ABSTRACT. Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Predictor (GBLUP) assumes equal variance for all single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). When traits are influenced by major SNP, Bayesian methods have the advantage of SNP selection. To overcome the limitation of GBLUP, unequal variance or weights for all SNP are applied in a method called weighted GBLUP (WGBLUP). If only a fraction of animals is genotyped, single-step WGBLUP (WssGBLUP) can be used. Default weights in WGBLUP or WssGBLUP are obtained iteratively based on single SNP effect squared (u2) and/or heterozygosity.

ABSTRACT. Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Predictor (GBLUP) assumes equal variance for all single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). When traits are influenced by major SNP, Bayesian methods have the advantage of SNP selection. To overcome the limitation of GBLUP, unequal variance or weights for all SNP are applied in a method called weighted GBLUP (WGBLUP). If only a fraction of animals is genotyped, single-step WGBLUP (WssGBLUP) can be used. Default weights in WGBLUP or WssGBLUP are obtained iteratively based on single SNP effect squared (u2) and/or heterozygosity.

ABSTRACT. Very few studies have been conducted to infer genotype × environment interaction (G×E) based in genomic prediction models using SNP markers.

ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to investigate the application of BLUP and single step genomic BLUP (ssGBLUP) models in different scenarios of paternity uncertainty with different strategies of scaling the G matrix to match the A22 matrix, using simulated data for beef cattle. Genotypes, pedigree, and phenotypes for age at first calving (AFC) and weight at 550 days (W550) were simulated using heritabilities based on real data (0.12 for AFC and 0.34 for W550). Paternity uncertainty scenarios using 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of multiple sires (MS) were studied.

ABSTRACT. One of the main limitations of rice yield in regions of high productive performance is the light-use efficiency (LUE). LUE can be determined at the whole-plant level or at the photosynthetic apparatus level (quantum yield). Both vary according to the intensity and spectral quality of light. The aim of this study was to analyze the cultivar dependence regarding LUE at the plant level and quantum yield using four rice cultivars and four light environments.

ABSTRACT. Latin America, and particularly, the Rio de la Plata Grasslands (RPG), are one of the regions with the highest rates of land use change worldwide. These changes drastically alter ecosystems energy flows, affecting biodiversity, atmospheric composition, and the ecosystem capacity to provide services. In this work we evaluated the impact of these changes on Net Primary Production (NPP), one of the most important and integrative ecosystem attributes, through the calculation of Human Appropriation of NPP (HANPP), a very complete indicator of human impact on ecosystems.

ABSTRACT. Semiarid forests are worldwide threatened by land use changes, particularly agriculture. However, in some cases, due to particular economic or social processes, agriculture ends and forests may or may not recover to their original state. Using different databases and satellite images integrated into a geographical information system, we located in the central region of the semiarid Chaco forests of Argentina adjacent land use patches of secondary forest (SF), remnant forest (RF) and crops (CP).

This study presents a yield model for aboveground biomass production from three species the Eucalyptus in northern and western regions of Uruguay, based on sampling records from intensive crop plantations. High-density eucalyptus plantations represent a forestry alternative for the production of forest biomass. This work assessed the survival and growth of three eucalyptus species (Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden & Cambage, E. dunnii Maiden and E.