How does the harvest index affect water‐use efficiency and nutrient‐utilization efficiency of sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.)?

Besides oilseed rape and soybean, sunflower is one of the most important annual oilcrops. Apart from seed yield, which is the most important trait in many crops, oil yield is of utmost interest for sunflower breeders and farmers. Compared to the seed yield of sunflowers, their total biomass is often very high, and it is of great agronomic interest to increase the ratio of both parameters, which is defined as harvest index. With an increase in harvest index, improvements of resource‐use efficiencies can be expected. To generate an adequate seed yield, water and nutrients are key factors and their efficient use becomes increasingly important under conditions of aridity and higher production goals. A pot experiment was conducted in summer 2017 to determine differences in harvest index of various sunflower genotypes which could have an influence on the use efficiencies of water and nutrients (N, P, K). In total, 25 genotypes of different origin and with various morphological traits were investigated under optimal growth conditions. The harvest index varied from 29% to 47% and showed significant differences among some genotypes. The harvest index was less affected by the total biomass of the plants but more by the seed yield. The seed yield itself was mainly determined by the single seed weight rather than by the number of seeds. The experiment also confirmed significant positive correlations between harvest indices and all use efficiencies. Genotypes with high harvest indices were characterized by high oil concentrations in the seeds and particularly by high oil yields. In conclusion, cultivation of sunflower genotypes with high harvest indices most likely results in high water‐use efficiency and high nutrient‐utilization efficiencies as well as in high oil yields.     

Estimates of relative contribution of biomass, harvest index and yield components to soybean yield improvements in China

A method was developed to estimate the relative contribution of increased biomass, harvest index and yield components to seed yield gain of soybean. Data from four field experiments conducted in three soybean production regions in China were used to measure the role of different traits (such as harvest index) in seed yield improvement by applying this method. The results indicated that harvest index was a larger contributor to the progress of soybean yield improvements than biomass in China. However, the estimates of improvements of yield components suggested that there could be several strategies for obtaining high yield. High yielding would be achieved by improving all of the three yield components (pods per plant, seeds per pod and seed weight) simultaneously, or significantly improving one or two of the three components.     

大豆生物量积累、收获指数及产量间的相关与QTL分析

利用亲本间生物量、收获指数和产量有较大差异的南农1138-2和科丰1号杂交衍生的大豆重组自交家系(NJRIKY), 研究始花期(R1)、始荚期(R3)、始粒期(R5)、收获期生物量以及表观收获指数和产量间的相关, 并进行QTL定位, 分析相关的遗传基础。结果表明, (1) 生物量与产量显著相关, 相关程度随生长进程逐渐增加, 收获期生物量与产量相关最高, R²=0.76。R1、R3、R5期生物量与产量的相关呈负指数曲线相关, 生物量分别达到1 000、2 300和5 500 kg hm^-2时, 产量不再随生物量的增加而增加。收获期生物量与产量呈直线正相关, 在试验范围内未发现高产的收获期生物量上限。表观收获指数与产量呈指数曲线相关, 小于0.42时与产量具正变关系, 大于0.42时与产量具负变关系。收获期生物量与表观收获指数呈指数曲线相关, 表观收获指数增加生物量降低。(2) 检测到产量、表观收获指数、收获期生物量有关的QTL分别为9、10和10个, 其中两年稳定的QTL分别有2、3、3个。检测到R1、R3和R5期生物量有关的QTL分别有6、9和6个, 其中3个时期在两年均能稳定表达的有2个。(3)在9个产量QTL中的6个区间, 还同时检测到生物量和表观收获指数有关的QTL, 该3性状有部分QTL共享同一连锁区间, 表明有其共同的遗传基础, 同时也解释了性状间相关的遗传原因。     

持续高温干旱年份陆地棉农艺和产量性状的遗传效应分析

本文采用NCⅡ交配设计方法,以9个陆地棉品种(系)配置16个杂交组合,利用加性—显性与环境互作的遗传模型(ADE模型),分析亲本和F1在2013年持续高温干旱条件下望江、九江2个环境下的农艺和产量性状,估算了各项遗传方差分量,分析了性状间各项遗传效应的相关性和各性状的杂种优势。结果表明,农艺和产量性状易受环境条件影响,子棉产量、皮棉产量、单株铃数和铃重的遗传主要受显性效应控制,衣分同时受加性和显性效应控制,子指主要受加性效应控制。遗传相关分析表明,子棉产量和皮棉产量与铃重和衣分呈显性正相关;铃重与衣分呈显性正相关,衣分与子指的加性和显性均为负相关。杂种优势分析表明,中棉所63的铃重、衣分、子指、子棉产量和皮棉产量的群体平均优势达极显著水平,其皮棉产量的杂种优势可以利用至F3。     

Implications of selecting improved strains of soybeans for dry-matter accumulation and grain yield

Summary Three maturity groups of soybeans (Glycine max L.) were used to investigate the relationship between dry-matter accumulation (DMA) and grain yield (GY), and the prospects for selection of high seed yielding strains among the existing soybean cultivars in a tropical environment. The positive and significant association between DMA and GY (r=0.888^***) indicated that selection for high DMA could give gains in GY. However, the higher harvest index (HI=37.5%) for the low seed yielding early maturing genotypes than the more vegetatively endowed and higher seed producing late maturity group, is an indication that excessive DMA could be disadvantageous. Total seed yield per land area for the three maturity groups of soybeans showed that the genotypes with high harvest index and low seed yield could be as good as those ones with high seed and dry-matter yields with low harvest index. The high coefficient of variation which ranged between 18.1 and 59.8% and the heritability estimations which also ranged from 34.4 to 82.2% are indicative of the presence of substantial genetic diversity and there are good prospects for the improvement of the crop through selection.     

小麦生物产量、收获指数与产量关系的研究

利用11个小麦新品种（系）,对生物产量、收获指数与籽粒产量的关系进行了研究。结果表明,生物产量与籽粒产量的表型和遗传正相关均达极显著水平,收获指数与籽粒产量的表型正相关也达极显著水平。生物产量的遗传潜力及与籽粒产量的密切程度均大于收获指数,说明进一步提高产量的途径应是维持现有收获指数水平,主要通过提高生物产量,协调提高二者之间的关系来实现。     

Effect of Date of Planting, Genotype and Source of Seed on Disease Incidence, Yield, and Agronomic Performance of Soybean

Four soybean genotypes chosen from four seed sources were planted in a factorial arrangement on four dates in a split-plot design at the Alabama A & M Experimental Station on a Decatur silt clay loam soil. The highest vigor index was recorded from seeds harvested from the 4th date of planting. These seeds had the lowest level of Diaporthe phaseolorum var. caulivora infection, indicating that vigor index, as a measurement of seed quality, was negatively correlated with the level of infection by soybean stem canker pathogen. Seed yield was highest at the 2nd date of planting and lowest at the 4th date of planting. Tracy-M and Bedford confirmed previous reports on their resistance and susceptibility, respectively, to soybean stem canker. All the genotypes performed their best at the 2nd date of planting. Source of seeds appeared to have little effect on the performance of the plant in the field.     

Effect of Water Stress on the Yield of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) Genotypes in the Delmarva Region of the United States

Drought is an important yield-reducing factor for corn and soya bean which are the two major crops in the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia (Delmarva) region of the United States. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is primarily grown in drier regions of the world where it is one of the most drought-resistant food legumes. Field experiments were conducted in which 10 genetically diverse cowpea genotypes were evaluated for adaptability to the Delmarva area. The cowpea genotypes were grown in rain-out shelters under non-water-stressed and water-stressed conditions. The results showed that under non-water-stressed conditions cowpea genotypes California Blackeye 5, Champion and Mississippi Silver gave higher seed yields, while genotypes White Acre, Six Week Browneye and Texas Cream 8 provided lower seed yields. Genotypes California Blackeye 5 and Champion gave comparatively better seed yields under water-stressed conditions. California Blackeye 5 was the highest seed-yielding genotype under both water-stressed and non-water-stressed conditions. The highest biological yield under non-water-stressed conditions was given by genotypes Two Crop Brown, White Acre and Elite, whereas under the water-stressed condition genotypes Texas Cream 8, California Blackeye 5, and Mississippi Silver gave higher biological yield. Genotypes Quickpick Pinkeye and Elite were identified as early maturing genotypes. The harvest index (HI) varied significantly among genotypes, with Texas Cream 8 having the lowest HI. Cowpea genotypes which gave higher seed yield under water-stressed conditions could play an important role in sustaining crop production in the Delmarva region.     

Effects of Timing of Drought Stress on Phenology, Yield and Yield Components of Short-duration Pigeonpea

Nine short-duration pigeonpea genotypes were given adequate soil moisture throughout growth or subjected to water stress during the late vegetative and flowering (stress 1), flowering and early pod development (stress 2), or podfill (stress 3) growth stages under field conditions. The stress 1 treatment had no significant effect on the time to flowering. No stress treatment affected maturity or inter-plant flowering synchronization. The interval from a newly opened flower to a mature pod was about 30 days for all genotypes, and was unchanged in plants that were recovenng from stress 1 or undergoing stress 2. Seed yield was reduced to the greatest extent by stress 2 (by 37 %) and not significantly affected by stress 3 for all genotypes. No consistent differences were found between determinate and indeterminate genotypes in the ability to maintain seed yield under both stress 1 and stress 2. The harvest index was significantly reduced (22 %) by stress 2 but not by stress 1. However, under each soil moisture treatment, genotypic differences for seed yield were associated largely with differences in total dry matter production (TDM). For all genotypes, the number of pods m^-2 was the only yield component significantly affected by the water stress treatments. The stability of other yield components should be fully exploited to improve the stability of seed yield under drought conditions (drought resistance). Possible characteristics which may improve the drought resistance of short-duration pigeonpea include the ability to maintain TDM, low flowering synchronization, small pod size with few seeds pod^-1, and large 100-seed mass.     

陆地棉棉铃组分性状的基因型差异及与产量的关系

为了探明陆地棉不同产量潜力品种棉铃性状的特点,于2008—2009年比较了3个大铃基因型与3个小铃基因型棉铃组分性状的差异。结果表明,大铃基因型的单铃纤维重、单铃种子重及单铃种子数显著高于小铃基因型,单粒种子重和单粒种子纤维重差异不显著。简单相关分析表明,单铃种子数与公顷皮棉产量呈极显著正相关(0.660**),但偏相关系数或直接通径系数较小或为负值(0.179,-0.052);而单株种子数与公顷皮棉产量的简单相关系数、偏相关系数和直接通径系数均为显著或极显著的正值(0.771*,0.650**,0.917**)。因此,单株种子数可作为皮棉产量选择的可靠指标。单粒种子纤维重和铃壳率受基因型效应的显著影响,受年份效应和年份×基因型互作效应的影响均不显著。说明单粒种子纤维重和铃壳率主要受遗传因素的影响,受环境因素的影响较小。     

木薯单株产量与主要农艺性状的相关性研究

探讨木薯单株产量与主要农艺性状的相关性,以提高木薯育种效率,为木薯品种选育奠定基础。采用13 份木薯种质资源为试验材料,通过相关与通径分析等方法,探讨了11 个主要农艺性状与单株产量之间的相关性以及不同种质资源单株产量之间的差异性。结果表明：NK-2、NK-6、NK-7、NK-10、NK-11、‘新选048’与‘华南205’之间的单株产量呈显著差异;单株产量与块根数呈极显著正相关,与收获指数、生物产量、最长薯长、主茎高度呈显著正相关,与干物质含量呈显著负相关;通径分析结果表明,各农艺性状对单株产量的直接通径系数和决定系数的大小顺序一致,依次为：块根数、最长薯长、生物产量、主茎高度、叶保留高度、干物质含量、收获指数、地上部鲜重、淀粉含量、主茎粗、株高。由此表明,选育高产木薯需要关注的主要农艺性状有：块根数、最长薯长、生物产量、主茎高度、叶保留高度、干物质含量、收获指数等。     

Physiological factors determining yield in bread wheat. Effects of introducing dwarfism genes

Summary Improvements in bread wheat productivity have been related to changes in plant morphology and function associated with a large increase in the harvest index for a more or less constant biological yield. The appearance of short genotypes possessing dwarfism genes may modify markedly the objectives of breeding as the upper limits of the harvest index are approached. The aim of the investigations presented here was to identify some contrasts between short and tall genotypes in terms of the physiological characteristics associated with grain yield, so as to orientate more efficiently the selection of genotypes, with or without dwarfism genes, for productivity. Various parameters of flag leaf functioning (photosynthesis rate, chlorophyll fluorescence index, leaf area duration) were related to the biological and economic yields and the harvest index for two groups of genotypes that were differentiated by their height. For all genotypes, the relationships between the various traits and the grain yield were difficult to ascertain. For the tall genotypes without dwarfism genes, the classical relationships between grain yield, harvest index, flag leaf area duration and net photosynthesis rate were confirmed. Moreover, the rate of chlorophyll fluorescence decrease (Rfd) during the slow Kautsky kinetics phase, which is representative of the leaf photosynthesis at low light, was found to be an excellent marker of economic yield. Chlorophyll fluorescence decrease was closely related to grain yield and also with other factors that are known to be important in its expression (harvest index, flag leaf area duration). In very short genotypes, the biological yield and directly related factors (leaf area, plant height) were the main parameters associated with economic yield, since the harvest index had approached its upper limit. The selection of short genotypes must therefore maintain the biological yield through an increase in the size of the aerial organs to counterbalance the decrease in height.     

大豆品系在黄淮南部主产区产量及品质性状分析

为了筛选适宜黄淮南部大豆产区种植的大豆品种,于2011年和2012年对河南、安徽和江苏3省5个试验点测试的107份大豆品系的产量、品质及其他相关性状的数据进行收集、统计和分析。结果表明：测试大豆品系的平均产量为2601.73 kg/hm2,与对照‘中黄13’相比,共有48份大豆品系表现增产,占总数的44.86%;各试验点的大豆平均蛋白质含量总体较高,而且蛋脂双高的品种比例在各试验点均在70%以上。相关性分析表明,产量与品质性状有着极显著的负相关,与蛋白质含量、脂肪含量和蛋脂总量的相关系数分别为-0.27、-0.23和-0.48;与有效分枝、单株荚数、单株粒数、单株粒重呈极显著正相关(r=0.41,r=0.48,r=0.59,r=0.64)。偏相关分析也表明,大豆的产量与单株粒数呈极显著正相关性,且单株粒数是对大豆产量影响最大的性状;通径分析显示,该性状对产量的通径系数最大。蛋脂总量与株高、百粒重呈显著正相关(r=0.20,r=0.23),与有效分枝呈显著负相关(r=-0.19),与单株荚数、单株粒数和单株粒重呈极显著负相关(r=-0.29,r=-0.44,r=-0.37)。生产中,在提高大豆产量和品质的同时,应考虑到大豆各农艺性状之间存在着相互影响,在育种时应注意各性状之间的平衡。     

小麦产量与农艺性状的相关分析和通径分析

以23个小麦品系为研究对象,采用随机区组试验,设3个重复,对不同农艺性状与产量进行相关性和通径分析,分析参试品系的农艺指标与产量的关系。结果表明,产量三要素与产量的相关系数和通径系数都为穗数>穗粒数>千粒重,穗数与产量之间呈显著正相关,穗粒数、千粒重与产量之间关系呈负相关,但相关性不显著。收获指数、生物产量与子粒产量分别呈极显著和显著正相关,所有品系都有较高的生物产量和收获指数;供试品系的产量与株高和株高构成指数呈正相关,穗长、单穗重与产量之间呈负相关,但相关性不显著。     

Yield stability studies of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) under rhizobia inoculation in the savanna region of Nigeria

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) production is expanding into temperate and tropical environments. Yield stability studies under rhizobia inoculation were investigated in 24 soybean genotypes over two successive growing seasons at three agro‐ecological zone of Nigeria, during the 2015–2016 rainy seasons. Treatments were arranged in a split‐plot design and replicated three times. Treatments were 24 soybean genotypes and three levels of rhizobia inoculation. Results indicated that the variation of genotypes and inoculation on percentage emergence, height, number of leaves, number of branches per plant, total biomass yield, above‐ground biomass and seed yield was significant (p = .05). The effects of genotypes (G), environment (E) and G × E interactions on seed yield were also significant. Two soybean genotypes (TGx 1989‐45F and TGx 1990‐110FN) were identified as the most promising in relation to yield stability. Of the three locations, Abuja produced the least interaction effects followed by Igabi and may be most appropriate environments for large‐scale soybean production. Appropriate inoculation of soybean with inoculants (LegumeFix and or NoduMax) should be encouraged in farmer's field.     

Intercropping corn with soybean,lupin and forages: yield component responses

Intercropping systems influence yield variables of the component crops, such as harvest index, hundred seed weight, number of reproductive organs and number of seeds, within each reproductive unit. Two experiments were carried out at each of two sites during 1993 and 1994. The first experiment investigated the effects of seeding soybean or lupin alone or in combination with one of three forages (annual ryegrass, Lolium multiflorum Lam.; perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L.; red clover, Trifolium pratense L.) with corn on the yield components of corn, soybean and lupin. The second experiment examined the effects of seeding date (simultaneous with corn or 3 weeks later) and number of rows of large seeded legumes (one or two) seeded between the corn rows. Corn grain yield was generally not affected by any intercrop treatment, although in 1993 some simultaneously seeded treatments resulted in decreased yields. Soybean grain yield was decreased by most treatments, although some simultaneous seedings produced yields similar to soybean monocrops. Lupin grew poorly as an intercrop component, producing little or no grain. Corn harvest index was not affected by any intercrop treatments. Seeding corn and large-seeded legumes simultaneously resulted in decreases in corn hundred seed weights by as much as 6.6 g compared with the monocropped corn. In 1993 (a year with normal precipitation levels), the hundred seed weight and number of seeds per soybean pod were decreased by intercropping, although the harvest index was not affected. In a high precipitation year (1994), the soybean harvest index was decreased by intercropping, but not the seed components. The underseeded forages, annual ryegrass, perennial ryegrass and red clover, had no effect on yields or yield components of the other intercropped species.     

Yield trade-off and the role of parental selection based on seed size when breeding for soybean seed protein

Alternative physiological strategies can increase protein concentration in soybean: (i) more-than-proportional increases in seed protein content (mg seed⁻¹) relative to increases in carbohydrate and oil content in large-seeded genotypes or (ii) more-than-proportional reductions in carbohydrate and/or oil content relative to protein content reductions in small-seeded genotypes. Because these strategies differentially affect crop growth and development, we hypothesized that populations developed from high-protein (HP) parents with contrasting seed sizes will present differences in how seed yield and protein concentration correlate. To test this, three breeding strategies were developed by mating high-yielding cultivars and HP ones that differ in seed sizes, reflecting the alternative strategies mentioned above. Neither tested crossing strategies showed differences in their correlation values between seed yield and protein concentration, as initially expected. Nevertheless, populations developed from crossing a HP-small-seeded parent to a HP-large-seeded one showed the highest number of transgressive segregants for protein yield. Our results showed that parent selection based on seed size has no beneficial effects on the development of high-yielding, HP soybean populations, but it might affect the number of transgressive segregants for protein yield.     

Yield responses by modern wheat genotypes to phosphate fertilizer and their implications for breeding

Summary The response to phosphate fertilizer by modern wheat genotypes was examined in the field under natural rainfall in three seasons. Models were developed which show that grain yield was positively correlated with biological yield and harvest index. In one of the seasons, which was relatively dry, shorter statured wheats gave higher yields at each level of applied phosphate. Higher levels of phosphate tended to offset the reduction in yield associated with late heading and the importance of biological yield on grain yield. The genotypes which produced the largest number of grains m^-2 produced the highest yields.Implications for plant breeding programs are discussed.     

Genetic and Phenotypic Association between Yield Components in Hybrid Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) populations

Summary The magnitude of genetic expression and associations among traits are important for the prediction of response to selection in diverse environments and provide the basis for planning and evaluating breeding programs. In this regard, a cross classification mating design was used to produce hybrid sorghum populations, which were evaluated in a randomized completed block design with three replications at four environments in Northern Cameroon. Data on grain yield, days to anthesis, plant height, inflorescence length, threshing percentage and seed mass were collected and subjected to statistical genetic analyses. Significant genotype × environment interaction effects were observed for all traits. Genetic variance was essentially attributed to additive gene effects, with dominance variance for grain yield being negligible. However, the reverse was observed for threshability. Genetic variance components were much higher for plant height and grain yield than for days to anthesis, seed mass and threshability. Heritability estimates for plant height and inflorescence length were high (77 and 54 percent respectively) while the estimates for grain yield and threshability were low (14 and 5 percent respectively). Grain yield had positive genotypic correlation with most of the traits. Days to anthesis were negatively correlated with vegetative and reproductive traits. These results suggest that improvement of days to anthesis, plant height, and inflorescence length should be faster because of higher heritabilities and greater phenotypic variation. However, selection for earliness and reduced plant height would not be possible without hampering grain yield. Selecting for yield primary components namely inflorescence length and seed weight would be effective for increasing production. In addition, optimizing agronomic practices and improved experimental design would increase the selection efficiencies.     

Yield components,harvest index and plant type in relation to yield differences in field pea genotypes

Summary The effectiveness of yield components, harvest index and morphological characteristics as selection criteria among four field pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes was examined. Genotypes were grown at a wide range of plant populations (9 to 400 plants m^-2) to maximise environmental diversity.Both biological and seed yields approximately doubled from 9 to 100 plants m^-2. This response flattened from 100 to 400 plants m^-2. Differences among the genotypes were found only at 225 and 400 plants m^-2. Analysis of the yield components highlighted the plasticity and large genotype by environment interactions of field peas. The numbers of pods per plant and peas per pod were maximised when each genotype was grown as spaced plants, but the low plant numbers meant seed yields per unit area were at their lowest.Genotypic differences for plant harvest index (PHI) were also only found at 225 and 400 plants m^-2. Broad sense heritability estimates indicated that direct selection for PHI was not feasible. The inference from the yield component and PHI results was that alternative selection criteria such as physiological or morphological characteristics may be necessary for improved yield potential. Classification of each genotype indicated that low seedling vigour may be a positive attribute for crop plants of semi-leafless and conventionally leafed field peas. Selection based on any single plant attribute is unlikely to lead to dramatic improvements in the yield potential of field peas. Selection should be based on plant characteristics rather than on differences in yield components.