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.     

近交系大鼠DNA指纹图与微卫星DNA比较分析

为了建立一种对近交系大鼠遗传物质进行精确可靠、快速简便的监测方法,利用DNA指纹技术对国内6个品系8个近交系大鼠群体进行了DNA多态性的分析,并与PCR扩增微卫星DNA技术进行了比较.其结果显示(1)不同品系之间DNA指纹图差异较大,同一群体不同个体间DNA指纹图带的相似系数和共有带率除SHR(哈)和WKY(哈)小于0.7外,其他均大于0.9.不同地区同一SHR间和WKY间DNA指纹图也存在差异,相同DNA不同次制作的DNA指纹图谱基本一致.(2)不同品系个体间微卫星DNA具有显著多态性;同一群体不同个体之间除SHR(哈)的SMST位点和WKY(哈)的AGT位点出现一定的差异外,其他均没有差异.DNA指纹图能更精确可靠地反映出动物个体间的遗传背景,而微卫星DNA遗传监测方法比较简便快捷.     

猪原始生殖嵴细胞(PGCs)建系因素的研究

从五指山猪(WSZP)近交系第8～13代培育群中，先后选用21头5～10月龄青年母猪，分别于授精后25～30d采集胎儿106个，进行原始生殖嵴(PGCs)细胞分离、培养等建系技术研究。以DMEM F10(1:1)为基础培养液，按添加或不添加生长因子，将培养液分为A、B、C3种，并以STO细胞作饲养层，在38℃、5.0％CO2和湿润的气相中进行培养建系。结果获得胚胎生殖嵴细胞(EG)细胞系6个细胞株，其中1个EG细胞株传至11代、2个传至5代、1个传至4代、2个传至3代冻存。并进行了AKP染色、体外分化、冷冻-解冻复苏和嵌合体制作等鉴定研究。研究发现：不同胚龄对EG细胞建系具有一定影响，不同培养液对EG细胞建系效果不同，STO细胞饲养层的质量是建株、传代、冷冻-解冻复苏的关键因素之一。EG细胞系的初步建立，为今后筛选进入种系的EG细胞系、实施体外基因操作提供了可能。     

不同种质玉米自交系种子萌发的干旱胁迫研究

种子萌发期被认为是作物生长的关键时期,也是衡量作物耐旱性强弱的重要时期。为了明确不同玉米自交系的耐旱性,本研究采用聚乙二醇(PEG)模拟干旱条件,对254份不同种质玉米自交系进行种子萌发期处理。通过检测发芽指数、发芽率、根数、根鲜重、根干重、茎鲜重、茎干重、根长、苗高等种子发芽性状,以其相对值为指标,鉴定不同自交系种子萌发期的耐旱性。结果表明,在5%PEG6000浓度胁迫时,种子萌发程度低,当PEG浓度为10%时,种子萌发受抑制程度较高；各性状相对指标都与品种综合抗旱能力呈显著或极显著正相关；不同自交系的耐旱性存在较大差异,通过隶属函数法结合抗旱分级标准筛选出99份中等耐旱材料。因此,该方法可以作为一种简单的玉米自交系萌发期耐旱性鉴定方法。     

浅谈二种生活用具在棉花自交与杂交中的应用

棉花在栽培过程中,为了获得好性状的棉珠,利用自交与杂交技术进行育种,本文论述小铁夹和吸汽水管方法的精髓及注意事项。     

干旱胁迫下玉米自交系抗旱性评价及筛选

以39份玉米自交系为材料，2017—2018年在甘肃省张掖市设置田间自然抗旱鉴定试验，筛选抗旱鉴定指标，综合评价玉米自交系的抗旱性。结果表明：在干旱胁迫下，39份玉米自交系的粉丝间隔时间延长了0~3 d，株高、穗位高、穗长、穗粗、穗干重、籽粒干重、出籽率及百粒重均降低，其中，穗干重、籽粒干重和出籽率3个指标分别为正常灌水处理的81.5%、79%和88.5%。穗干重、籽粒干重和出籽率与平均抗旱系数呈显著正相关，可作为玉米自交系抗旱鉴定的主要指标。利用加权抗旱系数法综合评价筛选出强抗旱玉米自交系10份，其中自交系E28、DH351、陇1222、浚92-8和黄早四，抗旱性达到极强。本研究所筛选到的抗旱自交系可在选育抗旱新品种中加强利用。     

Genetic analysis and QTL mapping of growth period traits and plant height traits in soybean recombinant inbred lines from Dongnong 47 × PI 317334-B

High and stable yield is the main goal of soybean genetic improvement. In this study, association analysis was used to detect the quantitative trait loci (QTL) for the plant height, and soybean growth period using 182 SSR markers in the RIL population of 136 F_4:8 lines, which developed from a cross between photoperiod-insensitive cultivar ‘Dongnong 47’ and photoperiod-sensitive variety PI317334–B. The results showed that 33 QTLs related to soybean growth period and plant height traits were detected by compound interval mapping, and were located on 12 linkage groups including N, C1, C2, J, D1a, B2, E, G, A2, O, L, I, with the contribution rate of 7.85–33.84%. These QTL loci and linkage markers related to soybean photoperiod sensitivity, would be helpful to identify key genes that control soybean photoperiod sensitivity, and provide an important basis for the breeding of new photoperiod-insensitive soybean varieties based on molecular design breeding.     

Quantitative trait loci mapping for yield-related traits under low and high planting densities in maize (Zea mays)

Average maize yield per hectare has increased significantly because of the improvement in high-density tolerance, but little attention has been paid to the genetic mechanism of grain yield response to high planting density. Here, we used a population of 301 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross YE478 × 08–641 to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for 16 yield-related traits under two planting densities (57,000 and 114,000 plants per ha) across four environments. These yield-related traits responded differently to high-density stress. A total of 110 QTLs were observed for these traits: 33 QTLs only under low planting density, 50 QTLs under high planting density and 27 QTLs across both densities. Only two major QTLs, qCD6 and qWKEL2-2, were identified across low- and high-density treatments. Seven environmentally stable QTLs were also observed containing qED6, qWKEL3, qRN3-3, qRN7-2, qRN9-2 and qRN10 across both densities, as well as qRN9-1 under low density. In addition, 16 and eight pairs of loci with epistasis interaction (EPI) were detected under low and high planting densities, respectively. Additionally, nine and 17 loci showed QTL × environment interaction (QEI) under low- and high-density conditions, respectively. These interactions are of lesser importance than the main QTL effects. We also observed 26 pleiotropic QTL clusters, and the hotspot region 3.08 concentrated nine QTLs, suggesting its great importance for maize yield. These findings suggested that multiple minor QTLs, loci with EPI and QEI, pleiotropy and the complex network of “crosstalk” among them for yield-related traits were greatly influenced by plant density, which increases our understanding of the genetic mechanism of yield-related traits for high-density tolerance.