Effectiveness of selection at microtuber crop level in potato

Correlation coefficients were computed between microtuber crops and normal seed crop in order to study the selection efficiency for agronomic characters in potato at microtuber crop level. Two types of microtuber, green and white, were produced by inducing microtuberization under light and dark conditions, respectively. Genotypic differences were significant for various characters in both microtuber and normal seed crops. Green and white microtubers were equally useful for selection, judging by the crops raised from them. Selection at microtuber crop level was found to be highly effective for plant height, stem habit, tuber colour and general impression, and moderately effective for internode length, leaf length, leaflet width, stem pigment, plant vigour and tuber shape. Selection efficiency was low for tuber yield, tuber number, average tuber weight, number of nodes, number of stems, leaf colour and number of eyes. The implications of these results for potato breeding and germplasm evaluation programmes are discussed and a procedure for selecting superior genotypes at microtuber crop level is outlined.     

Divergent strategies displayed by potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars to cope with soil drought

The physiological responses of potato (Solanum tuberosum L) cultivars to soil drought at the tuberization phase and their impact on agronomically important traits were investigated in potted plants under semi‐controlled conditions. Genotype‐dependent responses of potato to water deficiency were evaluated on two pairs (tolerant/sensitive) of Polish cultivars. Each pair of cultivars had a similar genetic background but was extremely different in terms of drought tolerance evaluated on the basis of loss of tuber yield under field conditions. The results clearly indicate different mechanisms of tolerance to water deficiency and the ability to recover from soil drought in two tolerant but genetically unrelated cultivars. When subjected to soil drought, the cultivar Gwiazda had low rates of transpiration and photosynthesis and low levels of stomatal conductance due to hypersensitivity to ABA, but its maximal photochemistry efficiency and PSII performance index were unchanged. Another strategy was displayed by the dehydration‐avoidant cultivar Tajfun, which kept the stomata partially open. Thus, the plants were able to retain a relatively high rate of photosynthesis over transpiration. The parameters measured for cultivar Tajfun for photosynthesis and transpiration were the same after plant rewatering, similar to the control plants. This was not the case for the cultivar Gwiazda. The ability of plants to regenerate after soil drought relief appears to be a good indicator of potato susceptibility to soil drought and allows the yield of potato tubers to be predicted. The physiological traits identified in closely related potato cultivars but differed in their drought tolerance seem to be useful for genetic engineering and breeding programmes.     

持续干旱对油棕幼苗叶绿素荧光动力学参数的影响

为研究持续干旱对油棕叶绿素荧光动力学参数的影响,以油棕2 年生幼苗为试验材料,采用盆栽方式模拟自然持续干旱,测定叶绿素荧光参数及叶绿素含量,并运用隶属函数法对其抗旱性进行综合分析。结果表明：干旱胁迫下,油棕叶片叶绿素含量、可变荧光(Fv)、最大荧光(Fm)、可变荧光与最大荧光比(Fv/Fm)均降低;初始荧光(F0)和非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)则升高,说明干旱胁迫伤害了光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ),使得PSⅡ原初光能转换效率(Fv/Fm)降低,光合电子传递、光合原初反应过程受到抑制,起光保护作用的热耗散(NPQ)提高。4 个品种的叶绿素荧光参数和叶绿素含量的变化存在品种间差异,整个处理过中对干旱的适应性‘热油6号’＞‘热油8号’＞‘热油2号’＞‘热油4号’,因此,叶绿素荧光参数和叶绿素含量可作为抗旱性强弱的诊断指标用于油棕抗旱育种及相关研究。     

Drought priming effects on alleviating the photosynthetic limitations of wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) with contrasting tolerance to abiotic stresses

Abiotic stress tolerance in plants is said to be induced by pre-stress events (priming) during the vegetative phase. We aimed to test whether drought priming could improve the heat and drought tolerance in wheat cultivars. Two wheat cultivars “Gladius” and “Paragon” were grown in a fully controlled gravimetric platform and subjected to either no stress or two drought cycles during the tillering stage. At anthesis, both batches were either subjected to high temperature stress, drought stress or kept as control. No alleviation of grain yield reduction due to priming was observed. Higher CO₂ assimilation rates were achieved due to priming under drought stress. Yield results showed that priming was not damage cumulative to wheat. Priming was responsible to alleviated biochemical photosynthetic limitations under drought stress and sustained photochemical utilization under heat stress in “Paragon.” Priming as a strategy in abiotic stress alleviation was better evidenced in the stress susceptible cultivar “Paragon” than tolerant cultivar “Gladius”; therefore, the type of response to priming appears to be cultivar dependable, and thus phenotypical variation should be expected when studying the effects of abiotic priming.     

A selection tool for freezing tolerance in common wheat using the fast chlorophyll a fluorescence transient

The analysis of fast chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics in dark-adapted leaves (JIP-test) is proposed as a rapid method for evaluating freezing tolerance in wheat. Wheat leaves were detached from the plants of 40 cultivars grown in an open-field in Smolice, during December and March of winters 2004/2005 and 2005/2006, transferred to laboratory in Krakow and frozen in −15°C. Next, measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence were taken. The correlation coefficients between the JIP-test parameters with freezing tolerance data obtained in multiple field-laboratory studies, varied between 0.58 and 0.70 depending on sampling time and parameter measured. The chlorophyll fluorescence parameter, which can always be used for the screening of freezing tolerance in the method described here, is the performance index (PI), which characterizes the overall energy flow efficiency in photosystem II (PSII). The results indicate, that the technique proposed here can be useful for freezing tolerance screening in plant breeding programmes. However, this method seems to be a more reliable tool in the selection of freezing tolerant germplasm, than for discarding freezing susceptible materials.     

水分胁迫对棉花幼苗水分利用和光合特性的影响

以转基因棉花品种农大棉8号和鲁棉研28号为材料进行盆栽试验,设置正常处理(CK)、轻度胁迫(LS)、中度胁迫(MS)、重度胁迫(SS)和极度胁迫(ES)5个水分处理。结果表明:随着水分胁迫程度的加重,棉花幼苗的生长受到明显的抑制,2个品种的叶片相对含水率、叶水势、净光合速率(Pn)、光能利用率(LUE)、PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ光化学量子效率(φPSⅡ)、光化学猝灭系数(qP)呈下降趋势;气孔限制值(Ls)、水分利用率(WUE)和非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)呈上升趋势。两品种的Pn和NPQ的MS、SS和ES与CK相比差异显著,不同测定时期各胁迫处理的平均Pn比CK分别下降了11.5%、18.1%、32.1%和38.1%;平均NPQ比CK上升了24.1%、50.9%、79.4%和145.1%。表明棉花幼苗期持续轻度水分胁迫对叶片光合能力无显著影响,但高于中度的持续水分胁迫会造成叶片光合能力下降和光抑制加重。     

Early selection for extreme resistance to potato virus Y and tobacco etch virus in potato using a β-glucuronidase-tagged virus

The Ry_sto gene from Solanum stoloniferum introduced into potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L. ssp. tuberosum) confers resistance to potato virus A, potato virus V and potato virus Y (PVY). In addition to PVY, tobacco etch virus (TEV) and a TEV construct that encodes β‐glucuronidase (TEV‐GUS) were inoculated to determine the inheritance of resistance to these viruses in progenies obtained from potato cultivars containing the Ry_sto gene. While cultivars ‘Karlena’ and ‘Delikat’ were susceptible, ‘Bettina’ and clone 927eY were resistant to PVY, TEV and TEV‐GUS, as determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, biotest and GUS assay, respectively. The segregation ratios obtained from the progenies of ‘Bettina’בDelikat’ and 816eY בKarlena’ indicate that resistances to PVY and TEV are governed by one dominant gene or two genes tightly linked in coupling phase. Evidently, Ry_sto confers broad spectrum resistance to potyviruses. TEV resistance could be reliably detected 4 days after inoculation with the TEV‐GUS construct by GUS assay. Therefore, the GUS‐tagged TEV construct can be used for early selection for resistances based on the gene Ry_sto or closely linked genes.     

Genetic analysis of photosynthesis‐related traits in faba bean (Vicia faba) for crop improvement

Increasing productivity through improvement of photosynthesis in faba bean breeding programmes requires understanding of the genetic control of photosynthesis‐related traits. Hence, we investigated the gene action of leaf area, gas exchange traits, canopy temperature, chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and biomass. We chose inbred lines derived from cultivars 'Aurora' (Sweden) and 'Mélodie' (France) along with an Andean accession, ILB 938, crossed them (Aurora/2 × Mélodie/2, ILB 938/2 × Aurora/2 and Mélodie/2 × ILB 938/2), and prepared the six standard generations for quantitative analysis (P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, B₁, and B₂). Gene action was complex for each trait, involving additive and dominance gene actions and interactions. Additive gene action was important for SPAD, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and F_v/F_m. Dominance effect was important for biomass production. It is suggested that breeders selecting for productivity can maximize genetic gain by selecting early generations for canopy temperature, SPAD and F_v/F_m, then later generations for biomass. The information on genetics of various contributing traits of photosynthesis will assist plant breeders in choosing an appropriate breeding strategy for enhancing productivity in faba bean.     

干旱胁迫对棉花生长发育和光合荧光参数的影响

为明确持续干旱胁迫对棉花生长发育、叶片水势、光合特性、荧光参数的影响,以‘新陆早57号’为试验材料,在土壤水分试验场内,设置3个水分处理（正常、轻度干旱、重度干旱）,研究不同干旱程度下棉花发育期、叶面积、干物质、产量、叶片水势、光合荧光参数的变化规律。结果表明：随着干旱胁迫时间的延长叶面积指数、光合物质积累量、籽棉产量、净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)、最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、实际光化学量子产量(Yield)、光化学猝灭系数(qP)呈下降趋势,叶片水势先下降后上升,非光化学猝灭系数(qN)则呈上升趋势,且随干旱程度的加剧而增加。经统计分析,干旱胁迫下Pn、Tr、Gs与对照差异显著(P<0.05)。干旱胁迫持续15天后,重度干旱胁迫下Yield、qP、qN与对照差异显著(P<0.05),轻度干旱差异不显著。Pn、Tr、Gs、Yield、qP、qN均能反映棉花叶片水分状况,但Yield、qP、qN更为敏感。     

Effectiveness of in vitro selection for agronomic characters in potato

Effectiveness of in vitro selection for agronomic characters was studied by finding correlation coefficients between in vitro and in vivo performance of 22 potato genotypes. Evaluation was performed under eight in vitro and two in vivo conditions. Genotypic differences were highly significant for various characters under all in vitro and in vivo conditions. Error mean squares were much lower in in vitro experiments than in in vivo experiments. In vitro selection was found to be highly effective for tuber colour, stem pigment and number of eyes, and moderately effective for average tuber weight, plant vigour and foliage senescence under specific conditions. The results also indicated the possibility of in vitro selection for heat tolerance. For tuber yield and number of tubers, effectiveness of in vitro selection was low to very low, because differences in phenotypic expressions of genotypes were much enlarged under in vitro conditions compared to under in vivo conditions. Correlation coefficients for certain characters were better when in vitro conditions were closer to in vivo conditions. To improve the efficiency of in vitro selection, there is perhaps a need to simulate and identify the in vitro conditions under which genotypic differences are reflected in phenotypes more realistically as they are expressed under in vivo conditions. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

不同玉米品种对干旱胁迫的响应

采用盆栽试验,研究不同梯度水分胁迫对不同时期的玉米品种先玉335,陕单902的叶绿素荧光参数、光合性状和渗透调节物质的影响。结果表明,水分胁迫导致玉米叶片光合能力下降,初始荧光Fo,脯氨酸含量上升,反应中心PSⅡ的潜在活性Fv/Fo,PSⅡ原初光能转换效率Fv/Fm,PSⅡ反应中心的激发能捕获效率Fv′/Fm′受到抑制,水分利用效率WUE和可溶性蛋白的含量下降。通过分析得出,新玉米品种先玉335在苗期对水分胁迫有良好抵抗能力。     

Drought tolerance in sorghum by pollen selection using osmotic stress

A pollen selection study for drought tolerance using Poly Ethylene Glycol (PEG) as a selective agent was conducted in sorghum. Ten genotypes of sorghum suitable for post rainy season were crossed to cytoplasmic male sterile line 104A and three genotypes to 116A producing 13 hybrids. Two sets of 13 hybrids with and without pollen selection were produced. PEG at 36 per cent was applied to stigma and stylar tissue one hour before pollination for pollen selection (selective fertilization) and no treatment for control (nonselective fertilization). Hybrids thus produced through selective and non-selective fertilization were tested in moisture stress environment during post rainy season. The hybrids obtained through selective fertilization produced significantly higher mean grain yield compared to hybrids obtained through non-selective fertilization. The results indicate that selective fertilization through in vivo pollen selection using PEG as selective agent was effective in improving moisture stress tolerance of the progeny in sorghum genotypes studied. Further, the pollen selection also had influence on plant height, panicle length, panicle width, panicle weight and grain mass. Thus,the pollen selection had a significant effect on grain yield through its components and developmentally related traits. Pollen selection for osmoticstress tolerance in sorghum influences the growth and vigour of the plants resulting in superior progeny in moisture stress environment. The analysis of individual crosses indicated that pollen genotype selection was able to favour performance of the progeny. However, the pollen selection had positive effect in majority of the hybrids and the study demonstrates the transmission of the selected trait from pollen generation to progeny. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

番茄幼苗叶绿素荧光参数对水分胁迫的响应

以5叶1心期番茄品种‘辽园多丽’为试材,研究番茄幼苗叶绿素荧光特性、叶绿素含量以及叶片相对含水量对水分胁迫的生理响应。结果表明,水分胁迫导致叶绿素荧光参数Fv/Fm、qL、ETR下降,NPQ上升;在轻度水分胁迫下,叶绿素荧光各参数值均有突跃现象。在整个水分胁迫过程中番茄幼苗叶片相对含水量及叶绿素含量均呈下降趋势。NPQ与基质含水量的变化密切相关,相关系数为-0.83,表明荧光参数NPQ可以作为指导灌溉的一个指标。当NPQ为2.0975时,基质含水量降到31.2%,番茄幼苗生长受到水分胁迫的影响,应及时灌溉。     

干旱复水对白姜花光合和叶绿素荧光参数的影响

探究在干旱胁迫和复水过程中白姜花光合和叶绿素荧光的生理响应,为姜花属植物抗旱性研究提供参考依据。以当年生白姜花单株盆栽苗为材料进行自然干旱试验,分别于干旱的第0、3、6、9、12天和复水第3天测量土壤相对湿度、叶片枯萎率、光合和叶绿素荧光参数。在干旱的第3、6、9、12天,土壤相对湿度从第0天的84.60%分别下降到了59.20%、34.40%、20.40%、15.40%;随着干旱程度的不断加深,叶片枯萎率、蒸腾速率、净光合速率、气孔导度、胞间CO₂浓度、最大光化学效率、实际光能转化效率、光化学淬灭系数和光合电子传递速率均呈现下降趋势,其胁迫时期的参数间均存在显著差异(P<0.05);而水分利用效率、气孔限制值、非光化学淬灭系数则呈现上升趋势,其胁迫时期的参数间也存在显著差异(P<0.05);复水3天后各项指标均有不同程度恢复。综合分析各项参数,干旱胁迫对白姜花光合和荧光特性影响显著,气孔因素是导致白姜花净光合速率下降的主要因素;干旱后复水各项指标均能恢复,表明白姜花具有一定的干旱适应能力。     

Growth and Distribution of Dry Matter in a Drought Tolerant and a Susceptible Potato Cultivar under Normal and Water Deficit Condition

The growth behaviour of Dekama (drought tolerant) and Kufri Jyoti (drought susceptible) was studied using potted plants maintained at well watered condition and water deficit condition respectively. Periodic harvestings were done starting from 50 days after planting till maturity. Recordings of plant height, leaf area, dry weights of different plant parts, the proportion of thinner and thicker roots, stomatal conductance and water saturation deficit were obtained. The plant height, leaf area and dry weight of shoot decreased to nearly the same extent in both the cultivars under stress. The stomatal conductance decreased by 61.7 % in Dekama and by 64 % in Kufri Jyoti due to water stress. Water saturation deficit increased by about 80 % in both the cultivars. The ratios of root to shoot and that of thinner to thicker root increased due to stress in both cultivars and this increase was 85 % and 71 % in Dekama and 64 % and 19 % in Kufri Jyoti respectively. The distribution of dry matter to leaf, stem, root were more at the expense of tuber under stress conditions in both cultivars. However, the tolerant cultivar Dekama got adjusted to the stress condition, with more dry matter partitioned to tubers in the last two samplings. The study points out the factors responsible for better drought tolerance of Dekama compared to Kufri Jyoti and the possible physiological traits useful for selecting drought tolerant cultivars.     

Recovery from Drought Stress at the Shooting Stage in Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus)

Periods of drought frequently affect the development of winter rape at the shooting stage in spring. A growth chamber study was conducted to determine the effects of 13 days of strong water deficit at the shooting stage followed by rewatering on oilseed rape (Brassica napus). The osmolality and the efficiency of photosystem II in leaves were measured by means of a vapour pressure osmometer and a chlorophyll fluorometer, respectively. The activities of sucrose cleaving enzymes in leaves were determined through invertase as well as sucrose synthase tests. A higher osmotic pressure was observed 2 days after water deprivation. Extracellular and vacuolar invertases as well as chlorophyll fluorescence were decreased with delay. Rewatering led to a gradual decrease in the osmotic pressure and a delayed increase in the enzyme activities as well as the photosynthetic efficiency. A linear regression model could predict osmolality in well‐watered plants based on the extracellular enzyme activity and growth stage. The ontogenetic and stress‐related pattern of extracellular invertase activity could indicate a role of this enzyme in balancing source‐sink relations. The onset of flowering was not influenced by drought, but the period of this stage was prolonged. Though, the ontogenetic stages of stressed and unstressed plants were the same at the time of harvest, the development of seed biomass was significantly depressed under stress.     

高温胁迫对蝴蝶兰幼苗叶绿素荧光参数的影响

为了探究高温胁迫对蝴蝶兰幼苗叶片光合机构的影响,将蝴蝶兰幼苗置于38℃处理4天,以25℃为对照,测定了蝴蝶兰幼苗叶绿素荧光参数的变化。结果表明：随着高温胁迫时间的延长,蝴蝶兰叶片叶绿素总含量、最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、有效光量子产量(ΦPSⅡ)、表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)、光化学猝灭系数(qP)持续下降,而丙二醛(MDA)含量、初始荧光(Fo)、非光化学猝灭系数(qN)不断上升。与胁迫前相比,胁迫后期的上述指标均存在显著差异。由此表明,高温胁迫下蝴蝶兰幼苗PSⅡ反应中心出现了可逆失活或损伤,使光合原初反应过程受阻,显著降低了原初光能转换效率,从而引起严重的光抑制,极大地减弱了光合电子传递活性,使反应中心积累过剩光能,对光合机构和叶绿素造成光氧化破坏,但蝴蝶兰幼苗能在一定程度上通过热耗散途径来减轻伤害。     

Water Relation, Photosynthetic Ability and Growth of Thai Jasmine Rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica cv. KDML 105) to Salt Stress by Application of Exogenous Glycinebetaine and Choline

Rice reportedly possesses a very low capacity to accumulate glycinebetaine (Glybet), but may be accumulated by the exogenous application of Glybet or Choline (Cho) as an alternative way to improve its salt‐tolerant ability. The aim of this research was to determine whether Glybet accumulation could be induced in Thai jasmine rice by the exogenous application of Glybet and Cho, and to determine the effects of Glybet and Cho treatment on various growth parameters of seedlings cultured under salt‐stress conditions. Thai jasmine rice seeds were aseptically germinated in vitro on solidified Murashige–Skoog media, supplied with either Glybet or Cho in the culture media for 12 days and then treated with 342 mm NaCl (salt stress) for 4 days. GlyBet content, water relation, photosynthetic capabilities and growth characteristics of salt‐stressed seedlings were measured. The addition of Glybet or Cho to plant culture media containing 342 mm NaCl resulted in increased accumulation of Glybet in rice seedlings. Increased Glybet accumulation was strongly associated with a high efficiency of water usage (r = 0.96), which in turn correlated with increased maximum quantum yield of PSII (F_v/F_m) (r = 0.86). Moreover, the pigment concentrations of seedlings cultured under salt stress were maintained by a function of Glybet, led to high efficiency of photochemical and non‐photochemical quenching of PSII as well as to exhibit on net photosynthetic rate. Thus, our results suggest that the addition of either Glybet or Cho to the plant growth media can improve growth performance under salt stress conditions by increasing the salt tolerance of Thai jasmine rice. The exogenous application of Glybet and/or Cho to culture media may be an effective method of improving resistance to salt stress via the promotion of Glybet accumulation with in rice seedlings.