Genetic redundancy among durum wheat accessions as assessed by SSRs and endosperm proteins

Reducing duplication in ex-situ collections is complicated and requires good quality genetic markers. This study was conducted to assess the value of endosperm proteins and SSRs for validation of potential duplicates and monitoring intra-accession variability. Fifty durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) accessions grouped in 23 potential duplicates, and previously characterised for 30 agro-morphological traits, were analysed for gliadin and high molecular weight glutenin (HMWG) subunit alleles, total protein, and 24 SSRs, covering a wide genome area. Similarity and dissimilarity matrices were generated based on protein and SSRs alleles. For heterogeneous accessions at gliadins the percent pattern homology (PH) between gliadin patterns and the Nei's coefficient of genetic identity (I) were computed. Eighteen duplicates identical for proteins showed none or less than 3 unshared SSRs alleles. For heterogeneous accessions PH and I values lower than 80 identified clearly off-types with more than 3 SSRs unshared. Only those biotypes differing in no more than one protein-coding locus were confirmed with SSRs. A good concordance among proteins, morphological traits, and SSR were detected. However, the discrepancy in similarity detected in some cases showed that it is advisable to evaluate redundancy through distinct approaches. The analysis in proteins together with SSRs data are very useful to identify duplicates, biotypes, close related genotypes, and contaminations

ALADIN: an Atmospheric Laser Doppler Wind Lidar instrument for wind velocity measurements from space

ALADIN (standing for Atmospheric Laser Doppler Instrument), as a spaceborne Doppler wind lidar instrument, is intended to respond to the pressing need for an accurate wind field description at global scale for both meteorology and numerical weather prediction and climate applications. Such an active instrument will fulfill the gap existing between the present capability of sophisticated numerical models and the drastic lack of information they do require. It will also bring a full-size demonstration of the potential of spaceborne wind lidar in world meteorological and climate monitoring.</jats:p