甘肃黄鸡早期生长发育规律的分析

为探讨甘肃黄鸡的育效果及其利用价值，对甘肃黄鸡早期生长发育规律进行了系统测定。结果表明，甘肃黄鸡体重达２．０kg的日龄平均为８７．５d（公鸡７７d，母鸡９８d)，全期饲料转化比为２．９３，成活率较高达９４．０％，甘肃黄鸡９周龄时体重接近１．５kg,有一定的市场意义，可以考虑及早上市；对甘肃黄鸡体重进行选择时，应同时注意对胫长的适当控制。     

基于超声波传感器的电极长度实时测控系统

设计与开发了以工控机为核心，以MCGS组态软件为开发平台，基于可编程超声波精密传感器的电极长度实时测控系统．提出了实时测量电极挤出长度并控制电极挤出速度的方法．该系统通过测量电极剪切端面与传感器之间的距离，计算电极的挤出长度，并以电极长度为反馈量控制电极挤压速度，实现了电极剪切的零速定位．实际运行表明，系统可靠、有效，电极长度误差小于10mm．     

Genetic diversity in Cynara cardunculus revealed by AFLP markers: comparison between cultivars and wild types from Sicily*

Genetic diversity in 49 plants of 16 accessions representing one wild and two cultivated taxa of Cynara cardunculus L. (wild cardoon, cultivated cardoon and globe artichoke) was investigated using amplified fragment length polymorphic (AFLP) analysis. Four pairs of primers identified a total of 264 scorable loci, 196 of which were polymorphic. The number of markers scored per primer combination ranged from 41 to 107, with an average of 66 markers per primer combination. All the primer combinations detected polymorphism. The data were used for cluster analysis and AMOVA. The clusters obtained are in agreement with the current botanical classification and the differences among the taxa were substantial. The eco‐geographical groups within wild cardoon are clearly separated in relative subclusters, and reflect the geography of the collection areas. The six clones of the four cultivated artichoke varieties were clearly separated into four subclusters, corresponding to the current classification which is based on morphological traits. The results obtained may have a direct and important bearing on plant genetic resource conservation and management and on breeding.     

Identification and breeding behaviour of a major deletion of chromosome 5D ofTriticum aestivum

Summary A study was undertaken to evaluate the breeding behaviour and to identify a spontaneously produced putative chromosomal deletion in the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.) cv Norstar. Male and female transmission studies of plants heterozygous for the deletion chromosome indicated 9.5% and 48.8% transmission through the pollen and the egg, respectively. Meiotic analyses of progeny from deletion heterozygotes indicated that the deletion chromosome was eliminated from half of the plants, which agreed with the male and female transmission frequencies. Testcrosses of the deletion chromosome with telocentrics and nullisomic-tetrasomic combinations suggested that the deletion involved the long arm of chromosome 5D. This was confirmed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Also, monosomic plants obtained in progeny of deletion heterozygotes were shown to be monosomic for 5D. Studies of plants homozygous for the deletion showed relatively normal pairing between the deletion chromosomes, and with the short arm (5DS), but not the long arm (5DL). Deletion homozygotes were self-sterile, and morphologically similar to plants nullisomic for 5D, but plants that also contained 5DL, or a homoeologous chromosome were self-fertile and had normal morphology. Studies of chromosome morphology indicated that the deletion chromosome was metacentric, and the length of the long arm was reduced by approximately 60%. RFLP studies showed that, in terms of genetic distance, 90% of the arm was missing.     

A procedure for combining a quantitative inheritance study with the first cycle of a breeding program

Summary The number of effective factors controlling the inheritance of a quantitative character can be estimated by analysis of F₃ lines where the parental lines are homozygous. The procedure is illustrated with data from a study of pod length inheritance in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The mean pod length of Sprite, the parent with longer pods, was compared statistically with the means of F₃ progenies derived from F₂ plants obtained from the appropriate tail of the F₂ frequency distribution for pod length. The data indicate that analysis of F₃ progenies avoids much of the underestimation of the effective factor number which is characteristic of other procedures. The number of effective factors was estimated to be a minimum of 4 and the correlation between random F₂ parents and F₃ progeny means was r=0.82.Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 406.     

Integration of AFLP markers into a linkage map of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

The AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) technique has been applied in establishing an extended linkage map of sugar beet. A total of 120 AFLPs were integrated into an existing linkage map based on RFLP markers. Four primer combinations yielded between 19 and 40 polymorphic bands in an F₂ population consisting of 94 plants. The AFLP loci were evenly distributed over the nine linkage groups, with the exception of linkage group V where the number of AFLPs was significantly low. The AFLPs were found to be reproducible even against the background of different combinations of Taq DNA polymerases and buffers. However, the quantity of higher molecular weight fragments (>400 bp) was reduced when using plant DNA of poor quality as a template. The results of these experiments are discussed, together with possible applications of AFLPs in sugar beet breeding.     

A molecular marker linked to the Prv1 gene that confers resistance to Papaya ringspot virus-type W in melon

Papaya ringspot virus‐type W (PRSV‐W) is the most prevalent and important viral pathogen of cucurbits in Brazil. It can be effectively controlled by the incorporation of genetic resistance into susceptible melon cultivars. The present study identified amplified fragment length polymorphic (AFLP) markers linked to the PRSV‐W resistance Prv¹ allele. The susceptible yellow‐fleshed melon‐breeding line AF426^prv1 and its nearly isogenic‐resistant line AF426^Prv1, which carries the Prv¹ allele resident in the Indian cantaloupe U.S. Plant Introduction (PI) 180280, were screened for AFLP marker polymorphisms. Of 30 251 AFLP loci, only three were polymorphic between the nearly isogenic lines. Segregation analyses for these three polymorphic markers and the Prv¹ allele using a BC₁ population of 197 plants indicated close linkage (0.5% recombination frequency) between marker EK190 (HindIII‐CGA and MseI‐GTG; 190 bp) and Prv¹. Thus, EK190 might be a useful marker in breeding programmes aiming to develop melon cultivars resistant to PRSV‐W. The other two markers are closely linked to each other, but distantly linked to Prv¹.     

Precision of genetic relationship estimates based on molecular markers

Genetic progress through selection is directly related to the amount of variability present in the population and the quality of genes contributed by the parents. Genetic relationships between lines were studied using DNA marker-based estimates of genetic similarity. A statistical methodology using the width of a confidence interval was developed to determine the number of probes to be surveyed and the precision in the estimation of genetic distance between pairs of cultivars. Precision was affected by type of genetic distance used, the number of cultivars, and amount of genetic diversity present in the studied group. The width of a (1-α)% confidence interval decreased as the number of RFLP fragments increased. Oat and wheat diversity studies were used to illustrate the methodology. 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.     

Genetic study of bolting and stem length in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) using a factorial cross design

Summary The objective was to study the genetic basis of bolting and stem length in sugar beet full-sibs, developed by a factorial mating design (N.C. design II). The extent to which the inheritance of these characters can be attributed to the additive and non-dominance variation was investigated. The genetic analysis consisted of three sets (4×10, 4×8, and 3×8) of progenies. Estimates of additive genetic variance (² _A) and variance due to dominance deviations with some fractions of epistatic variance (² _D) were obtained for both characters. Bolting had a relatively large proportion of total genetic variance accounted for by ² _A. In most cases, non-additive effects were also important in determining the type of gene action in bolting. Stem length showed similar genetic variation to bolting susceptibility. Bolting resistance seemed to be dominant to the bolting susceptibility in most cases. Narrow sense heritability estimated for bolting was generally very large (0.93 to 0.96), which suggests that early generation selection for bolting resistance in a sugar beet population would be successful.