Evaluation of low-density SNP panels and imputation for cost-effective genomic selection in four aquaculture species.

Genomic selection can accelerate genetic progress in aquaculture breeding programmes, particularly for traits measured on siblings of selection candidates. However, it is not widely implemented in most aquaculture species, and remains expensive due to high genotyping costs. Genotype imputation is a promising strategy that can reduce genotyping costs and facilitate the broader uptake of genomic selection in aquaculture breeding programmes.

Association mapping of malting quality traits in UK spring and winter barley cultivar collections.

Historical malting quality data was collated from UK national and recommended list trial data and used in a GWAS. 25 QTL were identified, with the majority from spring barley cultivar sets. In Europe, the most economically significant use of barley is the production of malt for use in the brewing and distilling industries.

Characterisation of barley landraces from Syria and Jordan for resistance to rhynchosporium and identification of diagnostic markers for Rrs1.

Diagnostic markers for Rrs1 have been identified by testing for associations between SNPs within the Rrs1 interval in 150 barley genotypes and their resistance to Rhynchosporium commune isolates recognised by lines containing Rrs1. Rhynchosporium or barley scald, caused by the destructive fungal pathogen Rhynchosporium commune, is one of the most economically important diseases of barley in the world. Barley landraces from Syria and Jordan demonstrated high resistance to rhynchosporium in the field.

Characterisation of barley resistance to rhynchosporium on chromosome 6HS.

Major resistance gene to rhynchosporium, Rrs18, maps close to the telomere on the short arm of chromosome 6H in barley. Rhynchosporium or barley scald caused by a fungal pathogen Rhynchosporium commune is one of the most destructive and economically important diseases of barley in the world. Testing of Steptoe × Morex and CIho 3515 × Alexis doubled haploid populations has revealed a large effect QTL for resistance to R.

Resistance to Rhynchosporium commune in a collection of European spring barley germplasm.

Association analyses of resistance to Rhynchosporium commune in a collection of European spring barley germplasm detected 17 significant resistance quantitative trait loci. The most significant association was confirmed as Rrs1. Rhynchosporium commune is a fungal pathogen of barley which causes a highly destructive and economically important disease known as rhynchosporium.

Association Mapping of Diastatic Power in UK Winter and Spring Barley by Exome Sequencing of Phenotypically Contrasting Variety Sets.

Diastatic Power (DP) is an important quality trait for malt used in adjunct brewing and distilling. Substantial genetic variation for DP exists within UK elite barley cultivars, but breeding progress has been slow due to the limited demand, compared to the overall barley market, and difficulties in assessing DP. Estimates of DP (taken from recommended and national list trials between 1994 and 2012) from a collection of UK elite winter and spring varieties were used to identify contrasting sets of high and low DP varieties.

The genetic ghost of an invasion past: colonization and extinction revealed by historical hybridization in Senecio.

Hybridization is an important evolutionary factor in the diversification of many plant and animal species. Of particular interest is that historical hybridization resulting in the origin of new species or introgressants has occurred between species now geographically separated by great distances. Here, we report that Senecio massaicus, a tetraploid species native to Morocco and the Canary Islands, contains genetic material of two distinct, geographically separated lineages: a Mediterranean lineage and a mainly southern African lineage.