A multi-species assessment of genetic variability in Nigerian Amaranthus accessions: potential for improving intra- and interspecies hybridization breeding

Amaranthus yields could benefit from our growing understanding of the genetic variability within and among individual species of local germplasm collections. Thirty-seven Amaranthus accessions representing three different species were evaluated for seed yield and yield components across two seasons. The objectives were to characterize the genetic variability of seed yield and its components across species and determine relationships among seed yield and its components by phenotypic correlation. Significant differences (P < 0.01) existed for all the evaluated traits among the accessions. Characters such as seed yield, stem girth and leaf length showed higher heritability estimates in A. cruentus (14) than in A. hypochondriacus (12) and A. dubius (11) accessions. Seed yield was significantly and positively correlated with stem girth and thousand seed weight. However, it was significantly and negatively correlated with number of days to flowering, plant height, leaf number, number of branches. The clustering of the accessions, which was partially in agreement with species grouping, will help in the identification of diverse parents for use in the breeding program. Enormous amount of genetic variability found in seed yield and its components among Nigerian Amaranthus accessions will offer opportunity for grain and leaf yield improvement through breeding.     

Agricultural potential of Mediterranean grain and forage legumes: Key differences between and within Vicia species in terms of phenology, yield, and agronomy give insight into plant adaptation to semi-arid environments

In order to identify key adaptive traits which affect productivity in Mediterranean grain and forage legumes and simultaneously determine the agricultural potential of a wide range of Vicia species, germplasm collected from the wild throughout the eastern Mediterranean was grown under semi-arid conditions in Tel Hadya, Syria (313 mm growing season rainfall). These included species currently in use in Mediterranean agriculture, such as V. sativa L., as well as those more widely used in the past-such as V. ervilia L., but also a broad selection from Section Narbonensis (B. Fedtsch. ex Radzhi) Maxted, including V. narbonensis L, V. johannis Tamamsch., V. hyaeniscyamus Mout., V. serratifolia Jacq., and V. kalakhensis Khattab et al. V. faba, a near relative of the taxa in Section Narbonensis, was included as a domesticated control. Where applicable, a representative range of subspecies was used. Accessions were chosen from a wide range of habitats in terms of latitude (31.02–40.72 decimal^o), longitude (27.1–43.17 decimal^o), altitude (20–1510 m), rainfall (180–1700 mm/yr) and soil depth (5–50 cm) in order to maximise diversity within species. Agricultural potential was determined by measuring seed, hay and biological yield, as well as agronomic traits such as harvest index, standing crop height, and seed size. The comparative influence of phenology and key agronomic traits such as plant habit and seed size on productivity varied tremendously between species, depending on their reproductive strategies. In V. sativa and V. ervilia, the smaller seed species which rely on long vegetative phases and growing seasons to accumulate sufficient biomass to set seed, and in which there was comparatively little agronomic variation, phenology had a large impact on yield. In early emerging taxa such as V. ervilia and V. s. subsp. sativa, with built-in long vegetative phases and growing seasons, seed yield was negatively correlated with flower ing (r = –0.86 to –0.88), whereas the opposite was the case for later emerging taxa such as V. s. subsp. nigra (L.) Ehrh. (r = 0.95). Within V. narbonensis and relatives, the larger seeded Vicia species which rely on more conservative reproductive strategies where high seedling vigour associated with large seeds enables the species to enter reproductive phases relatively early, phenology had a much smaller impact on yield than did variation of key traits such as seed weight, plant habit and pod shattering. Among the undomesticated germplasm harvest indices ranged from 0.09–0.31, hay yields from 0.1–3.4 t/ha, seed yield from 0–2.0 t/ha, and dry matter at maturity from 1.6–6.5 t/ha. Sub-specific taxonomy was crucial in determining agronomic potential. V. narbonensis var. aegyptiaca Kornhuber ex Asch. et Schweinf. showed the most potential, combining an upright habit, large seeds (212 mg) and tendency to retain intact pods after maturity, with the highest yield, harvest index and crop height of all the wild Vicia species. V. sativa subsp. sativa, V. ervilia and V. narbonensis var. narbonensis were less productive, but still showed agricultural potential. The smaller seeded V. narbonensis, var. affinis, var. jordanica H. Schäf. and var. salmonea (Mout.) H. Schäf., and their close relatives V. johannis, V. hyaeniscyamus, V. serratifolia and V. kalakhensis have little to offer Mediterranean agriculture on the basis of poor agronomy.     

Genetic Diversity in Physical Properties of Starch from a World Collection of Amaranthus

Physical and functional properties of starches isolated from 93 noncultivated genotypes of nine Amaranthus species from a world germ plasm collection and an additional 31 cultivated Amaranthus genotypes obtained from China were tested. A wide variation was found in the properties tested among the Amaranthus species and among genotypes within the same species. When comparing starches from cultivated and noncultivated genotypes, it was generally found that amylose was lower; starch pasting profiles were more consistent with higher peak viscosity, lower breakdown, and lower setback; the gelatinization temperature was lower; and energy of enthalpy was higher. Under cool storage, the hardness of cultivated starch pastes was lower and the adhesiveness was higher. As expected, amylose content was a primary factor affecting the physical and functional properties of Amaranthus starch. Compared with reference maize, rice, and wheat starches, Amaranthus starch tended to have lower hot paste viscosity and lower cool paste viscosity; and higher gelatinization temperatures and higher energy of enthalpy. Furthermore, Amaranthus starch pastes showed less change of gel hardness and adhesiveness after cold storage. The environmental effect on the different properties of starch varied among Amaranthus species. It is suggested that Amaranthus starches can be developed for a wide range of food uses.     

Phenotypic diversity of durum wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum durum</Emphasis> Desf.) from Jordan

Durum wheat landrace genotypes are disappearing from the main wheat areas in Jordan, because of spreading of new uniform cultivars and the serious reduction in wheat cultivation. This study was conducted to evaluate genetic diversity in durum wheat landraces from Jordan and to identify desirable agronomic traits. Landraces were collected from two target areas: Ajloun and Karak. The collected material was grown under rainfed conditions using an augmented design with five blocks and four repeated check cultivars. Data were collected for 14 morphological and agronomic traits. Phenotypic diversity index (H′) was estimated, and the relationships among accessions were measured using cluster analysis and dendrogram similarity matrix. The results revealed the presence of a wide range of variability among landraces., which possess high levels of variability for biological yield, fertile tillers, number of seeds per spike, seed weight per spike and weight of 1000 seeds. These landraces must be considered as a reservoir of genes that plant breeders need in their wheat improvement programs and should be conserved both ex situ and in situ.     

Agronomic evaluation and identification of potential cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) genotypes in South Africa

Cultivar development of cowpea with increased grain yield depends on evaluation and selection of genetically unique and complementary breeding lines. The objective of this study was to evaluate cowpea collections using agronomic traits to select promising parents to develop breeding population. Twenty-two cowpea genotypes were field evaluated using a randomised complete block design with three replications in two locations in South Africa. Analysis of variance revealed significant genotypic (G) and locations (L) differences for all agronomic traits evaluated. Significant differences were also observed for most of the traits due to G X L, G X Year (Y), L X Y and G X L X Y interactions effects. The genotypes tested at two locations showed considerable genetic variation for the following agronomic traits that varied for number of leaves (NL) (20.08–179.78), leaf length (LL) (12.36–67.72 cm), leaf width (LW) (4.78–22.02 cm), number of branches (NB) (6.81–13.85), number of pods per plant (NPPP) (14.33–54.04), number of seeds per pod (NSPP) (11.7286.28), pod diameter (PD) (5.75–22.73 mm), plant height (PH) (6.57–233.71 cm), pod length (PL) (3.94–100.92 mm), hundred seed weight (HSWt) (8.11–49.52 g) and grain yield (GY) (0.10-1.48 t ha^?1). Grain yield was significant and positively correlated with all of the traits except leaf length. The principal component analysis (PCA) identified four principal components (PCs) contributing to 73.62% of the total explained variation amongst the tested genotypes. The selected cowpea genotypes for most of agronomic characteristics are useful and candidate genetic resources for the development of breeding population in cowpea breeding and enhanced production and productivity for food and nutrition in the country.     

Screening for pre- and post-anthesis drought responses in selected bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes

ABSTRACT

Wheat genotypes with pre- and post-anthesis drought tolerance offer enhanced yield gains under water-limited environments. This study determined pre- and post-anthesis drought responses of selected bread wheat genotypes in order to identify and select candidate genotypes for breeding. Fifteen genetically differentiated wheat genotypes were evaluated under non-stressed (NS), pre-anthesis drought stress (PrADS) and post-anthesis drought stress (PoADS) in glasshouse (GH) and field (FLD) environments. Data were collected on agronomic and physiological traits including number of days to heading (DTH), days to maturity (DTM), plant height (PH), number of spikelet per spike (NSPS), number of kernels per spike (NKPS), thousand kernel weight (TKW), grain yield (GY) and canopy temperature (CT). Analysis of variance revealed significant effects of genotypes, environments and their interactions for studied traits. Weak and positive correlations were recorded between GY with PH (r?=?0.47 and 0.32), NSPS (r?=?0.37 and 0.52) and TKW (r?=?0.30 and r?=?0.20) under PrADS and PoADS conditions, respectively. Genotypes SMY-006, SMY-008, SMY-016, SMY-042 and SMY-044 were identified with pre- and post-anthesis drought tolerance and high yield potential and suitable yield-component traits. These are useful genetic stocks for breeding or cultivation in water-limited environments to improve yield gains.     

寒地野生大豆资源农艺性状的相关性和主成分分析

评价和筛选优异野生大豆农艺性状可为大豆育种提供种质资源.本研究对204份寒地野生大豆资源9个农艺性状进行主成分分析,结果表明:农艺性状变异系数的变幅为14.0％ ～71.4％,多样性指数的变幅为1.46～2.06;筛选出27份特异材料,有8份材料聚集了2个以上特异性状;单株粒重与其它的性状(无效荚数除外)之间均存在显著...     

甘薯淀粉产量及相关性状的遗传多样性和关联度分析

甘薯[Ipomoea batatas(L.)Lam.]是加工淀粉和燃料乙醇的重要原料,是目前我国最具开发前景的非粮食类新型能源作物。选育高淀粉产量的能源型甘薯新品种是甘薯育种的重要目标。为了获得准确筛选高淀粉产量育种材料的性状指标,提高甘薯高淀粉产量育种效率,缩短育种周期,本研究利用不同甘薯品种(系)的自然变异,根据淀粉产量、不同生长发育阶段的5个主要农艺性状和3个淀粉合成关键酶活性测定结果,利用相似系数和遗传距离矩阵,以类平均法对国内48份不同淀粉产量甘薯种质资源进行了遗传多样性分析,通过关联度分析研究了淀粉产量与不同时期农艺性状、淀粉合成关键酶活性的相关性。结果表明:48份甘薯种质资源材料在不同时期农艺特征差异较大;不同时期农艺性状的聚类结果中,栽后100 d的农艺性状与淀粉产量关联度最大,淀粉产量与该时期的基部分枝数呈极显著负相关(r=0.428),与干率呈极显著正相关(r=0.423),而与最长蔓长、单株结薯数和单株鲜薯重相关性不显著。48份甘薯种质材料在不同时期的酶活聚类结果差异明显。不同时期的甘薯淀粉合成关键酶活性聚类结果中,栽后50 d酶活聚类与淀粉产量聚类结果关联度最大,淀粉产量与该时期测得的ADPG焦磷酸化酶(ADPG-PPase)活性呈负相关关系(r=0.163),与蔗糖合成酶(SS)活性(r=0.101)、蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)活性(r=0.016)呈正相关,但相关性均未达到显著水平。加之淀粉合成关键酶活性测定步骤繁琐,不适宜作为甘薯高淀粉产量育种早期选择的生理指标。在高淀粉产量育种材料筛选时可于栽后100 d对农艺性状进行综合考察,重点考虑干率较高及分枝数较少的品系。本研究可为甘薯高淀粉产量育种提供一定的理论依据。     

Evaluation and selection of taro [Colocasia esculentra (L.) Schott] accessions under dryland conditions in South Africa

Taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] is an important underutilised staple food crop in South Africa, with a lot of potential to address food insecurity among poor rural households. Development of high yielding stable taro cultivars is one of the most important goals of plant breeders. Twenty-nine taro accessions collected from major taro producing regions of the country were evaluated for growth performance, yield potential and stability under dryland conditions at two sites (Umbumbulu and Roodeplaat) in 2013, 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons. The experiment was laid in a randomised complete block design replicated three times. Growth and yield traits were measured. Analysis of variance and correlation analysis was done on all measured traits. The genotype by environment interaction was analysed using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI). As a result, significant variation was observed for most of the traits except number of leaves and leaf width as well as number of suckers, while all the traits showed significant variation for location by year interaction. Number of corms showed significant variation for location by year by genotype interaction among all the traits evaluated. Genotype effect was highly significant (p?<?.01) on plant height, corm length, number of corms and significant (p?<?.05) on yield. The significant difference between genotypes for these traits proves that there was a genetic variability and there is a scope for selection. The correlation study also reveals that majority of the characters were positively correlated with each other. Total yield was positively and highly significantly (p?<?.01) correlated with all the measured traits. AMMI was effective in identifying stable genotypes. The top ranking cultivars per environment may be considered for cultivation under the specific environment, the stable cultivars may be considered for cultivation across all the taro growing regions.     

Evaluation of yield and agronomic traits and their genetic variation in 488 global collections of Brassica napus L.

It is important to evaluate yield and agronomic traits when selecting for elite lines in Brassica napus L. In this study, 488 global collections of B. napus L. were evaluated for yield and agronomic traits during two consecutive years under growing conditions in central China. A series of phenotypic data for yield and agronomic traits were obtained. Large variations in yield and agronomic traits were found among these accessions, making selection possible for these characters. Chinese accessions, in general, tended to have higher plot yield (POY), higher seed yield per plant (PY), higher thousand-seed weight (TSW), more seeds per silique (SS), and fewer siliques per plant (PS) than foreign accessions. Comparing winter, semi-winter, and spring accessions, semi-winter accessions tended to have the highest POY, highest PY, highest TSW, most SS and fewest PS. Genotypic variation for TSW accounted for 71.23 % of the total variation, and it was the highest for all 12 of the phenotypic traits. Significant correlations were observed between different traits. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that significant variation among the traits with the first four principal components could explain 49.8 % of the total variation. Three major groups (winter, spring and semi-winter oilseed rape accessions) could be distinguished when projecting the accessions onto the first two PCAs. The information on variations in yield and agronomic traits detected in this study provided useful parents for rapeseed breeding. Moreover, the phenotypic data on yield and agronomic traits obtained may be used in our subsequent genome-wide association studies for B. napus.     

Variation in gluten strength and yellow pigment in Ethiopian tetraploid wheat germplasm

Ten released varieties and one hundred and eleven tetraploid (2n = 4x = 28, AABB) wheat accessions collected from different major wheat producing regions, consisting of totally 2904 entries were characterized for content of yellow pigment, gluten strength, thousand kernel weights, grain yield, percent of yellow berry, glumes color, awn color, seed color, beak shape and spike density. The objectives were to assess variation with respect to regions of origin, species and altitudinal classes and to study the interrelationships of the qualitative traits used for the study. The accessions and/or released varieties showed significant regional variation for all the traits used in the study, but clinal variation among altitudinal classes and species were significant (P ≤ 0.01) in 6 (60%) and 9 (90%) of the studied traits, respectively. The accessions revealed consistent variation (P ≤ 0.001) within both regions and altitudinal classes for all the traits used in the study. The sedimentation volume was positively correlated with content of yellow pigment, percent of yellow berry, thousand kernel weights, glumes color, awn color, beak shape, seed color and grain yield. The contents of yellow pigment was positively correlated with awn color, beak shape and grain yield, but negatively correlated with seed color and spike density. Generally wide variation was found in the germplasm. Particularly variation was high for the content of the yellow pigment as well as the gluten strength, which provides opportunities to be utilized for genetic improvement.     

Variability in European Maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) Landraces under High and Low Nitrogen Inputs

An European maize (Zea mays L.) landrace core collection (EMLCC) was formed with samples from several countries. Evaluation of the EMLCC may contribute to broad the genetic base of maize breeding programs. The objective of this study was to assess the variability of EMLCC under low nitrogen (N) in relation to high N input. Eighty-five landraces of the EMLCC, grouped in four maturity groups, and three check hybrids were evaluated for response to low (0 kg ha⁻¹) and high (150 kg ha⁻¹) N in Spain and Greece. Five plant size traits (plant height, ear height, leaf length, leaf width and leaf area index), two grain traits (1000-kernel weight and grain yield), and two agronomic traits [growing degree units (GDU) and lodging] were studied. Overall means of plant size and grain traits increased when genotypes were grown at 150-N relative to 0-N input. The relative increase for grain traits was smaller in landraces than in hybrids. This suggests that landraces had lower grain yield response to N supply compared to hybrids. Linear regressions of plant size traits on GDU indicated that vegetative development was primarily associated with flowering lateness. The maturity group was the main source of variation for all traits. Landrace variability within maturity groups was significant for all traits across environments, despite significant landrace × environment interactions. Estimates of genetic and genotype × environment variances, and heritabilities at both high and low N inputs were not significantly different from each other. However estimates were generally larger at high N. Genetic and phenotypic correlation coefficients between the two N levels were very high for all traits.     

Genetic variation among populations of wild safflower, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carthamus oxyacanthus</Emphasis> analyzed by agro-morphological traits and ISSR markers

Wild species of safflower, Carthamus oxyacanthus Bieb., is highly crossable with cultivated species, C. tinctorius L. and could be directly exploited in broadening safflower gene pool and improving the crop for biotic and abiotic stress environments. In this study, genetic diversity among accessions of C. oxyacanthus and their relationships with cultivated safflower were evaluated using agro-morphological traits and polymorphic inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers. Significant variation was observed among accessions particularly for seeds per capitulum, seed yield per plant, harvest index and capitula per plant. Cluster analysis based on agro-morphological traits classified the wild accessions in two groups according to their geographical regions, and separated them from the cultivated genotypes. ISSR marker also revealed a high genetic variation among the accessions, and cluster analysis based on this marker divided genotypes into four groups, with cultivated ones in a separate clade. Genetic variation observed among the wild safflower germplasm at the DNA level was higher than the agro-morphological traits, indicating that ISSR is an effective marker system for detecting diversity among safflower genotypes and their genetic relationships. Accessions of C. oxyacanthus with high genetic relationship to cultivated species could be used for interspecific hybridization in breeding programs of safflower.     

Characterization of core collection of lentil germplasm for phenology, morphology, seed and straw yields

Increasing and maintaining crop residues in predominantly cereal-based rotations of the US Pacific Northwest is critical to controlling soil erosion. The core collection of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) germplasm comprising 287 accessions was evaluated for variation in phenological, morphological and growth parameters including seed yields and residue amounts over a two-year period under conventional tillage and no-till conditions. The objectives of this study were (i) assess lentil genetic variation in germplasm for variation in biomass production and seed yield, (ii) assess the relationship of phenological and morphological traits with biomass and seed yield and (iii) identify high biomass producing germplasm for use as parents in the breeding program. Days to flowering and days to maturity ranged from 31 to 78 and from 71 to 106 days, respectively. Time to flowering in terms of cumulative heat units was a more efficient measurement than days to flowering. Plant height and plant canopy width had a significant association with total biomass, seed yield and residue amounts. Total biomass ranged from 788–6389 kg ha^–1 under conventional tillage, while the range under no-till conditions was 1045–6195 kg ha^–1. Most of the lines with higher biomass also produced the highest seed yields and residue amounts. Overall, only one accession produced more residue than `Laird'. In the more favorable environment of 1997, six accessions exceeded the control cultivars, `Laird' and `Indianhead', for residue amounts, and seven and twenty-four accessions exceeded control cultivars, `Pardina' and `Brewer', for seed yield. Results indicated that plant height, canopy width at maturity and seed yield explained most of the variation in biomass and residue production. Large seeded germplasm consistently had a longer reproductive growth period than small seeded accessions and had 17%, 7% and 21% more biomass, seed yield and residue, respectively. Our data indicated significant variation in lentil germplasm for biomass, seed yield and residue amounts to warrant their use in the breeding program.     

Genetic Variation of Ethiopian Mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) Germplasm in Western Canada

Information on genetic diversity and genetic relationships among genotypes of Brassica carinata is currently limited. The objectives of this study were to evaluate patterns and levels of genetic diversity in B. carinata based on amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) as compared with Brassica juncea and Brassica nigra, and to evaluate agronomic and seed quality data for plants grown in the field in western Canada. A total of 296 AFLP bands were generated from four primer pair combinations and scored for presence/absence in 66, 20 and 7 accessions of B. carinata, B. juncea and B. nigra, respectively. B. carinata was less genetically diverse than the other two species. Differences in diversity were evident in the proportion of polymorphic loci within each species: 23, 35 and 50% for B. carinata, B. nigra and B. juncea, respectively. Pair-wise similarity measures based on the Jaccard coefficient were highest among accessions of B. carinata and showed the narrowest range: 0.911 (0.810–0.981) compared to B. nigra: 0.569 (0.438–0.660) and B. juncea: 0.715 (0.345–0.951). AFLP-based genetic distance information can be used by plant breeders to select diverse genotypes. AFLPs are also useful for fingerprinting cultivars and two primer pair combinations were sufficient to uniquely identify all the accessions of B. carinata. More variation among accessions was identified in the agronomic trial than had previously been described in studies of B. carinata in western Canada, but the data were too limited to draw conclusions regarding specific accessions. Overall, the findings were in agreement with other published work describing the favourable agronomic potential of this species.     

Differences in the apportionment of molecular and morphological variation in North American strawberry and the consequences for genetic resource management

Variation for 24 morphological traits measured in a greenhouse environment and 36 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers was assessed among 318 wild octoploid strawberry (Fragariaspp.) genotypes from diverse habitats across the northern USA. RAPD marker frequencies and certain leaf and flower morphology traits (petiole color, leaf mass/area ratio, leaflet length and width, flower and receptacle diameter, petal width, flowers/inflorescence) were significantly different between the F. chiloensis-platypetala and F. virginiana-glauca species complexes. The proportion of variation accounted for by provenance effects was lower for the RAPD markers than for most morphological traits, especially in the F. virginiana-glauca species complex. Morphological traits of potential adaptive importance group the collection into provenances within each species-complex, and reflect the significant habitat and geographic differences across the region from which the germplasm was collected. Variation among populations within provenances was low for the molecular and most morphological traits, with a much larger amount of variability among plants within populations. Most of the variation for the presumably more selectively-neutral RAPD data was among plants within populations and populations within provenances rather than among the provenances that were recognized based on morphological traits, especially in the F. virginiana-glauca complex. Patterns of diversity for morphological traits must be considered, along with more selectively-neutral molecular characters such as RAPDs, to formulate effective sampling strategies and to properly estimate the quantity and apportionment of diversity within this germplasm.     

Evaluation of Wild Lens Taxa for Agro-Morphological Traits, Fungal Diseases and Moisture Stress in North Western Indian Hills

Exploitation of wild gene pool for breeding is a common practice in an increasing number of cultivated plants. The cultivated lentil could not attain the substantial improvement in the yield potential due to loss of genes for higher productivity and lack of resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. The absence of evaluation data of wild lentils for characters of economic importance, besides biotic and abiotic stresses, is one of the constraints in their use in lentil breeding programme. In the present study, 70 wild accessions from four wild Lens subsp./sp. (L. culinaris subsp. orientalis, L. odomensis, L. ervoides and L. nigricans) along with 3 checks (Precoz, PL-406 and PL-639) were evaluated for phenological and agro-morphological characters, for their reaction to three fungal diseases (wilt, powdery mildew and rust) and screened for tolerance to moisture stress. The wild accessions showed higher performance for branches/plant as compared to cultivated genotypes. Similarly, a few accessions of L. culinaris subsp. orientalis were earlier to flower and had higher seeds and seed yield/plant as compared to cultivated lentil. However, some were comparable with cultivated genotypes for flowers/peduncle, peduncle length and plant height. The mean performance for flowers per peduncle, leaflets per leaf, plant height, seeds and seed yield per plant increased, while decreased for days to flowering and maturity, and branches per plant during the evolution of cultivated lentil from the wild Lens taxa. Of Lens taxa, L. nigricans had the maximum resistant accessions for biotic and tolerance to abiotic stresses. The valuable variation existing among wild accessions can be exploited following introgression with cultivated lentils. It will help in the flow of useful genes from wild to cultivated lentil for generating wide spectrum of variability and its subsequent use in genetic restructuring of lentil.     

分期播种对耐高温东北粳稻农艺性状的影响及耐热性评价

用5份耐高温东北粳稻(“东稻2号”、“东农03-33”、“东农415-1”、“合江195”和“吉粳3”)为材料在中国科学院亚热带农业生态研究所长沙水稻试验站进行分期播种试验(播种日期分别为2011年3月20日、3月30日、4月9日、4月19日、4月29日、5月9日、5月19日和5月29日),研究了分期播种对供试材料株高、主穗穗长、结实率、千粒重、单株穗数、每穗总粒数、单株产量等农艺性状的影响,并分析了自然温度与结实率的关系,评价了供试材料在抽穗扬花期的耐热性.研究结果表明,随着播种期推迟各品种播始历期逐渐变短,不同播种期间的单株穗数、每穗总粒数、单株产量变异幅度较大,而株高、主穗穗长、结实率、千粒重在不同播种期间的变异幅度较小.结实率与日最高温度和日平均温度均呈负相关,“合江195”结实率受温度影响最小,“东稻2号”、“东农03-33”、“东农415-1”的结实率与温度显著相关(P＜0.05),“吉粳3”为极显著相关(P＜0.01).回归分析发现,在一定温度范围内,结实率与温度呈二次曲线关系,且日最高温度和日平均温度对结实率的影响具有一致性.抽穗扬花期遇到高温的各播种期处理材料,除“东农03-33”5月29日播种结实率为58.7％、“吉粳3”5月19日播种结实率为52.5％外,其他材料结实率均在64.9％～75.1％之间,表现出较强的耐热性.综合分期播种的田间农艺性状表现和各材料结实率与自然温度之间的关系,认为“东稻2号”和“合江195”适合作为早稻在湖南种植.     

Distribution and biodiversity of soybean rhizobia in the soils of Shennongjia forest reserve,China

Soil samples were collected at an altitude of 500, 1,060, 1,500, 1,950, 2,400 and 3,100 m, respectively, from Shennongjia, a forest reserve in Hubei province (central China). Their corresponding pHs were 5.50, 4.91, 5.64, 5.28, 5.49 and 4.60. By using a plant trap method, a total of 25 soybean rhizobia were isolated from the soil above an altitude of 1,500 m and all identified to be Sinorhizobium fredii. Their genetic biodiversity was characterized by 16S–23S rDNA internally transcribed spacer (ITS) region polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and random amplification DNA (RAPD) analysis. All the tested strains produced a 2.1 kb 16S–23S rDNA ITS fragment. After digestion with three restriction endonucleases (HaeIII, MspI and CfoI), respectively, great variations in 16S–23S rDNA ITS PCR-RFLP patterns were observed. The tested strains could be differentiated into 11 ITS genotypes. The genotypes of rhizobia were not related to geographical location. Twelve primers were applied to RAPD analysis and a dendrogram was obtained, showing that all the strains (including reference strain S. fredii USDA205) were divided into two diverging groups. Moreover, each group could be further divided into two subgroups. Both RAPD and 16S–23S rDNA ITS PCR-RFLP analysis indicated that a high degree of genetic diversity existed among S. fredii strains isolated from Shennongjia virgin soils. Since Shennongjia is an unexploited forest region in central China and the gene centre of soybean is located in China, the symbiotic genes harboured by these strains may be of great importance and the rich diversity of these strains might contribute to the adaptation of soybean to an alpine environment.