Revisiting rice breeding methods – evaluating the use of rapid generation advance (RGA) for routine rice breeding

Rice production needs to increase in the future in order to meet increasing demands. The development of new improved and higher yielding varieties more quickly will be needed to meet this demand. However, most rice breeding programmes in the world have not changed in several decades. In this article, we revisit the evidence in favour of using rapid generation advance (RGA) as a routine breeding method. We describe preliminary activities at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to re-establish RGA on a large scale as the main breeding method for irrigated rice breeding. We also describe experiences from the early adoption at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute. Evaluation of RGA breeding lines at IRRI for yield, flowering time and plant height indicated transgressive segregation for all traits. Some RGA lines were also higher yielding than the check varieties. The cost advantages of using RGA compared to the pedigree method were also empirically determined by performing an economic analysis. This indicated that RGA is several times more cost effective and advantages will be realized after 1 year even if facilities need to be built. Based on our experience, and previous independent research empirically testing the RGA method in rice, we recommend that this method should be implemented for routine rice breeding in order to improve breeding efficiency.     

3个豇豆品种秋延栽培适应性初步研究

探讨奇多、奇宝2个豇豆品种在本地区秋延栽培的适应性，试验以之豇28-2为参考对照，研究比较3个豇豆品种的生育期、产量，以及始花节位与产量之间的相关性。结果表明：在秋延栽培过程中，奇宝为中晚熟品种，产量低，不适宜作为秋延栽培的推广品种；之豇28-2和奇多为早熟品种，产量较高，可作为当地秋延栽培的主推品种。另外，研究结果还表明奇宝、之豇28-2与奇多3个豇豆品种的产量与始花节位有较大关系，其相关系数分别达到0.81、0.75和0.58。     

浅议通过标签内容查找农药隐性成分

本文针对农药隐性成分危害大和监管难等问题,剖析了企业主要动机,以农药标签为对象,研究建立了一种查找"问题"农药、锁定农药隐性成分的方法。该方法具有成本低、易于普及、克服检测仪器谱库不足、发挥基层各方力量进行监管等优点。与检测技术结合使用,可以弥补各方不足,更好地发挥监管作用。     

Management of Bemisia tabaci biotype B with botanical and mineral oils

While the toxic effects of neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, on Bemisia tabaci Genn. are well documented, few studies have evaluated other oils. We compared neem, sesame, citrus, castor, vegetable and mineral oils (1% v/v) to a chemical standard thiamethoxam (0.17 g A.I./L) against B. tabaci biotype B life stages on dry bean plants Phaseolus vulgaris L. under screenhouse conditions. Oils and thiamethoxam exhibited low ovicidal activity (<10% egg mortality). However, significant mortality occurred due to the residual activity to 1st instars that emerged from treated eggs. Overall, impacts of egg treatments were greatest for thiamethoxam (77% total mortality for eggs and 1st instars) compared with oils which were statistically similar (22–29% mortality). Larvicidal effect of oils (against 2nd instars) was greater than ovicidal effects. Highest nymphal mortality (>81%) was achieved with castor, sesame, citrus and neem oils, which was significantly greater than for thiamethoxam (65% mortality). Adult whiteflies were exposed to fresh and aged spray residues, rather than being sprayed directly. In this case, comparatively lower efficacy was achieved from oil treatments compared with thiamethoxam. While some mortality was observed from fresh residues of slow drying oils (up to 41% for castor oil), no significant control from any oil residues >3 days old was observed in our tests. The different route of exposure against adults likely reduced the effectiveness of oil treatments which act directly on the cuticle. In trials with viruliferous adult whiteflies exposed to fresh residues, none of the tested products completely prevented transmission of bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV). However, we noted reduced virus severity ratings from plants pre-treated with castor and citrus oil. We conclude that castor, sesame, citrus and neem oils have the potential to be used in whitefly management programs.     

杂交水稻种子不同活力测定方法与其田间成苗率的相关性

以3个杂交水稻品种不同活力水平的种子批为试验材料,比较了标准发芽试验、低温发芽测定和高温催芽试验3种活力测定方法,并将试验结果与田间成苗率进行相关性分析,发现标准发芽试验的发芽指标、低温发芽10 d的发芽率和高温催芽后的发芽率均与田间成苗率存在显著正相关关系,且高温催芽后的发芽率与田间成苗率相关系数最高。研究结果表明,高温催芽法可以作为杂交水稻种子活力测定的有效方法。     

“四全”育人夯实立德树人德育基础——以苏州工业职业技术学院为例

随着社会发展的推动和各种思想文化的交流、交融与交锋,给高职院校的思想政治教育工作带来前所未有的挑战。苏州工业职业技术学院积极探索实践"全员、全程、全方位、全心全意"育人的德育体系,在立德树人背景下,以踏实、务实、求实的作风不断夯实德育基础,努力开创"责任到人,纵向到底,横向到边"的德育工作局面。     

辽宁省科技特派行动高端人才支撑体系存在的问题和完善措施

高端人才的缺乏以及人才素质问题已经成为制约辽宁科技特派行动的主要因素。分析科技特派行动高端人才支撑体系在运行机制、体系构建及内外部协调等方面存在的问题,提出具体的完善措施。     

Optimisation of fertiliser rates in crop production against energy use indicators

Optimising mineral nitrogen (N) use in crop production is inevitable target as mineral fertilisers reflect one of the highest inputs both in terms of economy and energy. The aim of the study was to compare the relationship between the rate of N fertiliser application and different measures of energy parameters exemplary data for spring-wheat in boreal climate condition in Estonia in 2006–2010. The effect of mineral N with rates 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg N ha⁻¹ was studied on the background of composted cow manure and without organic fertilisers. Univalent parameters, energy gain (EG) (energy output − energy input) and energy ratio (ER) (energy output/energy input) were calculated. To aggregate parameters with different units (ER and EG) we proposed two standardisation approaches for combined indices. ER maximisation gave both organic fertilisation background optimum N norms significantly lower than EG (p < 0.05) optimisation. Both the new combined indices gave optimum N norms in between the rate of ER an EG. Composted cow manure background did not affect mineral N optimisation significantly. We suggest optimisation of mineral N according to bi-dimensional parameters as they capture important features of production efficiency and are more objective using as advisory tool for sustainable production systems.     

Movement and survival of corn rootworm in seed mixtures of SmartStax® insect-protected corn

SmartStax^® insect-protected corn (Zea mays L.) contains genes for six Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins controlling both lepidopteran pests and the corn rootworm complex (Diabrotica spp.). The properties of SmartStax, particularly the multiple effective modes of action (i.e., each Bt protein provides a high level of control of the target pests with a low probability of cross-resistance among the proteins), have provided the opportunity to add to previously approved structured refuge options by combining the non-Bt refuge seed with SmartStax seed in a seed mix. Seed mixes ensure that a refuge is present in every Bt field, remove concerns about grower compliance with refuge requirements, and provide grower convenience. However, seed mixes could increase the likelihood that larval insects move between Bt and non-Bt plants and vice versa. Assessing the insect resistance management (IRM) value of a seed mix refuge requires an assessment of the amount of larval movement, and the consequences of that movement, for the key target pests. The studies here present such data for control of corn rootworm by SmartStax corn, which contains the rootworm-active protein Cry3Bb1 and the binary protein Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1. In a growth chamber experiment, SmartStax was most effective against first instars and significantly effective against second instars, but did not control third instars. In a field study of movement from a heavily infested non-Bt plant onto surrounding plants, a larger percentage of insects successfully dispersed from the infested plant when the surrounding plants were non-Bt plants than when they were SmartStax plants. A paired-plant study showed that few larvae migrated from infested SmartStax plants and survived on nearby non-Bt plants; larvae that migrated from infested non-Bt plants had low survival if the adjacent plants were SmartStax. Replicated field studies of plant-to-plant movement indicated that the non-Bt plants in a 5% or 10% seed mix consistently supported large populations of susceptible insects and represented a productive refuge, whereas the SmartStax plants had few or no survivors. The timing of emergence from seed mix plots containing 5% or 10% non-Bt plants was more similar to that of the non-Bt plots than that of the SmartStax plots. Thus, the available growth chamber and field data indicate that a seed mix of 5% or more will provide an effective refuge for corn rootworm in SmartStax corn.     

Water in oil based PGPR formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens (FP7) showed enhanced resistance against Colletotrichum musae

Banana anthracnose incited by Colletotrichum musae is a serious disease in post harvest marketing stage. It occurs in almost all the banana growing countries. In the current study, 5 isolates of C. musae infecting banana cv nendran were collected from various district of Tamil Nadu. C5 isolate collected from Tiruchirappalli showed maximum virulent with (66.60%) PDI. In vitro efficacy of six Pseudomonas fluorescens superior strains were tested for their inhibition on mycelial growth of C. musae. P. fluorescens (FP7) showed significantly higher inhibition of 41.12 per cent over control and with a mean mycelial growth of 52.10 mm. Water in oil emulsion was used in the present research for formulation of P. fluorescens (FP7). The emulsion contained the following ingredients (w/w), sterile deionized water (45.25%), glycerine (4.00%), water-soluble wax ((0.75%), Tween 20 (2.50%), and a mixture of 19.00% soybean oil + 28.50% castor oil. The application of water in oil emulsion formulation significantly increased the yield (68.12 t/ha) compared to control (66.49 t/ha), and also increase in the activity of defense related enzymes viz., phenyl alanine ammonia lyase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, catalase and β-1, 3 glucanase was observed which was followed by talc based formulation of Pf1 and FP7.