Biodiversity in a germplasm collection of durum wheat

Summary Over 7,600 durum wheat accessions belonging to 22 country gene pools were evaluated in Syria, during the seasons 1985–86 through 1987–88 under semi-arid Mediterranean climatic conditions. Data on seven agronomic traits are presented to assess the distinctiveness and the phenotypic diversity of these pools. Univariate statistical analysis revealed differences among materials of diverse origins for all traits. Mean phenotypic diversity within countries was highest in the germplasm from India, lowest in that from Bulgaria. In a canonical variate analysis, the first three canonical variables explained 77.7% of the total variance. A cluster analysis was performed to supplement the generated information by the canonical analysis. The multivariate analyses evidenced the distinctiveness of the Ethiopian germplasm. The gene pools from Syria and Jordan, closely resembling each other, appeared separate from all others. A certain peculiarity was also shown by the germplasms from Greece, Morocco and France, while the remaining countries clustered into four groups. The results of the present evaluation could provide useful information for breeding activities, germplasm collection, and establishment of core collections. Evidence is presented that environment played a major role in creating the overall variation for the considered traits, although germplasm exchange seemed also an important factor.     

The origin of polyploids via 2n gametes in Vaccinium section Cyanococcus

Summary The production of 2n pollen (pollen with the sporophytic chromosome number) was evaluated in 4x and 6x taxa of Vaccinium section Cyanococcus. Mean frequencies of 2n pollen producers were 17.1% and 8.3% in natural 4x and 6x populations, respectively. The frequency of 2n pollen producers in the 4x species ranged from 8.6% (V. angustifolium) to 23.8% (V. pallidum). Level of 2n pollen production was genotypically variable (1% to 37.4%). The widespread occurrence of 2n pollen in 2x, 4x and 6x taxa suggests that sexual polyploidization was widespread and responsible for the origin of the polyploid species found in this genus. The frequency of 2n pollen producers was not significantly different between the 4x species and their putative 2x ancestors. These results support the origin of 4x and 6x taxa as a consequence of sexual polyploidization. Polyploids derived from sexual polyploidization would be expected to have increased fitness and flexibility due to the mode of 2n pollen formation. In blueberry species the predominant mode of 2n pollen formation is genetically equivalent to a first division restitution mechanism (FDR). FDR 2n pollen transmits a high percentage of the heterozygosity and a large fraction of the epistasis from the 2x parent to the 4x offspring.     

Correlated response to recurrent selection for groat-oil content in oats

Summary One hundred random oat (Avena sativa L.) lines from a base (C₀) and each of three populations (C₁, C₂, and C₃) improved for groat (caryopsis) oil content by phenotypic recurrent selection were evaluated for correlated changes in several unselected agronomic traits. In addition, the parents of the base population and four check varieties were evaluated for the same traits. Phenotypic recurrent selection for high groat-oil content resulted in no significant correlated response in mean expression of any trait. Mean grain yield, biomass, groat yield, and harvest index of the improved populations were equal or superior to the mean of the parents and, with the exception of harvest index, equivalent to the mean of the check varieties. Mean test weight and seed weight of all populations were lower than for parents or check varieties. Selection for high groat-oil content caused a decline in genotypic variance for test weight and groat fraction, but reductions in genotypic variance for heading date and plant height may have resulted from culling for good agronomic type. Broad-sense heritability remained moderate to high for all traits except groat fraction. Phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficients revealed negative, though mostly nonsignificant, relationships between groat-oil content and several traits, which may reflect a purported bioenergetic limitation to increasing groat-oil content in oats. Oil yield, however, was positively correlated with grain and groat yield, groat fraction, biomass, and harvest index. Results suggest that development of high-oil oat cultivars with current levels of production traits via phenotypic recurrent selection is possible.Journal Paper no. J-13038 of the Iowa Agric. and Home Econ. Exp. Stn., Ames, IA 50011. Project 2447.     

The extent of similarity between near-isogenic lines of the Australian spring wheat variety Triple Dirk with their recurrent parent

Summary The near-isogenic lines of the wheat variety Triple Dirk supposed to differ only for Vrn genes have been investigated for their similarity to Triple Dirk and for purity. The NILs were found to differ from Triple Dirk. It was also discovered that Triple Dirk and the NILs each exist of more than one genotype. It is recommended that each NIL is tested for its Vrn-genotype and purified. New sets of Vrn NILs can only be made with these checked NILs and with one-plant progeny of the newly used recurrent parents.     

Genetic resources of wild cereals in Israel and vicinity. I. Phenotypic variation within and between populations of wild wheat,Triticum dicoccoides

Summary Populations of wild emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccoides, in Israel, originating from diverse habitats, and tested earlier for allozyme (Nevo et al., 1982) and disease resistance polymorphisms (Moseman et al., 1983a, 1983b; Nevo et al., 1984a, 1984b), were compared and contrasted for performance in agronomically important phenotypic traits. The traits compared involved 10 variables comparing germination, earliness, biomass and yield variables. The field experiments were conducted in 1980, 1981 and 1982 in two relatively standardized and contrasting environments: mesic (Mount Carmel, Haifa) and xeric (Acedat Farm, and Sede Boqer, in the northern Negev desert). The experimental design involved 12 population quadrangles at Avedat Farm in 1980, and rows of randomized genotypes of five populations in both Haifa and Sede Boqer in 1981 and 1982.The results indicate that the characters studied are partly genetically determined. Striking genetic variation was found between and, at least in some characters, also within populations in each site, whereas remarkable environmental variation including genetic-environmental interaction was found between the mesic and the xeric sites. We conclude that natural populations of wild emmer wheat in Israel vary not only in genetic polymorphisms of allozymes and disease resistance, but also in quantitative traits of agronomic importance. These traits are economically significant and should be conserved and utilized in wheat crop improvement.     

Seedling emergence,coleoptile length,and plant height relationships in crosses of dwarf and standard-height wheats

Summary Seedling emergence was closely correlated with coleoptile length and plant height among parents, F₂ and F₃, populations of crosses involving dwarf wheats Olesen Dwarf (CI 14497), Norin 10 derivative D6301, Tom Thumb derivative D6899, and the standard-height varieties Ramona 50 and Nainari 60. Genetic mechanisms that governed plant height also influenced coleoptile length, but the relative effects of genes showing dominant or epistatic effects appeared to be different. With respect to the two parents involved in each of 15 crosses, mean F₂ coleoptile lengths were consistently closer to the low parent value than were corresponding mean F₂ plant heights. A slight curvilinear relationship was also found between coleoptile length and plant height of F₃ lines. The results suggest that selection of semidwarf wheats with long coleoptiles and improved emergence properties from crosses involving the dwarf wheats of this study would be unlikely.     

A factor analysis of plant variables associated with architecture and seed size in dry bean

Summary A knowledge of the biological and functional relationships among traits would be of benefit to plant breeders in the choice of traits to use for increasing efficiency of selection in a breeding program. Principal factor analysis was used to identify biological and functional relationships among dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) traits in segregating populations of a phenotypic recurrent selection program designed to introduce upright architecture into medium-sized dry bean.Two biological interpretations were assigned to factors extracted in the analysis of four seed/pod traits. The first was a size factor, loaded with seed weight and pod width, and the second a number factor, which was loaded with number of seeds per pod and pod length. Similarly, three factors were extracted from the analysis of fifteen architectural traits. The first factor was interpreted as an elongation factor, and was loaded with internode length measurements, while the second factor was interpreted as a structural factor, and was further divided into two subclasses namely, sturdiness factor and profile factor. The sturdiness factor comprised hypocotyl diameter and hypocotyl length, while the profile factor comprised branch angle and number of basal branches. The third factor which was called a reproductive factor was loaded with pod distribution traits and the number and location of nodes on which pods were borne.     

Analysis of spaced-plant and micro-plot performance for yield-related traits in octoploid and hexaploid primary triticales

Summary Twenty-nine primary triticales (x Triticosecale Wittmack), derived from homozygous, uniform wheat and rye inbreds, were evaluated (i) to assess wheat, rye and interaction effects for yield-related characters, (ii) to estimate correlations between these characters, and (iii) to investigate the possibility of predicting micro-plot performance from early spaced-plant tests. The triticales (12 octoploid, 17 hexaploid) were tested under space-planting and in micro-plots in three-replicate, randomized block designs in 1983 and 1984, respectively. In general, hexaploid triticales performed significantly better than octoploids. Strong wheat and wheat x rye interaction effects were found, making it difficult to predict the performance of primary triticales from their constituent parental genotypes. At both ploidy levels under space-planting kernel weight per spike showed significant positive correlations with spikelets per spike, kernels per spikelet, and 1000-kernel weight. No significant associations were detected between spaced-plant and micro-plot performance for octoploids, indicating severe disorders at this ploidy level. In hexaploid triticales spikes per plant, kernel weight per spike, and kernels per spikelet observed in spaced-plants appeared to be useful indicators of grain yield in micro-plots.     

高粱与旱稻属间杂交部分遗传物质导入的F3及BC1表型鉴定

以高粱（S．bicolor）为母本、旱稻（O．sativa）为父本进行属问杂交，F1出现双亲没有的短芒和黄色柱头新性状，并能在F2、F3及BC 1 稳定遗传。F1在株高、穗长、穗型、分蘖性等性状上仍疯狂分离，并出现父本白色籽粒单株。BC1在株高、分蘖二性状上接近父本，回交效应非常明显，t测定无差异，并出现多子房新性状。高梁与旱稻杂交及回交，能创造变异，产生新性状，对创造矮秆、优质、多子房新种质十分有效。然而，二者杂交后代主体性状仍似母本，只表现父本少数性状。属于部分遗传物质导入。     

高粱与旱稻属间杂交部分遗传物质导入的F_3及BC_1表型鉴定

以高粱(S.BICOLOR)为母本、旱稻(O.SATIVA)为父本进行属间杂交,F1出现双亲没有的短芒和黄色柱头新性状,并能在F2、F3及BC1稳定遗传。F3在株高、穗长、穗型、分蘖性等性状上仍疯狂分离,并出现父本白色籽粒单株。BC1在株高、分蘖二性状上接近父本,回交效应非常明显,T测定无差异,并出现多子房新性状。高梁与旱稻杂交及回交,能创造变异,产生新性状,对创造矮秆、优质、多子房新种质十分有效。然而,二者杂交后代主体性状仍似母本,只表现父本少数性状,属于部分遗传物质导入。