No abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) and other members of Saccharum spp. are attractive biofuel feedstocks. One of the two World Collections of Sugarcane and Related Grasses (WCSRG) is in Miami, FL. This WCSRG has 1002 accessions, presumably with valuable alleles for biomass, other important agronomic traits, and stress resistance. However, the WCSRG has not been fully exploited by breeders due to its lack of characterization and unmanageable population. In order to optimize the use of this genetic resource, we aim to 1) genotypically evaluate all the 1002 accessions to understand its genetic diversity and population structure and 2) form a core collection, which captures most of the genetic diversity in the WCSRG. We screened 36 microsatellite markers on 1002 genotypes and recorded 209 alleles. Genetic diversity of the WCSRG ranged from 0 to 0.5 with an average of 0.304. The population structure analysis and principal coordinate analysis revealed three clusters with all S. spontaneum in one cluster, S. officinarum and S. hybrids in the second cluster and mostly non-Saccharum spp. in the third cluster. A core collection of 300 accessions was identified which captured the maximum genetic diversity of the entire WCSRG which can be further exploited for sugarcane and energy cane breeding. Sugarcane and energy cane breeders can effectively utilize this core collection for cultivar improvement. Further, the core collection can provide resources for forming an association panel to evaluate the traits of agronomic and commercial importance.

Comparative osteology of European lizards, and of European geckos in particular, is poorly known, resulting in problems when trying to determine to species isolated bones found as fossils or as remains of prey in scats or pellets. In order to partly solve this issue, we here present a detailed comparative analysis of the cranial bones of the four most broadly distributed species of European gekkotans: Euleptes europaea, Hemidactylus turcicus, Mediodactylus kotschyi and Tarentola mauritanica. The skulls of these species display both a set of features that are typical for geckos in general and unique features that can be employed to identify isolated bones of all considered species. Diagnostic differences are found in almost every bone (except the squamosal, epipterygoid and stapes), leading to the creation of a detailed diagnostic key. The dentition also displays some interspecific differences, even though all four species share a similar general tooth morphology, with pleurodont teeth provided with two parallel cutting edges separated by a groove-like space. Such a dentition is consistent with an arthropod-based diet.

MRI with Gd-DTPA proved more sensitive in identifying the vascular component of pituitary stalk and added new information about the partial preservation of hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal vessels. The vascular pituitary stalk is easily recognized after Gd-DTPA in most IGHD patients, but exceptionally in MPHD; this sheds light on the possible normal course of affected patients. The neural component of the pituitary stalk is lacking regardless of whether patients have IGHD or MPHD, indicating that the term congenital agenesis of the neural pituitary stalk is more appropriate than pituitary stalk interruption. The times to enhancement of ectopic posterior pituitary and residual anterior pituitary obtained by the fast-framing MRI technique disclose dynamic changes in regional blood supply which appear direct, arterial and mainly independent of the portal system.