Identification and characterization of quantitative trait loci related to lodging resistance and associated traits in bread wheat

Lodging is a major constraint to increasing yield in many crops, but is of particular importance in the small‐grained cereals. This study investigated the genetic control of lodging and component traits in wheat through the detection of underlying quantitative trait loci (QTL), The analysis was based on the identification of genomic regions which affect various traits related to lodging resistance in a population of 96‐doubled haploid lines of the cross ‘Milan’בCatbird’, mapped using 126‐microsatellite markers. Although major genes related to plant height (Rht genes) were responsible for increasing lodging resistance in this cross, several other traits independent of plant height were shown to be important such as fool and shoot traits, and various components of plant yield. Yield components such as grain number and weight were shown to be an indicator of plant susceptibility to lodging. QTL for lodging and associated traits were found on chromosomes IB, ID. 2B. 2D. 4B, 4D. 6D and 7D. QTL for yield and associated traits were identified on chromosomes IB, ID. 2A. 2B. 2D. 4D and 6A,     

Quantitative trait loci for agronomic traits in soybean

There continues to be improvement in seed yields of soybean by conventional breeding, but molecular techniques may provide faster genetic gains. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with the agronomic traits seed yield, lodging, plant height, seed filling period and plant maturity in soybean. To achieve this objective, 101 F₆‐derived recombinant inbred lines (RIL) from a population developed from a cross of N87‐984‐16 × TN93‐99 were used. Experiments were conducted in six environments during 2002–2003. Heritability estimates on an entry mean basis from data combined across environments ranged from 0.12 to 0.65 for seed yield and seed filling period, respectively. Composite interval mapping detected one QTL for yield (near Satt076), two for lodging (near Satt225 and Satt593) and four for maturity (near Satt263, Satt292, Satt293 and Satt591) in this population. Additional environmentally sensitive QTL for these traits, and for seed filling period and plant height are also reported. The QTL associated with agronomic traits that we report and the recently released germplasm (PI 636460) from this population may be useful in soybean breeding programmes.     

河南夏大豆区近30年主要大豆品种产量改良的遗传进展

提高产量是大豆育种的主要目标。研究大豆产量及其相关性状的遗传进展,对于今后制定高产育种策略有重要参考意义。本研究随机选择近30年河南主要育成品种中的18个大豆品种,进行两年产量评价试验的研究。结果表明,产量随育种年份增加总体呈递增趋势,遗传进展为17.39kghm^-2,年递增率是0.7%;有效分枝、主茎节数、百粒重、株高有弱的正向遗传进展,而单株荚数和每荚粒数表现弱的负向遗传进展,但均不显著。百粒重、主茎节数和株高与产量有显著的遗传相关与表型相关,环境相关均不显著,表明这3个性状具有较大的遗传力,随产量性状的遗传改良,这3个性状均协同提高,且不易受环境条件的影响;而有效分枝、单株荚数、每荚粒数与产量的遗传相关和表型相关均没达到显著水平,这是它们与百粒重、主茎节数、株高有极显著负遗传相关所致。     

Genotypic variation for resistance to Septoria nodorum in triticale

Septoria nodorum leaf and glume blotch is an important disease of triticale (×_Triticosecale Wittm.) and can cause severe losses of grain yield in some regions. Quantitative genetic parameters for resistance were estimated for 2 years in two locations in triticale genotypes artificially inoculated with S. nodorum. The effect of infection was assessed by a visual symptom rating of flag leaves and spikes and by grain yield traits relative to an uninoculated control. The mean ratings of flag leaves and spikes, calculated from two to four ratings, were 2.6 and 3.9, respectively, with a range of six ratings for spikes and over five for flag leaves. Infection caused an 11.5% mean reduction in kernel weight per spike, which was the result of 13.2% lower 1000‐kernel weight. The number of kernels per spike and 50‐ml weight were little affected. For all relative grain yield traits, genotypic variation was small with high genotype‐environment interaction effects and thus moderate to low heritabilities. In contrast, for visual ratings genotypic variation was high, with low interaction effects leading to high heritabilities. Phenotypic correlation between flag leaf and spike ratings was low, indicating independent disease resistance mechanisms. The best association, although still moderate, was obtained between flag leaf rating and relative 1000‐kernel weight. Therefore, visual disease ratings do not satisfactorily assess the effect of Septoria infection on grain yield traits. The reduction in 1000‐kernel and possibly 50‐ml weight are good indicators, provided that multi‐environment tests are conducted.     

不同小麦品种组合对小麦壳针孢叶枯病的抗病性鉴定

近年来中国小麦壳针孢叶枯病发生日益严重,为了寻找和发现该病的新抗性品种材料,通过人工接种法和病情分级法对44个小麦品种（系）及4个常规品种的抗性水平进行了比较和评价。结果表明,48个小麦品种（系）中对壳针孢叶枯病免疫的品种有8个,占供试品种的16.67%;表现抗病的品种有23个,占供试品种的47.92%,其中高抗品种19个,中抗品种4个;表现感病的品种有17个,占供试品种的35.41%,其中,中感品种8个,高感品种9个。病情指数和病叶率结果显著正相关(r=0.9817),表明二者均可用作品种的病情评价指标。研究得出,所测试品种中多数(64.58%)对壳针孢叶枯病表现抗性,这些抗性品种（系）为未来小麦壳针孢叶枯病的抗病育种提供了良好抗性材料,也为小麦生产品种的选用提供理论依据。     

Creating favourable morphological and yield variations for rapeseed by interspecific crosses between Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea

Brassica napus is a most important oilseed grown worldwide with a limited genetic background, due to the short history of speciation, domestication and cultivation. To create novel germplasm for rapeseed breeding, we made interspecific crosses followed with chromosome doubling between B. rapa and B. oleracea to generate novel B. napus with favourable agronomic traits. The resynthesized (S0) hybrids were confirmed by SSR and cytogenetic analysis, and the fertility was increased from 32.7% in S0 generation to ~97.31% in S1 generation. The plant shapes of the progeny were dramatically improved compared to the diploid parents and B. napus cv. ‘Yangyou 6’, especially for the branch initiation height, branch number and pod number. The single‐plant yield was significantly improved in S1 progeny for the variations in branching sites and number. Significant improvement in plant shape and yield was observed on S2 generation compared to the local elite commercial open‐pollinated cultivar, which would be further fixed by intensive selection and pyramiding breeding. Such variation is of great value for breeding rapeseed with improved plant architecture and harvest index.     

Assessment of resistance to lodging of landrace and improved cultivars in foxtail millet

Lodging results in serious yield and quality reductions in foxtail millet (Setaria italica). Among summer crops, foxtail millet is a high density and soft stalked crop that is prone to lodging. Field selection for lodging resistance is difficult because the occurrence of lodging depends on the environmental conditions. A practical method for the evaluation of lodging is not available for foxtail millet, so an understanding of lodging-associated traits and identifying a suitable method to assess lodging are essential to select for lodging resistance and to predict the risk of lodging in a cultivar. In the present study, six stem and root traits associated with lodging was measured in the field and lodging coefficients were determined to evaluate lodging resistance in landrace and improved cultivars. Based on the results of correlation analysis, lodging coefficient is a suitable indicator for field selection for lodging resistance in both classes of cultivars tested for breeding purpose. Statistical analyses demonstrated that lodging was associated with stem quality rather than plant height and internode length at the stem base. The most important trait that directly impacted on lodging coefficient was mechanical strength of the stem and plant height in the landraces, while the weights of the above- and under-ground tissues, in combination with mechanical strength of the stem, were the most important contributors to lodging coefficient in the improved cultivars.     

玉米抗倒伏相关性状QTL的关联和连锁分析

倒伏是影响玉米高产和机械化收获的重要因素,明确玉米抗倒伏相关性状的遗传基础,增强玉米品种抗倒伏能力,可为玉米高产宜机收育种提供理论依据。本研究以国内外收集的153份自交系为材料,利用6H90K SNP芯片检测的70,438个高质量SNP标记对地上第3节茎秆强度、株高、穗位高和穗位系数进行全基因组关联分析,分别检测到与茎秆强度、株高、穗位高和穗位系数相关位点5个、14个、16个和21个,单个关联位点最大效应值为13.24。同时以KA105/KB020的F₅群体为试验材料,采用QTL IciMapping V4.2软件的完备区间作图法进行QTL定位,检测到21个与抗倒伏相关的QTL,可解释表型变异3.86%～16.58%。结合关联分析和连锁分析结果发现, 2个QTL区间与关联分析的候选区间重合。经过候选区段的基因功能注释和文献查阅,挖掘到GRMZM2G105391、GRMZM2G014119和GRMZM2G341410等与细胞壁生物合成、细胞分裂和细胞伸长的相关基因可供进一步分析。本研究结果为进一步解析玉米抗倒伏性状的遗传基础提供参考。     

A Field Disease Evaluation Method for Selecting Wheats Resistant to Mycosphaerella graminicola

Reliable and efficient methods of selection are important for improving disease resistance. Three methods of field assessment of the Septoria tritici blotch disease, caused by Mycosphaerella graminicola (Fückel) Schroeter, were compared to identify the most reliable for selecting resistant wheats, Triticum aestivttm L. Nine cultivars which differed in disease reaction to plant height and maturity, and their progenies from several generations were used. The methods consisted of scoring chlorotic and necrotic leaf area covered with pycnidia on the flag leaf and the leaf below the flag leaf (flag leaf-1) as percent of the total leaf area, on a plant-basis, and the percent necrosis visually estimated on a plot-basis. Plot data were greatly influenced by environmental changes leading to inconsistent genetic results. The flag leaf and flag leaf-1 methods provided the most precise consistent results. The use of the flag leaf-1 method is suggested for selection.     

Association of Vertical Root-Pulling Resistance with Root Lodging and Grain Yield in Selected S1 Maize Lines Derived from a Tropical Low-Nitrogen Population

Root lodging and poor soil fertility are major constraints to maize production in the Guinea savannah of West Africa. Vertical root‐pulling resistance is an indicator of the rooting characteristics of maize cultivars and could be used to select cultivars which have higher resistance to root lodging, take up nitrogen efficiently and have high yield. Twenty maize breeding lines were evaluated in the southern Guinea savannah of Nigeria for vertical root‐pulling resistance, yield and root lodging in the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons. There were significant differences amongst the breeding lines for all the characteristics measured. Vertical root‐pulling resistance correlated positively with grain yield (r = 0.71, P < 0.01). There was a moderate negative correlation between vertical root‐pulling resistance and root lodging (r = ?0.46, P < 0.05). This suggested that selecting for high root‐pulling resistance will improve grain yield and reduce root lodging. There was no significant association between root lodging and grain yield (r = ?0.14, P < 0.22). This was attributed to two factors; weak root systems and high cob weight, both of which caused significant lodging.     

小麦抗倒性影响因子和产量因子的遗传与相关研究

旨在为小麦育种和生产上预防倒伏、提高稳产能力提供参考。以来源于野生二粒小麦远缘杂交组合的82个高代系为试材,在西北农林科技大学试验站测定并分析抗倒性影响因子和产量性状的相关性。结果表明,（1）株高与抗倒性呈负相关关系,成熟期茎壁厚与抗倒性呈正相关关系,各个性状的抗倒性排序为株高>成熟期茎壁厚度>单穗重>单株重;（2）粒宽、穗粒数和单穗重呈极显著正相关关系(0.413^**、0.767^**);（3）倒伏引起千粒重、单穗重下降,导致减产;（4）小穗数、小穗粒数及穗粒数等产量因子及抗倒影响因子的杂种分离世代都出现小于低亲值的遗传特点,分离子代产量接近高亲值的单株占1.5988%,杂交育种中分离世代最低群体需在120株左右。选择茎壁厚、植株高度适中、增加粒宽（饱满大粒）和穗粒数（大穗、多花结实性好）,有望筛选出高产抗倒品种。     

Comparison of space‐plant versus sward plot selection in thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus)

Thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus [Scribn. & J.G. Sm.] Gould) is an important native perennial grass species used for rangeland revegetation in North America. Plant breeding efforts relying on space‐plant evaluations have resulted in limited improvement in this species. The purpose of this study was to characterize the performance of thickspike wheatgrass half‐sib families under space‐plant and sward plot evaluations, estimate the correlation between measured traits in both evaluation settings, and determine the validity of selecting thickspike wheatgrass for rangeland revegetation in the nontarget environment space‐plant plots. The study included 50 thickspike wheatgrass half‐sib families and five commercial cultivars and experimental populations which were evaluated over 3 years in space‐plant and sward plot evaluations at a field site in Box Elder County, Utah, USA. Collected data included stand percentage, flag leaf height, and herbage dry mass. Narrow‐sense heritability estimates were low to moderate (h² < 0.60) and Spearman and genetic correlation estimates among traits were also generally low to moderate. Overall, there was little evidence to suggest the use space‐plant evaluations in thickspike wheatgrass improvement programmes.     

Morphological Traits Associated with Lodging Resistance of Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Throughout the world, lodging in cereals causes great losses in yield each year. A two year field study was conducted to determine the relationship of morphological traits to lodging resistance in spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) breeding lines and to find easily measurable traits related to lodging resistance. A set of 15 breeding lines, representing a wide range of combinations of plant height and lodging resistance, was evaluated.
During the first year, 29 morphological traits were measured at two growth stages and correlated with the lodging score. Higher correlations were found for traits measured at anthesis (DC 65) than for traits measured at maturity (DC 92); most of the fresh weight traits correlated better to lodging resistance than did the corresponding dry matter parameters. During the second year the six traits of plant height, stem length, stem diameter, ear weight, stem weight and stem weight per cm were measured at anthesis and correlated with the lodging score.
From the pooled data of four experiments, significant correlations between the lodging score and single morphological traits were found for stem diameter and stem weight per cm. Thicker stems and heavier stems (mg per cm) were indicative for better lodging resistance. Stem diameter and stem weight cm⁻¹ explained 48.5 % and 49.7 %, respectively, of the phenotypic variation in lodging resistance. Multiple linear regression equations indicated that 77.2 % of the variation in lodging resistance was based on stem weight cm⁻¹ and on the weight of the ear.     

黄麻纤维产量与主要农艺性状的相关分析

研究黄麻纤维产量与主要农艺性状的相关性, 可为高产育种与生产利用提供科学依据。本文159份不同来源黄麻种质资源的12个农艺性状对纤维产量即单株干皮重的影响表明, 各性状的变异系数变化在11.89%至38.50%之间, 表现出丰富的遗传变异。黄麻纤维产量与各性状均呈极显著正相关, 其中, 与单株鲜皮重、株高、始花期的相关系数较大, 分别为0.814、0.760和0.648。黄麻纤维产量和单株鲜皮重、株高、出麻率、鲜皮厚的回归方程达显著水平, 其标准回归系数依次为0.443、0.437、0.291和0.113。通径分析显示, 单株鲜皮重、株高在决定黄麻纤维产量时起主要作用。出麻率的相关系数(0.253)与直接通径系数(0.291)表现基本一致, 说明出麻率直接对黄麻纤维产量起作用, 具极显著正相关。因此, 在黄麻高产育种中, 应该以始花期、单株鲜皮重、株高、出麻率与鲜皮厚为主要筛选对象, 兼顾综合性状的改良。     

Genetic variation, heritability and progeny testing in meadow bromegrass

Meadow bromegrass is a recently introduced pasture grass in western Canada. Its leafy production and rapid regrowth have made it a major grass species for pasturing beef animals in this region. Because relatively little breeding work has been done on this species, there is little information on its breeding behaviour. The main objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and assess breeding methodologies for meadow bromegrass. Forty half‐sib (polycross and open‐pollinated) and full‐sib (selfed) progenies were evaluated for dry matter and seed yield, fertility index, harvest index, plant height, plant spread, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre. Genetic variation for seed yield, harvest index, and plant height was significant in the open‐pollinated and selfed tests. Genetic variation estimates for dry matter yield were negative (polycross), not significant (open‐pollinated), or significant (selfed). Estimates of genetic variation for quality traits were not significant, except for acid detergent fibre (selfed). Correlations among characters indicated that it is possible to simultaneously improve seed and forage yield. Rankings of progenies by the half‐sib tests for forage and seed yield were not altered by the use of the synthetic parental value (SV_i), which includes information from selfed progeny. The polycross progeny test did not discriminate parents as well as the open‐pollinated and selfed tests; this may have been a result of non‐random pollination in the polycross. Correlation among the progeny tests, showed that open‐pollinated and selfed progeny tests agreed for all characters, except for harvest index, while correlation between polycross and selfed tests were significant for six characters but not dry matter yield, and acid and neutral detergent fibres. The most dissimilar tests were polycross and open‐pollinated, with significant correlations found only for fertility index, height, spread and neutral detergent fibre. It was concluded that there was significant variation and moderate heritability for most traits in the meadow bromegrass populations evaluated, and that the open‐pollinated progeny test is the method of choice for selecting parents for synthetics of this species.     

早熟玉米杂交组合主要农艺性状与产量的灰色关联度分析

应用灰色关联度分析法,对19个玉米杂交组合性状进行分析.结果表明,各性状与产量的关联度大小依次为:株高>生育期>倒折率>穗行>行粒>秃尖>含水量>百粒重>穗位高>倒伏率>穗长>出籽率>穗粗.在育种工作中应该注重对株高、生育期和倒折率的选择,同时要结合不同性状间相互关系的综合表现进行育种,使玉米产量有较大提升.     

南阳盆地适宜机械化收获绿豆品种（系）农艺性状分析

绿豆机械化生产是未来绿豆生产可持续发展的方向。在南阳盆地种植28个绿豆品种（系）,分析其农艺性状与第1批荚果产量的关系,为适宜机械化的绿豆育种提供参考。结果表明,第1批荚果产量与其主要性状的关联顺序为单株荚数>单荚粒数>主茎节数>株高>生育期>荚长>百粒重>主茎分枝数,其中与单株荚数呈极显著的正相关性（P<0.01）,与单荚粒数、主茎节数、株高、生育期和荚长呈极显著的负相关性;通过表型聚类发现,绿豆品种（系）遗传基础狭窄,在改良适宜机械化生产性状的同时,应拓宽品种（系）的遗传背景。     

Detection of QTL for forage yield,lodging resistance and spring vigor traits in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an internationally significant forage crop. Forage yield, lodging resistance and spring vigor are important agronomic traits conditioned by quantitative genetic and environmental effects. The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) and molecular markers associated with increased forage yield, resistance to lodging, and spring vigor. A backcross population composed of 128 progeny was developed by crossing the breeding parents DW000577 (lodging susceptible) and NL002724 (lodging-resistant) and back-crossing an individual F₁ plant to the maternal parent (i.e. DW000577). A linkage map of NL002724 was developed based upon the segregation of 236 AFLP, SRAP, and SSR markers among the backcross progeny. The markers were distributed among 14 linkage groups, covering an estimated recombination distance of 1497.6 centiMorgans (cM). Replicated clones of both parents and backcross progeny were evaluated in the field for estimated forage yield, lodging, and spring vigor in Washington and Wisconsin during 2007 and 2008. Significant QTL were found for all three traits. In particular, two QTL for lodging resistance were identified that explained ≥14 % of trait variation, and were significant in all years and locations. Major QTL explaining over 25 % of trait variation for forage yield were detected in multiple environments at two separate locations on chromosome III. Several QTL for spring vigor were located in the same or similar positions as QTL for forage yield, possibly explaining the significant correlation between these traits. Molecular markers associated with the aforementioned QTL were also identified.     

Hybrid breeding for biomass yield in winter triticale: I. Hybrid performance,trait correlations and heterosis

Triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) holds great potential as a source for biomass production for industrial applications in Central Europe and hybrid breeding in particular appears promising owing to the higher vigour of hybrids compared to lines. In this study, a set of 178 winter triticale genotypes, including 91 hybrids, their 10 male and 23 female parental lines, as well as 54 varieties were evaluated for biomass yield and other agronomically relevant traits in 2 years at five locations in Germany. We observed a large variation of dry biomass yield as well as significant genotypic variances and high heritabilities for all traits. For the hybrids, a moderate correlation was observed between biomass and plant height and between biomass and grain yield. Mid‐parent heterosis of biomass yield ranged from ?13.6 to 16.5% with an average of 4.8%, and the maximum commercial heterosis was 9.1%. Taken together, our results illustrate the potential of hybrid breeding of triticale for biomass yield to diversify our portfolio of crops for biomass production.     

Magnitude of inbreeding depression and genetic variation analysis of agro‐morphological traits in orchardgrass

Inbreeding depression is the reduction in the fitness of inbred offspring relative to progeny from unrelated parents. In orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), limited efforts have been made to evaluate the effects of deliberate selfing on agro‐morphological traits and to estimate the genetic variation of traits. Twenty‐five genotypes of orchardgrass, along with 25 S₁ (full‐sibs) and 25 families of half‐sibs, were created in 2012 and used to assess the consequences of the first generation of inbreeding and outcrossing for offspring fitness and to estimate heritabilities, genetic parameters and correlations of agro‐morphological traits during the period of 2013–2014 in the field. Different levels of inbreeding depression were observed for the traits, with higher values for plant height, days to inflorescence emergence and dry matter yield. The degree of inbreeding or outbreeding effects varied among the studied genotypes. This facilitates the development of inbred lines for further studies. The results showed that some of the studied genotypes were self‐fertile, thereby indicating the possibility of developing inbred lines from these genotypes. Heritabilities ranged from 0.10 for the number of stems per plant to 0.64 for spread among the studied populations. Spread had high heritability as well as high correlation with forage yield, thereby indicating that this trait could be used to improve forage yield indirectly.