Modelling-assisted geometrical optimization of colloidal quantum color convertor based pixels fabricated by dielectrophoretic directed assembly.

HYPOTHESIS: Building competitive color conversion pixels for microdisplays made of semiconductor nanocrystals requires reaching a deposition thickness high enough to absorb all the blue light from the backlight unit. In the case of dielectrophoretic directed assembly of such nanocrystals, modeling and simulations may help understand what the intrinsic limitations of the process are, and may be used to propose new assembly routes. EXPERIMENTS: A theoretical model of dielectrophoretic interactions between polarizable nano-spheres and an electrostatically patterned substrate has been developed. Monte Carlo simulations have been run using this model to rationalize the effects of parameters driving the dielectrophoretic directed assembly and to find optimal deposition conditions for reaching a maximal thickness of nanocrystal pixels. Experiments with CdSe quantum plates and with alumina spheres embedding quantum plates (micro-pearls) have been carried out and compared to the model. FINDINGS: Modeling and simulations reveal that the directed assembly of semiconductor nanocrystals is limited essentially by the small object size, which sets the maximum dielectrophoretic force they can undergo. They indicate that using larger objects should allow reaching unprecedented assembly heights, but will induce lateral extension of the assembly. This trade-off has been illustrated with diagrams in the parameter space and confirmed experimentally with micro-pearls.

Genome-wide association study of fiber quality traits in US upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

KEY MESSAGE: A GWAS in an elite diversity panel, evaluated across 10 environments, identified genomic regions regulating six fiber quality traits, facilitating genomics-assisted breeding and gene discovery in upland cotton. In this study, an elite diversity panel of 348 upland cotton accessions was evaluated in 10 environments across the US Cotton Belt and genotyped with the cottonSNP63K array, for a genome-wide association study of six fiber quality traits. All fiber quality traits, upper half mean length (UHML: mm), fiber strength (FS: g tex-1), fiber uniformity (FU: %), fiber elongation (FE: %), micronaire (MIC) and short fiber content (SFC: %), showed high broad-sense heritability (> 60%). All traits except FE showed high genomic heritability. UHML, FS and FU were all positively correlated with each other and negatively correlated with FE, MIC and SFC. GWAS of these six traits identified 380 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) including 143 MTAs on 30 genomic regions. These 30 genomic regions included MTAs identified in at least three environments, and 23 of them were novel associations. Phenotypic variation explained for the MTAs in these 30 genomic regions ranged from 6.68 to 11.42%. Most of the fiber quality-associated genomic regions were mapped in the D-subgenome. Further, this study confirmed the pleiotropic region on chromosome D11 (UHML, FS and FU) and identified novel co-localized regions on D04 (FU, SFC), D05 (UHML, FU, and D06 UHML, FU). Marker haplotype analysis identified superior combinations of fiber quality-associated genomic regions with high trait values (UHML = 32.34 mm; FS = 32.73 g tex-1; FE = 6.75%). Genomic analyses of traits, haplotype combinations and candidate gene information described in the current study could help leverage genetic diversity for targeted genetic improvement and gene discovery for fiber quality traits in cotton.

Voltage-Driven Fluorine Motion for Novel Organic Spintronic Memristor.

Integrating tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) effect in memristors is a long-term aspiration because it allows to realize multifunctional devices, such as multi-state memory and tunable plasticity for synaptic function. However, the reported TMR in different multiferroic tunnel junctions is limited to 100%. This work demonstrates a giant TMR of -266% in La0.6Sr0.4MnO3(LSMO)/poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF)/Co memristor with thin organic barrier. Different from the ferroelectricity-based memristors, this work discovers that the voltage-driven florine (F) motion in the junction generates a huge reversible resistivity change up to 106% with nanosecond (ns) timescale. Removing F from PVDF layer suppresses the dipole field in the tunneling barrier, thereby significantly enhances the TMR. Furthermore, the TMR can be tuned by different polarizing voltage due to the strong modification of spin-polarization at the LSMO/PVDF interface upon F doping. Combining of high TMR in the organic memristor paves the way to develop high-performance multifunctional devices for storage and neuromorphic applications.

Curcumin coated 3D biocomposite scaffolds based on chitosan and cellulose for diabetic wound healing.

The objective of present work is to fabricate porous three-dimensional biocomposite scaffolds with interconnected pore networks and mechanical strength for wound healing. Variable concentrations of chitosan and methylcellulose hydrogels were blended in the presence of calcium cations to prepare scaffolds by freeze-drying method. Curcumin-aerosol was deposited over the scaffold surface to improve antimicrobial efficacy. Scaffold stability and curcumin interaction were evaluated by Differential Scanning Calorimeter, Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer. Scanning Electron Microscopy indicate multi-layered porosity, mesh-like structure and pore-size ranging from 50 to 500 µm. Erythrocyte interaction with chitosan and methylcellulose using Surface Plasmon Resonance assay in the presence of curcumin depicted high binding affinity of chitosan alone than curcumin. The antibacterial activity of SCF-4C against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and the instant haemostasis in erythrocyte-agglutination assay by SCF-7 indicate good material properties for wound treatment. Bleeding time and wound healing efficacy conducted on Sprague Dawley rats depict minimum clotting time of SCF-4 (∼32 ± 2 s) compared to SCF-4C (∼45 ± 2 s), while highest ∼85 ± 5 s was observed in curcumin alone. SCF-4C exhibit complete wound healing on day14 in diabetic animals. In-vivo studies confirmed that high concentration of chitosan in presence of curcumin enhances diabetic wound healing process.

Improved protocol for plasma microRNA extraction and comparison of commercial kits.

INTRODUCTION: MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNA molecules that are becoming popular biomarkers in several diseases. However, their low abundance in serum/plasma poses a challenge in exploiting their potential in clinics. Several commercial kits are available for rapid isolation of microRNA from plasma. However, reports guiding the selection of appropriate kits to study downstream assays are scarce. Hence, we compared four commercial kits to evaluate microRNA-extraction from plasma and provided a modified protocol that further improved the superior kit's performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared four kits (miRNeasy Serum/Plasma, miRNeasy Mini Kit from Qiagen; RNA-isolation, and Absolutely-RNA MicroRNA Kit from Agilent technologies) for quality and quantity of microRNA isolated, extraction efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Bioanalyzer-based Agilent Small RNA kit was used to evaluate quality and quantity of microRNA. Extraction efficiency was evaluated by detection of four endogenous control microRNA using real-time-PCR. Further, we modified the manufacturer's protocol for miRNeasy Serum/Plasma kit to improve yield. RESULTS: miRNeasy Serum/Plasma kit outperformed the other three kits in microRNA-quality (P < 0.005) and yielded maximum microRNA-quantity. Recovery of endogenous control microRNA i.e. hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-191-5p, hsa-miR-423-5p and hsa-miR-484 was higher as well. Modification with the inclusion of a double elution step enhanced yield of microRNA extracted with miRNeasy Serum/Plasma kit significantly (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that miRNeasy Serum/Plasma kit outperforms other kits and can be reliably used with a limited plasma quantity. We have provided a modified microRNA-extraction protocol with improved microRNA output for downstream analyses.

The Emerging Trend of Bio-Engineering Approaches for Microbial Nanomaterial Synthesis and Its Applications.

Micro-organisms colonized the world before the multi-cellular organisms evolved. With the advent of microscopy, their existence became evident to the mankind and also the vast processes they regulate, that are in direct interest of the human beings. One such process that intrigued the researchers is the ability to grow in presence of toxic metals. The process seemed to be simple with the metal ions being sequestrated into the inclusion bodies or cell surfaces enabling the conversion into nontoxic nanostructures. However, the discovery of genome sequencing techniques highlighted the genetic makeup of these microbes as a quintessential aspect of these phenomena. The findings of metal resistance genes (MRG) in these microbes showed a rather complex regulation of these processes. Since most of these MRGs are plasmid encoded they can be transferred horizontally. With the discovery of nanoparticles and their many applications from polymer chemistry to drug delivery, the demand for innovative techniques of nanoparticle synthesis increased dramatically. It is now established that microbial synthesis of nanoparticles provides numerous advantages over the existing chemical methods. However, it is the explicit use of biotechnology, molecular biology, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and genetic engineering tools that revolutionized the world of microbial nanotechnology. Detailed study of the micro and even nanolevel assembly of microbial life also intrigued biologists and engineers to generate molecular motors that mimic bacterial flagellar motor. In this review, we highlight the importance and tremendous hidden potential of bio-engineering tools in exploiting the area of microbial nanoparticle synthesis. We also highlight the application oriented specific modulations that can be done in the stages involved in the synthesis of these nanoparticles. Finally, the role of these nanoparticles in the natural ecosystem is also addressed.

Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Bioactive Composite Scaffolds for Hemostasis and Wound Healing.

Fabrication of 3D composite scaffolds was carried out by lyophilization of variable concentrations of collagen and chitosan gel solutions. Fibrinogen and thrombin aerosol were deposited over the surface of scaffolds to enhance hemostasis and wound healing. Composite scaffolds were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometer to ascertain the aerosol deposition and stability. Scanning electron microscope showed multilayered porosity with pore size of ~30 µm and mushroom-like fibril growth of aerosol. A detailed investigation by surface plasmon resonance confirmed higher binding affinity of collagen toward the human blood platelets and erythrocytes in comparison to chitosan and was found to increase with the increase in blood cell concentration from 480.8 to 886.4 RU for erythrocytes. Scaffolds showed higher binding response for platelets than erythrocytes, while fibrinogen and thrombin showed no or limited interaction. Highest blood sorption of 83 ± 4% was observed in case of aerosol deposited scaffolds. Aerosol deposited scaffolds showed minimum clotting time of 20 ± 3 s and bleeding time of 38 ± 4 s, which was significantly lower compared to the scaffolds without aerosol treatment. Aerosol deposited composite scaffolds with 2:1 concentration of chitosan/collagen showed complete wound contraction by day 14, while 50% was observed in case of the control group. In vivo studies revealed that chitosan had a crucial role in the inflammatory phase, while collagen played an important role in the proliferation and maturation phase. The present study suggests that the fabricated 3D composite scaffolds with bioactive moieties may be a potential candidate for enhanced hemostasis and wound healing applications.

Comparative Analysis of Collagen and Chitosan-based Dressing for Haemostatic and Wound Healing Application.

Collagen and chitosan have haemostatic, tissue fix and wound healing properties but the poor mechanical property limits their application. Therefore, various concentrations of collagen (1-6%) and chitosan (1-2%) were used to develop biopolymer-coated gauzes, with and without glycerol as plasticiser. Glycerol-treated gauzes showed desired mechanical and adhesive property in comparison to polymer-coated gauzes alone. Developed gauzes were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry to confirm the biopolymer coating and stability. Scanning electron microscopy showed multilayer coating of the biopolymer and faster clotting in chitosan gauzes in comparison to collagen. Surface plasmon resonance assay confirmed that chitosan exhibited more binding affinity of 65 RU in comparison to collagen, which showed 55 RU with erythrocytes. Decrease in the value of plateletcrit and mean platelet volume confirmed platelet adhesion and aggregation over the surface of polymer-coated dressings. Gamma scintigraphy studies showed 85 ± 2% formulation retention up to 12 h at the wound site in comparison to 40 ± 3% retention of the radiopharmaceutical alone. Collagen and chitosan-coated gauze showed 226 ± 15 s and 179 ± 12 s haemostasis time, respectively, which was significantly less from 506 ± 15 s in standard gauze. Chitosan gauze showed faster wound healing in comparison to the collagen-coated gauze. Chitosan and collagen-coated gauzes showed 55 ± 4% wound contraction on day seven in comparison to 25 ± 2% in the control group, while chitosan gauzes showed complete wound contraction on day fourteenth, while the collagen-coated gauze showed 90 ± 3% on the same day.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Reactivates HIV-1 via Exosome-Mediated Resetting of Cellular Redox Potential and Bioenergetics.

The synergy between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) interferes with therapy and facilitates the pathogenesis of both human pathogens. Fundamental mechanisms by which M. tuberculosis exacerbates HIV-1 infection are not clear. Here, we show that exosomes secreted by macrophages infected with M. tuberculosis, including drug-resistant clinical strains, reactivated HIV-1 by inducing oxidative stress. Mechanistically, M. tuberculosis-specific exosomes realigned mitochondrial and nonmitochondrial oxygen consumption rates (OCR) and modulated the expression of host genes mediating oxidative stress response, inflammation, and HIV-1 transactivation. Proteomics analyses revealed the enrichment of several host factors (e.g., HIF-1α, galectins, and Hsp90) known to promote HIV-1 reactivation in M. tuberculosis-specific exosomes. Treatment with a known antioxidant-N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)-or with inhibitors of host factors-galectins and Hsp90-attenuated HIV-1 reactivation by M. tuberculosis-specific exosomes. Our findings uncover new paradigms for understanding the redox and bioenergetics bases of HIV-M. tuberculosis coinfection, which will enable the design of effective therapeutic strategies.IMPORTANCE Globally, individuals coinfected with the AIDS virus (HIV-1) and with M. tuberculosis (causative agent of tuberculosis [TB]) pose major obstacles in the clinical management of both diseases. At the heart of this issue is the apparent synergy between the two human pathogens. On the one hand, mechanisms induced by HIV-1 for reactivation of TB in AIDS patients are well characterized. On the other hand, while clinical findings clearly identified TB as a risk factor for HIV-1 reactivation and associated mortality, basic mechanisms by which M. tuberculosis exacerbates HIV-1 replication and infection remain poorly characterized. The significance of our research is in identifying the role of fundamental mechanisms such as redox and energy metabolism in catalyzing HIV-M. tuberculosis synergy. The quantification of redox and respiratory parameters affected by M. tuberculosis in stimulating HIV-1 will greatly enhance our understanding of HIV-M. tuberculosis coinfection, leading to a wider impact on the biomedical research community and creating new translational opportunities.

Natural Genetic Variation Underlying Tiller Development in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L).

In barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), lateral branches called tillers contribute to grain yield and define shoot architecture, but genetic control of tiller number and developmental rate are not well characterized. The primary objectives of this work were to examine relationships between tiller number and other agronomic and morphological traits and identify natural genetic variation associated with tiller number and rate, and related traits. We grew 768 lines from the USDA National Small Grain Collection in the field and collected data over two years for tiller number and rate, and agronomic and morphological traits. Our results confirmed that spike row-type and days to heading are correlated with tiller number, and as much as 28% of tiller number variance was associated with these traits. In addition, negative correlations between tiller number and leaf width and stem diameter were observed, indicating trade-offs between tiller development and other vegetative growth. Thirty-three quantitative trait loci (QTL) were associated with tiller number or rate. Of these, 40% overlapped QTL associated with days to heading and 22% overlapped QTL associated with spike row-type, further supporting that tiller development is associated with these traits. Some QTL associated with tiller number or rate, including the major QTL on chromosome 3H, were not associated with other traits, suggesting that some QTL may be directly related to rate of tiller development or axillary bud number. These results enhance our knowledge of the genetic control of tiller development in barley, which is important for optimizing tiller number and rate for yield improvement.

Sequence-based mapping identifies a candidate transcription repressor underlying awn suppression at the B1 locus in wheat.

Awns are stiff, hair-like structures which grow from the lemmas of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and other grasses that contribute to photosynthesis and play a role in seed dispersal. Variation in awn length in domesticated wheat is controlled primarily by three major genes, most commonly the dominant awn suppressor Tipped1 (B1). This study identifies a transcription repressor responsible for awn inhibition at the B1 locus. Association mapping was combined with analysis in biparental populations to delimit B1 to a distal region of 5AL colocalized with QTL for number of spikelets per spike, kernel weight, kernel length, and test weight. Fine-mapping located B1 to a region containing only two predicted genes, including C2H2 zinc finger transcriptional repressor TraesCS5A02G542800 upregulated in developing spikes of awnless individuals. Deletions encompassing this candidate gene were present in awned mutants of an awnless wheat. Sequence polymorphisms in the B1 coding region were not observed in diverse wheat germplasm whereas a nearby polymorphism was highly predictive of awn suppression. Transcriptional repression by B1 is the major determinant of awn suppression in global wheat germplasm. It is associated with increased number of spikelets per spike and decreased kernel size.

RNA-loaded dendritic cells: more than a tour de force in cancer therapeutics.

A wide array of therapeutic strategies has been implemented against cancers, yet their clinical benefit is limited. The lack of clinical efficacy of the conventional treatment options might be due to the inept immune competency of the patients. Dendritic cells (DCs) have a vital role in initiating and directing immune responses and have been frequently used as delivery vehicles in clinical research. The recent clinical data suggest the potential use of DCs pulsed with nucleic acid, especially with RNA holds a great potential as an immunotherapeutic measure with compare to other cancer therapeutics. This review mainly deals with the DCs and their role in transfection with RNA in cancer immunotherapy.

Development of a Multiparent Population for Genetic Mapping and Allele Discovery in Six-Row Barley.

Germplasm collections hold valuable allelic diversity for crop improvement and genetic mapping of complex traits. To gain access to the genetic diversity within the USDA National Small Grain Collection (NSGC), we developed the Barley Recombinant Inbred Diverse Germplasm Population (BRIDG6), a six-row spring barley multiparent population (MPP) with 88 cultivated accessions crossed to a common parent (Rasmusson). The parents were randomly selected from a core subset of the NSGC that represents the genetic diversity of landrace and breeding accessions. In total, we generated 6160 F5 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), with an average of 69 and a range of 37-168 RILs per family, that were genotyped with 7773 SNPs, with an average of 3889 SNPs segregating per family. We detected 23 quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with flowering time with five QTL found coincident with previously described flowering time genes. A major QTL was detected near the flowering time gene, HvPpd-H1 which affects photoperiod. Haplotype-based analysis of HvPpd-H1 identified private alleles to families of Asian origin conferring both positive and negative effects, providing the first observation of flowering time-related alleles private to Asian accessions. We evaluated several subsampling strategies to determine the effect of sample size on the power of QTL detection, and found that, for flowering time in barley, a sample size >50 families or 3000 individuals results in the highest power for QTL detection. This MPP will be useful for uncovering large and small effect QTL for traits of interest, and identifying and utilizing valuable alleles from the NSGC for barley improvement.

Genome-wide association studies for yield-related traits in soft red winter wheat grown in Virginia.

Grain yield is a trait of paramount importance in the breeding of all cereals. In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), yield has steadily increased since the Green Revolution, though the current rate of increase is not forecasted to keep pace with demand due to growing world population and increasing affluence. While several genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on yield and related component traits have been performed in wheat, the previous lack of a reference genome has made comparisons between studies difficult. In this study, a GWAS for yield and yield-related traits was carried out on a population of 322 soft red winter wheat lines across a total of four rain-fed environments in the state of Virginia using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker data generated by a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) protocol. Two separate mixed linear models were used to identify significant marker-trait associations (MTAs). The first was a single-locus model utilizing a leave-one-chromosome-out approach to estimating kinship. The second was a sub-setting kinship estimation multi-locus method (FarmCPU). The single-locus model identified nine significant MTAs for various yield-related traits, while the FarmCPU model identified 74 significant MTAs. The availability of the wheat reference genome allowed for the description of MTAs in terms of both genetic and physical positions, and enabled more extensive post-GWAS characterization of significant MTAs. The results indicate a number of promising candidate genes contributing to grain yield, including an ortholog of the rice aberrant panicle organization (APO1) protein and a gibberellin oxidase protein (GA2ox-A1) affecting the trait grains per square meter, an ortholog of the Arabidopsis thaliana mother of flowering time and terminal flowering 1 (MFT) gene affecting the trait seeds per square meter, and a B2 heat stress response protein affecting the trait seeds per head.

Training population selection and use of fixed effects to optimize genomic predictions in a historical USA winter wheat panel.

KEY MESSAGE: The optimization of training populations and the use of diagnostic markers as fixed effects increase the predictive ability of genomic prediction models in a cooperative wheat breeding panel. Plant breeding programs often have access to a large amount of historical data that is highly unbalanced, particularly across years. This study examined approaches to utilize these data sets as training populations to integrate genomic selection into existing pipelines. We used cross-validation to evaluate predictive ability in an unbalanced data set of 467 winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes evaluated in the Gulf Atlantic Wheat Nursery from 2008 to 2016. We evaluated the impact of different training population sizes and training population selection methods (Random, Clustering, PEVmean and PEVmean1) on predictive ability. We also evaluated inclusion of markers associated with major genes as fixed effects in prediction models for heading date, plant height, and resistance to powdery mildew (caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici). Increases in predictive ability as the size of the training population increased were more evident for Random and Clustering training population selection methods than for PEVmean and PEVmean1. The selection methods based on minimization of the prediction error variance (PEV) outperformed the Random and Clustering methods across all the population sizes. Major genes added as fixed effects always improved model predictive ability, with the greatest gains coming from combinations of multiple genes. Maximum predictabilities among all prediction methods were 0.64 for grain yield, 0.56 for test weight, 0.71 for heading date, 0.73 for plant height, and 0.60 for powdery mildew resistance. Our results demonstrate the utility of combining unbalanced phenotypic records with genome-wide SNP marker data for predicting the performance of untested genotypes.

Rapid evaluation of different perovskite absorber layers through the application of depth profile analysis using glow discharge - Time of flight mass spectrometry.

Depth profile analysis of perovskite absorber layers deposited onto glass substrates is investigated by radiofrequency pulsed glow discharge - time of flight mass spectrometry (rf-PGD-ToFMS). Elemental depth profiles obtained for perovskite films fabricated using a double-step deposition route with different precursors (methylammonium iodide and PbI2, PbCl2 or PbBr2) show varying distribution of the principle components depending on the precursors employed. Furthermore, the results show that rf-PGD-ToFMS allows to identify traces of residue solvent used in the initial film preparation (dimethyl sulphoxide or dimethylformamide) and to identify differences produced by film thickness and oxygen uptake caused by exposure to ambient conditions. The approach also enables inspection of the differences in elemental diffusion and the degradation processes. By using rf-PGD-ToFMS, no ultra-high-vacuum is needed for processing and rapid analysis of absorber films can be obtained in less than 40 s. The demonstration of such powerful analytical technique for obtaining depth profile information could enable groups in the field to better optimize processing conditions and enhance stability.

Loci and candidate genes controlling root traits in wheat seedlings-a wheat root GWAS.

Two hundred one hexaploid wheat accessions, representing 200 years of selection and breeding history, were sampled from the National Small Grains Collection in Aberdeen, ID, and evaluated for five root traits at the seedling stage. A paper roll-supported hydroponic system was used for seedling growth. Replicated roots samples were analyzed by WinRHIZO. We observed accessions with nearly no branching and accessions with up to 132 cm of branching. Total seminal root length ranged from 70 to 248 cm, a 3.5-fold difference. Next-generation sequencing was used to produce single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and genomic libraries that were aligned to the wheat reference genome IWGSCv1 and were called single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. After filtering and imputation, a total of 20,881 polymorphic sites were used to perform association mapping in TASSEL. Gene annotations were conducted for identified marker-trait associations (MTAs) with - log10P > 3.5 (p value < 0.003). In total, we identified 63 MTAs with seven for seminal axis root length (SAR), 24 for branching (BR), four for total seminal root length (TSR), eight for root dry matter (RDM), and 20 for root diameter (RD). Putative proteins of interest that we identified include chalcone synthase, aquaporin, and chymotrypsin inhibitor for SAR, MYB transcription factor and peroxidase for BR, zinc fingers and amino acid transporters for RDM, and cinnamoyl-CoA reductase for RD. We evaluated the effects of height-reducing Rht alleles and the 1B/1R translocation event on root traits and found presence of the Rht-B1b allele decreased RDM, while presence of the Rht-D1b allele increased TSR and decreased RD.

Correction to: Mapping adult plant stem rust resistance in barley accessions Hietpas-5 and GAW-79.

Unfortunately, one co-author name was incorrectly published in the original publication. The complete correct name should read as follows.

Mapping adult plant stem rust resistance in barley accessions Hietpas-5 and GAW-79.

Key message Major stem rust resistance QTLs proposed to be Rpg2 from Hietpas-5 and Rpg3 from GAW-79 were identified in chromosomes 2H and 5H, respectively, and will enhance the diversity of stem rust resistance in barley improvement programs. Stem rust is a devastating disease of cereal crops worldwide. In barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare), the disease is caused by two pathogens: Puccinia graminis f. sp. secalis (Pgs) and Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt). In North America, the stem rust resistance gene Rpg1 has protected barley from serious losses for more than 60 years; however, widely virulent Pgt races from Africa in the Ug99 group threaten the crop. The accessions Hietpas-5 (CIho 7124) and GAW-79 (PI 382313) both possess moderate-to-high levels of adult plant resistance to stem rust and are the sources of the resistance genes Rpg2 and Rpg3, respectively. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for stem rust resistance in Hietpas-5 and GAW-79, two biparental populations were developed with Hiproly (PI 60693), a stem rust-susceptible accession. Both populations were phenotyped to the North American Pgt races of MCCFC, QCCJB, and HKHJC in St. Paul, Minnesota, and to African Pgt races (predominately TTKSK in the Ug99 group) in Njoro, Kenya. In the Hietpas-5/Hiproly population, a major effect QTL was identified in chromosome 2H, which is proposed as the location for Rpg2. In the GAW-79/Hiproly population, a major effect QTL was identified in chromosome 5H and is the proposed location for Rpg3. These QTLs will enhance the diversity of stem rust resistance in barley improvement programs.