Stability of forage yield and quality in pearl millet hybrids heterogenous for rust resistance

Summary The susceptible pearl millet hybrid Tifleaf 1, the resistant hybrid Tifleaf 2, and two experimental 3-way hybrids with different proportions of resistant and susceptible plants were evaluated for rust resistance and forage yield and quality in 1990, 1991, and 1992. Different environmental conditions were obtained by varying planting date, planting density, and fungicide applications across three years of evaluation in the field. Rust severity of forage was negatively correlated with late season green yield, dry matter yield, in vitro dry matter digestibility, and digestible dry matter yield. The stability across environments of the 3-way hybrids was intermediate between resistant Tifleaf 2 and susceptible Tifleaf 1 for rust severity and the yield and quality measurements negatively correlated with rust severity. Mixtures of resistant and susceptible plants would probably provide greater control of rust than measured in these small-plot experiments. Although a mixture of resistant and susceptible plants appears to provide an alternative to monogenic control of rust in forage pearl millets, identification and utilization of additional sources of resistance would be beneficial to improve the performance of 3-way hybrids.     

Evaluation of maize varieties for their potential as breeding populations

Summary A 7-variety diallel of synthetic varieties that have not had selection for yield improvement and a 10-variety diallel of synthetic varieties that either resulted from recurrent selection for yield improvement or from the introgression of exotic germ plasm into adapted varieties were evaluated in six environments for yield and five other agronomic traits. The specific objective was to determine the relative potential of the synthetic varieties as germ plasm sources for breeding programs.Recurrent selection improved population yield in BSSS CO, BSK CO, and Alph CO in the varieties and also in crosses with other varieties. BSSS(R)C6 and BSSS(HT)C7 yielded 11.4% and 16.1% more than BSSS CO, and the variety crosses of BSSS(R)C6 and BSSS(HT)C7 yielded 21.6% and 22.0% more than the variety crosses of BSSS CO. Recurrent selection also improved stalk-lodging resistance for BSSS(R)C6 and BSSS(HT)C7, but root lodging for BSSS(HT)C7 was significantly higher. BS15 had 61.0% higher yields than Alph CO, with 9.3% less stalk lodging. Average heterosis of the 10-variety diallel was 1120 kg/ha (19.6%) and ranged from 800 kg/ha (13.7%) for BSK(S)C5 to 1770 kg/ha (39.4%) for BS12(HI)C5. The heterosis expressed among individual variety crosses ranged from 4.3% for BSK(S)C5 x BSTE(FR)C1 to 37.6% for BSSS(R)C6 x BS12(HI)C5, which approached the yield of the two highest yielding single-cross checks.In the 7-variety diallel of unselected varieties, BSTE CO and Late Rootworm Synthetic were superior as varieties and in crosses for yield and stalk quality. Average heterosis for the 7-variety diallel was 950 kg/ha (18.5%). Stalk lodging was important in the performance of varieties with poor stalk quality.Although recurrent selection improved yield, development of superior breeding populations also will require selection for general agronomic performance. The performance of BS16 and the yields of BSTL and Teozea and their crosses suggest that exotic germ plasm should receive greater attention.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Journal Paper No. J-8096 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa 50010. Project No. 1897.     

Influence of recurrent selection for flowering on flowering and yields in kura clover

Summary These investigations were conducted to determine the effectiveness of first- and second-season selection programs for increasing forage and seed yield in kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum Bieb.).Rhizo kura clover, the base population, was grown as spaced plants in two programs for six generations of selection for flowering in the seedling and second seasons. Remnant seed for each generation of selection was used to establish spaced plant and broadcast evaluation trials.The first-season selection program was effective in increasing flowering not only in the first season, but for two subsequent seasons. The second-season selection for flowering had little or no effect. However, vigor, forage and seed yields were not increased by either program, and the first-season program progressively reduced vigor and forage yields as generations of selection increased. The cause of this is unknown but may be associated with inbreeding depression or detrimental physiological effects of first-season flowering. Reselection to eliminate possible inbreeding effects is being conducted to further examine the possibility of increasing seedling and aftermath vigor in kura clover.     

Diallel analysis of yield components of snap beans exposed to two temperature stress environments

Ten snap beans (Barrier, Brio, Carson, Cornell 502, CT 70, HB 1880, Hystyle, Labrador, Opus and Venture) were selected for differential temperature tolerance and used as parents in a complete diallel mating design. The 45 F₁ hybrid lines (with reciprocals) and parents were screened at 32 C day/28 C night, and in a separate experiment, 16 C day/10 C night, during reproductive development in replicated controlled environments. Variation for yield under temperature treatments was observed among parents and hybrids, with certain hybrids exceeding parental performance. Significant (P 0.0001) general combining ability (GCA), and significant (P 0.05) specific combining ability (SCA) were observed for yield components including pod number, seed number, and seeds per pod. There was evidence that pod number and seeds per pod under temperature stress are under separate genetic control. Reciprocal effects and heterosis were not significant. GCA could not be predicted from parental performance. The breeding line Cornell 502 had the highest GCA under high temperature, and the cultivar Brio had the highest GCA under low temperature. The cross Brio × Venture was high yielding in both temperature treatments. Heat tolerance and chilling tolerance were associated in certain parents and hybrids. However, performance under high and low temperature treatments was not generally correlated in the parents and hybrids, indicating that these traits should be selected separately.     

Genes for resistance to stripe rust in four spring wheat varieties

Summary The stripe rust resistant spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties Anza, Glennson 81, Ollanta, and Yecora Rojo gave 1,2,2, and 2-gene segregations, respectively, in hybrids with susceptible Jupateco 73 when inoculated in field conditions at Davis, California USA with Puccinia striiformis West. pathotype CDL-6 and rated at post-heading stage. Intercrosses of these varieties, Anza/Yecora Rojo was not studied, permitted the following conclusions about the genes expressed in adult plants: Anza, one recessive gene; Glennson 81, two dominant genes; Ollanta, two genes, at least one is dominant; and Yecora Rojo; one dominant and one recessive gene, one of which is common with Ollanta. The resistance genes in these varieties, which expressed resistance in the seedling stage, were believed to be effective at the adult stage. Thus, seven resistance genes were identified in the four varieties. The genotypes were designated for the purposes of this study as follows: Anza, YrA YrH; Glennson 81, Yr9, YrJ, Ollanta YrL YrD; and Yecora Rojo, YrC YrD. It was recommended that these and other Yr genes be used as multiple gene complexes to increase durability of resistance to P. striiformis, an organism known to evolve virulence rapidly in field conditions. The demonstrated durability of Anza in California may be a result of its combination of resistance alleles at two loci.     

Inheritance of aroma in rice

Summary Inheritance of an aroma was worked out in crosses between Brimful from Nepal as an aromatic rice and leading Japanese varieties Koshihikari and Nipponbare as non-aromatic ones. The F₂ pattern of segregation for aroma to non-aroma was 3:13 indicating one dose gene for aroma and one dose inhibitor gene in two crosses. This ratio was confirmed by genetic behavior of F₃ populations.     

Wide adaptation: How wide?

Summary Breeding programs aim at improving crop production either within given macroenvironments (for example rainfed vs. irrigated) or in a wide range of growing conditions. The merit of either strategy depends on the range of testing environments and on the definition of stress environment. When environments with average yields of 3–4 t/ha are defined as stress environments, selection for stress conditions can be successfully conducted under optimum conditions. However, when the stress environment has a much lower yield potential (0.5–2.0 t/ha), direct selection in the target environment is the most efficient strategy.A review of data on widely adapted genotypes supports this conclusion.The relative magnitude of heritability in stressed and non-stressed environments is not sufficient to choose the optimum environment for selection, because phenotypic differences can be of opposite sign in different environments.The role of constitutive characters as analytical tools in breeding for yield stability in stress environments is briefly discussed.     

Traditional seed maintenance and origins of the French lucerne landraces

Summary As for other forage crops the notion of variety is quite recent in lucerne (Medicago sativa L.). Up to 1950 in France, farmers cultivated landraces whose origins were geographically defined. Seed production was a by-product of forage production. Usually, seeds were harvested on the second or third crop, in old lucerne fields. Natural selection created landraces adapted to local conditions. In some years, climatic conditions, especially in northern regions, were unfavourable to seed production. In the exchanges and trades of seeds between French regions, the genetic origin of the seeds was omitted, the geographical origin was only mentioned. Even if France usually exported lucerne seeds, imports occurred in bad years. Seeds were imported from European countries and from North and South America. Varieties from America were poorly adapted to the French conditions for forage production. These foreign varieties have probably intercrossed with the local landraces but no data is available to know to what extent. Among the various French landraces, five main types were defined using morphological characters: Flamande in the north, three types (Poitou, Marais de Luçon, Marais de Challans) in the west, and Provence in the south. These landraces have been widely used in breeding since 1950. Even though these five landraces are, up to now, maintained, the other landraces have probably been lost (no more cultivated and not in genebanks), replaced by registered varieties.     

Low light intensity and flower bud abortion in Asiatic hybrid lilies. I. Genetic variation among cultivars and progenies of a diallel cross

Summary When Asiatic lilies are forced during the winter period, additional light is needed to prevent flower bud abscission and flower bud blasting. Growth room experiments showed considerable differences among eight lily cultivars in their response to low light. Among these cultivars, Connecticut King and Enchantment appeared to be the most sensitive to low light conditions while Uncle Sam and Scout were the least sensitive.Analysis of an incomplete diallel cross between nine cultivars showed significant differences in general combining ability (GCA) for flower bud abortion, number of buds, forcing time, plant height and leaf scorch under winter greenhouse conditions. Enchantment had the highest positive GCA for bud abortion, indicating a high sensitivity to low light conditions. Uncle Sam had the lowest GCA. Pirate and Scout appeared to have a high GCA for sensitivity to leaf scorch. Connecticut King was found to be a probable source of cytoplasmic male sterility. The data suggest that male sterility is associated with better response to low light conditions.     

The grain yield of uniculm barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in two contrasting environments

Summary Four six-rowed uniculm lines of spring barley were grown in two yield trials at different sowing densities. One trial was grown on light sandy soil in 1990. The second trial was grown on clay soil in 1991 and included the two-rowed, tillering cultivar Golf. In the trial on sandy soil, the grain yield of the uniculm lines approached that of Golf grown in an adjacent trial, but in 1991 when the growing conditions were more favourable, Golf yielded significantly more than the uniculm lines. Uniculm lines apparently perform relatively better under marginal growing conditions than in high yielding environments.The uniculm lines do not conform to the ideotype proposed for wheat by Donald (1968) but the results show that a drastic change in plant type need not to imply a large drop in grain yield.     

Mutations for polygenic traits in barley under nutrient stress

Summary Selfed progenies of three barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars (Manker, Morex and Unitan) were produced from six generations of a dichotomous propagation scheme. One group of plants per cultivar (the L group) was propagated in a fertile soil mixture. Remnant seed of all generations was increased in a common environment in the field, and all progenies were evaluated in the field under low and high soil fertility. There were no overall differences between the H and L groups for biomass or grain yield, and no genotype x fertility interactions were significant. But when only lines in the sixth, or terminal, generation were considered, the L group had a significantly lower grain or biomass yield than the H group in half of the comparisons. The L group was never significantly higher for biomass or grain yield in generaton 6. Seven of 60 within-family genetic variance components were at least twice as large as their standard errors. Six of the seven significant variances were for generation 6 families within generation 5 families; of those, five were in the L groups. The genetic variance within cultivars could be attributed, not to residual heterozygosity or to constant mutation, but to an increasing mutation rate, primarily in the low-fertility propagation environment.     

Partial self-compatibility in ‘Tombul’ and ‘Montebello’ hazelnuts

Summary Self-pollination of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) cultivars in 1988 and 1990 revealed the existence of partial self-compatibility in Tombul and Montebello. Percent cluster set in these cultivars averaged 44 and 20%, respectively, but was less than 10% in 8 other cultivars investigated. Percent cluster set from pollination with Segorbe averaged 62 and 41% in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Self-pollination produced 40% fewer nuts per cluster and twice as many blanks as cross-pollination. All cultivars and selections have an active sporophytic incompatibility system.Evaluation of self-compatibility in seedlings from the cross Montebello × Compton revealed that the partial self-compatibility of the maternal parent was transmitted to some of the progeny. Self-pollination resulted in greater than 10% cluster set in two selections, OSU 41.134 and OSU 43.025, in both years, but only in 1988 in OSU 42.089 and Willamette. Three other selections had very low set in both years. Results of incompatible crosses with standard testers were generally in agreement with those of self-pollination, except that the S₂ tester induced greater set on 3 genotypes in 1988 and the S1 tester on 2 genotypes in 1990 than self-pollination. The partial self-compatibility of Montebello, OSU 41.134, and OSU 43.025 appears to be due to a failure of their stigmas to prohibit pollen tube growth in incompatible crosses. There is no evidence of a pollen-part mutation in Montebello, nor is there evidence that partial self-compatibility is due to the interaction of S-alleles, as Barcelona, which has the same alleles as these three genotypes, failed to set nuts in all incompatible crosses.     

Correlations among some statistical measures of phenotypic stability

Summary Two basic concepts of phenotypic stability are distinguished: (i) a stable genotype should have a minimal variance under different environmental conditions (biological concept), or (ii) a stable genotype should show minimal interactions with environments as measured by the ecovalence (agronomic concept). In a study using field trial data of various crops it is shown that the widely used method of regressing the yield of a given genotype in the various environments on the respective means of all genotypes under test may be regarded as a combination of these two concepts, for coefficients of regression are almost perfectly correlated with variances, and mean squares for deviations from regression are almost perfectly correlated with ecovalences.     

Resistance to the glasshouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westw.) in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Summary Fourteen cultivars, one F₁-hybrid and one half-wild type (Cind) of sweet pepper were tested on resistance to glasshouse whitefly. Several mutually significant levels of resistance were found. Most resistant appeared to be California Wonder, Severka M, Korál and Yolo Wonder. During the test sweet pepper plants were infested both with whiteflies and their parasite — Encarsia formosa, which caused the blackening of whitefly puparia. The blackened puparia are easily seen, enabling an easier and more rapid evaluation of the number of puparia present.     

On the chimeral nature of the Shamouti orange

Summary Evidence that Shamouti orange is a periclinal chimera has been obtained as all nucellar seedlings from two Shamouti trees, yielded only Beledi type fruit. All nucellars from another Shamouti tree bore only Shamouti type fruit, thus indicating a homohistont condition in another tree source.     

Chromosomal location of genes controlling 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase,glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutamate dehydrogenase isozymes in cultivated rye

Summary The 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) zymogram phenotypes of wheat, rye and their aneuploid derivates were determined. At least three genes involved in the production of 6-PGD isozymes were located on chromosome arms 4RL, 6RL and 2RL of Imperial rye, King II rye and Dakold rye. Evidence was obtained that at least one gene located on chromosome arm 5RS controls G-6-PD isozyme activities in these varieties of rye and one gene involved in the production of GDH isozymes was located on chromosome arm 2RS of Imperial, King II and Dakold rye. The results indicate that the 6-PGD isozymes exist as dimers and monomers. No possible structure of the G-6-PD and GDH could be determined.     

Morphology,cytology and forage potential of Pennisetum americanum (L.) K. Schum. x P. Purpureum Schum. amphidiploids

Summary F₁ hybrids between short-day photoperiod- sensitive maiwa bulrush millet, Pennisetum americanum (2n=14), and elephant grass, P. purpureum (2n=28), are triploid (2n=21), sterile, and can only be propagated vegetatively. Fertile amphidiploids, (2n=42, with 21 bivalents) were produced by colchicine treatment. Good seed set was obtained upon selfing the amphidiploids and the progeny exhibited variable pollen fertility and bivalent univalent and multivalent formation.Reciprocal crosses between elephant grass and the colchicine-induced amphidiploid failed to produce seeds. The maiwa millet x amphidiploid cross resulted in poor seed set and the reciprocal failed. Maiwa x amphidiploid hybrids were pollen sterile with 2n=21, rather than the expected 2n=28, indicating chromosome elimination.Morphologically, the amphidiploids and maiwa x amphidiploid hybrids closely resembled elephant grass and the F₁ hybrid. The amphidiploids showed no superiority over the F₁ hybrid and elephant grass in either forage yield or quality but one maiwa x amphidiploid genotype surpassed a promising local elephant grass selection in forage dry matter yield and flowered for a relatively short period.     

Some methodological aspects of apple transformation by Agrobacterium

Summary Leaf explants of apple cvs Gala and Golden Delicious were infected with the Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain AGL0(pMOG410). The effects of a 2 d preculture of the explants before infection and the addition of 5-azacytidine to the selection medium were studied. The percentages of GUS-positive explants after 5 w did not significantly alter due to these treatments. One of the Gala shoots, which was removed from a leaf explant cultured for 8 w on selection medium, proved to be GUS-positive and will be analyzed further. In general, however, it should be concluded that regeneration of transgenic shoots directly from leaf tissue was not very effective.Abbreviations MS Murashige and Skoog medium - GD Golden Delicious     

Components of partial resistance to Leptosphaeria nodorum among seven soft red winter wheats

Summary Seven soft red winter wheat cultivars were evaluated for partial resistance to Leptosphaeria nodorum under field conditions. The results demonstrate that resistance is available among cultivars that are adapted to the southeastern U.S. and that resistance is long lasting. Resistant cultivars had longer incubation and latent periods, slower rates of lesion development, and reduced the level of sporulation of L. nodorum. Seedlings of susceptible cultivars sustained severe disease with dew periods as short as 48 hr in greenhouse tests. One resistant cultivar sustained little damage with dew period as long as 144 hr.Latent period was shortest on the second leaf below the flag leaf (F-2 leaf) of all cultivars and longest on the flag leaf which reflected the effect of microclimate and leaf age. The range in length of latent period on the flag, F-1, and F-2 leaves of resistant cultivars was less than that for susceptible cultivars. Differences between cultivars were greatest (up to 6.8 days) for the F-2 leaf. A delay in production of inoculum on the F-2 and lower leaves of resistant cultivars should delay infection of the flag leaf and spike.The greatest differentiation among cultivars for sporulation of L. nodorum was on upper leaves at Feekes growth stage 11.2. Oasis consistently had less sporulation than other cultivars at all sampling dates and leaf positions. The rate of disease progress up the plant (disease severity) and area under the disease progress curve were also least on Oasis.There were significant correlations among components of resistance and associated components suggesting that a single or interrelated mechanisms control expression of resistance. Overall, Oasis was the most resistant cultivar followed by Coker 762 and Coker 747. There cultivars have remained resistant for ten or more years. Stacy was intermediate in resistance and was the most variable of the seven cultivars for the components tested. Holley, Omega 78, and Florida 301 were highly susceptible by all criteria tested. Plant height was not a factor in resistance. The resistant cultivars are mostly later in maturity than the susceptible cultivars. In this study, crop maturity was similar under existing environmental conditions during the two seasons when most data were collected.     

In vivo embryoids from anthers of Narcissus biflorus Curt

Summary Mature anthers of some plants of Narcissus biflorus Curi., cultivated under subtropical conditions at Jammu, were found to contain monads, microspore mother cell embryo sacs, and multinucleate embryoids. In addition, multicellular embryoids resembling those obtained in vitro through anther culture were also observed. All these structures arise from the microspore mother cells which do not follow regular course of microsporogenesis.