Potential Parents Research Articles

Agronomic Performance of Kenyan Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Varieties

Sweet potato is one of the most important staple crops in Sub-Sahara Africa because of its supply of carbohydrates, vitamin A and C, fiber, iron, potassium and protein.The objective of this study was to determine phenotypic variation in diverse sweetpotato varieties for marketable roots, fresh root yield, fresh biomass weight, harvest index, beta carotene content and root dry matter content. Twenty five sweet potato genotypes were evaluated at two sites in two seasons in Kenya using a randomized complete block design of three replications. The results indicated that there were highly significantly variations for genotypes and sites for all the traits studied. There were no significant differences for genotype x site x season effects for the traits except for the number of marketable roots and fresh root yield. The mean fresh root was 32.19 t/ha,with the genotype Ininda expressing the highest fresh root yield of 54.79 t/ha. Genotypes, Naspot 13, Ejumula, Kabode, Vitaa and Tio-Joe gave the highest beta carotene content ranging between 11.830 and 10.040 mg/100g; with a mean of 5.384 mg/100g. The mean root dry matter content was 24.84 % with clones Amelia and Melinda showing the highest and lowest root dry matter content of 30.62 and 16.52 % respectively. Ten genotypes including Ininda, Erica, Jane, Naspot 13, Ejumula, Kabode, Vitaa, Tio-Joe, Amelia and Mayai were recommended as potential parents for sweet potato breeding program in Kenya.

Agronomic performance and genetic dissimilarity among cherry tomato genotypes

ABSTRACT The genotypes evaluation in a germplasm bank is essential to determine their commercial or usefulness, as potential parents, in a breeding program. We aimed to detect the genetic diversity of 42 tomato genotypes of cherry type, belonging to the germplasm bank of the Federal University of Uberlândia and, also evaluate their behavior. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in randomized block design with 42 treatments and two replications. Ten quantitative traits of agronomic importance were evaluated. The genetic divergence was obtained by multivariate analysis, using the Mahalanobis distance with different clustering methods (UPGMA and Tocher). The hybrids performance was compared by Scott-Knott (p= 0.05) and Dunnett’s test (p= 0.05). UPGMA and Tocher grouped the genotypes similarly, representing genetic divergence satisfactorily. The genotypes UFU 29, UFU 21 and UFU 07 were more productive, earlier and also divergent from the pre-commercial treatment (UFU 200), being able to be used as potential parents.

Antinutritional factors in pearl millet grains: Phytate and goitrogens content variability and molecular characterization of genes involved in their pathways.

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an important “orphan” cereal and the most widely grown of all the millet species worldwide. It is also the sixth most important cereal in the world after wheat, rice, maize, barley, and sorghum, being largely grown and used in West Africa as well as in India and Pakistan. The present study was carried out in the frame of a program designed to increase benefits and reduce potential health problems deriving from the consumption of pearl millet. The specific goal was to provide a database of information on the variability existing in pearl millet germplasm as to the amounts of phytate, the most relevant antinutrient compound, and the goitrogenic compounds C-glycosylflavones (C-GFs) accumulated in the grain.Results we obtained clearly show that, as indicated by the range in values, a substantial variability subsists across the investigated pearl millet inbred lines as regards the grain level of phytic acid phosphate, while the amount of C-GFs shows a very high variation. Suitable potential parents to be used in breeding programs can be therefore chosen from the surveyed material in order to create new germplasm with increased nutritional quality and food safety. Moreover, we report novel molecular data showing which genes are more relevant for phytic acid biosynthesis in the seeds as well as a preliminary analysis of a pearl millet orthologous gene for C-GFs biosynthesis. These results open the way to dissect the genetic determinants controlling key seed nutritional phenotypes and to the characterization of their impact on grain nutritional value in pearl millet.

Metrology for stable isotope reference materials: 13C/12C and 18O/16O isotope ratio value assignment of pure carbon dioxide gas samples on the Vienna PeeDee Belemnite-CO2 scale using dual-inlet mass spectrometry.

Isotope ratio measurements have been conducted on a series of isotopically distinct pure CO2 gas samples using the technique of dual-inlet isotope ratio mass spectrometry (DI-IRMS). The influence of instrumental parameters, data normalization schemes on the metrological traceability and uncertainty of the sample isotope composition have been characterized. Traceability to the Vienna PeeDee Belemnite(VPDB)-CO2 scale was realized using the pure CO2 isotope reference materials(IRMs) 8562, 8563, and 8564. The uncertainty analyses include contributions associated with the values of iRMs and the repeatability and reproducibility of our measurements. Our DI-IRMS measurement system is demonstrated to have high long-term stability, approaching a precision of 0.001 parts-per-thousand for the 45/44 and 46/44 ion signal ratios. The single- and two-point normalization bias for the iRMs were found to be within their published standard uncertainty values. The values of 13C/12C and 18O/16O isotope ratios are expressed relative to VPDB-CO2 using the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] notation, respectively, in parts-per-thousand (‰ or per mil). For the samples, value assignments between (-25 to +2) ‰ and (-33 to -1) ‰ with nominal combined standard uncertainties of (0.05, 0.3) ‰ for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively were obtained. These samples are used as laboratory reference to provide anchor points for value assignment of isotope ratios (with VPDB traceability) to pure CO2 samples. Additionally, they serve as potential parent isotopic source material required for the development of gravimetric based iRMs of CO2 in CO2-free dry air in high pressure gas cylinder packages at desired abundance levels and isotopic composition values. Graphical abstract CO2 gas isotope ratio metrology.

Microsatellite and SNAP markers used for evaluating pollen dispersal on Pati tall coconuts and Xenia effect on the production of ‘Kopyor’ fruits

Kopyor coconut is one of the many unique coconut types existed in Indonesia. To overcome the problem of low kopyor fruit yield, it is necessary to study xenia effect on the fruit yield of this coconut. The combination of kopyor coconut and normal coconut population selected at infarmers’ coconut plantations consisted of 33 normal coconut trees, and 9 kopyor coconut trees. All adult trees surrounding the 9 kopyor heterozygous (Kk) palms were evaluated as potential male candidate parents (pollen donors). All samples genotypes were determined using four SNAP markers and six microsatellite marker loci, parentage analysis using CERVUS software version 2.0. Results of the analysis indicate that xenia effect reduced kopyor fruit yields. Kopyor heterozygous (Kk) female parents produced low number of kopyor fruits when they were surrounded by many normal homozygous (KK) pollen donors. Out of 99 harvested progeny arrays from the kopyor heterozygous (Kk) female parents, none exhibited kopyor phenotype. The results also indicate that the pollen dispersal from normal homozygous (KK) donor palms range from 0 m (self pollination) to 54 m (outcrossing). The occurence of outcrossing frequency was at least 95% and the selfing frequency is 5%.

Association analysis of drought tolerance in cut chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) at seedling stage.

Understanding the genetic architecture is a prerequisite for crop improvement. The current research aimed to characterize the extent of genetic variation of drought tolerance harbored in a global collection of 159 chrysanthemum cultivars over 2years. An average subordinate function value (ASFV), integrating the wilting index, the fresh weight retention rate, and the survival rate after re-watering under two drought-stressed trials, was used to quantify the level of drought tolerance. The performance of ASFV was generally correlated between the 2years; and a high magnitude (0.95) of broad-sense heritability, coupled with the moderate genetic advance, was estimated for the ASFV. By applying MLM model with both population structure and kinship matrix as covariates association mapping identified 16 markers linked to drought tolerance, with the proportion of the phenotypic variation explained by an individual marker ranging from 4.4 to 7.6%. Of the eight markers predictive across the 2years, four (E11M24-9, E3M2-8, E1M5-5, and EST-SSR34-3) were identified as favorable alleles for drought tolerance. Several cultivars that carry at least three of the four favorable alleles were identified as potential donor parents for future improvement of the drought tolerance. The findings provide an insight into the genetic basis of the drought tolerance in chrysanthemum and will, therefore, aid in developing new cultivars with enhanced tolerance against drought stress.

Selection of Coffea canephora parents from the botanical varieties Conilon and Robusta for the production of intervarietal hybrids

ABSTRACT: The objective of this research was to quantify the genetic divergence of potential Coffea canephora parents, with the goal of developing progenies that associate the best traits of the Conilon and Robusta botanical varieties for hybrid vigor expression. Thus, 10 morphological and productive characteristics of 130 clones of Conilon and Robusta botanical varieties and their intervarietal hybrids were evaluated over 2 years. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with four replicates of four plants per plot. For selection of parents, the main component analysis was used to associate values with reference points obtained from the average of each botanical variety. The first two principal components allowed for the separation of the botanical varieties representing the variability contained in the original data with 76% for the first year and 69% for the second year. Although, the genotype × years interaction had significant effects, there were minor differences in the grouping from one year to the next, which is associated with the higher repeatability estimates observed in this study. It was observed that crosses with the 16-1-81I, 9-1-82L, and 13-1-61I parents of the botanical variety Robusta and the 167I, 890E, and 130I parents of the Conilon botanical variety presented greater potential for obtaining selection gains.

Valproate: life-saving, life-changing

Antiepileptic medications, and valproate principally, are commonly prescribed teratogens. There is significant concern that we are not doing enough to educate clinicians and potential parents about the risks of valproate in pregnancy. There is clear advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the International League Against Epilepsy about the risks of valproate exposure in utero. Reviews and guidelines that are focused on fetal risk, however, fall short in being able to fully replicate the complexity of a real clinical decision. Valproate is certainly life-changing if your child is one of the 10% with a major malformation or 30–40% with a neurodevelopmental disorder, but valproate is also potentially life-saving in the context of ensuring the best possible seizure control for some mothers with epilepsy. There are significant knowledge gaps regarding the risks to mothers who elect to take another drug, or to mother and baby if she comes off medication entirely. We also should be doing more to reduce rates of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), which is recognised as a key target when evaluating all maternal deaths.

THE PREDICTED GENETIC PROGRESS IN DAIRY CATTLE POPULATIONS USING A VARIETY OF METHODS FOR EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF ANIMALS

THE PREDICTED GENETIC PROGRESS IN DAIRY CATTLE POPULATIONS USING A VARIETY OF METHODS FOR EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF ANIMALS

Agronomic potential and selection of okra hybrids to obtain potential genitors

ABSTRACT Evaluation of pre-commercial hybrids in a germplasm bank is essential for determining its commercial potential or its utility as a potential genitor in a breeding program. The objective of this study was to determine genetic divergence and per se behavior of 47 pre-commercial hybrids from okra germplasm bank of the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia. Precocity index (%), number of fruits (fruits per plant), average fruit mass (g) and productivity (g per plant) were evaluated. Analysis of genetic divergence was performed by multivariate analysis using Mahalanobis distance with different clustering methods (UPGMA and canonical analysis). The performance of hybrids was compared by Scott-Knott (p= 0.05). A significant genetic variability among okra hybrids was observed. UPGMA and canonical analysis grouped the hybrids similarly, being satisfactory to represent genetic divergence. Ten hybrids presented higher performance than the commercial hybrids. Among them, UFU-QB16 stood out as the most promising hybrid for being used as a potential parent in breeding programs after auto pollination.

Destination Extension: A Faster Route to Fame for the Emerging Destination Brands?

Brand extension—marketing of a new product as an extension of an existing one—is a well-known strategy to increase brand value in an efficient way. However, the concept has not been sufficiently addressed in the field of destination branding. This study introduces the concept of destination-to-destination brand extension (or “destination extension”) and empirically tests its practical utility using an experimental design. In this design, two established tourism brands, South Korea and UNESCO World Heritage Site, were positioned as potential parent brands while the newly emerging destination of Jeju, the only island in the world with three UNESCO designations of outstanding value, was positioned as the extended brand. After analyzing how parent brand equity as well as the perceived fit between the parent and extended brands influence the brand equity of Jeju, this study demonstrates the feasibility of “destination extension” as an alternative marketing strategy for tourist destinations.

Parenting with Cystic Fibrosis: Balancing Roles as Parent and Patient with a Life-Limiting Illness (SA518D)

•Describe parenting concerns of individuals with CF who are considering having children and parenting experiences of individuals with CF who have children.•Acquire skills to improve communication with individuals living with CF by enhancing their understanding of parenting and related psychosocial concerns of individuals with CF.•Translate general concepts of this study to improve supportive care for parents and potential parents with other life-limiting illnesses. Life expectancy for cystic fibrosis (CF) has increased in recent decades, and more individuals with this life-limiting illness are becoming parents. The few published studies of parenting with CF offer interesting insights but are limited in scope. 1) To describe the parenting concerns of parents and non-parents with CF and 2) To identify supportive care needs of individuals with life-limiting illness who are parents or are considering parenthood. Twenty adults with CF participated in semi-structured interviews addressing reproductive decision-making, parenting concerns, and supportive care needs of parents with life-limiting illness. We performed thematic content analysis of interview data and descriptive statistical analysis of participants’ demographics and health variables. Of the 20 participants (mean age 32 years, range: 22-44): 10 were parents; 10 were men; lung illness severity ranged from mild to severe (median FEV1: 66% predicted). Participants expressed concerns about practical and emotional implications of their illness on their children and family. Among parents, the time and energy required to meet their children’s needs often superseded their own health maintenance responsibilities. Participants were concerned about engaging in illness-related communication with children. They also reported difficulty preparing for their children’s future in anticipation of their own progressive illness and early mortality. Participants’ recommendations to health care providers to improve supportive care for parents included: initiating more discussions with patients about parenting with life-limiting illness; counseling patients to establish robust social support before having children; providing opportunities to discuss experiences with other parents with CF. Results from this study can provide guidance for CF clinicians and palliative care providers to address their patients’ concerns related to parenting with CF.

Duality and fixation in $\Xi$-Wright–Fisher processes with frequency-dependent selection

A two-types, discrete-time population model with finite, constant size is constructed, allowing for a general form of frequency-dependent selection and skewed offspring distribution. Selection is defined based on the idea that individuals first choose a (random) number of \emph{potential} parents from the previous generation and then, from the selected pool, they inherit the type of the fittest parent. The probability distribution function of the number of potential parents per individual thus parametrises entirely the selection mechanism. Using sampling- and moment-duality, weak convergence is then proved both for the allele frequency process of the selectively weak type and for the population's ancestral process. The scaling limits are, respectively, a two-types $\Xi$-Fleming-Viot jump-diffusion process with frequency-dependent selection, and a branching-coalescing process with general branching and simultaneous multiple collisions. Duality also leads to a characterisation of the probability of extinction of the selectively weak allele, in terms of the ancestral process' ergodic properties.

Did parents have it right all along? Parents, risk, and living kidney donation: Revisiting the arguments for and against parental living donation of kidneys.

Historically, living kidney donation has been justified in part by our belief that living donors face minimal risks of subsequent disease. Recent research has brought that presumption into question, particularly for younger donors including parents. In light of this finding, we re-examine many of the traditional arguments both for and against the practice of parental living kidney donation. We then propose an alternative framework in which the burden of having a child with end-stage kidney disease can be considered as an illness experienced by the potential donor parent. We believe this allows a more straightforward, as well as more accurate, assessment of the risks and benefits of donation for the potential parental donor. This assessment might then be used to best inform the decision whether or not to proceed with kidney donation using a shared decision-making model, while reflecting the appropriate ethical roles of both the potential donor and the transplantation program.

Keragaan F1 dan Heterosis Karakter Agronomis pada Beberapa Persilangan Padi Beras Merah

Study on the effect of heterosis is important in order to find potential parent for creating a new superior variety. This research was aimed to study the phenotipic expression of F1 and heterosis on agronomics characters some crossed red rice. Experiment was done at a paddy field in Nyurlembang, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara during August–November 2016, and it was arranged in a randomized block design of 12 genotypes as treatment with five replications. Genotypes evaluated were Fatmawati, IPB3S, G9(F2BC4P19-36), F1-Fatmawati/Inpago Unram-I, F1-Fatmawati/G9, F1-IPB 3S/Inpago Unram-I, F1-IPB 3S/G9, F1-Inpago Unram-I/Fatmawati, F1-G9/Fatmawati, F1-Inpago Unram-I/IPB 3S, and F1-G9/IPB 3S. The results showed that based on the F1 phenotipic performances and heterosis on grain weight per hills, yield, 1000 grain weight, number of grain per panicle, length of panicle, number of productive tiller per hill, and time of flowering, there were three genotypes that had a semi ideal type of red rice with high yield potential. The genotypes were F1-Fat/G9, F1-Inpago Unram-I/IPB 3S, and F1-IPB 3S/Inpago Unram-I.<br /><br />Keywords: diversity, agronomic, yield, red rice<br /><br />

Genetic variation and association mapping of aphid (Macrosiphoniella sanbourni) resistance in chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.)

Aphid, Macrosiphoniella sanbourni, is a major insect pest that adversely affects ornamental quality and production of chrysanthemum, thus it is critical to develop new cultivars resistant to aphid. However, the genetic mechanism governing aphid resistance is thus far not thoroughly investigated in chrysanthemum. This study aimed to characterize the genetic variation of the aphid resistance in a global collection of 80 chrysanthemum entries, during summer and autumn under greenhouse condition, and to identify the molecular markers for aphid resistance by association mapping. The performances of aphid resistance, quantified by the average damage index of aphid, was significantly correlated (r = 0.93, P < 0.01) between two seasons. The coefficients phenotypic and genetic variation was calculated around 26–27%; and a high magnitude (0.93) of broad-sense heritability, together with a moderate relative genetic advance (~ 68%), was estimated for aphid resistance. By using the MLM model that integrates population structure and kinship matrix as covariates association mapping identified 11 markers related to aphid resistance, with the individually explained phenotypic variation ranging from ~ 11 to ~ 57%. Of the three markers predicted in both seasons, SSR184-1 and E1M5-1were identified as favorable alleles for aphid resistance. Seven cultivars harboring the two favorable alleles were identified as potential donor parents for future improvement of resistance against aphid. These findings add further understanding of the genetic determination of aphid resistance, and the identified favorable alleles and donor parents open a possibility to produce chrysanthemums with enhanced aphid resistance in future.

A New Gene Source for High Positive Deviations of Grain Protein Concentration from the Regression on Yield in Winter Wheat

High protein concentration is one of the main requirements for baking quality in wheat, and is of economic importance for farmers since a premium is often paid for this attribute. Improving both grain yield and protein content has been a difficult task, because the two traits are negatively correlated. We collected data on grain yield and grain protein concentration from yield trials with 25 entries, designed as square lattice in 3 replications in two years, 5 locations and different management variants, totalling 25 conditions. Eleven Romanian winter wheat cultivars and the Russian cultivar Bezostaya 1 were common in all conditions and were included in the calculation of Grain Protein Deviations (GPD) from the regressions on grain yield. The winter wheat line Profund, bred at NARDI Fundulea, showed high and relatively stable positive GPD in all yield trials, in very different conditions in which yields varied between 2046 and 9838 kg ha-1 , and protein concentration between 8.6 and 15% on average over all tested cultivars. The GPD of this line was on average +1.24% and was positive in all trials. This unusual performance might be due to the presence of genes introgressed from Aegilops tauschii, possibly complemented with favourable genes present in the Romanian cultivar Pitar. The line Profund could be recommended as a potential parent in breeding for improved GPD.

Жизнеспособность как характеристика социальной группы кандидатов в замещающие родители

Based on the research of the foster parents’ applicants sample from different regions of Russia (622 people, including 223 men, the average age is 39.6 years, and 399 women, the average age is 39.7 years), socio-demographic and psychological characteristics a large social group of potential Russian foster parents were studied. The phenomena of resilience of an adult and a family, the stages of their study and approaches to operationalization are analyzed. In the empirical study were used the following tests: “Resilience of an adult” (Makhnach, 2016), Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) in the adaptation of N.V. Tarabrina and co-authors, “Family Resources” test (Makhnach, Postylyakova, 2013) as well as the “Scale of social desirability” of Marlowe-Crown. The received results testify high resilience of a social group of Russian foster parents’ applicants. Foster parents who already raised kin and / or adoptive children, have first marriage, are in the age range of 40—50 years have better results. Also women demonstrate more high resilience than men.

Supporting Node Connectivity with Dixon’s Test for ZigBee-based WSN

Wireless sensor network (WSN) consists of a large number of sensor nodes each having limited communication range. Therefore, some nodes may become isolated during the operation of the network. The existing node connectivity algorithms for WSN aim to reduce the number of isolated nodes and increase the network coverage, but the distance between the isolated nodes and potential parent nodes is not properly considered during node connection. In this paper a novel approach for node connection with ZigBee-based WSN is proposed which applies the Dixon’s test to the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) samples. It allows accurate node connection even with a small number of RSSI values by eliminating the outliers. Computer simulation reveals that the proposed scheme consistently displays higher accuracy than the existing schemes with various numbers of RSSI samples, while the processing time required for node connection is very small.

Better Relationships, Mental Wellness, and Self-Development: What Parents Expect from Residential Treatment for Their Struggling Youth

Parents often initiate treatment for their youth with substance use or mental health issues. For this reason, parental expectations of treatment are helpful in considering the nature of parental engagement in the treatment process and possible barriers to treatment. The goal of this study was to better understand the expectations of parents who sought residential treatment for their youth. From 638 potential parent applications, 28 individual applications were randomly selected for in-depth qualitative analysis. The most frequently expressed expectation was for youth to have better relationships with their family and with peers. Implications for treatment program design, effectiveness, and evaluation are discussed. Keywords: treatment expectations, residential treatment, adolescents, parent involvement, mental health, substance use Acknowledgements: We gratefully acknowledge the parents who made this paper possible.