 |
|
Outwitting pesky parasites
July 16, 2007Across the southern United States, an invisible, yet deadly parasite known as the root-knot nematode is crippling soybean crops. While plant breeders are racing to develop cultivars resistant to the root-knot nematode, they are being slowed down by current time-consuming and expensive methods of screening for resistant plants. Now, researchers believe they have found a shortcut for screening resistant soybean crops.
Researchers at the University of Georgia report the discovery of several molecular markers that will help soybean breeders to accurately screen for root-knot resistant plants at a fraction of the time and cost of current screening techniques in the July issue of The Plant Genome.
While previous studies of soybean crops helped researchers to locate genes associated with root-knot nematode resistance, University of Georgia scientists recently identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), slight variations in the DNA, nearby genetic regions that code root-knot nematode resistance. After linking the identified SNPs to root-knot nematode resistance, scientists developed a marker assisted screening test that used SNPs to determine whether or not plants were resistant to root-knot nematode.
"The basic objective of any breeding scheme is to identify elite individuals that can pass on their desirable characteristics," explained Bo-Keun Ha, lead author of study. While Ha says most conventional breeders rely on phenotypic evaluations of plants to select the plant with most desirable traits, this process takes time and money. For example, if a breeder wants to select plants with resistance to root-knot nematode based upon a phenotypic evaluation alone, he or she must grow a large population of plants, inoculate plants with nematode eggs, wait until the growth of the nematode and evaluate the damage before selecting the most resistant plants.
Instead of relying on the time-consuming phenotypic screening to determine whether or not the root-knot resistance genes are present in soybean crops, "marker assisted selection can inform breeders about the presence of the resistance gene in individual plants," said Ha. Also, because marker assisted selection involves the screening of a few markers across thousands of plants Ha pointed out that the marker assisted selection is rather inexpensive and time efficient.
"Our results found SNPs linked to two root-knot nematode resistance genes and developed the resources for a relatively high throughput method of selection for the two genes," said Ha. "The SNP assays that we have reported will empower soybean breeders to efficiently incorporate root-knot resistance genes into new productive cultivars."
Crop Science Society of America
"The basic objective of any breeding scheme is to identify elite individuals that can pass on their desirable characteristics," explained Bo-Keun Ha, lead author of study. While Ha says most conventional breeders rely on phenotypic evaluations of plants to select the plant with most desirable traits, this process takes time and money. For example, if a breeder wants to select plants with resistance to root-knot nematode based upon a phenotypic evaluation alone, he or she must grow a large population of plants, inoculate plants with nematode eggs, wait until the growth of the nematode and evaluate the damage before selecting the most resistant plants.
Instead of relying on the time-consuming phenotypic screening to determine whether or not the root-knot resistance genes are present in soybean crops, "marker assisted selection can inform breeders about the presence of the resistance gene in individual plants," said Ha. Also, because marker assisted selection involves the screening of a few markers across thousands of plants Ha pointed out that the marker assisted selection is rather inexpensive and time efficient.
"Our results found SNPs linked to two root-knot nematode resistance genes and developed the resources for a relatively high throughput method of selection for the two genes," said Ha. "The SNP assays that we have reported will empower soybean breeders to efficiently incorporate root-knot resistance genes into new productive cultivars."
Crop Science Society of America
Nematode Current Events and Nematode News RSSChromosomes dance and pair up on the nuclear membrane
Meiosis - the pairing and recombination of chromosomes, followed by segregation of half to each egg or sperm cell - is a major crossroads in all organisms reproducing sexually.
DNA barcodes: Creative new uses span health, fraud, smuggling, history, more
The scientific ability to quickly and accurately identify species through DNA "barcoding" is being embraced and applied by a growing legion of global authorities - from medical and agricultural researchers to police and customs authorities to palaeontologists and others.
Cholesterol-lowering medicines may be effective against cancer
Statins lower cholesterol by blocking certain enzymes involved in our metabolism.
How mitochondrial gene defects impair respiration, other major life functions
Researchers are delving into abnormal gene function in mitochondria, structures within cells that power our lives. Mitochondria are the place where energy is generated from the most basic molecules of food. Because this function is essential to life, defects in mitochondria may affect a wide range of organ systems in humans and animals.
Turning back the clock: Fasting prolongs reproductive life span
Scientific dogma has long asserted that females are born with their entire lifetime's supply of eggs, and once they're gone, they're gone.
Pinhead-size worms + robot = new antibiotics
In an advance that could help ease the antibiotic drought, scientists in Massachusetts are describing successful use of a test that enlists pinhead-sized worms in efforts to discover badly needed new antibiotics.
Researchers gain ground in efforts to fight parasite infection
New findings by researchers UT Southwestern Medical Center are accelerating efforts to eradicate worm infections that afflict a third of the world's population.
Connections between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease explored
Modern societies face the increasing burden of age-related diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).
SIRT1 takes down tumors
Yuan et al. have identified another anti-cancer effect of the "longevity" protein SIRT1. By speeding the destruction of the tumor promoter c-Myc, SIRT1 curbs cell division.
Caltech biologists find optimistic worms are ready for rapid recovery
For the tiny soil-dwelling nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, life is usually a situation of feast or famine. Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have found that this worm has evolved a surprisingly optimistic genetic strategy to cope with these disparate conditions--one that could eventually point the way to new treatments for a host of human diseases caused by parasitic worms.
More Nematode Current Events and Nematode News Articles
 |
Beneficial Nematodes, 7 million active units by GreenSense |
 |
Plant Nematodes of Agricultural Importance: A Color Handbook by John Bridge Ph.D. (Author), Jim L. Starr Ph.D. (Author) The microscopic soil and plant nematodes are parasitic to crop plants. In order to diagnose these damaging nematodes, associating them with crop damage is dependent on determining the symptoms of their effects on plants or plant growth. The specific nematodes can only be seen if examining the plant organs including the roots, rhizomes, bulbs, corns, and tubers. This book aims to help those working with crop markets to identify and improve the diagnosis of nematodes of agricultural importance. The introductory chapter explores the biology and parasitism. Crop chapters, divided into grain legumes, vegetables, flower crops, cereals, roots, tuber crops, tree, and plantation include distribution, identification, symptoms, and diagnosis with management suggestions. ... |
 |
7 Million Live Beneficial Nematodes-Kills over 230 Bugs by Hirt's Gardens BENEFICIAL NEMATODES: These microscopic insects will seek out and destroy over 230 kinds of soil dwelling and wood boring insects, including cutworms, armyworms, rootworms, weevils, grubs, fungus gnat larvae, and many more. They are completely safe for people, pets, and the environment, and are compatible with other beneficial insects. Beneficial nematodes are shipped live in the box and may be mixed directly into the soil and are applied with a sprayer. USE: Beneficial Nematodes (BN) attack more than 230 kinds of soil dwelling and wood boring pests, such as flea larvae, white grubs, cutworms, corn root worms, strawberry weevils, gypsy moth larvae, cabbage root maggots, fungus gnat larvae, and many more. RELEASE: BN may be released by spraying with water, mixing with mulch and applying... |
|
|
Beneficial Nematodes, 25 million active units by GreenSense |
 |
The Biology of Nematodes by Donald L Lee (Editor) Nematode worms are amongst the commonest and most widely distributed animals on Earth. Many species cause serious diseases of humans and livestock and as such are responsible for much economic loss in agriculture. However, almost all animals and plants are susceptible to attack by parasitic nematodes. Although they are probably best known as parasites, most nematodes are free-living and occur in enormous numbers in almost every habitat suitable for life. Although many parasitic species have been extensively studied because of their medical, veterinary or agricultural importance, the most thoroughly studied nematode is the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the complete genome of which has now been elucidated. This multi-authored reference text has an international list of... |
 |
Nematodes as Environmental Indicators by M. J. Wilson (Editor), T. Kakouli-Duarte (Editor) Nematodes are the most wide spread multicellular animals in nature and analysis of nematodes in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments as well as their role and function in ecosystems, can be used for environmental monitoring. Compared to other organisms, they offer the greatest potential as bioindicators and can be used to study gene expression in relation to environmental challenges, to monitor changing impacts on the environment and in laboratory ecotoxicity tests. This volume addresses classical and molecular approaches to nematode community analysis, the contemporary field of nematodes as biosensors, as well as genomic aspects of nematode bioindicators. In addition, the case studies stress the importance of these bioindicators and demonstrate the commercial potential... |
 |
Ladies In Red ONE PINT LIVE BENEFICIAL NEMATODES FOR NATURAL PEST CONTROL. by Ladies In Red |
 |
Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Subtropical and Tropical Agriculture by Michel Luc (Editor), Richard A. Sikora (Editor), John Bridge (Editor) The first edition of this title was published in 1990. This fully updated second edition covers all aspects of plant nematology in subtropical and tropical agriculture. It covers nematode pests of all the major food and cash crops including; rice, cereals, root and tubers, potato, food legumes, vegetables, peanut, citrus, tree and fruit crops, coconut and other palms, cocoa, tea, bananas, sugarcane, tobacco, pineapple, cotton, other tropical fibers, spices, condiments and medicinal plants. It also provides practical guidance on methods of extraction, processing and diagnosing of different plant and soil nematodes. The information in this book is supported by abundant illustrations, including 24 color plates, making this an invaluable combination of theory and practice for those studying... |
|
March of the Nematodes by Tommy Peltier & the Plastic Theatre Art Band | |
 |
Nematode Lotus (Primary Contributor) |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |