The grain yield and quality determine much of the value of an oat (Avena sativa L.) crop to the producer. This study investigated effects of genotype and environment on grain yield and quality. Twelve oat genotypes were grown during 3 yr at four locations in North Dakota where detailed environmental data were being collected. Grain yield, test weight, groat percentage, groat weight, and groat composition (protein, oil, β‐glucan, and starch concentrations) were evaluated. Results were subjected to analysis of variance and influences of environmental factors were evaluated by correlation analysis. Analysis of variance suggested that grain yield, groat starch, and ash concentrations were more strongly affected by environment than by genotype. Test weight, groat percentage, groat weight, protein, and β‐glucan were about equally influenced by environment and by genotype, whereas groat lipid was more strongly influenced by genotype. Significant environment × genotype interactions for all characteristics were attributed to differential resistance of genotypes to crown rust (caused by Puccinia coronata Corda var. aveneae W.P. Fraser & Ledingham) infection. Environments severely affected by crown rust produced grain with lower test weight, groat weight, and groat percentage in susceptible genotypes. Correlation analyses suggested that warm, bright (high solar radiation) spring weather, and cooler summer weather without excessive rains during grain filling generated the best oat yields with high quality grain.

Intraparenchymal spinal cord tumors in the cat are rarely reported and often as single case reports. In the current study, the clinical, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), histologic, and immunohistochemical features of 7 cases of intraparenchymal spinal cord tumors in the cat are described. All cats were domestic breed, ranged from 4 to 12 years of age (median 8 years), and included spayed females (5/7) and neutered males (2/7). The duration of clinical signs ranged from 2 weeks to 3 months. MRI revealed lesions that were hyperintense on T2-weighted images with variable contrast enhancement. All 7 tumors had histologic features consistent with glial origin: 3 were astrocytic (gemistocytic or fibrous), and 2 were oligoastrocytic. Single cases of oligodendroglioma and gliomatosis cerebri were also present in the study. Glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity was robust in the tumors that were predominately astrocytic, and the gliomatosis cerebri case had extensive BLA.36 and Iba1 immunoreactivity. Ki-67 immunoreactivity was variable and most abundant in the case of malignant oligoastrocytoma. The majority of peritumoral lymphocytes were CD3 positive. The current study expands upon the known reports of spinal cord neoplasia in the cat, confirms a caudal cervical segment predilection, and includes a report of gliomatosis cerebri in the spinal cord of a cat.

Archaeological, morphological, and biochemical data suggest that common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was domesticated separately in South America and Central America. Variation in seed size, shape, and color is common in both centers of domestication and has been maintained as market classes. Despite extensive global transport, market classes have remained distinct. Although variation has been measured in genotypes from the two centers of domestication, the inter‐ and intra‐market class genetic diversity among North American dry bean cultivars is generally unknown. Estimating genetic diversity improves the assessment of potential vulnerability to disease epidemics and the design of experiments requiring diverse genotypes. One method of assessing genetic diversity, based on pedigrees, is the coefficient of parentage (r). Coefficient of parentage data can be used in cluster analysis to identify groups of related cultivars. This study used the coefficient of parentage ta determine the degree of relationship among 143 dry bean plant introductions, landraces, breeding lines, and cultivars, represent. ing the major market classes grown in North America. Using r‐values, 16 clusters were found, with 13 cultivars unassigned to any cluster. Three major clusters, which corresponded to small (navy and black), medium (pinto, pink, great northern, and red Mexican), and large (kidney) seed size, were observed. Crossing among these major groups was rare, although more recombination had occurred between the large and medium‐seed size groups than between any other combination of groups. In general, the medium‐seed size group exhibited more recombination and greater variability than the small‐seed group. Mean within cluster r‐values suggest that intra‐market class genetic diversity is narrow, but the genetic diversity among market classes is greater. Therefore, exploiting the diversity among market classes would broaden the genetic base of dry bean breeding populations.

Malting barley (Hordeum vulgate L.) breeders often are accused of using germplasm with a narrow genetic base for development of new cultivars. Yet, gains are being made in improving agronomic and malt quality traits. This suggests that more variability exists than otherwise can be expected by examining pedigrees. The objective of this study was to compare results from the cluster analysis based on the coefficients of parentage between 21 North American six-rowed barley cultivars with the cluster analysis based on I0 malt quality traits oftbe same cultivars. This information may aid us in determining if further galus can be expected by intercrossing closely related genotypes, and to identify those malt quality traits in which improvement can be expected. Malt quality traits evaluated were kernel plumpness, grain protein, fine-grind extract, coarse-grind extract, fine-coarse extract difference, soluble protein, soluble protein to total barley protein ratio, diastatic power, u-amylase activity, alkaline viscosity, and total malt l}-glucan content. Data on these traits for each of the 21 cultivars were collected on malt produced from samples of grain grown at Fargo, ND, over 3 yr. Composition of the clusters based on the coefficients of parentage was different from that of the clusters based on the analysis of malt quality traits. Clusters based on the analysis of the coefficients of parentage were related to the location of development of the cultivars. Results suggest that gains in malting quality still may be expected from intercrossing germplasm from different breeding programs and even within a program. Traits that may be improved further are kernel plumpness, diastatic power, a-amylase activity, soluble to total protein ratio, alkaline viscosity, and total malt [5-glucan. M ALTING BARLEY breeding programs emphasize crosses among adapted elite germplasm because progeny from crosses involving non-adapted or poor malt quality parents generally have unacceptable quality. The conservative nature behind malting barley breeding programs is due, in part, to the need for new malting barley cultivars to meet quality specifications set by.the malting and brewing industry. For a new cultivar to be accepted by industry, it must be equal or superior to the check cultivar in malting and brewing quality. In general, ' unadapted germplasm has been used as sources of resistance to pathogens and not to improve malting quality. The continued use of locally adapted germplasm with acceptable malting quality may have resulted in the gene pool for six-rowed malting barley being narrower than desired. Eslick and Hockett (1974) estimated that the six-rowed malting barley gene pool could be traced to 11 ancestors. Martin et al. (1991) found that 52% the germplasm of the six-rowed cultivars they evaluated that were released after 1971 came from the five ancestors with the highest mean coefficient of parentage. Based on principal coordinate analysis of the between-cluster