The classification of varieties of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Summary An expanded scheme of groundnut variety classification is presented which is revised in the light of recently collected West African material and is designed in concordance with the most recent taxonomic treatment of the species Arachis hypogaea L. This species consists of two subspecies ssp. hypogaea and ssp. fastigiata Waldron. Each subspecies contains two botanical varieties. Those of ssp. hypogaea are var. hypogaea and var. hirsuta Kohler and those of ssp. fastigiata Waldron are var. fastigiata and var. vulgaris Harz. Each infraspecific taxon contains a morphologically distinct group of cultivated varieties.Grain Legume Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Council of Malawi, POB215, Lilongwe, Malawi.Department of Agricultural Botany, University of Reading, Reading, England.     

Screening of melon (Cucumis melo L.) germplasm for multiple disease resistance

Summary Melon germplasm was screened for cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea), downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) and Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis) resistance under artificial conditions except downy mildew for which screening was done under natural epiphytotic conditions. High level resistance to all the four diseases was not recorded in any of the collections tested. Nevertheless, ertheless, resistance to three diseases was located in three germplasm. Wild Cucumis species C. figarei exhibited absolute resistance to CGMMV and Fusarium wilt and high level resistance to downy mildew. Phoot or snapmelon (Cucumis melo var. momordica) — a non-dessert from of Indian origin—was highly resistant to downy mildew and resistant to CGMMV and medium resistant to Fusarium wilt. Iroquois was resistant to powdery mildew and medium resistant to downy mildew and CGMMV.     

Resistance to the glasshouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westw.) in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and related species

Summary Eighty-five accessions of Lycopersicon esculentum and related species were tested for resistance to the glasshouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westw. High levels of resistance were found in L. hirsutum, L. hirsutum glabratum and Solanum pennellii. In other species, too, some resistance was observed. A breeding program is in progress.     

A mechanism for inhibiting cross-fertilization in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)

Summary Natural out-crossing imposes considerable costs and inefficiencies in breeding, evaluation and commercialization of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.). This note reports identification of a modification of floral morphology which inhibits cross-fertilization. Floral morphology and possible mechanisms of action of this character are discussed.On leave from International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). Hyderabad, India.     

Resistance to gall mite (Phytoptus ribis Nal.) in the eucoreosma section of Ribes

Summary When plants of R. ussuriense Jancz. and two R. nigrum var. sibiricum E. Wolf. cultivars Rus and Narjadnaja were exposed to infestation by the black currant gall mite (Phytoptus ribis Nal.) typical galled buds were not formed but damage was caused to meristematic tissues of the buds. Mites were not found in buds during the winter and the plants also remained free from symptoms of reversion virus. Progenies from crosses between these mite-resistant forms and susceptible cultivars indicated that resistance is controlled by a single dominant gene designated P.The above species readily form fertile hybrids with cultivars of black currant and should be useful sources of mite resistance in a breeding programme.     

Intra species variation in Atylosia scarabaeoides (L.) Benth., a wild relative of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)

Summary Atylosia scarabaeoides (L.) Benth., a wild relative of pigeonpea, possesses several useful genes which can be utilized for pigeonpea improvement. In the present study, 33 accessions of A. scarabaeoides were evaluated at ICRISAT Center during the 1987 rainy season for variation in some useful traits to identify parents for inter-generic hybridization. A large variation was observed for leaf components, seed size, pod length, seeds/pod, days to flowering, seed protein, sulphur amino acids, resistance to cyst nematode, phytophthora blight, sterility mosaic, fusarium wilt, pod borer, pod fly, and pod wasp. Only four accessions were found to have more than 28% protein content. Methionine and cystine contents were marginally higher than in pigeonpea but the variation was not large enough to utilize them in the breeding program. In A. scarabaeoides. accessions resistant to fusarium wilt, phytophthora blight, sterility mosaic, and cyst nematode were detected. Compared to pigeonpea, the A. scarabaeoides accessions were less susceptible to lepidopteran borer and were immune to pod fly damage. Accessions ICPW 89 and ICPW 111 in short- (100–120 days), and ICPW 94 and ICPW 118 in medium-duration (140–180 days) were identified as potential parents for use in inter-generic hybridization.ICRISAT Journal Article No. 967     

Organelle based molecular analyses of the genetic relatedness of cultivated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) to Medicago edgeworthii Sirjaev, and Medicago ruthenica (L.) Ledebour

Medicago edgeworthii Sirjaev and M. ruthenica (L.) Ledebour are allogamous, diploid (2n = 2x = 16) perennials with flat pods.Medicago edgeworthii is indigenous to the Himalayas and alpine areas west to Afghanistan, and Medicago ruthenica is found in Siberia, Mongolia, and Manchuria on open hillsides and mixed grass steppes. Because both species have a remarkable ability to survive extreme cold and poor soils, the possibility of hybridizing them with alfalfa (M. sativa L.) is being investigated. The objective of this research was to conduct an organelle based molecular assessment of the genetic relatedness of cultivated alfalfa (2n = 4x = 32) to M. edgeworthii and M. ruthenica. A hypervariable, intergenic region of cpDNA was amplified, and mtDNA was amplified with two primer pairs developed from soybean (Glycine max L.) mtDNA sequences. Mean Nei and Li genetic distances (GDs) between alfalfa and M. edgeworthii and alfalfa and M. ruthenica were 0.56 and 0.48 (mtDNA), and 0.33 and 0.30 (cpDNA), respectively. Intra specific GDs were 0.37 (mtDNA) and 0.25 (cpDNA) for M. edgeworthii; 0.42 (mtDNA) and 0.15 (cpDNA) for M. ruthenica; and 0 = 0.50 (mtDNA) and 0 = 0.23 (cpDNA) for alfalfa. Cluster analyses grouped someM. edgeworthii and M. ruthenica entries with alfalfa entries. There is some chance that alfalfa and M. edgeworthii entries which clustered closely could be hybridized; chances of alfalfa × M. ruthenica hybridizations appear to be more problematic. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inheritance of resistance to fruit rot (Phytophthora parasiticaDast.) in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Summary Fruit rot disease caused by Phytophthora parasiticaDast. is a limiting factor in tomato production in Himachal Pradesh. 30 to 60 per cent fruits are damaged by this disease. Crosses were made between EC 54725 (Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium), a small tyuited type, resistant to fruit rot and four highly susceptible tomato commercial cultivars (Gola, Sioux, S12, and Lalmani). Studies of F₁'s, F₂'s and back crosses indicated that EC 54725 carries a dominant gene imparting resistance to fruit rot.     

Germinability of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at low temperatures

Summary In a test on bean seeds for their germinating capacity at low temperatures good germination was found in Phaseolus trilobus Ait. and P. coccineus L. and also in a variety of P. vulgaris, viz Comtesse de Chambord. Particularly at soil temperatures below 15°C this latter variety germinated better than the other vulgaris varieties. The ability of Comtesse de Chambord to germinate at low temperatures could for a large part be retained in an attempt to combine this feature with good cultural properties of snap beans.Samenvatting In een onderzoek met betrekking tot het kiemen van bonezaden bij lage temperaturen werd een goede kieming aangetroffen bij Phaseolus trilobus Ait. en P. coccineus L., maar ook bij een hardschillig ras van P. vulgaris L., n.l. Comtesse de Chambord. De betere kieming van laatstgenoemd ras bleek in vergelijking met overige vulgaris-rassen vooral van betekenis voor grondtemperaturen beneden 15°C. Het vermogen van Comtesse de Chambord om bij lagere temperaturen te kiemen kon voor een belangrijk deel worden behouden in een poging deze eigenschap te combineren met goede cultuureigenschappen van stamslabonen.     

Inheritance of resistance to angular leaf spot (Isariopsis griseola Sacc.) in french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary Angular leaf spot (Isariopsis griseola Sacc.) is a serious disease of French bean in the hills of India and 40 to 70 per cent of the green pods are damaged and rendered unmarketable. Crosses were made between PLB 257, (Phaseolus coccineus L.), a red flowering pole tope, resistant to angular leaf spot, and Contender (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), a highly susceptible commercial cultivar. Studies of the F₁, F₂, and F₃ progenies indicated that PLB 257, carries a recessive gene imparting resistance to angular leaf spot.     

Analysis of mode of inheritance of Fusarium wilt resistance in castor (Ricinus communis L.)

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is an important industrial oilseed crop grown worldwide. Wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ricini is a devastating disease in castor. The inheritance mode of wilt resistance was investigated. The F₁, F₂ and backcross generations of four crosses involving four resistant and three susceptible parents were developed. The role of digenic (R¹ and R²) epistatic interactions on wilt resistance was confirmed. The 15 : 1, 9 : 7 and 13 : 3 ratios indicated duplicate dominant, duplicate recessive and dominant and recessive epistatic interactions, respectively. Castor parents used in the crosses exhibited varied inheritance modes. All generations of a cross exhibited similar inheritance mode when parents were comparable. However, generations varied in inheritance mode when parents were not comparable in inheritance mode. These results would have practical interest when decisions are required regarding the choice of parents and methodology in resistance and hybrid breeding. The results also provided a basis for investigating molecular genetics of wilt resistance mechanisms.     

Inheritance of resistance to Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb., is a major constraint to cotton production in almost all countries where cotton is cultivated. Developing new cotton cultivars resistant to Verticillium wilt is the most effective and feasible way to combat the problem. Little is known about the inheritance of resistance to Verticillium wilt of cotton, especially that caused by the defoliating (D) and nondefoliating (ND) pathotypes of the soil‐borne fungus V. dahliae. The objective of this study was to determine the inheritance of resistance in cotton against both pathotypes of V. dahliae. Crosses were made between the susceptible parent ‘Cukurova 1518’ and each of four resistant parents PAUM 401, PAUM 403, PAUM 405 and PAUM 406 to produce F₂ generations in 2002 and F_2:3 families in 2003. Disease responses of parent and progeny populations to the D and ND pathotypes were scored based on a scale of 0‐4 (0, resistant; 4, susceptible). F₂ populations inoculated with the D pathotype showed a 3 : 1 (resistant : susceptible) plant segregation ratio. Tests of F_2:3 families confirmed that resistance was controlled by a single dominant gene. In contrast, analysis of data from F₂‐ and F₂‐derived F₃ families suggested that resistance to the ND pathotype is controlled by dominant alleles at two loci.     

Resistance to Sappaphis devecta (Wlk.) in apple

Summary Simple methods of selection for resistance to Sappaphis devecta (Wlk.), the rosy leaf-curling aphid, are described. Cox's Orange Pippin was shown to carry a single dominant resistance gene, for which the symbol Sd is suggested. There was clear evidence that the apple varieties James Grieve, Northern Spy and Ashmead's Kernel also provide monogenic sources of resistance, and there were similar indications for Gascoyne's Scarlet and ST 14/20.     

A possible gene source for early,day-length neutral pigeon peas,Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.

Summary Atylosia scarabaeoides Benth. and A. platycarpa Benth., close relatives of the species Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp., were screened for photoperiodic response. Four photoperiods ranging from 12 h 45 min to 19 h were studied in three environments. A. scarabaeoides flowered freely only in the first photoperiod. A. platycarpa not only flowered early (39 to 63 days after planting) in all four photoperiods, but also exhibited a relatively constant vegetative phase up to 16 h of illumination. Cajanus cajan, in which most cultivars-if not all-exhibit a response to photoperiod, was successfully hybridized with the two Atylosia species. It is suggested that genes for earliness and insensitivity to day-length could be transferred from A. platycarpa to C. cajan.     

A linkage group in rice (Oryza sativa L.) involving anti-inhibitory genes

Summary Inheritance studies of purple pigmentation in T-160 x AC-177 revealed that purple colour in the coleoptile is based on four genes (Pc ₁ , Pc₂, I-Pc, Ai-Pc), in the internode on two genes (Pin _a1 , Pin _a2 ), in the junctura on three genes (Pja, Pjb ₁ , Pjb ₂ ) and in the apiculus on three genes (Pa, I-P, Ai-P). For panicle density monogenic segregation (Lx) was obtained. Linkage was established between the genes for the apiculus (Pa and Ai-P), panicle density (Lx), the internode (Pin _a ), the coleoptile (Ai-Pc) and the junctura (Pja), in that sequence. This linkage group forms part of the IV mp group of Misro et al. (1966) which corresponds to the g group of japonica.The two anti-inhibitory genes Ai-Pg and Ai-Pau of the linkage group Ai-Pg=Ai-Pc=Ai-Pau reported earlier (Dhullappanavar et al., 1975) are also allotted to the IV linkage group of Misro et al. (1966) since Ai-Pc is placed in that group in the present studies.     

Inheritance of resistance to powdery mildew Sphaerotheca macularis (Fr.)Jaczewski in the red raspberry,Rubus idaeus L.

Summary The varieties Lloyd George and Burnetholm (and probably Malling Promise) are heterozygous for three genes governing resistance to mildew (S. macularis (FR.) Jaczewski, syn. S. humuli (DC.) BUrr.), Sp ₁ and Sp ₂ being dominant complementaries and sp ₃ recessive. Resistance whether of Sp ₁, Sp ₂ or sp ₃ sp ₃ origin is epistatic to susceptibility. Sp ₃ is linked with the fruit colour gene T with a crossover value of ca. 25%, the gene order in this linkage group being B-Sx ₃-T-Sp₃.Evidence suggesting linkage between H (hairy canes) and resistance is presented.     

Microsporogenesis and anther wall development in male-sterile and fertile lines of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)

Summary Microsporogenesis and anther wall development of male-sterile and fertile lines in pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) was examined microscopically. Male-sterility was complete and was caused by breakdown at the young tetrad stage. Degeneration of the tapetum by vacuolation occurred during the first division of meiosis and appeared responsible for pollen mother cell breakdown. Sterile plants also differed from the fertile plants in the enlargement of the inner middle layer of the anther wall, and in the lack of development of the endothecium.     

Specialization of crown rust (Puccinia coronata Corda) on clones of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.)

Summary Cultures of crown rust (Puccinia coronata Corda) from a mixed uredospore population obtained from plants in 16 localities in England and Wales were multiplied on four of 10 initially resistant clones of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). Only two of the four cultures were found to be most pathogenic on the clones on which they had been multiplied. One clone became very susceptible to its own culture but the other became only moderately susceptible. Clone/culture interactions occurred which were not obviously related to the clone of origin of the culture. Thus, there was considerable genetic diversity in the crop which would tend to limit the multiplication of new races. There was a strong correlation between visual score for susceptiblity and uredospore production, showing the value of visual scores for resistance breeding.     

Genetics of resistance to ascochyta blight in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Summary Six chickpea lines resistant to Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Lab. were crossed to four susceptible cultivars. The hybrids were resistant in all the crosses except the crosses where resistant line BRG 8 was involved. Segregation pattern for diseases reaction in F₂, BCP₁, BCP₂ and F₃ generations in field and glasshouse conditions revealed that resistance to Ascochyta blight is under the control of a single dominant gene in EC 26446, PG 82-1, P 919, P 1252-1 and NEC 2451 while a recessive gene is responsible in BRG 8. Allelic tests indicated the presence of three independently segregating genes for resistance; one dominant gene in P 1215-1 and one in EC 26446 and PG 82-1, and a recessive one in BRG 8.Research paper No. 3600     

Breeding alfalfa cultivars resistant to the alfalfa weevil

A ten-year study consisting of nine field experiments was conducted to evaluate alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) for resistance to larval feeding by the alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica Gyllenhal). The results were consistent over years and experiments. Only one source of alfalfa germplasm, designated Starnes, showed resistance to larval feeding in the field under natural infestations of the weevil. The cultivars Team, Arc, and Liberty have been developed from this germplasm source. The only effective method of selection for field resistance to the weevil was field selection under natural weevil infestations. Selection was based on low larval feeding on spaced plants. After six generations of such selection the Starnes germplasm showed only one-third as much defoliation as did the check cultivars. The heritability of the weevil resistance was moderately high. Field resistance was transferred to other strains through hybridization; hybrids were intermediate to the resistant and susceptible parents. Resistance was stable.Laboratory and greenhouse efforts to breed alfalfa weevil resistant alfalfa-using such techniques as adult cotyledon-nonpreference tests, adult leaf-feeding tests, larval-growth and survival tests, oviposition-stimulus tests, and oviposition-nonpreference tests-have failed to produce field resistance.Paper No. 5308 of the Journal series of North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh, N. C., in cooperation wich ARS, USDA. Received 15 June 1977.