玉米自交系吐丝期叶片光合参数与其耐旱性的关系

从玉米自交系吐丝期光合特性适应干旱环境的角度,探索玉米自交系的耐旱性。2012年在土默川平原灌区和河套平原灌区以及2013年河套平原灌区,利用耐旱性不同的51个玉米自交系,在吐丝期采取干旱胁迫处理,研究分析了叶片光合相关参数对干旱胁迫的响应及其与耐旱性的关系。结果表明,玉米自交系在吐丝期干旱胁迫与正常灌溉条件下P_n、T_r、G_s、C_i、F_v/F_m、Φ_PSII和SPAD的相对值与其耐旱系数呈极显著正相关,WUE相对值与耐旱系数呈极显著负相关,而q_N和q_P的相对值与耐旱系数不相关;上述8个叶片光合参数与耐旱系数的逐步回归分析表明,P_n、WUE、F_v/F_m、Φ_PSII和SPAD相对值与耐旱系数在0.01水平显著相关,P_n、WUE、SPAD相对值对耐旱系数有直接贡献,而F_v/F_m和Φ_PSII对耐旱系数起间接作用。通过上述5个显著相关光合参数将两年三地表现一致的32份自交系的抗旱性分为3类,第1类8份(H201、H21、英64、吉842、早49、吉8415、东46和沈137)属于耐旱性强的;第2类15份属于耐旱性较强的;第3类9份属于耐旱性弱的,此结果与对应的自交系产量差异分类结果相一致。因此,玉米自交系吐丝期P_n、WUE、F_v/F_m、Φ_PSII、SPAD的相对值和耐旱系数可作为其耐旱性评价指标。建立了3类耐旱性玉米自交系吐丝期P_n、WUE、F_v/F_m、Φ_PSII、SPAD的相对值与耐旱系数的回归关系,并明确了其阈值范围。     

两个杂交棉F1、F2代及亲本冠层结构与物质生产特征

以杂交棉石杂2号和新陆早43的F₁、F₂代及亲本NT2、H2、4-14为试材,通过测定不同生育时期各材料叶面积指数(LAI)、叶倾角(MTA)、冠层光截获率等指标,分析了各指标变化对群体光合物质生产的影响。结果表明,2个杂交棉F₁代LAI具有超亲优势,冠层光截获率具有中亲优势; LAI和冠层光截获率具有明显的母系遗传特性,而MTA受到父本的显著影响。F₂代冠层结构主要受F₁代相关指标和衰退率的影响,LAI中亲优势减小了衰退率; 杂交棉F₁代光合物质积累主要受亲本参数和超亲优势的影响,F₂代主要受F₁代参数的影响。杂交棉光合物质积累最大增长速率和直线增长期开始时间较晚,直线增长期及活跃增长期较长,最终积累量和最大增长速率较高。杂交棉F₁代具有明显的光合生产和产量优势,F₂代具有一定的产量优势。以选择具有优化冠层结构的亲本为基础,组配具有较大MTA的父本和较大LAI的母本,有利于改善杂交棉光合性能,提高群体光能利用率,进一步挖掘产量潜力,为杂交棉高光效组合的选育及提高F₂代应用提供理论依据。     

Heterosis in yield,fiber quality,and photosynthesis of okra leaf oriented hybrid cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> L.)

Leaf shape is an important factor affecting canopy structure, photosynthetic characteristics, and yield. Introducing okra leaf shape is considered an important strategy in cotton heterosis breeding. The objective of the study was to evaluate the heterosis in okra leaf cotton hybrid F₁s, which were developed by crossing two sterile near isolines and three restorer near isolines. A normal leaf check hybrid F₁, Zhongza 29, and four newly developed okra leaf oriented hybrid F₁s, including the super-okra (severely cleft and narrowly lobed leaf), okra (deeply cleft and narrowly lobed leaf), semi-okra (intermediate leaf lobe), and sub-okra (large leaf lobe) hybrids were selected in this experiment. Okra leaf oriented cotton hybrids significantly reduced leaf area index (LAI) (P < 0.0001), thus more light penetrated into the lower canopy. The LAIs for the super-okra and okra hybrids, however, were too small to supply adequate photosynthate, thus resulting in early maturity, short boll filling period, and low yield. As the LAI increases, the semi-okra and sub-okra hybrids showed certain heterosis. The semi-okra hybrid showed 7–12% heterosis over the check hybrid in lint percent, 6–11% in boll weight, 2–147% in canopy light intensity, 1–10% in net photosynthetic rate (Pn), and −3 to 3% in lint yield. As well, all tested okra leaf hybrids improved fiber quality such as micronaire compared with the normal leaf check hybrid. The results suggested that adopting okra leaf parental lines in cotton breeding provided potentials in increasing fiber quality with comparable lint yield.     

Genetic distance and its association with heterosis in peas

Summary The relationship between the genetic distance of parents and both the heterosis of F₁ hybrids and the variance of F₅ lines was investigated in 72 crosses of pea (Pisum sativum L.). The genetic distance between each pair of parents was estimated, using isozyme (GDi), morphological (GDm) or quantitative (GDq) markers and finally a combination of isozyme and morphological markers (GDi+m). GDm was poorly correlated with the other measures of genetic distance, which in turn were strongly correlated with each other. Genetic distance was moderately correlated with the level of heterosis for yield over midparent in the F₁ generation, with the highest correlation obtained from GDi+m. GD was not significantly correlated with heterosis for yield over the better or best parent but it was significantly correlated with all three measures of heterosis for pods per plant and hundred seed weight. There was no correlation between genetic distance and the level of heterosis for yield and total dry matter in the F₂ generation, but GDi, GDi+m and GDq were predictive for the level of inbreeding depression in grain yield and total dry matter. When parents were high in genetic distance, crosses produced highly transgressive segregants for basal branches per plant, hundred seed weight, harvest index and onset of flowering. Genetic distance between parents was thus a useful measure for predicting a portion of hybrid performance and also of the variance of derived inbred lines. It was concluded that when choosing parents for a cross, consideration should be given to their genetic distance as well as their overall adaptation and their yield. There is considerable potential for optimising choice of parental combinations in the development of improved pea cultivars.     

Yield of F1, F2 and F3 hybrids of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary Yield and yield components of F₁ hybrids were studied in three experiments at 30×30 cm spacings and in one experiment at 15×15 cm spacings. In the 30×30 cm experiments, 10 of the 41 hybrids tested significantly outyielded their high parents. However, only 2 hybrids significantly outyielded the best cultivar: one hybrid yielded 23 % and the other 16 % more than their respective check cultivars. The four hybrids in the 15×15 cm experiment yielded only 59 to 92% as much as their high parents.In areas where rice is transplanted at relatively wide spacings, the observed levels of F₁ heterosis in selected hybrids may be sufficient to warrant production of hybrid rice, if enough hybrid seed can be produced. For direct-seeding at the high rates normal in the USA, the relatively small levels of heterosis and the difficulties of hybrid seed production preclude use of F₁ hybrid rice cultivars at present.None of 19 bulk F₂ and F₃ hybrids in two experiments yielded significantly more than its high parent. Similarly, none of the 12 mixtures included in one experiment yielded significantly more than its high parent. On the basis of yield alone, using bulk F₂ or F₃ or simple mixture populations is not merited.Contribution from the Western Region, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Agronomy and Range Science, University of California, Davis, California 95616.     

去除遮阴后自然强光对小偃54和8602及其杂交后代光合特性的影响

黄淮地区冬小麦生育后期常出现阴雨寡照及连阴骤晴等不良气候,本试验目的是阐明弱光逆境解除后自然强光对冬小麦光合特性的影响。在抽穗至开花期对小偃54和8602及其杂交后代小偃81和212遮阴处理(约自然光40%),10 d后去除遮阴,测定恢复过程中亲本与杂交后代旗叶叶绿素含量、光合气体交换、叶绿素荧光等参数。去除遮阴初期,亲本与杂交后代都发生了光抑制,净光合速率(Pn)、叶绿素a/b比值、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)、气孔导度(Gs)、光系统II(PSII)最大量子效率(Fv/Fm)、PSII实际光化学效率(ΦPSII)、非光化学猝灭(NPQ)和电子传递到QA下游的概率(Ψo)都低于对照,并且随着去除遮阴时间的延长逐渐恢复。杂交后代小偃81在去除遮阴后比其2个亲本和另一杂交后代品系212具有相对更高的Pn、ΦPSII和Ψo,表明小偃81对环境光强变化的适应性优于其亲本,且相对较高的PSII光化学效率活性和稳定性是其在去除遮阴后拥有更高Pn的原因之一。小偃81更能适应黄淮地区小麦生育后期光照不足和连阴骤晴的不良气候。     

Relationship between molecular marker heterozygosity and hybrid performance in intra- and interspecific hybrids of cotton

The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between parental molecular marker diversity and hybrid performance in both intra‐ and interspecific hybrids of cotton to evaluate the feasibility of predicting hybrid performance using molecular markers. Three cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines were crossed with 10 restorer lines to produce 22 F₁ hybrids during 2003. Of 22 F₁s, 14 hybrids were intraspecific (Gossypium hirsutum × G. hirsutum) and eight interspecific (G. hirsutum × G. barbadense). These 22 F₁ hybrids and their parents were evaluated for yield and fibre quality traits at Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China during 2004 and 2005. Genetic distances (GD) among the parents were calculated from 56 random‐amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPD) and 66 simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker data, and their correlation with hybrid performance and heterosis were analysed. The parents could be discriminated into G. hirsutum and G. barbadense clusters by cluster analysis based on both RAPD and SSR markers data. The correlation (r = 0.503, P ≤ 0.05) was calculated between GD_rapd (GD based on RAPD markers) and GD_ssr (GD based on SSR markers). Correlation of GD with hybrid performance and heterosis differed considerably between intra‐ and interspecific hybrids. The correlation between GD and hybrid performance was non‐significant for most of traits within the hybrids of G. hirsutum species. However, it was significantly and positively correlated for fibre length, fibre strength and elongation in interspecific hybrids. The relationship between GD and heterosis was observed to be positively significant for boll weight within hybrids of G. hirsutum with significant and negative correlations for fibre length and elongation. In conclusion, the power of predicting hybrid performance using molecular markers in cotton is low. But, the relationship between SSR marker heterozygosity and hybrid performance can be used to predict fibre length during interspecific hybrid cotton breeding.     

Heterosis performance of yield and fibre quality in F1 and F2 hybrids in upland cotton

Because of the difficulty of producing F₁ hybrid seeds by hand emasculation and pollination, wide use of heterosis in cotton production has been limited in China. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of F₂ hybrids for yield and fibre quality. A half diallel involving eight parents and their F₁ and F₂ hybrids was grown in replicated studies at Linqing and Nanjing in 1999 and Nanjing in 2000. Yield and fibre quality was determined for all 64 entries. Fibre quality was also determined for parents and F₁s, but only for Zhongmiansuo 28 (ZMS28), Xiangzamian 2 (XZM2) and Wanmian 13 (WM13) F₂s. These three F₂ hybrids are extensively planted in China and provide experimental controls with which to compare the performance of new hybrids. Average yield heterosis for F₁s and F₂s was 15.9 and 9.2%, respectively. Inbreeding depression for yield varied but some F₂s greatly out‐yielded the best variety. Average F₁ heterosis was 6.7, 6.2 and 2.9%, respectively for number of bolls per unit area, boll weight, and lint percentage. The average F₂ heterosis for the same traits was 4.4, 3.3 and 1.6%, respectively. F₁ heterosis for fibre traits was low. In general, parental average was a good indicator of the yield and fibre quality of F₁ hybrids. These encouraging results suggest there is sufficient heterosis for yield to use F₂s in China.     

中棉所63棉铃对位叶光合生理性能的杂种优势研究

以杂交棉中棉所63及其亲本为材料,在棉铃发育时期对棉铃对位叶的生理和光合性能指标进行测定,探索中棉所63获得高产的杂种优势形成机理。结果表明:1)中棉所63产量优势显著。单株结铃数比两亲本分别高21.52%,43.28%,铃重高2.42%,19.31%,叶面积载铃量高22.39%,22.30%。2)中棉所63在棉铃发育后期棉铃对位叶生理指标表现出显著的杂种优势。棉铃对位叶叶面积分别比亲本高26.60%,59.41%,并且中棉所63棉铃对位叶保持较高水平的SOD活性,使其生理代谢明显提高;与此同时,中棉所63的MDA含量显著低于亲本,细胞膜受损较轻,延缓了对位叶的衰老。3)中棉所63在棉铃发育后期棉铃对位叶光合指标表现出显著的杂种优势。在棉铃发育后期,中棉所63叶绿素含量、SPS活性的高水平,能够维持高效率的光合作用,积累更多的光合产物,从而使中棉所63获得较高的单株结铃数和铃重,最终获得高产。     

施钾对不同转基因棉花品种光合特性及产量和品质的影响

 在田间试验条件下,研究了施钾对转Bt+CpTI基因抗虫棉中棉所41、转Bt基因抗虫棉国抗1号和常规棉泗棉3号光合特性和产量及品质的影响。结果表明,施用钾肥能不同程度地提高不同转基因棉花品种的叶绿素含量、叶面积指数(LAI)、叶片净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)、叶绿素荧光动力学参数PSⅡ、最大光化学量子效率(F_v/F_m)、PSⅡ潜在光化学活性(F_v/F_o),从而提高棉花叶片的光合性能。施钾还提高了转基因棉花干物质量及分配到生殖器官的比例,增加了棉花总成铃数、铃重和衣分;施钾处理的中棉所41、国抗1号和泗棉3号的皮棉产量较未施钾处理分别增加5.8%,11.8%和7.0%,棉纤维的主要品质指标也得到改善。转Bt基因抗虫棉国抗1号比转Bt+CpTI基因抗虫棉中棉所41和泗棉3号对钾肥更为敏感。     

Heterosis in growth and photosynthetic rate in hybrids of cotton

Summary The intraspecific (Gossipium hirsutum) and interspecific (G. hirsutum x G. barbadense) F₁ hybrids of cotton were found to exhibit a high degree of heterosis in the production of fruiting branches, number of bolls (fruits), yield of seed cotton and photosynthetic rates over the parent plants. The developing bolls of the hybrids had significantly higher weights than their parents until the 20th day after anthesis. The patterns of leaf area development among interspecific hybrids differed when compared with the parent plants. The photosynthetic rates of the hybrids were comparable with those of maize and sorghum and much higher than the average rate reported so far for the cotton plant.     

Heterosis in yield, endotoxin expression and some physiological parameters in Bt transgenic cotton

Although heterosis in cotton has been studied for many decades, very little is known about the performance of hybrids derived from Bt transgenic cotton parents. In order to known better the heterosis performance, yield and endotoxin expression in 20 hybrids (F₁) and their Bt transgenic parents were examined from 2002 to 2003 (Experiment 1), and the dynamics of source, sink and their ratios in a well‐performing hybrid H01 were investigated in 2004 and 2005 (Experiment 2). Results in Experiment 1 showed an average mid‐parent heterosis of 21.3% and an over check heterosis of 7.6% in lint yield. Considerable heterosis was also detected in boll numbers, boll size and Bt protein content. Of the 20 hybrids, H01 (K0215 × K643) exhibited the greatest heterosis in yield and Bt protein content in 2002 and 2003, while lint yields of H01 were increased 12.6% and 9.1% in 2004, and 11.7% and 8.9% in 2005, compared with K0215 and K643 in Experiment 2, respectively. Significant heterosis for dry matter accumulation and dry matter allocation to reproductive organs and ratio of fruiting forms/total plant (w/w) were also detected in H01. Sources (leaf area, leaf area index, leaf dry weight per plant and diurnal performance of photosynthesis), sinks (number of fruiting nodes, fruiting forms and dry weight of fruiting forms per plant) and the flow from source to sink were significantly enhanced in H01 relative to its parents. Both total N and Bt protein in H01 were higher than those in its parents. Significant correlation was also found between total N and Bt protein in the main‐stem leaves (R² = 0.877**). It is concluded that there existed considerable heterosis in yield, yield components and endotoxin expression in some Bt transgenic hybrids. Yield advantage of hybrid cotton (F₁) over parents can be attributed to improved source, sink and flow, while the enforced expression of Bt genes in hybrid cotton appeared to be due to the enhanced nitrogen level in plants.     

大田淹水对夏玉米光合特性的影响

选用登海605和郑单958为试验材料,在大田条件下设置淹水时期(三叶期、拔节期、花后10 d)和淹水持续时间(淹水3 d和6 d)处理研究淹水对夏玉米光合特性的影响。结果表明,淹水胁迫后叶面积指数和叶绿素含量显著下降,净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、细胞间隙CO2浓度(Ci)显著降低,三叶期淹水6 d对其影响最显著,开花期郑单958和登海605功能叶片的Pn、Gs、Ci较对照的分别下降21.24%、33.65%、16.49%和24.50%、32.31%、10.99%。淹水后叶片的Fv/Fm、Fm/Fo、ΦPSII显著下降,三叶期淹水6 d后影响最显著,登海605和郑单958分别下降16.86%、17.12%、11.67%和13.58%、21.40%、22.52%,这是导致夏玉米产量显著下降的主要光合生理机制,三叶期淹水6 d产量降幅最大,登海605和郑单958较对照分别下降41.51%和40.96%。三叶期淹水造成的影响最大,拔节期淹水次之,开花后10 d淹水造成的影响较小,其影响随淹水持续时间的延长而加剧。     

Heterosis for yield and other agronomic traits of winter triticale F1 and F2 hybrids

Triticale is generally treated as a self‐pollinating crop and line breeding is practised. Hybrid breeding has been discussed for some time, but there is little information for winter triticale. This study investigated heterosis for eight agronomic traits in F₁ and F₂ hybrids grown together with their parents as drilled plots in three environments. On average, grain yield heterosis was 12.5 dt/ha (a relative 10.5%) compared with the mid‐parent value for F₁ hybrids, and 6.2 dt/ha (5.0%) for F₂ hybrids and withawide range of 4.4–17.1 dt/ha for F₁ hybrids. A positive contribution to the heterosis of yield was made by kernels/spike and 1000‐kernel weight, whereas spikes/m² showed negative heterosis. Hybrid plants in F₁ and F₂ were taller than mid‐parents (8.3 cm and 5.3 cm, respectively), with a tendency to earlier heading. The negative heterosis for falling number in F₁ and F₂ hybrids could be a problem for commercial production of triticale hybrids. By selecting parents for combining ability and the identification of heterotic patterns, grain yield heterosis of 20% appears feasible.     

Relationship between molecular marker heterozygosity and hybrid performance in intra- and inter-subspecific crosses of rice

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between molecular marker diversity and heterosis in both intra-and inter-sub-specific hybrids of rice to evaluate the feasibility of predicting hybrid performance using molecular markers. Eleven elite lines were intermated resulting in a diallel set including 10 indica × indica, 15 japonica × japonica and 30 indica × japonica crosses. The F₁ hybrids and parents were evaluated for agronomic performance in a replicated field trial. The parental lines were tested for DNA polymorphisms with 113 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) probes covering the 12 rice chromosomes. Inter-subspecific crosses showed better performance and higher heterosis than intrasubspecific hybrids. Correlations of marker heterozygosity with hybrid performance and heterosis differed considerably between the two subspecies; they were higher in crosses within japonica subspecies than within indica subspecies. Very little correlation was detected in intersubspecific crosses. It was concluded that relationships between marker heterozygosity and hybrid performance were complex owing to germplasm diversity and the complexity of the genetic basis of heterosis. The implications of the results in predicting hybrid performance using molecular markers are discussed.     

Relationship between hybrid performance and AFLP based genetic distance in highland maize inbred lines

The objectives of this study were to determine the crossing performance of highland maize inbred lines for grain yield, days to silk and plant height; estimate genetic distance (GD) among the inbred lines and in association with tester parents, and to investigate the relationship of GD with hybrid performance and midparent heterosis (MPH). A total of 26 inbred lines were crossed with six (population and line) testers in a factorial-mating scheme. The F_1’s and the parents were evaluated at five locations in Ethiopia. Nine amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primer pairs were used to genotype all the parents. The F_1’s were found to vary widely for grain yield and other traits measured. Yield superiority of more than 30% over the best hybrid check was obtained for some testcross hybrids. Midparent heterosis on average was moderate for grain yield and, plant height. And for days to silking, MPH values were mostly negative. Mean GD values determined from the inbred lines by population tester (0.680) and line tester (0.661) combinations were not significantly different. Cluster analysis separated the tester parents from the corresponding inbred lines. AFLP grouping of the inbred lines was in agreement with their pedigree records. Genetic distances derived from the inbred lines × all testers and from the population testers’ sub-group were not positively correlated with hybrid performance and MPH for most traits. In contrast, correlations of GDs involving the line testers’ sub-group with F_1’s and MPH were significantly positive but with low magnitude to be of predictive value.     

Responses to water withdrawal of tobacco plants genetically engineered with the AtTPS1 gene: a special reference to photosynthetic parameters

We have previously obtained several lines of tobacco transformed with a trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene of plant origin (Arabidopsis thaliana), involved in the first step of the biosynthesis of trehalose, a known osmoprotectant. Two showed distinct intensity of expression: high (B5H) and low (B1F). Such lines were analyzed for trehalose-6-phosphate content and the obtained results demonstrated to be in accordance with the expression results. In order to study the responses of photosynthesis to water deficit of transgenic lines in comparison to wild type (WT), three experiments were performed under different conditions: (1) Relative water (2) Leaf gas exchange (3) Modulated Chlorophyll a Fluorescence. Different responses in RWC of plant lines to water withdrawal were detected, with transgenic line B5H indicating less water loss after the water withdrawal period. Similar responses to water deficit regarding the leaf gas exchanges were recorded for the three lines. When subjected to water deficit stress situations, higher F _v/F _m, Φ_PSII and qP were detected for the transgenic lines. Under a SWC of 20% where higher values for such parameters were detected with special relevance for the B5H line, indicating a possible higher ability to withstand severe drought stress and to resist to prolonged periods without water than the B1F and WT lines.     

Commercial viability of alternative cytoplasmic-nuclear male-sterility systems in pearl millet

Commercial viability of three cytoplasmic-nuclear male sterility (CMS) systems (A₄, A₅ and A_v) as potential alternatives to the most widely used A₁ system in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) was evaluated in terms of stability of complete male sterility of four isonuclear A-lines (81A₁, 81A₄, 81A₅ and 81A_v) and the level and stability of male fertility restoration of their 44 single-cross hybrids. Lines 81A₄ and 81A₅ had no pollen shedders (PS), and there were very low frequency of non-PS plants of these A-lines that had a maximum of 1–5% selfed seedset (SSS). In 81A₁ and 81A_v,there were, albeit low frequency (<1%) of PS plants, and relatively higher frequency of the non-PS plants in these two lines, the more so in 81A_v,had 1–5% and even greater SSS. Some hybrids made on each of the three A-lines (81A₁, 81A₄ and 81A_v) had high and stable male fertility, while others made on the same three A-lines displayed large variation in SSS across the environments, the more so in case of hybrids made on 81A_v. These results indicate that the A₄ CMS system provides a better alternative to the A₁ CMS system, while the A_v system does not. On the basis of highly stable male sterility and the highest frequency of pollinators behaving as maintainers, the A₅ CMS system appeared to be the best for A-line breeding. The commercial viability of this CMS system in breeding R-lines of grain hybrids, however, still remains to be ascertained as no hybrid on it was fully male fertile in any environment. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Hybrid performance and AFLP- based genetic similarity in faba bean

Successful prediction of heterosis and performance of F₁-hybrids from the genetic similarity of their parents based on molecular markers has been reported in several crops and can be very helpful in hybrid breeding. The relationship between genetic similarities based on amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) of 18 European faba bean lines and their hybrid performance and heterosis was investigated. Parental lines, 62 F₁-hybrids and their F₂-progenies were evaluated in field trials in four environments in Germany for seed yield, 1,000-seed weight and plant height. Results clearly demonstrated a stable superiority of the hybrids over their inbred parents and elite check cultivars, and showed a marked and varying amount of heterosis. Parental seed yield and F₂-hybrid yield were promising as predictors for F₁-hybrids. AFLP analysis of the 18 inbred lines using 26 EcoRI/MseI primer combinations resulted in 1202 polymorphic fragments. Cluster analysis based on genetic similarity estimates unambiguously identified pedigree-related inbred lines. No clear separation of the 18 inbred lines into subgroups was detected. Correlation coefficients between genetic similarity estimates and either heterosis or F₁-hybrid performance were small and not useful. Also correlations between specific genetic similarity and specific combining ability were too small for all traits to be of predictive value. Results showed that AFLP-based genetic similarities are not useful to predict the performance of hybrids or heterosis within the elite European faba bean gene pool.     

Prediction of heterosis using QTLs for yield traits in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

Three double low (erucic acid and glucosinolates) self-incompatible lines and 22 varieties from different origins were selected to produce 66 hybrids according to a NC II mating design. Field experiments for identification of hybrid performance and heterosis were conducted in two successive rapeseed growing seasons in Wuhan, China. After heterosis identifications, SI-1300 and Eagle were chosen to construct an F₂ segregating population. One hundred and eighty four F_2:3 lines were planted at Wuhan and Jingmen to test yield traits. F₂ plants and the 25 parents were analyzed using simultaneously AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) and SSR (simple sequence repeat) markers. A total of 270 and 718 polymorphic loci were detected in the F₂ population and among the 25 parental lines, respectively. Of the 718 polymorphic loci, 178 were significantly correlated to yield traits. With the use of one-way ANOVA, 84 common QTLs were detected for 12 traits at two trial locations. Although the genetic distances based on general/specific heterozygosities and single-locus QTLs showed significant correlations with hybrid performance and heterosis for some yield traits, the determination coefficients were low. The results suggested that neither heterozygosities nor QTLs for yield traits were suitable to predict hybrid performance and heterosis in Brassica napus.