Evaluation and Bulked Segregant Analysis of Major Yield QTL qtl12.1 Introgressed into Indigenous Elite Line for Low Water Availability under Water Stress

Near isogenic lines carrying large-effect QTL (qtl12.1), which has a consistent influence on grain yield under upland drought stress conditions in a wide range of environments, were evaluated under water stress in the fields. The line which gave higher yield under drought was crossed with a local elite line, PMK3, and forwarded to F2:3 generation. Significant variation was found among the F2:3 lines for agronomic traits under water stress in the fields. Low to high broad sense heritability (H) for investigated traits was also found. Water stress indicators such as leaf rolling and leaf drying were negatively correlated with plant height, biomass and grain yield under stress. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was performed with the markers in the vicinity of qtl12.1, and RM27933 was found to be segregated perfectly well in individual components of drought resistant and drought susceptible bulks which were bulked based on yield under water stress among F2:3 lines. Hence, this simple and breeder friendly marker, RM27933, may be useful as a potentially valuable candidate marker for the transfer of the QTL qtl12.1 in the regional breeding program. Bioinformatic analysis of the DNA sequence of the qtl12.1 region was also done to identify and analyze positional candidate genes associated with this QTL and to ascertain the putative molecular basis of qtl12.1.     

Mapping QTL for flowering time-related traits under three plant densities in maize

Flowering time is an indicator of adaptation in maize and a key trait for selection in breeding.The genetic basis of flowering time in maize,especially in response to plant density,remains unclear.The objective of this study was to identify maize quantitative trait loci(QTL)associated with flowering time-related traits that are stably expressed under several plant densities and show additive effects that vary with plant density.Three hundred recombinant inbred lines(RIL)derived from a cross between Ye 478 and Qi 319,together with their parents,were planted at three plant densities(90,000,120,000,and 150,000 plants ha^-1)in four environments.The five traits investigated were days to tasseling(DTT),days to silking(DTS),days to pollen shed(DTP),interval between anthesis and silking(ASI),and interval between tasseling and anthesis(TAI).A high-resolution bin map was used for QTL mapping.In the RIL population,the DTT,DTS,and DTP values increased with plant density,whereas the ASI and TAI values showed negligible response to plant density.A total of 72 QTL were identified for flowering time-related traits,including 15 stably expressed across environments.Maize flowering time under different densities seems to be regulated by complex pathways rather than by several major genes or an independent pathway.The effects of some stable QTL,especially qDTT8-1 and qDTT10-4,varied with plant density.Fine mapping and cloning of these QTL will shed light on the mechanism of flowering time and assist in breeding earlymaturing maize inbred lines and hybrids.     

Relationship Between Coleoptile Length and Drought Resistance and Their QTL Mapping in Rice

By using a set of recombinant inbred line(RIL)population involving in 195 lines derived from a cross of Zhenshan 97B (lowland variety)and IRAT109(upland variety),the correlation analysis between coleoptile length(CL)and drought resistance index (DRI)and their QTL identification were conducted.There existed a significantly positive relationship between CL and DRI with the correlation coefficient of 0.2206**under water stress conditions.Under normal and water stress conditions,a total of eleven and four QTLs for CL and DRI,respectively,were detected on chromosomes 1,2,4,5,6,7,9,11 and 12 by using a linkage map including 213 SSR markers,which explained 4.84%to 22.65%of phenotypic variance.Chromosomes 1 and 9 possessing the QTLs for DRI harbored simultaneously QTLs for CL,and qCL9 shared the same chromosome location with qDRI9(RM160-RM215).Comparing the QTLs related to drought resistance in other studies,QTLs for CL and DRI were located in the same or adjacent marker interval as those related to root traits,such as number,dry weight,depth,and length of root.Moreover,sixteen and three pairs of epistatic loci for CL and DRI were found,which accounted for 56.17%and 11.93%of the total variation in CL and DRI,respectively.     

Mapping of QTLs for Germination Characteristics under Non-stress and Drought Stress in Rice

Identification of genetic factors controlling traits associated with seed germination under drought stress conditions, leads to identification and development of drought tolerant varieties. Present study by using a population of F2：, derived from a cross between a drought tolerant variety, Gharib （indica） and a drought sensitive variety, Sepidroud （indica）, is to identify and compare QTLs associated with germination traits under drought stress and non-stress conditions. Through QTL analysis, using composite interval mapping, regarding traits such as germination rate （GR）, germination percentage （GP）, radicle length （RL）, plumule length （PL）, coleorhiza length （COL） and coleoptile length （CL）, totally 13 QTLs were detected under pole drought stress （-8 MPa poly ethylene glycol 6000） and 9 QTLs under non-stress conditions. Of the QTLs identified under non-stress conditions, QTLs associated with COL （qCOL-5） and GR （qGR-1） explained 21.28% and 19.73% of the total phenotypic variations, respectively Under drought stress conditions, QTLs associated with COL （qCOL-3） and PL （qPL-5） explained 18.34% and 18.22% of the total phenotypic variations, respectively. A few drought-tolerance-related QTLs identified in previous studies are near the QTLs detected in this study, and several QTLs in this study are novel alleles. The major QTLs like qGR-1, qGP-4, qRL-12 and qCL-4 identified in both conditions for traits GR, GP, RL and CL, respectively, should be considered as the important and stable trait-controlling QTLs in rice seed germination. Those major or minor QTLs could be used to significantly improve drought tolerance by marker-assisted selection in rice.     

Evaluation of Agronomic Traits in Chromosome Segment Substitution Lines of KDML105 Containing Drought Tolerance QTL under Drought Stress

Drought is a major abiotic constraint to rice production in rainfed lowland and insufficiently irrigated areas.The improvement of drought tolerant varieties is one of the strategies to reduce the negative effects of drought.Quantitative trait loci(QTLs) for primary and secondary traits related to drought tolerance(DT) on chromosomes 1,3,4,8 and 9 that determined from double haploid lines derived from a cross between CT9993 and IR62266 were introgressed and dissected into small pieces in the genetic background of Khao Dawk Mali 105(KDML105) to develop chromosome segment substitution line(CSSL) population.The CSSLs were evaluated at the reproductive stage for their agronomic performance and yield components under drought stress,and results were compared with irrigated condition.The flowering of CSSL lines was 6 to 7 d earlier than KDML105.The mean values of grain yields in the CSSLs were higher than KDML105 under drought and irrigated conditions.At irrigated condition,the grain yields of introgression lines carrying DT-QTLs from chromosomes 4 and 8 were higher than that of KDML105,whereas other traits showed little difference with KDML105.Analysis indicated that grain yield has positive correlation with plant height,tiller and panicle number per plant,and total grain weight per plant under drought stress while negatively correlated with days to flowering.As mentioned above,CSSLs showing good adaptation under drought stress can be used as genetic materials to improve drought tolerance in Thai rainfed lowland rice breeding program,and as materials to dissect genes underlying drought tolerance.     

Association and Heritability Studies for Drought Resistance under Varied Moisture Stress Regimes in Backcross Inbred Population of RiceAssociation and Heritability Studies for Drought Resistance under Varied Moisture Stress Regimes in Backcross Inbred Population of Rice

Drought stress is one of the major constraints affecting rice production and yield stability in the rainfed regions. To understand the physiological basis of drought resistance related component traits, we used a backcross inbred population of rice under three kinds of moisture regimes viz., non-stress, moderate （24.48%） and severe stress （73.97%） conditions which reflect the differential responses of the genotypes to varying stress intensities. The plot yield, 1000-grain weight, panicle exsertion and canopy air temperature difference exhibited high heritability under the control conditions, whereas spikelet sterility and single plant yield exhibited high heritability under the moderate stress conditions. Traits such as days to 50% flowering, plant height and osmotic potential showed high heritability under the severe stress conditions. Plot yield under stress was significantly and positively correlated with harvest index and 1000-grain weight, but negatively associated with leaf rolling score and days to 50% flowering. The drought susceptibility index and drought response index were negatively correlated between each other both under the moderate and severe stress conditions. The derived traits viz., difference in panicle length between the control and the severe stress was associated with osmotic adjustment measured under field conditions. Difference in plant height and panicle length was negatively associated with plot yield under stress.     

Quantitative Trait Loci and Epistatic Analysis of Seed Anoxia Germinability in Rice (Oryza sativa)

Anoxia germinability (AG) of 35 rice varieties was evaluated under different temperature and water submergence conditions. The shoot (including coleoptile) length of seedlings germinating under 30℃, 0.2 m water submergence for 5 days could be used as an optimal criterion for the AG evaluation of all the varieties. Differences were observed among the AGs of 359 varieties from different regions and subspecies with the optimized method. Moreover, 81 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross of Kinmaze (japonica)/DV85 (indica) were used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conferring AG. A total of five QTLs for AG in the recombinant inbred population were detected on chromosomes 1, 2, 5 and 7, respectively. Phenotypic variations explained by each QTL ranged from 10.5% to 19.6%. Based on the directions of the additive effects, the alleles at three loci qAG-1, qAG-2 and qAG-7 from Kinmaze increased AG, while alleles at loci qAG-5a and qAG-5b from DV85 increased AG. Meanwhile, three pairs of epistatic loci were found to be located on chromosomes 2, 3, 5 and 11 with significant effects ranging from 16.7% to 48.8%, and the highest one 48.78%, was detected between C563–X182 on chromosome 3 and R830–X208 on chromosome 5.     

Mapping of qTGW1.1,a Quantitative Trait Locus for 1000-Grain Weight in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

1000-grain weight(TGW) is one of the three component traits of the grain yield in rice(Oryza sativa L). This study was conducted to validate and fine-map qT GW1.1, a minor QTL for TGW which was previously located in a 3.7-Mb region on the long arm of rice chromosome 1. Five sets of near isogenic lines(NILs) were developed from two BC2F4 populations of the indica rice cross Zhenshan 973/Milyang 46.The NIL sets consisted of two homozygous genotypic groups differing in the regions RM11448-RM11522,RM11448- RM11549, RM1232- RM11615, RM11543-RM11554 and RM11569-RM11621, respectively. Four traits, including TGW, grain length, grain width and heading date, were measured. Phenotypic difference between the two genotypic groups in each NIL population was analyzed using SAS procedure GLM.Significant QTL effects were detected on TGW with the Zhenshan 97 allele increasing grain weight by0.12 g to 0.14 g and explaining 8.30% to 15.19% of the phenotypic variance. Significant effects were also observed for grain length and width, whereas no significant effect was found for heading date. Based on comparison among the five NILs on the segregating regions and the results of QTL analysis, qT GW1.1was delimited to a 376.9-kb region flanked by DNA markers Wn28382 and RM11554. Our results indicate that the effects of minor QTLs could be steadily detected in a highly isogenic background and suggest that such QTLs could be utilized in the breeding of high-yielding rice varieties.     

Mapping a Novel Gene of Cold Tolerance at Booting Stage by Using Near-Isogenic Lines in japonica Rice

Genetic analysis showed that cold tolerance at booting stage of near-isogenic lines （NILs） of Kunmingxiaobaigu was controlled by a gene with large phenotypic variance. One hundred and sixty-four simple sequence repeats （SSR） distributed over 12 chromosomes were used to screen polymorphism between Towata （recurrent parent, RP） and near-isogenic line pool （NILP）, and two SSR markers at the long arm of chromosome 5 showed polymorphism in comparison with RP genome. Of the two markers, RM31 was found possibly linked with the cold tolerance gene at booting stage through one-way ANOVA. Twelve SSR markers around RM31 were then used to detect polymorphism between RP and NIL, and only RM7452 had polymorphism. The gene of cold tolerance at booting stage was further mapped on chromosome 5 between RM7452 and RM31 with genetic distances of 4.8 cM and 8.0 cM, respectively. This gene explained 10.50% of phenotypic variance and 5.10% of phenotypic variance of fully filled grains, and was tentatively designated as Ctb（t）.     

QTLs Analysis of Cold Tolerance During Early Growth Period for Rice

The quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for cold tolerance during early growth period were identified using a F2:3 population (including 200 individuals and lines derived from a cross between indica rice and japonica rice ‘Milyang 23/Jileng 1’) with microsatellite markers. The cold tolerance at the seedling and tillering stages, and the growth ability of seedling under low temperature conditions were evaluated. All of the traits associated with cold tolerance at early growth stages appeared a continuous distribution near to normal in F3 lines, these were inherited as quantitative traits controlled by polygenes. Three QTLs on chromosomes 1, 5 and 9, which associated with cold tolerance at the seedling stage were detected. Among them, qCTS1 accounted for 15.5% of observed phenotypic variation; Five QTLs on chromosomes 2, 3, 7, 9 and 11, associated with cold tolerance at the tillering stage were found, which explained lower percentage of observed phenotypic variation; Four QTLs on chromosomes 1, 2, 11 and 12, which associated with the growth ability of seedling under low temperature conditions were found, among them, qGAS2 and qGAS12 explained 26.6 and 42.9% of observed phenotypic variation, respectively, which were major genes.     

Planting date and row spacing effects on the agronomic potential of sesame in the southeastern USA

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is being considered for commercial production in the southeastern USA, but very little is known about its potential and the appropriate management practices required to achieve sustainable yield potential in the area. This study thus aims to determine the optimal planting date and row spacing for several sesame cultivars. Traits examined were yield, plant height, number of nodes on the main stem, number of branches, height to first capsule on the main stem, and number of plants per meter. A first trial investigated three planting dates in Citra, FL (May, June, and July); whereas a second one examined several row spacings at two locations: 19 and 38.1 cm in Citra; and 19, 38.1, and 76.2 cm in Live Oak, FL. The May planting date showed higher yields, number of nodes, and taller plants than the other dates. Accumulated air and soil growing degree days (GDDs), rainfall, and solar radiation values were calculated for each planting date in both years. Soil GDDs provided similar results to air GDDs; thus, either model would seem appropriate for predicting crop development in this region. Plant height, number of nodes with capsules, and number of branches were increased at wider row spacings in the Live Oak trials as compared with narrow rows. These two trials illustrated the potential of sesame for attaining economically sustainable yields in the southeastern USA, but further exploration and modeling of agronomic traits will be needed to reach the crop’s full yield potential in these regions.     

A Risk Management Perspective on Integrated Weed Management

Abstract

The variability inherent in agriculture influences many crop production decisions made by farmers, including weed management. This paper addresses how farmers perceive the variability, or risk, associated with integrated weed management systems in terms of yield, economic returns, and time and labor management. This paper addresses how key biological time constraints such as periodicity of weed emergence, rate of crop growth and development, and critical periods of weed control can influence the outcome of integrated weed management systems. A key component to developing successful integrated weed management systems lies in the ability of the crop producer to align individual time and labor management issues with existing biological time constraints.     

Increasing the efficiency of agronomy experiments in potato using INFOCROP-POTATO model

Summary This paper reports adaptations of a generic crop model IN FOCROP for potato and its application in increasing the efficiency of agronomic experiments in tropical environments. A dataset of 13 experiments consisting of 153 treatments was assembled from an extensive literature search. These experiments were conducted over the period 1976-1999 in diverse Indian locations from 31 °N 75 ° E to 25 ° N 85 ° E. The treatments varied in locations, seasons, planting dates, water and N management and varieties. The duration to tuber initiation in the dataset varied between 25–63 days after planting and tuber yield between 11.0-45.3 t ha^-1. Simulated trends of phenological development, growth and tuber yield were in close agreement with the measured with acceptable error. It was concluded that the model was adequate to simulate the effect of various crop management factors to obtain quick results and increase the efficiency of agronomic experiments.     

Prevalence of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on late season volunteer corn in Mississippi: Implications on Bt resistance management

The southern United States has a long growing period between corn, Zea mays L., harvest and first winter frost, so volunteer corn which germinates after harvest has a growing period sufficient for corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) to feed on these plants. However, lower air temperatures can limit larval development on late season volunteer corn and thereby successful pupation. Here we explore the suitability of late season volunteer corn for larval development and the potential contribution of H. zea larvae to the overwintering population. Our survey revealed the occurrence of volunteer corn in high densities, with monthly mean densities ranging from 56,000 to 143,000 plants ha⁻¹. H. zea larvae were found feeding on both vegetative and reproductive stage plants while S. frugiperda were only found on vegetative stage plants. An analysis of H. zea growing degree day (GDD) accumulations based on Mississippi weather data from 1980 to 2010 revealed that sufficient GDD to reach prepupation would always be accumulated before first frost if oviposition occurred by 9 September, with the probability of successful pupation decreasing rapidly thereafter. However, most of the H. zea larvae were oviposited after this, and could not reach pupation. Because S. frugiperda cannot overwinter in Mississippi, their ability to pupate was not examined. Low suitability of whorl stage corn for H. zea development coupled with low larval densities during this stage effectively diminish the number of larvae that complete development on late season volunteer transgenic corn expressing genes from the soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). This limits the Bt resistance risk posed by larvae developing on late season volunteer corn in all but the most southern locations in the US.     

大豆GmIDD及其同源基因的生物信息学分析及功能预测

利用NCBI和Phytozome数据库进行GmIDD基因的同源基因检索,获取该基因在大豆不同染色体中5个拷贝的序列信息。通过对功能结构域的分析结果显示GmIDD基因5个拷贝均含有2个C2H2型(72~92 aa、114~142 aa)、2个C2HC型(149~169 aa、176~195 aa)锌指结构域。GmIDD基因cDNA序列全长为1 227 bp,编码408个氨基酸。系统进化树分析结果显示GmIDD基因5个拷贝中除了Glyma.14g10940和Glyma.17G228000外,其它IDD蛋白间进化距离较远,表明不同大豆IDD基因在功能上可能存在一定差异。长短日照处理下GmIDD表达量的分析结果显示GmIDD基因受短日照诱导表达,因此推测GmIDD可能参与大豆开花的调控过程。     

寒地水稻"三促法"技术总结

为提高水稻品质,浓江农场研究出了寒地水稻"三促法"栽培技术.具体措施是,在水稻分蘖盛期前2 d、抽穗前10 d、抽穗后10 d进行叶面追肥.该技术可使单位面积有效穗数增加、空秕率减少.1998年～2002年平均增产13%,稻谷等级提高一级.该项技术在寒地稻区具有很高的推广价值.     

三明市夏季酷热日气候特征分析

本文对1961—2008年三明市夏季的酷热天气进行了统计分析，普查酷热日当天08时500、700、850hPa和地面天气图得出，500hPa西太平洋副热带高压、850hPa暖中心控制等因素对三明市酷热天气影响较大，大陆高压东侧西北气流、台风西侧西北气流、低空西北气流等带来的干热风也有一定影响，并分析了2003年夏季酷热天气的成因。     

烟叶烘烤前期失水对烟叶变黄的影响

为了改进烘烤工艺,提高烟叶烘烤效率和烤后烟叶质量,研究了在烘烤前期先让烟叶强制失水,造成水分胁迫环境对烟叶变黄速度的影响。结果表明,在烘烤前期先让烟叶强制失水能够加快烟叶变黄速度,缩短变黄时间,同时减少干物质的消耗,有利于提高烟叶质量和提高烤房利用效率。上部烟烘烤前期的最佳失水率为2.7%,中部烟为4.7%,下部烟为6%。     

Field-based evaluation of vernalization requirement,photoperiod response and earliness per se in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Vernalization requirement, photoperiod response and earliness per se (EPS) of bread wheat cultivars are often determined using controlled environments. However, use of non-field conditions may reduce the applicability of results for predicting field performance as well as increase the cost of evaluations. This research was undertaken, therefore, to determine whether field experiments could replace controlled environment studies and provide accurate characterization of these three traits among winter wheat cultivars. Twenty-six cultivars were evaluated under field conditions using two natural photoperiod regimes (from different transplanting dates) and vernalization pre-treatments. Relative responses to vernalization (RRV_GDD) and photoperiod (RRP_GDD) were quantified using the reciprocal of thermal time to end of ear emergence, whereas earliness per se was estimated by calculating thermal time from seedling emergence until end of ear emergence for fully vernalized and lately planted material. An additional index based on final leaf numbers was also calculated to characterize response to vernalization (RRV_FLN). To test whether the obtained indices have predictive power, results were compared with cultivar parameters estimated for the CSM-Cropsim-CERES-Wheat model Version 4.0.2.0. For vernalization requirement, RRV_GDD was compared with the vernalization parameter P1V, for photoperiod (RRP_GDD), with P1D, and for earliness per se, EPS was compared with the sum of the component phase durations. Allowing for variation in EPS in the calibration improved the relation between observed versus simulated data substantially: correlations of RRP_GDD with P1D increased from r² = .34 (p < .01), to .82 (p < .001), and of RRV_GDD with P1V, from r² = .88 (p < .001), to .94 (p < .001). In comparisons of observed versus simulated anthesis dates for independent field experiments, the estimated model coefficients resulted in an r² of .98 (p < .001) and root mean square error of 1d. Overall, the results indicated that combining planting dates with vernalization pre-treatments can permit reliable, quantitative characterization of vernalization requirement, photoperiod response and EPS of wheat cultivars. Furthermore, emphasize the need for further study to clarify aspects that determine EPS, including whether measured EPS varies with temperature or other factors.