Resynthesis of Brassica juncea through interspecific crosses between B. rapa and B. nigra

The objective of this study was to broaden the genetic base in oleiferous Brassica juncea by resynthesis, using 10 diverse parental lines of oleiferous B. rapa and two lines of B. nigra of both Indian and exotic origin. Out of 14 crosses attempted using B. rapa as the female parent, eight were successful. Embryo rescue was necessary to obtain interspecific plants. A total of 29 fertile interspecific plants were obtained after colchicine treatment. In the S₂ generation, the expression of component characters in the majority of the resynthesized plants showed a negative trend. The resynthesized B. juncea lines are being maintained through repeated selfing and selection at each generation for desirable plant types. This process will continue till the progeny lines of the desirable plants achieve uniformity.     

Assessment of somaclonal variability in hop (Humulus lupulus L.) in vitro meristem cultures and clones by molecular methods

In vitro meristem tissue cultures are used for production of virus-free rootstocks of hop (Humulus lupulus L.). Because use of plant tissue cultures is associated with occurrence of somaclonal variability, we assessed somaclonal variability in hop meristem in vitro cultures before and after thermotherapy by different molecular methods (RFLP, RAPD, STS, ISSR and AFLP) and compared it with existing clonal variability of Osvald's clones 31, 72 and 114. No molecular differences were observed between mother plants and in vitro mericlones by RFLP and STS analyses. Amplified molecular differences were found in RAPD and ISSR products of one from five in vitromericlones cvs. Eroica (E5) and Southern Brewer (SB2), respectively. Similarities with mother plants were 0.965 and 0.913 (JSC), respectively. Specific amplified polymorphic products were found for every mericlone and mother plant in AFLP reactions and variability of DNA sequence ranged from 0.824 to 0.993 (JSC). This variability was very similar to determined intra-clonal variability within Osvald's clones 31, 72 and 114 by AFLP analysis. Inter-clonal variability of DNA sequence was exactly higher than intra-clonal variability of DNA sequence in these clones. The molecular differences between Osvald's clone 72 normal and meristem derived were not verifiable. Thermotherapy increased frequency of molecular changes, since amplified differences were found in 14 from 20 in vitro mericlones of cv. Eroica, in 6 from 11 in vitro mericlones of cv. Yeoman and in 15 from 23 in vitro mericlones of cv. Southern Brewer by RAPD and ISSR analyses.     

Genetic Variability of Rubisco in Tetraploid Wheats (Triticum turgidum)

Nineteen tetraploid wheats (Triticum turgidum), differing in their agronomical behaviour and geographic origins were grown in two experiments and analysed for the following physiological traits: soluble leaf protein content, rubisco content, initial and potential carboxylase activities of this enzyme as well as its relative content in percentage of protein, the specific activity of the enzyme and its activation state. The results show a high genetic variability for all studied traits and more particularly for the initial carboxylase activity. High phenotypic correlation was observed between the rubisco content and its potential activities, in the first experiment. Correlation between souble leaf protein and rubisco content was significant in 9 genotypes of the second experiment.     

Cold acclimation of winter and spring peas: carbon partitioning as affected by light intensity

Like most plants, pea (Pisum sativum L.) becomes tolerant to frost if it is first exposed to low non-freezing temperatures, a process known as cold acclimation. Cold acclimation is a complex process involving many physiological and metabolic changes. Two spring dry peas, two winter dry peas and one winter forage line were exposed to cold temperature in a controlled environment in two experiments, one using low light intensity and the other regular light intensity. Plants were harvested throughout the experiment and dry matter accumulation, water content, soluble and insoluble sugar concentrations were determined from shoot and root samples. Cold acclimation did not occur when temperatures were low if light intensity was low, even in winter peas. In contrast, with regular light intensity, the winter peas acquired more freezing tolerance than spring peas and a close relationship was found between the soluble sugar concentration of leaves just before the frost and the degree of freezing tolerance obtained by the different genotypes. Relationships between freezing tolerance and carbon partitioning between shoot and roots are discussed.     

Genetic variability measures among Bromus catharticus Vahl. populations and cultivars with RAPD and AFLP markers

The objectives of this study were to optimize RAPD and AFLP techniques in B. catharticus, and to determine the genetic variability of populations and commercial prairie grass cultivars with the aforementioned molecular markers. Two populations with contrasting morphological characteristics were evaluated from individual and bulked DNA samples using RAPD markers. Both analyses showed a similar information about inter population variability. Each accession was sampled by a single leaf bulk of 10 plants. Accession similarities were established with 276 RAPD and 714 AFLP bands using Jaccard similarity coefficient. The dendrogram of the accessions using RAPD markers showed that they shared high similarity values (>94%). A similar result was obtained with AFLP markers (similarity values >98%), revealing a narrow genetic basis in the analyzed accessions. Consequently, molecular characterization of germplasm should be considered in addition to morphological criteria, to choose the parental genotypes for breeding programs of this forage crop. The AFLP technique was more efficient to detect DNA polymorphism in our experiments and unique fingerprints were detected for all the accessions. RAPD is a simple and non expensive technique, suitable to estimate genetic similarity. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Screening techniques and sources of resistance to root diseases in cool season food legumes

Summary Soil-borne fungal diseases are among the most important factors, limiting the yield of grain legumes in many countries worldwide. Root rot, caused by Aphanomyces euteiches, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani and wilt, caused by several formae speciales of Fusarium oxysporum are the most destructive soil-borne diseases of pea, chickpea, lentil, fababean and lupin. The most effective control of these diseases is achieved through the use of resistant varieties. In this paper, recent advances in conventional and innovative screening methods for disease resistance are presented. Many grain legume accessions, which are maintained in national and international germplasm collections, have been evaluated for disease resistance and numerous resistant varieties have been released following incorporation of identified resistance genes from these sources. Recent identification of molecular markers tightly linked to resistance genes has greatly enhanced breeding programs by making marker assisted selection (MAS) possible and allowing the development of varieties with multiple disease resistance. Progress in the understanding of the biology of soil-borne fungal pathogens of grain legumes is also reviewed with particular reference to the genetic structure of their populations, diagnosis and host–pathogen interaction.     

Reselection of a Pearl Millet Cultivar Utilizing Residual Variability for Downy Mildew Reaction*

‘BJ 104’ was the most widely grown pearl millet hybrid in India until it became susceptible to downy mildew (DM) in 1984—85. Residual variability for resistance was found in both parental lines, 5141 B (maintainer of 5141 A) and J 104, and through four generations of pedigree selection under intense disease pressure in the DM nursery, two lines, IC-MA841 (from 5141 B) and ICMP 84814 (from J 104), were selected resulting in a reconstituted DM resistant hybrid (‘ICMH 84814’) which was equal in yield to the original ‘BJ 104’. The reconstituted hybrid, though phenotypically similar, can be distinguished from “BJ 104” being slightly taller, flowers later, has heavier heads, and 1000-seed weight, but tillers less. A similar exercise was attempted on Tifton 23 B, the female parent of the first widely grown hybrid (‘HB 3’— the male parent was also J 104), but no variability for resistance to DM was found.     

Genetic variability for resistance to sorghum downy mildew (Peronosclerospora sorghi) and Rajasthan downy mildew (P. heteropogoni) in the tropical/sub-tropical Asian maize germplasm

Downy mildews cause considerable damage to maize (Zea mays L.) worldwide, particularly in the tropical Asia. We have evaluated a set of 42 tropical/sub-tropical maize inbred lines developed in different countries in Asia (India, Thailand and Philippines), and Mexico, for analysing the genetic variability for resistance to sorghum downy mildew [Peronosclerospora sorghi; SDM] and Rajasthan downy mildew [P. heteropogoni; RDM]. Experiments were carried out in replicated trials under artificial infection in field conditions against SDM and RDM at Mandya in Karnataka, India, and Udaipur in Rajasthan, India, respectively, during 1999 and 2000. The study resulted in identification of five inbred lines offering consistent and strong resistance to both SDM and RDM, while several inbred lines revealed resistance only to RDM. It was also revealed that the SDM-resistant inbreds are invariably resistant to RDM, while the RDM-resistant inbreds might show differential responses to the SDM. The maize inbred lines identified in this study with broad-spectrum resistance to downy mildews could be potentially useful for basic and applied research work on downy mildews in tropical Asia. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

土壤养分空间变异及合理取样数研究

土壤养分存在明显的空间差异，田间土壤养分合理取样数取决于养分要素自身空间变异程度和人们对数据精度的要求。若空间变异大、精度要求高则需要较多采样数，反之需较少样点数。计算结果表明，极大多数养分要素的合理取样数较实际取样数有较大幅度减少，意味着可大幅降低采样及分析成本。据统计学空间自相关和半方差函数方法研究结果，养分要素存在一定的空间自相关性，但不同方向上的自相关性有明显差异，独立间距也因养分要素而异。研究结果可为精准农业土壤养分样点密度设定、养分要素等值线绘制及精准施肥提供支持。     

土壤微生物多样性研究方法综述

Soil microorganisms play a central role in decomposing organic matter, in determining the release of mineral nutrients, and in nutrient cycling. Recently, extensive studies have focused on soil microbial diversity. However, understanding the diversity of this complex microbial community in the soil environment is a challenging task. Thus, it is important to master and comprehend appropriate methods for studying soil microbial diversity. Concepts of soil microbial diversity and major methods of study are briefly introduced in this paper. Then, the application of biochemical-based and molecular-based techniques in this area, and their advantages and disadvantages are evaluated. Based on recent related research, perspectives for studying microbial diversity in soils are presented.