Selection Of Lines Research Articles

Abstract 4867: Effect of FGFR3 activity on Nectin-4 expression in urothelial carcinoma

Abstract Bladder cancer is a common malignancy in the U.S. and cause of significant morbidity and mortality. Combination platinum-based chemotherapy has long been the mainstay in the treatment of metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC); however, over the last decade there have been significant advances in systemic therapy, which includes the FDA approval of the pan-FGFR inhibitor erdafitinib (approved for tumors with FGFR2/3 alterations) and the antibody drug conjugate (ADC) enfortumab vedotin (which targets the cell surface protein Nectin-4). Despite these advances, most patients with mUC will progress and succumb from their disease, highlighting the need for further therapeutic development. In parallel to therapeutic advances, there have been significant advances in the molecular characterization of UC, including identification of luminal and basal subsets. NECTIN4 and FGFR3 alterations are known to be enriched in luminal subtypes and we have found, via query of the TCGA data, that NECTIN4 expression was significantly higher in FGFR3 altered tumors. Given this association we sought to investigate the effect of FGFR3 activity on Nectin-4 expression. Using erdafitinib, in select luminal UC cell lines (RT112, RT4, SW780) with FGFR3 fusion proteins, we found, much to our surprise, that FGFR inhibition increased Nectin-4 expression. Western blots, probing for Nectin-4, following 24H, 48H, and 72H of treatment with erdafitinib (50 nM) showed a significant increase in protein expression in all three cell lines. Importantly, we consistently saw increased expression of what we believe corresponds to the membrane bound form of Nectin-4 and have now confirm such by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence probing for Nectin-4 in the RT112 cell line. We have also seen statistically significant increases in NECTIN4 on RT-PCR following treatment with erdafitinib; however, we believe that Nectin-4 regulation by FGFR inhibition is not merely transcriptional because the induction of Nectin-4 protein appears significantly greater than the fold increase in mRNA. Notably, in two additional UC cell lines (HT1376 - a luminal cell line with high Nectin-4 expression & UMUC3 - a basal cell line with low Nectin-4 expression), with no alterations in FGFR3, we did not see a significant change in Nectin-4 expression following treatment with erdafitinib. Based on our above results, we hypothesize that FGFR3 inhibition, in tumors harboring FGFR3 alterations, may act as a sensitize agent to Nectin-4 ADC targeted therapy; however, our results are preliminary and further investigation, particularly with in vivo models, is warranted. Citation Format: Sean Clark-Garvey, Mi Zhou, Andrew Truong, Wolfgang Beckabir, Michael Sturdivant, William Kim. Effect of FGFR3 activity on Nectin-4 expression in urothelial carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4867.

Characteristics and Applicability of Line Selection of Non-solidly Grounding Fault in Paralleling Double-Circuit Distribution Lines on Different Buses

To improve power supply capacity and save land resources, a large number of single-circuit distribution lines have been transformed into double-circuit distribution lines. The influence of their complex coupling relationship on the characteristics of non-solidly grounding faults and the applicability of existing line selection methods are not yet clear. An equivalent model of small grounding fault in double-circuit line from different buses is established, and the influence of the line-to-line coupling on the fault characteristics of the grounding system and the applicability of the line selection methods are analyzed by it. The results show that: for the system with a grounding fault, the line-to-line coupling does not affect its zero-sequence voltage and current characteristics, and the existing line selection methods are still applicable; for the system without a grounding fault, the double-circuit line shows the characteristics of the faulty line, and the existing line selection methods are no longer applicable. Simulation is used to verify the results.

A New 5'-UTR <i>LcyE </i>allele Correlates with Increased Expression of the Lycopine-ε-Cyclase Gene Determining the Flow of the β-ε Branch of the Carotenoid Biosynthesis Pathway in Maize

The color of Zea mays L. kernel is determined by the content and composition of carotenoids, including provitamin A, which is a product of the β-β (β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin) and β-ε (α-carotene) branches of carotenogenesis. The ratio of the fluxes of the branches depends on the activity of the lycopene-ε-cyclase LcyE, which determines the β-ɛ branch. In this work, we analyzed allelic variants of the LcyE gene, which are potentially effective for increasing the biosynthesis of β-carotene, in 20 maize inbred lines of domestic selection, which differ in grain color. The 5'-UTR region of the LcyE gene were amplified and sequenced. Fragment analysis showed the presence of allele “2” in four lines and a new allele “5” in 16 lines. The polymorphism of the new allele “5” was characterized – four mononucleotide polymorphisms and two deletions. The comparison of cis-regulatory elements in the analyzed region of the 5'-UTR of alleles “2” and “5” revealed a difference in binding sites with transcription factors. Expression of the LcyE gene was determined in the leaves of two lines with the allele “2” and three lines with the allele “5”. A direct relationship was shown between the presence of the allele “5” and a decrease in gene expression: the level of gene transcription in the case of the allele “2” was 10–15 times higher than in the case of the allele “5”. It has been suggested that the presence of allele “5” of the LcyE gene in the maize genome correlates with a decrease or suppression of the LcyE expression and, with stable activity of other carotenogenesis enzymes, with grain color. The use of allele “5” donors in combination with the known dark yellow or orange color of the grain can be used in the breeding of maize with increased synthesis of provitamin A in the grain.

A Faulty Line Selection Method for Flexible Grounding System Based on Transient Fault Data

In view of the problem of high-impedance grounding faults (HIFs) in flexible grounding systems (FGS), a faulty line selection method based on transient waveform slope is proposed in this paper. The change of zero sequence (ZS) current of faulty line and non-faulty line (before and after the neutral point parallel small resistance are put in) are analyzed. After the parallel small resistance is put into operation, the waveform slope curve of the transient zero sequence current of each line is obtained, and the modified Hausdorff distance (MHD) algorithm is used to obtain the transient slope matrix. The faulty line is identified by comparing the sizes of each row of elements in the matrix. Simulation verifies the effectiveness of the proposed faulty line selection method.

A Method for Judging the Arc-Extinction Time of Resonant Grounding System Based on Frequence Difference

In the resonant grounding system, the accurate judgment of arc-extinction time has guiding significance for the line selection of grounding fault, the evaluation of the arc suppression effect, and the extraction and utilization of transient information after arc extinction. Aiming at the single-phase grounding fault of resonant grounding system, this paper analyzes the frequence change characteristics before and after arc extinction. It is found that the frequence of zero-sequence electrical quantity before arc extinction is power frequence, and it changes after arc extinction. It is used to construct single-frequence methods and dual-frequence methods for judging arc-extinction time. As a tool for dynamic frequence measurement, SOGI-FLL is utilized to realize the engineering application of the method for judging arc-extinction time. The method’s accuracy is proved by Matlab/Simulink simulation and field test.

Energy Saving Transmission Line Evaluation Based on Mechanical and Electrical Characteristics Analysis

In order to improve the safety and reliability of transmission lines in certain areas, an energy-saving line selection scheme based on mechanical and electrical characteristics analysis is proposed. We determine the structural technical parameters and system conditions of the new energy-saving conductor through specific cases. In the mechanical characteristics, the dynamic stress, safety factor and the maximum sag of four different types of conductors during galloping are compared; In electrical characteristics, the current carrying capacity and resistance loss are mainly calculated. Finally, the economic and social benefits of energy-saving conductor are analyzed in combination with the specific project situation, and the specific precautions in the conductor selection process are analyzed, which provides a technical reference for the design, selection and application of energy-saving conductor.

Physiological Responses of Common Bean Genotypes to Drought Stress

Drought compromises edible vegetable production worldwide, including common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) an economically important crop that is highly dependent on optimum rainfall or abundant irrigation. In the present study, phenotypic data of 26 Bulgarian common bean mutant lines and cultivars subjected to drought stress has been summarized, and drought stress reaction was evaluated by chlorophyll fluorescence and proteomics approaches. Several basic photosynthetic parameters were examined during treatment to evaluate the drought stress response, and the mutant lines showed different responses. Subsequently, a relationship was found between productivity and photosynthetic performance with the expression of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase through comparative 2D-gel based electrophoresis; accumulation of the well-known stress-related proteins markers dehydrins and small heat shock proteins was established as well. These findings support the further selection of drought tolerant common bean lines for a sustainable agriculture.

A Combined Method Based on the FIPV N Monoclonal Antibody Immunofluorescence Assay and RT-nPCR Method for the Rapid Diagnosis of FIP-Suspected Ascites

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which is caused by feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), is a fatal and immunologically mediated infectious disease among cats. At present, due to the atypical clinical symptoms and clinicopathological changes, the clinical diagnosis of FIP is still difficult. The gold standard method for the differential diagnosis of FIP is immunohistochemistry (IHC) which is time-consuming and requires specialized personnel and equipment. Therefore, a rapid and accurate clinical diagnostic method for FIPV infection is still urgently needed. In this study, based on the etiological investigation of FIPV in parts of southern China, we attempted to explore a new rapid and highly sensitive method for clinical diagnosis. The results of the etiological investigation showed that the N gene of the FIPV BS8 strain had the highest homology with other strains. Based on this, a specific FIPV BS8 N protein monoclonal antibody was successfully prepared by expression of the recombinant proteins, immunization of mice, fusion and selection of hybridoma cell lines, and screening and purification of monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, we carried out a time-saving combination method including indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR) to examine FIP-suspected clinical samples. These results were 100% consistent with IHC. The results revealed that the combined method could be a rapid and accurate application in the diagnosis of suspected FIPV infection within 24 hours. In conclusion, the combination of IFA and RT-nPCR was shown to be a fast and reliable method for clinical FIPV diagnosis. This study will provide insight into the exploitation of FIPV N antibodies for the clinical diagnosis of FIP-suspected ascites samples.

Analysis of advanced generation multistage field trials data in autogamous plant breeding: An evaluation in common Bean

AbstractThe performance of inbred lines in advanced endogamous generation is commonly evaluated in successive generations of testing and selection, which we defined as “multistage field trials” (MSFT). MSFT data routinely exhibit heterogeneity of (co)variances at several levels due to genetic and/or statistical imbalance. Nowadays, mixed models have been widely used to deal with unbalanced data. However, few studies on common bean have addressed the use of a mixed model approach with modeling of (co)variance structures for random effects in MSFT. Furthermore, factor analysis and genotype‐ideotype distance (FAI‐BLUP) selection index was originally proposed using best linear unbiased predictions from individual analysis. In this regard, we aimed to study the implications of modeling (co)variance structures for random effects in the estimation of genetic parameters and evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of inbred line selection by the modeled FAI‐BLUP approach. A total of five trials were evaluated from 2018 to 2020. The results revealed that the unstructured covariance matrix fitted better for grain yield, whereas the matrix with uniform correlation and heterogeneity of variances fitted better for grain aspect and plant architecture. The modeled FAI‐BLUP approach increased the values of selection accuracy and selection efficiency. Our results suggest that modeling the different structures of (co)variances and selecting the best‐performing genotypes by modeled FAI‐BLUP approach should be used in common bean assays involving unbalanced data.

Selection index and agronomic characters of doubled haploid rice lines from anther culture

Abstract. Hadianto W, Purwoko BS, Dewi IS, Suwarno WB, Hidayat P. 2023. Selection index and agronomic characters of doubled haploid rice lines from anther culture. Biodiversitas 24: 1511-1517. Development of superior rice varieties requires selection of the best lines having good agronomic characters and high yields. This study aimed to select high-yielding doubled haploid rice lines obtained from anther culture through index selection and agronomic characters. The study was conducted using a single-factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) with genotype as treatment. Sixty doubled haploid lines and 5 check varieties were evaluated along with three replications, hence, the total experimental unit was 195. Analysis of variance showed that the genotypes had a significant effect on all observed characters, except for the number of productive tillers. The agronomic characters observed had a high broad sense of heritability, except for the number of productive tillers which was in the medium category. Furthermore, index selection was carried out based on productivity, the number of productive tillers, the total number of grains, as well as the percentage of filled grains. Based on the index selection, 29 lines were selected among the 60 doubled haploid rice lines tested. These lines had the range in productivity from 2.95 to 6.77 ton ha-1, the number of productive tillers from 12.3 to 20.8 tillers, the total number of grains from 135 to 275.4 seeds, the filled grain percentage from 53.23 to 87.61%, and the selection index from -1.48 to 7.88. The selected lines will be further tested at the next experimental stage in several locations to produce high-yielding, brown planthopper-resistant, and drought-tolerant rice varieties.

Multi-task scheduling in cloud remanufacturing system integrating reuse, reprocessing, and replacement under quality uncertainty

This study focuses on the multi-task scheduling problem for the cloud remanufacturing system incorporating reuse, reprocessing, and replacement operations considering quality uncertainty. A framework of the cloud remanufacturing under quality differences is first constructed, and a mathematical model is then established to characterize the multi-task scheduling problem in the cloud platform. In this framework, five quality grades are considered, and each grade is assigned a specific remanufacturing line. To efficiently address this problem, the nonlinear grey wolf optimization (NLGWO) algorithm with a hybrid sequential solution representation for remanufacturing line selection, task sequencing, and service searching and matching is introduced. Additionally, the nonlinear strategy and the crisscross optimization method are embedded in the NLGWO to balance the exploration and exploitation capabilities while enhancing its population updating mechanisms. To evaluate the proposed method, a real-world case study is designed and implemented under actual remanufacturing conditions. Three different optimization problems, including makespan optimization, cost optimization, and multi-objective optimization problems, are addressed using the NLGWO and its four baseline meta-heuristic methods. The computational results demonstrate that the NLGWO can efficiently solve all the optimization problems in the case study, outperforming its baseline algorithms in terms of solution accuracy, computing speed, and convergence performance.

Selection of introgressive wheat and triticale lines for grain quality and resistance to diseases for use in organic farming

17 introgressive lines and varieties of winter wheat and 2 lines of winter triticale (collection of the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing) were studied to determine the possibility of their use in organic farming. The studies were conducted in 2021-2022 in the foothill zone of the south-east of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the basis of the research field stationary of the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing. Analysis for genetically modified sources showed the absence of 35S and NOS regulatory elements in the samples. DNA identification by PCR to detect effective brown, stem and yellow rust genes ( Lr9, Lr26/Sr31/Yr9, Lr34/Yr18/ Sr57, Lr35/Sr39, Sr2, Sr36 ) made it possible to identify 4 samples (1633-40, 1675-170, 1723-11, 2041-7) with valuable Lr34/Yr18/Sr57/Pm38 genes and 1 sample (1127-7) with Lr26/Sr31/Yr9/Pm8 genes. Phytopathological assessment of the resistance of cereal crops was carried out on the natural background using the appropriate scales of recording the infestation of plants by brown stem rust and yellow rust. As a result, 9 samples resistant to 2 types of rust (brown and yellow) with reaction type R and zero percent were found (1127-7, 1675-170, 1676, 2005-13, 2041-13, 2046-1, KZ231, T-409-1, T-989-1). Stem rust in the years of research was not recorded. Grain quality assessment was carried out on the basis of the requirements of relevant GOSTs on the following parameters: grain nature, vitreousness, protein and gluten content, gluten quality. It was found that all the samples under consideration in terms of vitreousness and gluten content correspond to the class of strong wheat. Samples with high grain natures (≥800 g/l; 1674-27, 1675-149, 1675-170), protein content (≥16%; 2041-13, 2005-13, 2041-7, 1716-24, 1675-149, 1127-7, 1633-31, 1717-27, KZ231), quality and quantity of gluten (1127-7, KZ231) were selected. According to the results of comprehensive evaluation, 2 lines (1127-7, KZ231), which showed good resistance to 2 types of rust and high grain quality, were noted. These lines are recommended for use in organic farming.

Selection of Optimal Cell Lines for High-Content Phenotypic Screening

High-content microscopy offers a scalable approach to screen against multiple targets in a single pass. Prior work has focused on methods to select "optimal" cellular readouts in microscopy screens. However, methods to select optimal cell line models have garnered much less attention. Here, we provide a roadmap for how to select the cell line or lines that are best suited to identify bioactive compounds and their mechanism of action (MOA). We test our approach on compounds targeting cancer-relevant pathways, ranking cell lines in two tasks: detecting compound activity ("phenoactivity") and grouping compounds with similar MOA by similar phenotype ("phenosimilarity"). Evaluating six cell lines across 3214 well-annotated compounds, we show that optimal cell line selection depends on both the task of interest (e.g., detecting phenoactivity vs inferring phenosimilarity) and distribution of MOAs within the compound library. Given a task of interest and a set of compounds, we provide a systematic framework for choosing optimal cell line(s). Our framework can be used to reduce the number of cell lines required to identify hits within a compound library and help accelerate the pace of early drug discovery.

Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Yam (Dioscorea Species) Germplasm Using Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) Molecular Markers

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is an important food security crop with economic, nutritional, and medicinal value. It is a source of carbohydrates for millions of people in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa, Asia, South America, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific Islands. Determining the appropriate parents for breeding programs is the most important decision that plant breeders must make to maximize genetic variability and produce excellent recombinant varieties. However, adequate genetic diversity and the population structure of yam accessions in Kenya are not available to guide accurate selection of parents for breeding. In the present study, 25 start-codon-targeted (SCoT) molecular markers were used to determine the genetic diversity and population structure among 20 yam accessions grown in Kenya. A total of 294 fragments were amplified, of which 95% were polymorphic with an average of 11.16 polymorphic fragments per primer. The polymorphic information content (PIC) value and primer resolving power (Rp) of 0.58 and 5.91, respectively, revealed high genetic diversity among the accessions. A dendrogram based on the unweighted pair group method of arithmetic means (UPGMA) grouped the 20 yam accessions into two clusters at 0.61 genetic similarity coefficients. Bayesian structure analysis revealed the existence of three subpopulations and some admixed accessions. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed a variance of 60% within the subpopulations and 40% among the subpopulations. The high degree of genetic diversity in the yam accessions successfully exhibited by SCoT molecular markers may serve as a valuable aid to widen the genetic base in yam breeding programs. The selection and hybridization of parental lines from the different clusters and sub-clusters identified could provide a foundation and could be exploited for yam breeding and variety development.

Simplified absorption line selection methods for water absorption thermometry around 2 µm

Line-selection is of vital importance for absorption spectroscopy based thermometry. Up to now, various analytical and numerical line-selection methods have been developed to tackle this issue. Here, concerning the numerical line-selection of water around 2 µm, the conventional method based on the frequency-dependent lower-state energy is simplified through pre-filtering of the candidate absorption lines. As a result, the previous thousands of candidate lines is greatly reduced to a few dozen. With reduced libraries, three simplified line-selection methods are proposed. Line selection results of the simplified methods in the investigated wavelength span from 1800 nm to 1900 nm are discussed and evaluated covering a wide temperature range from 400 K to 2000 K. Comparisons with the conventional method demonstrates that, these three simplified methods provide comparable temperature precision, but with a much faster selection speed.

Growth, survival and gonad development of diploids, triploids and tetraploids of ‘Haida No. 3’ line of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas

Selection and polyploidization are two practical tools for improving productive traits of oysters. To evaluate the aquaculture traits of diploids, triploids and tetraploids of ‘Haida No. 3’ line of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, four mating combinations (HD- diploid ‘Haida No. 3’ line ♀ × diploid ‘Haida No. 3’ line ♂, HTR- diploid ‘Haida No. 3’ line ♀ × tetraploid ‘Haida No. 3’ line ♂, HTE- tetraploid ‘Haida No. 3’ line ♀ × tetraploid of ‘Haida No. 3’ line ♂, WD- wild diploid ♀ × wild diploid ♂) were established. At both Rongcheng and Rushan sites, HD had a larger shell height and wet weight than WD. HTR outperformed HD in growth and survival, with a consistently positive value of triploid advantage (TA). On the day 480 at Rushan site, the triploid advantages in terms of shell height, wet weight and cumulative survival were 20.70%, 40.28% and 29.27%, respectively. HTE were the lowest in growth and survival compared to the other three groups. Histomorphometric analysis revealed that HTR were partial highly sterile, indicating its gonadal atrophy and gamete abnormalities. In contrast, HD and HTE were fully fertile and contained functional gametes. During the whole culture period, HTR remained 100% triploid rate while HTE maintained a tetraploid rate of over 80%. HTR and HTE exhibited rapid growth and stable black shell color, suggesting that these traits were stably inherited by the ploidy change. Overall, our results demonstrated that polyploidization based on selective line had favorable performance for aquaculture, which would have vital practical interest for oyster culture in northern China.

Quantitative trait loci associated with amino acid concentration and in vitro protein digestibility in pea (Pisum sativum L.).

With the expanding interest in plant-based proteins in the food industry, increasing emphasis is being placed on breeding for protein concentration and quality. Two protein quality traits i.e., amino acid profile and protein digestibility, were assessed in replicated, multi-location field trials from 2019 to 2021 in pea recombinant inbred line population PR-25. This RIL population was targeted specifically for the research of protein related traits and its parents, CDC Amarillo and CDC Limerick, had distinct variations in the concentration of several amino acids. Amino acid profile was determined using near infrared reflectance analysis, and protein digestibility was through an in vitro method. Several essential amino acids were selected for QTL analysis, including lysine, one of the most abundant essential amino acids in pea, and methionine, cysteine, and tryptophan, the limiting amino acids in pea. Based on phenotypic data of amino acid profiles and in vitro protein digestibility of PR-25 harvested in seven location-years, three QTLs were associated with methionine + cysteine concentration, among which, one was located on chromosome 2 (R2 = 17%, indicates this QTL explained 17% phenotypic variation of methionine + cysteine concentration within PR-25), and two were located on chromosome 5 (R2 = 11% and 16%). Four QTLs were associated with tryptophan concentration and are located on chromosome 1 (R2 = 9%), chromosome 3 (R2 = 9%), and chromosome 5 (R2 = 8% and 13%). Three QTLs were associated with lysine concentration, among which, one was located on chromosome 3 (R2 = 10%), the other two were located on chromosome 4 (R2 = 15% and 21%). Two QTLs were associated with in vitro protein digestibility, one each located on chromosomes 1 (R2 = 11%) and 2 (R2 = 10%). QTLs associated with in vitro protein digestibility, and methionine + cysteine concentration on chromosome 2 were identified to be co-localized with known QTL for total seed protein concentration in PR-25. QTLs associated with tryptophan and methionine + cysteine concentration co-localized on chromosome 5. The identification of QTLs associated with pea seed quality is an important step towards marker-assisted selection of breeding lines with improved nutritional quality, which will further boost the competitiveness of pea in plant-based protein markets.

Transcriptome and Metabolome Profiling Unveil Pigment Formation Variations in Brown Cotton Lines (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Naturally brown colored cotton (NBCC) is becoming increasingly popular due to its natural properties of coloration. However, poor fiber quality and color fading are key issues that are hindering the cultivation of naturally colored cotton. In this study, based on transcriptome and metabolome of 18 days post-anthesis (DPA), we compared the variations of pigment formation in two brown cotton fibers (DCF and LCF), with white cotton fiber (WCF) belonging to a near-isogenic line. A transcriptome study revealed a total of 15,785 differentially expressed genes significantly enriched in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. Furthermore, for flavonoid biosynthesis-related genes, such as flavonoid 3'5'-hydroxylase (F3'5'H), anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), anthocyanidin reductase (ANR), chalcone synthase (CHS), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), and chalcone isomerase (CHI), their expressions significantly increased in LCF compared with DCF and WCF. Moreover, transcription factors MYB and bHLH were significantly expressed in LCF and DCF. Most flavonoid-related metabolites (myricetin naringenin, catechin, epicatechin-epiafzelechin, and epigallocatechin) were found to be more highly up-regulated in LCF and DCF than WCF. These findings reveal the regulatory mechanism controlling different brown pigmentation in cotton fibers and elucidate the need for the proper selection of high-quality brown cotton fiber breeding lines for promising fiber quality and durable brown color pigmentation.

Marker-Assisted Selection of Male-Sterile and Maintainer Line in Chili Improvement by Backcross Breeding

Cytoplasmic genic male sterility (CGMS) is a male sterility system that uses the maternal line for hybrid production, ensuring no obscurity of F1 seed purity and reducing the cost of hybrid seed production. Identification of the male sterility gene is important for plant improvement and classification when using the molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) method. This study aimed to produce a new maternal line (A-line) and its maintainer line (B-line) by transferring a male-sterile line (A-line) and its maintainer line (B-line) gene from another variety to restorer lines (C-line) to achieve future hybrid seed production. In the process, the CGMS line (A-line) and B-line transferred to C1 and C3 lines, which finally resulted in new A-line (BC2F2A1 × C1, BC2F2A1 × C3), and B-line (BC1F2B1 × C1, BC1F2B1 × C3), and then used the MAS method for detecting genes and pollen viability test in the newly improved lines. The results indicated that the 3336-last2-SCAR (1639 bp) and 4162-SCAR (1046 bp) DNA markers classified the Rf locus, and the CMS-SCAR130/140 marker confirmed the S or N cytoplasm. The BC2F2A1 × C1 and BC2F2A1 × C3 lines represented both male-fertile (SRf_) and male-sterile (Srfrf) progenies in a Mendelian ratio of 3:1. Moreover, stained pollen grains with 1% acetocarmine confirmed abnormal pollen in male-sterile plants. The molecular markers that detect maintainer lines (Nrfrf) are BC1F2B1 × C1-14, BC1F2B1 × C3-10, and BC1F2B1 × C3-11. The 3336-last2-SCAR (1639 bp) and CMS-SCAR130/140 markers successfully identified the male-sterile line (Srfrf) and maintainer line (Nrfrf), and 4162-SCAR (1046 bp) detected the presence of the RfRf or Rfrf genotype in chilies at the seedling stage. The use of these markers was highly accurate and confirmed the results at the early generation stage of a conventional breeding program. It can be concluded that the CGMS and maintainer gene in chilies were successfully transferred during early generation using the backcross method.

Breeding sugar-fodder beet hybrids for biofuel production

Topicality. The development of biofuel engineering in Ukraine demands to cultivate the agrofuel crops as renewable energy sources. The sugar-fodder hybrids created using high-value sterile forms of sugar beet and fertile forms of fodder beet may hold promise for biofuel feedstock production. Purpose. Develop experimental sugar-fodder beet hybrids with high energy yield, suitable for alternative biofuels production, and select the best ones. Materials and Methods. 6 pollen-sterile breeding lines of sugar beet and 23 selection numbers of fertile fodder beet were used to create the sugar-fodder hybrids. The breeding process comprised the following steps: selection of initial parental lines, evaluation them by combining ability, and, based on the best, formation of the hybrids. Method of multi-tester top crossing was applied and field trials of the experimental hybrids held. Results. The parent components varied significantly in energy yield, which ranged within 53.5–61.5 GJ/ha (for the MS-samples) and from 80.0 to 87.8 GJ/ha for the top 4 pollinators. On completion of the tester crosses, the following have been selected: MS-samples of the sugar beet lines MS Iv. 24869 and MS Iv. 2484 with proven significant effects of general combining ability at 6.7 GJ/ha and 4.0 GJ/ha; and pollinators of the fodder beet varieties Halytskyi and Lvivskyi zhovtyi – at 8.0 GJ/ha and 6.5 GJ/ha, respectively. In the genotypic structure of variability of the “energy output” trait, the total share of the influence of valuable additive gene complexes of parental samples (51 %) was almost equivalent to the share of non-additive interaction of components (49 %). Conclusions. By the method of combinative selection, three new genotypes of sugar-fodder hybrids have been developed, with energy output rate higher than 120 GJ/ha, suitable for the biofuel production from renewable sources. These are the genotypes MS Iv. 24869/k 41/42; MS Iv. 24869/k 13/14; and MS Iv. 24869/s. Lvivskyi zhovtyi, with indicators exceeding the standard by 14.3 %, 15.4 % and 8.5 %, respectively. Keywords: bioenergy, pollen-sterile forms, pollinators, sugar-fodder hybrids, combining ability, energy yield