Regional patterns of microsatellite diversity in Ethiopian tetraploid wheat accessions

This study was conducted to assess regional patterns of diversity of Ethiopian tetraploid wheat accessions and to identify areas of diversity that can be used as source of new germplasm for developing high yielding and stable varieties. A collection of 133 Ethiopian tetraploid wheat accessions and eight introduced cultivars was analysed using 29 wheat microsatellite markers. A total of 383 alleles were detected with an average value of 13.14 alleles per locus. Relatively more alleles were observed in the B genome than in the A genome. Gene diversity indices ranged from 0.08 to 0.95, with a mean value of 0.72. Accessions collected from the same region were pooled and the number of alleles and gene diversity were calculated over the 29 simple sequence repeats for each region. Higher numbers of alleles were detected in the Shewa region (8.72), followed by Tigray (5.86) and Hararghe (5.76). The highest average gene diversity value was found in Shewa (0.65), followed by Gondar (0.64). No significant correlation was observed between geographic distance and genetic distance. Out of 383 different alleles detected, 93 (24.4%) were observed to be region‐specific. Region‐specific alleles were found across all chromosomes except for Xgwm752, Xgwm155 and Xgwm148. Genetic similarity coefficients were estimated for all the possible 55 pairs of regional comparisons and they ranged from 0.16 to 0.52, with a mean value of 0.50. All provinces were differentiated in the UPGMA cluster diagram.     

棉子品质性状的遗传研究

本研究采用6个陆地棉亲本的Griffing双列杂交设计模式Ⅱ对5个棉子品质性状进行了Hayman双列遗传模型分析.结果表明,种子蛋白质和油分百分含量、种子蛋白质和油分指数及仁指都适合“加性—显性”模型.种子蛋白质百分含量和指数以显性效应为主且表现超显性;种子油分百分含量和指数以加性效性应为主且表现部分显性;仁指加性和显性效应都较重要,接近完全显性.在所研究的亲本中,不同性状的显、隐性基因频率,正负效应基因的比例,显、隐性基因的方向及狭义遗传力等都明显不同.     

Chromosomal location of a gene (Rkn-mnl) for resistance to the root-knot nematode transferred into wheat from Aegilops variabilis

Root-knot nematode is a significant root-parasite of common wheat. A dominant gene Rkn-mnl for resistance was transferred into wheat from Acgilops variabilis. This gene was shown to be on chromosome 3B. Further analysis indicated that it is on the long arm of this chromosome and independent of the centromere.     

Male-sterility in the grain amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus ex-Nepal) variety Jumla

Summary Twenty naturally occurring male-sterile plants were recovered from a normal population of the grain amaranth, variety Jumla. The identification of the male-sterile plants is possible during anthesis and after flowering. The male-sterility in this variety is conditioned by a single recessive nuclear gene ms.This research was supported by Grant No. AMA-KE-4-83-22 (CRG GRANT) from the National Academy of Science, USA. Reprint requests to V.K. Gupta.     

Inheritance of new genetic markers in lentil (Lens Miller)

Summary We report on the inheritance of 11 morphological markers and 17 isozymes in lentil (Lens culinaris). The monogenic inheritance of 11 morphological markers and 11 isozymes is confirmed. The inheritance of six isozymes (Aco-2, Enp, Est-3, Est-4, Lap-3, and Mdh-m) is reported for the first time in lentil. This brings the total number of described genes in lentil to 78. Cases of disturbed segregation were more frequent than expected by chance. It is suggested that disturbed segregation was in most cases caused by linkage with a piece of chromosome that showed preferential elimination in crosses between Lens culinaris ssp. odemensis and other subspecies. The prevalence of disturbed segregation in crosses with Lens culinaris ssp. odemensis could limit the usefulness of this subspecies in genetic and linkage studies.     

Relationship between barley grain yield measured in low- and high-yielding environments

Summary The paper addresses the general question of identifying the optimum environment for selection in plant breeding programs for low input agricultural systems. After defining low-yielding and high-yielding environments based on the average grain yield of large numbers of barley genotypes in different cropping seasons, we examined: 1) the phenotypic relationships between the highest yielding genotypes in low- and high-yielding environments, and 2) the genetic correlation coefficients between grain yield in low- and high-yielding environments. The results indicate that the alleles controlling high grain yield in low-yielding conditions are at least partially different from those controlling high grain yield in high-yielding conditions. Therefore, selection in high-yielding environments is expected to produce a negative response or no response in low-yielding environments. This may explain why crop varieties bred under high-yielding conditions failed to have an impact in low-yielding agricultural systems. The results may be extrapolated to systems where environmental concern suggests a reduction of inputs by raising the question of whether crop breeding programs based on selection under high inputs are likely to generate the right type of germplasm for an environmentally friendly agriculture.     

Origin,classification, variation and distribution of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) in the light of Cuban material

Summary Recent collecting activities have shown that Cuba is rich in plant genetic resources of lima beans. Seed characters of 173 Cuban accessions were measured. Principal component analysis and discriminant factor analysis were used to compare the accessions, which could be classified into seven groups: wild, weed, Potato, Potato-Sieva, Sieva, Sieva-Big Lima, Big Lima. The Sieva type is the principal group of Cuba. It has arrived to Cuba in pre-Columbian times via the Antilles arc. After the Conquest the Potato type was introduced from Central America. Introgressive hybridization with the Sieva group led to the intermediate Potato-Sieva type, whereas the Sieva-Big Lima type resulted from selection toward larger seeds within the Sieva group. The Big Lima type was introduced relatively late. Cuba occupies a key position in the distribution of Lima beans within the Americas and also to the Old World.     

Parental influences on gas exchange rates in grain sorghum

Summary Significant genetic variation in CO₂ assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance (g), and A: g ratio, which are indicators of intrinsic differences in productivity and water use efficiency (WUE), has been demonstrated in grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] hybrids. The primary objective was to determine the possible parental influence on the components of the A: g relationship in sorghum hybrids across a range of water supplies. Thirty F₁ hybrids resulting from a 6 × 6 diallel crossing pattern constituted the genetic material. Field experiments were conducted using four water supply treatments established through differential irrigation. Carbon assimilation rate (A), g, and leaf water potential (_w) of individual leaves were monitored every 15 to 20 days. Genetic analyses revealed that general- and specific-combining ability effects were evident for A. However, reciprocal and maternal effects were more important in governing the A-g and A-_w relationships. Since the maternal effects were the major determinants in causing reciprocal differences, A can be improved by selecting specific female parents to exploit cytoplasmic factors or physiological characteristics of this parent. Substantial genetic variation in the A-g relationship resulting from significant genetic control of A offers the opportunity to impose selection for high A and stability of A, which might directly contribute to whole plant WUE and productivity in grain sorghum.Abbreviations A carbon assimilation rate - g stomatal conductance to water vapor - GCA General Combining Ability - SCA Specific Combining Ability - WUE Water Use Efficiency     

Inheritance of resistance to Fusarium wilt in Indian lentil germplasm (Lens culinaris Medik.)

Summary Three lentil genotypes resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lentis viz. Pant L 234, JL 446 and LP 286 were crossed with two susceptible ones. The hybrid plants were all resistant in the eight crosses evaluated. Segregation pattern for wilt reaction in F₂, BC(P₁), BC(P₂) and F₃ generations in field and glasshouse conditions indicated that resistance to Fusarium wilt is under the control of two dominant duplicate genes in Pant L 234 and two independent dominant genes with complementary effects in JL 446 and LP 286. A third dominant gene complementary to the dominant genes in JL 446 and LP 286 is present in two susceptible lines. Allelic tests suggest the presence of five independently segregating genes for resistance. Duplicate dominant genes in Pant L 234 are non-allelic to two dominant genes with complementary effects in LP 286 and JL 446 and the third gene complementary to the two genes in JL 446 and LP 286 in susceptible lines JL 641 and L 9–12. Gene symbols among parental genotypes have been designated.