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\"The Cajun rages on! Join Gambit on a time-tossed trip to the 19th century, and discover how the Thieves' Guild was shaped by Candra...and Mr. Sinister! Back in the present, Remy needs help - and Rogue flies to his aid! Thanks to Gambit's evolving powers, he can finally greet her with a kiss - but as his abilities get more unstable, any thoughts of romance will be short-lived. Gambit's destiny looms as he takes leadership of the Guild - assuming he can survive an Assassination Game against deadly villains like Bullseye, Constrictor, Zaran, Deadpool...and Archangel? And what are X-Cutioner and Ego the Living Planet doing here?! Gambit will finally discover the secret of his mysterious patron, the New Son - but is he hero or villain, and what will Gambit have to sacrifice to triumph?\"--Page [4] of cover.

The many quantitative traits of interest to plant breeders are often genetically correlated, which can complicate progress from selection. Improving multiple traits may be enhanced by identifying parent combinations – an important breeding step – that will deliver more favorable genetic correlations (rG). Modeling the segregation of genomewide markers with estimated effects may be one method of predicting rG in a cross, but this approach remains untested. Our objectives were to: (i) use simulations to assess the accuracy of genomewide predictions of rG and the long-term response to selection when selecting crosses on the basis of such predictions; and (ii) empirically measure the ability to predict genetic correlations using data from a barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) breeding program. Using simulations, we found that the accuracy to predict rG was generally moderate and influenced by trait heritability, population size, and genetic correlation architecture (i.e., pleiotropy or linkage disequilibrium). Among 26 barley breeding populations, the empirical prediction accuracy of rG was low (-0.012) to moderate (0.42), depending on trait complexity. Within a simulated plant breeding program employing indirect selection, choosing crosses based on predicted rG increased multi-trait genetic gain by 11–27% compared to selection on the predicted cross mean. Importantly, when the starting genetic correlation was negative, such cross selection mitigated or prevented an unfavorable response in the trait under indirect selection. Prioritizing crosses based on predicted genetic correlation can be a feasible and effective method of improving unfavorably correlated traits in breeding programs.

Reintroductions to establish populations usually occur in locations believed to have high-quality habitat to maximize the potential for high population growth rates and long-term population viability. Nonetheless, researchers and managers may have insufficient knowledge of what comprises high-quality habitat or of other requirements for members of a species with low population sizes or how to determine whether these conditions are present at potential reintroduction sites. Locations available for reintroduction may lack optimal habitat but have other characteristics that can benefit a reintroduction. Reintroductions allow rigorous study of reintroduced animals to improve understanding of a species’ biology and to inform future management and conservation actions. The fisher, a medium sized carnivoran in the family Mustelidae, is a long-lived (5–8 years) species of concern in western North America due, in part, to the perceived incompatibility of fishers and landscapes commercially managed for timber production. Due to concern about the status of fishers in California, from late 2009 to late 2011 we reintroduced 40 fishers from across northwestern California to the 648 km 2 , privately owned Stirling Management Area that was managed intensively for timber production in the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades of California. The controlled initial conditions facilitated research into other aspects of fisher biology. We monitored reintroduced fishers and their offspring through 2017 to evaluate whether this managed landscape in California, predicted to possess adequate habitat for fishers, could support a new fisher population. Both female and male fishers had high monthly survival (>0.95). On average, 81% of adult females gave birth with a mean litter size of 1.9 ± 0.1 (minimum number of kits ±95% confidence interval). Survival and reproduction rates were constant across years and all vital rates were similar to most extant fisher populations elsewhere in California. By 2013, reproduction was effectively independent of the founding individuals. By 2017, the population was relatively small (n = 119 ± 96–141, 95% credible intervals) but had nearly tripled over the initial number reintroduced. Stochastic population simulations indicated that the population is unlikely to go extinct within the first 50 years after reintroduction, or 40 years after the completion of field research. Nevertheless, significant habitat changes resulting from wildfire could change those predictions. Thus, sites with landscape conditions similar to our study site and managed similarly for timber production should be considered when planning future fisher reintroductions.

The nature and effect of mutations are of fundamental importance to the evolutionary process. The generation of mutations with mutagens has also played important roles in genetics. Applications of mutagens include dissecting the genetic basis of trait variation, inducing desirable traits in crops, and understanding the nature of genetic load. Previous studies of sodium azide-induced mutations have reported single nucleotide variants (SNVs) found in individual genes. To characterize the nature of mutations induced by sodium azide, we analyze whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of 11 barley lines derived from sodium azide mutagenesis, where all lines were selected for diminution of plant fitness owing to induced mutations. We contrast observed mutagen-induced variants with those found in standing variation in WGS of 13 barley landraces. Here, we report indels that are two orders of magnitude more abundant than expected based on nominal mutation rates. We found induced SNVs are very specific, with C → T changes occurring in a context followed by another C on the same strand (or the reverse complement). The codons most affected by the mutagen include the sodium azide-specific CC motif (or the reverse complement), resulting in a handful of amino acid changes and few stop codons. The specific nature of induced mutations suggests that mutagens could be chosen based on experimental goals. Sodium azide would not be ideal for gene knockouts but will create many missense mutations with more subtle effects on protein function.

Climate change threatens crop production through an increase in the occurrence of extreme abiotic stress. Breeding and growing crop cultivars that are more tolerant of these stresses may be accomplished by selecting for phenotypic stability (opposite of plasticity), which may be aided by understanding the genetic architecture and marker‐based predictive ability of plasticity. Using data from a multi‐environment experiment in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), our objectives were to (1) identify genomic regions associated with the mean per se and linear plasticity for five agronomic and malting quality traits, (2) determine the genomewide prediction accuracy of plasticity, and (3) assess the impact of subsampling environments on estimates and predictions of plasticity. We calculated trait genotype means and linear plasticity (slope) for 233 lines (both founders and offspring) grown in 42 environments. We identified 87 marker‐trait associations and nearly all significant single nucleotide polymorphisms for the slope overlapped with previously discovered mean per se QTL for the same trait. Genomewide prediction accuracy of slope was moderate as measured using cross‐validation (rMP = 0.32–0.69) and when predicting the slope of an unobserved offspring test population (rMP = 0.26–0.61). Increasing the number of sampled environments from which to use phenotypic data led to more precise estimates of the slope, greater rates of marker‐trait association discovery, and greater genomewide prediction accuracy; however, a modest number of environments was sufficient for obtaining accurate predictions. Our results suggest more shared genetic control of the plasticity and mean per se of traits, but genomewide prediction may be used to select for plasticity without resource‐intensive multi‐environment trials. Core Ideas Trait genotype means per se and trait phenotypic stability were used as inputs for genomewide association analysis. Marker‐trait associations indicated similar genetic architecture of genotype means and linear plasticity. Accurate genomewide predictions of linear plasticity were obtained for an observed offspring population. A modest number of environments may be sufficient for training genomewide prediction models for plasticity. Plain Language Summary Climate change threatens crop production by increasing abiotic stresses like drought and extreme temperatures. Developing crop varieties tolerant to these extremes requires selecting for yield or quality stability across environments, which demands extensive field trials. Breeding for more stable crop varieties could be aided by understanding the genetics of phenotypic stability and using genomic information to predict stability in new crop varieties. To address this, we analyzed barley data from 42 environments for five traits, calculating trait stability and identifying 87 significant molecular marker associations with stability. Overlapping genomic regions suggest shared genetic control of trait variation and stability. Genomewide prediction showed moderate‐to‐high accuracy, even with a subset of environments, offering breeders a resource‐efficient way to develop stable crop varieties.

The ability to access alleles from unadapted germplasm collections is a long-standing problem for geneticists and breeders. Here we developed, characterized, and demonstrated the utility of a wild barley advanced backcross-nested association mapping (AB-NAM) population. We developed this population by backcrossing 25 wild barley accessions to the six-rowed malting barley cultivar Rasmusson. The 25 wild barley parents were selected from the 318 accession Wild Barley Diversity Collection (WBDC) to maximize allelic diversity. The resulting 796 BC2F4:6 lines were genotyped with 384 SNP markers, and an additional 4022 SNPs and 263,531 sequence variants were imputed onto the population using 9K iSelect SNP genotypes and exome capture sequence of the parents, respectively. On average, 96% of each wild parent was introgressed into the Rasmusson background, and the population exhibited low population structure. While linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay (r2 = 0.2) was lowest in the WBDC (0.36 cM), the AB-NAM (9.2 cM) exhibited more rapid LD decay than comparable advanced backcross (28.6 cM) and recombinant inbred line (32.3 cM) populations. Three qualitative traits: glossy spike, glossy sheath, and black hull color were mapped with high resolution to loci corresponding to known barley mutants for these traits. Additionally, a total of 10 QTL were identified for grain protein content. The combination of low LD, negligible population structure, and high diversity in an adapted background make the AB-NAM an important tool for high-resolution gene mapping and discovery of novel allelic variation using wild barley germplasm.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is an important fungal disease affecting the yield and quality of barley and other small grains. Developing and deploying resistant barley cultivars is an essential component of an integrated strategy for reducing the adverse effects of FHB. Genetic mapping studies have revealed that resistance to FHB and the accumulation of pathogen-produced mycotoxins are controlled by many quantitative trait loci (QTL) with minor effects and are highly influenced by plant morphological traits and environmental conditions. Some prior studies aimed at mapping FHB resistance have used populations derived from crossing a Swiss landrace Chevron with elite breeding lines/cultivars. Both Chevron and Peatland, a sib-line of Chevron, were used as founders in the University of Minnesota barley breeding program. To understand the native resistance that might be present in the Minnesota breeding materials, a cross of an elite cultivar with a susceptible unadapted genotype is required. Here, a mapping population of 93 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was developed from a cross between a moderately susceptible elite cultivar 'Rasmusson' and a highly susceptible Japanese landrace PI 383933. This population was evaluated for FHB severity, deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation and various agromorphological traits. Genotyping of the population was performed with the barley iSelect 9K SNP chip and 1,394 SNPs were used to develop a genetic map. FHB severity and DON accumulation were negatively correlated with plant height (HT) and spike length (SL), and positively correlated with spike density (SD). QTL analysis using composite interval mapping (CIM) identified the largest effect QTL associated with FHB and DON on the centromeric region of chromosome 7H, which was also associated with HT, SL, and SD. A minor FHB QTL and a minor DON QTL were detected on chromosome 6H and chromosome 3H, respectively, and the Rasmusson alleles contributed to resistance. The 3H DON QTL likely represents native resistance in elite germplasm as the marker haplotype of Rasmusson at this QTL is distinct from that of Chevron. This study highlights the relationship between FHB resistance/susceptibility and morphological traits and the need for breeders to account for morphology when developing FHB resistant genotypes.

Germplasm collections hold valuable allelic diversity for crop improvement and genetic mapping of complex traits. To gain access to the genetic diversity within the USDA National Small Grain Collection (NSGC), we developed the Barley Recombinant Inbred Diverse Germplasm Population (BRIDG6), a six-row spring barley multiparent population (MPP) with 88 cultivated accessions crossed to a common parent (Rasmusson). The parents were randomly selected from a core subset of the NSGC that represents the genetic diversity of landrace and breeding accessions. In total, we generated 6160 F5 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), with an average of 69 and a range of 37–168 RILs per family, that were genotyped with 7773 SNPs, with an average of 3889 SNPs segregating per family. We detected 23 quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with flowering time with five QTL found coincident with previously described flowering time genes. A major QTL was detected near the flowering time gene, HvPpd-H1 which affects photoperiod. Haplotype-based analysis of HvPpd-H1 identified private alleles to families of Asian origin conferring both positive and negative effects, providing the first observation of flowering time-related alleles private to Asian accessions. We evaluated several subsampling strategies to determine the effect of sample size on the power of QTL detection, and found that, for flowering time in barley, a sample size >50 families or 3000 individuals results in the highest power for QTL detection. This MPP will be useful for uncovering large and small effect QTL for traits of interest, and identifying and utilizing valuable alleles from the NSGC for barley improvement.

• Circadian clock rhythms are shown to be intertwined with crop adaptation. To realize the adaptive value of changes in these rhythms under crop domestication and improvement, there is a need to compare the genetics of clock and yield traits. • We compared circadian clock rhythmicity based on Chl leaf fluorescence and transcriptomics among wild ancestors, landraces, and breeding lines of barley under optimal and high temperatures. We conducted a genome scan to identify pleiotropic loci regulating the clock and field phenotypes. We also compared the allelic diversity in wild and cultivated barley to test for selective sweeps. • We found significant loss of thermal plasticity in circadian rhythms under domestication. However, transcriptome analysis indicated that this loss was only for output genes and that temperature compensation in the core clock machinery was maintained. Drivers of the circadian clock (DOC) loci were identified via genome-wide association study. Notably, these loci also modified growth and reproductive outputs in the field. Diversity analysis indicated selective sweep in these pleiotropic DOC loci. • These results indicate a selection against thermal clock plasticity under barley domestication and improvement and highlight the importance of identifying genes underlying for understanding the biochemical basis of crop adaptation to changing environments.

Key message We report malt quality QTLs relevant to breeding with greater precision than previous mapping studies. The distribution of favorable alleles suggests strategies for marker-assisted breeding and germplasm exchange. This study leverages the breeding data of 1,862 barley breeding lines evaluated in 97 field trials for genome-wide association study of malting quality traits in barley. The mapping panel consisted of six-row and two-row advanced breeding lines from eight breeding populations established at six public breeding programs across the United States. A total of 4,976 grain samples were subjected to micro-malting analysis and mapping of nine quality traits was conducted with 3,072 SNP markers distributed throughout the genome. Association mapping was performed for individual breeding populations and for combined six-row and two-row populations. Only 16 % of the QTL we report here had been detected in prior bi-parental mapping studies. Comparison of the analyses of the combined two-row and six-row panels identified only two QTL regions that were common to both. In total, 108 and 107 significant marker-trait associations were identified in all six-row and all two-row breeding programs, respectively. A total of 102 and 65 marker-trait associations were specific to individual six-row and two-row breeding programs, respectively indicating that most marker-trait associations were breeding population specific. Combining datasets from different breeding program resulted in both the loss of some QTL that were apparent in the analyses of individual programs and the discovery of new QTL not identified in individual programs. This suggests that simply increasing sample size by pooling samples with different breeding history does not necessarily increase the power to detect associations. The genetic architecture of malting quality and the distribution of favorable alleles suggest strategies for marker-assisted selection and germplasm exchange.