Does association mapping in sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L. ) reveal independent control of apical vs. basal branching?
In sunflower, variation in branching is genetically complex and overall branching patterns (i.e., apical vs. basal) were found to be influenced by distinct genomic regions. Moreover, numerous candidate branching genes mapped in close proximity to significant branching associations. Although the sunflower genome exhibits localized islands of elevated linkage disequilibrium (LD), these non-random associations are known to decay rapidly elsewhere. The subset of candidate genes that co-localized with significant associations in regions of low LD represents the most promising target for future functional analyses.
We provide proof of a novel treatment principle. MMP inhibitor-coated sutures improve suture-holding capacity during early repair of collagenous tissues.