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Drought is a major threat to global wheat production. In this study, an association panel containing 200 Chinese wheat germplasms was used for genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of genetic loci associated with eight root and seedling biomass traits under normal water and osmotic stress conditions. The following traits were investigated in wheat seedlings at the four-leaf stage: root length (RL), root number (RN), root fresh weight (RFW), root dry weight (RDW), shoot fresh weight (SFW), shoot dry weight (SDW), total fresh weight (TFW), and total dry weight (TDW). A total of 323 and 286 SNPs were detected under two water environments, respectively. Some of these SNPs were near known loci for root traits. Eleven SNPs on chromosomes 1B, 2B, 4B, and 2D had pleiotropic effects on multiple traits under different water conditions. Further analysis indicated that several genes located inside the 4 Mb LD block on each side of these 11 SNPs were known to be associated with plant growth and development and thus may be candidate genes for these loci. Results from this study increased our understanding of the genetic architecture of root and seedling biomass traits under different water conditions and will facilitate the development of varieties with better drought tolerance.

Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne diseases among humans worldwide. Animal-derived foods are frequently tested for the presence of Salmonella spp. However, the detection of Salmonella in meat and its products is often hindered due to the presence of background normal flora, which may lead to the detection of false-positive Salmonella. The present study aimed to isolate and accurately identify Salmonella spp. from poultry meat. For this purpose, seventy poultry meat samples were collected from Lahore, Pakistan, isolated on selective and differential media, and identified using biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction for the 16S rRNA gene of identified strains. The results of selective and differential media culturing and biochemical tests were compared with the results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing. It was inferred that the phenylalanine deaminase test and triple sugar iron tests eliminate the false-positive Salmonella isolates obtained on isolation media, and along with the PCR technique, can serve as an accurate and efficient method for the correct detection of Salmonella spp. from meat samples. In order to reduce the false-positive Salmonella isolates, a highly specific selective media must be designed which can distinguish Salmonella forming different colors of colonies from other bacteria and also cause the inhibition of non-Salmonellaisolates.

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