Inheritance of resistance to damage byThrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Cabbage

Summary The inheritance of resistance in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var.capitata) to damage caused byThrips tabaci Lindeman was studied in progeny from four crosses between resistant and susceptible inbred lines. In two families sharing the same susceptible parent, the narrow-sense heritability was calculated to be high (>90%), using the Warner method of calculation (Warner, 1952). The other two families, also sharing a susceptible parent, had very low narrow-sense heritability (0–11%). In three of the four families, however, the validity of the Warner calculations were called into question due to significant epistatic interactions. In all four families, the F₁ populations approached or exceeded the susceptibility of the susceptible parent, indicating that susceptibility is generally dominant. The importance of epistasis and dominance suggests that tests of hybrid combinations to determine combining ability for thrips resistance may be required, rather than selecting only on the basis of thrips damage to the inbred lines. The technique of planting wheat upwind from the cabbage test plot did generate adequate levels of thrips pressure, but the infestation was uneven in two of the four blocks, so that reasonable replication of tests is required.     

Characterization of fall and spring plantings of Galician cabbage germplasm for agronomic, nutritional, and sensory traits

Twenty one landraces of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) and two of Tronchuda cabbage (B. oleracea var. tronchuda Bailey) from Galicia (north–western Spain) along with five commercial hybrids of cabbage and one commercial variety of Tronchuda cabbage were evaluated in this study in two planting dates, autumn/winter for an early harvest and spring/summer for a late harvest. Data were recorded on morphologic, agronomic, nutritional, and sensory traits. The objectives were to assess the characteristics of the Galician cabbage landraces and to compare their agronomic value with that of the commercial hybrids available in local markets, at two planting dates. Four cabbage landraces and the two Tronchuda cabbage landraces showed no head formation. At the autumn/winter season, commercial hybrids showed poor adaptation, with more plants lost after transplanting, less early vigor, and yield than the head forming landraces. However, for characters related to crop uniformity (head appearance, days to harvest, and synchrony of production), commercial hybrids did better than landraces. Regarding the sensory and nutritional values, in the autumn/winter season, accessions were tenderer, sweeter, had a better flavour, and showed higher levels of crude protein and less of crude fibre than in the spring/summer season. Landraces had higher calcium contents compared to commercial varieties. Local landraces MBG-BRS0425, MBG-BRS0452, MBG-BRS0536, and MBG-BRS0537 stood out for the most interesting traits in the autumn/winter season growing period and they could be included in breeding programs to obtain hybrids suitable to grow in this planting period.     

Diversity and adaptation in rice varieties under static (ex situ) and dynamic (in situ) management

This study compares genebank-conserved and farmer managed populations of the same farmers' varieties of rice. Seven varieties that had been collected twice, in the early 1980s and in 1991, were recollected in 1997 after having been grown continuously in farmers' fields. Since the first genebank collection, rice cultivation in the Meking delta has been intensified with a rather abrupt switch from single to double cropping, more use of chemical fertilisers, improved water management, and more market oriented production. Many farmers' varieties have been maintained as a second crop but with a considerably delayed planting time compared to previous practice. In this experiment, the ex situ materials represent adaptation to pre-intensification conditions while the in situ populations have been exposed to the intensive production system for a number of years. The materials were tested in the wet season of 1997 under current farmers' management practices in an on-farm field experiment within the area where the varieties originated. Agronomic, stress resistance and morphological traits and variation at 7 isozyme loci were observed in the field or laboratory. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Principal Component Analyses (PCA) were used to study differences in agronomic and morphological traits between ex and in situ populations. Isozyme variation was analyzed by Nei's diversity indices and Wright's F-statistics. Farmer-managed populations showed a general trend of later flowering and maturity time, more uniformity of grain quality, lower frequency of undesired off-types, and reduced drought stress tolerance compared with corresponding ex situ populations. There were no significant differences in grain yield or tolerance to biotic stresses. Allelic frequencies of isozymes showed no consistent differences that could be related to changes of the farming system. These results are interpreted as an adaptation to the changed farming system and include natural and farmers' selection for maturity time (all varieties are photoperiodic)and market standards. The poorer drought tolerance may reflect the fact that such stress was common before intensification but is not normally a factor under the current water management regime. For in situconservation strategies this case sheds some light on the survival of allelic diversity vs. adaptedness. Isozyme data indicate maintenance of allelic diversity. Adaptedness, however, is at risk under on-farm conservation. Natural and intentional selection will normally not remain constant over time. Consequent genetic changes include loss of adaptation to past conditions and building up of adaptation to new. In this case such changes have happened surprisingly fast. However, changes are limited to adaptation to factors of the environment and to market-relevant quality traits. Yield seems to be unaffected. Considering needs for crop improvement this case has kept the materials `updated' with respect to adaptation and unchanged with respect to yield potential. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mechanisms of resistance to shoot fly, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Atherigona soccata</Emphasis> in sorghum

Summary Sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata (Rondani) is an important pest of sorghum in Asia, Africa, and Mediterranean Europe, and host plant resistance is an important component for the management of this pest. The levels of resistance in the cultivated germplasm are low to moderate, and therefore, it is important to identify genotypes with different mechanisms of resistance to pyramid the resistance genes. We studied the antixenosis for oviposition, antibiosis, and tolerance components of resistance in a diverse array of shoot fly-resistant and -susceptible genotypes. The main plants and tillers of SFCR 151, ICSV 705, SFCR 125, and, IS 18551 experienced lower shoot fly deadhearts at 28 days after seedling emergence, produced more number of productive tillers. The insects fed on these genotypes also exhibited longer larval period (10.1–11.0 days compared to 9.3 days on Swarna), lower larval survival and adult emergence (54.7–67.8 and 46.7–52.2% compared to 73.3 and 60.6% on Swarna, respectively), and lower growth and adult emergence indices as compared to the susceptible check, Swarna. Physico-chemical traits such as leaf glossiness, trichome density, and plumule and leaf sheath pigmentation were found to be associated with resistance, and chlorophyll content, leaf surface wetness, seedling vigor, and waxy bloom with susceptibility to shoot fly and explained 88.5% of the total variation in deadhearts. Step-wise regression indicated that 90.4% of the total variation in deadhearts was due to leaf glossiness and trichome density. The direct and indirect effects, correlation coefficients, multiple and step-wise regression analysis suggested that deadhearts, plants with eggs, leaf glossiness, trichomes on the abaxial surface of the leaf, and leaf sheath pigmentation can be used as marker traits to select for resistance to shoot fly, A. soccata in sorghum.     

Genetic structure of landrace populations of the New World grain amaranths

Summary Grain amaranth populations from their centers of origin in the New World had shown a pattern of allozyme variation that suggested most landraces to be highly homozygous mixtures of genotypes. To compare this pattern of variation with the variation for morphological traits, 15 selfed families from each of six populations were grown in a replicated field experiment. Four pigmentation traits known to be smiply inherited were scored along 18 other morphological traits. Populations varied for the amount of polymorphism for marker loci, and exhibited little heterozygosity. Analysis of variance for the quantitative traits showed significant interpopulation differences for each of the observed characters. Populations differed for the number of metric traits showing significant between-family differences for just one of the metric traits whereas another had between-family differences for all ten. These results suggested high levels of homozygosity within these landraces; thus, variation for quantitative traits conformed well with the allozyme variation patterns.Stepwise multiple regression of all characters on yield as the dependent variable was used to compare the relative contributions of specific characters to yield within individual populations. Plant height, days to flowering, and leaf length were included in the regression equations for 6, 5, and 5, of the populations, respectively. Days to floweing was negatively correlated with yield, while plant height and leaf length were positively correlated. These correlations suggest the potential for developing early flowering, high yielding cultivars having short stature, selected by breaking its correlation with yield. Several breeding strategies based on these findings on genetic resources are discussed briefly.     

Genetic variation in F<Subscript>2</Subscript> populations and their potential in the improvement of grain yield in tef (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eragrostis tef</Emphasis>)

Tef is a staple cereal of Ethiopia in high demand by consumers. In order to cope up with this high consumer demand, productivity per unit of land must increase through the development and use of high-yielding varieties. To this effect, the National Tef Research Project has long been striving towards the development of high yielding varieties through direct selection from germplasm and concentrating favourable alleles through hybridization and selection, despite the tedious crossing technique. The objective of this study was to assess the degree of genetic variation in F₂ populations of tef as a basis for improving grain yield. F₂ populations from 12 crosses and their parents were grown at the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia, and assessment was made on eight traits on individual plant basis. Eleven of the 12 crosses showed substantial genetic variation for grain yield and its components, indicating the potential for improvement through selection. Moreover, grain yield, plant weight and yield related traits showed moderate to high heritability values (17–80%). In all the crosses, tiller number, panicle weight, yield per panicle and panicle length showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) and positive association with grain yield. Considering the degree of genetic variation and heritability values, emphasis should be given to selected crosses in an effort to developing high-yielding tef varieties.     

Initial screening of chili and sweet pepper germplasm for resistance to chili thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood

Summary A preliminary evaluation for resistance to chili thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood of 41 and 194 pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) germplasms during 1987 and 1988, respectively, indicated chili accessions may be a promising source of resistance. In contrast, all sweet pepper accessions tested were highly susceptible. A number of chili accessions produced a moderate yield, in spite of a high thrips infestation indicating tolerance to S. dorsalis. Rating for thrips damage was more reliable and efficient than estimating thrips numbers in screening pepper accessions for resistance to thrips. Highly significant, positive correlation between ratings at the seedling stage and final rating for thrips damage indicated the feasibility of screening pepper accessions at the seedling stage. Comparing the similarities in rating among accessions resulted in 40 distinct groups. The variance-covariance matrix of the data from these 40 groups was subjected to principal component analysis. This accounted for 56 and 18 per cent of the variation across the two principal axes, respectively. Projection of chili and sweet pepper accessions along these two axes revealed three distinct clusters. About 80 per cent of chili accessions formed the first cluster, 58 per cent of the sweet pepper accessions formed the second cluster and a third cluster exhibited intermediate ratings for thrips damage. The significance of these findings in relation to geographical divergence and resistance to thrips among pepper accessions is discussed.     

大白菜种质资源形态性状的多样性分析

植物遗传多样性的研究不仅与资源的收集、保存和更新密切相关,而且是种质资源创新和品种改良的基础。在遗传多样性评价的基础上,通过比较种质问的相似和相异性,探讨作物的起源和演化,研究种质问的亲缘和系统分类关系,已经成为种质资源研究的重要内容。通过对65份大白菜种质资源形态性状的调查与分析,发现在茸毛、中肋色、中肋长度、叶球重量等农艺性状方面存在显著差异,而且存在较大的极差,不同的性状在不同的材料之问表现出了不同程度的多样性。大白菜生长过程中的重要性状,如茸毛的变异系数达到了77．5％,中肋色的变异系数为53．5％;株高的极差达到60．0cm,叶片长度极差达到了62．0cm;直接影响植株开展度的中肋长度不仅变异系数较高,为40．0％,极差也较高,为49．6cm,同时,质量性状中也存在着许多明显的差异。由此可见,我国的大白菜种质资源中存在着极其显著的遗传差异和丰富的多样性,如此多样的资源为我们进行大白菜新品种选育提供了丰富的物质基础。     

基于短日照特性的大豆品种推广种植潜力研究

为了研究大豆品种的推广种植潜力，以‘东农252’、‘黑农48’、‘黑农35’、‘黑农34’4个大豆品种为材料，在短日照条件下，分析各大豆品种的株高、单株荚数、叶面积、根干重等农艺性状。结果表明：短日照显著降低4个品种大豆的株高、叶面积、根干重，除‘东农252’外，也显著降低了单株荚数。大豆品种差异极显著影响株高性状的短日照敏感性，对单株荚数、叶面积、根干重性状影响不显著。性状差异极显著影响‘东农252’、‘黑农48’的短日照敏感性，显著影响‘黑农34’的短日照敏感性，对‘黑农35’影响不显著。各性状的短日照敏感性差异为根干重＞叶面积＞株高＞单株荚数。相对其他大豆品种，‘东农252’各农艺性状短日照敏感性最强。4个大豆品种的短日照敏感性差异与其种植范围大小基本一致。本研究为评估大豆品种推广种植潜力提供参考。     

Variation in traits affecting nodulation of common bean under intercropping with maize and sole cropping

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), an important food crop in Europe, America, Africa and Asia, is thought to fix only small amounts of atmospheric nitrogen. It contributes significantly to the sustainability of traditional cropping systems because of the predominance of small-scale farmers who cultivate beans in those areas. The objectives of this work were to evaluate bush bean varieties under common agronomic cropping systems and to evaluate breeding lines under low N-fertility sole cropping and intercropping systems. The purpose of the study was to characterize the genotype and cropping system's variability in symbiotic and plant characters and to identify the most suitable genotypes to establish an effective symbiosis with indigenous strains of Rhizobium. No significant differences among the bush bean varieties evaluated under typical fertilization practices were observed for N₂-fixation and plant traits except for seed nitrogen. Significant differences among the bean lines studied under low N-fertilization conditions were detected for plant growth,plant component and N₂-fixation traits. A significant interaction of bean genotype x cropping system was found for number of nodules per plant and nodule moisture on the bush bean varieties studied, and for days to emergence, days to flowering, end of flowering, shoot length, root dry weight and shoot nitrogen on the bean lines evaluated. Nodulation parameters were correlated positively with the yield components, shoot and root parts and duration of flowering, and correlated negatively with seed crude protein, pod and seed dimensions and seed dry weight. These observations indicate that it may be possible to increase both the symbiotic N₂-fixation and seed yield through plant breeding. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Agronomic and morphological characterization of Agrobacterium-transformed Bt rice plants

The agronomic and morphological characteristics of Agrobacterium-transformed rice plants carrying the synthetic cry1Ab or cry1Ac gene were investigated. Tremendous variations in plant height, seed fertility, grain size and other traits were seen in 80 T₁ lines, derived from 80 T₀ plants of 9 rice varieties. On average, about 33% T₁ lines had either morphological or agronomic variant plants. Most of the variations in T₁ plants had no significant correlation with transgene insertion and were proved heritable to their progenies. Genetic analysis in T₃ or T₄ generations showed some simple mutations such as chlorophyll deficiency and stunted plants were independent of transgene insertion and seemed to be controlled by a pair of single genes. However, in two independent transgenic progenies of Xiushui 11, all plants homozygous for transgenes showed dwarfism while all hemizygous and null segregants had normal plant heights. Two advanced homozygous Bt lines, KMD1 and KMD2, were developed from these two progenies. Comparison of the agronomic traits of KMD1 and KMD2 with their parent displayed marked differences among them in terms of seedling growth, tillering ability, yield components and yield potential. The genetic variation observed was generally not linked to the transgene locus and was ascribed to somaclonal variation, but other causes might also exist in particular cases. The results are discussed in the context of choosing appropriate transformation methodology for rice breeding programs. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

不结球白菜单株产量与主要农艺性状的灰色关联度分析

为揭示不结球白菜单株产量与主要农艺性状间的关系，利用灰色关联度分析法，对18个不结球白菜品系的单株产量和8个主要农艺性状间的关联度进行分析。结果表明，不结球白菜各农艺性状与单株产量性状间的关联度排序为株幅＞最大叶叶宽＞最大叶叶柄宽＞最大叶叶柄厚＞叶片数＞最大叶叶长＞株高＞最大叶叶柄长。株幅、最大叶叶宽、最大叶叶柄宽对不结球白菜单株产量影响最大。在不结球白菜育种过程中，注重株幅、最大叶叶宽、最大叶叶柄宽性状的选择，同时兼顾其他性状的选择，可以获得单株产量较高的不结球白菜新品种。     

Intra species variation in Atylosia scarabaeoides (L.) Benth., a wild relative of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)

Summary Atylosia scarabaeoides (L.) Benth., a wild relative of pigeonpea, possesses several useful genes which can be utilized for pigeonpea improvement. In the present study, 33 accessions of A. scarabaeoides were evaluated at ICRISAT Center during the 1987 rainy season for variation in some useful traits to identify parents for inter-generic hybridization. A large variation was observed for leaf components, seed size, pod length, seeds/pod, days to flowering, seed protein, sulphur amino acids, resistance to cyst nematode, phytophthora blight, sterility mosaic, fusarium wilt, pod borer, pod fly, and pod wasp. Only four accessions were found to have more than 28% protein content. Methionine and cystine contents were marginally higher than in pigeonpea but the variation was not large enough to utilize them in the breeding program. In A. scarabaeoides. accessions resistant to fusarium wilt, phytophthora blight, sterility mosaic, and cyst nematode were detected. Compared to pigeonpea, the A. scarabaeoides accessions were less susceptible to lepidopteran borer and were immune to pod fly damage. Accessions ICPW 89 and ICPW 111 in short- (100–120 days), and ICPW 94 and ICPW 118 in medium-duration (140–180 days) were identified as potential parents for use in inter-generic hybridization.ICRISAT Journal Article No. 967     

Characterization of six varieties of Cucumis melo L. based on morphological and physiological characters, including shelf-life of fruit

Seventy-two accessions covering six varieties of Cucumis melo were characterized by using 35 morphological characters with emphasis on shelf-life, and the relationships between shelf-life and related characters was investigated. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that development period of plant and fruit, size of seed and fruit, shelf-life, stem hair, flesh juiciness, netting, abscission of peduncle, rapid yellowing of epidermis at maturity, Brix value, and color of flesh and epidermis etc. were the principal characters to discriminate melon accessions examined in the present study. According to the scatter diagram, vars. acidulusand makuwa, both of which belong to the Oriental melon, are closely related because of their short growth duration, small seed, thin pericarp and poor shelf-life, while American cantaloupe (var.reticulatus) and European cantaloupe (var. cantalupensis) are rather closely related due to their climacteric fruit with orange flesh, slipped peduncle and rapid yellowing of epidermis at maturity, which is closely related with their shelf-life. PCA also indicated that var. saccharinus was closer to var. inodorus than to the other varieties, due to their requirement of long period for development, large size of seed and fruit, and half- or non-slipped peduncle. Shelf-life of melon fruit was significantly correlated with the following characters: quality of flesh, size of seed and fruit, abscission of peduncle, development periods of plant and fruit, rapid yellowing of epidermis at maturity, Brix value and color of flesh and epidermis. Accessions with good shelf-life were mostly found in vars. saccharinus and inodorus. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pathogenic variation among isolates of Rhynchosporium secalis from barley grass growing in South Eastern Australia

Summary The pathogenicity of 182 single spore isolates of Rhynchosporium secalis from Hordeum leporinum and 94 isolates from H. vulgare collected from throughout southeastern Australia was tested on 15 barley varieties, each having different combinations of resistance genes. Forty five percent of the barley grass isolates were pathogenic on 5 or more varieties but only 6% of the cultivated barley isolates attacked this range of varieties. On the basis of reaction type 20 different pathogenicity groups were recognised, with barley grass isolates being classified into 19 and the cultivated barley isolates into 5, four of which were the same as the barley grass isolates. Numerical analysis of data on leaf area damage inferred 33 groups, 24 of which were unique to barley grass isolates, two to cultivated barley isolates and 9 common to both groups. There was as much variation in pathogenicity among single spore isolates from the same lesion as between isolates from different lesions collected from the same or different locations.     

Quantitative trait loci for early maturity and their potential in breeding for earliness in Brassica juncea

A doubled haploid population of Brassica juncea, developed from a cross between two parental lines differing for days to maturity, was used to study the efficiency of indirect selection for a primary trait through selection of secondary trait(s) over direct selection for the primary trait when quantitative trait loci information is available for both primary and secondary traits, and applied. Days to maturity was considered as primary trait, while days to first flowering, days to end of flowering, flowering period and plant height were considered as secondary traits. An RFLP linkage map was employed for QTL analysis of maturity and maturity-determinant traits, and a stable QTL B6 simultaneously affecting these two types of traits was identified. This linked QTL explained 11.7% phenotypic variation for days to maturity, 20.7% variation for days to first flowering, 24.3% variation for days to end of flowering and 14.4% variation for plant height. Phenotypic evaluation of maturity and/or maturity-determinant traits, viz. days to first flowering, days to end of flowering and plant height revealed that limited genetic advance for early maturity can be achieved through phenotypic selection of the primary and/or the secondary trait(s). However, the estimates of genetic advance for early maturity based on combined phenotypic evaluation and linked QTL data was found to be, at least, three times higher compared to genetic advance based on phenotypic evaluation only, demonstrating the potential of marker-assisted selection in breeding for early maturity in B. juncea.     

Vigour evaluation for genetics and breeding in rose

Breeding of cut and pot rose cultivars for efficient production under low-energy conditions in greenhouses will be facilitated by understanding the inheritance of vigour. To get insight into the genetic variation of vigour-related traits, a diploid rose population was employed for an evaluation study in greenhouses in The Netherlands and Denmark. For all the traits investigated the population showed a continuous quantitative variation as well as a considerable transgression. For most of the traits, the genetic variation found among the tested entries was highly significant and tended to be large in comparison to the effects of genotype by environment interaction. The heritability based on means of the traits was high and ranged from 68 to 92%. Strong simple correlations (r = 0.65 to 0.95) were found among the traits shoot length, leaf area, leaf dry weight, stem dry weight, total dry weight and growth rate. The total dry weight and leaf area are suggested to be good parameters for early selection of rose genotypes with vigorous growth under suboptimal growth conditions.     

不结球白菜组合农艺性状与产量表现

为选育出适合绿洲农区种植的不结球白菜新品种，通过对参试组合的各农艺性状进行变异性分析、方差分析、相关性分析和外观性状比较。结果表明，在变异性分析中，单产变异最大，其次是小区产量；通过对参试组合单产方差分析及PLSD多重比较，单产均呈极显著性，单产排在前三的组合是：K-14:34666.85kg/hm2; K-5:34400.18kg/hm2; 和K-12:32000.16kg/hm2。相关分析表明，单株产量与单产呈极显著相关，r=1**。外观性状比较结果表明，K-14直立紧凑叶色绿色，叶柄色为淡绿且鼓有挺性，K-5的株型直立，叶色为深绿，叶柄颜色为绿色且鼓，K-12虽然是不紧凑型的，叶色为绿色、叶柄为淡绿色，且鼓有挺性;综合参试组合的各性状，结论是K-14、K-5和K-12比较适合新疆绿洲农区种植。     

去早蕾对转基因抗虫棉黄萎病发生及早衰的影响

 以我国黄河流域和长江流域种植面积较大的8个品种为试验材料,研究了去早蕾对棉花黄萎病、生理性早衰及产量的影响。结果表明,去早蕾可显著减轻棉花黄萎病和早衰危害。2005年7月18日、8月19日和2006年8月22日,去早蕾处理黄萎病病情指数显著低于对照;除欣抗4号外,其它7个品种病情指数降低1.6%～15.0%,99B、冀668、豫杂35、中棉所41与对照之间差异达显著水平。2005年8月19、8月24日和2006年8月27日,去早蕾处理早衰指数显著低于对照;除邯109外,其它7个品种早衰指数降低1.3%～19.0%,99B、冀668、豫杂35、中棉所29之间差异达显著水平。去早蕾能显著提高棉花产量,但在不同品种之间存在差异,其中杂交棉品种表现较为明显。