False cleavers (Galium spurium L.) is an aggressive weed from the Rubiaceae. Here we assemble a chromosome-scale draft of its genome, laying the foundations for determining the genetic basis of auxinic herbicide resistance and for systematic research into its polyphyletic genus. We use the genome to examine the population genetics of material from the Canadian Prairies and, in concert with a common greenhouse experiment, to examine whether the phenotypic variation observed in the field results primarily from genetic or environmental factors. The genome assembly covers approximately 85% of G. spurium’s expected 360-Mbp genome size, with 94% of BUSCO (Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs) genes complete and most single copy (89%). Approximately 37% of the genome is repetitive elements and 35,540 genes were annotated using RNA-seq data, including 100 homologues for genes involved in, or potentially involved in, herbicide resistance. The genome shows strong synteny with other members of the Rubiaceae, including smooth bedstraw (Cruciata laevipes Opiz) and robusta coffee [Coffea canephora (Pierre ex Froehner]. Double-digested RAD-seq data for the 19 populations from the Canadian Prairies indicated that G. spurium has high levels of population structure (FST = 0.54) and inbreeding (FIS = 0.86) with low levels of hetrozygosity (HO = 0.02) and nucleotide diversity (π = 0.0003). Variation in flowering time and seed weight largely overlapped among populations grown in the greenhouse. A redundancy analysis investigating genotype–phenotype associations showed few associations between single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variation and these characteristics. In contrast, the majority of SNPs under selection were associated with mericarp hook density. This suggests that for most traits, environmental variation rather than genetic variation likely underlies phenotypic differences observed in the field. Several genes of interest, including several homologues involved in the assembly of the Skp1-Cullin-F-Box IR1/AFB E3 ubiquitin ligase complex (e.g., CAND1, ECR1), are located in areas of the genome with evidence of selection and are targets for further investigation.

In this note, we examine the proportion of periodic orbits of Anosov flows that lie in an infinite zero density subset of the first homology group. We show that on a logarithmic scale we get convergence to a discrete fractal dimension.

Eurozone economies were the most adversely affected by the Global Financial Crisis, with forecast macroeconomic outcomes still highly uncertain. This article argues first that the Eurozone policy framework can be viewed as neo-liberalism overlaid with policy constraints associated with a mis-specified Optimum Currency Area. We are critical of this framework since it is incompatible with the policy sovereignty that is experienced, if not utilised, by sovereign economies such as the USA, UK and Australia. Second, recent and proposed policy reforms which generally lie within the constraints of the Eurozone framework are examined. We conclude that these policies are piecemeal and fail to restore policy sovereignty, which ultimately requires that member countries exit the Eurozone. Key issues associated with such an exit are briefly discussed.