Pre-breeding in alfalfa germplasm develops highly differentiated populations, as revealed by genome-wide microhaplotype markers.

Plant genebanks contain large numbers of germplasm accessions that likely harbor useful alleles or genes absent in commercial plant breeding programs. Broadening the genetic base of commercial alfalfa germplasm with these valuable genetic variations can be achieved by screening the extensive genetic diversity in germplasm collections and enabling maximal recombination among selected genotypes. In this study, we assessed the genetic diversity and differentiation of germplasm pools selected in northern U.

Multiplication rate variation of malaria parasites from hospital cases and community infections.

The significance of multiplication rate variation in malaria parasites needs to be determined, particularly for Plasmodium falciparum, the species that causes most virulent infections. To investigate this, parasites from cases presenting to hospital in The Gambia and from local community infections were culture-established and then tested under exponential growth conditions in a standardised six-day multiplication rate assay. The multiplication rate distribution was lower than seen previously in clinical isolates from another area in West Africa where infection is more highly endemic.

Pellets enriched with healthy hay and quebracho are not sufficient to control gastrointestinal nematodes in meat sheep commercial flocks.

The emergence of AH multiresistant GIN compromises sustainability of grassland sheep farming worldwide. Plants rich in condensed tannins are an alternative method of parasitism management that is currently being explored. Feed supplementation trials with pellets rich in sainfoin () and quebracho ( spp.

Identification of complex Plasmodium falciparum genetic backgrounds circulating in Africa: a multicountry genomic epidemiology analysis.

Background: The population structure of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum can reveal underlying adaptive evolutionary processes. Selective pressures to maintain complex genetic backgrounds can encourage inbreeding, producing distinct parasite clusters identifiable by population structure analyses.

Methods: We analysed population structure in 3783 P falciparum genomes from 21 countries across Africa, provided by the MalariaGEN Pf7 dataset.

Smooth trends in fermium charge radii and the impact of shell effects.

The quantum-mechanical nuclear-shell structure determines the stability and limits of the existence of the heaviest nuclides with large proton numbers Z ≳ 100 (refs. ). Shell effects also affect the sizes and shapes of atomic nuclei, as shown by laser spectroscopy studies in lighter nuclides.