Genetic advance for chip colour in potatoes

Summary The objective of this study was to investigate the response to selection for chip colour after harvest (CH), storage at 12.8°C (CR) and at 3°C (CC) in three hybrid populations. Population 1 was derived from crossing ND860-2 (cold chipper) with F58089 (regular chipper), Population 2 was obtained from crossing ND860-2 with Russette (nonchipper), and Population 3 was derived from crossing Russette with F58089. Eighty-five to ninety-six random clones for each population plus ten check cultivars were planted in 1991 at two locations in East Canada. For CH, Population 3 had the highest predicted gain. No genetic variation for this trait was detected in Population 1. The potential genetic advance by selection within Population 1, as measured by the predicted mean of the selected clones, however, was similar to the others because Population 1 has a higher mean. For CR, Populations 2 and 3 had similar expected response estimates. Population 1 had no genetic variation for CR but showed similar potential advance to Population 2 and higher than Population 3. For CC, Population 2 had the highest predicted gain. The predicted means of selected clones of Populations 1 and 2 were higher than that of Population 3. Consequently, Populations 1 and 2 had greater potential for improvement for CC than Population 3.     

Multiple resistance to diseases and pests in potatoes

Summary The potato has more characters of economic importance that need to be considered by the breeder than any other temperate crop. In Europe these include resistance to at least twelve major diseases and pests. Highest priority has been given to resistance to late blight (Phytophthora infestans), virus diseases (particularly those caused by potato leafroll virus and potato virus Y) and potato cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis andG. pallida). Useful sources of resistance are available and early generation screening techniques have been developed to allow positive selection for multiple resistance and the breeding value of clones used as parents to be determined. Progress in restriction fragment length polymorphism technology should result in more efficient selection in the future.     

Mutation breeding of Highgate (Musa acuminata, AAA) for tolerance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense using gamma irradiation

Explants of in vitro-grown cultures of banana (Musa spp., AAA Group cv. Highgate) were exposed to various doses of gamma radiation to evaluate the effectiveness of inducing mutations and also with the aim of producing variants tolerant to the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense. This fungus causes fusarial wilt or Panama Disease in banana and plantain. Based on phenotypic variations in regenerated plants, factors of effectiveness were calculated for each type of explant. Factors of effectiveness for Types I and III explants (recently dissected apices and corms respectively) showed a similar trend and were higher than that from Type II explants (apices cultured in liquid medium for 28 days). The highest factors of effectiveness were obtained at doses of 0.8 and 2.0 krad for explant Types I and III respectively. Regenerated plants were screened for tolerance to the fungus under greenhouse conditions. Twelve weeks after inoculation, 9 (0.9%), 3 (0.3%) and 8 (0.5%) plants regenerated from explant Types I, II and III respectively had less than 10% vascular invasion of their corms with no external symptoms of the disease. These plants were considered tolerant to the fungus and were multiplied, ex vitro, for field screening. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

Early generation selection for potato tuber quality in progenies of late blight resistant parents

Developing disease resistant cultivars is one of the major objectives for a potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) breeding program, but many resistant clones have not achieved commercial acceptance because of late maturity and non-marketable tuber characteristics. Selection for tuber quality should have greater emphasis inbreeding disease resistant cultivars. The objectives of this study were 1) to evaluate the ability of late blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary) resistant parents to transmit chip-processing (tuber appearance, specificgravity, and chip-color) or tablestock (tuber appearance) quality to the offspring and 2) to compare selecting for tuber quality in single-hill versus eight-hill generations. We made crosses among eight unadapted potato cultivars (B0718-3,Bertita, Bzura, Greta, Libertas, Stobrawa, Tollocan, and Zarevo) with reported late blight resistance with adapted susceptible cultivars/breeding clones to generate 95populations (4,750 seedlings). Approximately 10% of the progeny from each cross were selected from single-hill plots based on tuber appearance, number, shape, and internal defects. These selected clones (408) were evaluated for tuber appearance, specific gravity, and chip-color. The same evaluations in the following year were made on tuber samples from eight-hill plots. Libertas and Tollocan were the best parents for transmitting chip-color; B0718-3, Zarevo, and Tollocan for transmitting tuber appearance; and Bzura, Libertas, and Zarevo for transmitting high specific gravity to the highest percentage of the offspring. Overall, 50% and 56% of the clones based on single- and eight-hill generation, respectively, were considered to possess chip-processing quality; over 90% of the clones had acceptable tablestock quality. A total of 71% of the clones possessing acceptable chip-processing and 95% of the clones possessing acceptable tablestock quality selected in both generations were identified in single-hill plots. The evaluation of tuber quality characteristics in single-hill generation not only permitted the identification of clones with acceptable chip-processing and tablestock, but also increased the amount of clonal information for the following generation of selection. In crosses between late blight resistant and susceptible clones, selection for tuber quality traits can be initiated in single-hill generation using a moderate selection intensity and precede late blight testing. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Induced mutations in winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus L. DC) with low tannin content

Four mutants of winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC) with altered tannin content were selected among the M₃ seeds present on M₂ plants following mutagenic treatment of seeds of cvs UPS 122 and Kade 6/16 using gamma radiation from a Co⁶⁰ gamma source. These mutants were selected from the most chimeric parts of the M₁ plant, which had earlier been identified to be the first mature pods on the M₁ plant and the earliest formed M₂ seeds in the M₁ pods. The indirect selection of tannin mutants was based on searching for seed coat colour changes in M₃ seeds. Cv UPS 122 yielded the mutants 3/1-10-12 and X22 from 1958 and 1883 M₂ plants respectively. Cv Kade 6/16 yielded the mutants 3/9-0-12 and 3/4-10-7 from 1442 and 1011 M₂ plants respectively. One of the mutants, 3/4-10-7, which was the only desirable one, had a level of tannin of about 25% of the wild type cv. Kade 6/16. The other three mutants had similar or increased tannin levels. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Intraspecific breeding for reduced glucosinolate content in Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun)

A total of six Ethiopian mustard ( Brassica carinata A. Braun) lines showing reduced levels of total glucosinolate content were developed through two different approaches. In the first case, eight lines with good agronomic performance under southern-Spanish conditions were first evaluated during two years for glucosinolate content, and a pedigree selection was then performed during three further generations. The line N2-142, with an average glucosinolate content of 82 μmoles g-1 seed, was developed from the original line C-49, with an average glucosinolate content of 115 μmoles g-1 seed. In the second case, chemical mutagenesis (EMS 1% v/v) was applied to seeds from the line C- 101, with an average glucosinolate content of 125 μmoles g- 1 seed. Five mutant lines showing an average glucosinolate content between 20 and 30 μmoles g-1 seed lower than the wild line C-101 were isolated in the M_3 or M_4 generation. The reduced glucosinolate content of these mutants was confirmed by developing and analysing the M_5 generation. Previous results in B. juncea suggest that a further reduction of total glucosinolate content might be achieved through genetic recombination between the different lines developed in this work. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Optimising potato breeding. I. The genotypic,environmental and genotype-environment coefficients of variation for tuber yield and other traits in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) under different experimental conditions

Summary Coefficients of variation for genotypic differences, genotype-location, genotype-year and genotype-location-year interaction were computed from reported data of potato trials in order to use them in a decision support system. The obtained coefficients of variation not only varied considerably between traits, but also between trials within traits. It is argued that only parameter values representative for the pertaining breeding situation should be used for optimising a selection programme.     

Coagulable protein in potato: Screening method and prospects for breeding

Summary From tubers of 34 varieties of Solanum tuberosum, extracts were prepared and analysed for crude protein and coagulable protein by the Kjeldahl method. Content of coagulable protein was 0.37–1.24%. From the same material, juice was prepared with a juice centrifuge and analysed for coagulable protein by the Kjeldahl and microbiuret method. The average amount of coagulable protein in the juice was 81.8% of the total coagulable protein. The correlation coefficient between coagulable protein in the juice and total coagulable protein was 0.956. The correlation coefficient between Kjeldahl and microbiuret data for coagulable protein in the juice was 0.956. Analysis of tuber juice by the microbiuret method is recommended as a rapid screening technique for coagulable protein.Relationships between protein data of the 34 varieties and earliness, yield and content of dry matter were analysed statistically. Content of coagulable protein in fresh material correlated with content of dry matter (rs=–0.756), yield of fresh potatoes (r=–0.615) and earliness (r=–0.361) but not significantly with yield of dry matter (rs=–0.309). Coagulable protein in dry matter correlated with fresh yield (r=–0.525), but not significantly with content of dry matter (r=–0.260), yield of dry matter (r=–0.131) and earliness (r=–0.054). Path coefficient analysis showed that 67% of the variation in coagulable protein in fresh material was statistically determined by earliness, content of dry matter, fresh yield and content of uncoagulable protein in fresh material, whereas only 34% of the variation in content of coagulable protein in dry matter was determined by these components. A high content of coagulable protein in fresh or dry matter can be combined with early maturity and with high yield of dry matter. Coagulable protein in dry matter seems to be a more suitable criterion of selection than coagulable protein in fresh material.     

Induced changes in growth and flowering of chrysanthemum after irradiation and in vitro culture of pedicels and petal epidermis

Summary To increase the genetic variation for yield in Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. White Spider, pedicel segments and petal epidermis were induced in vitro to regenerate adventitious buds either directly from the original tissue or indirectly via callus. Besides, pedicels were irradiated before in vitro culture with an X-ray dose of 8 Gy. All treatments yielded variation in flower morphology. Changes in flower colour were largely restricted to treatments involving irradiation.Treatments yielding many morphological variants also yielded most production variants. Plants regenerated from petals differed from those originating from pedicels. Clones were found that had retained the morphology of White Spider, but outperformed the controls in flowering time and flower number.     

A breeding method for accelerated development of cold chipping clones in potato

Summary The development of potato cultivars having acceptable chipping quality after cold storage is important because it reduces costs to growers while ensuring continuity of supply to processors throughout the year. Over 5100 single-hill progenies were planted to select for cold chippers. A breeding procedure for selecting and evaluating these progenies for cold chipping ability was used, and 38 desirable genotypes were identified. These selections were increased in the second clonal generation and evaluated for yield, specific gravity, and seven chipping treatments of varying storage duration/temperature/reconditioning duration and were compared to standard chipping cultivars Atlantic, Monona, Norchip, and Snowden. Twenty-two selections yielded Norchip the highest yielding cultivar, while 15 selections had a specific gravity Atlantic, the highest specific gravity cultivar. Snowden was the best chipping cultivar overall and some selections were not significantly different than Snowden. Overall, nine selections combined high yield and specific gravity with the ability to produce attractive chips from 4° C. Single-hill selection for cold chipping could potentially save four years in the breeding process by the identification of good parents, the recycling of good parental cross combinations, and the evaluation of progeny for chipping earlier in the breeding program.     

Breeding for quantitative resistance to potato cyst nematode (Globodera pallida) in tetraploid potatoes using dihaploids and unreduced gametes

Summary Dihaploids were produced from tetraploids resistant to potato cyst nematode (Globodera pallida (Stone)). High levels of resistance were found in the dihaploids and three were used to produce tetraploid progenies by crossing them with susceptible tetraploid cultivars. One dihaploid, PDH505, produced more highly resistant offspring than the other two, PDHs 417 and 418. The latter gave progenies whose levels of resistance were similar to those obtained from susceptible dihaploids crossed with resistant tetraploids.The differences between the progenies of the resistant dihaploids were probably due to different modes of unreduced gamete formation (PDH505 producing gametes by first division restitution (FDR) and PDHs 417 and 418 by second division restitution (SDR)) although cytological studies would be necessary to confirm this. The methods by which dihaploids could be utilised in a tetraploid potato breeding programme are discussed in relation to the mode of unreduced gamete formation.     

Use of isozyme patterns in characterization of potato mutant lines selected for agronomic quantitative traits

Summary Seven varieties and 57 spontaneous or induced in vitro mutant lines (20 macromutant and 37 micromutant events) of potato were tested by starch gel electrophoresis for ADH, GOT, PGI, PGM, ACO, IDH, MDH and 6PGDH isozymes in tuber extracts. The data showed that in contrast to variety comparisons, the isozyme patterns rarely differentiate mutant lines which have altered morphological traits. But trying to identify isozyme differences in mutants can still be useful for a chimeric structure for GOT-2 alleles in a mutant from Atlantic and a new tuber specific locus for 6PGDH in mutants from Russet Burbank were found.Abbreviations ACO aconitase - ADH alcohol dehydrogenase - GOT glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase - IDH isocitric acid dehydrogenase - MDH malate dehydrogenase - 6PGDH 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase - PGI phosphoglucoisomerase - PGM phosphoglucomutase - SGE starch gel electrophoresis - EMS ethyl metanesulfonate     

The Importance of the Bolivian Wild Potato Species in Breeding for Globodera pallida Resistance

Screening for resistance to the potato cyst nematode, Globodera pallida, in potatoes from. Bolivia, was carried out in 1983 and 1984, using a mixture of four nematode populations representing pathotypes Pa₁, Pa₂ and Pa₃ From the 66 accessions of 17 species and subspecies evaluated, highly resistant genotypes were identified in 21 accessions from seven species. All had Pf/Pi values of 2 or less, whereas the susceptible control, Solanum tuberosum cv. ‘Disiree’ had Pf/Pi values of more than 2G in both tests. Two diploid wild species, S. brevicaule and S. leptophyes, showed the best resistant. The geographical distributional of resistant populations and the evolution of resistance in wild potato populations are discussed.     

Breeding for low nitrate content in radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Summary To study prospects of reducing nitrate content of radish roots by breeding, plants with varying nitrate content were selected from four populations of the diploid cultivar Robijn (two populations with a low, one with an intermediate and one with a high nitrate content) and from two tetraploid cultivar, Boy and Oscar, with low nitrate contents.Correlation coefficients between nitrate contents of parent plants and their I₁'s were generally significant, but rather small (between 0.48 and 0.78), as were the parent-offspring regression coefficients (between 0.18 and 0.54). Significant differences in nitrate content occurred between I₁'s of each of the parent populations, I₁'s were also present with significantly higher or lower nitrate contents than the corresponding parent populations. Genetic variation for nitrate content was still present within I₁'s. I₂'s could be selected with a significantly lower or higher nitrate content than their I₁'s.It is possible to select radish cultivars with less than 2.0 mg nitrate per gram fresh weight of root under low light conditions in winter. As appeared from crosses with cytoplasmic-genetic male sterile plants, their was no relationship between cytoplasmic-genetic male sterility and nitrate content, indicating that hybrid cultivars with low nitrate contents can also be selected.     

The use of an in vitro adventitious bud technique for mutation breeding of Begonia x hiëmalis

Summary An in vitro propagation of two genotypes of Begonia x hiëmalis was achieved through adventitious shoot formation on (sub)cultured leaf-disc explants and subsequent transplantation to soil of explant-parts with adventitious shoots.After irradiation of detached leaves with different doses of X-rays and two cycles of adventitious shoot formation on in vitro (sub)cultured leaf-disc explants, plantlets were produced. About 30% of these plants was mutated with respect to e.g. the colour, size and form of the leaves and flowers. The great majority of the mutants (98.5%) proved to be solid (non-chimeric).