Response to two cycles of divergent selection for grain yield under drought stress in four rice breeding populations

Drought is a major production constraint in rainfed rice (Oryza sativa L.). Lack of effective selection criteria is a major limitation hampering progress in breeding for drought tolerance. In an earlier report, we showed in two populations that one cycle of direct selection was effective in increasing grain yield under stress. In the present study, we retested the efficiency of direct selection for grain yield under drought stress in rice using four populations derived from crossing upland-adapted, drought-tolerant varieties (Apo, Vandana) to high-yielding, lowland-adapted, drought-susceptible varieties (IR64, IR72). Each population was subjected to two cycles of divergent selection either under drought stress in upland or under nonstress conditions in lowland conditions. Following selection, approximately 40 high-yielding lines selected under each protocol from each population, along with a set of unselected lines, were evaluated in a series of selection response trials over a range of moisture levels. Significant response to direct selection under stress was realized in 9 out of 15 combinations of populations and stress environments, and in 6 of the 7 severe stress trials. Averaging over all the populations and stress environments, the stress-selected lines had a yield advantage of 25 and 37% over nonstress-selected and random lines, respectively. In contrast to this, under nonstress, the nonstress-selected lines had an average yield advantage of only 7 and 13% over stress-selected and random lines, respectively. Direct selection in managed stress trials during dry seasons gave significant response (25% on average relative to indirect selection in nonstress conditions) under naturally occurring wet season stress. In addition, direct selection under stress in upland gave an average gain of 16 and 45% over nonstress-selected and random lines, respectively, under stress in lowland. The yield advantage of the stress-selected lines appears to result mainly from maintenance of higher harvest index. These results show that direct selection for grain yield under stress is effective and does not reduce yield potential. Overall, this is the first report in rice demonstrating that (a) selection under managed drought stress in the dry season can result in yield gains under natural stress in the wet season, and (b) that selection under upland drought stress can, at least under the conditions of the present study, result in gains under lowland drought conditions.     

Societal Costs of Late Blight in Potato and Prospects of Durable Resistance Through Cisgenic Modification

In the European Union almost 6 Mha of potatoes are grown representing a value of close to €6,000,000,000. Late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans causes annual losses (costs of control and damage) estimated at more than €1,000,000,000. Chemical control is under pressure as late blight becomes increasingly aggressive and there is societal resistance against the use of environmentally unfriendly chemicals. Breeding programmes have not been able to markedly increase the level of resistance of current potato varieties. New scientific approaches may yield genetically modified marker-free potato varieties (either trans- and/or cisgenic, the latter signifying the use of indigenous resistance genes) as improved variants of currently used varieties showing far greater levels of resistance. There are strong scientific investments needed to develop such improved varieties but these varieties will have great economic and environmental impact. Here we present an approach, based on (cisgenic) resistance genes that will enhance the impact. It consists of five themes: the detection of R-genes in the wild potato gene pool and their function related to the various aspects in the infection route and reproduction of the late blight causing pathogen; cloning of natural R-genes and transforming cassettes of single or multiple (cisgenic) R-genes into existing varieties with proven adaptation to improve their value for consumers; selection of true to the wild type and resistant genotypes with similar qualities as the original variety; spatial and temporal resistance management research of late blight of the cisgenic genetically modified (GM) varieties that contain different cassettes of R-genes to avoid breaking of resistance and reduce build-up of epidemics; communication and interaction with all relevant stakeholders in society and transparency in what research is doing. One of the main challenges is to explain the different nature and possible biological improvement and legislative repercussions of cisgenic GM-crops in comparison with transgenic GM-crops. It is important to realize that the present EU Directive 2001/18/EC on GM crops does not make a difference between trans- and cisgenes. These rules were developed when only transgenic GM plants were around. We present a case arguing for an updating and refinement of these rules in order to place cisgenic GM-crops in another class of GM-plants as has been done in the past with (induced) mutation breeding and the use of protoplast fusion between crossable species.     

Adaptation strategy,germplasm type and adaptive traits for field pea improvement in Italy based on variety responses across climatically contrasting environments

A pea breeding strategy is required to cope with the large climatic variation featuring south-European environments. Thirty-seven recent cultivars bred by 21 European or Australian institutions were grown in two climatically contrasting Italian sites (Lodi, subcontinental; Foggia, Mediterranean), two cropping years per site and two sowing times per year, to define various elements of this strategy. The study assessed: (i) the impact of genotype × environment (GE) interaction due to spatial and temporal factors on the consistency of top-yielding cultivars; (ii) the similarity between environments for GE effects and its implications on adaptation strategies; (iii) the extent of genotypic and GE interaction effects, and the relationship with adaptive responses, for various morphophysiological traits; (iv) the adaptation pattern and the combination of adaptive traits featuring three germplasm types, i.e. European spring and winter types, and germplasm selected in Mediterranean environments; (v) the predicted efficiency of direct and indirect selection procedures for grain yield. The geoclimatic area had a major impact on crop yield (5.15 t/ha in Lodi vs. 2.52 t/ha in Foggia) but tended to affect GE interaction less than time or year of autumn sowing, suggesting to breed for wide adaptation. Top-yielding cultivars as modeled by additive main effects and multiplicative interaction were environment-specific. On average, spring and winter materials outyielded the Mediterranean germplasm but the spring type, characterized by wide entry variation, included most widely- and specifically-adapted top-yielding cultivars. Cold-tolerant spring-type germplasm is preferable to breed for wide adaptation as it may combine high yield potential with adaptation to winter cold and terminal drought and heat stress. Lodging susceptibility, harvest index, onset and duration of flowering, and canopy height at maturity assessed in individual environments showed moderate to fairly high broad-sense heritability on a plot basis (h² > 0.20) and tended to correlation with yield over test environments (r ≥ 0.20). An indirect selection index including harvest index and canopy height exhibited about 20% greater predicted efficiency than direct selection for yield when using one selection environment and could be preferred for early selection stages. Direct yield selection in late selection stages should ideally be performed across 2 years in two environments that contrast for geoclimatic area and time of autumn sowing.     

鄂豫陕接壤区山楂品种选优研究

在对鄂豫陕接壤区引种栽培的26个山楂品种进行品比试验和调查分析的基础上,对其中13个引种时间较长,栽培面积较大的品种,采用合理——满意度和多维价值理论的并合规则,进行了综合评价。结果表明,晋京南1号、山东大敞口、大红袍釉山西798202性状表现最佳,可以大力推广;山东大金星和豫北红等次之,可适当发展;北京小金星和朱砂红表现欠佳,应考虑及时淘汰。     

元谋干热区反季节番茄引种试验初报

通过对16个番茄品种的对比与筛选试验,对各个品种生育期、植物学性状、产量、抗病性等指标进行综合比较与评价.试验结果表明,16个引进品种中,有3个优秀,5个良好,4个一般,4个差.综合性状优良、市场前景好的3个番茄品种金冠茄、特抗病钢王、朝阳207.可作元谋县反季节外销番茄生产.     

欧美杨优良无性系选择

经过5年欧美杨优良无性系选育研究，综合生长性状及独立淘汰法，初步选择出适于吉林省中东部河流冲积平地和四旁绿化造林的欧美杨优良无性系为N2、N12。平均单株材积分别是对照的414．9％和398．5％；最大单株树高、胸径分别为7．80m和7．6cm，在造林地表现出明显的生长优势。     

回归最优设计法在水培白菜肥料效应中的应用

利用“416-A”回归最优设计研究Ca(NO3)2?4H2O、KNO3、NH4H2PO4、MgSO4?7H2O对水培白菜的产量效应。数学模拟建立了四种肥料与白菜产量的回归方程：y=97.808-4.337x1+3.445x2-2.690x3+8.299x4-6.894x1x2+17.331x1x3-7.389x1x4-3.191x2x3+6.364x2x4+0.063x3x4-9.629x12-17.150x22-17.915x32-24.066x42。经检验回归关系显著，并对回归系数进行了检验。从回归方程可得：MgSO4?7H2O对产量以直接作用为主，其次为Ca(NO3)2?4H2O、KNO3和NH4H2PO4。Ca(NO3)2?4H2O与其它三种肥料均有交互作用，其中与NH4H2PO4交互作用达极显著水平。从产量效应回归关系优选出配方浓度为：Ca(NO3)2?4H2O：971mg/L；KNO3：931mg/L；NH4H2PO4：204mg/L；MgSO4?7H2O：581mg/L。采用回归最优设计结合水培研究肥料效应精确可行。     

应用SSR分子标记分析国外种质对我国小麦品种的遗传贡献

利用363对SSR标记分析了在我国小麦生产和育种中发挥了重要作用的11份国外引进品种和33份选育品种的遗传组成,旨在揭示国外种质对我国小麦品种改良的遗传贡献,指导种质资源引进和利用。国外种质包含了选育品种所发现等位变异的76.3%。与不同时期小麦品种等位基因多样性比较发现,国外种质的平均等位变异数最多(3.92),20世纪60年代(2.86)和70年代(3.01)基本一致,80年代有所升高(3.46)。品种间遗传距离比较与品种等位基因多样性结果相吻合。比较引进和选育品种在SSR位点的等位变异频率变化,发现至少在33个SSR位点,国外种质等位变异在我国小麦育种中被优先选择(该等位变异在引进和选育品种的分布频率均高于70%),其中一些位点已知与产量、生育期和抗病等性状密切相关。表明引进品种在以上基因组区域对我国小麦品种具有非常高的遗传贡献。     

Selection for a qualitative trait in an autotetraploid crop

Summary A procedure for a programme of repeated backcrossing of autotetraploid crops is outlined. It aims at minimizing the numbers of plants needed for the backcross generations and for the identification of the desired quadruplex plants. Also the danger of inbreeding depression, especially with cross-fertilizing crops, is taken into consideration.