Combined treatment of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) reduces melting-flesh peach fruit softening

The effects of postharvest application of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on ethylene production and fruit quality, and thus on transportation and shelf-life, were evaluated in melting-flesh peaches. AVG (150 mg L⁻¹) significantly reduced ethylene production, and the effect was enhanced in combination with 1-MCP (1 μL L⁻¹). However, fruit treated with AVG alone softened to untreated control levels 2 d after harvest (DAH). Treatment with 1-MCP significantly reduced the rate of softening until 2 DAH, but the fruit rapidly softened thereafter, and reached untreated control levels by 4 DAH. A combination of AVG and 1-MCP significantly reduced fruit tissue softening throughout ripening. The effect of each chemical on flesh firmness indicated that 1-MCP affected fruit response in the early stages of ripening up to 4 DAH, and AVG significantly reduced softening in the latter stages from 4 to 9 DAH. Peaches treated with AVG and 1-MCP retained their ground color during ripening, but the effect of each chemical on color is unclear. The present study indicates that combined treatment with AVG and 1-MCP significantly delays the ripening of melting-flesh peaches.     

Assessment of genetic relatedness of the genera Ananas and Pseudananas confirmed by RAPD markers

Genetic relationships among 18 accessions, including 16 of Ananas and two of Pseudananas, were investigated using RAPD molecular markers. The procedure for DNA extraction was adapted from the method of Dellaporta et al. (1983) where an incubation in proteinase K and a purification step were included. From the total of 148 markers scored,132 (89.2%) were polymorphic. The similarity matrix was used for cluster analysis. The phenogram developed from the RAPD bands showed that for most of the cases, the accessions within a species grouped together. Nevertheless, a moderate infraspecific genetic variation was observed. For example, DNA data grouped all A. comosus accessions with a mean similarity coefficient of 0.85. Comparable results were obtained with all other species investigated. The highest genetic divergence was found withinA. lucidus where the mean similarity coefficient among accessions was0.75. A similar level of genetic polymorphism was observed among species,therefore, a definition about which species were involved in the constitution of A. comosus genotypes was not possible. These results agree with the breeders standpoint suggesting that all Ananas species belong to the primary gene pool of pineapple. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Independence of self-compatibility and potentiality for self-pollination in peach x almond hybrids

Summary The almond of commerce (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) is self-incompatible (SI) and requires honey-bees to effect the transfer of pollen among cultivars that flower simultaneously. Four year old trees from the F₂ generation of several peach x almond hybrids were studied to determine whether self-compatibility (SC) and the potentiality for natural, i.e., abiotic, self pollination (NSP) are genetically related or are inherited independently. Both SC and the high potentiality for NSP are characteristic of peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) but not almond. Forty percent of SC genotypes exhibited adequate NSP (SC, +NSP) for good fertility i.e., without insect-mediated pollination. The remaining 60% of SC genotypes (SC,-NSP) exhibited an average 61% reduction in fruit set on limbs bagged to exclude honeybees during anthesis relative to fruit set on open pollinated limbs. Our data are consistent with the concept that fertility is dependent upon the load of compatible pollen deposited on the stigma. Fruit set reduction on bagged limbs, compared with bagged and self-pollinated limbs, was presumably due to a) lack of/insufficient pollination for fertilization and/or b) post-zygotic abortion of genetically inferior recombinants. Selection following manual self-pollination may result in SC genotypes with or without the capacity for NSP. In contrast, significant fruit set on limbs enclosed during pistil receptivity necessitates that the genotype selected express both SC and the potentiality for NSP.     

Pollen retention following natural self pollination in peach,almond, and peach × almond hybrids

Summary Retention of pollen grains following natural self-pollination was evaluated in 15 cultivars (cvs.) of almond, 4 peach and 2 nectarine cvs., and 37 interspecific peach × almond hybrids compared to 7 almond seedlings. The level of pollen retention was presumed to reflect and integrate the degree of homogamy, the amount of pollen produced by the flower, the extent of anther-stigma contact during anthesis, and the level of pollen germination. Pollen retention averaged 5 times greater in the peach and nectarine cvs. than in the almond cvs. The greater pollen retention, characteristic of the peach, was dominant in expression in the interspecific F₁ hybrids over the lower levels of pollen retention, characteristic of the almond. Thus, gametophytic self-incompatibility is not the only trait supporting outcrossing in the almond. Our data are consistent with the concept of co-evolution of floral traits relating to different breeding strategies. The level of pollen retention could often be anticipated at anthesis on the basis of blossom phenotype. That is, stigma-anther contact was observed frequently in the blossoms of peach, nectarine, and the peach × almond F₁ hybrids, but only infrequently in almond.     

Molecular Marker based Genetic Diversity Analysis in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) using RAPD and SSR markers

The availability of an array of molecular marker systems allowed comparing the efficiency of two of these marker systems to estimate the relationships among various taxa. The objective of this study was to assess the genetic diversity among 40 cultivated varieties and five wild relatives of rice, Oryza sativa L. involving simple sequence repeat (SSR) randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The accessions were evaluated for polymorphisms after amplification with 36 decamer primers and 38 SSR primer pairs. A total of 499 RAPD markers were produced among the 40 cultivated varieties and five wild relatives with a polymorphism percentage of 90.0. Out of 38 SSR primer pairs used, only one locus viz., RM115 was monomorphic. The average Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) value was 0.578 and it ranged from a low of zero (RM 115) to a high of 0.890 (RM 202). The Mantel matrix correspondence test was used to compare the similarity matrices and the correlation coefficient was 0. 582. The test indicated that clusters produced based on RAPD and SSR markers were not conserved since matrix correlation value was 0.582 as against the minimum required value of 0.800. The two marker systems contrasted most notably in pair-by-pair comparisons of relationships. SSR analysis resulted in a more definitive separation of clusters of genotypes indicating a higher level of efficiency of SSR markers for the accurate determination of relationships between accessions that are too close to be accurately differentiated by RAPD markers. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Molecular assessment of genetic diversity in winter barley and its use in breeding

Summary During the last decades extensive progress has been achieved in winter barley breeding with respect to both, yield and resistance to fungal and viral diseases. This progress is mainly due to the efficient use of the genetic diversity present within high yielding adapted cultivars and – with respect to resistance – to the extensive evaluation of genetic resources followed by genetic analyses and introgression of respective genes by sexual recombination. Detailed knowledge on genetic diversity present on the molecular level regarding specific traits as well as on the whole genome level may enhance barley breeding today by facilitating efficient selection of parental lines and marker assisted selection procedures. In the present paper the state of the art with respect to virus diseases, i.e. Barley mild mosaic virus, Barley yellow mosaic virus, and Barley yellow dwarf virus is briefly reviewed and first results on a project aiming on a genome wide estimation of genetic diversity which in combination with data on yield and additional agronomic traits may facilitate the detection of marker trait associations and a more efficient selection of parental genotypes are presented. By field tests of 49 two-rowed and 64 six-rowed winter barley cultivars the genetic gain in yield for the period 1970–2003 was estimated at 54.6 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (r² = 0.567) for the six-rowed cultivars and at 37.5 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (r² = 0.621) for the two-rowed cultivars. Analysis of 30 SSRs revealed a non-homogenous allele distribution between two and six-rowed cultivars and changes of allele frequencies in relation to the time of release. By PCoA a separation between two and six-rowed cultivars was observed but no clear cut differentiation in relation to the time of release. In the two-rowed cultivars an increase in genetic diversity (DI) from older to newly released cultivars was detected.     

Molecular mapping of powdery mildew resistance genes in wheat: A review

Powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (syn. Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici), is one of the most important diseases of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) worldwide. Molecular mapping and cloning of genes for resistance to powdery mildew in hexaploid wheat will facilitate the study of molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to powdery mildew diseases and help understand the structure and function of powdery mildew resistance genes, and permit marker-assisted selection in breeding programs. So far, 48 genes/alleles for resistance to powdery mildew at 32 loci have been identified and located on 16 different chromosomes, of which 21 resistance genes/alleles have been tagged by restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), random-amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), sequence characterized amplified regions (SCARs), sequence-tagged sites (STS) or simple sequence repeats (SSRs). Several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for adult plant resistance (APR) to powdery mildew have been associated with molecular markers. The detailed information on chromosomal location and molecular mapping of these genes has been reviewed. Isolation of powdery mildew resistance genes and development of valid molecular markers for pyramiding resistance genes in breeding programs is also discussed.     

Genetic resources in apple,pear and vineyard peach populations in former Yugoslavia

Summary During the period 1988–90, several germplasm collecting trips were made to all republics of former Yugoslavia. A total of 56 old apple cultivars, many of which are represented in up to 5 types, 38 old pear cultivars and 367 genotypes of vineyard peaches were collected. The availability of so much genetic and genotypic wealth made it possible to start apple disease resistance breeding and peach cultivar and rootstock breeding programmes.     

Genetic linkage maps of Citrus sunki Hort. ex. Tan. and Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. and mapping of citrus tristeza virus resistance gene

The RAPD technique was used to identify genetic relationships in 19 accessions, including six species of the genus Chenopodium. A dendrogram was constructed using UPGMA from 399 DNA markers. The molecular data clustered species and accessions into five different groups. Group 1 with three cultivated varieties of C. nuttalliae, Group 2 included eight cultivars and two wild varieties of C. quinoa, Group 3 with C. berlandieri and C. album, Group 4 with two accessions of C. pallidicaule, and Group 5 with 2 accessions of C. ambrosioides. The polymorphic patterns generated by RAPD profiles showed different degrees of genetic relationship among the species studied. A low level of intraspecific variation was found within the accessions of C. quinoa, C. nuttalliae, and C. pallidicaule. The RAPD markers were found to be a useful tool for detecting genetic variation within the genus Chenopodium.     

Stability of bacterial leaf spot resistance in peach regenerants under in vitro,greenhouse and field conditions

Summary Phenotypic stability of bacterial leaf spot resistance in peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) regenerants, either selected at the cellular level for insensitivity to a toxic culture filtrate of Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni or screened at the whole plant level for resistance to X. campestris pv. pruni, was investigated. A detached-leaf bioassay was used to evaluate the original regenerants again after three years in the greenhouse and also after a two to three year cycle of tissue culture propagation. Peach trees derived through micropropagation from the original regenerants were also evaluated after one to three years growth in the field. Although leaf spot resistance was retained in some regenerants over time in the greenhouse, following in vitro propagation, and under field conditions, resistance was either lost or not expressed in others. Regenerants # 19-1 and #156-6, derived from embryo callus of bacterial spot susceptible Sunhigh, were significantly more resistant than Sunhigh. High levels of resistance were exhibited in greenhouse plants and field-grown trees of regenerant #122-1, derived from embryo callus of moderately resistant Redhaven. This research provides additional evidence that selecting or screening for somaclonal variants with disease resistance is a feasible approach to obtaining peach trees with increased levels of bacterial spot resistance.Abbreviations TC Tissue-Cultured - TF Toxic culture Filtrate     

Molecular characterization of genetic diversity in European germplasm of perennial ryegrass

Summary Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is the most important grass species for temperate grassland agriculture. The level and distribution of genetic variation in gene bank ecotype collections is still largely unknown but of great interest for the planning of breeding programs. The objectives of this study were to (i) assess the molecular diversity of Polish ecotypes of perennial ryegrass, and (ii) compare the relationship between this group and German ecotypes and European cultivars investigated previously. A total number of 166 polymorphic marker bands were detected among the 171 individual plants of the 9 Polish ecotypes. In a joint analysis with 9 Polish and 22 German ecotypes, and 22 European cultivars 172 polymorphic RAPD markers could be found. Genetic distance among the Polish ecotypes ranged from 0.31 to 0.51, while for all 53 populations a broader range was detected (0.25–0.67). An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed a much larger variation within populations (71%) than among them (29%). The Polish ecotypes contained the highest within population variation (74%). The largest among group difference (15%) was found between the Polish ecotypes versus all other accessions. We conclude that the Polish ecotypes represent a valuable genetic resource for enlarging the genetic variation in the West European germplasm pool of perennial ryegrass.     

Evaluation of genetic variation in Lachenalia bulbifera (Hyacinthaceae) using RAPDs

RAPD (randomly amplified polymorphic DNA) analyses were carried out on 21 accessions of Lachenalia bulbifera (Cyrillo) Engl. Five pre-selected primers produced an average of 88% polymorphisms. Fifteen of the 21 accessions could be identified using the five primers. In a pairwise comparison genetic distance values ranging from 0.11 to 1.08 were obtained. These values reveal a high amount of variation within the species. The genetic distance values within the tetraploid and hexaploid groups on the south coast were low, but values were high between the groups on the south coast and those on the west coast. A dendogram was constructed from the RAPD banding profiles, using UPGM cluster analysis. The dendogram clusters certain accessions together. These clusters are supported by their geographical locality and chromosome data. The hexaploid group, tetraploid group and octoploid group on the south coast are respectively clustered together. It is concluded that RAPDs can be used to assess the genetic variation at an intra-specific level in Lachenalia. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

AFLP fingerprinting in Medicago spp.: Its development and application in linkage mapping

Cultivated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L., 2n= 4x= 32) is one of the most important forage crops in temperate climates. The genus Medicago includes diploid species that are a valuable source of wild germplasm for studying the reproductive system of alfalfa and its abnormalities. A linkage map of an apomeiotic mutant of Medicago falcata (L.) Arcang. (2n= 2x= 16) that spanned 368.6 cM and included 29 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), 35 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and three restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) loci was constructed using a one-way pseudo-testcross mapping strategy. The success of such a strategy depends on the presence of sufficiently high levels of heterozygosity in the individual plant which is being mapped and on the informativeness of the marker system that is used. In general: (1) highly informative and reproducible RAPD and AFLP fingerprints were generated and several genome-specific primers selected; (2) of 67 marker loci mapped, 51 were arranged in 11 main linkage groups and eight additional couples of linked marker loci were detected; (3) mapping of an F₁ population theoretically allowed a better estimation of linkage distances since it avoided segregation distortion (x² analyses revealed segregation distortion in only 5.2% of marker loci); (4) the high frequency of unlinked marker loci obtained suggests that, in this alfalfa genotype, DNA markers are distributed throughout the genome. This type of genetic map should find application and prove useful in marker-assisted selection and map-based breeding programmes in meiotic mutants of alfalfa for which there is a lack of suitable genetic markers.     

Assessment of genetic variability in grapefruits (Citrus paradisi Macf.) and pummelos (C. maxima (Burm.) Merr.) using RAPD and SSR markers

The genetic variability of 38 grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) and three pummelos (C. maxima (Burm.) Merr..) accessions was evaluated using RAPD, and single sequence repeat (SSR) analyses. Approximately49% of the 198 RAPD were polymorphic, and 4.6 alleles per SSR loci were identified. PIC values changed from 0.093 to 0.450. A UPGMA phenetic tree was constructed and two main grapefruit groups were identified. The grapefruit accessions `do Cabo' and `Siamesa-Filipinas'clustered very close to the pummelos in Group A. The Group B consisted of three sub-groups, which comprised all of the other grapefruit accessions. The majority of grapefruit accessions showed a narrow genetic base suggesting that the observed morphological polymorphism within the group must be associated with somatic mutations, which were not detected by these molecular markers. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Comparing RAPD and AFLPTM analysis in discrimination and estimation of genetic similarities among apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivars

Forty-one apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) cultivars were screened for RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) and AFLP(Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) markers. RAPD analysis was performed with 35 arbitrary 10-mer primers, selected from 60 primers tested (kits A, C and E, Operon Technologies, Inc.). Of a total of 362bands observed, 208 (57.5%) were polymorphic. Three-hundred-and-eighty-one AFLP fragments were obtained with 8primer combinations, of which 218 (57.2%) were polymorphic. Cultivars differentiated through mutation were included in this study and showed identical patterns when analysed with both RAPD and AFLP analysis. The estimated genetic relationships were correlated (r = 73.7%) between the analysis with the two different markers. UPGMA analysis was performed and dendrograms were constructed using either the data apart from each(RAPD and AFLP) method or combined in a single joint matrix. The relationships among the forty-one studied cultivars were basically consistent with the known lineage and geographic origins of the cultivars. The four Portuguese cultivars included in this study clustered together and diverged from the other cultivars. Apparently they constitute an independent genetic pool, which could be of interest for apple plant breeders. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic and physical mapping of photoperiod insensitive gene Ppd-B1 in common wheat

Photoperiod response is a major determinant of duration of growing stages in wheat. Conscious selection for these photoperiod response genes in plant breeding programs will yield genotypes with better adaptation to diverse environments. To provide a starting point for the development of molecular markers useful for the selection process, genetic maps around the photoperiod insensitive gene Ppd-B1 were built employing three segregating populations. Of 25 markers that were selected for the Ppd-B1 region, only two could be mapped across all three populations. In pairwise comparisons, the extent of transferable markers ranged from three to eight. Recombination frequencies of markers distal to Ppd-B1 were more homogeneous than those of proximal markers. This finding suggested a closer proximity of Ppd-B1 to the markers that were mapped distal to breakpoint 0.83 in the physical map of chromosome 2BS. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The taxonomic characterisation of annual Beta germplasm in a genetic resources collection using RAPD markers

Summary Annual beets in the genus Beta section Beta represent an important genetic resource. Representative accessions of annual beets from a beet germplasm collection were analysed using RAPD to assess the patterns of variation and relationships among them. Using arbitrary primers, markers showing variation across accessions were identified. A dendrogram of similarity was produced using these molecular markers. All the accessions analysed were classified into three major groups corresponding to species or subspecies macrocarpa, adanensis and maritima. Macrocarpa was shown to be the most divergent group in this section. Using RAPD molecular markers, it was possible to ascribe an accession to one of three taxonomic groups and overcome much of the confusion encountered when morphological traits are used for identification. The group of maritima was found to be more polymorphic than either the group of macrocarpa or adanensis at both accession and subspecies levels.     

Study of genetic diversity in Indian and exotic sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) germplasm using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

Fifty-eight accessions of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), an important oil seed crop of the tropics and subtropics were analysed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. The material analysed comprised 36 collections from 18 different states of India and four adjoining countries of the Indian subcontinent, and 22 exotic accessions from 21 sesame growing countries around the world. The results from PCR amplifications with the selected 24 random 10-mer primers were statistically analysed. The value of Jaccard’s similarity coefficients ranged from 0.19 to 0.89. The results indicated the presence of high level of genetic diversity. However, the extent of genetic diversity was greater in the collections from Indian subcontinent as compared to the exotics. Among the Indian accessions, the collections from Rajasthan and North-eastern states were highly diverse. The phenetic analysis grouped 48 out of 58 accessions in six clusters and the remaining highly diverse accessions were placed outside these close-knit clusters. The Bootstrap estimates obtained by Wagner parsimony analysis were significant for seven out of 49 nodes in the majority-rule consensus tree (<95% occurrence). The results of both the analyses were, however, broadly comparable when the constitution of the individual clusters were considered. The principal components analysis indicated that the first two components accounted for only 21% of the total variations and in order to explain <75% of variations 18 components were required. The high level of genetic diversity prevalent among the Indian collections is probably indicative of the nativity of this crop species. Similarly, the relatively lower level of polymorphism in exotic germplasm could be ascribed to the comparatively recent introductions of limited germplasm of this crop into some of the non-traditional sesame growing countries. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evaluation of the genetic diversity among elite tea (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) accessions using RAPD markers

The diversity of 27 superior tea (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) accessions from Korea, Japan and Taiwan was examined with RAPD-PCR (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction) markers. Out of the 50 primers screened, 17 primers generated 58 polymorphic and reproducible bands. A minimum of 3 primers was sufficient to distinguish all the 27 accessions studied. The Shannon's index used to partition diversity into inter- and intra-group, revealed that 71 percent of variability resided within groups and 29 percent between groups. Diversity was greatest within the Korean group followed by Taiwan and Japan. The relatively high diversity observed in Korea might reflect the larger genetic base of its plantations while the low diversity in Japan could be explained by the long and intensive tea selection programme in this country. A dendrogram based on the UPGMA-link method using Jaccard's distances and multivariate Factorial correspondence analysis clustered the tea accessions into two main groups, regrouping the Taiwan cultivars on the one side and the Korean and Japanese accessions on the other side. This suggests that the Taiwan tea studied here may have a different origin from that of Korea and Japan. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A contribution to the systematics of a piedmontese plum ecotype

Prunus domestica L., P. insititia L., P. salicina Lindl. and P. cerasifera Ehrh. are the most important species included in the plum group. Many ‘cultivars’ have an undefined origin and share very similar morpho‐phenological characteristics that make their identification difficult. This is the case of ‘Ramasin’, a group of Piedmontese genotypes whose fruits are small, ellipsoidal and very tasty. They are commonly considered as P. domestica varieties, even though on the basis of some morphological characteristics they are similar to other species such as P. insititia. In order to study the origin of this group, the DNA of 25 genotypes of ‘Ramasin’, and that of some ‘cultivars’ of P. domestica, P. insititia, P. cerasifera, P. salicina and two selections of P. spinosa L. was examined. The PCR‐RAPDs method (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction) was used and all 69 primers that were tested generated more or less polymorphic bands. From the results of these analyses it can be supposed that the ‘Ramasin’ plums are a single genetically heterogeneous group. Moreover it can probably be assumed that ‘Ramasin’ arose from crosses between P. domestica and P. insititia.