Pollen germination,pollen tube growth and fertilization following self and interspecific pollination of Paspalum species

Summary Crossability between most Paspalum species is very low. This study was undertaken to identify the impediments to hybridization. Accessions of P. intermedium Munro. ex Morong, P. jurgensii Hackel and P. dilatatum Poir were self-pollinated and crossed with one anther. Paspalum intermedium is essentially self-sterile but P. jurgensii and P. dilatatum are highly self-fertile. Following pollination, pollen germination and tube growth were studied by observing the pollinated pistils with fluorescent microscopy. Examination of self-pollinated pistils revealed that the pollen germinated shortly after contacting the stigmas. Germination was over 80% for the P. intermedium and P. dilatatum accessions but only 57% for P. jurgensii. Pollen tubes grew to the micropyle within 45 minutes after pollination in P. dilatatum and 1 hour and 15 minutes in P. jurgensii. However, in the P. intermedium accessions most tubes did not grow beyond the stigma and very few penetrated the style and ovary. Apparently stylar-incompatibility is the reason for the low selfed seed set. In the cross-pollinations, pollen germinated shortly after pollination and germination ranged from 57 to 88% for the different crosses. In all crosses the pollen tubes grew to the micropyle within 30 minutes to 2 hours after pollination indicating that a cross-incompatibility system is not the cause for low crossability among these species. By examining embryo sacs from P. intermedium × P. dilatatum, its reciprocal and P. intermedium × P. urvillei crosses, it was determined that gametes failed to unite in some crosses and this is a major reason for low crossability.     

棉花DUS测试标准品种的SSR指纹数据库构建

基于SSR核心引物,采用荧光毛细管电泳检测系统与多重PCR技术相结合,构建我国棉花DUS(Distinctness,Uniformity and Stability)测试标准品种的DNA指纹数据库并进行遗传多样性分析。依据多重PCR组合的基本原则与五色荧光检测系统的特点,采用40对核心引物构建了10个4重PCR组合,利用DNA遗传分析仪进行指纹检测与数据采集。40对荧光引物在30份DUS测试标准品种中共扩增产生146个等位变异,每对引物的等位变异数为2~7个不等,平均每对引物产生3.65个等位变异。海7124与陆地棉品种明显划分为2类,来源于新疆的新陆早1号区别于其他陆地棉品种,单独聚为1类。多色荧光检测系统相比常规聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳具有高精度、高通量、自动化程度高的优点,尤其适用于大规模指纹数据库的构建,提出了通过构建已知品种DNA指纹数据库,将分子标记技术应用于棉花DUS测试的初步设想。     

Genetic analysis of,and selection for,factors affecting quantitative resistance to Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae in rice

Summary This study assessed 46 potato cultivars, breeding lines and Solanum spp. for heat-tolerance using short-term growth rates and carbon assimilation measurements of young in-vitro-derived plants. Plants of the 46 clones and species were transferred from greenhouse conditions to controlled conditions set at 33/25°C day/night with 12 h photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) at 430–450 mol m^-2s^-1 and an 8 h daylength extension (6 mol m^-2s^-1), to inhibit tuberization. Twenty eight accessions were also grown in a 20/10°C controlled environment. Plants were harvested after 10 and 20 days and dry weights of the plant components were measured for plant growth analysis. Gas exchange (leaf net photosynthesis and maintenance dark respiration) and leaf chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (O, P, and T) were measured at 30°C. Amongst the 30 accessions grown at both hot and cool temperatures, only two accessions (Yungay and AVRDC 1287.19) produced more dry weight in the hot chamber than the cool chamber. Hot/cool ratioss for net assimilation rate (NAR) and relative growth rate (RGR) exceoded unity in five and six accessions, respectively. For the 46 accessions grown under hot conditions, none had significantly greater values than those of the control clones for RGR and NAR. Differences between clones in maintenance respiration and net photosynthesis were more closely related to RGR, NAR, and total dry weight (TDWT) in clones which invested more dry weight in leaves and less in stems. Attributes of the chlorophyll fluorescence curve did not explain more of the clonal variation in RGR, NAR, and TDWT than did gas exchange parameters. No single gas exchange or fluorescence character explained more than 50% of the variability among clones for NAR, RGR, or TDWT, but combination of favourable attributes could improve potato heat tolerance in the future.     

Pollen and coenocytic microspore germination in male-fertile and malesterilemsl soybean

Summary Light and fluorescence microscopy were used to study coenocytic microspore germination from male-sterile (ms1 ms1) soybean plants. Anther squashes from male-sterile plants revealed that a low frequency of natural coenocytic microspore germination occurred in male-sterile anthers of four independent lines; [ms1-North carolina (T260H),ms1-Urbana (T266H),ms1-Tonica (T267H), andms1-Ames (T268H)]. Abnormalities such as giant tubes, branched tubes, tubes with swollen areas, and multiple tubes were observed from coenocytic microspores from all four lines. The Urbana line, however, demonstrated a higher percentage of coenocytic microspore germination than did the other three lines. Flowers of the Urbana line from both malefertile and male-sterile plants, as well as gynoecia pollinated with coenocytic microspores from sterile plants, were used for in vivo studies. Pollen-tube growth appeared normal in male-fertile plants. In contrast, coenocytic microspore tubes rarely were observed in gynoecia from male-sterile plants or in gynoecia from malefertile plants that had been artificially cross-pollinated withms1 ms1 plants. Few tubes from coenocytic microspores were observed in the vicinity of the micropylar region. A low frequency of seed set was achieved in the greenhouse on Urbana male-sterile plants grown in the absence of male-fertile plants. Thus, we believe either that some gametes from coenocytic microspores are able to participate in fertilization at low frequency or that apomixis occurs inms1 ms1 plants.Joint contribution: Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Journal Paper No. J-12310 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames IA, 50011 USA. Project 2471.     

转玉米C4光合酶基因水稻株系中的光合C4微循环

用转PEPC、PPDK、NADP-ME、PEPC PPDK等酶基因的水稻株系及原种野生型(WT)为材料, 研究了不同基因型水稻叶片中的C4光合微循环及其功能.用外源OAA或MA饲喂叶切片或离体叶绿体后,光合放氧速率在野生型水稻中增加了50%,在NADP-ME-和PPDK-转基因水稻中增加了50%～54%,在PEPC-和 PEPC PPDK-转基因水稻中增加了100%～150%.证明原种水稻Kitaake叶片中具有一个原初的和有限的C4光合微循环,除PPDK基因、NADP-ME基因外,外源PEPC基因或PEPC PPDK双基因导入原种水稻Kitaake后,可大幅度提高C4光合微循环的运行.水稻中C4光合微循环的增强有降低光呼吸速率(Pr)、增加净光合速率(Pn)的作用,在光能利用上,可增加PSⅡ光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、光化学猝灭(qp)、降低非光化学猝灭(qN)的作用;这些结果为转C4光合酶基因水稻中建立C4微循环系统来提高光合作用效率的可能性提供了依据.     

Water Relation, Photosynthetic Ability and Growth of Thai Jasmine Rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica cv. KDML 105) to Salt Stress by Application of Exogenous Glycinebetaine and Choline

Rice reportedly possesses a very low capacity to accumulate glycinebetaine (Glybet), but may be accumulated by the exogenous application of Glybet or Choline (Cho) as an alternative way to improve its salt‐tolerant ability. The aim of this research was to determine whether Glybet accumulation could be induced in Thai jasmine rice by the exogenous application of Glybet and Cho, and to determine the effects of Glybet and Cho treatment on various growth parameters of seedlings cultured under salt‐stress conditions. Thai jasmine rice seeds were aseptically germinated in vitro on solidified Murashige–Skoog media, supplied with either Glybet or Cho in the culture media for 12 days and then treated with 342 mm NaCl (salt stress) for 4 days. GlyBet content, water relation, photosynthetic capabilities and growth characteristics of salt‐stressed seedlings were measured. The addition of Glybet or Cho to plant culture media containing 342 mm NaCl resulted in increased accumulation of Glybet in rice seedlings. Increased Glybet accumulation was strongly associated with a high efficiency of water usage (r = 0.96), which in turn correlated with increased maximum quantum yield of PSII (F_v/F_m) (r = 0.86). Moreover, the pigment concentrations of seedlings cultured under salt stress were maintained by a function of Glybet, led to high efficiency of photochemical and non‐photochemical quenching of PSII as well as to exhibit on net photosynthetic rate. Thus, our results suggest that the addition of either Glybet or Cho to the plant growth media can improve growth performance under salt stress conditions by increasing the salt tolerance of Thai jasmine rice. The exogenous application of Glybet and/or Cho to culture media may be an effective method of improving resistance to salt stress via the promotion of Glybet accumulation with in rice seedlings.     

Competition between 2x and x pollen in styles of Solanum tuberosum determined by a quick in vivo method

Summary Pollen competition in vivo was studied by placing two pollen samples on one stigma and comparing the length of the tubes under a U.V. microscope. Comparisons involving pollen of Solanum tuberosum and S. phureja showed that 2x pollen grew faster than x pollen, both in 2x and x styles. Consequences for induction of dihaploids in S. tuberosum are discussed.     

模拟酸雨对杨梅生理生化特征的影响

研究了不同强度模拟酸雨对6年生东魁杨梅生理生化特征的影响。结果表明:随着模拟酸雨胁迫加剧,叶片可见伤害症状严重,叶绿素a、叶绿素b、总叶绿素、类胡萝卜素含量以及叶绿素a/b比值显著降低,光系统I(IPSII)的潜在化学活性(Fv/Fo)和最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)显著降低,水分利用效率和光合能力显著下降,细胞质膜透性增加,MDA含量增加,SOD、POD和CAT活性受到明显抑制,从而抑制杨梅的生长发育。     

Effects of the 7DL.7Ag translocation from Lophopyrum elongatum on wheat yield and related morphophysiological traits under different environments

The 7DL.7Ag translocation from Lophopyrum elongatum that carries Lr19, a leaf rust resistance gene, was found to be associated with a significant increase in grain yield under irrigated, disease‐free conditions, but a generally lower yield under moisture stress conditions. These studies, however, involved a limited number of genetic recipients and environments, and the effect of the translocation on physiological traits was not considered. We examined the translocation effect in six different recipient genotypes and under five environmental conditions, including drought and heat stress. The increase in grain yield under irrigated conditions was associated with a higher rate of biomass production in the 7DL.7Ag lines and may be attributed to higher sink strength. Effect of the translocation on physiological traits was noted only under heat stress and was not associated with difference in yield. Under moisture stress conditions, 7DL.7Ag lines yielded less than their corresponding recipients, possibly because of a longer growing cycle. It is concluded that the effect of the 7DL. 7Ag translocation may very much depend on the phenological adaptation of the recipient genotype and the translocation may be useful for enhancing yield, mainly under favourable conditions.     

Evaluation of proline analysis and chlorophyll fluorescence quenching measurements as drought tolerance indicators in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum)

Summary The possibility of using proline accumulation and fluorescence inhibition as predictive tests for drought tolerance in durum wheat has been investigated. The drought susceptibility of 25 genotypes was evaluated by comparing yields and yield components in irrigated and non irrigated conditions in the field. A drought susceptibility index (DSI) was calculated based on yields from irrigated and dry treatments and compared with the results obtained using the two physiological criteria. Proline accumulation and chlorophyll fluorescence inhibition were found to be significantly and negatively correlated with DSI of grain yield, biological yield, and thousand kernel weight, and tiller index. The use of both criteria for breeding durum wheat in Mediterranean dryland is discussed.