Factorial regression analysis of genotype by environment interaction in ryegrass populations, using both isozyme and climatic data as covariates

A sample of 58 natural ryegrass populations (Lolium perenne L.) from the French and Spanish oceanic coast was evaluated for three seasonal growth traits (i.e. spring, autumn and winter vigour traits) in 5 evaluation sites (three in France and two in Spain). This sample showed a high level of genotype (population) × environment (evaluation sites) interactions for the three agronomic traits. A factor regression analysis, using both isozyme frequencies of populations and climatic factors of evaluation sites as covariates, was carried out on a sub-sample of 30 populations in order to explain these interactions. This method succeeded in explaining most population × location interactions by the product of two covariates. For instance, for spring vigour trait, 72.8% of the interaction term could be explained by the use of two covariates: the PGI2-20 allelic frequency of populations and the minimum temperature of the coldest month of evaluation sites. This study shows the advantage of such a method for plant breeders who need to identify promising ryegrass populations for their breeding objectives. A number of genetic and evolutionary hypotheses are also discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Epistasis in Maize (Zea mays L.) III. Comparison of Single and Three-Way Crosses for Forage Traits

The importance of epistasis for forage performance and quality traits was studied in early maturing European maize (Zea mays L.) breeding materials. Sixty-six three-way crosses (3W), 33 of the flint x (dent · dent) and 33 of the dem × (flint · flint) type, were compared with the mean of their respective non-parental single crosses () using data obtained in six environments. For each of the 11 traits examined, at least 6 out of the 66 three-way crosses displayed significant (P < 0.05) epistatic deviations, calculated as – 3W. Averaged over crosses and environments, epistatic deviations were highly significant (P < 0,31] for 8 trails, but of minor importance except for grain yield. In general, the variance of epistatie deviations was appreciably smaller than the variance of genotype × environment interactions. Highly significant correlations occurred among epistatie deviations for silking date, dry matter content of ear, and dry matter yield of grain and stover. The reliability of predicting the performance of three-way crosses from 2W as opposed to assessing them directly was investigated as a function of the number of test environments. Disturbing e fleets of epistasis on prediction only became important under intense testing (> 3 or 4 environments), With fewer test environments, both procedures were almost equivalent, due to a smaller influence of genotype × environment interaction on the values, Epistasis is concluded to be of minor importance with regard to the optimum type of hybrid for forage use.     

Effect of two wheat genotypes and Swedish environment on falling number, amylase activities, and protein concentration and composition

Variation in falling number, amylase activities, protein concentration and composition were investigated in two wheat cultivars grown in Sweden over two seasons, in four locations, with four N fertilizer rates, with and without fungicide treatment. The results showed that;

Classification of cassava into ‘bitter’ and ‘cool’ in Malawi: From farmers' perception to characterisation by molecular markers

Cassava roots, a major food in Africa, contain cyanogenic glucosides that may cause toxic effects. Malawian women farmers considered fields of seemingly similar cassava plants to be mixes of both ‘cool’ and ‘bitter’ cultivars. They regard roots from ‘cool’ cultivars as non-toxic. Roots of ‘bitter’ were considered to require extensive traditional processing done by women to be safe for consumption. But curiously, these women farmers preferred ‘bitter’ cultivars since toxicity confers protection against theft, which was a serious threat to the food security of their families. We studied how well these farmers comprehend the effects of genetic variations in cassava when dealing with cyanogenesis in this complex system. Using molecular markers we show that most plants farmers identified as belonging to a particular named cultivar had a genotype typical of that cultivar. Farmers' ethno-classification into ‘cool’ and ‘bitter’ cultivars corresponded to a genetic sub-division of the typical genotypes of the most common cultivars, with four-fold higher cyanogenic glucoside levels in the bitter cultivars. Examining morphology, farmers distinguished genotypes better than did the investigators when using a standard botanical key. Undoubtedly, these women farmers grasp sufficiently the genetic diversity of cassava with regard to cyanogenesis to simultaneously benefit from it and avoid its dangers. Consequently, acyanogenic cassava – the breeding of which is an announced good of some cassava genetic improvement programmes – is not a priority to these farmers. Advances in molecular genetics can help improve food supply in Africa by rapid micropropagation, marker assisted breeding and introduction of transgenic varieties, but can also help to elucidate tropical small-scale farmers' needs and skills. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genotype × environment interaction in carbon isotope discrimination and seed yield in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.)

Summary Twenty locally-adapted but genetically diverse cowpea genotypes were grown in 17 replicated trials in a range of sites and seasons in the drylands of eastern Kenya, and the discrimination against the heavy isotope of carbon (with a mass of 13) () was determined in grain and straw samples. Most genotypes gave similar, low grain yields in the environments which subjected the plants to drought stress, but high yielding and low yielding genotypes were clearly distinct in the less stressful environments. The converse pattern was found for : the genotypes were all very similar in the non-stressful (high-) environments, but in the stressful environments, low- (drought susceptible) and high- (drought avoiding) genotypes were clearly distinct. This pattern was clearest for straw , but was also apparent for grain . The early-maturing genotypes, which escaped terminal drought, were generally those with the most stable and highest , but in the case of straw there were statistically significant deviations from this relationship. It is concluded that provides a reliable measure of the specific response of cowpea genotypes to drought, which may be of value in breeding programs provided that carbon isotope discrimination can be measured reasonably economically.     

水稻不同基因型品种养分吸收特性

为选出适合南方稻区种植的高产、高效水稻品种,采用大田试验,以南方稻区8种水稻类别的56个水稻品种为材料,研究在相同施肥条件下不同基因型水稻品种生育过程中氮、磷、钾吸收特性,及其产量的差异。结果表明:水稻干物质和磷、钾的累积主要集中在分蘖盛期—齐穗期阶段,氮素累积集中在苗期—分蘖盛期、分蘖盛期—齐穗期这2个阶段;两系晚熟的稻谷、稻草产量和氮、磷累积总量最高,两系早熟的钾累积总量最高,分别比最低的常规早熟增加101.2%、40.9%、85.0%、48.1%、47.5%。随着生育期延长,同一系列水稻的稻谷产量和氮素累积量呈逐渐增加的趋势。稻谷产量和各个生育阶段的氮、磷、钾累积量的相关性以分蘖盛期—齐穗期最强。两系早熟的养分利用效率最低,每生产100 kg稻谷需要N、P2O5、K2O分别为2.15、0.53、3.61 kg,三系中熟的氮、磷养分利用效率最高,钾以三系晚熟最高。综上所述,适合在南方稻区种植的高产、高效品种为两系晚熟和三系中熟,同时在水稻生育过程中保证分蘖盛期—齐穗期的养分供应,就能提高水稻产量。     

大豆幼苗光合特性对锰营养的响应

采用溶液培养方法,设Mn2+浓度为0、0.05、0.50、5、30、50.mg/L,探讨了2种大豆品种(浙春2号、东北大豆854-11)的幼苗光合特性对不同锰浓度的响应。结果表明,低锰浓度提高了大豆叶片的初始荧光(Fo)、最大荧光(Fm)、PSⅡ原初光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)、潜在光化学活性(Fv/Fo)和光化学猝灭系数(qP),高锰降低了Fo、Fm、Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo、qP。随着锰营养的增加,非光化学猝灭系数(qN)增大。适量的锰浓度显著提高了大豆的净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs),降低了气孔阻力(Rs)和细胞间CO2浓度(Ci),随着锰浓度的逐渐增大,降低了Pn、Tr、Gs,提高了Rs、Ci。0.50.mg/L下的锰浓度有最大的Fo,5.mg/L下的锰浓度有最大的Fm、qP、Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo,表明0.505～mg/L的锰浓度有利于大豆的光合作用。在50.mg/L的锰浓度下,两个大豆品种有最大的qN、Rs、Ci和最小的Tr、Pn,此时两个品种大豆耗散了过剩的激发能,降低了大豆叶片的光合速率,对大豆已产生了一定的伤害。两个品种大豆光合特性对锰的响应存在着基因型差异,浙春2号较东北大豆耐锰胁迫。     

二代棉铃虫发生程度与气象因素的灰色关联优势分析

采用灰色关联优势分析方法对辽宁省喀左县二代棉铃虫发生程度与气候因子间关系进行了分析,得出:6月下旬干燥度、7月上旬平均气温、6月中旬平均气温为影响发生程度的主要因子,7月中旬干燥度对二代棉铃虫发生程度的关联度最小。因此,夏季干旱少雨和气温偏高是棉铃虫大发生的重要条件。     

供磷水平对不同磷效率玉米氮、钾素吸收和分配的影响

在砂培条件下,以磷高效利用型玉米(KH5)和磷低效利用型玉米(西502)为材料,研究了低磷(Pi25μmol/L,LP)和正常供磷(Pi2mmol/L,NP)2个供磷水平对其氮、钾素吸收和分配的影响。结果表明,磷高效利用型玉米氮钾素吸收和干物质积累受低磷处理的影响较小,表现出对氮、钾的高效吸收。正常供磷水平下,磷低效利用型玉米氮、钾素吸收量和干物质积累量显著高于磷高效利用型,但其氮、钾吸收和干物质生产能力远低于后者。低磷处理使玉米干物质和氮钾营养向根系分配的比例增加,磷低效利用型玉米这种趋势更为明显,反映其耐低磷能力较弱。