International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics

‎International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics ISSN 6790-4823 Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-016, January, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Review

A study of Marker assisted backcrossing (MAB) benefits of molecular markers in breeding programs

*Knut O. Giaever, Hamsun Edvard and Fridtjof Bjørndalen

Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432, Ås, Norway

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 10 October, 2016

Abstract

Marker assisted backcrossing (MAB) is one of the most anticipated and frequently cited benefits of molecular markers as indirect selection tools in breeding programs. However, routine implementations of MAB in ongoing plant breeding programs are still scarce. Currently MAB of single gene is perhaps the most powerful approach that uses DNA markers effectively. Improvement of quantitative traits loci (QTLs) through MAB resulted to variable results ranging from limited success and/or even a failure to a few highly successful stories. A major constraint to the implementation of MAB in pragmatic breeding programs has been the high relative cost compared to conventional phenotypic selection. It is a popular misconception that a ‘DNA fingerprint’ is always to be preferred. To be useful to plant breeders, gains made from MAB must be more cost-effective than gains through traditional breeding or MAB must generate significant time savings, which justifies the additional cost involved. Currently, most national agricultural research systems (NARS) in Africa have either no or very limited facilities, skilled manpower, and financing for integrating molecular markers as part of their breeding programs. Therefore, conventional breeding methods remain the main option for NARS for many years to come, but targeted use of MAB may become a supplement if well-validated markers are developed or available through collaboration with the international agricultural research centers. This paper provides detail review of the current literature on MAB, including requirements and selected experimental results.

Key words: Biotechnology, conventional breeding, gene introgression, marker assisted selection, molecular breeding, molecular markers.

International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Vol. 5 (12), pp. 001-010, December, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Histological and histomorphometric study of gametogenesis in breeders and helpers of sub-tropical, co-operative breeder jungle babbler, TURDOIDES STRIATUS

Bharucha Bhavna* and Padate Geeta

Division of Avian Biology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.

Accepted 21 October, 2016

Abstract

In majority of birds, the reproductive commotion is restricted to a favorable but short period of time. This results in crowding of several physiological and histological changes during its breeding state. Such changes take place in both sexes for successful breeding. Jungle Babblers are termed social/co-operative breeders because of the fact that the breeding pair is assisted by other individuals of the flock (termed as “helpers”). These helpers forgo their own breeding and show allo-parental behavior and help the parents in taking care of all the reproductive chores except egg formation and laying. To understand the breeding cycle, histological and histomorphometric studies of gonadal tissues were carried out in these birds. The testicular cycle of Jungle Babbler could be roughly divided into seven stages showing different types and numbers of germ cells. As per histomorphometric studies, the seminiferous tubule diameter and germ layer thickness increases in breeders. Interstitium reduces in diameter in breeders but is densely packed with leydig cells resulting in high steriodogenesis. Ovaries also show varying degree of follicular maturation in breeders, non-breeders and helpers. The breeding ovaries had maximum number of large follicles with largest diameter. The granulosa cells of the mature follicles are responsible for the production of progesterone the fact which is also supported by the progesterone titers. The non-breeding ovaries consists of maximum number of small follicles in cortical region whereas helpers show both mature as well as small follicles along with large number of atretic follicles. Helpers show intermediate number of mature follicles which results in subdued production of progesterone. Progesterone is responsible for parental behavior as well as oviduct development. Helpers lack a fully functional and active oviduct due to subdued progesterone levels but the titers are enough to evoke the allo-parental behavior in them. To support the findings, in this paper hormonal titers (viz. testosterone, progesterone (Bharucha and Padate; 2009), cholesterol and ascorbic acid concentration in gonads in different individuals are also represented. Therefore, considering the lack of knowledge of reproductive biology about TURDOIDES STRIATUS, the purpose of this paper consists of reporting a study on testicular and ovarian cycle in breeders and helpers. From this study it could be inferred that gonads of jungle babblers show cyclicity of development and regression during breeding and non-breeding states.

Key words: Jungle babbler, testicular cycle, mature follicle, atretic follicle.

International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Vol. 5 (12), pp. 001-008, December, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of the domestic animal reservoir at a micro-geographical scale, the Fontem sleeping sickness focus (South-West Cameroon)

G. R. Njitchouang^1,5, F. Njiokou¹*, H. C. Nana Djeunga¹, P. Moundipa Fewou⁵, T. Asonganyi³, G. Cuny⁴ and G. Simo²

¹General Biology Laboratory, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P. O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

²Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P. O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon.

³Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

⁴Laboratoire de Recherche et de Coordination sur les Trypanosomoses IRD, UMR 177, CIRAD, TA 207/G Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.

⁵Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé 1, P. O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Accepted 14 April, 2016

Abstract

To better understand the epidemiology of sleeping sickness in two Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) sub foci (central and northern sub foci) of the Fontem focus where diversity in the prevalence of Trypanosoma bucei gambiense was reported in domestic animals and man, 397 domestic animals were sampled in eight villages. Parasitological tests revealed trypanosomes in 86 (21.60%) animals. The CATT test was positive in 254 (64%) animals with the lowest value in dogs. The PCR test revealed T. b. gambiense in 11.55% of pigs, 3.45% of goats and 15.38% of sheep. The T. b. gambiense infection rates were not significantly different between the two sub foci. However, T. b. gambiense was found in animals from all villages of the Northern sub focus while only animals from Menji and Nsoko (Central sub focus) revealed this infection. The detection of T. b. gambiense in animals of the central sub focus was in line with results of medical surveys where HAT patients were detected in the same villages. The absence of patients in the northern sub focus despite the circulation of T. b. gambiense in animals from all villages of this sub focus since several years is surprising and needed more investigations.

Key words: Domestic animals, T. b. gambiense, sleeping sickness, animal reservoir.

International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Vol. 5 (11), pp. 001-005, November, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Histomorphometrical study of seminiferous tubule in rats after used Tribulus terresteris

Arash Esfandiari* and Reza Dehghani

¹Deparment of Anatomical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine. Islamic Azad University, Kazerun Branch, Kazerun, Iran.

²School of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun Branch, Iran.

Accepted 11 March, 2016

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the histological and histomorphometrical change of seminiferous tubule in mature and immature wistar rats after using Tribulus terresteris (TT). Twenty male wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into four groups: 1) Mature control group (MCG). 2) Mature experimental group (MEG) (orally received 75 mg/kg TT daily for 14 days). 3) Immature control group (ICG). 4) Immature experimental group (IEG) (orally received 75 mg/kg TT daily for 14 days). The number of leydig cells had increment in experimental group when compared with ICG. Result showed that the thickness of the wall of seminiferous tubule in experimental group significantly increased (P < 0.05). Also, TT treatment groups resulted the accumulation of spermatogenic cells were increased in the seminiferous tubule when compared with control group. In addition, sperm was not observed in ICG but sperm were also observed to increase in the treatment groups. It is concluded that TT may improves the sexual activity, increased testestrone by intensification of leydig cells and may caused early puberty in immature rat.

Key words: Histomorphometrical, rat, seminiferous tubule, Tribulus terresteris.