Genetic analysis of resistance to green leafhopper, Nephotettix virescens (Distant), in three varieties of rice

The genetics of resistance to green leafhopper, Nephotettix virescens (Distant), in rice varieties ‘IR36’ and ‘Maddai Karuppan’ and breeding line ‘IR20965‐11‐3‐3’ was studied. The reactions of F₁ hybrids, F₂ populations and F₃ lines from the crosses of test varieties with the susceptible variety ‘TN1’ revealed that resistance in ‘IR36’ and ‘Maddai Karuppan’, is governed by single recessive genes while resistance in ‘IR20965‐11‐3‐3’ is controlled by a single dominant gene. Allele tests with the known genes for resistance to green leafhopper revealed that the recessive gene of ‘IR36’ is different from and inherited independently of Glh1, Glh2, Glh3, Glh4, Glh5, Glh8 and Glh9t. This gene is designated as glh10t. The recessive gene of ‘Maddai Karuppan’ and the dominant gene of ‘IR20965‐11‐3‐3’ are also non‐allelic to Glh1, Glh2, Glh3, Glh4, Glh5 and Glh8t. Thus, the dominant gene of IR20965‐11‐3‐3 is designated as Glh11t. The allelic relationships of the recessive gene of ‘Maddai Karuppan’ with glh8 and glh10t should be investigated.     

Genetic Analysis of Resistance to Gall Midge (Orseolia oryzae Wood Mason) in Rice

The inheritance of resistance to rice gall midge (Ranchi biotype) was studied in 12 resistant cultivars by crossing with susceptible cultivars. By the study of F₁, F₂, F₃, B₁ and B₂ generations, it was found that resistance was governed by a single dominant gene in ‘Surekha’, ‘Phalguna’, ‘Rajendra Dhan 202’, ‘IET 7918’‘IET 6187’, ‘BG 404-1’; by duplicate dominant genes in ‘W 1263’, ‘RPW 6-17’ and ‘WGL 48684’ and a monogenic recessive gene in ‘OB 677’ and ‘BKNBR 1008-21’. The allelism test of the resistant genes in the test cultivars with already known genes Gm1 and Gm2 was carried out. A single dominant gene that conveyed the resistance in ‘RPW 6–17’, ‘IET 7918’ and ‘IET 6187’ was allelic to Gm1 and segregated independently of Gm2. The resistance in ‘Phalguna’, ‘Rajendra Dhan 202’, ‘W 1263’ and ‘RPW 6–17’, ‘IR 36’ and ‘WGL 48684’ was governed by Gm2 gene which was independent of Gm1. Two additional genes were identified and designated as Gm3 and gm4. Three test cultivars ‘BG 404-1’, ‘W 1263’ and ‘WGL 48684’ were found to have Gm3 gene for resistance which was non-allelic and segregated independently of Gm1 and Gm2. Thus the cultivars ‘W 1263’ and ‘WGL 48684’ had two resistance genes Gw2 and Gm3 together. The cultivar ‘RPW 6–17’ also had two resistance genes Gm1 and Gm2 together. The recessive gene gm4 which conditioned the resistance in ‘OB 677’ and ‘BKNBR 1008-21’ was nonallelic to and segregated independently of Gm1, Gm2 and Gm3 genes. Linkage studies of the resistance gene with pigment characters were carried out in ‘Purple gora/IR 36’ cross. The resistance gene Gm2 was found to be linked with the genes governing the pigmentation in node, apiculus and stigma with crossover values of 15.78, 31.57 and 35.78 % respectively. By the trisomic analysis, it was found that the Gm2 gene was located on chromosome 3.     

Inheritance of resistance to the 'Kanpur' race of Phytophthora drechsleri in pigeonpea

Phytophthora drechsleri causes stem blight, which is one of the most serious diseases of pigeonpea. Eight races of this fungus have been identified, but the inheritance of resistance to all these races is not clear except for race P2. This study examined the inheritance of resistance to race ‘Kanpur’ (KPR) of P. drechsleri in eight crosses involving four resistant parents, viz.‘KPBR 80‐2‐1′, ‘KPBR 80‐2‐2′, ‘Hy 3C and ‘BDN 1′, and two susceptible parents, viz.‘Bahar’ and ‘PDA 10′. The reactions of the parental lines, and their F₁, F₂ and backcross generations were studied in an infected plot. In the F₁ generation of all crosses, a susceptible reaction was observed that indicated dominance of susceptibility over resistance. The segregation pattern in F₂ indicated that two homozygous recessive genes (pdr₁pdr₁pdr₂pdr₂) were responsible for imparting resistance in the parents, ‘KPBR 80‐2‐1’ and ‘KPBR 80‐2‐2′, and that a single homozygous recessive gene (pdrpdr) was responsible for resistance in the parents ‘Hy 3C and ‘BDN 1′. Therefore, ‘KPBR 80‐2‐1’ and ‘KPBR 80‐2‐2’ with two genes for resistance are better donors because the resistance transferred from them will be more durable compared with ‘Hy3C and ‘BDN1’ with only one gene for resistance.     

Linkage relationships of some genes for disease and insect resistance and semidwarf stature in rice

Summary Two-way classification of 400 F₃ families from the rice cross IR2153-159-1 x Babawee for plant stature and for resistance to brown planthopper, green leafhopper, and bacterial blight indicated that Glh 3 (dominant gene for resistance to green leafhopper) and bph 4 (recessive gene for resistance to brown planthopper) are linked with a map distance of 34 units. The bph 4 gene also appears to be linked with sd ₁ (recessive gene for semidwarf stature) although the linkage is less strong. However, bph 4 and Xa 4 (dominant gene for bacterial blight resistance) are inherited independently of each other. No segregation for susceptibility was observed among F₃ families of crosses between varieties having Bph 3 and bph 4 genes for resistance to brown planthopper. Apparently, Bph 3 and bph 4 are either allelic or closely linked.     

Inheritance of resistance to whitebacked planthopper,Sogatella furcifera (Horvath) in some rice cultivars

Summary The genetics of resistance to whitebacked planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (Horvath) in ten resistant cultivars was studied. The reactions of the F₁, F₂ and F₃ populations of resistant varieties with Taichung Native 1, a suspectible check, showed that WBPH resistance is monogenic in nature and governed by dominant gene(s) in Ptb 19 and IET 6288 and recessive gene in eight cultivars viz. ARC 5838, ARC 6579, ARC 6624, ARC 10464, ACR 11321, ARC 11320, Balamawee and IR 2415-90-4-3. Allelic relationship of resistance gene(s) in the test cultivars revealed recessive gene in IR 2415-90-4-3, ARC 5838 and ARC 11324 to be allelic but it was non allelic to the resistance gene in ARC 6624. Cultivars ARC 6579, ARC 11321 and Balamawee have identical gene among themselves but their relationship with IR 2415-90-4-3, ARC 5838, ARC 11324 and ARC 6624 is unknown. The recessive gene in ARC 10464 is non-identical to all other cultivars having the recessive gene except ARC 6624 with which its relationship needs further investigation.     

Inheritance of resistance to the Russian wheat aphid in an Iranian durum wheat line

The Russian wheat aphid (RWA), Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), is a major economic pest of small grains in many countries. An experiment was therefore conducted to determine the inheritance of gene(s) controlling resistance to RWA in a resistant tetraploid durum wheat line. This resistant line,‘1881′, was crossed to a susceptible line, ‘Orejy‐e‐Kazeroon’, and then F₁ F₂ and BCF₁ (backcross to susceptible line) seedlings were screened in a greenhouse for RWA resistance following artificial infection. Resistance in ‘1881’ was apparently controlled by one dominant gene. Since Dnl, Dn2, dn3, Dn4 and Dn5 have been reported to be located on genome D, it was reasoned that the resistance gene in ‘1881’ is not allelic to them.     

Evaluation of common wheat cultivars for tan spot resistance and chromosomal location of a resistance gene in the cultivar 'Salamouni'

A total of 50 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars were evaluated for resistance to tan spot, using Pyrenophora tritici‐repentis race 1 and race 5 isolates. The cultivars ‘Salamouni’, ‘Red Chief’, ‘Dashen’, ‘Empire’ and ‘Armada’ were resistant to isolate ASC1a (race 1), whereas 76% of the cultivars were susceptible. Chi‐squared analysis of the F₂ segregation data of hybrids between 20 monosomic lines of the wheat cultivar ‘Chinese Spring’ and the resistant cultivar ‘Salamouni’ revealed that tan spot resistance in ‘Salamouni’ was controlled by a single recessive gene located on chromosome 3A. This gene is designated tsn4. The resistant cultivars identified in this study are recommended for use in breeding programmes to improve tan spot resistance in common wheat.     

Development of cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers linked to a green rice leafhopper resistance gene, Grh3(t)

The chromosomal location of the resistance gene for green rice leafhopper (GRLH), an injurious insect for rice, has been determined and RFLP markers closely linked to this gene have been identified. The susceptible japonica rice variety ‘Nipponbare’ was crossed with a resistant japonica rice line ‘Aichi42’, in which green rice leaf hopper resistance had been introduced from an indica variety ‘Rantaj‐emas2’, and the 100 F₂ plants obtained were used for linkage analysis. The green rice leafhopper resistance gene, Grh3(t), was mapped between RFLP markers C288B and C133A on chromosome 6 and co‐segregated with C81. Of the RFLP markers tightly linked to Grh3(t), C81 was converted to a SCAR marker and C133A to a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence marker that could distinguish the heterozygous genotype to establish an effective marker‐aided selection system for the GRLH resistance gene.     

Resistance to the Barley Yellow Mosaic Virus Complex — Differential Genotypic Reactions and Genetics of BaMMV-Resistance of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Barley yellow mosaic disease is caused by several viruses, i.e. barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV), barley mild mosaic virus (BaMMV) and BaYMV-2. The reaction of different barley germplasms to the barley mosaic viruses was studied in field and greenhouse experiments. The results show a complex situation; some varieties are resistant to all the viruses, while others are resistant to one or two of them only. Crosses between different barley germplasms were earned out in order to test whether genetic diversity of resistance against mosaic viruses does exist, particularly, BaMMV. A total of 45 foreign barley varieties were crossed to German cultivars carrying the resistance gene ym4. In F₂ of 27 crosses, no segregation could be detected, leading to the conclusion that the resistance genes of the foreign parents are allelic with ym4 e.g. Ym1 (‘Mokusekko 3’) and Ym2 (‘Mihori Hadaka 3’). A total of 18 crosses segregated in F₂ indicating that foreign parents, like ‘Chikurin Ibaraki 1’, ‘Iwate Omugi 1’, and “Anson Barley”, carry resistance genes different from the gene of German cultivars, e.g. ‘Asorbia’ or ‘Franka’. By means of statistical evaluation (Chi²-test), the observed segregation ratios were analyzed in order to obtain significant information on the heredity of resistance. All the resistance genes described here as being different from the gene ym4, act recessively. Most of the exotic varieties seem to carry only one resistance gene. In a few cases, more than one gene may be present.     

Inheritance of insensitivity to culture filtrate of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, race 2, in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Tan spot of wheat is caused by the fungus Pyrenophora tritici‐repentis. On susceptible hosts, P. tritici‐repentis induces two phenotypically distinct symptoms, tan necrosis and chlorosis. This fungus produces several toxins that induce tan necrosis and chlorosis symptoms in susceptible cultivars. The objectives of this study were to determine the inheritance of insensitivity to necrosis‐inducing culture filtrate of P. tritici‐repentis, race 2, and to establish the relationship between the host reaction to culture filtrate and spore inoculation with respect to the necrosis component. The F₁, F₂, and BC₁F₁ plants and F_2:8 lines of five crosses involving resistant wheat genotypes ‘Erik’, ‘Red Chief’, and line 86ISMN 2137 with susceptible cultivars ‘Glenlea’ and ‘Kenyon’ were studied. Plants were spore‐inoculated at the two‐leaf stage. Four days later, the newly emerged uninoculated third leaf was infiltrated with a culture filtrate of isolate Ptr 92–164 (race 2). Reactions to the spore inoculation and the culture filtrate were recorded 8 days after spore inoculation. The segregation observed in the F₂ and BC₁F₁ generations and the F_2:8 lines of all crosses indicated that a single recessive gene controlled insensitivity to necrosis caused by culture filtrate. This gene also controlled resistance to necrosis induced by spore inoculation.     

Genes for race-specific resistance against blackleg disease in Brassica napus L.

Specificity of interaction at the cotyledon stage was recently demonstrated between the blackleg pathogen, Leptosphaeria maculans, and Brassica napus. Three pathogenicity groups were distinguished, PG2 avirulent towards ‘Quinta’ and ‘Glacier’, PG3 avirulent towards ‘Quinta’, and PG4 virulent on the two cultivars. The genetic control of the interactions was investigated on both the pathogen and the plant. Tetrad analysis was performed following PG3 × PG4 and PG2 × PG4 crosses.‘Quinta’ and ‘Glacier’ were crossed with the susceptible winter oilseed rape cultivar ‘Score’. The analysis of F₁, F₂ and testcross populations suggested that the incompatible interaction between ‘Quinta’ and PG3 isolates is conditioned by the presence of the dominant single resistance allele Rlml in ‘Quinta’ and the matching avirulence gene AvrLml in L. maculans. Race-specific resistance of ‘Glacier’ to PG2 isolates was conditioned by the matching gene pair Rlm2/AvrLm2. Finally, the data suggest that two avirulence genes matching two dominant loci control the ‘Quinta’-PG2 interaction. The consequences of the occurrence of race-specific resistance in B. napus are discussed with respect to future breeding for blackleg resistance.     

The linkage between the stem rust resistance gene Sr2 and pseudo-black chaff in wheat can be broken

Recessively inherited gene Sr2 has provided the basis of durable resistance to stem rust (caused by Puccinia graminis tritici) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) worldwide. The associated earhead and stem melanism or ‘pseudo‐black chaff’ is generally used as a marker for this gene. Sr2 has been postulated in many wheat cultivars of India including ‘Lok 1’, based on associated pseudo‐black chaff in adult plants, and leaf chlorosis in seedlings. However, dominant inheritance of the resistance factor operating in ‘Lok 1’, and a 13 : 3 (resistant : susceptible) F₂ segregation in the ‘Sr2‐line’ (‘Chinese Spring’⁶ × ‘Hope’ 3B) × ‘Lok 1’ cross confirmed that Sr2 was absent in ‘Lok 1’. Susceptible plants with a pseudo‐black chaff phenotype were observed in F₂ populations of ‘Agra Local’ (susceptible) × ‘Lok 1’, and the ‘Sr2‐line’ × ‘Lok 1’ crosses. Most of the F₃ families derived from the susceptible F₂ segregants with pseudo‐black chaff phenotypes were true breeding for the expression of pseudo‐black chaff with susceptibility to stem rust. Thus, linkage of pseudo‐black chaff with Sr2 in wheat can be broken, and hence, caution may be exercised in using pseudo‐black chaff as a marker for selecting Sr2 in breeding programmes.     

Genetics of Resistance to Four Races of Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae in Some Rice Cultivars

Inheritance of resistance to four Philippine races of bacterial Might caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae was investigated in four cultivars of rice, Oryza sativa L. Resistance to three races in ‘Benamuri’ and ‘Aus 192’ is governed by xa-5. In ‘Tepal Boro’ and ‘Bazail 975′, resistance to races 1, 2. and 3 is conferred by xa-5, but another recessive gene confers resistance to race 4. This recessive gene is closely linked to xa-5 and may be allelic to xa-13. Rice cultivars with xa-13 are resistant to prevalent races of bacteria] blight in the Indian subcontinent and should thus prove useful as donors for resistance to bacterial blight in rice breeding programs.     

A leaf rust resistance gene, different from Lr34, associated with leaf tip necrosis in wheat

The gene Lr34 has contributed to durable resistance to leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina in wheat worldwide. The closely associated leaf tip necrosis is generally used as the gene's marker. Lr34 has been postulated in many Indian bread wheat cultivars including ‘C 306’, based on the associated leaf tip necrosis and a few other field and glasshouse observations. The present study showed monogenic control of adult‐plant resistance in ‘C 306’ to leaf rust pathotype 77‐5 (121R63‐1). The F₂ segregation in the crosses between ‘C 306’ and the two known carriers of Lr34, ‘Line 897’ and ‘Jupateco 73’‘R’ fitted a digenic ratio. The F₃ families derived from the susceptible F₂ segregants were true breeding for susceptibility, proving the absence of Lr34 in ‘C 306’. The cross between ‘Line 897’ and ‘Jupateco 73’‘R’ did not segregate for susceptibility. Resistance in the cross ‘Agra Local’ (susceptible) × ‘C 306’ was associated with leaf tip necrosis, showing that the leaf rust resistance gene in ‘C 306’ was associated with leaf tip necrosis, but was different from Lr34. This gene is being temporarily designated as Lr‘C 306’. Hence, leaf tip necrosis cannot be considered as an exclusive marker for selecting Lr34 in wheat improvement.     

Combining ability for beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, resistance and horticultural traits of selected Lycopersicon pennellii-derived inbred backcross lines of tomato

Ten selected inbred backcross lines (IBL), from a Lycopersicon esculentum cv.‘Peto 84’×Lycopersicon pennellii IBL population, with resistance to beet armyworm (BAW), Spodoptera exigua, higher fruit mass and fruit yield, were crossed with eight elite cultivated L. esculentum inbred lines in a Design II mating design. Three elite inbreds were also crossed to ‘Peto 84′, the IBL recurrent parent, as a control for combining ability. Field plots of all resulting F₁ progenies and control cultivars were inoculated with BAW eggs and evaluated for resistance to BAW, fruit mass, fruit yield, vine size and maturity at three field locations. Reductions in fruit damage by BAW were found in four of the 10 IBL F₁ progenies. Significant male and female general combining ability (GCA) estimates for BAW resistance were observed, but significant specific combining ability for BAW resistance was not detected. The fruit mass of F₁ hybrids was significantly lower than large-fruited controls, but was not significantly different from elite inbred by ‘Peto 95’F₁ hybrids. Selection based on inbred performance identified IBL with positive GCA for BAW resistance and yields in Design II hybrids. BAW resistance in the 09 selected IBL and IBL- derived F₁ progeny was associated with two undesirable traits, later maturity and larger vine size. Index selection of IBL was more effective at identifying IBL with positive GCA for fruit mass and fruit yield than GCA for BAW resistance.     

Genetic analysis of tissue culture traits in barley cv. 'Lenins'

The barley cultivar ‘Lenins’ was found to be a genotype showing high shoot regeneration ability in cultures derived from immature embryos. Five cultivars different from ‘Lenins’ in shoot regeneration ability were reciprocally crossed with ‘Lenins’ and the inheritance of tissue culture traits was investigated. F₂ plants showed continuous distributions in callus growth and percentage of shoot regeneration, suggesting that these traits were controlled by polygenes. The F₂ population, derived from a cross between ‘Lenins’ and ‘6721′, showed a monogenic segregation for the number of regenerated shoots, and the segregation ratio fitted 1:2:1. Tissue culture traits of ‘Lenins’ were controlled by several genes, whereas the number of regenerated shoots related to the efficiency of shoot regeneration is controlled by one major gene.     

Identification of two new genes conferring resistance to rice blast in the Chinese native cultivar 'Maowangu'

The Chinese native rice cultivar ‘Maowangu’ expresses a high level of resistance to many races of rice blast (Pyricularia grisea) collected from North China and Japan. ‘Maowangu’ was crossed with 10 Japanese differential cultivars and the susceptible Chinese cultivar ‘Lijiangxintuanheigu’ (LTH). Allelism tests were conducted in the F₂ populations with rice blast races. The resistance of ‘Maowangu’ was governed by two dominant genes which were non-allelic to the resistance genes at seven loci: Pi-a, Pi-i, Pi-k, Pi-z, Pi-ta, Pi-b, and Pi-t. To identify the two resistance genes, two F₃ lines of ‘Shin 2/Maowangu’ segregating 3R:1S were selected for linkage tests in 1994. One was linked to marker genes C and Amp-3 on chromosome 6 with recombination frequencies of 35.8 ± 6.4% and 42.1 ± 6.2%, respectively, and the other to Amp-1 on chromosome 2 with a recombination frequency of 37.6 ± 6.0%. To confirm these results, two F₃ lines of ‘LTH/Maowangu’ were selected for linkage tests in 1995. The one was linked to Amp-3, and other was linked to Amp-1, with recombination frequencies of 36.9 ± 3.1% and 34.3 ± 3.2%, respectively. The two genes on chromosomes 6 and 2 were designated Pi13(t) and Pi14(t), respectively.     

Identification of stable maintainer and fertility restorer lines for 'Polima' CMS in Brassica campestris

‘Polima’ cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) was transferred from ‘Polima’ Brassica napus ‘ISN 706’to five different cultivars of Brassica campestris (‘Pusa kalyani’, ‘Pant toria’, ‘Candle’, ‘Tobin’ and ‘ATC 94211′) by repeated backcrossing. It was observed that, while ‘Polima’ CMS manifested complete and stable male sterility in the nuclear backgrounds of ‘Pusa kalyani’, ‘Pant toria’, and ‘Tobin’, the cultivars ‘Candle’ and ‘ATC 94211’possessed the restorer gene for this CMS in the heterozygous condition. An analysis of F₁ and F₂ generations of ‘Polima’‘Pusa kalyani’בCandle’ and ‘Polima’‘Pusa kalyani’בATC 94211’ revealed that restoration is controlled by a single dominant gene. Identification of stable maintainers and restorers of ‘Polima’ CMS could facilitate the development of hybrid varieties in B. campestris.     

Genetic basis of seedling-resistance to leaf rust in bread wheat 'Thatcher'

The bread wheat cultivar ‘Thatcher’ is documented to carry the gene Lr22b for adult‐plant resistance to leaf rust. Seedling‐resistance to leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina in the bread wheat cultivar ‘Thatcher’, the background parent of the near‐isogenic lines for leaf rust resistance genes in wheat, is rare and no published information could be found on its genetic basis. The F₂ and F₃ analysis of the cross ‘Agra Local’ (susceptible) × ‘Thatcher’ showed that an apparently incompletely dominant gene conditioned seedling‐resistance in ‘Thatcher’ to the three ‘Thatcher’‐avirulent Indian leaf rust pathotypes – 0R8, 0R8‐1 and 0R9. Test of allelism revealed that this gene (temporarily designated LrKr1) was derived from ‘Kanred’, one of the parents of ‘Thatcher’. Absence of any susceptible F₂ segregants in a ‘Thatcher’ × ‘Marquis’ cross confirmed that an additional gene (temporarily designated LrMq1) derived from ‘Marquis’, another parent of ‘Thatcher’, was effective against pathotype 0R9 alone. These two genes as well as a second gene in ‘Kanred’ (temporarily designated LrKr2), which was effective against all the three pathotypes, but has not been inherited by ‘Thatcher’, seem to be novel, undocumented leaf rust resistance genes.     

Evidence of allelism between genes Pm8 and Pm17 and chromosomal location of powdery mildew and leaf rust resistance genes in the common wheat cultivar'Amigo'

TIBL-1RS wheat-rye translocation cultivars utilized in wheat programmes worldwide carry powdery mildew resistance gene Pm8. Cultivar‘Amigo’possesses resistance gene Pm17 on its TIAL-1RS translocated chromosome. To be able to use Pm17efficiently in breeding programmes, this gene was transferred to a TIBL-1RS translocation in line Helami-105, and allelism between Pm8 and Pm17was studied. The progenies of the hybrids in the F₂ generation and F₃ families provided evidence that the two genes are allelic. Genetic studies using monosomic analyses confirmed that in cultivar‘Amigo', Pm17 and leaf rust resistance gene Lr24 are located on a translocated chromosome involving 1 A and 1B, respectively.