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.     

Growth and yield of self-compatible and hybrid common buckwheat lines pollinated with and without flies

Common buckwheat is a self-incompatible, insect-pollinated allogamous plant. This study examined growth and yield of the common buckwheat self-compatible and hybrid lines pollinated with and without flies. Self-compatible ‘IH3’, hybrid ‘IP2/IH3’, and standard self-incompatible ‘Kitawasesoba’ were used in field and pot experiments. Self-compatibility of ‘IH3’ was shown to be of high purity. Approximately 10% segregation of pin plants from ‘IP2/IH3’ was observed. The harvest index of ‘Kitawasesoba’ pollinated without flies was considerably lower than that pollinated with flies in both field and pot experiments. The harvest index values of ‘IH3’ and ‘IP2/IH3’ were hardly affected by the presence or absence of flies. The morphological traits of ‘IH3’ were significantly lower than those of the other two genotypes. Large differences in these traits between ‘IP2/IH3’ and ‘Kitawasesoba’ were not observed in either the field or pot experiments. The seed yield of ‘Kitawasesoba’ pollinated without flies tended to be lower than that pollinated with flies. The seed yield of ‘IP2/IH3’ tended to be higher than that of ‘IH3’. The hybrid line ‘IP2/IH3’ showed a high fertilization rate, which was nearly as high as that of ‘IH3’. Rate of fertilization and percentage of ripe seeds were higher in ‘IH3’ and ‘IP2/IH3’, wherein they were hardly affected by the presence or absence of flies, than in ‘Kitawasesoba’. The ‘IP2/IH3’ hybrid line will be useful for understanding the stable high-yielding ability of self-compatibility common buckwheat.     

Screening of antagonistic Trichoderma strains and their application for controlling stalk rot in maize

Maize is one of the major crops in China, but maize stalk rot occurs nationwide and has become one of the major challenges in maize production in China. In order to find an environment-friendly and feasible technology to control this disease, a Trichoderma-based biocontrol agent was selected. Forty-eight strains with various inhibition activities to Fusarium graminearum, and Fusarium verticillioides were tested. A group of Trichoderma strains(DLY31, SG3403, DLY1303 and GDFS1009) were found to provide an inhibition rate to pathogen growth in vitro of over 70%. These strains also prevented pathogen infection over 65% and promoted the maize seedling growth for the main root in vivo by over 50%. Due to its advantage in antifungal activity against pathogens and promotion activity to maize, Trichoderma asperellum GDSF1009 was selected as the most promising strain of the biocontrol agent in the Trichoderma spectrum. Pot experiments showed that the Trichoderma agent at 2–3 g/pot could achieve the best control of seedling stalk rot and promotion of maize seedling growth. In the field experiments, 8–10 g/hole was able to achieve over 65% control to stalk rot, and yield increased by 2–11%. In the case of natural morbidity, the control efficiency ranged from 27.23 to 48.84%, and the rate of yield increase reached 11.70%, with a dosage of Trichoderma granules at 75 kg ha~(-1). Based on these results, we concluded that the Trichoderma agent is a promising biocontrol approach to stalk rot in maize.     

不同施氮量下覆膜滴灌玉米相对根长密度模型研究

为探明施氮量对宁夏引黄灌区覆膜滴灌玉米根长密度(RLD)的影响,设置5个施氮水平和1个对照(CK,不施氮与不覆膜)进行试验,测定玉米RLD,建立不同施氮量下相对根长密度(NRLD)模型,并加以检验。结果表明:不同施氮处理的玉米RLD分布区域均随土层深度的增加而减小,且大部分集中在0～20 cm土层;随着施氮量的增加,RLD分布区域明显扩大; NRLD分布满足三阶多项式函数模型,模拟曲线的决定系数R2为0.951,模型检验结果R2为0.845,均方根误差(RMSE)为0.248,拟合效果好,但该多项式模型不能保证NRLD在相对取样深度Zr为1时达到0,故对玉米NRLD分布多项式模型进行优化。优化模型验证结果显示,各施氮处理RMSE不大于0.308,CK、N0、N1、N2、N3和N4处理的标准化均方根误差分别为0.242、0.193、0.184、0.226、0.208和0.273,R2分别为0.903、0.953、0.920、0.944、0.962和0.898,具有较高的拟合度,解决了NRLD在Zr=1时达到0的问题。本研究可为宁夏引黄灌区膜下滴灌玉米NRLD分布拟合、根系养分吸收和施肥管理提供理论参考。     

水稻均衡营养肥对杂交稻生长发育的影响及养分吸收特性

研究了水稻均衡营养肥对杂交稻生长发育的影响及养分吸收特性,以为精准施肥及秸秆还田养分循环利用提供必要的科学参数。结果表明,水稻均衡营养肥处理的株高、总粒数、实粒数、结实率、穗质量和产量均高于常规施肥处理,稻谷中的总钾、S~(6+)和Fe~(2+)含量均高于常规施肥处理,但总磷、Ca~(2+)和Mg~(2+)的含量低于常规施肥处理,总氮含量则基本相同;常规施肥处理的秸秆中总氮、总钾、Mg~(2+)和S~(6+)含量均高于水稻均衡营养肥处理,总磷、Ca~(2+)和Fe~(2+)含量基本相同。均衡营养肥处理氮、磷、钾利用率分别为67.8%、60.0%和95.5%,农民常规施肥处理分别为32.3%、86.0%和100%。可见,水稻均衡营养肥能均衡的为杂交稻生长提供必需的养分,大幅度提高肥料利用率。     

我国花椰菜种业发展现状、市场需求及研究热点综述

综述了我国花椰菜产业情况及主栽品种区域分布现状,结合市场需求,指出如今研究的热点品类,如松花菜、西兰花及其各种类型用途的品种,最后总结出花椰菜种业存在的基本问题,如种质资源缺失,多抗品种短缺,加工型品种缺乏,种子生产技术落后、产量低、制种成本高等。     

油-棉连作棉田油菜秸秆覆盖对棉田杂草发生及土壤杂草种子库的动态影响

在安徽省沿江棉区开展了油菜秸秆覆盖对棉田杂草发生、棉花生长及土壤杂草种子库影响的研究。结果表明,随着油菜秸秆覆盖量的增加,对棉田杂草的抑制效果增强。与未覆盖秸秆且不除草处理相比较,7000Kg/hm²秸秆覆盖量处理棉花单株铃数和子棉产量显著提高。7000Kg/hm²秸秆覆盖量处理在覆盖后30d、60d和120d逐步减少0-20cm土层杂草种子库密度,与全程除草剂处理较一致；随着覆盖量减少,对0-20cm土层杂草种子库密度降低幅度减小。全程除草剂处理降低0-5cm土层杂草种子库多样性,而油菜秸秆覆盖则可能增加0-5cm土层的杂草种子库多样性。3500Kg/hm²覆盖量+秸秆覆盖30d后喷施除草剂处理的抑草效果和增产效果与全程除草剂处理一致。因此,在安徽省沿江棉区油-棉连作棉田推荐使用3500Kg/hm²油菜秸秆覆盖量+秸秆覆盖30d后喷施除草剂。     

盐胁迫对羽衣甘蓝种子萌发的影响

为探明盐胁迫对羽衣甘蓝种子萌发特性的影响，明确种子萌发期对盐胁迫的耐受能力，本试验以羽衣甘蓝种子为试验材料，研究不同浓度的NaCL（0、40、80、120、160、200mmol/l）和NaHCO（3 0、20、30、40、50、60mmol/l）对种子萌发胁迫的作用。结果表明:1、2 种盐胁迫处理下，羽衣甘蓝种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数等指标均随着盐浓度的升高逐渐降低；2、高浓度的NaHCO³盐溶液对羽衣甘蓝种子的胚根、胚芽的生长抑制较NaCL 盐溶液显著；3、2 种盐     

杂交旱稻丰产节水栽培关键技术研究与集成应用

针对安徽沿淮地区气候特点,通过试验筛选出适宜沿淮地区旱种旱管栽培,丰产性和稳产性较好的旱稻品种5个,节水耐旱型水稻品种7个;明确了沿淮地区以旱优73为代表的杂交旱稻的丰产节水栽培技术:播种期6月5-12日,播种量2.0 kg/667 m~2左右,氮肥用量10~14 kg/667 m~2;在施肥过程中适当降低基蘖肥用量、增施穗粒肥,基、蘖、穗肥比例以4∶4∶2较好。     

柳杉花粉的散发规律

柳杉花粉囊为纵向开裂，雄球花在雨季对花粉具有保护功能；雌雄球花和花粉都对风媒传播发生了适庆性变化；花粉的散发，传播，沉降和空间分布，出现规律性变化，并受降水，气温，风力和大气湿度的综合影响。针对花粉散发特性，提出了经营种子园的有关建议。