QTL analysis of cooked rice grain elongation, volume expansion, and water absorption using a recombinant inbred population

The traits of elongation, volume expansion, and water absorption are very important in determining the quality of cooked rice grains. In this study, quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of these traits was performed using a recombinant inbred population derived from a cross between two indica cultivars, ‘Zhenshan 97’ and ‘Minghui 63 ,’ which are the parents of the most widely grown hybrid rice in China. Using a linkage map based on 221 molecular marker loci covering a total of 1796 cM, a total of 33 QTLs were identified for the nine traits tested. QTLs were detected on chromosomes 1– 3 , 5– 9 , and 11 , respectively. The QTLs identified included three for cooked rice grain length elongation (chromosomes 2 , 6 , and 11), six for width expansion (chromosomes 1‐ 3 , 6 , 9 , and 11) and two for water absorption (chromosomes 2 and 6). Interestingly, a single QTL located near the wx gene on chromosome 6 seemed to influence all the traits tested for the cooked rice quality.     

Identification of resistance gene analogue markers closely linked to wheat powdery mildew resistance gene Pm31

Specific oligonucleotide primers, designed for the sequences of known plant disease resistance genes, were used to amplify resistance gene analogues (RGAs) from wheat genomic DNA. This method was applied in a bulked segregant analysis to screen for the RGA markers linked to the powdery mildew resistance gene Pm31, introgressed into common wheat from wild emmer. Two RGA markers (RGA200 and RGA390) were found to be closely linked to Pm31 and completely co‐segregating with the marker allele of Xpsp3029 linked to Pm31, with a genetic distance of 0.6 cM. These two RGA markers were then integrated into the formerly established microsatellite map of Pm31 region. The result showed the effectiveness of the RGA approach for developing molecular markers linked to disease resistance genes and demonstrated the efficiency of denaturing polyacrylamide‐gel electrophoresis for detecting polymerase chain reaction polymorphism.     

A novel environment-induced genic male sterile (EGMS) mutant in indica rice

Summary Male-sterile mutants were isolated from M₂ and M₃ generations of indica rice variety 26 Zhaizao, dry seeds of which had been exposed to ⁶⁰Co- rays at a dose of 290 Gy. The mutants were planted in early season and ratooned in late season for two successive years for identification of fertility conversion in different growing seasons. One of the mutant lines was further observed in a growth chamber and in the field. Results showed that daily average temperature might be the major factor conditioning the male fertility conversion at a moderate daylength. The critical temperature for the male fertility conversion of the mutant grown under 12.5 h and 14.0 h daylength is about 23°C, below which the plant becomes completely male sterile. Its male fertility conversion character differs from other EGMS lines so far developed. The performance of the hybrids between the mutant and some other indica varieties demonstrated its good combining ability and its potential value in hybrid rice production. The obtained mutant line still sheds KI-stainable pollen grains under male sterilizing conditions. Nevertheless, pollen grains shed from the male sterile plants were much more vulnerable than from normal plants. At sucrose concentration below 1.5 M, the pollen grains from the mutant grown under male sterilizing conditions almost completely broke down, while above 1.5 M they became plasmolysed and shrunken. This is indicative of poor development of the membrane and walls of the pollen grains from the male sterile mutant, causing the pollen grains to be unfunctional. NBT test also clarified the abortion of the pollen grains from the mutant, which were formed in the male sterilizing environment.     

植物NAC转录因子功能研究新进展

NAC(NAM,ATAF1,ATAF2和CUC2)转录因子是植物特有的一类转录因子,在多种陆生植物基因组中已经有超过100个成员被发现和鉴定,是植物基因组中最大的转录因子家族之一。植物NAC转录因子具有多种功能,在植物生长发育、逆境胁迫应答和激素信号转导等过程中具有重要作用。本文就植物NAC转录因子的基本结构特征和生物学功能的研究新进展进行综述。     

Determination of the genetic variation in the effect of temperature and daylength on bolting of Brassica campestris L.

Summary Effects of temperature and daylength on the bolting of a number of B. campestris accessions were investigated both in the open and in the IVT phytotron. From the results it was concluded that low temperature and genotype are the predominant factors with respect to bolting. Daylength has rather limited influence. One cultivar bolted more than 12 weeks earlier at 10 and 14°C than at 18°C. On the other hand some cultivars did not require vernalization at all.At 14°C and short daylength, depending on genotype, the period of time between sowing and 50% bolting ranged from 8 to 30 weeks. At this temperature the stimulating effect of long day (24 h), depending again on the genotype, ranged from 0 to 4 weeks. The genotypes most resistant to bolting appeared to be the stubble turnips (B. campestris ssp. rapa).In terms of seed(ling) vernalization at 5°C the cold requirement ranged from 0 to more than 3 weeks, depending on the genotype. The required vernalization periods at 5°C can be used as a criterion in screening for resistance to bolting.     

Genetic analyses of agronomic and seed quality traits of doubled haploid population in Brassica napus through microspore culture

Summary The results showed that the F1 genotype from the cross (Brassica napus cv. Zheshuang 758 × cv. Z-4115) had good response to embryogenesis, and their embryo yield and rate of plant regeneration reached 69.8 embryo/bud and 46.9%, respectively. Characters from the doubled haploid (DH) populations in B. napus were analyzed and it was showed that the means of each agronomic trait were between their parents, but they were nearer to the paternal in 6 agronomic traits (plant height, branch position, number of pods in the main raceme, length of pod, number of pods/plant and number of seeds/pod). The number of genes controlling each agronomic trait was analyzed based on the DH populations. The results showed that the number of genes controlling number of pods in the main raceme was the highest (15.6), and the least number of genes was involved for stem width (only 7.9). According to estimated coefficients of skewness and kurtosis of the traits tested, gene interaction was found to be absent for stem width, plant height, length of main raceme, number of primary and secondary branches, pod density in the main raceme and seed weight/plant. Complementary interaction was also observed in five agronomic traits (number of pods in the main raceme, length of pod, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod and 1000-seed weight). A significantly positive correlation was observed between seed yield/plant and four agronomic traits (length of main raceme, length of pod, number of pods/plant and 1000-seed weight). The experiment also showed that the erucic acid, glucosinolate, oil and protein contents of DH populations were 34.23%, 87.09 μmol/g, 44.09% and 42.67%, respectively. The numbers of genes controlling each quality trait were 7.8, 9.7, 9.4 and 8.7, respectively. Partial correlations between the seed quality traits and the agronomic characters of DH populations were analyzed. In this experiment, the partial correlations among seed quality traits were also analyzed and it was found that the oil content had a negative correlation with the other three seed quality traits.     

太行山前平原土壤水分特征曲线拟合参数的确定

本文分别用BrooksandCorey ,vanGenuchten和Broadbridge White模型拟合了太行山山前平原不同层次土壤水分特征曲线 (SWC) ,并用Mualem和Burdine模型计算了土壤非饱和导水率(K)和扩散率 (D)。最能较好计算实验地点D和K的方法是用vanGenuchten模型拟和SWC(约束条件m =1- 2 /n) ,用Burdine方法计算K和D。     

Global status of wheat leaf rust caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Puccinia triticina</Emphasis>

Leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina is the most common and widely distributed of the three wheat rusts. Losses from leaf rust are usually less damaging than those from stem rust and stripe rust, but leaf rust causes greater annual losses due to its more frequent and widespread occurrence. Yield losses from leaf rust are mostly due to reductions in kernel weight. Many laboratories worldwide conduct leaf rust surveys and virulence analyses. Most currently important races (pathotypes) have either evolved through mutations in existing populations or migrated from other, often unknown, areas. Several leaf rust resistance genes are cataloged, and high levels of slow rusting adult plant resistance are available in high yielding CIMMYT wheats. This paper summarizes the importance of leaf rust in the main wheat production areas as reflected by yield losses, the complexity of virulence variation in pathogen populations, the role cultivars with race-specific resistance play in pathogen evolution, and the control measures currently practiced in various regions of the world.     

An analysis of hybrid sterility in rice using a diallel cross of 21 parents involving indica, japonica and wide compatibility varieties

Summary There is much interest in the inter-varietal fertility of Asian cultivated rice. In this study, we analyzed the fertility of hybrids in a diallel set of 210 crosses involving 21 parents representing a broad range of the cultivated rice germplasm including landraces, primitive cultivars, modern elite cultivars and parents of hybrid rice. The materials were also carefully selected with respect to indica-japonica classification including typical indica/japonica, more or less intermediate and wide compatibility varieties. The level of hybrid fertility varied widely among the crosses from almost completely sterile to fully fertile. In general, hybrid fertility of intra-subspecific crosses, i.e., indica by indica (I×I) and japonica by japonica (J×J), is much higher than inter-subspecific crosses (I×J or J×I). The fertility varied widely in hybrids involving wide compatibility varieties and also in inter-subspecific crosses not involving wide compatibility varieties. An analysis of variance showed that both the main effects of indica and japonica parents and the interaction between the parents are highly significant in determining hybrid fertility. We speculate that, in addition to wide compatibility, the overall genetic difference between the indica and japonica parents, that may involve a series of minor mutations, play an important role in determining the hybrid fertility. There are also genes of sizable effect that influence fertility in hybrids resulting from specific combinations of the parents.Abbreviations I×I indica by indica cross - I×J indica by japonica cross - J×I japonica by indica cross - J×J japonica by japonica cross - WCV wide compatibility variety     

Unique gliadin patterns in Chinese winter wheat cultivars

Cultivated Chinese wheat germplasm has been a valuable genetic resource in international plant breeding. Patterns of gliadin among cultivated Chinese accessions are unknown, despite the proven value and potential novelty. The objective of this work was to analyse the diversity within improved Chinese wheat germplasm. The electrophoretic banding patterns of gliadin in winter wheat cultivars and advanced lines were determined by acid-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. For 148 leading commercial cultivars and promising advanced lines used in this study, 48 patterns were identified, 29 corresponding to ω -gliadin, nine to γ -gliadin, five to β -gliadin and five to α -gliadin. The most frequent patterns were A6 in ω ; B in γ ; B in β and A in the region of α . A total of 116 band types appeared in the 148 samples: 94 accessions had unique gliadin types, and 22 gliadin, types while not unique, were found in 54 accessions. The gliadin patterns of Chinese wheat cultivars and lines greatly differed from the patterns of wheat lines from other countries. Three patterns, E, J, H, M, N and O in the ω -zone had not been reported previously. Three wheat zones of China, the Northern Winter Wheat Region, the Yellow and Huai Valley River valleys Winter Wheat Region and the Southwestern Winter Wheat Region, showed different frequencies in their gliadin patterns. This information can be used to monitor genetic diversity with Chinese wheat germplasm.