Recurrent selection for seed quality traits in an opaque-2 maize population

Summary The aim of this research was to evaluate the response to phenotypic recurrent selection for four seed quality traits, i.e. protein content, dye binding capacity, tryptophan content, and specific weight, in a modified opaque-2 population of maize (Zea mays L.). Changes in other agronomic traits were also studied. Four selection cycles, using as selection criterion an index constructed from the four seed quality traits, were completed on an individual plant basis. The material from each cycle and from testerosses of each cycle with a homozygous opaque-2 tester was grown for two consecutive years to evaluate the progress due to selection. The results showed that four cycles of recurrent selection induced sizeable variations among cycles for all selected traits. The rate of progress for the four seed quality traits was nearly linear. Further-more, theldata show that improvement in seed-protein related traits had no negative effects on grain yield and kernel weight, when evaluated as the mean performance of testerosses. There was also no appreciable alteration in the other agronomic traits caused by selection for seed quality traits.     

The effects of bud self-pollination and open flower self-pollination on the field characteristics of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. Italica)

Summary Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) progenies grown from seed obtained by greenhouse budpollination (BP), open-flower self-pollination (OS), open-flower self-pollination with ether treatment of the stigma (OSE), and cross.pollination (CP) were compared in the field. For plant height, plant weight, head diameter, and head weight, BP resulted in the lowest values, OS and OSE were intermediate, and CP gave highest values. BP was highest, OS and OSE intermediate, and CP lowest for days to head emergence and days to harvest. Differences between OS and OSE were slight and all were non-significant for the 7 lines with complete data, but were significant for plant weight and head diameter when 20 lines were analyzed by the unweighted means method. The comparison BP versus OS-OSE was non-significant for plant height in both analyses and for head weight in the 7-line analysis only. In a second experiment using only BP and OS, and omitting days to head emergence, trends were similar but only the effects on head diameter were statistically significant. In the greenhouse, BP produced much more seed than either OS or OSE, and CP produced more than BP. Treatment of the stigma of open flowers with ether to overcome self-incompatibility did not result in greater seed production. Weight/100 seeds was higher in CP but did not differ among the three self-pollination methods.Technical Paper 5089, Oregon Agricultural Expriment Station.     

Selection for Seed Yield Production of Egyptian Clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) C. V. Fahl

Modified mass and family selection for seed yield production of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) c.v. ‘Fahl’ were applied for two generations. Two hundred plants (5 % intensity of selection) were selected for seed yield in the first season, 1985/86. In the second season, 1986/87, selection between and within half-sib families was practiced. In addition, equal parts of seeds from each of the 200 selected plants were bulked to form the C₁ modified mass selection; after establishing, the same procedure was adopted to form the C₂ generation. The cycles 1 and 2 of half-sib families and modified mass selection along with the base population family were evaluated for forage and seed yields. The realized gains from modified mass selection were 6.03 and 9.51 % for fresh forage yield, 5.57 and 10.86 % for protein yield and 13.23 and 16.19 % for seed yield in cycles 1 and 2, respectively, over the base population. The realized gain from family selection in cycle 2 as a percentage of the base population mean amounted to 11.32, 13.35, 17.47 and 3.15% for forage, protein, and seed yield and seed index, respectively. The broad sense heritability, as estimated from the variance components was 89.63, 63.03, and 76.67 % for dry forage, seed yield and seed index, respectively. Although, all these five traits (fresh, dry, protein, and seed yield and seed index) had positive correlation with each other, weak correlations were found between seed yield and forage yields. Furthermore, close associations were found among forage yield traits.     

Effects of recurrent selection for resistance to scab (Gibberella zeae) in wheat

Summary Scab caused by Gibberella zeae Petch., in common wheat, is one of the most severe diseases in China. A source population C0, bred for scab resistance, was developed through three cycles of multiple-parent crossing and intercrossing by means of the dominant male-sterile gene Ta1 (Ms2), according to Wu's scheme. Phenotypic recurrent selection methods for increasing the resistance to scab-infection of spikelets and seeds with the male-sterile plants were carried out simultaneously in Nanjing and Shanghai and at Jianyang, Fujian Province, for three cycles. The generations from C0 to C3 and two check cultivars were evaluated, using a randomized block design, under conditions of an artificially induced epidemic of scab during 1988–1990. The results indicate that there were significant differences in the resistance to scab between these generations. On average, the percentages of diseased spikelets and seeds of the male-fertile plants were reduced by 9% and 10%, respectively. The frequency of resistant plants was distinctly enhanced by recurrent selection. Analysis of variance showed that no significant differences existed between cycles of recurrent selection in agronomic characters such as plant height, spikes per plant, spike length, numbers of spikelets and seeds per spike, weight of seeds per spike and 100-kernel weight, days to heading and to maturity. Except for plant height, most of these traits tended to be slightly improved with improvement of resistance in the gene pool. The variance for resistance in the generations was decreased under selection. Recurrent selection for scab resistance using the dominant male-sterile gene Ta1 (Ms2) was both an effective and feasible breeding method for producing this character in wheat.     

Phenotypic recurrent selection in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) based on performance of S2 progenies

Summary The effect of a recurrent selection procedure for improving seed yield per plant was evaluated in common bean. Progress was registered after three cycles of recurrent selection with S2 progeny evaluation performed on the grain yield/plant. Gain from selection was estimated by field testing 45 random S2 lines from each of the C0, C1 and C2 populations. Response to selection for seed yield/plant was 6 g from C0 to C1 and 4.4 g from C1 to C2. The seed yield improvement was due principally to an increase in pods/plant; little contribution was provided by the 1000-seed weight and seeds/pod traits. Broad-sense heritability and genotypic variance for grain yield remained high in all cycles which suggests further gain from additional selection cycles. Grain yield/plant is significantly correlated to pods/plant and seeds/pod traits in all cycles, indicating that plants with favourable combinations of these traits could be identified. The proposed recurrent selection procedure appears to be effective in improving the population and extracting superior genotypes for varietal development.     

Correlated Response to Selection for Protein Yield in Oats After Three Cycles of Recurrent Selection

Three oat (Avena saliva L.) populations (i.e., lines of descent), high grain yield (HG), high protein content (HP), and high protein yield per se (HGP), each developed by three cycles of S, recurrent selection, were evaluated for the effect of selection for groat-protein yield upon other agronomic traits. Selections making up the HG line of descent had high protein yield primarily due to high grain yield, and those selected for HP had high protein yield due to both high protein content and high grain yield. Selection in HGP was on the basis of protein yield per se. Selection caused increases in bundle weight, harvest index, vegetative growth rate, and seed number in all lines of descent. Heading date, plant height, and seed weight were unaffected, whereas groat percentage and test weight were decreased in HP and HGP. Heritabilities were high for heading date, plant height, test weight, and seed weight, moderate for harvest index and bundle weight, and low for groat percentage. Genetic variability generally declined from CO to C3 for all traits. Groat-protein yield and amount of protein per groat increased in all lines of descent. In HG, the increase in groat weight was due primarily to increases in the nonprotein fraction, with groat-protein content actually decreasing. In HGP, groat weight increased due to increases in protein and nonprotein fractions, and groat protein content remained constant. In HP, groat weight and amount of nonprotein per groat decreased, thus increasing groat-protein content. Three cycles of recurrent selection resulted in oat lines with groat-protein yields significantly higher than the highest lines from CO. Utilization of index selection may be desirable to obtain populations of greater breeding value.     

A source of resistance to seed shattering in kleingrass,Panicum coloratum L.

Summary Seed of kleingrass, P. coloratum, ripen nonuniformly and shatter readily at maturity. Consequently, it is difficult to maximize both seed quality and yield. A source of resistance to seed shattering is needed. In this investigation, two kleingrass populations, the cultivar Selection-75, and an introduction from South Africa, PI 410177, were evaluated for seed shattering during three seed production seasons. Individual inflorescences from field-grown plants were enclosed in seed traps and all shattered seed was collected at weekly intervals until 49 days after anthesis. Although there were seasonal differences, PI 410177 always shattered seed at a slower rate than Selection-75 in each of the three seasons. Averaged over all seasons Selection-75 had shattered 74% of its seed by 49 days after anthesis while PI 410177 shattered only 37%. A separate greenhouse-field experiment demonstrated that seasonal differences in seed shattering are primarily the result of varying weather conditions during the period of seed production. PI 410177 is the first reported source of resistance to seed shattering in P. coloratum.     

Insect-mediated cross-pollination in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]: II. Phenotypic recurrent selection

Recurrent selection is a method for population improvement which has been used in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] to modify traits such as grain yield, seed-protein content, seed-oil content, tolerance to iron-deficiency chlorosis, and seed size. Nuclear male-sterility with insect-mediated cross-pollination has been successfully used in recurrent selection schemes in soybean. However, little attention has been given to selection to increase the agronomic performance of male-sterile plants per se. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of male-sterile lines segregating for male-sterile alleles ms2, ms3, ms6, ms8, and ms9 to phenotypic recurrent selection for increased seed-set after 3 cycles, using a selected group of male parents. Bees halictidae, anthophoridae, andrenidae, and megachilidae were utilized as the pollinator vector. The results indicated that recurrent selection in a favorable environment was successful to increase the number of seeds per male-sterile plant. Although a differential response was observed among populations, the seed-set observed would justify the use of some specific male-sterile selections as female parents in a hybrid soybean seed production system.     

Developing high oleic acid in Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass. by plant breeding

Oleic acid content was increased from approximately 5–11% to 80–86% in Guizotia abyssinica (L. f.) Cass. materials from Ethiopia after repeated selection and breeding. Achenes collected from Ethiopia were screened for elevated oleic acid content by half seed technique. The starting materials for breeding were nine plants selected from among 272 seeds analysed and having an average oleic acid content of approximately 21% which is considered to be high compared with the 5–11% reported earlier for niger materials of Ethiopian origin. It was observed that the oleic acid content steadily increased after each round of selection and breeding. The percent oleic acid in the seed oil increased to an average of 35.2% and 53.4% after the first and second round of breeding, respectively and ultimately to over 80% after the third round of breeding. It was also observed that the percent oleic acid in the oil stabilizes and the plants breed true when the oleic acid content in the parental seeds was above 79%.     

Genetic relationships among cold, salt and drought tolerance during seed germination in an interspecific cross of tomato

Seed of BC₁ progeny of an interspecific cross between a slow germinating Lycopersicon esculentum breeding line(NC84173; maternal and recurrent parent) and a fast germinating L.pimpinellifolium accession (LA722) were evaluated for germination under cold stress, salt stress and drought stress, and in each treatment the most rapidly germinating seeds (first 2%) were selected. Selected individuals were grown to maturity and self-pollinated to produce BC₁S₁ progeny families. The selected BC₁S₁ progeny from each experiment were evaluated for germination rate in each of a non stress (control),cold-, salt- and drought-stress treatment, and their performances were compared with those of a non selected BC₁S₁population in the same treatments. Results indicated that selection for rapid seed germination in each of the three stress treatments was effective and significantly improved progeny germination rate under all three stress conditions. The results support the suggestion that same genes might control the rate of seed germination under cold, salt and drought stress. Furthermore, selection in each of the three stress treatments resulted in improved progeny seed germination rate under nonstress conditions, suggesting that genetic mechanisms that facilitate rapid seed germination under stress conditions might also contribute to rapid germination under nonstress conditions. In practice, therefore, selection for rapid seed germination under a single stress environment may result in progeny with improved seed germination under a wide range of environmental conditions. Furthermore, to improve germination rate under nonstress conditions, it might be more efficient to make selections under stress conditions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Recurrent Mass Selection for Reduced Seed Dormancy in Cuphea lanceolata and Cuphea laminuligera

Seed dormancy is a domestication barrier in certain Cuphea species. Between and within species variation has been observed for seed dormancy in agronomically promising Cuphea species, e.g., C. laminuligera Koehne and C lanceolata Ait. In tins note, we report on progress made in reducing seed dormancy through recurrent mass selection in the C. lanceolata population LN43 and LN78. The germination percentages of unselected LA12 and LN43 populations increased from 0.0 % to greater than 95.0 % following an after-ripening period of 20 weeks. We observed no germination percentage differences between unselected and selected LN43 populations following two cycles of selection. In contrast, there were highly significant differences between the unselected and selected populations of LA12 following two cycles of selection. The germination percentages of cycle zero (C₀) and cycle two (C₂) populations after-ripened 10 weeks were 10.7 and 92.7 %, respectively. After one cycle of selection in the C. Lanceolata population LN78, the germination percentage of seed after-ripened 10 weeks had increased from 1.3 % for the C_o population to 28.7 % for the C₀ population. In summary, mass selection greatly reduced seed dormancy in LA12 and LN78, but had no effect in LN43.     

Genetics of Seed Yield and its Components in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) of Middle-American Origin

Genetic variance, heritability, and expected response from selection arc useful in devising alternative methods and criteria of: selection. The objectives of this study were to estimate these for seed yield and its components from 200 F₂: populations involving 80 cultivars and lines of mostly small-seeded dry bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) of habits growth I, II, and III of Middle-American origin. All cultivars and lines were crossed in eight sets of ten parents each in a Design II mating system. The F₂ populations, without parents, were evaluated in the field in a replicates-in-sets design at two locations in Colombia in 1983. Estimates of additive genetic variance were significant for yield, pods/m², seeds/pod, and seed weight. Interaction with environments was also significant. Values for nonadditive genetic variance were not significant for either yield or yield components. The estimates of narrow sense heritability, based on the F₂ population mean and unbiased by genotype x environment interaction, were 0.21 ± 0.13 for yield. 20 ± 0.13 for pods/m², 0.57 ± 0.13 for seeds/pod, and 0.74 ± 0.15 for seed weight. The expected direct response from selection of the top 20 % of F₂ populations for yield per se would result in a 4.30 % increase in yield with a correlated response of 0.21 % in seed weight. In contrast, the expected gain from direct selection for seed weight would result in a 11.76 % increase in seed weight with a, correlated gain of 0.28 % for yield. Direct selection for pods/m² would decrease yield, seeds/pod and seed weight, while direct selection for seeds/pod would reduce pods/m² and seed weight but increase seed yield by 0.37 %. Data on yield from replicated trials in the early segregating generations could be utilized for identification and selection of promising crosses and families or lines with crosses for dry bean yield improvement.     

Alloplasmic effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. juncea</Emphasis> on seed characteristics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. carinata</Emphasis>

Effects of Brassica napus (N) and B. juncea (J) cytoplasm on seed characteristics of B. carinata (C) were examined. Alloplasmic lines of B. carinata were produced from N × C and J × C hybrids by recurrent backcrossing to the BC₈ generation. Fourteen sets of reciprocal crosses were used. Compared with their euplasmic sibs, alloplasmic B. carinata line seeds with B. napus cytoplasm showed reduced dormancy, higher seed weight, lower germination rate at high temperatures, higher germination rate at low temperatures, and had lower erucic acid and higher linoleic acid contents. Alloplasmic B. carinata line seeds with B. juncea cytoplasm had higher seed weight but lower germination rate than their corresponding euplasmic sibs. These results showed a cytoplasmic effect on seed development, and an influence on seed weight, dormancy, and fatty acid composition. B. carinata was more deleteriously affected by cytoplasm from B. napus than by cytoplasm of B. juncea.     

Genetic improvement of soybean varieties released in India from 1969 to 1993

Summary Soybean is an important oilseed crop in India and varieties with high yield potential are being developed since 1969. This study was conducted to assess the impact of breeding on yield and plant characteristics during the last 25 years. A 3-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate forty three soybean varieties belonging to two different selection cycles and representing most of the varieties developed in the domestic breeding programme of India from 1969 to 1993. Varieties resulting from selection cycle 1 showed 4 times higher seed yield and harvest index as compared to the farm traditional variety Kalitur. This yield increase was due to an increase in biomass, pods plant^–1, mean seed weight and longer seed filling duration, but a reduced plant height and improved lodging tolerance, less seeds pod^–1 and early flowering and maturity dates. The varieties of selection cycle 2 showed 19% higher seed yields and 16% increase in harvest index over selection cycle 1 accompanied by longer seed filling duration, more seeds pod^–1 and reduced plant height. The annual genetic gain in seed yield of soybean varieties released in India from 1969 to 1993 was approximately 22 kg ha^–1.     

Responses in Agronomic Traits Associated with Three Recurrent Selection Regimes for Groat-Oil Content in Oat*

Crop strains with high values for the selected trait but unacceptable agronomic characteristics are not useful as varieties. In this study, we determined whether selection for groat-oil content in oat (Avena sativa L.) via three recurrent selection regimes caused associated changes in 10 agronomic traits. Random lines of each cycle of selection of each regime were evaluated in a replicated field experiment at two locations. Biomass, grain yield, groat yield, and test weight decreased in all three regimes. Seed weight and plant height decreased in two regimes, and groat fraction in one. Oil yield increased in two regimes and decreased in the other. Plants headed earlier in one and later in another regime over cycles of selection. No changes in harvest index occurred. Heritabilities and genetic variances were relatively high for all traits in each regime. Factor analysis of the phenotypic correlation matrices indicated that simultaneous increases in grain yield and in groat-oil content are possible, that continuous selection for groat-oil content decreases groat fraction and test weight, and that seed weight is strongly and negatively associated with groat-oil content. A new recurrent selection regime for increasing groat-oil content of oat that may overcome the negative responses of agronomic traits was proposed.     

Durum Wheat under Mediterranean Conditions as Affected by Seed Size

This study was carried out in order to determine the effect of seed size on the growth and yield of durum wheat. Four field experiments, composed of six durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) varieties and three seeding sizes were conducted in north‐east Spain in 2000 and 2001 in randomized complete block designs. The growth of seedlings was dramatically affected by seed size. Large seeds produced greater plot stands, but the plants had fewer tillers, leaves and spikes and less green area and dry weight than plots from small seeds. Grain yield was 16 % greater in plots from large seeds, which resulted in greater biomass, green area index, spikes per m² and heavier kernels than in plots from small seeds. Kernel weight was the yield component most related to grain yield in the three seed sizes. The percentage of yield variation explained by kernel weight increased as the weight of kernels increased. This was a consequence of the use of larger seeds, the same effect being observed when the comparison was made between varieties with different kernel weights. Selection for heavy kernel varieties may help to improve the yield of durum wheat in Mediterranean environments similar to that prevailing in north‐east Spain.     

Recurrent selection increases seed germination in little bluestem (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Schizachyrium scoparium</Emphasis>)

Rainfall is often inadequate for satisfactory seed germination and emergence under field conditions. This research was designed to improve the seed germination of six experimental populations of little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash]. Two cycle of recurrent selection were used to develop Syn-1 and Syn-2 populations from six experimental Syn-0 populations. Cycle 1 consisted of germinating 3500 open-pollinated seeds of each Syn-0 population in water of ? 0.8 MPa potential for 7-day. All germinated seeds (approximately 250 for each of the six populations) were selected to create six Syn-1 populations. Cycle 2 selection was similar to Cycle 1, except that Syn-1 populations were used to create six Syn-2 populations. To test the effects of selection, four 50-spikelet samples of the 18 populations were germinated in water of ? 0.8 MPa potential for 7-day for two consecutive harvest years. Germination of Syn-1 seeds was 3.7% higher than Syn-0 seeds, and Syn-2 seeds were 16.2% higher than Syn-1 seeds. Thus, it was possible to increase the seed germination of the six little bluestem populations at the water potential used with recurrent selection.     

Recurrent selection using male sterility and hydroponic tiller culture in pedigree breeding of wheat

A procedure for recurrent selection based on the male sterility gene, Ms3, was implemented. To facilitate the production of large numbers of hybrid progeny, a simple hydroponic system was developed in which male‐sterile tillers cut at the flowering stage can be pollinated and maintained for about 8 weeks‐long enough to produce a large quantity of viable hybrid seeds. The recurrent selection steps were integrated with a pedigree breeding programme employing different selection cycles for male and female plants. F₁ female plants are subjected to a single screening for seedling resistance. In addition to F₁ seedling screening, F₂‐F₄ male families are field‐selected for disease resistance, agrotype and quality in a pedigree programme before being used in crosses.     

Selection for fast germination in rapeseed (Brassica napus L. and B. Campestris L.)

Summary Eleven populations of Brassica napus L. and twelve populations of B. campestris L. were subjected to three cycles of selection for fast germination at 2°C and at 25°C. The seeds from the selected populations, and unselected control populations grown in the same environment as the selected populations, were examined for germination behaviour at 2°C and 25°C, and for growth behaviour at 10°C. The populations in both species responded differently in terms of germination behaviour to selection for fast germination. In most of the populations that did respond positively to selection, selection practised at 2°C was superior to selection at 25°C in improving percent germination at 2°C, and was as good as the selection at 25°C in improving germination rate at the higher temperature. Selection for fast germination had no effect on growth characteristics of B. napus and B. campestris populations grown at 10°C. Thus, selection for fast germination at one low temperature may lead to improvement in germination characteristics over a range of temperatures, but will not necessarily lead to improved growth performance of the selected populations.     

A factor analysis of plant variables associated with architecture and seed size in dry bean

Summary A knowledge of the biological and functional relationships among traits would be of benefit to plant breeders in the choice of traits to use for increasing efficiency of selection in a breeding program. Principal factor analysis was used to identify biological and functional relationships among dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) traits in segregating populations of a phenotypic recurrent selection program designed to introduce upright architecture into medium-sized dry bean.Two biological interpretations were assigned to factors extracted in the analysis of four seed/pod traits. The first was a size factor, loaded with seed weight and pod width, and the second a number factor, which was loaded with number of seeds per pod and pod length. Similarly, three factors were extracted from the analysis of fifteen architectural traits. The first factor was interpreted as an elongation factor, and was loaded with internode length measurements, while the second factor was interpreted as a structural factor, and was further divided into two subclasses namely, sturdiness factor and profile factor. The sturdiness factor comprised hypocotyl diameter and hypocotyl length, while the profile factor comprised branch angle and number of basal branches. The third factor which was called a reproductive factor was loaded with pod distribution traits and the number and location of nodes on which pods were borne.