vertical branching type, while the other 16 genotypes had intermediate branching types. Cocoa clones with a vertical branching type can be planted in denser spacing compared to cocoa clones with a horizontal branching type. The population per hectare of clones with vertical branching type can be increased 3 to 4 times when compared to clones with horizontal branching type.

Moth-inspired methods for particle capture on a cylinder

We study particle capture on an angled cylinder at a range of Peclet numbers. This system was inspired by the plumose antennae of certain species of male moths that intercept female pheromones at low Peclet numbers of 0.9–23. We use confocal microscopy to measure the branching patterns of 49 moths, spanning 12 families and two orders of magnitude in mass. Among the three levels of hierarchy in antennae, we find the middle level has a prevalent branching angle, across our study set. Such intermediate branching angles are a surprising way to intercept molecules because they do not maximize the exposed surface area. To understand the benefits of angling cylinders into the flow, we study particle collection at high Peclet number using drops that are several orders of magnitude larger than moth pheromones. Wind tunnel tests show that cylinders angled at are optimal for collection of particles, collecting 30 % more than when perpendicular to the flow. Simulations and smoke visualization show that angled cylinders bend incoming streamlines, creating a lingering effect near the cylinder that can enhance deposition by diffusion. We surmise that the optimal angle arises from a trade-off between the lingering effect, which decreases with increasing angle of the cylinder, and the cylinder’s increasing projected area as it is turned more perpendicular to the flow. Using a mathematical model, we show that only cylinders at low Peclet number show improved collection at intermediate angles. Thus, we cannot rationalize the high collection rates in our wind tunnel experiments at high Peclet number. We hope that our study will inspire more research into bio-inspired particle collection of angled surfaces, and find applications in sensors and filters.

Colloidal Jamming in Multiarm Star Polymer Melts

Star polymers with intermediate branching functionalities (64 and 128 arms) are known to exhibit a hybrid viscoelastic response, relaxing stress via a fast polymeric arm retraction and a slow collo...

Leticia: nueva variedad mexicana de nochebuena para interiores

La nochebuena (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch) es originaria de México y Mesoamérica. Su cultivo depende de variedades mejoradas provenientes del extranjero, lo que ocasiona fuga de divisas y pérdidas económicas. Actualmente está restringida su importación. Esto representa una oportunidad para ofertar variedades generadas en el país. El INIFAP, Campo Experimental Zacatepec realiza la mejora genética de nochebuena. Así, en 2010 por cruza manual entre MOR13 x MORPR10 se obtuvo progenie F1, la cual se evaluó en 2011 y en el ciclo inmediato se incrementó el número de plantas. En 2013 se injertó por cuña la progenie híbrida clonal (púa) con una variedad comercial (patrón), en 2014 se obtuvieron esquejes del injerto, se cultivaron hasta planta terminada y se seleccionó de acuerdo al biotipo que demanda el mercado. En 2015 se evaluó en vivero en Tetela del Monte, Cuernavaca, Morelos. En 2016 se realizó la descripción varietal con denominación de Leticia. Esta variedad presenta porte intermedio de gran amplitud con ramificación intermedia, hojas de forma oval de gran tamaño con peciolos de longitud media, brácteas de forma elíptica y de color rojo. Es de respuesta intermedia, la pigmentación de brácteas se presenta nueve semanas después del inicio de otoño.

Diversity for branching habit in the natural population of walnut (Juglans regia L.) in the Kashmir valley

The present investigation entitled diversity for growth habit in the natural population of walnut ( Juglans regia L.) in the Kashmir valley was carried out in order to document the available genetic variability in walnut germplasm and to select elite walnut genotypes possessing superior attributes and quality traits. During the survey, data was recorded on one hundred fifty two (152) walnut trees growing in different areas of Kashmir valley. Remarkable variability was observed in seedling walnut trees for different morphological, nut and kernel characters. Similarly, variations were also reported for other characters viz. , tree vigour, growth habit, branching habit, leaflet shape, shoot colour, nut shape, shell texture, shell colour, shell seal, shell strength, shell integrity, kernel shrivel and kernel colour. Studies on .branching habit revealed substantial variability among the seedling raised walnuts genotypes in Kashmir valley. In this study it was found that 30 genotypes (19.73%) possessed sparse branching habit, 57 genotypes (37.50%) exhibited intermediate branching habit and 65 genotypes (42.77%) had dense branching habit.

From proto-Kranz to C4 Kranz: building the bridge to C4 photosynthesis.

In this review, we examine how the specialized "Kranz" anatomy of C4 photosynthesis evolved from C3 ancestors. Kranz anatomy refers to the wreath-like structural traits that compartmentalize the biochemistry of C4 photosynthesis and enables the concentration of CO2 around Rubisco. A simplified version of Kranz anatomy is also present in the species that utilize C2 photosynthesis, where a photorespiratory glycine shuttle concentrates CO2 into an inner bundle-sheath-like compartment surrounding the vascular tissue. C2 Kranz is considered to be an intermediate stage in the evolutionary development of C4 Kranz, based on the intermediate branching position of C2 species in 14 evolutionary lineages of C4 photosynthesis. In the best-supported model of C4 evolution, Kranz anatomy in C2 species evolved from C3 ancestors with enlarged bundle sheath cells and high vein density. Four independent lineages have been identified where C3 sister species of C2 plants exhibit an increase in organelle numbers in the bundle sheath and enlarged bundle sheath cells. Notably, in all of these species, there is a pronounced shift of mitochondria to the inner bundle sheath wall, forming an incipient version of the C2 type of Kranz anatomy. This incipient version of C2 Kranz anatomy is termed proto-Kranz, and is proposed to scavenge photorespiratory CO2. By doing so, it may provide fitness benefits in hot environments, and thus represent a critical first stage of the evolution of both the C2 and C4 forms of Kranz anatomy.

Cyto-morphological and molecular characterization of Cajanus cajan × C. scarabaeoides F1 hybrid

Cajanus scarabaeoides has many desirable agro- nomic traits that deserve attention for introgression into pigeonpea cultivars. An inter-specific F1 hybrid was raised using C. cajan (ICP-26) as seed parent and C. scara- baeoides (ICPW-94) as pollen parent. Hybridity of the F1 plant was affirmed by analyzing the morphological attrib- utes, such as seed coat color, leaf shape, brown striations in the petal, pod features, and intermediate branching type etc. Most of the pollen mother cells (PMC) in the F1 hybrid have shown regular meiosis, but in some PMCs chromosome heteromorphism was observed for two pairs of bivalents during diakinesis, leading to precocious separation of biva- lents (62.81 %) at metaphase-I, and bridge formation (7.44 %) and laggards (2.48 %) at anaphase-I. SDS-PAGE of two major seed protein fractions (albumin and globulin) detected five polypeptide bands (Mol wt. 40.7, 39.8, 32.4, 23.5 and 19.5 KDa) unique to C. scarabaeoides, the male parent, in the F1 hybrids that evidenced the hybridity of F1 plants. Further, RAPD and ISSR marker analysis revealed the hybrid nature of the putative F1 plant. These analyses showed the inheritance of 28 RAPD and 12 ISSR markers, unique to C. scarabaeoides - the pollen parent, to F1 hybrids. This complementary use of cyto-morphological analysis, and molecular marker based genotyping allowed precise evaluation of the C. cajan×C. scarabaeoides inter- specific hybrid.

Inflorescence and floral development in Ranunculus and three allied genera in Ranunculeae (Ranunculoideae, Ranunculaceae)

The development of inflorescences and flowers of three species of Ranunculus and three allied genera (Ceratocephala, Halerpestes, and Oxygraphis) (Ranunculeae, Ranunculaceae) was studied comparatively using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Our results showed that both the inflorescence branching patterns and the floral morphogenesis in Ranunculeae are extremely labile. Inflorescences range from a thyrsoid to a solitary flower, with intermediate branching patterns in which sometimes only the terminal flower of the inflorescence main axis fully develops, such as in Ceratocephala and Halerpestes. Only in Oxygraphis is the flower truly solitary. In all species, sepal primordia are broad, crescent-shaped, and truncate, and the primordia of petals, stamens, and carpels are rather small and hemispherical, and very similar to each other. The plastochron between the last sepal and the first petal is relatively long. At the onset of androecium or gynoecium development, the regular spiral pattern of the perianth may become irregular in Ceratocephala and Oxygraphis, whereas spiral and whorled patterns may co-occur in Ranunculus and Halerpestes. The development of the petals is delayed with regard to that of the other floral organs in all species studied here, except for Oxygraphis. Our study confirms that, for solitary flowers, increased number of petals and the shape of the ventral nectary may have evolved independently many times, as suggested by earlier molecular phylogenetic studies and ancestral character reconstructions. With respect to the remainder of the tribe, Oxygraphis displays several autapomorphies, such as nondelayed development and increased number of petals, which will be of interest for comparative molecular developmental studies.

Measurement ofB→Ds(*)Kπbranching fractions

We report a measurement of the exclusive B+ meson decay to the Ds(*)−K+π+ final state using 657×106BB¯ pairs collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e− collider. We use Ds*−→Ds−γ and the Ds−→ϕπ−, K¯*(892)0K− and KS0K− decay modes for Ds(*) reconstruction and measure the following branching fractions: B(B+→Ds−K+π+)=(1.71−0.07+0.08(stat)−0.20+0.20(syst)±0.15(Bint))×10−4 and B(B+→Ds*−K+π+)=(1.31−0.12+0.13(stat)−0.25+0.25(syst)±0.12(Bint))×10−4. The uncertainties are due to statistics, experimental systematic errors, and uncertainties of intermediate branching fractions, respectively.Received 30 March 2009DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.80.052005©2009 American Physical Society

Head kinematics and feeding adaptations of the Permian and Triassic dicynodonts

ABSTRACT The distribution of neck muscles and the shape of the skull shows that Permian and Triassic dicynodontsmay be classified into three categories which probably reflect feeding on low, medium and high vegetation. These are distinguished on the basis of the occipital index, the difference between the relative width and height of the occiput, which gives a measure of the relative importance of the lateral and the dorsoventral clusters of neck muscles. The basicranium is relatively shortened in Triassic forms, except in Vinceria, Shansiodon, Tetragonias, and Jachaleria, as has been noted before. Data on skull proportions indicates that the height of the parietal crest may be of little taxonomic use, and that the genus Tetragonias is not a clade. Dicynodonts with dietary preferences at the intermediate level correspondto major branching points in dicynodont phylogeny. High-level feeding adaptations among dicynodonts arose by the middle of the Tatarian (latest Permian) and lasted until the Late Triassic. Specialized low feeders existed only in the Middle Triassic.

Isolation and Biosynthesis of Aurachin P and 5-Nitroresorcinol from Stigmatella erecta

The isolation of aurachin P (2) from Stigmatella erecta strain Pd e32 is described. Spectroscopic data, in particular NMR data, indicate it is 1'-hydroxyaurachin A with a 1'R,2'S,3'R relative configuration. In addition, a further compound, 5-nitroresorcinol (4a), was isolated and identified as a novel natural product. Feeding of (13)C- and (15)N-labeled precursors indicated this was synthesized solely from glucose and ammonia. To account for the labeling pattern, phloroglucinol (8) is postulated as an intermediate branching off from 3-dehydroquinate (7) in the shikimate pathway.

Premixed flames modelled with thermally sensitive intermediate branching kinetics

The foundations of a relatively simple two-step kinetic scheme for flame chemistry are outlined, involving a model chain branching process that should adopt the activation temperature of a rate-limiting branching reaction in order to offer a broad approximation for hydrocarbon flames. A model energetic intermediate reactant then acts as a buffer between fuel consumption and the release of heat, as the intermediate is converted into products through a completion reaction step. By taking the rate of the latter reaction to be linear in the concentration of the intermediate, which is consistent with the final state being an equilibrium in a broader chemical system, a form of the model is arrived at which admits asymptotic solutions in a thermodiffusive context with constant coefficients. These are developed to second order for large values of the activation energy of the branching reaction and are found to involve the same trends that are seen for lean methane and hydrogen flames calculated using detailed chemical and transport models. Linear stability analysis identifies the ranges of Lewis numbers in which cellular or oscillatory instability can arise, with the latter form of instability disappearing above a threshold heat of reaction. These and the underlying flame solutions themselves depend on the heat of reaction and the degree of heat loss but not on the activation temperature of the branching reaction, to leading order. Near the limit of flammability a direct parallel arises with one-step kinetic models for premixed flames.

Counterdiabatic suppression of background state population in resonance leaking by controlling intermediate branching

The counterdiabatic principle [M. Demirplak and S. A. Rice, J. Phys. Chem. A 107, 9937 (2003)] is used in a pragmatic way to formulate a practical control strategy for perturbed population transfer. Interpreting the appearance of population in undesirable intruder or background states as phenomenological consequences of diabatic perturbations, such branching is suppressed as soon as it arises. By invoking a penalty term that is sensitive to any transitional population in undesirable levels, a correction field is created which effectively prevents diabatic behavior. This strategy is applied to the control of background state population in multiphoton excitations. For a model five-level system we show that leaking of a resonant three-photon transition to a background state can readily be suppressed by simple correction fields obtained from our intermediate-branching driven implementation of counterdiabatic control.

Limit Theorem for an Intermediate Subcritical Branching Process in a Random Environment

The asymptotic behavior of the survival probability of an intermediate subcritical branching process $Z_n$ in a random environment is found when a transformation of the reproduction law of the offspring number is attracted to a stable law $\alpha\in (1,2]$. It is shown that the distribution of the random variable $\{Z_n\}$ given $Z_n>0$ converges to a nondegenerate distribution as $n\to\infty$.