Heterosis of Double Low Self-incompatibility in Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.)

66 F1 hybrids, produced by 3 double low self-incompatible lines and 22 varieties with a North Carolina Ⅱ (NCⅡ) crossing design, were tested for their heterosis in Wuhan, China during two growing seasons from 1999- 2001. The results showed that significant differences were found between F1s and their parents for yield per plant and seed oil content. Mid-parent heterosis of these two characters ranged from 5.50%-64.11% and from 1.55% -7.44% respectively. Heterosis for seed yield per plant was greater than that of seed oil content. For yield components, heterosis of total number of siliques per plant was the highest, followed by seed number per silique and 1 000 seeds weight. Significant genotype-by-year interaction was found for seed yield per plant. Results from correlation and combining ability analysis indicated that parental effects on its F1 hybrid depended on characters, seed yield per plant was affected by both additive and non-additive effects, and seed oil content was affected mainly by additive effect. When designing hybrid programme, parents might be selected by GCAs and variances of SCAs of parents for the characters affected by both additive and non-additive effects, and by the sum of GCAs of female and male parents for the characters mainly affected by additive effects.     

QTL Analysis of Major Agronomic Traits in Soybean

Soybean is a main crop, and most agronomic traits of soybean are quantitative; therefore, there is vely important studying and applying value to locating these traits. A F2：10 RIL population containing 154 lines, derived from the cross between Charleston as female and Dongnong 594 as male parent, were used in this experiment. A genetic linkage map was constructed with 164 SSR primers, which were screened with the two parents and amplified on the 154 lines. 12 agronomic traits different between the two parents were investigated, and QTLs of all the traits were analyzed using the software Windows QTL Cartographer V2.0. The agronomic traits included quality traits： protein content, oil content, and content of protein and oil; yield traits： pods per plant, seed weight per plant, and 100 seeds weight; and other agronomic traits： plant height, days to maturity, branches, nod number in main stem, average leaf length, and average leaf width. The results showed that 68 QTLs in total were found for the 12 agronomic traits. The number of QTLs per trait varied from 3 for the average leaf width to 11 for 100 seeds weight and plant height, and was 5.8 on average. Good accordance was seen in many QTLs between the results of this study and the results obtained by other similar studies; therefore, these QTLs may be valuable for molecular marker assistant selection in soybean. In this study, 68 major QTLs of 12 important traits of soybean were analyzed.     

Studies on Breeding and Application of Thermo-sensitive Genic Male Sterile Line 402S in Brassica napus：Ⅰ.The Breeding Procedure and Character of 402S

A new rapeseed TGMS line 402S has bren bred through six years with seven generationsby hybridization and systematic breeding. 402S possesses the similar thermo-sensityve male sterility to its femal parent Xiangyou 91S which performed fertile, partially sterile and sterile throughout the flowering stage, and resembles its male parent Zhongshuang 4 on agronomic traits. And 402S has thedouble- low (low erucic acid and low glucosinolate) quality like its original parents.     

Combining Ability Analyses of Net Photosynthesis annuum Rate in Pepper （Capsicum annuum L.）

In perspective of breeding high-yield hybrid pepper varieties, combining ability analysis of net photosynthesis rate at different phases of flowering and fruit setting in pepper was made with 15 cross combinations from 6 parents by （1/2） n （n- 1） diallel crosses. There are relatively large differences not only in general combining ability （GCA） effect among different parents and at different phases of flowering and fruit setting, but also in specific combining ability （SCA） effect among different hybrids. There are relatively large GCA effects in late parents but relatively less GCA effects in early parents. No obvious laws have been found in the relationship between SCA effects and maturity of hybrids. Variances of SCA are larger than those of GCA. Heritability is less but influence of environment is larger. Correlation analysis of combining ability between net photosynthesis rate and agronomic character or resistances to main diseases has showed that correlation coefficients of GCA are relatively large at the medium phase and the late phase of flowering and fruit setting. Net photosynthesis rate is more relative to leaf characters and fruit characters. Correlation coefficients of SCA are relatively large at the early phase and the late phase of flowering and fruit setting. Net photosynthesis rate is more relative to leaf characters and plant characters at the early phase but to plant characters and fruit characters at the late phase. Correlation coefficients of SCA between net photosynthesis rate and resistances to main diseases are larger than those of GCA. The combining abilities of net photosynthesis rate at different phases of flowering and fruit setting are positively correlated with those of yield per plant. The combining ability is an important parameter of breeding of high photosynthesis hybrid pepper varieties.     

Genetic Analysis of Yield and Its Components of B. napus Hybrids Using Resynthesized Rapeseed Lines

Resynthesized rapeseeds obtained by crossing the diploid parents Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea have significant potential in hybrid breeding because of their higher genetic basis compared with Brassica napus cultivars. In this study, an 8 × 8 complete diallel experiment using four B. napus cultivars （BN） and four resynthesized rapeseed lines （RS） as parents was designed to study heterosis and genetic inheritance for yield components. The results showed that heterosis for yield per plant, the number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod were high, with means 32.77, 24.49 and 15.71%, respectively. Diallel analysis showed that both additive and dominant effects were significant for yield and yield components. All traits, except for 1 000-seed weight, were significant for bl mean squares and exhibited directional dominance. Dominant genes had positive effects on yield per plant, pods per plant and 1000-seed weight, and negative effects on seeds per pod （r=-0.86, -0.62, -0.41, and 0.47, respectively）. Narrow-sense heritability for yield per plant, pods per plant, and 1 000-seed weight and seeds per pod were 66, 31, 46 and 78% for the four traits, respectively. The Fl hybrids showed considerable yields compared to B. napus cultivars when B. napus cultivars and resynthesized rapeseeds were used as parents （NR hybrids）, with many more pods per plant and lower seeds per pod compared with the rapeseed cultivars, indicating that the resynthesized rapeseed may be applicable in current hybrid breeding programs.     

Heterosis and Combining Ability for Major Yield Traits of a New Wheat Germplasm Shannong 0095 Derived from Thinopyrum intermedium

The wheatgrass, Thinopyrum intermedium （Host） Barkworth ＆ DR Dewey, shows many beneficial characteristics, such as big spikes and high resistance to many diseases. To transfer the beneficial genes of this species, many wheat- Thinopyrum intermedium alien chromosome lines were developed. Of them, Shannong 0095 （SN0095）, a disomic substitution, has long spikes and flag-leaves, and thus may be an important genetic resource for wheat yield improvement. In order to realize its heterosis and combining ability on major yield traits, a 7 ×7 complete diallel design was made according to Griffing＇s Method-1. The results showed that heterosis for spike length （SPL）, flag-leaf area （FLA）, number of spikes per plant （NSP）, number of spikelets per spike （NSL）, kernels per spike （KPS）, 1 000-kernel weight （TKW） and grain yield per plant （GYP） existed in all the crosses by SN0095, but heterobeltiosis occurred only for KPS, TKW, and GYP. The relative mid-parent heterosis （RMH） and relative high-parent heterosis （RHH） for GYP, which valued as high as 35.32 and 29.92% respectively, were the highest among all the traits mearsured. Though additive and non-additive gene effects and cytoplasmic effects （or cytoplasmic-nuclear interaction effects） were found in governing all the traits measured above, additive gene action played a predominant role. The results also showed that SN0095 was the best-general combiner for SPL and FLA, and high-general combiner for NSP amongst all the parents. Estimates of specific combining ability （SCA） showed that SN0095 could also make high-SCA combinations for GYP, such as SN0095 × Jimai 19 （JMI9）. SN0095 could be a unique and important parent in hybrid wheat breeding programs.     

Combining Ability and Genetic Effects of Germination Traits of Brassica napus L.Under Waterlogging Stress Condition

Cross combinations from six rapeseed cultivars and lines were evaluated under waterlogging stress condition in order to understand the genetic mechanism of waterlogging tolerance of Brassica napus L.and provide reasonable improvement programs.There were six germination traits investigated on combining ability and heritability using complete diallel crossing method designed for 30 combinations from those six cultivars and lines.The traits included relative root length,stem length,fresh weight per plant,survival rate,electrical conductivity,and vigor index.After flooding treatment,the six traits of parents and F1 were analyzed.The general combining ability（GCA） and special combining ability（SCA） of germination traits were analyzed using Griffing I method.Among 30 cross combinations,the GCA was significantly different among six waterlogging resistance traits.The SCA of these traits was significantly different except the SCA of electrical conductivity.As a representative trait of waterlogging tolerance in rapeseed,relative vigor index had the highest narrow heritability and relatively low broad heritability.The cultivars Zhongshuang 9 and P79 had higher tolerance potential to waterlogging stress.It can be concluded that combining ability and genetic effects of relative vigor index during germination stage could be used to identify the waterlogging tolerance of rapeseed in breeding program.     

Comparisons of Three Recurrent Selection Methods in the Improvement of Maize Populations

The maize population Csyn 4 was improved for three cycles with three recurrent selection methods MS1, MS1-HS, and MHSRRS in northern China. A total of 40 NC Ⅱ testcrosses were made by four testers with Csyn 4 and 10 improved populations, which were evaluated in four environments in the cropping season of 2005. Analysis of variance indicated a significant progress （P〈 0.05） in yield and other chief agronomic traits in the improved populations and testcrosses, demonstrating that the three recurrent selection methods were effective for increasing grain yield of testcrosses and improvement of general combining ability in maize population. The average grain yield increase of population Csyn 4 in MS1, MS1-HS, and MHSRRS recurrent selections was 266.7 kg ha^-1 （5.3%）, 288.0 kg ha^-1 （5.7%）, and 231.3 kg ha^-1 （4.6%） per cycle, while the grain yield of S 1 progeny of population for Csyn 4 was increased by 420.0 kg ha^-1 （10.9%）, 376.0 kg ha^-1 （9.8%）, and 414.7 kg ha^-1 （10.8%） per cycle in MS1, MS1-HS, and MHSRRS recurrent selections, respectively. Linear responses （b） in the MS1, MS1-HS, and MHSRRS recurrent selections were the same as the realized responses of the selection （G） for grain yield increase of Csyn 4 and S1 progeny of the populations. The grain yield of testcrosses increased by 3.3-5.2% on average per cycle. The value of heterosis did not display any differences amongst the different cycles of selections. The GCA for yield component traits of population Csyn 4 was improved significantly by means of three selection methods, whereas the GCA for plant height, ear height, days to silking, and days to pollen did not show significant increase in the recurrent selections. GCA for the number of tassel branches were decreased in the selections, while GCA for the number of plant leaves were increased, but the difference was not significant.     

Genetic Analysis of Combining Abilities and Heterosis for the Contents of Soybean Isoflavone and Its Components Among the Soybean Varieties [Glycine max （L.） Merr.]

The genetic analysis of soybean isoflavone content and its components were carried out based on the NC Ⅱ mating design in eight soybean varieties. The results showed that the isoflavone contents and its components of soybean seed are quite differences among the tested materials, the contents of isoflavone and daidzein are controlled not only by additive effects and but also by non-additive effects, while the content of genistin is dominated by non-additive effects, and genistein, glycitin and daidzin are mainly controlled by additive effects. There are significant differences in the contents of isoflavone and its components among the combinations derived from different parents. Results also indicated that the tested traits are negatively heterosis except for the contens of daidzein and daidzin are positively heterosis based on the data of the GCA and SCA in average heterosis values. In this research we have a suggestion that soybean variety with high isoflavone should be used as one of the parents in the breeding program, and it is the best choice that the combinations crossed between two high isoflavone varieties or a high variety and a low one.     

Gene Mapping of Brachytic Stem and Its Effect on Main Agronomic Traits in Soybean

Brachytic stem is a major trait in plant type .of soybean and its yield potential may be higher under high population when compared with normal stem. In the present investigation, 152 recombinant inbred line （RIL） families derived from the cross of Bogao （normal stem） and Nannong 94-156 （brachytic stem） were used to map genes and QTLs of three plant type traits and to identify the effects of brachytic stem on agronomic traits such as yield. The primary results indicated that brachytic stem （sb） and determinate growth habit （drl） were mapped on linkage groups B2 and L, three major QTLs related to plant height were detected and mapped on linkage group L near drl, another minor QTL was mapped near sb on linkage group B2-1. Lines with brachytic stem had shorter plant height, lower biomass, yield, harvest index and pods per plant, and essentially no differences in days to maturity and 100-seed weight when compared with normal stem lines. It was obvious that the effect of brachytic stem on yield was due to the decreased height, biomass and harvest index.     

Selection of Parents for Breeding Edible Varieties of Sweetpotato with High Carotene Content

Sweetpotato varieties with high carotene content have high value for human health. This work aims to improve the breeding efficiency of special varieties with high carotene content by combining molecular markers and agronomic traits to evaluate and screen the parents. The cluster analysis was carried out to identify and screen promising parents by utilizing phenotypic results of the agronomic and characteristic traits, and RAPD and ISSR markers of 15 parents and their offspring by group crossing. Among different parental materials, greater variations were observed in two important traits, the carotene content and the storage root yield. Negative correlation was found between the carotene content and both fresh and dried root yields. The most significant positive correlation was between the carotene content of parents and that of their offspring, with the coefficient of correlation value of 0.7932＊＊. The relationship based on the agronomic characters of the trial materials was not in agreement with the known genealogy, while that based on the molecular marker data showed better result. Each primer amplified 13.8 bands oflSSR markers on average, in which the rate of polymorphic loci was 89.6%. 9.4 bands of RAPD markers were arnplified per primer, in which the rate of polymorphic bands was 74.46%. Large genetic variation of carotene content was found among the parents. For analyzing the genetic diversity of sweetpotato, the molecular marker methods were better than morphological traits; ISSR markers were more efficient than RAPD markers. The combination of molecular markers and agronomic trait analysis may provide valuable theoretic basis for selection of parents to breed new varieties with high carotene content.     

Analysis on Breeding Potential of 17 Maize Inbred Lines from Land Races

[Objective] The primary objective of this study was to estimate combining ability and genetic parameters of 17 new inbred lines.[Method] By using 11 commonly used maize inbred lines from Southwest China as testers and incomplete diallel cross design,combining ability and heterosis of 17 new inbred lines bred from the land races in Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas were analyzed.In addition,the genetic parameters and heterotic groups were also investigated based on combining ability.[Result] P1-1,P1-16 and P1-14 with the better comprehensive characters can be directly used in maize breeding program.The SCA of P1-10×P2-4 was high in most traits.It is more possible to obtain high-yield hybrid combinations by the pattern Sipingtou × Lancaster.GCA variance was bigger than SCA variance in four traits such as rows per ear,grains per row,which were affected by the environments slightly and should be selected at early generations;while SCA variance was bigger than GCA variance in five traits such as 100-grain weight and plant weight,which were significantly influenced by environment and thus should be selected in later generations.[Conclusion] The paper will provide theoretical basis for further improvement of local maize varieties.     

Genetic and Genotype x Environment Interaction Effects for Appearance Quality of Rice

This study was conducted to generate genetic information in rice varieties based on a complete diallel crosses over two years. The results indicated that genotype effect was significant for all traits. Genotype × environment interaction effects were significant only for cooked grain length （CGL） and cooked grain shape （CGSH）. General combining ability （GCA） and specific combining ability （SCA） effects were significant for entire traits, which indicated the important roles of both additive and non-additive gene actions. GCA x environment interaction effects were significant for CGL, CGSH and grain elongation index （GEI）. In the controlling of the inheritance of milled grain shape （GSH）, milled grain width （MGW）, GEI, milled grain length （MGL）, CGSH and cooked grain width （CGW）, the additive gene effects were more important than non-additive one. The average degree of dominance was within the range of partial dominance for all of the traits. The narrow-sense heritability was ranged from 0.65 （GSH） to 0.36 （CGL）. GCA effects were significant for all of the parents in milled grain length and it was significant for some of the parents in other traits. The crosses of Deilmani × IRFAON-215 exhibited significant SCA for GEI. The positive mean of heterosis was observed for CGW. The highest maximum values of heterosis were revealed in GEI, flowed by GSH, MGW and CGW. GCA and MPV were significantly and positively correlated together for all traits.     

Heterosis for Seed Yield,Oil Content and Other Characters in Rapeseed （Brassica napus L.）

Nine inbred lines of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) used as male were crossed to five recessive genetic male sterile (RGMS) lines used as female to produce 45 single crosses. The crosses, their parents and a check hybrid were tested at two locations during 2007 to 2008 for testing the performance and heterosis of hybrids for seed yield and other characters. Results showed that variations for seed yield, oil content, days to flowering and days to maturity were significant. Mean squares for hybrids were significant for all characters. High heterosis (–4.5%-88.3%), heterobeltiosis (–15.6%-81.1%) and standard heterosis (–34.8%-33.1%) were found for the seed yield. The highest heterosis and heterobeltiosis were found in the cross QH303-4A×1190. The highest standard heterosis was found in the cross Qianyou8A×Q034. Both positive and negative heterosis of single crosses were detected for the oil content. Small heterosis was found for days to flowering and days to maturity. Among parents, Ⅲ188, Ⅲ224, and Q034 were proved to be the superior for seed yield when used as parents in most of the hybrid combinations. 2365, Ⅲ224, and QH303-4AB were good for high oil content breeding. Ⅲ176, 2313 and Qianyou3AB were good for the early hybrid breeding. Total 11 hybrids yielded higher than 2 500 kg·hm -2 and also gave significantly positive heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis. Among them, 10 crosses gave higher oil content than that of check. These crosses can be used in the future breeding program for the seed yield and the oil content. Two crosses including Qianyou3A ×Ⅲ224 and Qianyou3A×2313 can be used for the early breeding program.     

Effects of UV-B Radiation and Water Stress on Soybean Yield

Soybean Dongnong 47 was subjected to the experiments of increasing UV-B radiation and water stress on soybean yield components in different growth periods. The results showed that 100-seed weight greatly increased during the early stage of pod filling in the treatment of weak UV-B radiation, seed number per plant as well as seed weight per plant and Dongnong47 yield also increased, while the yield and yield components of Dongnong47 during the blossom to mature period were negatively affected in the treatment of intensive UV-B radiation. 100-seed weight of Dongnong47 all increased in the double factor treatments of UV-B radiation and water stress, with the drought intensified, seed number per plant, seed weight per plant and yield of Dongnong47 decreased, the change of 100-seed weight were various and the antagonistic action of UV-B radiation and water stress were related with their intensity.     

Correlation and Path Coefficient and Chi-square Distance Cluster Analysis for Several Characteristics in Tobacco Germplasm Resource

Correlation and path coefficient analyses were conducted for 10 characteristics of 24 pure lines of flue-cured tobacco such as plant height, knot distance, leaf number, the central leaf length and width, ratio of the length to width, stem girth, dates of budding, leaf yield and ratio of the prime-medium tobacco. The leaf number and the central leaf length showed a positive or a strong positive correlation with the yield per plant. And the leaf number and leaf yield per plant showed a strong positive correlation with the ratio of prime-medium tobacco. The results showed that the leaf yield per plant among these characteristics played a major role in determining the ratio of prime-medium tobacco while the others were less related with the ratio. Square sum of deviation method cluster analyses showed that 24 pure lines of flue-cured tobacco were clustered into two groups. Of the pure lines, Line T1706 and Line T1245 had a far relationship with all other lines, and also had a heterosis when crossed with the other lines. Lines Guangdonghuang 1 and R72（3）B-2-1 were closely related.     

QTL consistency for agronomic traits across three generations and potential applications in popcorn

Favorable agronomic traits are important to improve productivity of popcorn. In this study, a recombinant inbred line(RIL) population consisting of 258 lines was evaluated to identify quantitative trait loci(QTLs) for nine agronomic traits(plant height, ear height, top height(plant height subtracted ear height), top height/plant height, number of leaves above the top ear, leaf area, stalk diameter, number of tassel branches and the length of tassel) under three environments. Meta-analysis was conducted then to integrate QTLs identified across three generations(RIL, F2:3 and BC2F2) developed from the same crosses. In total, 179 QTLs and 36 meta-QTLs(m QTL) were identified. The percentage of phenotypic variation(R2) explained by any single QTL varied from 3.86 to 28.4%, and 24 QTLs with contributions over 15%. Nine common QTLs located in the same or similar chromosome regions were detected across three generations. Five meta-QTLs were identified including QTLs in three independent studies. Seven important m QTLs were composed of 11–26 QTLs for 4–7 traits, respectively. Only 11 m QTLs were commonly identified in the same or similar chromosome regions across agronomic traits, popping characteristics(popping fold, popping volume and popping rate) and grain yield components(ear weight per plant, grain weight per plant, 100-grain weight, ear length, kernel number per row, ear diameter, row number per ear and kernel ratio) by meta-QTL analysis. In conclusion, we identified a list of QTLs, some of which with much higher contributions to agronomic traits should be valuable for further study in improving both popping characteristics and grain yield components in popcorn.     

Dissection of QTLs for Yield Traits on the Short Arm of Rice Chromosome 6

This study was undertaken to dissect quantitative trait loci （QTLs） controlling yield traits on the short arm of rice chromosome 6. A residual heterozygous line that carries a heterozygous segment extending from RM587 to RM19784 on the short arm of rice chromosome 6 was selected from an F7 population of the indica rice cross Zhenshan 97B/Milyang 46. An F2：3 population consisting of 221 lines was derived and grown in two trial sites. Six yield traits including number of panicles per plant, number of filled grains per panicle, total number of spikelets per panicle, spikelet fertility, 1 000-grain weight, and grain yield per plant were measured. An SSR marker linkage map was constructed and employed to determine QTLs for yield traits with Windows QTL Cartographer 2.5. QTLs were detected in the target interval for all the traits analyzed except NP, with phenotypic variance explained by a single QTL ranging between 6.3% and 35.2%. Most of the QTLs for yield components acted as additive QTLs, while the three QTLs for grain yield had dominance degrees of 1.65, 0.84, and -0.42, respectively. It was indicated that three or more QTLs for yield traits were located in the target region. The genetic action mode, the direction of the QTL effect, and the magnitude of the QTL effect varied among different QTLs for a given trait, and among QTLs for different traits that were located in the same interval.     

Some Eco-Physiological Characteristics at R4-R5 Stage in Relation to Soybean Yield Differing in Maturities

Digital plant canopy imager and photosynthesis analyzer system were used to analyze the characteristics of canopy structure, photosynthetic physiology and micro-environmental factors at R4-R5 stage in different yielding soybean cultivars or lines with different maturities. The results showed that the common characteristics of high yielding soybean cultivars were high LAI, uniform foliage distribution in all horizontal directions, less variance of photosynthetic rate between top and bottom leaves in canopy and relatively higher photosynthetic rate of the whole canopy. All these characters combined in all resulted in higher canopy photosynthetic productivity, and pod number, seed number and seed weight per plant, especially pod and seed number in top and middle canopy were increased. The characters of high yielding canopy varied among maturities. Light interception was more important to early cultivars. Less foliage inclination angle was benefit to intercept more solar energy during yield formation. As late soybean cultivars had a more closure canopy and higher LAI, greater foliage inclination angle in all layers of high yielding canopy made more solar radiation penetrate into canopy, which was beneficial to yield formation.     

Seed Priming Influence on Early Crop Growth,Phenological Development and Yield Performance of Linola (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Reduced early crop growth and limited branching are amongst yield limiting factors of linola. Field response of seed priming treatments viz. 50 mmol L^-1 salicylic acid （SA）, 2.2% CaCl2 and 3.3% moringa leaf extract （MLE） including untreated dry and hydropriming controls was evaluated on early crop growth and yield performance of linola. Osmopriming with CaCl2 reduced emergence time and produced the highest seedling fresh and dry weights including Chl. a contents. Osmopriming with CaCl2 reduced crop branching and flowering and maturity times and had the maximum plant height, number of branches, tillers, pods and seeds per pod followed by MLE. Increase in seed weight, biological and seed yields was 9.30, 34.16 and 39.49%, harvest index （4.12%） and oil contents （13.39%） for CaCl2 osmopriming. Positive relationship between emergence and seedling vigor traits, 100-seed weight, seed yield with maturity time, 100-seed weight and seed yield were found. The study concludes that seed osmopriming with CaC12 or MLE can play significant role to improve early crop growth and seed yields of linola.