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East African highland bananas (EAHBs), locally referred to as “matooke”, are an important staple crop in Uganda. The EAHBs have a triploid genome (AAA) with a large phenotypic diversity in the Great Lakes region of Africa and are challenged by both abiotic and biotic factors. The EAHBs have been improved through conventional breeding and genetic engineering though facing challenges such as genetic drag of unfavorable traits and complex regulatory processes, respectively. Therefore, a more precise approach for crop improvement such as genome editing is highly recommended. In the current study, we assessed the feasibility and applicability of the CRISPR/ Cas 9 mediated-genome editing in EAHBs. Two sgRNAs were designed from the Nakitembe phytoene desaturase ( PDS ) gene and used to edit the PDS gene in Nakitembe (NKT) and NAROBan5 (M30) cultivars. A total of 47 NKT and 130 M30 events were regenerated via agrobacterium -mediated transformation of banana embryogenic cell suspensions. Up to 100% and 94.6% albinism rates were observed in Nakitembe and M30 cultivars respectively with additional albino-variegated and variegated phenotypes observed in M30 only. Carotenoid analysis revealed a significant reduction of total carotenoid content in edited events with all complete albinos showing no detectable carotenoids implying that the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway was effectively disrupted. Sequence analysis revealed that all of the edited events had frameshift mutations leading to PDS disruption. Overall, this study presents the first report of CRISPR/ Cas 9 genome editing in EAHBs and more interestingly on a hybrid, M30 showing high precision and efficiency. This validated genome editing system provides a robust platform for targeted EAHB improvement.

Summary Biofortification of staple crops is a sustainable strategy to deliver essential micronutrients to impoverished populations in developing countries. Banana is a highly valued crop consumed by over 75% of Ugandans. However, the starchy green cooking bananas have very low levels of pro‐vitamin A (PVA) and heavy dietary reliance on them has been associated with vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Two banana cultivars, hybrid M9 and Nakitembe, were selected for PVA biofortification. A phytoene synthase 2a (MtPsy2a) gene was transformed into the selected cultivars under the control of the constitutive maize polyubiquitin1 promoter or the banana fruit‐preferred ACC oxidase (ACO) promoter. Plants were regenerated on selective media and putatively transgenic plants confirmed by PCR. A total of 356 and 162 transgenic events for M9 and Nakitembe, respectively, were planted in a confined field trial (CFT). Transgenic plants were assessed against non‐transformed controls. Selection was based on phenotype, cycle time, yield, β‐carotene equivalents (β‐CE) and transgene copy number. There were no significant variations in cycle time, but some phenotypic differences were observed between transgenic and non‐transgenic controls. Transgenic fruits had yellow to orange fruit pulps, unlike pulp from non‐transgenic controls that were paler. On average, fruit from transgenic M9 and Nakitembe accumulated fourfold and threefold more β‐CE than non‐transgenic controls, respectively. Five elite lines each of M9 and Nakitembe have been selected for national agronomic performance trials that will aid the selection of lead events to be considered for environmental release.

East African highland bananas (EAHBs), locally referred to as \"matooke\", are an important staple crop in Uganda. The EAHBs have a triploid genome (AAA) with a large phenotypic diversity in the Great Lakes region of Africa and are challenged by both abiotic and biotic factors. The EAHBs have been improved through conventional breeding and genetic engineering though facing challenges such as genetic drag of unfavorable traits and complex regulatory processes, respectively. Therefore, a more precise approach for crop improvement such as genome editing is highly recommended. In the current study, we assessed the feasibility and applicability of the CRISPR/ 9 mediated-genome editing in EAHBs. Two sgRNAs were designed from the phytoene desaturase ( ) gene and used to edit the gene in Nakitembe (NKT) and NAROBan5 (M30) cultivars. A total of 47 NKT and 130 M30 events were regenerated via -mediated transformation of banana embryogenic cell suspensions. Up to 100% and 94.6% albinism rates were observed in Nakitembe and M30 cultivars respectively with additional albino-variegated and variegated phenotypes observed in M30 only. Carotenoid analysis revealed a significant reduction of total carotenoid content in edited events with all complete albinos showing no detectable carotenoids implying that the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway was effectively disrupted. Sequence analysis revealed that all of the edited events had frameshift mutations leading to disruption. Overall, this study presents the first report of CRISPR/ 9 genome editing in EAHBs and more interestingly on a hybrid, M30 showing high precision and efficiency. This validated genome editing system provides a robust platform for targeted EAHB improvement.

Both the abiotic environment and the composition of animal and plant communities change with elevation. For mutualistic species, these changes are expected to result in altered partner availability, and shifts in context-dependent benefits for partners. To test these predictions, we assessed the network structure of terrestrial ant-plant mutualists and how the benefits to plants of ant inhabitation changed with elevation in tropical forest in Papua New Guinea. At higher elevations, ant-plants were rarer, species richness of both ants and plants decreased, and the average ant or plant species interacted with fewer partners. However, networks became increasingly connected and less specialized, more than could be accounted for by reductions in ant-plant abundance. On the most common ant-plant, ants recruited less and spent less time attacking a surrogate herbivore at higher elevations, and herbivory damage increased. These changes were driven by turnover of ant species rather than by within-species shifts in protective behaviour. We speculate that reduced partner availability at higher elevations results in less specialized networks, while lower temperatures mean that even for ant-inhabited plants, benefits are reduced. Under increased abiotic stress, mutualistic networks can break down, owing to a combination of lower population sizes, and a reduction in context-dependent mutualistic benefits.

Recently, the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, the Maumelle Chamber of Commerce and several community leaders have endorsed the quarter-cent sales tax to fund public transit on the March 1 Pulaski County ballot. Even though some of these advocates don't personally use the Rock Region Metro transit system, they recognize the economic benefits of public infrastructure investment: helping citizens get to destinations such as their jobs, schools, vocational training and health care; easing congestion and parking needs; conserving natural resources while reducing pollution; providing the alternate transportation choices that in-demand workers want; and allowing our senior citizens to remain active in their communities.

Both the abiotic environment and the composition of animal and plant communities change with elevation. For mutualistic species, these changes are expected to result in altered partner availability, and shifts in context-dependent benefits for partners. To test these predictions, we assessed the network structure of terrestrial ant-plant mutualists and how the benefits to plants of ant inhabitation changed with elevation in tropical forest in Papua New Guinea. At higher elevations, ant-plants were rarer, species richness of both ants and plants decreased, and the average ant or plant species interacted with fewer partners. However, networks became increasingly connected and less specialized, more than could be accounted for by reductions in ant-plant abundance. On the most common ant-plant, ants recruited less and spent less time attacking a surrogate herbivore at higher elevations, and herbivory damage increased. These changes were driven by turnover of ant species rather than by within-species shifts in protective behaviour. We speculate that reduced partner availability at higher elevations results in less specialized networks, while lower temperatures mean that even for ant-inhabited plants, benefits are reduced. Under increased abiotic stress, mutualistic networks can break down, owing to a combination of lower population sizes, and a reduction in context-dependent mutualistic benefits.

This study appraises the richness of nonwoody species (ferns, herbs, lianas, palms, and shrubs) in 31 sites across undisturbed and disturbed forests in the lowland of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and at montane forest sites at 2,700 m a.s.l. The assessment was conducted following the PNG National Forest Inventory protocol. The results indicate that with 463 nonwoody species, the tropical forest of PNG has remarkable species richness. No significant difference was observed in richness among lowland, logged and pristine, and montane forests. The study shows that the richness of nonwoody species increases with elevation, but this trend is different when considering the taxonomic group separately. Palms and lianas decrease along the elevation, whereas ferns, herbs, and shrubs are positively correlated with elevation. The species composition between lowland forest and mountain sites is different, with a tree fern and an Araliaceae as an indicator of the mountain forest. The findings demonstrate a high taxonomic richness of nonwoody species in PNG, supporting previous research but highlighting the significant contribution of nonwoody species to the overall plant richness in a tropical habitat.

Madison is now on track to a better future, a more livable community. We believe this is true because our hometowns, Little Rock, Ark., and Tacoma, Wash., have been down the same tracks - streetcar tracks - and we urge Madison to put them in place. Tacoma has seen a huge renaissance take place since \"Tacoma Link\" opened in 2004. More than 2,000 residential units have been built or are being constructed. Several major office and retail projects are in pre-construction stage. Tacoma residents are pushing Sound Transit to expand our streetcar system into other areas of our city. Tacoma has become a huge believer in how street car/light rail projects can rejuvenate a community. Madison is now formally considering the idea of streetcars. The city is conducting a feasibility study. This fall, that study will begin considering specific routes where streetcar lines might serve Madison.