Quantitative trait loci for fruit size and flowering time-related traits under domestication and diversifying selection in cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

In cucumber, the genetic basis of traits under domestication and/or diversifying selection is not well understood. Here, we reported QTL mapping for flowering time and fruit size-related traits with segregating populations derived from a cultivated × wild cross. Phenotypic data of flowering time (FT), fruit size (FS), fruit number (FN) and fruit weight per plant (FW) were collected in multiple environments. QTL analysis identified 19 QTL for these traits. We found that the major-effect QTL FT1.1 played an important role in regulating flowering time in cultivated cucumber, whereas the minor-effect QTL FT6.3 contributed to photoperiod sensitive flowering time during domestication. Two novel consensus FS QTL, FS1.4 and FS2.3, seem to be the targets of selection during breeding for the US processing cucumber. All other FS QTL were co-localized with previously detected QTL using populations derived from cultivated cucumbers, suggesting that they were under selection during both initial domestication and subsequent improvement. Results from this study also suggested that the wild cucumber is a useful resource for capturing positive transgressive segregation and novel alleles that could be explored in cucumber breeding.     

High night-time temperature during flowering and pod filling affects flower opening,yield and seed fatty acid composition in canola

Winter canola (Brassica napus L.) is highly sensitive to increasing temperatures during the reproductive and pod-filling stages. Although the impact of high day-time temperature stress on yield and quality has been documented in canola, similar information under high night-time temperature (HNT) stress is not available. Using six hybrids and four open-pollinated cultivars, we observed a marked shift in peak flowering towards earlier, cooler hours of the morning under HNT. Averaged across two independent experiments, the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II was significantly decreased (3%), with a significant increase in thylakoid membrane damage (13%) in the leaves of susceptible cultivars under HNT stress. Similarly, the susceptible cultivars also recorded significant reduction in biomass (34%), pod number (22%), pod weight (37%) and total seed weight (40%) per plant while the same set of agronomic traits were not affected among the tolerant cultivars. Quantitative impact of heat stress was confirmed with increased sensitivity to HNT exposure from gametogenesis until maturity resulting in a significantly higher yield loss compared to stress exposure from post-flowering till maturity. HNT significantly decreased oil concentration, but increased protein concentration and saturated fatty acid levels in seeds of the susceptible cultivars. However, HNT had no impact on the unsaturated fatty acids in both hybrids and the open-pollinated cultivars. Breeding targets based on fatty acid composition for enhancing canola seed quality may not be easily amenable due to the inconsistency documented with the compositional changes under heat stress. In summary, our findings conclude that canola hybrids are better suited to regions experiencing heat stress, compared to open-pollinated cultivars, indicating the possibility of a complete shift to hybrid canola cultivation under predicted hotter climates in the future.     

Acquired Thermo‐Tolerance and Trans‐Generational Heat Stress Response at Flowering in Rice

In rice, pre‐exposure to sublethal treatment followed by harsh lethal treatment is known to improve tolerance of different abiotic stresses at the vegetative stage within and across generations. Our major aim was to test the phenomenon of thermo‐tolerance at flowering across (trans)‐generations and within generation using rice cultivars contrasting for heat stress tolerance at flowering. To test trans‐generational response, plants were exposed to higher temperature at flowering stage and seeds obtained from previous generations were exposed to heat stress during flowering, which recorded significantly lower fertility when exposed to the same degree of stress in their subsequent generations. A pre‐acclimation to moderately high acclimating temperatures imposed over three different durations during the vegetative and initial reproductive stage showed positive response in the tolerant N22, particularly under severe heat stress (40 °C). This finding indicates the possibility of acquiring ameliorative thermo‐tolerant mechanisms at anthesis, restricted to tolerant genetic backgrounds to combat subsequent harsh conditions within the same generation. However, trans‐generational memory was ineffective in mitigating spikelet sterility losses in both tolerant and susceptible backgrounds. Rice is extremely sensitive to heat stress during flowering; hence, similar exercise across other crops of interest needs to be carried out before generalizing conclusions.     

甜樱桃不同砧穗组合成花调控关键基因表达差异研究

为了研究甜樱桃(Prunus avium)成花调控关键基因在不同砧穗组合中表达差异,以甜樱桃‘艳阳’(Sunburst)为接穗,‘ZY-1’(P.cerasus)、马哈利(P.mahaleb)和‘兰丁2号’(P.avium × P.pseudocerasus)为砧木的嫁接组合为试材,调查统计4年干龄不同砧穗组合的总花芽量及开花情况;克隆甜樱桃成花调控网络中EARLY FLOWERING 3(ELF3)、CONSTANS(CO)、FLOWERING LOCUS T(FT)等9个关键作用基因,并利用实时荧光定量PCR对不同砧穗组合接穗的幼叶、叶芽、成龄叶、花芽、叶芽附近叶片叶柄及花芽附近叶片叶柄中这些基因的表达量鉴定。结果显示,艳阳/ZY-1、艳阳/马哈利和艳阳/兰丁2号组合的平均单株花芽量分别为279、288和317朵,不存在明显差异,但不同组合的花期却明显不同,当艳阳/马哈利有72%花芽处于开放期时,艳阳/兰丁2号的花开放比例只有7%,艳阳/ZY-1的花开放比例为49%;此外,PaELF3、PaCO、PaFT等9个成花关键基因,在同一时期不同砧穗组合的接穗组织中表达量存在差异,其中PaAP1在不同砧穗组合的花芽中表达模式与花期规律一致,表明PaAP1与樱桃花期调控密切相关。     

冠县棉花花铃期田间管理技术

阐述了冠县棉花花铃期的生育特点,结合生产实际制定了田间管理关键技术措施,包括重施花铃肥、补施盖顶肥、中耕培土、适时整枝、化学调控、病虫害防治等,以供参考。     

2种多胺对铁皮石斛瓶内开花的影响

以铁皮石斛无根组培苗为试验材料,研究不同浓度的外源腐胺（Put）和精胺（Spm）对铁皮石斛瓶内开花的影响。结果表明：培养基中添加适量的Put和Spm可提高开花率。当Put浓度为0.4 mg/L时,铁皮石斛瓶内开花率最高,为30.47%;Spm浓度为0.2 mg/L时,铁皮石斛瓶内开花率最高,为22.26%;Put浓度为0.2 mg/L时,铁皮石斛始花期最短,为83.33 d,观赏期最长,为43.33 d。Put浓度为0.4 mg/L时,植株可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量最高;对照处理下植株全N含量达最高;Spm浓度为0.6 mg/L时,植株C/N比达最大。Put浓度为0.4 mg/L时,有利于铁皮石斛组培苗碳氮化合物的积累,可提高铁皮石斛的开花率;Put浓度为0.2 mg/L时,能使花期提前,延长观赏期。Spm浓度为0.4 mg/L时,有利于铁皮石斛组培苗株高增长和生根,促进铁皮石斛组培苗的营养生长。     

几种修剪树型对'珍珠'番石榴开花坐果及产量的影响

选用4年生'珍珠'番石榴为试脸材料,采用开心形、圆头形、平头形树型结构,以果树生产中采用的自然圆形树型结构为对照,研究4种树型修剪方法对'珍珠'番石榴新梢数、花蕾数、开花结果数及果实产量的影响.试验结果表明,'珍珠'番石榴树型圆头形、开心形促进开花坐果较好,圆头形有利于提高产量.     

基于随机森林算法和气象因子的砀山酥梨始花期预报

准确预报始花期是制定砀山酥梨花期管理措施和赏花活动方案的重要基础。该文利用1983-2018年砀山酥梨始花期的定位观测物候数据和平行观测的气象资料，采用线性趋势法，揭示始花期演变趋势；采用相关分析，筛选影响始花期的关键气象因子，依据不同预报日期构成特征变量集；采用随机森林算法（Random Forest, RF），自3月11日开始预报到3月25日终止预报，每日训练1个预报模型。结果表明，1）1983－2018年始花期呈极显著提早发生趋势，每10a约提前2.750 d（P＜0.001）。2）16个逐日气象预报模型中，共计有200个气象因子与始花期早迟密切相关，相关系数在0.469～0.789之间；各气象预报模型的训练集与测试集的平均正确率（Nd）分别为92.9%和75.5%、平均均方根误差（RMSE）分别为1.693～2.870和2.240～7.237、平均决定系数（R2）分别为0.891和0.701。3）2019年试验预报中，提前15日准确预报出当年始花期。该文研究表明RF在梨树始花期逐日气象预报中有一定业务应用潜力，预报准确率基本满足气象服务需求。     

渭北地区富士苹果不同砧穗组合幼树内源激素含量与早花性和易成形性关系的研究

以3~4年生5个不同砧穗组合富士苹果幼树为材料,研究植物内源激素含量与早花性和易成形性间的关系。结果表明:乔化砧组合树体高大、生长旺盛,短枝比例和花序数量均显著低于矮化砧组合。矮化砧木组合中,M26组合虽然短枝比例很高,但单株成花量低,树体长势弱;SH16组合次之;T337组合长势中庸、单株成花量大。一年中,春、秋梢开始生长期,幼叶IAA、ZR含量出现高峰,根系第2次生长高峰期,细根IAA、ZR、GA_3含量出现高峰。幼叶ZR和细根IAA含量呈负相关,IAA、GA_3分别在地上部和地下部之间存在正相关。5月5日,幼叶IAA和ZR含量分别与当年生枝量呈正相关;5月20日,ZR、ZR/GA_3分别与短枝比例呈正相关,GA_3与花序数量呈负相关;根系第2次生长高峰期,苹果幼树开花相关指标分别与细根中的IAA、ZR、GA_3、IAA/ZR呈正相关,说明内源激素在地上部成花与地下部根系生长过程中具有重要调节作用。渭北地区,T337自根砧木富士苹果组合体现了早花性和树体易成形性的统一。     

菜薹新品种‘玉田2号菜心’

 ‘玉田2号菜心’是通过雄性不育系杂交得到的中晚熟菜薹新品种。植株生长势强，紧凑直立，菜薹粗壮、匀称，颜色油绿有光泽，肉质紧实：主薹高26.2 cm，粗1.9 cm，单株主薹质量约65 g。播种至初收44 ~ 47 d，产量约18 750 kg ? hm^-2，适宜平原地区9月上旬—12月中旬及翌年3月中旬—4月上旬种植。