采摘标准与施氮水平对茶树春茶产量、品质及氮素利用的影响

为探讨田间不同生产方式对茶园产量、茶叶品质及茶树对氮肥吸收利用的影响,采用微区¹⁵N示踪技术,研究了不同采摘标准（一芽一叶和一芽三叶）和氮肥施用水平（200、450 kg·hm^-2）下茶树春季新梢产量、品质成分和¹⁵N氮素吸收利用等变化。结果表明,新梢产量主要受采摘标准影响,一芽三叶的产量是一芽一叶的1.8~2.1倍,氮肥用量对春季新梢产量影响不显著;采摘标准对氨基酸含量特别是对茶氨酸等品质成分的影响大于施氮水平,以N2水平（N 450 kg·hm^-2）下采摘一芽一叶的含量最高;成熟叶含氮量从初冬到春茶结束呈下降趋势,说明叶片内氮素在春茶期间发生再利用,但其肥料氮占全氮的比例（Ndff）在增加,可能是氮素吸收和再利用的共同结果;供氮水平对新梢Ndff的影响大于采摘标准,而新梢采摘的氮携带量主要受产量影响,低氮条件下新梢¹⁵N回收率最高。本研究表明,采摘标准和施氮量对茶园产量、茶叶品质及茶树对¹⁵N氮素的吸收分配产生影响,但两个氮肥水平都能基本满足不同采摘标准下茶树对氮素的需求。     

小麦的氮素循环——土壤、作物及大气三者之间的氮素转运

了解小麦生产环节中土壤-作物-大气三者之间的氮素循环系统对于获取高产、优质小麦是很必要的。本文旨在确定氮素的循环并观察土壤和大气氮素的吸收与排放所造成的氮素盈亏的影响,确定植株体内氮素的转运数量。在测取土壤、植株和小气候中氮素数据的同时,还确定了这三者间的氮素转运状况。测定发现,在营养生长初期,植株氮含量达到最大;其后,直到成熟,尽管植株从土壤中持续吸收氮,但植株氮含量仍呈下降趋势。从叶片向籽粒运转的总氮量要比从茎秆转运的多而且转运的也早。同位素全氮研究表明:籽粒中约有一半氮素来自开花后叶片中和茎中,另一半则来自土壤。随着生长时间的推移,有机质矿化氮所占的百分率越来越大。施肥之后及衰老期间,氮以挥发态氨的形式从植株逸出。作者观察到:开花前当土壤氮暂时不能被利用时,植株可从大气中吸收氨;植株逸出氨损失的氮量约占施氮量的21%;在土壤氮不能被利用期间,植株从大气中吸收的氨中的氮量相当于施入氮量的1%。     

龙眼成年树的平衡施肥法

龙眼是多年生的常绿果树，其生产发育周期长，每年的生长、开花和结果，需要从土壤中吸收大量的营养物质，不断地消耗土壤肥力，这就需要一定量养分的供给，以保持其旺盛生长和满足高产、稳产、优质的营养需要。根据对许多龙眼丰产果园的调查、分析，单一施用某种营养元素或过多过少的施用，都会影响果树的生长发育和产量。如氮肥，在施用过后，能明显促进枝叶生长和果实发育，在一定的范围内，氮肥的施用量和产量呈正相关，但氮素过多会促进营养生长，容易造成枝叶徒长、落花、落果，且抗性下降。同样，磷肥的短缺，会造成新梢和叶片生长减弱，花芽分化质量差，果实品质下降，抗性下降，过多则会抑制了氮、钾的吸收，也影响树体内铁、锌、铜等元素的吸收和转化。     

耕作方式对砂姜黑土小麦氮代谢及氮素利用效率的影响

为探求砂姜黑土区小麦高产高效的最佳耕作方式,在大田条件下,比较分析了深松、旋耕和常规翻耕三种耕作方式下小麦氮素同化关键酶活性、中间产物含量及氮素的积累、分配、转运和利用效率的特点。结果表明,随生育进程的推进,小麦叶片谷氨酰胺合成酶活性、游离氨基酸和可溶性蛋白含量均呈先升后降的趋势,全氮含量则逐渐下降,在各时期深松处理的这些指标均显著高于旋耕和常规耕作处理,且在后期维持较高水平。深松处理通过营养器官花前贮存氮素向籽粒的高转运以及花后氮素的高吸收、高贡献,获得成熟期较高的籽粒氮素积累量和分配比例;虽然旋耕处理的转运氮对籽粒氮素的贡献率较高,但其氮素转运量、转运效率和花后吸收氮量较低,成熟期籽粒的氮积累量和分配比例在三种耕作方式中最低,茎秆和穗轴+颖壳的分配比例反而最高。深松处理较其余二处理能显著提高小麦籽粒产量和蛋白质含量、氮素吸收效率、氮肥回收效率、氮肥偏生产力和氮素产投比。因此,深松能有效促进砂姜黑土区小麦的氮素同化能力,延长叶片功能期,提高氮素利用效率,促进小麦产量与品质的形成。     

水氮胁迫对玉米产量和氮素吸收和运移的影响

2011~2012年在吉林公主岭试验区可移动防雨棚内进行两年微区试验,探讨水氮胁迫对玉米产量及氮素的吸收和分配的影响。结果表明,全生育期灌水300 mm情况下,玉米产量随施氮量的增加而增加;水分胁迫(灌水100 mm)情况下,玉米产量随施氮量的增加而减少。植株氮积累总量成熟期最高,氮素在营养器官中的比例最高时期是拔节期,生殖器官含氮比例最高在吐丝期,子粒的含氮百分比最高时期是吐丝后15 d。水氮胁迫条件下,氮素转运率、贡献率均下降,仅氮胁迫转运率和贡献率增加。相同灌水量情况下,子粒吸收氮素量与施氮量显著正相关;水分胁迫条件下,表观土壤水分利用效率随施氮量的增加而下降,正常供水则相反;水分胁迫下的土壤水分利用效率极显著高于正常供水。     

氮素形态配比对玉米氮素积累及转运的影响

通过田间试验,研究6种(N_1~N_6)硝态氮与铵态氮配比处理对旱地全膜双垄沟播玉米植株氮素积累、转运、氮素利用及子粒产量的影响。结果表明,单施硝态氮时玉米的养分吸收、氮素利用及产量均最低。N6(硝态氮与铵态氮3∶1配比)处理下玉米全生育期氮素积累量最高,氮素吸收强度较单施硝态氮处理高55.19%~73.28%(P0.05),该处理下叶片和茎中氮素转移量较单施硝态氮处理高78.99%和93.52%(P0.05);叶片和茎中分别有66.50%~71.89%和43.44%~55.59%的氮素转移到子粒中;叶片和茎对子粒的氮素贡献率分别较单施硝态氮处理高43.80%和56.00%(P0.05);玉米子粒产量、氮素吸收效率及氮肥偏生产力较其他处理显著增加3.31%~9.94%、4.62%~33.89%和3.31%~9.93%。硝态氮和铵态氮配施对玉米的养分吸收有明显的促进作用,提高硝态氮的施用比例有利于提高玉米叶片和茎对子粒氮素的贡献率,硝态氮与铵态氮按3∶1比例配施有利于提高当地玉米子粒产量。     

氮肥运筹对玉米氮素动态变化和氮肥利用的影响

通过氮肥运筹对雨养条件下玉米氮素动态变化和氮肥利用的影响研究表明,氮素积累量在吐丝后45d前后达到最大;高密度有利于氮量积累;植株总氮量与产量呈正相关,高密度下相关系数大;高密度下子粒氮含量和氮收获指数均与产量呈显著正相关;吐丝期氮肥比例相对高有利于叶片和穗部(子粒+苞叶+穗轴)氮素在生育后期的积累及茎鞘氮素的转运,前期氮肥比例大易造成穗部氮代谢延后。氮素吸收高峰在吐丝到吐丝后15 d;吐丝期氮肥比例高的施肥方式提高了生育后期的氮素吸收速率,在较高密度下吸收速率前移。氮肥施用比例适当后移有利于氮肥利用;前期氮素累积太多对后期氮素吸收利用有抑制作用。     

土壤质地对强筋型小麦郑麦366氮代谢及氮利用效率的影响

为了解土壤质地对小麦氮素利用的影响,以强筋小麦郑麦366为材料,分析了同一生态区三种土壤质地(砂土、壤土和黏土)间小麦谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)活性、游离氨基酸含量、植株地上部分氮素积累、分配、转运和氮素利用效率的差异。结果表明,在三种土壤质地下,随着生育期的推进,小麦叶片GS活性和游离氨基酸含量均呈先升后降趋势,壤土高峰期在5月12日左右,而砂土和黏土则提前至5月2日,且砂土的GS活性持续时间短。在相同测定时期,砂土的GS活性、游离氨基酸含量及氮素生理利用效率和氮收获指数较高,但叶片氮素分配比例、籽粒产量、蛋白质含量及氮肥当季利用率则以壤土最高。砂土条件下籽粒氮素的积累主要依赖于花前氮吸收和转运,花前氮的贡献率高达82.46%,而壤土和黏土条件下花后吸收的氮素对籽粒氮素的积累有较大贡献,贡献率分别为41.58%和45.77%。因此,在砂土上应着重提高其保肥性能,保证营养物质的有效供给,延长叶片的功能期,从而促进小麦产量与品质形成,提高氮素利用效率。     

氮肥基追比对稻茬小麦氮素转运及利用的影响

为探明稻茬小麦氮素吸收与转运规律,推动氮肥高效利用,采取大田试验和~(15)N微区试验,研究了氮肥不同基追比例(N_(1/9)、N_(3/7)、N_(5/5)、N_(7/3),施氮量225 kg·hm~(-2))对稻茬冬小麦不同来源氮素吸收与转运、产量和氮肥利用的影响。结果表明,随追肥比例的增加,全生育期小麦植株中肥料氮积累量显著增加,土壤氮积累量则与之呈相反趋势,植株总吸氮量呈先增后降的趋势,以N_(5/5)处理最高。小麦植株对基肥氮的吸收主要集中在越冬至拔节期,对追肥氮和土壤氮的吸收主要在拔节至开花期;成熟期相同处理下,植株中追肥氮积累量高于基肥氮,肥料氮积累量高于土壤氮。成熟期叶片、茎鞘、穗轴+颖壳和籽粒氮素分配比例分别为5.6%～8.9%、8.3%～10.2%、6.7%～7.5%、73.7%～78.6%;随追肥比例的增加,叶片、茎鞘氮素分配比例下降,穗轴+颖壳和籽粒氮素分配比例升高。植株总氮转运量随追肥比例的增加先增后降,转运效率为69.72%～74.91%,转运氮对籽粒氮素的贡献率为80.94%～85.81%;植株中基肥氮的转运量和转运率均低于追肥氮,肥料氮的转运量和转运率均高于土壤氮。籽粒产量随追肥比例的增加呈先增后降的趋势,以N_(5/5)处理产量最高,N_(1/9)处理产量最低;N_(1/9)、N_(3/7)、N_(5/5)、N_(7/3)处理氮肥回收率分别为46.2%、45.1%、46.7%、41.8%。在225 kg·hm~(-2)的施氮条件下,追肥比例为50%有利于小麦对氮素的吸收,提高籽粒产量和氮肥利用效率。     

麦秆还田下水氮耦合对水稻氮素吸收利用及产量的影响

【目的】研究麦秆还田下不同水氮耦合对麦茬杂交籼稻氮素吸收利用及产量的影响。【方法】以杂交稻F优498为材料,设置不同水分处理方式(干湿交替灌溉、淹水灌溉)、氮肥运筹 [总氮150 kg/hm²,基肥∶蘖肥∶穗肥分别为3∶3∶4(N1)、7∶3∶0(N2)、不施氮(N0)]和秸秆还田(秸秆全量翻埋还田、秸秆不还田),测定还田秸秆氮素腐解率、水稻籽粒产量及主要生育时期各器官氮素吸收利用特征。【结果】干湿交替灌溉促进了秸秆氮素释放,使水稻在拔节期后的地上部氮素积累量提高4.85%~33.92%,提高成熟期茎鞘氮素转运能力,穗部氮素吸收量提高了10.73%~16.42%,最终提高有效穗数并增产2.51%~3.77%。秸秆还田释放氮素营养,提高拔节期后的水稻地上部氮素积累量5.15%~53.21%和成熟期叶片氮素转运能力,提高穗部氮素吸收量4.93%~ 43.91%,最终增产9.62%~18.33%。施氮促进了秸秆养分释放,提高了水稻植株氮素吸收与转运能力,增加了有效穗数并显著增产16.21%~28.31%。对比干湿交替灌溉耦合优化施氮(N1)模式与淹水灌溉耦合传统施氮(N2)模式,前者促进了各时期的秸秆养分释放,提高了地上部氮素积累能力和茎鞘及叶片的氮素转运能力,并显著提高了氮肥回收利用率7.27%~26.06%。【结论】麦秆全量翻埋还田条件下,干湿交替灌溉耦合优化施氮的水氮耦合模式可促进秸秆氮素释放,有效提高水稻氮素积累及利用能力,提高氮肥回收利用率与水分利用率,为本研究中最适水肥耦合模式。     

Pharmacokinetics of Marine-Derived Drugs

Marine organisms represent an excellent source of innovative compounds that have the potential for the development of new drugs. The pharmacokinetics of marine drugs has attracted increasing interest in recent decades due to its effective and potential contribution to the selection of rational dosage recommendations and the optimal use of the therapeutic arsenal. In general, pharmacokinetics studies how drugs change after administration via the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). This review provides a summary of the pharmacokinetics studies of marine-derived active compounds, with a particular focus on their ADME. The pharmacokinetics of compounds derived from algae, crustaceans, sea cucumber, fungus, sea urchins, sponges, mollusks, tunicate, and bryozoan is discussed, and the pharmacokinetics data in human experiments are analyzed. In-depth characterization using pharmacokinetics is useful for obtaining information for understanding the molecular basis of pharmacological activity, for correct doses and treatment schemes selection, and for more effective drug application. Thus, an increase in pharmacokinetic research on marine-derived compounds is expected in the near future.     

La pourriture fongique des tubercules de pomme de terre en atmosphère contrôlée

Résumé Fusarium culmorum et, dans une moindre mesure,F. avenaceum, F. sambucinum, Colletotrichum coccodes etCylindrocarpon sp. ont été isolés de tubercules entreposés en atmosphère contr?lée (AC) et atteints de pourriture grave. Des expériences d'inoculation de tubercules avec 10 espèces ou variétés fongiques et conservation en AC à 8 et 10°C ont montré que: 1) les champignons non pathogènes en atmosphère normale (ex.:Cylindrocarpon sp.) le devenaient en AC, 2) ceux qui étaient faiblement pathogènes en atmosphère normale étaient nettement plus virulents en AC (ex.:F. culmorum), 3) les espèces ou variétés virulentes en conditions d'air normales (Fusarium sulphureum etPhoma exigua var.foveata) ne provoquaient pas de pourriture plus grave en AC et leur activité pouvait même être légérement freinée.

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Summary The extensive rotting of tubers which occurred during storage trials in controlled atmospheres has led to a mycological and pathological study of the rots. The most frequently isolated species wasFusarium culmorum althoughF. avenaceum, F. Sambucinum, Coletotrichum coccodes and aCylindrocarpon sp. were also present. Tubers of cvs Bintje and Ulla were inoculated with 19 isolates of 10 fungal species or varieties associated with rotting of stored tubers (Table 1). The tubers were incubated at 8 or 10°C in normal or controlled (2% O₂:1% CO₂, 2% O₂:6% CO₂, 2% O₂:12% CO₂, 6% O₂:6% CO₂) atmospheres and the extent of rotting was determined a month later (Tables 2 and 3 and Fig. 2). Species which were weakly virulent in a normal atmosphere (variousFusarium spp. andPhoma exigua var.exigua) were clearly more aggressive in the controlled atmosphere and this was especially evident in the case ofF. culmorum. Species ot pathogenic in a normal atmosphere under experimental conditions (Colletotrichum coccodes, Cylindrocarpon sp.,Phoma eupyrena) caused rotting in the controlled atmosphere. The two species which were virulent in a normal atmosphere (F. sulphureum andP. exigua var.foveata) were also virulent in the controlled atmosphere and in some cases the extent of rotting was even less. As a general rule, rotting caused by weakly virulent fungi was greater in both cultivars in the controlled than in a normal atmosphere.

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Zusammenfassung Eine starke F?ulnis von in Kontrotrollierter Atmosph?re gelagerten Kartoffelknollen veranlasste eine mykologische und pathologische Untersuchung. Der am h?ufigsten isolierte Pilz warFusarium culmorum. F. avenaceum, F. sambucinum, Colletotrichum coccodes undCylindrocarpon sp. wurden ebenfalls bestimmt. Neunzehn St?mme von 10 Pilzsorten oder-Arten welche bei Lagerf?ulnis vorkommen (Tab. 1) wurden auf Knollen der Sorten Bintje und Ulla inokuliert. Die Lagerung wurde bei 8 oder 10°C under Normalbedingungen oder kontrollierter Atmosph?re durchgeführt (2% O₂:1% CO₂, 2% O₂:6% CO₂, 2% O₂:12% CO₂, 6% O₂:6% CO₂). Der F?ulnisgrad (Abb. 1) wurde nach einem Monat bonitiert. Die Ergebnisse sind in den Tabellen 2 und 3 dargestellt und in der Abb. 2 illustriert. Unter in Normalbedingungen nur schwach virulente Arten (verschiedeneFusarien undPhoma exigua var. exigua) waren deutlich aktiver in kontrollierter Atmosph?re. Dies was besonders der Fall fürF. culmorum. Pilze, die im Versuch unter Normalbedingungen nicht pathogen waren (Colletotrichum coccodes, Cylindrocarpon sp., Phoma eupyrena), haben unter kontrollierter Atmosph?re Sch?den verursacht. Hingegen werden die beiden unter Normalbedingungen sehr pathogenen Arten (F. sulphureum undP., exigua var.foveata), durch kontrollierte Atmosph?re wenig beeinflusst. Es wurde sogar in einigen F?llen eine gewisse Verringerung des F?ulnisbefalls beobachtet. Ganz allgemein haben die getesteten kontrollierten Bedingungen die Entwicklung der Pilzf?ulnis an beiden Kartoffelsorten gef?rdert, speziell durch Pilzarten, welche unter Normal-bedingungen wenig Sch?den verursachen.

     

Marine Pharmacology in 2016–2017: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial,Antidiabetic, Antifungal,Anti-Inflammatory,Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems,and Other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action

The review of the 2016–2017 marine pharmacology literature was prepared in a manner similar as the 10 prior reviews of this series. Preclinical marine pharmacology research during 2016–2017 assessed 313 marine compounds with novel pharmacology reported by a growing number of investigators from 54 countries. The peer-reviewed literature reported antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral activities for 123 marine natural products, 111 marine compounds with antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities as well as affecting the immune and nervous system, while in contrast 79 marine compounds displayed miscellaneous mechanisms of action which upon further investigation may contribute to several pharmacological classes. Therefore, in 2016–2017, the preclinical marine natural product pharmacology pipeline generated both novel pharmacology as well as potentially new lead compounds for the growing clinical marine pharmaceutical pipeline, and thus sustained with its contributions the global research for novel and effective therapeutic strategies for multiple disease categories.     

Effects of Micronutrient Deficiencies on Human Health: Its Status in South Asia

SUMMARY

Vitamin A, iodine, and iron deficiencies affect large numbers of people worldwide. A deficiency of one or more of these micronutrients adversely affects the physical and mental abilities of humans. South Asia contains a high percentage of these individuals, not just because of its large population, but also the prevalence of deficiency is higher there than in many other parts of the world. The reasons for the high rates of deficiency in South Asia are many, but they include inadequate availability of micronutrient-rich foods, sub-optimal dietary habits, and high rates of infection. Across the region, national plans vary from (a) increasing availability of appropriate foods, (b) introducing new dietary behaviors, (c) improving health status, and (d) directly addressing deficiency through intervention programs. The extent to which each of the countries is making progress toward the goals of these plans can help in understanding the priorities for future efforts to address micronutrient malnutrition. This article discusses the adverse effects of micronutrient deficiencies in humans with special reference to South Asia.     

Management of Soil Micronutrient Deficiencies in the Rice-Wheat Cropping System

Summary

Within the last three decades, the rice-wheat cropping system has triggered, and with time, aggravated soil micronutrient deficiencies in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). This has largely been due to the shift from an earlier rice and wheat monoculture with low yielding, long duration indigenous varieties, to an intensive rice-wheat rotation cropping system with short duration modern high yielding varieties on the same piece of land. The problems related to micronutrient deficiency in the IGP are more due to the size of its available pools in the soil rather than its total contents and are greatly influenced by crop management, or rather its mismanagement. Deficiency of zinc is widespread in the IGP, but with the extensive use of zinc sulfate, zinc deficiency has reduced in some areas of the region. Meanwhile, the deficiency of Fe, Mn and B has increased in the IGP. Deficiency of Cu and Mo is location specific and can limit rice and wheat yields. The adoption and spread of the rice-wheat system in permeable coarse textured soils, particularly in the western IGP, not only caused iron deficiency in rice but also resulted in the emergence of manganese deficiency in wheat. In highly calcareous and acidic soils, boron is the next limiting micronutrient in crop production after zinc. Bumper rice and wheat harvests in the past decade, the declining use of organic manures in the region and except for the widespread use of zinc sulfate, a general lack of awareness amongst farmers on micronutrient deficiency problems has contributed to micronutrients limiting rice and wheat yields in the IGP. Approaches to alleviating micronutrient deficiencies include matching the crop removals of the micronutrients with its replenishments through their respective external carriers, supplementation through organic sources and mobilization/utilization through cultivation of micronutrient efficient crop cultivars. Identification of efficient micronutrient carriers and finding the optimum rate, mode and time of its application is important in ameliorating the micronutrient deficiencies. This article reviews the extent of micronutrient deficiency and discusses various management options available to reduce micronutrient deficiency induced crop yield reduction for rice and wheat in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.     

Irrigation but not N fertilization enhances seedhead density in plains rough fescue ( F estuca hallii)

Plains rough fescue ( F estuca hallii) is an important forage grass species in western Canada. Seed for use in pastures and ecological restoration is in high demand but supply is limited because F. hallii is an erratic seed producer. Seed producers require an understanding of the factors that influence flowering and seed set in this species. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization on the flowering and growth of F. hallii in a native rough fescue prairie in Alberta, Canada. Irrigation had a strong positive effect on seedhead density, whereas fertilization had limited effects on growth and reproduction of F. hallii. These results demonstrate that under field conditions, available moisture is likely to be a key factor driving flowering and seed production in F. hallii.     

Marine Drugs Regulating Apoptosis Induced by Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL)

Marine biomass diversity is a tremendous source of potential anticancer compounds. Several natural marine products have been described to restore tumor cell sensitivity to TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced cell death. TRAIL is involved during tumor immune surveillance. Its selectivity for cancer cells has attracted much attention in oncology. This review aims at discussing the main mechanisms by which TRAIL signaling is regulated and presenting how marine bioactive compounds have been found, so far, to overcome TRAIL resistance in tumor cells.     

Biochemical and morphological characterization of potato clones differing in their resistance to late blight

Summary Morphological and biochemical parameters that could be involved in resistance to late blight were studied in non-infected and in infected potato hybrids resulting from a cross betweenSolanum phureja, resistant toPhytophthora infestans, and a susceptibleSolanum tuberosum. Some morphological differences between resistant and susceptible hybrids, indicating a positive correlation between stem diameter and phloem thickness in the stem and resistance toP. infestans, were observed. The lignin content in the leaves of the resistant hybrid rose upon infection byP. infestans. In the leaves of the susceptible hybrid, a diminution of the lignin content could be observed upon infection byP. infestans. In the same context, peroxidasic activity raised upon infection byP. infestans in both resistant and susceptible hybrids. Further characterization of the hybrid clones based on the polymorphism of peroxidases was attempted using isoelectric focusing.     

Applied Biotechnology to Combat Late Blight in Potato Caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora Infestans</Emphasis>

Potato is an important crop, grown worldwide. It suffers from many pests and diseases among which late blight, caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, is the worst. The disease is still causing major damage in many potato production areas and control is only possible by applying fungicides frequently. The knowledge on the molecular biology and genetics of the interaction between the plant and the oomycete is developing rapidly. These are relevant fields of study, currently dominated by the discovery of many resistance genes and numerous effector proteins and the analysis of their specific mode of action. These studies may yield essential information needed for the development of durable resistance. The long-term and worldwide effort to breed for resistance so far has had little effect. A novel breeding approach may change this. It is based on cisgenic modification (CM) consisting of marker-free pyramiding of several resistance genes and their spatial and temporal deployment yielding dynamic varieties that contain potato genes only. It is envisioned that this CM approach with potato’s own genes will not only prove societally acceptable but may also result in simplifications in the legislation on use of the CM approach. Various parties in the potato research arena intend to cooperate in this novel approach in a number of developing countries where potato substantially contributes to food security. The use of resources such as land, water and energy improves when the effect of late blight is markedly reduced.     

Resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Potato virus Y</Emphasis> in a Multitrait Potato Breeding Scheme without Direct Selection in Each Generation

In an experimental breeding scheme to improve late blight (Phytophthora infestans) and white potato cyst nematode (Globodera pallida) resistance of tetraploid potato over three generations of crossing and selection, 15 clones survived the final selection, and these were derived from 15 great-grandparents. There was no direct selection for resistance to Potato virus Y (PVY), but 14 out of the 15 great-grandparents were resistant to PVY and three had extreme resistance. Thirteen of the 15 descendants had PVY resistance and one extreme resistance. This was within the range expected for a random (unselected) sample from the genotypes of the great-grandparents. Hence, we found no evidence for any positive or negative association between PVY resistance and the attributes selected. The conclusion is that laborious selection is not required in every generation when many parents have PVY resistance, including some with more than one copy of a PVY resistance gene or resistance at more than one locus. However, in the future, determining the major virus resistance genes present in potential parents in each generation using diagnostic molecular markers would prevent susceptible × susceptible crosses being made and maximise the number of resistant × resistant ones.