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Latin America continues to be severely underrepresented in genomics research, and fine-scale genetic histories as well as complex trait architectures remain hidden due to the lack of Big Data. To fill this gap, the Mexican Biobank project genotyped 1.8 million markers in 6,057 individuals from 32 states and 898 sampling localities across Mexico with linked complex trait and disease information creating a valuable nationwide genotype-phenotype database. Through a suite of state-of-the-art methods for ancestry deconvolution and inference of identity-by-descent (IBD) segments, we inferred detailed ancestral histories for the last 200 generations in different Mesoamerican regions, unraveling native and colonial/post-colonial demographic dynamics. We observed large variations in runs of homozygosity (ROH) among genomic regions with different ancestral origins reflecting their demographic histories, which also affect the distribution of rare deleterious variants across Mexico. We analyzed a range of biomedical complex traits and identified significant genetic and environmental factors explaining their variation, such as ROH found to be significant predictors for trait variation in BMI and triglycerides.

The monarch butterfly epitomizes insect biodiversity decline. Understanding the genetic basis of the adaptation of the monarch to a changing environment requires genomic and transcriptomic resources that better reflect its genetic diversity while being informative about gene functionality during life cycle. We report a reference-quality genome assembly from an individual resident at a nonmigratory colony in Mexico, and a new gene annotation and expression atlas for 14,865 genes, including 492 unreported long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) genes, based on RNA-seq data from 14 larval and pupal stages, plus adult morphological sections. Two thirds of the genes show significant expression changes associated with a life stage or section, with lncRNAs being more finely regulated during adulthood than protein-coding genes, and male-biased expression being four times more common than female-biased. The two portions of the heterochromosome Z display distinct patterns of differential expression between the sexes, reflecting that dosage compensation is either absent or incomplete –depending on the sample– in the ancestral but not in the novel portion of the Z. This study represents a major advance in the genomic and transcriptome resources available for D. plexippus while providing the first systematic analysis of its transcriptional program across most of its life cycle.

Chile has become a major actor in the blueberry industry as the most important supplier of off-season fresh fruit for the northern hemisphere. Blueberry exports passed from US$ 30 million (around 4,000 tons) in 2000 to US$ 380 million (94,000 tons) in 2011. The characteristics of the major blueberry growing regions (North, Central, South-central and South) are presented in terms of acreage, varieties, management practices, extension of the harvest season, and soil and climatic conditions. Most fruit is from highbush varieties, picked by hand and exported fresh by boat to United States. Largest proportion of fruit is exported from mid December to late January, which coincides with lowest prices. The south-central region (latitudes 34º50´ to 38º15´ S) was in 2007 the most important one with 5,075 ha (51.1% of area planted). Among the challenges for the Chilean blueberry industry in the near future are: 1. Lower profitability due to lower rates of currency exchange and higher costs, 2 - Greater scarcity and higher cost of labor, 3.- Need for higher productivity and sustainable production practices, 4- Fruit of high and consistent quality, and 5.- Greater investment in research. As a case study the article presents three approaches that can help identify areas with low availability of labor and improve its efficiency. The article shows the use of geomatic tools to establish labor availability, application of growth regulators to reduce crop load, increase fruit size and improve harvest efficiency, and the use of shakers to harvest fresh fruit for long distance markets. More research is needed to improve yields, reduce costs and give greater economical and ecological sustainability to the Chilean blueberry industry. Index terms: Biotechnology, growth regulator and plant science O Chile tornou-se de grande atuação na indústria de Mirtilo como o fornecedor mais importante de frutas frescas de entressafra para o hemisfério Norte. Exportações de Mirtilo passaram de $ 30 milhões de dólares americanos (cerca de 4.000 toneladas) em 2000, para 380 milhões (94 mil toneladas) em 2011. As características das principais regiões de cultivo de Mirtilo (Norte, Central, Centro-Sul e Sul) são apresentados em termos de área plantada, variedades, práticas de manejo, extensão do período de colheita, e condições climáticas e do solo. A maioria das frutas é de variedades highbush, colhidas à mão e exportados frescas para os Estados Unidos por barco.Grande porcentagem do fruto é exportada a partir de meados de dezembro até o final de janeiro, que coincide com preços mais baixos. A região Centro-sul (latitude 34º 50' a 38º15' S), foi em 2007 a mais importante, com 5.075 ha (51,1% da área plantada). Entre os desafios da indústria de Mirtilo no Chile em um futuro próximo são: 1. Baixa rentabilidade devido à diminuição das taxas de câmbio e custos mais altos, 2. Maior escassez e aumento do custo da mão-de-obra, 3. Necessidade de uma maior produtividade e práticas de produção sustentável, 4. Fruta de alta e consistente qualidade, e 5. Maior investimento em pesquisa. Como estudo de caso o artigo apresenta três abordagens que podem ajudar a identificar as áreas com baixa disponibilidade de mão de obra e melhorar a sua eficiência. O artigo mostra o uso de ferramentas de geomática para estabelecer a disponibilidade de mão-de-obra, a aplicação de reguladores de crescimento para reduzir a carga das culturas, aumentar o tamanho dos frutos e melhorar a eficiência da colheita, bem como a utilização de sacudidores para colher frutas frescas para os mercados de longa distância. Mais pesquisas são necessárias para melhorar o rendimento, reduzir custos e dar maior sustentabilidade econômica e ecológica para a indústria de Mirtilo do Chile. Partial financing for this research provided by projects FONDEF D09R1008 and INNOVA-CORFO 11BPC-10100 is appreciated.