Fetal-onset hydrocephalus affects 1 to 3 per 1,000 live births. It is not only a disorder of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics but also a brain disorder that corrective surgery does not ameliorate. We hypothesized that cell junction abnormalities of neural stem cells (NSCs) lead to the inseparable phenomena of fetal-onset hydrocephalus and abnormal neurogenesis. We used bromodeoxyuridine labeling, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and cell culture to study the telencephalon of hydrocephalic HTx rats and correlated our findings with those in human hydrocephalic and nonhydrocephalic human fetal brains (n = 12 each). Our results suggest that abnormal expression of the intercellular junction proteins N-cadherin and connexin-43 in NSC leads to 1) disruption of the ventricular and subventricular zones, loss of NSCs and neural progenitor cells; and 2) abnormalities in neurogenesis such as periventricular heterotopias and abnormal neuroblast migration. In HTx rats, the disrupted NSC and progenitor cells are shed into the cerebrospinal fluid and can be grown into neurospheres that display intercellular junction abnormalities similar to those of NSC of the disrupted ventricular zone; nevertheless, they maintain their potential for differentiating into neurons and glia. These NSCs can be used to investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this condition, thereby opening the avenue for stem cell therapy.

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Anthracnose susceptibility and ill-adapted flowering time severely affect Lupinus luteus yield, which has high seed protein content, is excellent for sustainable agriculture, but requires genetic improvement to fulfil its potential. This study aimed to (1) develop a genetic map; (2) define collinearity and regions of synteny with Lupinus angustifolius; and (3) map QTLs/candidate genes for anthracnose resistant and flowering time. A few linkage groups/genomic regions tended to be associated with segregation distortion, but did not affect the map. The developed map showed collinearity, and syntenic regions with L. angustifolius. Major QTLs were mapped in syntenic regions. Alleles from the wild parent and cultivar, explained 75% of the phenotypic variance for anthracnose resistance and 83% for early flowering, respectively. Marker sequences flanking the QTLs showed high homology with the Lanr1 gene and Flowering-locus-T of L. angustifolius. This suggests orthologous genes for both traits in the L. luteus genome. The findings are remarkable, revealing the potential to combine early flowering/anthracnose resistant in fulfilling yield capacity in L. luteus, and can be a major strategy in the genetic improvement and usage of this species for sustainable protein production. Allele sequences and PCR-marker tagging of these genes are being applied in marker assisted selection.

C.E. Osorio, G. del Canto, A. Rupayán, N. Lichtin, and I.J. Maureira-Butler. 2019. Root variability among yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) accessions grown at low temperatures in an undisturbed substrate. Cien. Inv. Agr. 46(3): 302-309. Root variation has become an important target for geneticists, ecologists, and breeders, given its direct influence on plant adaptation, resilience to climate change, and biomass and seed yields. However, the underground nature of roots has limited the assessment of root variability in plant species. In this study, we evaluated several root traits in a sample of distinct yellow lupin accessions grown under cold conditions and at three time points. Analyses of variance showed a highly significant accession (genotype) effect on primary root length (PRL), primary root area (PRA), and total root area (TRA), indicating that at least part of the root variation was explained by a genetic component. Significant accession*time interactions for PRL and PRA suggested that root growth rates (assessed using these traits) may change over time across genotypes; however, a more extensive study including a larger number of accessions and growing times must be conducted to confirm this finding. Differences among L. luteus accessions in PRL, PRA and TRA suggest the existence of favorable variation in plantlet root traits and the possibility of breeding stronger and better-established yellow lupin plants when grown under cold conditions.