Revisiting rice breeding methods – evaluating the use of rapid generation advance (RGA) for routine rice breeding

Rice production needs to increase in the future in order to meet increasing demands. The development of new improved and higher yielding varieties more quickly will be needed to meet this demand. However, most rice breeding programmes in the world have not changed in several decades. In this article, we revisit the evidence in favour of using rapid generation advance (RGA) as a routine breeding method. We describe preliminary activities at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to re-establish RGA on a large scale as the main breeding method for irrigated rice breeding. We also describe experiences from the early adoption at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute. Evaluation of RGA breeding lines at IRRI for yield, flowering time and plant height indicated transgressive segregation for all traits. Some RGA lines were also higher yielding than the check varieties. The cost advantages of using RGA compared to the pedigree method were also empirically determined by performing an economic analysis. This indicated that RGA is several times more cost effective and advantages will be realized after 1 year even if facilities need to be built. Based on our experience, and previous independent research empirically testing the RGA method in rice, we recommend that this method should be implemented for routine rice breeding in order to improve breeding efficiency.     

苦瓜新品种淮农青1号的选育

为了选育早熟、产量高、抗病性强、微苦的苦瓜新品种,以B19强雌系为母本,以B118苦瓜自交系为父本,进行杂交、分离后,经系统选育,培育出苦瓜新品种——淮农青1号。其早熟,果皮翠绿色,长纺锤形,口感脆嫩;前期平均667 m2产量1 126.2 kg,比对照增产25.5%,平均667 m~2总产量达2 740.8 kg,比对照增产26.3%;中抗白粉病,适合江苏省春季大棚栽培。     

凉山半细毛羊新品种的选育技术与经验

凉山半细毛羊新品种的育成,是采用表型选择和基因型选择相结合产生的结果。在初生期、断奶期、育成期和成年期采取表型鉴定、逐步选择淘汰的制度。根据羔羊断奶期性状与育成期性状之间的显著相关性对羔羊单性状进行早期选择。应用同期发情与后裔测验相结合的方法,对种公羊基因型值用BLUP法进行选择。同时,加强育种工作的组织领导,组建独具特色的三级繁育体系,改善育种羊群的饲养管理条件,圆满完成了国家下达的半细毛羊新品种选育的任务,填补了国内粗档半细毛羊品种的空白。     

菜用加工兼用栗永荆3号选育

一般认为我国南方栗仅宜于菜用，加工极易开瓣和糊化，经过几年的筛选和加工试剂，永荆3号品种可生产B－E级标准的糖水栗子罐头。     

杏种质资源评价及遗传育种研究进展

在简要介绍杏的起源、分布及种质资源收集保存的基础上，着重对杏品种资源的分类、授粉生物学、孢粉学及分子生物学评价以及杏杂种后代遗传变异特点、育种目标及育种技术进行了综述，并提出了今后的研究方向。     

Adverse impact of industrial animal agriculture on the health and welfare of farmed animals

Industrial animal agriculture is grounded in the concept of maximizing productivity and profit. Selective breeding for maximum productivity in one characteristic of the animal (e.g. milk yield in cows, or breast meat in broiler chickens) has resulted in genotypes and phenotypes that may predispose the animals to poor health and welfare. The conditions in which these individuals are kept may also frustrate many inherited behaviors that they are strongly motivated to perform. In order to curb the resulting harmful aberrant behaviors, such as feather‐pecking in chickens, we sometimes resort to mutilating the animals. In many places chickens are routinely de‐beaked by means of a hot metal guillotine. Compassion in World Farming (an international organization that promotes the humane treatment of farm animals) believes that it is unethical to treat sentient beings in such ways. We have a duty to respect farm animals' sentience by providing them with housing conditions that take their needs and wants into account, and by reverting to the use of dual‐purpose, slower‐growing breeds that have the potential for good welfare. Alternatives to current farming practices are available, and we owe it to the animals, and to our consciences, to pursue them.     

人工饲养条件下荒漠猫的饲养与繁殖管理

在人工饲养条件下,通过模拟野外栖息环境,加强科学饲养管理,成功繁殖荒漠猫的饲养管理方法和荒漠猫的发情、交配、妊娠、哺乳等繁殖行为。同时对在西宁动物园产下并成活的3只幼猫的体尺、体重、形态和行为的变化进行了描述。     

浅谈我国的马鹿饲养业及发展目标

综述了我国北方 14省市自治区形成我国马鹿饲养业的人工选育品种及地方品种等 10种马鹿的数量分布、饲养方式、经营体制、繁育体系、饲养模式及其数量规模 ;典型的 6种马鹿的突出优良性状及品质评定 ;饲养马鹿产品的国内外市场及发展趋势 ;并从 6个方面阐述了中国马鹿饲养业的发展目标。     

福建省林木良种繁育概况及今后工作设想

本文介绍了福建省林木种质资源的收集保存、研究利用，优良家系选育，树种内种源研究，高世代种子园研究，乡土树种栽培驯化，外来树种引种，提高种子园种子产量所采取的措施，无性繁殖技术等林木良种繁育概况；并就林木育种工作存在的问题及今后工作设想提出建设性意见。     

西藏阿里地区家畜良种繁育体系建设

在西藏阿里地区畜牧业生产考察的基础上，对家畜繁育现状及存在问题进行了分析。根据繁育体系建设原则及切实可行的技术路线，提出了西藏阿里地区繁育体系建设的目标及内容，并对繁育体系的建设进行了经济效益、生态效益及社会效益分析。针对繁育体系的建设，提出了切实有效的建议。