Variation in vegetative parameters related to the nitrogen economy of wild barley,Hordeum spontaneum,in Israel

Summary Hordeum spontaneum, the wild progenitor of cultivated barley, has previously been examined in various studies as a germplasm resource in breeding for grain protein content and related nutritional traits.The nitrogen content and dry weight of leaf and stem (stem plus sheath) at anthesis, and the final grain size and grain protein content were measured in 33 H. spontaneum and two H. vulgare genotypes. H. spontaneum was generally higher in nitrogen content of leaves and stems, but lower in dry weight at anthesis. Consistent with previous reports, the H. spontaneum genotypes were considerably higher in grain protein than the cultivars. There was wide variation between and within populations of H. spontaneum suggesting that for breeding purposes lines combining high vegetative nitrogen content, dry weight and grain protein content can be selected.Incumbent of the Seagram Chair for Plant Science     

Milling Energy Polymorphism in Hordeum spontaneum Koch in Israel and its Potential Utilization in Breeding for Malting Quality

Variation for grain milling energy in Hordeum vulgare is associated with differences in grain size, shape and composition. Genetic polymorphisms within and between populations were found across the ecogeographical range of Hordeum spontaneum in Israel. Low milling energy estimates were positively correlated with and predictable by the aridity index. Milling energy in H. spontaneum, collected in Israel, ranged from the lowest values seen in making barley to twice the highest values seen in feed cultivars. It is concluded that H. spontaneum elite genotypes could be effectively identified by milling energy for use in the breeding of new cultivars.     

Genetic resources of wild cereals in Israel and vicinity. I. Phenotypic variation within and between populations of wild wheat,Triticum dicoccoides

Summary Populations of wild emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccoides, in Israel, originating from diverse habitats, and tested earlier for allozyme (Nevo et al., 1982) and disease resistance polymorphisms (Moseman et al., 1983a, 1983b; Nevo et al., 1984a, 1984b), were compared and contrasted for performance in agronomically important phenotypic traits. The traits compared involved 10 variables comparing germination, earliness, biomass and yield variables. The field experiments were conducted in 1980, 1981 and 1982 in two relatively standardized and contrasting environments: mesic (Mount Carmel, Haifa) and xeric (Acedat Farm, and Sede Boqer, in the northern Negev desert). The experimental design involved 12 population quadrangles at Avedat Farm in 1980, and rows of randomized genotypes of five populations in both Haifa and Sede Boqer in 1981 and 1982.The results indicate that the characters studied are partly genetically determined. Striking genetic variation was found between and, at least in some characters, also within populations in each site, whereas remarkable environmental variation including genetic-environmental interaction was found between the mesic and the xeric sites. We conclude that natural populations of wild emmer wheat in Israel vary not only in genetic polymorphisms of allozymes and disease resistance, but also in quantitative traits of agronomic importance. These traits are economically significant and should be conserved and utilized in wheat crop improvement.     

An artificial capillary barrier to improve root zone conditions for horticultural crops: physical effects on water content

Capillary barriers (CBs) occur at the interface of two soil layers having distinct differences in textural and hydraulic characteristics. The objective of this study was to introduce an artificial CB, created by a layer of gravel below the root zone substrate, in order to optimize conditions for the cultivation of horticultural crops. Potential root zone formats were analyzed with and without the gravel CBs for variables including the following: depth of CB; barrier separating the root zone from the surrounding soil; and root zone soil texture. Field and simulated results revealed that artificial CBs increased root zone water content and changed water flow dynamics. Volumetric soil water content was increased by 20–70%, depending on the soil texture and depth of the barrier. Sandy soil texture and shallower placement resulted in relatively higher water content. For sandy soil without plants, a shallow (0.2 m depth) CB increased water content of the overlaying soil by 50% compared to the control. The introduction of a gravel CB below the root zone of pepper plants (Capsicum Annum L.) lead to 34% higher matric head, 50% lower diurnal fluctuations in matric head and 40% increase in pepper fruit yield. Increasing water content by way of artificial CBs appeared to improve the water use efficiency of pepper plants. Such an improvement could lead to reduced water and fertilizer application rates and subsequent reduction in contamination below the root zone. This is especially relevant for substrates of low water-holding capacity typically used in horticulture crop production.     

以色列野生燕麦物候及农艺性状与起源生态地理因素的相关性

为探讨起源地生态地理因素对野生燕麦物候期和农艺性状的影响,对种植于成都金堂试验地的源自以色列不同地区7个野生燕麦群体70个基因型的19个物候和农艺性状进行了测定,并用单因素方差(One-Way ANOVA)、相关性网络(Correlation-based network analysis,CNA)、斯皮尔曼秩相关(Spearmanp’s Rho Correlation)等方法进行数据分析。结果表明,不同群体和基因型间的物候期和农艺性状差异明显。其中,全生育期最短的群体是Sede Boqer,来自该群体的SB14-07的生育期仅170.0d;最大单株生物产量出现在Caesarea群体中,达268.1g;而千粒重最大的是来自Tabigha群体的Tg-09,为28.8g。起源地水分、温度、地理等因素对野生燕麦的物候及农艺性状起不同程度的关键性影响。以上结果说明,野生燕麦物候及农艺性状差异的实质是其长期与环境相互作用,在自然选择压力下进化形成的遗传多样性。     

Associations of simple sequence repeats with quantitative trait variation including biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in Hordeum spontaneum

A total of 33 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) was analyzed in 52 genotypes of Hordeum spontaneum originally collected from two different soil types (Terra rossa and Basalt) at Tabigha in Israel. Data on the performance of developmental, morphological, and yield‐related traits under well‐watered control and water‐stress conditions were available from previous experimentation, and powdery mildew susceptibility was scored. Regression analyses based on SSR allele class differences were performed. Highly significant associations were detected at the SSR loci Bmac181 (on chromosome 4H) and Bmac316 (6H) for water ‐stress tolerance and powdery mildew resistance, respectively. The study shows that association mapping using SSRs and genetically diverse germplasm provides an effective means of relating genotypes to complex quantitative phenotypes.     

New Wild Lactuca Genetic Resources with Resistance Against Bremia lactucae

A total of 1027 genotypes of wild Lactuca spp. (L. serriola, L. saligna, and L. aculeata), originating from Israel, Jordan, East Turkey, Armenia, Kazakhstan, China, and various other countries in Europe were screened for resistance to the lettuce downy mildew (Bremia lactucae Regel). The genotypes of L. serriola (N = 962); L. saligna (N = 43); and L. aculeata (N = 22) were tested at the seedling stage with two isolates of B. lactucae (race Bl-21 and Isr-74) isolated from cultivated lettuce in Italy and Israel, respectively. Altogether, the isolates possess virulence against 17 out of 20 Dm genes/R-factors composing the established differential set of lettuce lines/varieties. They could therefore be used for preliminary detection of the presence of new resistance factors. A total of 83 and three genotypes of L. serriola and L. saligna, respectively, were resistant to infection by each of the two isolates alone as well as to the infection by a mix of the two isolates. These genotypes probably carry previously unknown resistance, and therefore could be suitable for exploitation by breeders and further detailed research. The wild progenitor of lettuce, L. serriola, and related species harbor significant untapped genetic resources for lettuce improvement.     

Encoding of geographic dialects in the auditory system of the cricket frog

The frequency sensitivity of the auditory nervous system of cricket frogs (Acris) varies geographically. This variation is closely matched to the spectral energy in their mating calls, thus enabling them to respond preferentially to the calls of their local dialect.     

以色列野生二棱大麦农艺性状差异及相关性分析

为给野生大麦的遗传和基因资源的研究提供依据,对起源于以色列不同地区6个群体的16个生态型野生二棱大麦的物候性状进行了研究.结果表明,不同生态型间的物候性状差异明显.从个体水平上分析,其最大值均出现在湿生生态型中,除旗叶面积外,其最小值则出现在旱生生态型中;从群体水平上分析,除每穗粒数外,湿生型平均值皆高于旱生型平均值.曼-怀氏等级和检验显示,湿生型和旱生型之间的这些物候性状差异达到显著水平.斯皮尔曼秩相关性检验则表明,9个物候与性状间,除三叶期与粒重、穗粒重无相关性外,其余物候性状间均呈显著的相关性,其中生长期与旗叶面积、株高、穗长、芒长等呈显著正相关,与每穗粒数则呈显著负相关;芒长与旗叶面积、株高,稳长与株高存在显著正相关,而每穗粒数则与芒长和旗叶面积分别呈显著负相关,芒长与穗长亦呈显著正相关.分析表明,以色列不同地区野生大麦物候性状差异是其生境主导下生存选择的结果,其丰富的表现型多样性,可用于遗传与育种研究.     

Genetic diversity in wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum C. Koch) in the Near East: a molecular analysis using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

We analyzed the genetic diversity in 88 genotypes from 20 populations of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum C. Koch) from Israel, Turkey and Iran, by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Twenty two of the 33 primers used yielded scorable products with 1–11 polymorphic bands. No duplicate patterns were found except for four haplotypes.When the total genetic diversity was estimated, 75% of the variation detected was partitioned within the 88 genotypes and 25% among the populations. When variation between countries was assessed, no substantial differences were found, because most of the variation detected (97%) was partioned within the 20 populations and the remainder among countries. The results of this limited survey indicate that the extensive genetic diversity is present in natural stands of wild barley throughout the Fertile Crescent.