Molecular mapping of CLCuD resistance introgressed from synthetic cotton polyploid in upland cotton.

Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD), caused by a geminivirus complex, is the most serious disease of upland cotton in northwest India and Pakistan. It results in substantial losses in cotton yield and fibre quality. Due to continuous appearance of new viral strains, all the established CLCuD resistant stocks, extant and obsolete cultivars of upland cotton have become susceptible. Therefore, it became crucial to explore the novel sources of CLCuD resistance, as development of CLCuD resistant varieties is the most practical approach to manage this menace. Here, for the first time, we report introgression and mapping of CLCuD resistance from a 'synthetic cotton polyploid' to upland cotton. A backcross population (synthetic polyploid / Gossypium hirsutum Acc. PIL 43/G. hirsutum Acc. PIL 43) was developed for studying inheritance and mapping of CLCuD resistance. Dominance of CLCuD resistance was observed over its susceptibility. Two dominant genes were found to confer resistance to CLCuD. Molecular analysis through genotyping-by-sequencing revealed that chromosomes A01 and D07 harboured one CLCuD resistance gene each.

Congenital anomalies associated with cleft lip and palate-an analysis of 1623 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE: To document the frequency and nature of associated anomalies in cleft lip and/or palate patients from a craniofacial center in India. SETTING: Craniofacial Surgery & Research Centre, SDM College of Dental Sciences & Hospital, Dharwad, India. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1623 consecutive patients with cleft lip and/or cleft palate treated in a 40-month period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Frequency and nature of associated anomalies, analyzed according to the cleft type and principal organ system and/or area affected. RESULTS: The overall male to female ratio was 1.8∶1. Unilateral cleft lip with cleft palate (41%) was the most frequent cleft subtype, followed by cleft lip and/or cleft alveolus (33%); isolated submucous cleft palate (1%) was the least frequent. A total of 240 (14.8%) patients had associated anomalies, and these were more frequent in males (M∶F  =  1.4∶1). Per patient, anomalies were most frequent in the submucous cleft group (mean, 0.53) and least common in the cleft lip with or without cleft alveolus (mean, 0.14). Anomalies were most frequent in the facial region (21%), followed by the ocular (17%), central nervous (15%), gastrointestinal (3%), and urogenital (2%) systems. Thirty-four patients (2%) had recognized nonchromosomal syndromes; this was more common in the cleft palate group. CONCLUSIONS: Associated anomalies are not uncommon in patients with cleft lip and/or palate, though the frequency varies with the cleft type and organ system affected.

Effects of chronic swimming training on cardiac sarcolemmal function and composition.

Cardiac contractile function is dependent on the integrity and function of the sarcolemmal membrane. Swimming exercise training is known to increase cardiac contractile performance. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether a swimming exercise program would alter sarcolemmal enzyme activity, ion flux, and composition in rat hearts. After approximately 11 wk of exercise training, cardiac myosin and actomyosin Ca2+-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity was significantly higher in exercised rat hearts than in sedentary control rat hearts. Glycogen content was increased in plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles from exercised animals as was succinic dehydrogenase activity in gastrocnemius muscle of exercised rats in comparison to sedentary rat preparations. Sarcolemmal vesicles were isolated from hearts of exercise-trained and control rats. Sarcolemmal Na+-K+-ATPase and K+-p-nitrophenylphosphatase activities, Na+-Ca2+ exchange, and passive Ca2+ binding did not differ between the two groups. ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake and 5'-nucleotidase activity were elevated in the cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles isolated from exercised animals compared with sedentary control rats. Sarcolemmal phospholipid composition was not altered by the exercise training. Our results demonstrate that swimming training in rats does not affect most parameters of cardiac sarcolemmal function or composition. However, the elevated sarcolemmal Ca2+ pump activity in exercised rats may help to reduce intracellular Ca2+ and augment cardiac relaxation rates. The enhanced 5'-nucleotidase activity may stimulate adenosine production, which could affect myocardial blood flow. The present results further our knowledge on the subcellular response of the heart to swimming training in the rat.