Genetics of Five Seed Esterase Isozymes in Pearl Millet

Inheritance and linkage relationships of pearl millet seed esterase isozymes were studied using; polyacrylamide dise: gel electrophoresis and α-naphthyl acetate as substrate. The Zone of enzyme activity was resolved into five bands. The presence of a band showed complete dominance over its absence. Each one of the bands (1 to 4) was under the control of a single gene. Band five was found to be controlled by three independent loci with duplicate gent action Loci for Est₁, Est₃ and Est₄ Were found to be linked. Est₂ Was independent of this linkage group.     

Estimates of stability for comparing varieties

Summary For purposes of comparison of analytical methods the yield data on pearl millet hybrids and varieties for five years from locations in India and Pakistan have been analysed using a regression analysis and a meanstandard deviation analysis. The results of the mean-standard deviation analysis and the regression analysis were similar whether carried out on all environments, or on the highest- and lowest-yielding sets of environments. This was substantiated by the remarkable correlation between the slopes from the regression analysis and the standard deviations whatever environmental set was considered. The validity of using a single year's across location data with the mean-standard deviation analysis, if choice-theoretic criteria are used, was examined. It is concluded that, although further confirmation is required, single-year data seem to suffice. The relative merits of the mean-standard deviation analysis and a regression analysis are discussed; the choice-theoretic framework of the mean-standard deviation analysis is advantageous and complementary to the regression analysis.     

Inheritance of sethoxydim resistance in foxtail millet, Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.

Interspecific hybridization between foxtail millet cultivars (Setaria italica) and a green foxtail (S. viridis) resistant to the herbicide sethoxydim were undertaken to breed foxtail millet for improved herbicide resistance. Parents, reciprocal F₁ hybrids, F₂ selfed derived populations and BC₁ backcross progeny were produced and analysed for mortality and fresh weight over a range of dosages. All resistant progeny were 700 times more resistant than susceptible cultivars and was symptom free under current field dosages. Segregations of resistant and susceptible progeny (3:1 in F₂ and 1:1 in BC₁) were not dependent upon dosage. Heterozygous individuals displayed the same magnitude of resistance as homozygous plants at twelve times the recommended field dosage. Results suggested that sethoxydim resistance in foxtail millet was controlled by a single, completely dominant, nuclear gene. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Indentification of true genetic dwarfing sources in foxtail millet (Setaria italica Beauv.)

Summary True genetic dwarfs hither-to not reported have been located in foxtail millet. The dwarfs as a group distinguished themselves from the talls in having altered constellation of characters. The morphological differences were highly significant for plant height, internodal length, and tillering potential. The talls had elongated internodes compared to dwarfs while there was no difference for node number on the main stem suggesting that short internodal length was primarily responsible for dwarfism. The dwarfs also showed slightly higher leaf number per plant, leaf area and harvest index compared to talls. The dwarfs were insensitive to exogenous GA₃ application indicating that GA₃ synthesis is not impaired. This suggests that dwarfing gene sources presently identified are true genetic dwarfs and their behaviour is similar to dwarfs derived from Norin 10 in wheat and Dee-geo-woo-gen in rice. The superior morphological frame makes these dwarfs ideal as far as plant type is concerned and offers immense potentialities in breeding high yielding foxtail millets.     

谷子显性雄性不育基因Msch的AFLP标记

利用雄性不育是实现谷子杂种优势利用最经济、有效的途径之一.为了寻找与不育基因Msch紧密连锁的分子标记,提高不育系的选育效率,本研究构建了Msch不育/可育近等基因系(NILs),通过对400对AFLP引物组合进行筛选,找到了与不育基因紧密连锁的两个AFLP标记(P17/M37224和P35/M52208),与不育基因的遗传距离分别是2.1 cM和1.4 cM,而且位于不育基因的同一侧,标记间相距0.7 cM.这两个AFLP标记可有效用于分子标记辅助选择育种.     

Performance of pearl millet isonuclear hybrids involving different cytoplasmic male-sterility systems

The performance of pearl millet hybrids involving four sources of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), including the most-exploited A₁ source, was compared to evaluate the effects of cytoplasm on grain yield. The mean grain yield of hybrids possessing A₂, A₃ and A₄ cytoplasms was either similar to or significantly higher than that of their counterpart hybrids with A₁ cytoplasm. Hybrids based on A₃ and A₄ cytoplasms produced, on average, 8% more grain compared with those based on A₁ cytoplasm. This suggested that these CMS sources could be used as alternatives to A₁ cytoplasm to widen the cytoplasmic base of hybrids. The results indicated that most of the variation in hybrids was accounted for by pollinator and cytoplasm × pollinator interactions, suggesting the use of genetically diverse pollinators in pearl millet hybrid breeding.     

中国辽西地区谷子品种遗传多样性的SSR分析

为研究中国辽西地区谷子品种的遗传差异,本研究利用28对SSR标记对辽西地区8个推广面积较大的优质高产谷子品种(包括7个谷子育成品种和1个农家品种)进行遗传多样性分析。研究结果表明:有14对SSR引物共检测出43个等位变异,平均每对引物检出的等位变异数为3.07,14个位点的平均多态信息量(PIC)为0.485;遗传相似性(GS)的变化范围为0.071 4~0.857 1,平均值为0.601 9。聚类分析发现8个品种可分为两大类,农家种与育成品种朝谷14聚为一类,其他6个育成品种聚为另外一类。SSR标记的指纹图谱表明运用4对引物可将8份地方谷子品种成功区分开。本研究结果可为辽西地区谷子品种的亲本选配和遗传改良提供理论依据。     

土壤水分对谷子(粟)结实的影响及其生理效应

土壤水分对谷子结实的影响主要在结实阶段.土壤水分过少或过多,都能显著降低结实率、成粒数和产量.这一时期以保持土壤毛管持水量的70%左右对结实最为有利.供水不足,首先影响根系活性和体内水分状况,从而影响体内外气体交换,降低光合速率和呼吸强度,同时影响细胞膜透性,导致体内物质代谢过程改变,降低有机物质的积累,造成穗部营养贫乏,形成秕谷.土壤水分过多,通气不良,影响根系活性,降低伤流量,抑制体内代谢过程及物质运转,造成穗部营养不足,形成秕谷.     

Wheat x pearl millet hybridization: consequence and potential

Summary Eight grain pearl millet (2n=14) accessions were crossed as male to hexaploid spring wheat cv. Fukuho (2n=6x=42). An average of 80% wheat pistils showed pearl millet pollen tube entry in the ovules, compared to 56% in wheat x maize cv. Seneca 60 cross. Of the 15 embryos, obtained through in vitro immature seed culture from wheat x pearl millet crosses, 3 plantlets were produced and grown to maturity. These three were of the somatic chromosome constitution 2n=42, 21 and 22, respectively. Haploid wheat plant (2n=21) apparently originated from pearl millet chromosome elimination during embryogenesis. The 22 chromosome plant had retained a single pearl millet chromosome at tillering stage, but this chromosome was eliminated from pollen mother cells prior to and also during gamete formation. The significance and potential uses of this wide cross is discussed.     

Characterization of seed producing pearl millet x elephantgrass hexaploid hybrids

Summary Successful widespread use of a forage or biomass plant depends largely on its ease of establishment. Elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) is used for both forage and biomass production, due to its high dry matter production, aggressiveness, perenniality, and forage quality. However, lack of high quality seed has limited the use of elephantgrass and its hybrids to pearl millet (P. glaucum L. R.Br.). Development of a seed-propagated pearl millet x elephantgrass hexaploid cultivar, which would combine desirable characteristics from both of these species, would be highly desirable. The objectives of this study were to characterize morphological and seed-related traits from the selfed progeny of seven hexaploid hybrids, and to determine whether seed size had any influence on these traits. Traits studied included number of tillers, height, leaf length and width, panicles per plant, days to flowering, panicle length, seed set, seed production, and weight of 100 seeds. Genetic differences were found among the progeny of the seven hybrids. Differences were also found between plants derived from large- and small-seed lots within families. Plants descended from larger seed had better growth and seed-related characteristics, which resulted in more desirable plants. These hexaploid hybrids showed potential for direct seeding into the field for biomass or forage production.