White Hybrid Research Articles

POLLINATION SUCCESS AMONG STANDARD HYBRIDS AND INDONESIAN SPECIES OF PHALAENOPSIS

One of the constrains limitting the succes of Phalaenopsis breeding is incompatibility between the parents. The objective of this study was to evaluate pollination compatibilities among Indonesian Phalaenopsis species and the standard hybrid group. The species used were Phal. Violaceae ‘Sumatera’, Phal. cornu-cervi ‘Kalimantan’, Phal. amboinensis, Phal. Tetraspis and Phal. modesta and Phal. Amabilis. The Phalaenopsis standard hybrids used were eight commercially available hybrid accessions in the Indonesian flower market. The pollination schemes evaluated include: self- and cross-pollination among standard hybrids (intra-hybrids) and reciprocal crosses among standard hybrids and the Indonesian species of Phalaenopsis (inter-hybrids). Prior to pollination, the following parental characters were noted: inflorescence length, flower number at anthesis, flower sizes, leaf stomatal size and stomatal density, respectively. After pollination, the following characters were recorded: pod set number, pod size, and seed set, respectively. Samples of mature pods of intra-hybrid crosses were harvested, the seeds were germinated aseptically, and the protocorm growth from the seeds were evaluated. Results of the evaluation indicated Indonesian Phalaenopsis species in general showed smaller inflorescence length, flower number at anthesis, and flower sizes than the standard hybrid accessions. The species also exhibited smaller stomatal cell size and higher stomatal cell densities than the hybrid ones. Standard Phalaenopsis hybrids commercially available in Indonesia might have different ploidy level than the Indonesian Phalaenopsis species. Such hypothesis was supported by the the contrasting morphological characters, stomatal cell sizes and stomatal density. Furthermore, it was supported by the failure to obtain either pod set or seed set in the majority of reciprocal cross pollination among Phalaenopsis standard hybrids and the species. Growth and multiplication of protocom derived from two intra-hybrid populations into protocorm like bodies (PLBs) was not affected by the medium composition but by the genetic background of the parents. Protocorm originated from cross pollination of White A— Pink standard hybrid accessions gave higher multiplication rate than that of Pink A— White standard hybrids.

Efficient hybrid white light-emitting diodes by organic-inorganic materials at different CCT from 3000K to 9000K.

The hybrid white light-emitting didoes (LED) with polyfluoren (PFO) polymer and quantum dot (QD) was investigated using dispensing method at the different correlated color temperature (CCT) for cool and warm color temperature. This result indicates that the hybrid white LED device has the higher luminous efficiency than the convention one, which could be attributed to the increased utilization rate of the UV light. Furthermore, the CIE 1931 coordinate of high quality white hybrid LED with different CCT range from 3000K to 9000K is demonstrated. Consequently, the angular-dependent CCT and the thermal issue of the hybrid white LED device were also analyzed in this study.

Analysis of carcass and meat quality traits and nutritional values of hybrid wild boars under different crossing systems.

The aim of this study was to analyze the results of two crossing systems between wild boars and different domesticated pig breeds. Hybrid wild boars were produced by crossing captured wild boars with Meishan pigs and LY sows according to the traditional production system. The resultant commercial hybrids were black and white in coat color, respectively. Significant differences were found in the carcass and meat quality traits and nutritional values between these two hybrid wild boars. Compared with the white hybrid wild boars, at the age of 300 days, the body weight of black hybrid wild boars was 9.41 kg lower, while percent lean was 2.51% less and percent fat 2.45% higher (P < 0.05). The black hybrid wild boars had higher pH2 (6.17 vs 6.09) and intramuscular fat (3.34 vs 2.52%), lower drip loss (2.21 vs 2.68%) and shear force (44.00 vs 52.23) (P < 0.05), and more unsaturated fatty acids and essential amino acids (P < 0.05). In conclusion, cross breeding was shown to be an effective method to improve the overall production performance of wild boars, but crossing with different dam line breeds caused different responses. Compared with the white hybrid wild boars, the black hybrid wild boars had worse growth rate and carcass traits, but better meat quality traits and nutritional values.

Comparative study of white cabbage, traditional variety and hybrid intended for biological fermentation

Traditional Serbian variety of white cabbage, cultivar “Futoski” (33 samples) and hybrid “Bravo” (10 samples) were investigated in this study for their applicability to biological fermentation. Different chemical, physical, texture and sensory characteristics of raw cabbage heads were investigated. Obtained experimental results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while correlation analysis showed the relations between different assays. Also, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been applied to classify and discriminate between different cultivars cabbage heads. Furthermore, standard score has been introduced to enable more comprehensive comparison between the investigated samples, in order to find the optimum sample, regarding observed chemical, physical, texture and sensory properties. PCA analysis showed that the best sample for cabbage cultivar “Futoski” was sample 9, while sample 34 was the best for hybrid “Bravo”, regarding their chemical, morphological and sensory characteristics.

Photoluminescent hybrid materials of lanthanide (Eu3+, Sm3+) polyoxometalates and polymer resin through ionic liquid linker

We achieve luminescent soft hybrid materials with lanthanide polyoxometalates and polymer resin (Merrifield resin (MR) or Wang resin (WR)) through ionic liquid compound (3-(2-(2-mercaptoacetoxy)ethyl)-1-methyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium bromide (SHIL)) as chemical linker, which are designated as LnW10-SHIL-MR(WR) (Ln = Eu, Sm). The photoluminescent properties of these hybrids are characterized, and it is found that they present excitation both in the ultraviolet and visible regions. Under the excitation at the visible region, the yellow-orange emission is obtained for the LnW10 unit. Subsequently, the white luminescence for the excitation at the visible region can be observed. This provides the useful data to prepare the white luminescent soft hybrids of polymer and lanthanide polyoxometalates through an ionic liquid linker.

&lt;b&gt;Effects of the hydrogen potential and fungicide treatment on Pitaya seed germination

The objective of the present study was to evaluate pitaya seed germination under different hydrogen potentials, with or without fungicide treatment. A completely randomized design was employed under a 3 x 13 x 2 factorial scheme, corresponding to three pitaya species (white pitaya, pitaya hybrid I, pitaya hybrid II), thirteen hydrogen potentials (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0) and two fungicide conditions (presence and absence), with four replications. The percentage of germination, germination speed index and mean germination time were evaluated. The data were subjected to ANOVA, and the means were compared using the Scott-Knott test (p < 0.05). The pH influenced the germination speed index in white pitaya. The mean germination time was affected by the pH levels for white pitaya and pitaya hybrid II. The fungicide did not increase the germination percentage in the evaluated species.

A polystyrene bearing perylene diimide pendants with enhanced solid state emission for white hybrid light-emitting diodes

We report the preparation of a luminescent linear polystyrene decorated with randomly distributed pendants of perylene diimide, where the quenching processes due to aggregation states, typical of perylene diimides, are efficiently suppressed. Compared to a blend with the same polystyrene/dye ratio, the copolymer shows a nearly four-fold increase in quantum efficiency. Stable white emitting devices are straightforwardly prepared by the combination of this red emitting copolymer, a suitable organic green emitter, and an inorganic commercial blue light source. The selected organic dyes have appropriate photophysical characteristics for converting the blue source into a white light emission and exhibit good film forming properties even in the blend. The control of the film thickness of the blended organic dyes along with their relative concentration allows a fine tuning of the color emission. The optimized hybrid white LED displays white emission with chromaticity coordinates of x = 0.31, y = 0.34, a color rendering index of 83 and an efficiency of 28 lm/W.

The effects of a slow release GnRH agonist implant on male rabbits

Surgical castration is done in male pet rabbits for reproduction control, to reduce inter-male aggression and to control hyper-sexuality, territory marking and aggression against humans. Alternatives to surgical castration are requested because of a relatively great anaesthetic risk in rabbits. Long-term application of a GnRH agonist implant results in a fully reversible “hormonal” castration in male dogs, cats, boars and many other species. Therefore, the present study using New Zealand White hybrid and German Giant rabbits aimed to investigate the effects of a 4.7mg deslorelin implant in peripubertal male rabbits (SG; n=10), as a mean of hormonal castration. Blood samples (for testosterone measurements), body weight and testicular volume were taken on days (D) 0, 14 and 90. Surgical castration was performed on D90 for testicular histology. Age-matched animals following the same protocol without implant administration served as adult controls (n=5, CG), animals castrated on D0 served as juvenile controls (n=7, JG). Following treatment, testosterone concentrations were not reduced compared to CG; basal testosterone concentrations were only measured in JG. Spermatogenesis was not affected in SG and not different from CG. Application of a slow release GnRH agonist implant does not induce hormonal castration in male rabbits over a period of 90 days indicating that it is not a suitable alternative to surgical castration in this species.

Improved performance of flexible white hybrid light emitting diodes by adjusting quantum dots distribution in polymer matrix

A flexible hybrid white light emitting diode (LED), in which the CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) acted as an orange emitter and small organic molecules as the blue emitter in a multilayered structure was fabricated by spin-coating. The poly (N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) was added in the emitting layer to adjust QDs distribution in polymer matrix. By increasing the concentration of PVK, the electroluminescent intensity at 610 nm emission was enhanced since QDs had a better dispersibility in polymer matrix with the presence of PVK, and a pure white light emission was obtained due to the optimized architecture of the hybrid active layer. Our study provides a novel method for improving the device performance of hybrid white LEDs by controlling the QDs distribution in the active layer.

English

A production trial was carried out utilizing 200 single comb White Leghorn hybrid Athulya layers to study the economics of phytase supplementation at three different levels in low energy-protein diet with reference to the cost of egg production and net profit per egg for a period of 20 weeks. Phytase was supplemented at 0, 500 and 1000 units/kg in low energy, protein and energy-protein layer diets containing available phosphorus of 0.30% from 21 to 40 weeks of age. Significantly (P &lt; 0.01) lower cost of production of an egg and increased net profit were recorded among various phytase supplemented dietary treatments when compared with standard layer and unsupplemented diets fed treatment groups. &nbsp; Key words: Phytase, layer, economics.

Non-additive effects of mixing hybrid poplar and white spruce on aboveground and soil carbon storage in boreal plantations

The use of trees under intensive management is particularly important for rapid fiber production in boreal regions. Mixed-species plantations using species that have complementary ecological niches, such as hybrid poplar and white spruce, potentially can maximize the use of resources and, consequently, increase productivity. In the context of climate change, vegetation and soil carbon sequestration is of a particular interest as part of a possible means of compensating for CO2 emissions. Since higher productivity leads to higher CO2 sequestration, the use of mixed-species plantations could improve the ecological service of carbon storage compared to mono-specific plantations. We compared above-ground and soil C storage of nine-year-old mono-specific plantations of white spruce and hybrid poplar with mixed plantations of these two species. Soil carbon was evaluated by separately sampling four soil horizons, while aboveground carbon was assessed from tree biomass estimates using allometric relationships. Mixing white spruce and hybrid poplar exerted a substantial synergistic effect on above-ground and soil carbon storage. This positive effect was due to greater productivity of poplar (47% of biomass increase) and great accumulation of litter in soil surface horizons (52% L-horizon carbon increase) of mixed-species compared to mono-specific plantations. These results imply that in addition to wood production gains by poplar trees, mixed-species plantations of hybrid poplar and white spruce promotes greater carbon sequestration than mono-specific plantations of either hybrid poplar or white spruce, an important aspect of forest ecosystem services.

Leaf epicuticular wax as a factor of antixenotic resistance of cabbage to cabbage flea beetles and cabbage stink bugs attack

The aim of present research was to establish the role of epicuticular wax content in eight cabbage genotypes (four white hybrids and one red hybrid, two red varieties and one white variety) in the context of its natural resistance to attack cabbage flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.) and cabbage stink bugs (Eurydema spp.), which are among the most important cabbage pests in southern Europe. For this reason and for the purpose of diminishing the use of synthetic insecticides against the cabbage pests the field experiments in 2006 and 2008 were conducted. We found out that individual cabbage genotypes – they had different epicuticular wax content – differ in regard to their susceptibility to attacks by the studied groups of harmful insect pests. The highest susceptibility to attacks by Phyllotreta spp. was confirmed for the hybrid ‘Cheers F1’, in the first year (1.68 ± 0.05), as well as in the second year of the experiment (2.87 ± 0.13). Cabbage stink bugs in both years of the experiment caused the highest extent of injuries on the hybrids ‘Destiny F1’, ‘Cheers F1’, and ‘Vestri F1’. In both years we found higher epicuticular wax content in red cabbage genotypes. In almost all studied genotypes we found a pronounced negative correlation between the content of epicuticular wax and the extent of injuries done by both groups of harmful pests. We have established that epicuticular wax is an important factor of cabbage's antixenotic resistance to attacks by cabbage flea beetles and cabbage stink bugs, and that the cabbage genotypes with higher content of this substance are consequently more suitable for environmentally acceptable manners of cabbage production.

Anticipatory and foraging behaviors in response to palatable food reward in chickens: Effects of dopamine D2 receptor blockade and domestication

Behaviors associated with anticipation and search for palatable food may provide information about dopaminergic reward processes and positive motivational affect in animals. The overall aim was to investigate the involvement of dopamine signaling in the regulation of cue-induced anticipation and search for palatable food reward in chicken, and whether domestication has affected expression of reward-related behaviors. The specific aims were to describe effects of mealworms (palatable food for hens) and haloperidol (a dopamine D2 antagonist) on foraging behaviors and cue-induced anticipatory behaviors in Red Junglefowl (RJF; the wild ancestor of modern laying hens) and a white layer hybrid (LSL). RJF (n=26) and LSL (n=20) were initially trained on a conditioning schedule to anticipate mealworms (unconditioned stimulus; US) 25s after exposure to a red light (conditioned stimulus; CS). For the experiment, hens received haloperidol or saline injections 30min before exposure to one CS+US combination. Behavior was registered 10min before CS and 10min after US (foraging behaviors), and during the CS–US interval (anticipatory behaviors). Higher frequencies of CS-induced anticipatory head movements, faster approach to rewards, and higher frequency of foraging behaviors were found in LSL compared to RJF. Haloperidol suppressed CS-induced head movements in both breeds, and the frequency of foraging behaviors after reward delivery. The results support a role of dopamine signaling in the regulation of reward processes in chickens, and suggest that domestication has changed the threshold for perceiving food incentives and/or for expressing reward-related behaviors that may be indicative of positive motivational affect in hens.

Fine Mapping of the Maize Cross‐Incompatibility Locus Gametophytic Factor 1 (ga1) Using a Homogeneous Population

ABSTRACTPhenotyping of a mapping population is usually the bottleneck that limits the size of the mapping population and mapping resolution. A homogeneous population mapping approach was used for mapping maize (Zea mays L.) gametophytic factor 1 (ga1) that could completely eliminate phenotyping during the mapping process. The strong allele of maize ga1 (Ga1‐S), from popcorn inbred line SDGa25, showed a 100% cross‐incompatibility with the majority of Chinese dent and flint maize. A homogeneous mapping population was developed by crossing an (SDGa25/Jing66) F1 male back to an SDGa25 female. During the pollination process, pollen grains of ga1 were completely excluded from fertilization, and a homogeneous BC1F1 (SDGa25//SDGa25/Jing66) population was created in which only the Ga1‐S/Ga1‐S genotype existed, making phenotyping unnecessary. A total of 2245 individuals of this population were genotyped with SD9 and SD12 markers and 20 recombinants were identified. The Ga1‐S locus was quickly delineated to a 100 Kb region between markers dCS1 and insertion deletion ID7 at position 9,491,422 and 9,591,946 bp based on the B73 RefGen_v2 sequence. By marker‐assisted selection, Ga1‐S was introgressed into parental lines of an elite white waxy maize hybrid by six generations of backcrossing and one generation of selfing. The homozygous Ga1‐S/Ga1‐S hybrid showed full cross‐incompatibility to ga1 maize. The Ga1‐S allele could be used as a biological reproductive barrier in reducing cross‐pollination between different types of maize such as waxy and non‐waxy, genetically modified (GM) and non‐GM maize.

Ripping Improves Tree Survival and Growth on Unused Reclaimed Mined Lands

There is renewed interest in re-establishing trees on 0.6 million ha of mining-disturbed lands in the Appalachian mountains of Eastern United States. Many coal-mined lands reclaimed to meet requirements of US federal law have thick herbaceous vegetation and compacted soils which impede tree establishment. Mitigation practices were applied on three mine sites and evaluated for success in enabling planted trees to become established. Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), hybrid poplar (Populus deltoids × Populus trichocarpa), and mixed Appalachian hardwoods were established using weed control only and weed control with subsoil ripping. Trees were measured in October of 2008 after 5 years of growth. Subsoil ripping increased mixed hardwood survival from 43 to 71%, hybrid poplar biomass index from 1.51 to 8.97 Mg ha(-1), and Eastern white pine biomass index from 0.10 to 0.32 Mg ha(-1). When restoring trees to unused mined sites, subsoil ripping can aid survival and growth to an extent that will result in a valuable forest.

Parents and early life environment affect behavioral development of laying hen chickens.

Severe feather pecking (SFP) in commercial laying hens is a maladaptive behavior which is associated with anxiety traits. Many experimental studies have shown that stress in the parents can affect anxiety in the offspring, but until now these effects have been neglected in addressing the problem of SFP in commercially kept laying hens. We therefore studied whether parental stock (PS) affected the development of SFP and anxiety in their offspring. We used flocks from a brown and white genetic hybrid because genetic background can affect SFP and anxiety. As SFP can also be influenced by housing conditions on the rearing farm, we included effects of housing system and litter availability in the analysis. Forty-seven rearing flocks, originating from ten PS flocks were followed. Behavioral and physiological parameters related to anxiety and SFP were studied in the PS at 40 weeks of age and in the rearing flocks at one, five, ten and fifteen weeks of age. We found that PS had an effect on SFP at one week of age and on anxiety at one and five weeks of age. In the white hybrid, but not in the brown hybrid, high levels of maternal corticosterone, maternal feather damage and maternal whole-blood serotonin levels showed positive relations with offsprings’ SFP at one week and offsprings’ anxiety at one and five weeks of age. Disruption and limitation of litter supply at an early age on the rearing farms increased SFP, feather damage and fearfulness. These effects were most prominent in the brown hybrid. It appeared that hens from a brown hybrid are more affected by environmental conditions, while hens from a white hybrid were more strongly affected by parental effects. These results are important for designing measures to prevent the development of SFP, which may require a different approach in brown and white flocks.

Novel cool white-luminescent hybrids through host–guest assembly of 6-hydroxybenz[de]anthracen-7-one and europium ion exchanged zeolite L

Zeolite L (ZL) is functionalized with europium ions through ion exchange and then 6-hydroxybenz[de]anthracen-7-one (HBAO) ligand is fabricated with coordination to Eu3+ by a so-called gas disperse (so-called ship-in-bottle) method. It is worthy pointing out that the europium hybrids show emission of both europium ion and HBAO, which can be integrated to show close white luminescence. This result provides a useful path to obtain white emissive lanthanide hybrids.

White luminescent hybrid soft materials of lanthanide (Eu3 +, Sm3 +) beta-diketonates and Ag/Ag2S nanoparticles based with thiol-functionalized ionic liquid bridge

Thiol-ionic liquid (SHIL) is prepared and used as bridge to prepare multi-component soft hybrids materials Ag(Ag2S)-SHIL-Ln(L)4 (Ln=Eu, Sm, L=TTA (thenoyltrifluoroacetylacetone), TAA (trifluoroacetylacetone), DBM (1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanepione)) for its good solubility and functionality. Luminescence color of these soft hybrid materials can be adjusted through controlling different proportion of beta-diketonates (TTA, TAA, DBM) and silver species (Ag, Ag2S). Especially the white luminescence can be realized for the special composition of Ag/Ag2S and lanthanide beta-diketonate. The result can be expected to prepare luminescent soft materials to obtain the multi-color and white luminescence.

Genetic Variation and Combining Ability Analysis of Bruising Sensitivity in Agaricus bisporus

Advanced button mushroom cultivars that are less sensitive to mechanical bruising are required by the mushroom industry, where automated harvesting still cannot be used for the fresh mushroom market. The genetic variation in bruising sensitivity (BS) of Agaricus bisporus was studied through an incomplete set of diallel crosses to get insight in the heritability of BS and the combining ability of the parental lines used and, in this way, to estimate their breeding value. To this end nineteen homokaryotic lines recovered from wild strains and cultivars were inter-crossed in a diallel scheme. Fifty-one successful hybrids were grown under controlled conditions, and the BS of these hybrids was assessed. BS was shown to be a trait with a very high heritability. The results also showed that brown hybrids were generally less sensitive to bruising than white hybrids. The diallel scheme allowed to estimate the general combining ability (GCA) for each homokaryotic parental line and to estimate the specific combining ability (SCA) of each hybrid. The line with the lowest GCA is seen as the most attractive donor for improving resistance to bruising. The line gave rise to hybrids sensitive to bruising having the highest GCA value. The highest negative SCA possibly indicates heterosis effects for resistance to bruising. This study provides a foundation for estimating breeding value of parental lines to further study the genetic factors underlying bruising sensitivity and other quality-related traits, and to select potential parental lines for further heterosis breeding. The approach of studying combining ability in a diallel scheme was used for the first time in button mushroom breeding.

Evaluación de híbridos experimentales de maíz del PRM en Cenroamérica.

Evaluation of experimental corn hybrids from PRM in Central america. The trial of experimental white corn hybrids from PRM-2001 was evaluated in 14 localities in Central America during 2001. The objective was to assess their grain yield and agronomic characteristics of the experimental hybrids. Twelve triple hybrids and one double hybrid, bred from simple crosses from CIMMYT and superior lines from different PRM projects, mainly of hybrids and stunting , including one reference entry (CML 247 x CML 254) and on control, were evaluated. A Complete Randomized Experimental Block design with three replication was used. The variables registered were: grain yield, ear rot, male and female flowering, ear covering and aspect, root and stalk lodging. The results obtained for grain yield, through the 14 environments, varied between 4.75 to 6.37 t/ha, with a general media of 5.60 t/ha and variation coefficient of 9.9%. In ear rot, the hybrids showed values of 4.3 and 8.0%, being lower than the controls.