Host specificity and phenotypic diversity of Rhizobium strains nodulating Leucaena, Acacia, and Sesbania in Egypt

Phenotypic diversity was studied among 13 Rhizobium strains selected from a total of 160 Rhizobium isolates from root nodules of Leucaena leucocephala. Two strains from Acacia saligna and two strains from Sesbania sesban plants were included in the examination for host range in the greenhouse. The Rhizobium sp. (Leucaena) strains were different from the reference strains and fell into three distinct groups for the utilization of 95 different carbon sources. Four of the best symbionts constituted a group, the majority of the strains fell into a second group, and strain DS 91 was the only member of the third group. Strains were effective symbionts for their original hosts. Nine strains were tolerant to elevated temperature (>42°C), and three strains were resistant to high salinity (>3% NaCl). All Rhizobium sp. (Leucaena) strains effectively nodulated L. leucocephala and L. culensii, but nitrogen fixation was greater with L. leucocephala than with L. culensii. These strains failed to form effective symbioses with two other species of Leucaena (L. retusa and L. divursiflora) or with alfalfa, Medicago sativa. Rhizobium sp. (Leucaena) strains DS 65, DS 78, and DS 158 nodulated and efficiently fixed nitrogen with Phaseolus vulgaris, with DS 65 showing the highest symbiotic capability. Strain DS 65 also nodulated and fixed nitrogen with Glycine max and Vigna sinensis. Nodulation of Leucaena by two Bradyrhizobium sp. (Acacia) strains was sparse. Strain DS 101 from Sesbania formed nodules on Leucaena, whereas the other strain from Sesbania, DS 110, failed to nodulate this genus. Received: 30 September 1996     

CIMMYT和中国硬质春麦在4种CIMMYT不同处理环境中产量和蛋白品质性状分析

灌溉、播期和垄作等栽培方式对小麦产量和蛋白品质性状具有重要影响。将21个中国和CIMMYT硬质春麦品种于2000—2001和2001—2002年度分别种植在CIMMYT的Obregon试验站4种处理环境中。结果表明，所有性状均受品种和处理环境的显著影响，产量和沉降值同时还受品种和处理环境互作效应的显著作用，在进行产量和品质改良时应考虑品种与处理环境间的互作。充分灌溉和适期播种有利于提高产量，减少灌溉迟播垄作则有利于提高蛋白含量和沉降值。Rayon F 89产量、蛋白含量和沉降值均较高；龙麦26产量、蛋白含量和沉降值显著高于其他光敏感品种。充分灌溉适期播种垄作利于提高Rayon F 89等的产量和Weaver等的沉降值，充分灌溉适期播种平播利于提高Seri M 82等的产量和Attila等的沉降值，充分灌溉迟播垄作利于提高龙麦26等的产量和Super Seri#1等的沉降值，减少灌溉适期播种垄作则利于提高Rayong F 89等的产量和Weaver等的沉降值。     

Polygon of crossability between eleven species of Ipomoea: section Batatas (Convolvulaceae)

Summary Crossability within Ipomoea section Batatas is complex because of genetic, cytogenetic and physiological interactions. This complexity is responsible for the fact that knowledge about phylogenetic relationships within this section remains preliminary. Between 1988 and 1991, studies of planting, pollination and evaluation of progenies were carried out at the facilities of CIP in La Molina and San Ramon, Peru. Self-compatibility was found in nine diploid species. Self-incompatibility was found in diploid I. trifida, tetraploid I. tiliacea and both tetraploid and hexaploid I. batatas. Sexual compatibility is though to be related to a multiallelic sporophytic incompatibility system which is expressed in the stigmatic papillae. Altogether, 4,162 cross pollinations were made between 11 species and 76 interspecific combinations of 110 possible combinations in a diallel 11×11 design. From these 76 interspecific combinations only 38 survived, and in these crossability (= proportion between number of fruits harvested/pollinations made) ranged from 0.01 to 1.00 at La Molina. At San Ramon, 11 out of 17 cross combinations were successful, and in these crossability ranged from 0.01 to 0.71. Crossability appeared to be influenced by latitude which is related to flowering synchrony. The early death of seedlings is hypothesized to be related to a genomic imbalance between embryo and endosperm. Maternal effects were found in crosses between diploids and tetraploids which produced triploid and diploid offspring, and in crosses between hexaploids and diploids which gave rise to hexaploid offspring. This study shows that I. trifida and I. x leucantha may act as bridge species for gene flow from wild Ipomoea species to the genepool of the sweetpotato.     

The transfer of triazine resistance from Brassica napus L. to B. oleracea L. I. Production of F1 hybrids through embryo rescue

Summary Triazine resistant Brassica napus ssp. oleifera and ssp. rapifera were hybridized to cultivars of B. oleracea ssp. italica, ssp. botrytis, ssp. capitata and ssp. fimbriata. The interspecific embryos did not survive in vivo but could be rescued in vitro using a culture medium developed by Monnier (1973). The embryos did not grow directly into normal plants but were successfully regenerated using the protocol developed by Keller (1984). Hybridization efficiency ranged from 0 to 2.64 hybrids per pollination. Interspecific embryo abortion may be related to abnormal endosperm development.     

The introgression of characters of the wild oat Avena magna (2n=4x=28) into the cultivated oat A. sativa (2n=6x=42)

Summary A study of derivatives from the hybrid Avena sativa × A. magna backcrossed to A. sativa clearly indicate that it is possible to introduce characters of the wild oat into the cultivated oat. Progeny with improved grain characters and crude protein content of the groat have been isolated and their use as breeding material is discussed.     

Cytoplasmic-nucleargenic effects in the C121 (Athens) Zea mays L. inbred with three cytoplasms

Summary Seeds of the long-time maize (Zea mays L.) inbred CI 21 (Athens) were prepared with the following cytoplasms: GA 199 and GT 112. Each source of cytoplasm as the female parent was corssed to the CI 21 (A) as the pollen parent. The F₁, as the female, was backcrossed successively to the CI 21 (A) genotype until the CI 21 (A) nucleus was substituted into each of the cytoplasms. Thus, each cytoplasmic source of seed assumed to have the same nuclear genotype.The cytoplasms were compared in all possible combinations for one year with 10 replications. Among the characters studied, significant differences were obtained for the following: effect of herbicide, reaction to Fusarium sp., silking on a given day, tasseling, plant height, ear height, lodging, number of ears, and yield.These results revealed a favorable interaction of GA 199 cytoplasm with the CI 21 (A) genotype for desirable characters. Apparently, plasmon-sensitive effects caused the unfavorable results. Results from these experiments also provide further support for cytoplasmic effects on agronomic characters in maize.Part of the dissertation submitted by the senior author to the Dep. of Agronomy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.     

Lilium x ‘Black Beauty’—a potential bridging hybrid in Lilium

Summary Lilium Black Beauty, a rare intersectional hybrid previously reported sterile, was re-examined for pollen and ovule fertility. No pollen tubes were detected following incubation of styles pollinated with Black Beauty pollen. However, embryos varying in size from small globular to long boat-shaped and only rarely associated with endosperm, were found in 0.1–1.0% of the ovules in Black Beauty pistils pollinated with Oriental or Aurelian division lilies. Aseptic extraction and culture of these embryos on a nutritive medium resulted in growth, germination, and plantlets. It is apparent that with embryo culture, Black Beauty has unique value as a species bridge in that it accepts pollen of both Oriental and Aurelian lilies, two of the major commercial lily divisions.Scientific Journal Series Paper Number 9197 of the Minnesota Agricultural Experimental Station.     

Cytogenetic analysis of interspecific hybrids in genus Citrullus (Cucurbitaceae)

Investigations on interspecific crossability in two species of the genus Citrullus were studied based on their morphology, chromosome pairing and pollen fertility in their hybrids resulting from 12 combinations(including reciprocals). These have been utilized for tracing the phylogenetic relationship between the taxa and factors responsible for their differentiation. A collective evaluation of data on cross compatibility,morphology, chromosome association and pollen fertility indicated a close phylogenetic relationship between the species C. colocynthis (wild2n = 22) and C. vulgaris (cultivated 2n = 22). Significant differences for crossability and pollen fertility were observed between hybrids of C. colocynthis × C. vulgaris and reciprocals. Meiotic analysis of F₁ hybrids revealed that these two species are freely crossable and provide normal chromosome association, involving an average of 9 to maximum 11 pairs of chromosomes. This indicated the possibility of high recombination and thereby genetic introgression of desirable traits. As both the species are of economic significance, breeding strategies can be developed for the genetic improvement of these species. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genotype-environment interactions and phenotypic stability analyses of linseed in Ethiopia

Seed yield of 10 linseed genotypes, tested in a randomized block design with four replications across 18 environments of Ethiopia was analysed using different stability models. The objectives were to assess genotype‐environment (G‐E) interactions, determine stable genotypes, and to compare the stability parameters. Year by location and location variability were the dominant source of interactions. The stability analyses identified ‘R12‐N10D’, ‘Chilalo’ and ‘P13611’ב10314D’ as more stable genotypes, while ‘R11‐N1266’, ‘R10‐N27G’ and ‘R12‐D24C’ were specifically adapted to some environments. The highly significant rank correlations found among the deviations from regression, additive main effects multiplicative interaction, stability values, coefficients of determination, and stability variances indicated their close similarity and effectiveness in detecting stable genotypes over a range of Ethiopian environments.     

Regression analysis of genotype x environment interaction in sweet potato

Summary Two experiments, each involving a set of 10 sweet potato clones, were conducted for three years at 4 sites (Ekona, Ebolowa, Nkolbisson, and Bambui Plain) in Cameroon. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance to determine the presence of genotype x environment (G x E) interactions, and to regression analysis to assess the performance of clones across anvironments. Environments were assessed in two ways: (i) the mean response of all clones (dependent assessment), and (ii) the average performance of a different set of clones (independent assessment).The first experiment (Expt 1) produced higher yields but had fewer stable clones than the second (Expt 2).The analysis of variance revealed that the clones interacted significantly with environments for all traits.The study has identified high yielding and stable sweet potato clones for distribution to growers in the major areas of cultivation in the tountry. Despite slight differences in numbers of clones judged stable by the various regression indices in the two methods of environmental assessments, the rankings of clones on the basis of their linear regression coefficients were similar. In a developing country like Cameroon, with limited resources and where sophisticated equipment for obtaining physical or biological measures of the environment may be lacking, the mean performance of genotypes may still be the most reliable measure of environment in evaluating the stability of performance of crop cultivars.