Intergeneric hybrid between Brassica napus and Diplotaxis harra through ovary culture and the cytogenetic analysis of their progenies

Brassica napus (2n = 38) and Diplotaxis harra (2n = 26) were used to investigate gene transfer from D. harra to B. napus. Intergeneric F₁ hybrids (dihaploid 2n = 32 chromosomes) were obtained through ovary culture. The chromosome associations in the first meiotic division was (0–2)_III + (2–10)_II + (12–28)_I. Many seeds were harvested in the F₁ hybrid after backcrossing with B. napus, and from open pollination of the F₁ hybrid. Somatic chromosome numbers of BC₁ and hybrid plants varied from 2n = 26 to 52. In the first meiotic division, high frequencies of bivalent association and relatively low pollen fertility were observed. BC₂ plants generated from the BC₁ plants with 2n = 38 chromosomes, 69.6% showed 2n = 38 chromosomes. Many aneuploids with addition and deletion of chromosomes were also obtained. A bridge plant between B. napus and D. harra with 2n = 32 chromosomes should be valuable material for the breeding of brassica crops.     

Bt基因在不同陆地棉基因型的表达研究

研究了Bt基因在陆地棉不同遗传背景下的表达差异。结果表明,(1)Bt基因在不同陆地棉基因型中均能充分表达,与常规(非抗虫)棉相比抗虫性极为显著。(2)不同陆地棉基因型品系(种)之间抗虫性比较,有差异且部分品系间达极显著水平。(3)Bt基因在不同陆地棉基因型的表达,前期(对二代棉铃虫的抗性)差异较大;中期(对三代棉铃虫的抗性)差异变小;后期(对四代棉铃虫的抗性)没有显著差异。(4)转Bt基因抗虫棉Bt基因的表达随棉花的生育进程呈逐渐降低趋势,即对二代棉铃虫的抗性>对三代棉铃虫的抗性>对四代棉铃虫的抗性。     

Identification of AFLP fragments linked to one recessive genic male sterility (RGMS) in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and conversion to SCAR markers for marker-aided selection

117AB is a recessive genic male sterility (RGMS) line in which the sterility is controlled by a duplicate recessive gene named ms, located at two separate loci. In the RGMS line, the genotype of the sterile plant (117A) is msmsmsms, and that of the fertile plant (117B) is Msmsmsms. The present study was aimed to identify DNA markers linked to the ms locus by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). From the survey of 512 AFLP primer combinations, 6 AFLP fragments (y1, k1, k2, k3, k4, k5) were identified as being tightly linked to the Ms locus. The genetic distances between the markers and the Ms locus were all less than 8 cM, among which two fragments, designated as k2 and k3, co-segregated with the target gene in the tested population. Fragment k2 was successfully converted into a sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker. The markers detected could be valuable in marker-assisted breeding of RGMS in Brassica napus.     

Genetic Analysis of Chromosome 2D of Wheat

The Yugoslavian varieties ‘Novosadska Rana 1’ and ‘Sava’ are shown by monosomic comparisons to carry weak height promoters on chromosome 2D characteristic of the ‘Akakomugi’ gene for reduced height, Rht8. Reciprocal monosomic crosses between ‘Bersee’ and ‘Sava’ demonstrate ‘Sava’ chromosome 2D reduces height by about 16 cms, accelerates ear emergence by about 9 days and increases yield through increased grain number and grain size. Recombinant lines developed for chromosome 2D suggest that this chromosome in Mediterranean wheats carries three genes, Rht8, Ppd1 and Yr16, important to their adaptation. Rht8 and Ppd1, a gene for day length insensitivity together reduce height. Ppd1 and, to a minor degree, either yr16, the susceptible allele of a gene for adult plant resistance to yellow rust or a closely linked gene, accelerate time to flowering and thereby avoid desiccating Yugoslavian summer conditions. The same genes reduce spikelets numbers but this is offset by increased floret fertility producing an overall increase in the number of grains per ear. Ppd1 also by avoiding desiccating conditions increases gram size and together with either yr16 or the closely linked fertility gene increases ear and plant yields.     

The transfer of a gene for glutinous endosperm to Oryza glaberrima Steud. From a japonica variety of O. sativa L.

Summary In common rice, Oryza sativa L. (n=12), the gene Am for non-glutinous is dominant over the gene am for glutinous. In African rice, O. glaberrima Steud. (n=12), no spontaneous glutinous strain has been found, but recently a glutinous strain of glaberrima was induced by EMS-treatment.The interspecific cytoplasm substitution line with sativa cytoplasm and glaberrima nucleus is male sterile. It has been confirmed that the complete restoration of pollen fertility in this male sterile line is attributed to a single dominant nuclear gene Rf _j.Trial to transfer gene am from sativa to glaberrima was commenced with backcrosses of the F₁ hybrid (glutinous sativa cv. Iwai-mochi × glaberrima ) to glaberrima type plants of the substitution line homozygous for Rf _j,using the latter as the pollen parent. At the B₁ step, highly fertile glaberrima type Am/am plants were obtained. Thereafter plants of this type were backcrossed to normal glaberrima as the recurrent pollen parent to complete the nuclear substitution. It was confirmed that the EMS-induced glutinous character of glaberrima was a monogenic recessive and that the same gene controls the expression of glutinous character in the different rice species, sativa and glaberrima.     

Genetic issues and pitfalls in transgenic plant breeding

Transgene technology provides a powerful tool for developing traits that are otherwise difficult to achieve through conventional breeding. In order to effectively apply the technology to breeding, we need to understand how transgenes behave in plants. Transgenes may or may not follow Mendelian segregation; their expression can be significantly affected by integration positions and structures of the transgenic DNA in host genomes; transgenes may become unstable over generations, genetic background sand environmental conditions; and they may have significantly negative impact on expression of endogenous genes. If not well understood, the sehurdles could become significant barriers in transgenic breeding. This paper reviews some genetic issues and pitfalls that are often encountered in transgenic breeding. Because of the necessity of being brief, transgene expression, silencing, and breeding are the three areas of focuses in this discussion. While molecular mechanisms underlying many of the transgenic phenomena have not been completely understood, some practical ‘rules’ are now available for creating, evaluating and selecting desirable transgenic transformants. It can be certain that with more transgenic plants generated and characterized our knowledge of transgene genetics at both molecular and plant levels will continue to accumulate. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inheritance of flower colour and flavonoid pigments in Gerbera

The flower colour of Gerbera, an important ornamental cut flower, is derived from carotenoids and flavonoids. The knowledge of enzymological and genetic control of flavonoid biosynthesis is still incomplete. The present paper summarizes the results obtained at our institute between 1981 and 1993. The material for the investigation of phenotypic segregation and segregation of flavonoids after chromatographic analysis came from 408 progenies of controlled crosses. Phenotypic segregation analysis showed acyanic genotypes to be homozygous recessive and recessive epistatic over cyanic genotypes, respectively. This was confirmed by the existence of two loci controlling steps in biosynthesis (fht, dfr or ans) showing recessive mutants and complementary gene action after crosses. Flavone formation is effected by one dominant allele (fns⁺); dominant and recessive genotypes are now available. Regarding anthocyanidin inheritance, an unusual epistasis of 4′-hydroxylation (pelargonidin formation) over 3′,4′-hydroxylation (cyanidin formation) was observed. Final proof of the postulated gene actions will come from enzymological and molecular biological investigations of the chemogenetically defined Gerbera genotypes now available.     

基于转录组测序的苦瓜热激蛋白相关基因分析

为获得苦瓜叶片高温胁迫状态下表达的相关基因,本研究以高温胁迫下苦瓜叶片为实验材料,采用Illumina HiSeq 2500高通量测序技术对正常温度(26℃)和高温胁迫(38℃)下苦瓜叶片转录测序后进行组装,再利用KEGG、Pfam、Swiss-Prot和NR数据库平台对热激蛋白的相关功能基因筛选,共获得24个热激蛋白相关基因,包括得20个热激蛋白基因、2个位于叶绿体中的小热激蛋白以及2个热激转录因子。聚类分析研究表明,涉及到热激蛋白相关的20个Unigene广泛分布于3大类中,其中c42567和c43094这两个亲缘关系最近;两个小热激蛋白c42963和c12133的亲缘关系次之;c35683和c3040两个热激转录因子亲缘关系最远。通过本次研究中获取的24个热激蛋白相关Unigene信息,有助于深入研究苦瓜耐高温胁迫机理等提供数据信息。     

小麦抗病基因同源序列(RGAs)的克隆与分析

RGA(抗性基因同源序列)法是克隆植物抗性基因的一种经济有效的方法,成为近年来的研究热点。本实验综合分析了拟南芥,西红柿,水稻,烟草等植物已克隆的抗性基因,并以这些抗性基因的NBS(核酸结合位点),LRR(富含亮氨酸重复),STK(丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶)保守结构域设计并合成了几十对RGA引物,对小麦抗条锈病材料进行PCR扩增,获得以Xal-NBS为引物的R88RGA片段,经克隆和序列比对分析,发现该片段与逆境条件下植物抗病信号传导相关,与蛋白激酶同源性达到96%。此项研究对抗病机理的研究和基因的发掘有重要的指导意义。     

Biodiversity in a germplasm collection of durum wheat

Summary Over 7,600 durum wheat accessions belonging to 22 country gene pools were evaluated in Syria, during the seasons 1985–86 through 1987–88 under semi-arid Mediterranean climatic conditions. Data on seven agronomic traits are presented to assess the distinctiveness and the phenotypic diversity of these pools. Univariate statistical analysis revealed differences among materials of diverse origins for all traits. Mean phenotypic diversity within countries was highest in the germplasm from India, lowest in that from Bulgaria. In a canonical variate analysis, the first three canonical variables explained 77.7% of the total variance. A cluster analysis was performed to supplement the generated information by the canonical analysis. The multivariate analyses evidenced the distinctiveness of the Ethiopian germplasm. The gene pools from Syria and Jordan, closely resembling each other, appeared separate from all others. A certain peculiarity was also shown by the germplasms from Greece, Morocco and France, while the remaining countries clustered into four groups. The results of the present evaluation could provide useful information for breeding activities, germplasm collection, and establishment of core collections. Evidence is presented that environment played a major role in creating the overall variation for the considered traits, although germplasm exchange seemed also an important factor.