Selection efficiency of high inorganic phosphorus-low stachyose lines from soybean breeding populations of different genetic backgrounds

Reducing the antinutritional components of soybean (Glycine max) seed is necessary for producing animal feed with increased metabolizable energy and nutrient availability. The objective of this study was to evaluate marker-assisted and phenotypic selection for the high inorganic phosphorus (Pi) and low stachyose traits controlled by the Lpa and MIPS1 mutations in six breeding populations. Phenotypic selection for low phytate individuals carrying Lpa mutations using Pi was reliable, but the assay should include parental genotypes to construct thresholds before performing selections, as the effect of Lpa on Pi depends on genetic background. Phenotypic selection for low phytate individuals carrying MIPS1 using Pi should be complemented with sugar data because selection based solely on Pi may be inefficient, as this trait is not environmentally stable in MIPS1 germplasm. Marker-assisted selection for simple sequence repeat (SSR) linked to Lpa2 (Satt527, Satt561) depended on the pedigree of the population suggesting that perfect markers (e.g., single nucleotide polymorphism) should become the molecular tool for screening a large number of progenies with high efficiency.     

粳稻柱头外露率QTL定位

【目的】柱头外露是影响杂交水稻制种的一个重要性状。本研究旨在初步鉴定控制柱头外露率的QTL。【方法】以高柱头外露率粳稻两系不育系大S×低柱头外露率热带粳稻品系D50的F_2群体及海南陵水、浙江杭州两地重复种植的F_(2:3)群体为材料,考查F_2群体及陵水、杭州两地两次重复F_(2:3)群体单边柱头外露率(PSES)、双边柱头外露率(PDES)和柱头总外露率(PES)。【结果】相关分析表明,单边柱头外露率、双边柱头外露率和柱头总外露率之间存在极显著的正相关。根据构建的大S×D50 F_2群体遗传连锁图谱,QTL分析检测到水稻柱头外露率QTL 21个,分布于第1、2、3、4、6、7和12染色体上,贡献率变幅为0.1%~57.6%,除个别贡献率极低的位点外,绝大部分QTL加性效应来自于高值亲本大S。其中位于第4染色体和第12染色体的两个位点q PDES4,q PES12在F_2和两次重复F_(2:3)群体中均检测到,贡献率分别达17.86%和16.98%。位于第3染色体的q PES3位点在陵水、杭州两次F_(2:3)群体中重复检测到,贡献率高达25.6%。【结论】检测到的QTL,有些与其他学者报道的处于同一位置,有些则是新的柱头外露率QTL。这些水稻柱头外露率QTL为今后柱头外露率基因精细定位、克隆、以及利用分子标记辅助选择(MAS)选育高柱头外露率粳型不育系提供理论依据。     

温度和密度对日本医蛭繁殖的影响

在实验室网箱中,研究温度(24±1)℃和(20±1℃)与密度(200尾/箱和100尾/箱)对平均体质量1g左右的日本医蛭Hirudo nipponia亲蛭交配率、减重率、产茧数量和体质量的影响,比较卵茧质量(0.05g、0.05~0.1g和0.1g)对孵出仔蛭数量的影响。结果表明:温度(24±1)℃、密度100尾/箱时亲蛭交配率(86±0.06)%和平均产茧量(0.87±0.14)枚/尾最高;亲蛭产茧后平均体质量下降(32.1±0.059)%;繁殖期间共收集卵茧870枚,孵化率87.47%;平均卵茧质量为(0.11±0.009)g(变化范围0.03g~0.25g);密度和温度对产茧量的影响极显著(P0.01),对卵茧平均质量和长短径的影响不显著(P0.05);(24±1)℃组亲蛭的产茧时间比(20±1)℃组缩短10~15d,单日卵茧最高收集量为43枚,(20±1)℃时单日最高收集量24枚;卵茧共孵出仔蛭5 648尾,随着卵茧质量增加产出的仔蛭数量和质量也增加。     

Phenotypic indicators for cultured pearl size improvement in the black‐lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera): towards selection for the recipient growth performance

The black‐lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, is the most important farmed species in French Polynesia and the basis of the most valuable export industry. Mass production of black pearls relies on a surgical operation requiring tissue from a donor pearl oyster to be grafted, together with a nucleus made of shell, into the gonad of a recipient oyster. Improving pearl size through family selection remains one of the main challenges for future aquaculture development. This study analyses the relative contribution of donor and recipient oysters to pearl size. To this end, hatchery‐produced donor oysters of two batches, large and small (based on shell height), were used to supply grafts for recipients, which were then monitored individually for their growth performance by recording shell height, width, and thickness, and total live weight (flesh + shells) every 6 months (four biometric measurement times) over 20 months of culture. Pearls issued from the two batches of donors showed no significant differences in nacre weight or thickness. In contrast, recipient oyster shell height and total weight were increasingly positively correlated with these pearl size parameters over the culture period, becoming significant at 8 months post‐grafting. Potential therefore exists to use shell height and oyster weight as phenotypic indicators for selective breeding of recipient oysters with high growth performance to increase pearl size in P. margaritifera.     

Wide hybridization and introgression breeding in safflower: Effectiveness of different selection methods

Possibility of using interspecific hybridization to increase genetic diversity of drought tolerance in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and effectiveness of different selection methods is poorly understood. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of (a) interspecific hybridization to expand genetic diversity in safflower for agronomic traits and drought tolerance in advance generations and (b) different selection methods (direct vs. indirect) for improving seed yield. Interspecific hybridizations were performed between species of C. tinctorius × C. palaestinus (TP), C. palaestinus × C. oxyacantha (PO) and C. tinctorius × C. oxyacantha (TO). Based on the field screening of genotypes in F3 generation, four groups of selected genotypes (derived from combination of direct and indirect selection under both drought and normal environments along with selection based on drought tolerance index (STI)) were evaluated in F4 and F5 generations. Indirect selection for seed yield was significantly more efficient than direct selection. Selection in stress environment resulted to more efficiency than selection in normal environment. No significant difference was observed between direct selection and selection based on STI. The result showed that TP was the best population to combine high seed yield and drought tolerance in safflower.     

Marker‐assisted parentage analysis reveals high individual selfing rates in tetraploid red clover genotypes selected for seed yield

Seed yield is a major breeding target in tetraploid red clover. We investigated if marker‐assisted parentage analysis can identify progeny plants with two high seed‐yielding parents in tetraploid red clover and if this technique is more advantageous than traditional half‐sib selection. Parentage analysis was successfully performed on the progeny from the 10% highest seed‐yielding genotypes from a second‐cycle family selection trial: 16.0% of progeny were identified with a high seed‐yielding father. However, progeny plants with two high seed‐yielding parents did not produce more seeds than traditionally selected progeny (27.3 g vs. 30.7 g/plant, respectively). The 10% highest seed‐yielding genotypes displayed on average 2% self‐fertilization. Four genotypes were self‐fertile with individual selfing rates up to 20%. Our results discourage the use of marker‐assisted parentage analysis to improve seed yield in tetraploid red clover when the material has been preselected for seed yield. Breeders should be aware that intensive selection for seed yield in tetraploid red clover may inadvertently lead to selection for increased self‐fertility, which may increase inbreeding in the long term.     

Development of colchicine‐induced tetraploid St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) lines

St. Augustinegrass is well suited for lawns and commercial landscapes. While many genotypes are cross‐fertile, all cultivars are propagated vegetatively in sod production. To ensure varietal purity, development of sterile triploid hybrids by crossing tetraploid and diploid genotypes has been successfully used in other warm‐season turfgrasses. Applying this model in St. Augustinegrass would be beneficial to sod producers and turf managers who require purity for certification and uniformity for performance, respectively. This study was conducted to develop colchicine‐induced tetraploid lines of St. Augustinegrass. Seeds of cultivar ‘Raleigh’ were treated with four colchicine concentrations at four exposure times. A non‐treated control was included among the treatments. Seedlings that germinated were screened for genome size changes using flow cytometry. Line DSA 13005 and two progeny lines derived through selfing, DSA 16001 and DSA 16016, were corroborated as tetraploids (2n = 4x = 36) through chromosome counts. These lines will be used in future breeding efforts to attempt development of sterile triploid cultivars of St. Augustinegrass.     

籼稻背景下导入Wx~(in)等位基因改良稻米食味和理化品质

水稻Wx~b等位基因已广泛用于籼稻的品质改良,但携带该等位基因的一些籼稻米饭往往偏软,仍需进一步改良。为明确籼稻背景下导入Wxin等位基因对稻米食味品质和理化品质的效应,分别以携带Wxin的IR64和携带Wx~b的9311为供体,以携带Wxa的籼稻SIR3611 (3611)为受体,基于分子标记辅助选择,通过杂交和连续回交的方式构建了3611背景下携带Wxin和Wx~b的近等基因系。系统比较了不同近等基因系间的农艺性状以及稻米的食味和理化品质。结果表明,近等基因系与受体亲本3611的主要农艺性状基本接近,无显著差异。NIL(Wxin)稻米的表观直链淀粉含量较亲本3611极显著下降而胶稠度极显著增加。NIL(Wx~b)稻米表观直链淀粉含量最低且与之对应的胶稠度最高。近等基因系NIL(Wxin)和NIL(Wx~b)稻米的食味值较亲本极显著提高。NIL(Wx~(in))和NIL(Wx~b)稻米的GBSSI丰度与对应的表观直链淀粉含量具有明显的正相关。稻米粉的黏滞性谱、热糊化特性和晶体结构与直链淀粉含量显著相关性。本研究为在我国籼稻品种品质改良中有效利用Wxin等位基因提供了重要依据。     

2001—2017年我国优质杂交稻推广应用现状

对2001—2017年中国年推广面积大于0.67万hm²的优质杂交稻品种信息进行了统计分析,主要结果如下:(1)2001—2017年,优质杂交稻组合数大幅增加,从2001年的19个组合、推广面积123.2万hm²增加到2017年的214个组合、推广面积706.2万hm²,所占比例也由不足10%提高到60%;(2)年推广面积达到或超过0.67万hm²的优质两系和三系组合数分别为133和382个,累计推广面积分别达到2 565.9万hm²和5 375.0万hm²;(3)主推组合的整精米率、直链淀粉含量、胶稠度、垩白率和垩白度等理化指标得到大幅改善;(4)种业公司更加注重优质两系组合的选育和推广,而省级及以上育种单位在三系组合选育方面更具优势;(5)生产中大面积应用的优质两系不育系有Y58S、广占63S、广占63-4S等,三系不育系有中9A、宜香1A、天丰A等,扬稻6号、广恢998、蜀恢527、华占等则是优质组合的骨干恢复系。还分析了当前品质育种存在的问题,提出了稻米品质改良策略。该研究结果可为优质杂交稻的选育和推广提供借鉴。     

Should only females of giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii be selected in genetic improvement programmes?

Sexual dimorphism is widely observed in almost all farmed aquatic animal species but giant freshwater pawn (GFP) is unique, with males characterized by three main morphotypes (blue claw, orange claw and small males) and females by different reproduction status (ovary, berried egg and already‐spawned females). There has been reported evidence that the effect of male morphotype may have masked genetic variation in growth‐related traits, as a result the heritability for male body weight was lower than that estimated in female. A pending question has arisen whether selection should be made in female only. To answer this question, we used an 8‐year data set from a long‐term selection programme (2008–2015) for high growth in this species comprising 106,756 individuals that were offspring of 515 sires and 810 dams. The body weight data of female and male GFP or of each morphotype was treated as a separate trait and a multi‐trait approach was used to estimate genetic correlations for homologous traits between sexes and between morphotypes. Our analysis showed that there were little differences in the heritability estimates between female and male. In female, mature ovary individual displayed higher heritability than berried egg and already‐spawned females. For male, the heritability for blue claw, orange claw and small males were 0.11, 0.06 and 0.00 respectively. Between‐sex genetic correlation was moderate (0.55 ± 0.11) for body weight, suggesting that the trait expressions in female and male may be genetically different. In female, the genetic correlations for body weight among three female types were close to one (0.91–0.94). In contrast, the genetic correlations for body weight between male morphotypes especially between blue claw or orange claw and small males were low (0.15–0.25). Furthermore, we estimated genetic gain as the difference in least square means (LSM) or estimated breeding values (EBV) between the selection line and control group. The genetic gain in body weight was smaller in females than in males. It is concluded that there is no need to run separate breeding programme for female and male GFP. A combined selection using both female and male data can achieve selection response for body weight as demonstrated in the present study.