Genes for Yield Stability in Tomatoes.

Breeding plant varieties with adaptation to unstable environments requires some knowledge about the genetic control of yield stability. To further this goal, a meta-analysis of 12 years of field harvest data of 76 introgression lines (ILs) is conducted. Five quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting yield stability are mapped; IL10-2-2 is unique as this introgression improved yield stability without affecting mean yield both in the historic data and in four years of field validations.

Isolation and characterisation of new putative probiotic bacteria from human colonic flora.

The present study describes a novel bacterial isolate exhibiting high ability to synthesise and secrete butyrate. The novel isolated bacterium was obtained from human faeces and grown in selective liquid intestinal microflora medium containing rumen fluid under microaerobic conditions. Its probiotic properties were demonstrated by the ability of the isolate to survive high acidity and medium containing bile acids and the ability to adhere to colon cancer cells (Caco-2) in vitro.