Australian Uromyces viciae-fabae: Host and nonhost interaction among cultivated grain legumes

Uromyces viciae-fabae, rust of faba bean, parasitizes other legume crops such as lentils (Lens culinaris) and field peas (Pisum sativum) in some environments. In this study we examined the host range of two Australian isolates of U. viciae-fabae collected and purified from a faba bean crop and classified as U. viciae-fabae ex V. faba. Field pea (P. sativum), chickpea (Cicer arientinum), lupin (Lupinus spp.), lentil (L. culinaris), and mung bean (Vigna radiata) genotypes were tested with these isolates, as well as resistant and susceptible genotypes of the faba bean host. Race specificity for these two pathogen isolates was observed on Vicia faba, with two faba bean genotypes showing partial resistance. Both U. viciae-fabae isolates also colonized field pea seedlings and successfully produced uredinia under glasshouse conditions, despite this fungus not being known as a pathogen of Australian field pea crops. No sporulation of either isolate of U. viciae-fabae ex V. faba was observed on any of the remaining legume species tested. However, obvious differences in fungal growth were observed, ranging from small infection sites with very rare haustorium formation in mung bean to more extensive growth and the development of potential uredinial structures in chickpea. These observations are discussed in relation to the phylogenetic relationship of these host and nonhost species.     

Changes in enzyme activities,soluble sugars and phenols during in vitro adventitious shoot regeneration from leaflet explants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Albizia procera</Emphasis> (Roxb.) Benth

Changes in nitrate reductase, i.e. NR (E.C. 1.7.1.1) activity, peroxidase (E.C. 1.11.1.14) activity, soluble sugars and phenols were monitored at various time intervals from day 0 to 60 during in vitro adventitious shoot regeneration from leaflet explants of Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth. The explants were incubated on semi-solid Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2.6 g l^?1 Phytagel^®, 2.5% sucrose, 10 μM BAP, 1 μM NAA and 15 μM AgNO₃. NR activity, soluble sugars and phenols exhibited initial sharp rise on around day 20 followed by steep decline on day 25, whereas peroxidase activity peaked on day 50, highlighting significance of early input of nitrogen and energy and late emergence of lignification process for cellular differentiation and organization into adventitious shoot primordia. Morpho-anatomical changes in leaflets at various stages of in vitro adventitious shoot formation also followed the endogenous biochemical pattern.     

Relationship between teat morphological traits and subclinical mastitis in Frieswal dairy cows

The present study was aimed to investigate the relationship between selected morphological traits of teat and subclinical mastitis (SCM) in Frieswal crossbred dairy cows. A total of 1040 quarters from 261 lactating cows were evaluated for teat shape (bottle/fleshy/collapsed/conical/normal/pencil and short), teat-end shape (dished/flat/funnel/pocketed/pointed and rounded), teat orientation (aligned/misaligned) and teat position (front and rear; left-sided and right-sided). Each udder quarter was screened with California Mastitis Test (CMT) for the purpose of defining quarter health status. Data were analysed using Chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression procedure. An overall prevalence of SCM (CMT positive) at quarter level was 30.6%. Most of the teats had normal or cylindrical shapes (48%), dished teat-ends (40.7%), and aligned (central or squared) in orientation (65%). At bivariable level, significant association of SCM with teat shape, teat position, teat orientation, parity, and stage of lactation was observed (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Teat-end shapes showed some association with SCM (P = 0.07). Results of multivariable analysis showed that pencil-shaped teats were least associated with SCM (P < 0.05) as compared to other teat shapes. Prevalence of SCM was also higher in rear teats (P = 0.015), misaligned teats (P = 0.01), and cows in second or higher parities (P < 0.01) and late stage of lactation (P < 0.001). The results of the present study indicate that selected morphological traits of teat are associated with SCM in Frieswal crossbred cows; therefore, selection towards desirable morphological traits could help reduce mastitis in this breed.     

Accumulation of cadmium in growing peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seedlings—Its effect on lipid peroxidation and on the antioxidative enzymes catalase and guaiacol peroxidase

In plants exposed to high metal concentrations, mechanisms to counteract the oxidative burst are crucial for its survival. To investigate the temporal sequence of physiological reactions of peanut seedlings (Arachis hypogaea L.) to cadmium exposure, seeds were cultured in increasing concentrations of CdCl₂, ranging from 50 to 300 μM. Germination frequency was scored, and the distributions of Cd in root, stem, and leaves were determined after 2 and 4 weeks of culture. Lipid peroxidation and activities of antioxidative enzymes including catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX; EC 1.11.1.7) were estimated in these three parts of the plant. Germination of seedlings was not affected, but the growth of seedlings was severely suppressed with increasing concentrations of CdCl₂ and incubation period. Pattern of Cd distribution in the three organs varied with concentration and period of exposure to Cd. Increased lipid peroxidation was detected in all parts of the developing seedlings with increasing metal accumulation. Catalase and guaiacol peroxidase activity varied in the three parts of the seedlings with concentration of Cd and incubation period. Guaiacol peroxidase activity appears to be more active in scavenging the reactive oxygen species in developing peanut seedlings. The results of the present experiment demonstrate the advantages of a tissue‐culture model system in studying the complex network of interactions of various factors in stress tolerance.     

Mapping of Aegilops umbellulata‐derived leaf rust and stripe rust resistance loci in wheat

Aegilops umbellulata, a non‐progenitor diploid species, is an excellent source of resistance to various wheat diseases. Leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes from A. umbellulata were transferred to the susceptible wheat cultivar WL711 through induced homoeologous pairing. A doubly resistant introgression line IL 393‐4 was crossed with wheat cultivar PBW343 to develop a mapping population. Tests on BC₂F₇ RILs indicated monogenic inheritance of seedling leaf rust and stripe rust resistance in IL 393‐4 and the respective co‐segregating genes were tentatively named LrUmb and YrUmb. Bulked segregant analysis placed LrUmb and YrUmb in chromosome 5DS, 7.6 cM distal to gwm190. Aegilops geniculata‐derived and completely linked leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes Lr57 and Yr40 were previously located in chromosome 5DS. STS marker Lr57/Yr40MAS‐CAPS16 (Lr57/Yr40‐CAPS16), linked with Lr57/Yr40 (T756) also co‐segregated with LrUmb/YrUmb. Seedling infection types differentiated LrUmb from Lr57. Absence of leaf rust‐susceptible segregants among F₃ families of the intercross (IL 393‐4/T756) indicated repulsion linkage between LrUmb and Lr57. YrUmb expressed a consistently low seedling response under greenhouse conditions, whereas Yr40 expressed a higher seedling response. Based on the origin of LrUmb/YrUmb from the U genome and Lr57/Yr40 from the M genome, as well as phenotypic differences, LrUmb and YrUmb were formally named Lr76 and Yr70, respectively. These genes have been transferred to Indian wheat cultivars PBW343 and PBW550, and advanced breeding lines are being tested in state and national trials.     

Inheritance and chromosome location of leaf rust resistance in durum wheat cultivar Wollaroi

The Australian durum cultivar Wollaroi produced low leaf rust responses in the field since its release in 1993. A recombinant inbred line population was developed from a cross of Wollaroi with a susceptible landrace Bansi. Monogenic inheritance of low seedling leaf rust response against the Puccinia triticina pathotype 104-1,2,3,6,(7),(11),13 was observed. This gene was temporarily designated as LrWo. A DArT based map of Wollaroi/Bansi was used to determine the genomic location of LrWo and it was mapped in chromosome 5BS. Following enrichment of the DArT map of chromosome 5BS with SSR markers, LrWo was flanked by gwm234 (7.2 cM) and wPt-1420 (20.3 cM) distally and proximally, respectively. A previously characterised gene Lr52 was also located on the chromosome arm 5BS, proximal to gwm234. Based on genetic association with the marker gwm234 at a similar distance, we concluded that LrWo could be either Lr52 or is another allele of this locus. Based on infection type comparison the latter argument seems more plausible.     

Assessment of drought resistance in 20 accessions of Triticum aestivum L. and related species II. Stability in yield components

Summary Stability in yield components was estimated in several species of Triticum grown across a range of soil moisture. The aim was to assess the effect of varying soil moisture on mechanisms leading to grain yield stability, particularly in the accessions identified as having stable yields and drought resistance viz., T. sphaerococcum, T. vavilovii and T. aestivum cv. C 306 (Paper I of this series). The study indicated that number of grains per spike provided stability to the accessions of T. sphaerococcum and T. vavilovii whereas number of spikes per unit area contributed towards the stability of T. aestivum cv. C 306. It is suggested that these accessions could be utilized as the genetic sources for improving specific yield components with regard to grain yield stability under droughted conditions.     

Detecting and estimating segregation distortion and linkage between glufosinate tolerance and blackleg resistance in Brassica napus L.

Summary The segregation and linkage between glufosinate (transgenes ‘Rf3’ and ‘T177’) and blackleg resistance genes in canola (Brassica napus L.) were assessed using F₁ microspore-derived doubled haploid (DH) populations from four crosses including reciprocals, two involving the transgene ‘Rf3’ and the other two involving the transgene ‘T177’. To relax the assumption of no segregation distortion required for the conventional analysis of segregation and linkage, we employed Bailey's analysis that allows detecting segregation distortion at linked loci. The significant departures from the 1:1 segregation were detected in the crosses involving the transgene ‘T177’ but not in the crosses involving the transgene ‘Rf3’. The apparent deficit of the herbicide tolerant DH lines in the crosses with the transgene ‘T177’ is likely due to differential selection against the gametes carrying ‘T177’ during microspore culture. The linkage was strong between blackleg resistance and the transgene ‘Rf3’ but weak or absent between blackleg resistance and the transgene ‘T177’, suggesting that the two transgenes are probably inserted into distant regions of the genome. The observed linkage offers an opportunity to develop new canola cultivars with both glufosinate tolerance conferred by transgene ‘Rf3’ and blackleg resistance.     

Hybridizing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica rapa</Emphasis> with wild crucifers <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diplotaxis erucoides</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica maurorum</Emphasis>

Two wide hybrids, Diplotaxis erucoides (2n = 14) × Brassica rapa (2n = 20) and B. maurorum (2n = 20) × B. rapa, were developed using the sequential ovary–ovule culture. Reciprocal crosses failed, possibly as a consequence of strong unilateral incompatibility. The F ₁ hybrids in each combination were completely male sterile and morphologically intermediate to the respective parents. DNA marker polymorphism and chromosome counts confirmed their hybrid nature. High frequency of bivalents in the F ₁ and the presence of trivalents/quadrivalents in the derived amphiploids suggested genomic duplications and homoeology of the parental genomes. Up to three homoeologous pairs between the D. erucoides (D^eD^e) and B. rapa (AA) genomes, and one between B. maurorum (B^mB^m) and B. rapa genomes were observed. Successful synthesis of the F ₁ hybrids and amphiploids of B. rapa with D. erucoides and B. maurorum, and allosyndetic chromosome pairing are expected to permit introgressions of desirable loci into the cultivated Brassica germplasm, especially for resistance to Alternaria brassicae and Albugo candida.