Although the captive reproduction of non-avian reptiles has increased steadily since the 1970’s, a dearth of information exists on successful management practices for large captive populations of these species. The data reported here come from a captive population of ball pythons (Python regius) maintained by a commercial breeding company, The Snake Keeper, Inc. (Spanish Fork, UT). Reproductive data are available for 6,480 eggs from 937 ball python clutches. The data presented suggest that proper management practices should include the use of palpation and/or ultrasound to ensure breeding occurs during the proper time of the female reproductive cycle, and that maintenance of proper humidity during the incubation of eggs is vitally important. Ball python reproduction traits (clutch size, clutch mass, relative clutch mass, egg mass, hatch rate, egg length, egg width, hatchling mass, healthy offspring per clutch, week laid, and days of incubation) were recorded for the clutches laid during this study. For the 937 clutches, the identity of the dam and sire were known for 862 (92%) and 777 (83%) of the clutches, respectively. A multivariate model that included nine of the 11 traits listed above was compiled. Heritability and genetic and phenotypic correlations were calculated from the multivariate analysis. The trait that showed the most promise for use in artificial selection to increase reproduction rates was clutch size due to considerable genetic variation, high heritability, and favorable genetic correlations with other reproduction traits. Although large datasets have been published for twinning in avian species, relatively few are available for non-avian reptiles. Reported here are 14 sets of twins produced from 6,480 eggs from 937 ball python clutches. The survival rate for twins during the first 3 months of life in our study was 97%. Interestingly, 11 of the sets of twins were identical in sex and phenotype, and additional genetic data suggested the rate of monozygotic twinning within this captive population of ball pythons was higher than that of dizygotic twinning. Further, using microsatellite analysis we were able to generate data that shows three sets of python twins were genetically identical.

Abstract Drought is the most common abiotic stress limiting chickpea production in the world. Ninety percent of the worlds chickpea is produced in areas relying upon conserved, receding soil moisture, therefore, crop productivity is largely dependent on efficient utilization of available soil moisture. Because of the variability in drought pattern from year to year, trait based selection could have an advantage over selection on the basis of grain yield alone. Trait based breeding, however, requires trait dissection into components. Successful marker identification would facilitate integration of MAS procedures in breeding programs enabling the pyramiding of favourable alleles.<p> The genetic map produced in this study was based on a population of recombinant inbred lines of a cross of ILC 588 x ILC 3279 containing 52 SSR markers spanned 335 cM of the chickpea genome at an average density of 6.4 cM. A total of 13 genomic regions were shown to be associated with drought tolerance traits. Some of these genomic regions showed pleiotropic effect on multiple traits. This was also supported by the analysis of phenotypic data where these traits were found to be correlated. For example, early flowering and maturity had a strong association with high grain yield. High grain yield was also associated with better portioning ability between biomass and grain yield, i.e. harvest index. Drought tolerance score (DTS) was associated with various important traits including biomass, early flowering, early maturity.<p> This study also concluded that chickpea genotypes differed in terms of root length, root length density, root weight density and root length to weight ratio at every 20 cm soil layer up to 100 cm depth in response to water deficits. Consideration of an efficient root system vs. a larger root system is also important, since in this research, large root systems were offset by low harvest index, presumably due to the lack of assimilate available for grain growth. A restricted root system is important in environments like Western Canada, where crop growth termination is usually required prior to fall frost. This study also reported significant associations of stomatal conductance (gs) with each of HI, grain yield under drought, drought susceptibility index and drought tolerance score (DTS). Stomatal conductance can also be used to assess plant stress due to drought. Values of gs less than 250 mmol m-2s-1 during flowering indicated drought stress under greenhouse conditions. A higher degree of plant stress due to drought was shown by increased stomatal closure at midday (gs <150 mmol m-2s-1). The study of 157 RILs under natural drought stress during 2005-07 revealed that the 17 RILs which had high grain yield under drought (Group A), also tended to have higher gs than the 42 RILs that had lower grain yield (Group B). Group A had mean gs values of 390 mmol m-2s-1 during the week before flowering, while Group B had mean gs value of 330 mmol m-2s-1. Stomatal conductance increased at flowering and then sharply decreased later in the reproductive period, particularly in Group B. These findings were also supported by canopy temperature differential measurements as Group A was also able to maintain lower canopy temperature than Group B, indicating the ability of these plants to maintain adequate transpiration and a cooler canopy under drought stress. This research indicated that gs and canopy temperature can be used to assess chickpea drought stress and to screen drought tolerant genotypes. This study identified a QTL on LG7 for gs, QTLs on LG1, LG3 and LG6 associated with canopy temperature differential, as well as QTLs associated with grain yield under drought, HI, DTS, days to flower, days to maturity, reproductive period and plant height. These QTLs identified for traits related to higher chickpea productivity under drought stress could have important implications for accelerating the process of pyramiding of favourable genes into adapted genotypes and on future marker-assisted breeding for drought prone areas.

Abstract Drought is the most common abiotic stress limiting chickpea production in the world. Ninety percent of the worlds chickpea is produced in areas relying upon conserved, receding soil moisture, therefore, crop productivity is largely dependent on efficient utilization of available soil moisture. Because of the variability in drought pattern from year to year, trait based selection could have an advantage over selection on the basis of grain yield alone. Trait based breeding, however, requires trait dissection into components. Successful marker identification would facilitate integration of MAS procedures in breeding programs enabling the pyramiding of favourable alleles.<p> The genetic map produced in this study was based on a population of recombinant inbred lines of a cross of ILC 588 x ILC 3279 containing 52 SSR markers spanned 335 cM of the chickpea genome at an average density of 6.4 cM. A total of 13 genomic regions were shown to be associated with drought tolerance traits. Some of these genomic regions showed pleiotropic effect on multiple traits. This was also supported by the analysis of phenotypic data where these traits were found to be correlated. For example, early flowering and maturity had a strong association with high grain yield. High grain yield was also associated with better portioning ability between biomass and grain yield, i.e. harvest index. Drought tolerance score (DTS) was associated with various important traits including biomass, early flowering, early maturity.<p> This study also concluded that chickpea genotypes differed in terms of root length, root length density, root weight density and root length to weight ratio at every 20 cm soil layer up to 100 cm depth in response to water deficits. Consideration of an efficient root system vs. a larger root system is also important, since in this research, large root systems were offset by low harvest index, presumably due to the lack of assimilate available for grain growth. A restricted root system is important in environments like Western Canada, where crop growth termination is usually required prior to fall frost. This study also reported significant associations of stomatal conductance (gs) with each of HI, grain yield under drought, drought susceptibility index and drought tolerance score (DTS). Stomatal conductance can also be used to assess plant stress due to drought. Values of gs less than 250 mmol m-2s-1 during flowering indicated drought stress under greenhouse conditions. A higher degree of plant stress due to drought was shown by increased stomatal closure at midday (gs <150 mmol m-2s-1). The study of 157 RILs under natural drought stress during 2005-07 revealed that the 17 RILs which had high grain yield under drought (Group A), also tended to have higher gs than the 42 RILs that had lower grain yield (Group B). Group A had mean gs values of 390 mmol m-2s-1 during the week before flowering, while Group B had mean gs value of 330 mmol m-2s-1. Stomatal conductance increased at flowering and then sharply decreased later in the reproductive period, particularly in Group B. These findings were also supported by canopy temperature differential measurements as Group A was also able to maintain lower canopy temperature than Group B, indicating the ability of these plants to maintain adequate transpiration and a cooler canopy under drought stress. This research indicated that gs and canopy temperature can be used to assess chickpea drought stress and to screen drought tolerant genotypes. This study identified a QTL on LG7 for gs, QTLs on LG1, LG3 and LG6 associated with canopy temperature differential, as well as QTLs associated with grain yield under drought, HI, DTS, days to flower, days to maturity, reproductive period and plant height. These QTLs identified for traits related to higher chickpea productivity under drought stress could have important implications for accelerating the process of pyramiding of favourable genes into adapted genotypes and on future marker-assisted breeding for drought prone areas.

Tolypeutes tricinctus, o tatu-bola, é um mamífero neotropical pertencente ao grupo dos Xenarthra. É uma espécie endêmica ao Brasil que só ocorre nos biomas de Caatinga e Cerrado e encontra-se ameaçada de extinção. O único estudo genético que foi realizado sobre a espécie estimou a diversidade no gene mitocondrial Citocromo Oxidase I (COI). Apenas um haplótipo foi observado em 30 indivíduos da única população de tatus-bola até então amostrada. Devido a esse resultado e à falta de estudos genéticos e filogenéticos este trabalho foi proposto a fim de investigar melhor a diversidade genética dessa população, distribuída no Cerrado do estado da Bahia na área da Fazenda Jatobá. Para tanto, foram utilizados marcadores microssatélites selecionados por sequenciamento de nova geração e a região controle do DNA mitocondrial (D-loop). Foi feito também um esforço de amostragem a fim de analisar exemplares de T. tricinctus provenientes de outras populações e da espécie congenérica Tolypeutes matacus. Além disso, testou-se o poder do gene COI na diferenciação entre oito espécies da ordem Cingulata através da técnica do DNA barcoding. Foram selecionados e testados 60 loci microssatélites, sendo 23 amplifcados com sucesso entre os indivíduos da Fazenda Jatobá. Destes, apenas dois se mostraram polimórficos com dois e três alelos respectivamente. Nas amostras provenientes de museu ou de outras localidades não foi possível amplificar nenhum dos marcadores. Já na amostra de T. matacus, cinco marcadores foram amplificados com sucesso, sendo que em um marcador foi encontrado um alelo diferente do observado na população da Fazenda Jatobá. Esse resultado foi inesperado e impossibilitou a estimativa dos parâmetros populacionais relativos ao efetivo populacional e grau de endocruzamento. A possibilidade de erros ou limitações da técnica utilizada foi descartada sendo provável que a baixa eficiência na seleção de loci polimórficos seja reflexo da baixa diversidade da população estudada. Baixos índices de diversidade genética foram também observados em segmentos de 386pb do D-loop (h = 0.4032&plusmn;0,0909 e &pi; = 0.002084&plusmn;0.001737), sendo que em 23 indivíduos da fazenda Jatobá somente dois haplótipos foram observados. Um terceiro haplótipo foi observado em uma amostra proveniente do estado do Ceará que também foi incluída na estimativa dos índices de diversidade para a espécie (h = 0.4529&plusmn;0.0948 e &pi; = 0.002125&plusmn;0.001757). No estudo com barconding, o gene COI mostrou-se eficiente na diferenciação entre a maioria das espécies. A estimativa da filogenia não mostrou suporte significativo nas relações dentro das subfamílias. Considerando as evidências sobre a baixa diversidade na população de T. tricinctus da Fazenda Jatobá e as ameaças à sobrevivência da espécie, é possível que a mesma situação seja observada em outras populações. Sendo assim os resultados aqui apresentados demonstram a necessidade de uma maior amostragem nas demais localidades de distribuição de T. tricinctus, para confirmação da atual situação da espécie. A fim de contribuir para conservação da espécie, a preservação das populações remanescentes de tatu-bola, evitando o declínio das mesmas, deve ser prioridade em planos de conservação. A manutenção da variação genética do tatu-bola é de especial interesse, em especial da população da Fazenda Jatobá, a qual se já não for um exemplo de extinção local poderá sofrer os efeitos negativos da depressão por endocruzamento e consequente impacto em sua viabilidade e sobrevivência. / Tolypeutes tricinctus, the three-banded armadillo, is a Neotropical mammal that belongs to Xenarthra group. This species is endangered and endemic to Brazil occurring only in Caatinga and Cerrado biomes. The previous genetic study available analyzed the genetic diversity on Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene and found only one haplotype among 30 individuals of a single population, the only one sampled so far. Considering this result and the lack of genetic and phylogenetic studies, the present work was proposed to better understand the genetic diversity of this population, from the Cerrado biome of the Bahia state, the Fazenda Jatobá population. We used microsatellite markers selected by next generation sequencing and the mitochondrial DNA control region (D-loop). A field research and contact with other researchers were made to obtain samples of the T. matacus and T. tricinctus samples from different localities. In addition, we also tested the power of COI gene to differentiate eight species of Cingulata order and to estimate the phylogeny using the DNA barcoding approach. Sixty microsatellite loci were selected and tested and 23 showed positive amplification results among individuals from Jatobá Farm population. Only two were polymorphic with two and three alleles respectively. Museum samples and individuals from other localities did not present positive results after amplification tests. The obtained result was unexpected and prevents any further population parameters estimates such as effective population size and inbreeding. Any chance of limitation or error was refuted and the low number of polymorphic loci probably express the low genetic diversity of the population. Low levels of genetic diversity were also observed in 386bp of D-loop (h = 0.4032&plusmn;0.0909 e &pi; = 0.002084&plusmn;0.001737). Only two haplotypes were observed among 23 individuals from the Jatobá population. A third haplotype was observed when in a sample from Ceará (h = 0.4529&plusmn;0.0948 e &pi; = 0.002125&plusmn;0.001757). In the DNA barconding study the COI gene was effective to differentiate most of armadillo species. The phylogeny did not show high support for the nodes representing subfamily level. Considering the evidences of low genetic diversity for the T. tricinctus Jatobá population and the menaces to species\' survival it possible that a similar scenario be present in other populations. Therefore, the obtained results indicate that a larger sampling along different localities of the species\' distribution is needed in order to understand the genetic diversity of T. tricinctus. Preserving the extant three-banded armadillo populations avoiding decline in size should be a priority in future conservation actions. Preserving the genetic diversity of the tree-banded armadillo is essential, especially for Jatobá population. This population may be an example of local extinction, or at least suffer from the negative effects of inbreeding depression and resulting impacts on its viability and survival.

<p>Stepska vi&scaron;nja (<em>Prunus fruticosa&nbsp;</em> Pall.)&nbsp; je autotetraploidna vrsta (FFFF, 2n = 4x = 32)&nbsp;koja se prema taksonomskom položaju svrstava u familiju&nbsp;<em> Rosaceae</em>,&nbsp; rod&nbsp; <em>Prunus</em>. Ova vrsta &nbsp;pripada sekciji&nbsp;<em> Eurocerasus</em>&nbsp; u koju se pored nje ubrajaju jo&scaron; i tre&scaron;nja (<em>Prunus avium</em>&nbsp; L.) &nbsp;i vi&scaron;nja <em>(Prunus cerasus</em>&nbsp; L.). Stepska vi&scaron;nja i tre&scaron;nja su među najranijim derivatima roda&nbsp; Prunus, dok je vi&scaron;nja nastala kroz proces prirodne hibridizacije između ove dve vrste nekoliko puta u toku istorije.&nbsp; Utvrđivanje nivoa diverziteta među biljnim&nbsp; materijalom&nbsp; koji&nbsp; se&nbsp; koristi&nbsp; u&nbsp; oplemenjivačkom radu&nbsp; je&nbsp; od&nbsp; izuzetne&nbsp; važnosti&nbsp; za unapređenje&nbsp; agronomskih svojstava bilo&nbsp; koje&nbsp; biljne&nbsp; vrste.&nbsp; Jedan od prvih koraka u istraživanju nivoa diverziteta jeste morfolo&scaron;ka karakterizacija germplazme.&nbsp; Nasuprot ovom tipu markera nalaze se molekularni markeri kojima se detektuju razlike na nivou DNK. Cilj ovog rada je bio ispitivanje inter-&nbsp; i&nbsp; intrapopulacione varijabilnosti stepske&nbsp; vi&scaron;nje (<em>P. &nbsp;fruticosa</em>) upotrebom fenotipskih, mikrosatelitskih i SNP markera, a dobijeni rezultati će olak&scaron;ati i ubrzati oplemenjivački proces tre&scaron;nje i vi&scaron;nje. Fenotipska svojstva su ispoljila visok nivo varijabilnosti prevashodno za kvantitativne markere, dok je ne&scaron;to niži stepen varijacija uočen kod kvalitativnih karaktera, a potpuno odsustvo varijabilnosti je uočeno samo u&nbsp; svojstvu prisustva lisnih žlezda. Populacije stepske vi&scaron;nje su pokazale visok nivo polimorfizma unutar i između populacija primenom mikrosatelitskih markera, a broj detektovanih alela u okviru lokusa se kretao od 2 (BPPCT022, UDP-018) do 11 (BPPCT034). Varijabilnost na nivou sekvenci DNK u okviru populacija vrste<em>&nbsp; P.&nbsp; fruticosa&nbsp;</em>je visoka, ovo je potvrđeno analizom 170256 SNP markera. Populacije stepske vi&scaron;nje na nivou sva tri tipa markera&nbsp; su pokazale visok stepen varijabilnosti kada se govori o svim analiziranim lokalitetima kao jednoj populaciji, dok je ona bila ne&scaron;to niža između jedinki na jednom lokalitetu. Bujnost kao fenotipska karakteristika pokazala je značajan nivo vezanosti za dva SNP markera Primenom generalnog linearnog modela (General Linear Model,&nbsp; GLM) u asocijativnom mapiranju genoma stepske vi&scaron;nje otkriven &nbsp;je značajan nivo vezanosti između pojedinih SNP markera i ispitivanih fenotipskih karakteristika na hromozomu 7 (S7_8740459) i na hromozomu 8 (S8_6142814). Stepska &nbsp;vi&scaron;nja kao divlji srodnik vrsta od velikog ekonomskog značaja kao &scaron;to su tre&scaron;nja i vi&scaron;nja može imati značajnu ulogu u njihovom unapređenju, a u ovom radu je potvrđeno da poseduje veliki diverzitet &scaron;to je čini jo&scaron; značajnijom i potencijalnim izvorom nove varijabilnosti.</p> / <p>European ground cherry&nbsp; <em>(Prunus fruticos</em>a&nbsp; Pall.)&nbsp; is autotetraploid species&nbsp; (FFFF, 2n = 4x = 32) and belongs to <em>Prunus genus</em> and <em>Rosaceae</em> family. It is a part of&nbsp; Eurocerasus section that also includes sweet cherry (Prunus avium&nbsp; L.) and sour cherry <em>(Prunus cerasus</em>&nbsp; L.). Sweet cherry and ground cherry are presumably early derivatives of ancestral Prunus while sour cherry arose from natural hybridization between these two species several times trough history. Determination of diversity is of great importance in every breeding program, and morphological characterization continues to be the first step for the description&nbsp; and classification of that diversity. Other available tolls for measuring diversity among germplasm are molecular markers. Aim of this research was to determine level of inter-&nbsp; and intrapopulation variability in European ground cherry<em> (P.&nbsp; fruticosa&nbsp;</em> Pall.)&nbsp; using phenotypic, SSR and SNP markers to facilitate cherry breeding. Phenotype characteristics exhibited high level of variability especially for quantitative traits, while qualitative traits had shown lower level of variability. Only presence of leaf nectaries had absence of variability; all analyzed accessions had nectaries on their leaves. Microsatellite markers confirmed high variability between and within all analyzed populations of ground cherry. Number of alleles per markers ranged from 2 (BPPCT002 and UDP-018) to 11 (BPPCT034). Analysis of 170,256 SNP markers confirmed high level of variability in DNA sequences of<em> P. fruticosa</em>. All analyzed populations of ground cherry showed overall high level of variability using all types of markers, while variability was relatively lower within each population. Association study revealed significant level of association between several traits and SNP markers. Vigor as a trait of interest showed significant association with SNP on chromosome 7 (S7_8740459) and chromosome 8 (S8_6142814). European ground cherry as one of wild relatives of economically important fruit species, such as sweet and sour cherry, holds great potential in their improvement. Its high level of diversity, revealed in this research, provides additional source of variability and makes it valuable for breeding programs.</p>

Part 1: Visitation of potential pollinators to Cornus florida and C. kousa flowers was assessed in East Tennessee in 2008 and 2009. Data regarding insect visitation rates to multiple trees per location were gathered throughout the flowering period. Diurnal and seasonal variations in visitation were recorded. Pollen coverage was assessed on portions of captured insect exoskeletons that were most likely to contact the stigma. Eleven families in four insect orders were collected from C. florida and 26 families in five orders from C. kousa. The most important pollinators in eastern Tennessee were bees in the Andrenidae and Halictidae. The most common visitors to C. kousa flowers were scarab, cerambycid and cantharid beetles. Halictid bees were also frequent visitors to C. kousa. Part 2: Dispersion of flowering dogwood pollen in an orchard was evaluated by performing parentage analysis on open pollinated seedlings collected from a single maternal tree. Pollen source for 45 seedling trees were established using three polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci. The expected leptokurtic distribution was not seen. Although the majority of paternal trees were within the 12 m radius of the study area, the trees most likely to donate pollen were some of the furthest away. Unusual pollen movement may be a product of lack of synchronization of flowering times between the mother tree and potential pollen donors in the area. Additionally relative proportions of certain pollinating insects (andrenid and halictid bees) may have moved pollen further than expected. Appendix 1: Pollen from 6 species in the genus Cornus was analyzed with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy to determine the utility of this tool to identify pollen grains to species. Although there were differences visible in the spectra, principal components analysis coupled with cluster analysis could not consistently identify pollen grains. Appendix 2: Floral volatile emissions from 6 species of Cornus were collected in a headspace chamber and analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine if differences between emitted volatiles of C. florida and C. kousa explain differences in floral insect visitation. The relationship between floral volatile emission and the phylogeny of Cornus was also examined.

Part 1: Visitation of potential pollinators to Cornus florida and C. kousa flowers was assessed in East Tennessee in 2008 and 2009. Data regarding insect visitation rates to multiple trees per location were gathered throughout the flowering period. Diurnal and seasonal variations in visitation were recorded. Pollen coverage was assessed on portions of captured insect exoskeletons that were most likely to contact the stigma. Eleven families in four insect orders were collected from C. florida and 26 families in five orders from C. kousa. The most important pollinators in eastern Tennessee were bees in the Andrenidae and Halictidae. The most common visitors to C. kousa flowers were scarab, cerambycid and cantharid beetles. Halictid bees were also frequent visitors to C. kousa.Part 2: Dispersion of flowering dogwood pollen in an orchard was evaluated by performing parentage analysis on open pollinated seedlings collected from a single maternal tree. Pollen source for 45 seedling trees were established using three polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci. The expected leptokurtic distribution was not seen. Although the majority of paternal trees were within the 12 m radius of the study area, the trees most likely to donate pollen were some of the furthest away. Unusual pollen movement may be a product of lack of synchronization of flowering times between the mother tree and potential pollen donors in the area. Additionally relative proportions of certain pollinating insects (andrenid and halictid bees) may have moved pollen further than expected.Appendix 1: Pollen from 6 species in the genus Cornus was analyzed with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy to determine the utility of this tool to identify pollen grains to species. Although there were differences visible in the spectra, principal components analysis coupled with cluster analysis could not consistently identify pollen grains.Appendix 2: Floral volatile emissions from 6 species of Cornus were collected in a headspace chamber and analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine if differences between emitted volatiles of C. florida and C. kousa explain differences in floral insect visitation. The relationship between floral volatile emission and the phylogeny of Cornus was also examined.

Tolypeutes tricinctus, o tatu-bola, é um mamífero neotropical pertencente ao grupo dos Xenarthra. É uma espécie endêmica ao Brasil que só ocorre nos biomas de Caatinga e Cerrado e encontra-se ameaçada de extinção. O único estudo genético que foi realizado sobre a espécie estimou a diversidade no gene mitocondrial Citocromo Oxidase I (COI). Apenas um haplótipo foi observado em 30 indivíduos da única população de tatus-bola até então amostrada. Devido a esse resultado e à falta de estudos genéticos e filogenéticos este trabalho foi proposto a fim de investigar melhor a diversidade genética dessa população, distribuída no Cerrado do estado da Bahia na área da Fazenda Jatobá. Para tanto, foram utilizados marcadores microssatélites selecionados por sequenciamento de nova geração e a região controle do DNA mitocondrial (D-loop). Foi feito também um esforço de amostragem a fim de analisar exemplares de T. tricinctus provenientes de outras populações e da espécie congenérica Tolypeutes matacus. Além disso, testou-se o poder do gene COI na diferenciação entre oito espécies da ordem Cingulata através da técnica do DNA barcoding. Foram selecionados e testados 60 loci microssatélites, sendo 23 amplifcados com sucesso entre os indivíduos da Fazenda Jatobá. Destes, apenas dois se mostraram polimórficos com dois e três alelos respectivamente. Nas amostras provenientes de museu ou de outras localidades não foi possível amplificar nenhum dos marcadores. Já na amostra de T. matacus, cinco marcadores foram amplificados com sucesso, sendo que em um marcador foi encontrado um alelo diferente do observado na população da Fazenda Jatobá. Esse resultado foi inesperado e impossibilitou a estimativa dos parâmetros populacionais relativos ao efetivo populacional e grau de endocruzamento. A possibilidade de erros ou limitações da técnica utilizada foi descartada sendo provável que a baixa eficiência na seleção de loci polimórficos seja reflexo da baixa diversidade da população estudada. Baixos índices de diversidade genética foram também observados em segmentos de 386pb do D-loop (h = 0.4032&plusmn;0,0909 e &pi; = 0.002084&plusmn;0.001737), sendo que em 23 indivíduos da fazenda Jatobá somente dois haplótipos foram observados. Um terceiro haplótipo foi observado em uma amostra proveniente do estado do Ceará que também foi incluída na estimativa dos índices de diversidade para a espécie (h = 0.4529&plusmn;0.0948 e &pi; = 0.002125&plusmn;0.001757). No estudo com barconding, o gene COI mostrou-se eficiente na diferenciação entre a maioria das espécies. A estimativa da filogenia não mostrou suporte significativo nas relações dentro das subfamílias. Considerando as evidências sobre a baixa diversidade na população de T. tricinctus da Fazenda Jatobá e as ameaças à sobrevivência da espécie, é possível que a mesma situação seja observada em outras populações. Sendo assim os resultados aqui apresentados demonstram a necessidade de uma maior amostragem nas demais localidades de distribuição de T. tricinctus, para confirmação da atual situação da espécie. A fim de contribuir para conservação da espécie, a preservação das populações remanescentes de tatu-bola, evitando o declínio das mesmas, deve ser prioridade em planos de conservação. A manutenção da variação genética do tatu-bola é de especial interesse, em especial da população da Fazenda Jatobá, a qual se já não for um exemplo de extinção local poderá sofrer os efeitos negativos da depressão por endocruzamento e consequente impacto em sua viabilidade e sobrevivência. / Tolypeutes tricinctus, the three-banded armadillo, is a Neotropical mammal that belongs to Xenarthra group. This species is endangered and endemic to Brazil occurring only in Caatinga and Cerrado biomes. The previous genetic study available analyzed the genetic diversity on Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene and found only one haplotype among 30 individuals of a single population, the only one sampled so far. Considering this result and the lack of genetic and phylogenetic studies, the present work was proposed to better understand the genetic diversity of this population, from the Cerrado biome of the Bahia state, the Fazenda Jatobá population. We used microsatellite markers selected by next generation sequencing and the mitochondrial DNA control region (D-loop). A field research and contact with other researchers were made to obtain samples of the T. matacus and T. tricinctus samples from different localities. In addition, we also tested the power of COI gene to differentiate eight species of Cingulata order and to estimate the phylogeny using the DNA barcoding approach. Sixty microsatellite loci were selected and tested and 23 showed positive amplification results among individuals from Jatobá Farm population. Only two were polymorphic with two and three alleles respectively. Museum samples and individuals from other localities did not present positive results after amplification tests. The obtained result was unexpected and prevents any further population parameters estimates such as effective population size and inbreeding. Any chance of limitation or error was refuted and the low number of polymorphic loci probably express the low genetic diversity of the population. Low levels of genetic diversity were also observed in 386bp of D-loop (h = 0.4032&plusmn;0.0909 e &pi; = 0.002084&plusmn;0.001737). Only two haplotypes were observed among 23 individuals from the Jatobá population. A third haplotype was observed when in a sample from Ceará (h = 0.4529&plusmn;0.0948 e &pi; = 0.002125&plusmn;0.001757). In the DNA barconding study the COI gene was effective to differentiate most of armadillo species. The phylogeny did not show high support for the nodes representing subfamily level. Considering the evidences of low genetic diversity for the T. tricinctus Jatobá population and the menaces to species\' survival it possible that a similar scenario be present in other populations. Therefore, the obtained results indicate that a larger sampling along different localities of the species\' distribution is needed in order to understand the genetic diversity of T. tricinctus. Preserving the extant three-banded armadillo populations avoiding decline in size should be a priority in future conservation actions. Preserving the genetic diversity of the tree-banded armadillo is essential, especially for Jatobá population. This population may be an example of local extinction, or at least suffer from the negative effects of inbreeding depression and resulting impacts on its viability and survival.

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This thesis summarizes the documented information on the distribution of Cardamine dentata Schult. of the family Brassicaceae in the Czech Republic; it deals with the chromosome numbers and with ploidy levels of this species. Microsatellite markers were used to evaluate the potential relationships of C. dentata with other species of the group C. pratensis. Using a revision of available herbarium material it was found that the optimal conditions for the occurrence of C. dentata in the Czech Republic are in the phytogeographical regions of Thermophyticum and Mezophyticum at altitudes of 150-650 m a.s.l. No karyological data on this species were previously published from the area of the Czech Republic; using the flow cytometry and chromosomes counting it was revealed that in the area of the Czech Republic, populations with decaploid and undecaploid levels of ploidy occur. With help of microsatelite markers, it was confirmed that plants of C. dentata are genetically different from the other species of the C. pratensis group. Keywords: Cardamine, Cruciferae, microsatelite markers, chromosome numbers, geographical distribution, Czech Republic