Genetic and environmental influences on chickpea water‐use efficiency

Chickpea is a major crop grown for its nutritional value, and it is used for both food and feed. However, terminal drought greatly reduces grain yield in many chickpea producing areas. The impacts of drought could be mitigated by adapting chickpea genotypes with higher water‐use efficiency (WUE). To assess genetic variation for WUE, contrasting genotypes were sown in two moisture regimes (well‐watered and water‐limited) and two tillage regimes (tillage and no‐tillage) in north‐western NSW across two consecutive seasons. The well‐watered and no till treatments were higher yielding than their respective rainfed and tillage treatments. Genotypes did not differ (p < 0.05) in their water use but differed significantly in their WUE, and a significant genotype‐by‐moisture treatment effect was observed. The heritability of WUE was higher under tillage (71.3% for tillage under rainfed conditions and 73.0% for tillage and irrigated conditions) than no‐till (43.3% for no till under rainfed conditions and 36.4% for no‐till and irrigated conditions), and no significant genotype‐by‐tillage interaction was observed.     

Season-specific varietal management as an option to increase rainfed lowland rice production in East African high altitude cropping systems

Due to land expansion and an increase in productivity, rice production in sub-Saharan Africa has been growing at a rate of 6% in the past decade. Rainfed rice production systems have accounted for a large share of this expansion. In these systems, the potential growing period not only depends on the length of the rainy season and thus water availability, but is often, especially in the highlands of East Africa, bordered by the onset of the cool period of the year, when low minimum temperatures compromise rice yields. The objective of this study was to investigate the yield potential of 30 rice varieties contrasting in crop duration and cold tolerance in the highlands of East Africa, with its limited length of growing period. A field trial was conducted in the cropping seasons in 2016 and 2017 at the Fogera rice research station, Ethiopia. As a function of the onset of rains, rice was sown mid-July in 2016 and early July in 2017. Early sowing in 2017 led to an extended crop duration and significantly lower yields of the short-duration varieties, and to a shortened duration and significantly higher yields of the medium- and long-duration varieties, when compared to late sowing in 2016. Late sowing compromised yield of the medium- and long-duration varieties because of low temperatures during booting stage, which led to high spikelet sterility. Early sowing resulted in low yields of the short-duration varieties, probably due to low solar radiation during the cloudy rainy season, which coincided with the vegetative stage. Therefore, choice of variety should be a function of the variable onset of the rainy season and related sowing date. However, crop models precisely calibrated for potential varieties and the respective environmental conditions could fully support the selection of a suitable variety, depending on the date of sowing, for example with the help of online tools or smartphone applications.     

大豆四向重组自交群体单株产量QTL单标记分析

以(垦丰14×垦丰15)×(黑农48×垦丰19)衍生的含160个株系的大豆四向重组自交系群体为试验材料,应用154个SSR标记鉴定个体基因型,利用单标记分析方法,对2013和2014年在哈尔滨和克山两地4个环境下的单株产量进行QTL定位分析。结果显示:共检测到46个与单株产量相关的QTL位点,主要分布在A1、A2、C1、C2、D2、D1b、L、K、B2、N、E、J、F、G和H连锁群上,遗传率为0.15%~9.37%。遗传率较高的标记位点有BARCSOYSSR_02_0607、BARCSOYSSR_03_1620、BARCSOYSSR_19-0451、Sat_153、Sat_367、Satt229和Satt529,优异等位基因型为BARCSOYSSR_02_0607(Q1Q1)、BARCSOYSSR_03_1620(Q2Q2)、BARCSOYSSR_09_0183(Q1Q1)、Satt229(Q2Q2)、Sat_367(Q3Q3)、Satt338(Q1Q1)、Satt229(Q1Q1)和Satt668(Q1Q1)。在检测的标记位点中,BARCSOYSSR_08_0966、Sat_36、Sat_153、BARCSOYSSR_02_0607和Satt529在两个环境中重复检测,表明这5个QTL可用于分子设计育种改良单株产量。     

Attributes of wheat cultivars for late autumn sowing in genes expression and field estimates

Due to the growing interest in Central and Eastern Europe on cropping of wheat in optional late autumn terms, called facultative, genetic research and field evaluation were taken on four spring cultivars: Tybalt (NL), Monsun (DE), Ostka Smolicka (PL) and Bombona (PL), currently being recommended by breeders. The PPD gene analyze, expression level of dehydrine genes (WCS120 and WDHN13) in cooling test, and qPCR for RNA isolation and analyses of WCS120 and WDHN13 gene expression at the BBCH12 stage of wheat were estimated. Molecular analysis of PPD-D1 gene confirmed the presence of photoperiod sensitive allele ppd-D1b in all tested genotypes. The highest level of NRE WCS120 gene was detected in cultivars Tybalt and Bombona. Two-year field experimental study assessed the growth, development and productivity of facultative and spring crops of studied cultivars. Based on our results from field experiments and result of molecular analysis of alleles of PPD-D1 gene, the tested genotypes can be considered as potentially facultative genotypes.     

Screening of Ethiopian sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) landraces for their performance under Striga hermonthica ‐infested conditions

Striga hermonthica is a major constraint to sorghum production and productivity in sub‐Saharan Africa, Ethiopia, in particular. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of 49 sorghum genotypes based on their reaction to S. hermonthica and investigate the relationships among yield and Striga resistance traits, including the Striga emergence count, area under Striga number progress curve, area under Striga severity progress curve, grain yield under infested, grain yield under non‐infested conditions and relative yield loss. The genotypes differed significantly in all measured parameters under Striga‐infested and non‐infested conditions. The genotypes ‘Birhan’, ‘Gubiye’, Wolegie, Zegerie, Nechmashila I, Woftel, Tetron and Eyssa were identified as promising ones based on grain yield and Striga‐related traits. On the other hand, the genotypes Jamyo, Bobie, Gedido, Mankebar and Zengada had moderate Striga numbers with low relative yield loss as compared with susceptible checks. The most promising variety, Zegerie, Mankebar and Zengada, out yielded the standard resistant checks ‘Birhan’ and ‘Gubiye’ under Striga infestation. Ward cluster analysis grouped the 49 sorghum genotypes in to four distinct clusters under Striga‐infested conditions. All members of clusters II and III showed the highest yielding group with the lowest to moderate Striga number, while cluster IV supported the lowest yield with the highest Striga number. Significant negative correlations were observed between yield‐ and Striga‐related traits. Highly significant and strong correlations were observed among Striga resistance indices, indicating that any of the Striga resistance parameters can be used as an indicator of resistance. The wide variations in grain yield among genotypes under Striga‐infested conditions would be invaluable genetic resources for production in Striga endemic areas of Ethiopia.     

两种施肥环境下冬小麦京411及其衍生系产量和生理性状的遗传分析

明确高产广适性与肥料高效利用相关性状的遗传特性对培育优良新品种具有重要意义。本研究以京411及其衍生后代共15个品种(系)为材料,在4个正常施肥和1个常年不施肥环境下研究品种(系)的产量构成因素和生理性状,结合90K SNP芯片,解析骨干亲本携带的产量和生理性状等位基因信息,探讨优异基因对高产品种的贡献。结果表明,正常施肥环境下,京411衍生后代的产量和收获指数均随世代增加呈逐渐上升趋势,其中收获指数增加较为显著(P0.05)。冠层温度对籽粒产量有重要贡献(P0.05),而叶面积指数和光合速率对收获指数有显著贡献(P0.05)。两种施肥条件下中麦175具有较高且稳定的产量和生物学产量,主要与其较高的肥料吸收效率有关。控制产量和生理性状的遗传区段主要分布在A和B基因组上,2B、3A和5A染色体分别携带控制穗粒数、叶面积指数和光合速率的位点。京411携带31个对产量和生理性状为正向效应的等位基因,衍生品种CA0958和中麦175携带的正向效应区段最多,分别占正向效应位点总数的53.85%和51.35%。中麦175的高产潜力和广适应性可能与其携带较多有利等位基因有关。     

不同基因型油菜锌效率机理Ⅰ ——耐低锌油菜基因型苗期筛选指标研究

采用营养液培养试验比较了低锌营养下芥菜、白菜、甘蓝型3个油菜(Brassica napus L.)品种幼苗的生物量，抗氧化酶活性，根系活力，叶绿素含量及对锌的吸收、利用差异。试验结果表明，3个油菜品种由于基因型不同，在耐低锌营养能力方面存在显著性差异。在低锌时(10-6mol/L Zn2+)，幼苗植株地上部干重以芥菜型>甘蓝型>白菜型，地上部干重分别较无锌对照处理增加17.8%(芥菜型)、9.9%(白菜型)、3.3%(甘蓝型)。芥菜型叶CAT、POD、SOD活性，叶绿素含量及根系活力也明显高于甘蓝型和白菜型油菜。锌积累量及锌利用率也以芥菜型远远大于其它2个品种，锌素利用效率分别为12.3%（芥菜型），8.0%(白菜型)，4.9% (甘蓝型)。苗期油菜叶CAT、POD、SOD等抗氧化酶活性、叶绿素含量及根系活力可以作为筛选耐低锌营养油菜基因型的评价指标之一。     

'Francolí', a late flowering almond cultivar re-classified as self-compatible

To verify the compatibility behaviour of the almond cultivar ‘Francolí’ and to clarify its S genotype a combination of pollination tests, stylar ribonuclease and allele specific PCR analysis was used. ‘Francolí’ was released from IRTA's breeding programme in 1994, having been putatively raised from the cross ‘Cristomorto’ (S₁S₂) × ‘Gabaix’ (S₁₀S₂₅). This cultivar was also reported to be self‐incompatible but revealing only one S band in the zymograms after S‐RNases analysis. ‘Francolí’ sets nuts after test crossing with two S₁S₂₅ cultivars, having a different genotype from that earlier reported. ‘Francolí’ was also observed to be self‐compatible after selfing flowers in the field and in the laboratory. ‘Francolí’ was re‐assigned the S₁S_f genotype after test crossing, stylar ribonuclease and PCR data analysis. After microsatellite analysis, the self‐compatible ‘Tuono’ (S₁S_f) cultivar is suggested as the male parent of ‘Francolí’ instead of the earlier reported ‘Gabaix’.     

不同基因型抗虫棉的光合生产与叶源特征

以33B为对照,对早发型常规Bt棉鲁棉研17、鲁棉研21,晚发型Bt棉鲁棉研22,杂交Bt棉鲁棉研15、鲁棉研20进行了2年的种植和比较。早发型品种中前期干物质积累和叶面积增长快,但后期干物质积累慢、叶面积下降快,表现出明显的早发早熟和干旱年份易早衰的特点;晚发型品种前期干物质积累和叶面积增长慢,但后期增长快,表现出明显的晚发甚至贪青晚熟的特点。两个杂交棉品种表现出与早发型品种基本相同的生育规律,但中前期叶面积系数和干物质积累量显著高于其它供试品种。盛铃期以前,未见品种间功能叶光合速率的显著差异,但在干旱年份,早发型品种在始絮期功能叶的光合速率显著低于晚发型品种。早发型品种中后期的根冠比和功能叶含K量显著低于晚发型品种,而叶面积载荷量却显著高于晚发型品种。不同品种干物质产量和熟相的差异可能分别与叶面积系数大小和库源比例不同有关。