Combining ability of low phytic acid (<Emphasis Type="Italic">lpa1</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">1</Emphasis>) and quality protein maize (QPM) lines for seed germination and vigour under stress and non-stress conditions

Grain yield is more likely to be compromised by poor seed germination and vigour in low phytic acid (LPA) and quality protein maize (QPM) than normal maize (Nm), especially when grown under stressful tropical environmental conditions. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of stress conditions on seed germination and vigour traits (percentage germination, seedling dry weight, average root and shoot length and vigour index) and to determine the GCA effects of the parental lines and SCA effects of the crosses. A ten parent half diallel (LPA, Nm, QPM lines) was subjected to the standard germination (non-stress) and accelerated aging (AA) (stress) tests. All seed lots were at the same physiological age and produced under the same season and conditions. Genotypic and group differences were investigated. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were significant (P ≤ 0.001) for all traits under both stress and non-stress conditions indicating that both additive and non-additive gene effects were significant. Generally SCA effects were superior for all traits. The LPA lines displayed 61 % reduction in germination and 23–52 % reduction in vigour under stress conditions thereby underscoring challenges that are expected in deploying LPA maize in stress conditions. However, LPA line CM 31 exhibited large positive and mostly significant GCA effects, while two LPA × LPA crosses showed significant positive SCA effects. Results indicate breeding is required to improve both germination and vigour of the LPA lines to adapt them to tropical conditions that are generally stress-prone.     

不同基因型玉米种子萌发特性与芽、苗期抗旱性的关系

利用PEG高渗溶液法研究了不同基因型玉米种子的萌发特性；同时采用盆栽控水法测定了其干旱后幼苗存活率。研究结果表明：在水分亏缺条件下，不同基因型玉米在各性状上表现受抑程度不同，具有较强根、芽生长能力的玉米基因型，芽、苗期的抗旱性较强。玉米在高渗溶液中的种子萌发耐旱指数是评价其芽期抗旱性的综合指标，而苗期抗旱性评价应以干旱后幼苗存活率为标准。     

PEG胁迫下春小麦萌发期抗旱指标的遗传力

为探索干旱胁迫对春小麦萌发期生长的影响,筛选春小麦萌发期抗旱性指标。以宁夏灌区和雨养区的2种粒色（红皮和白皮）40份春小麦的抗旱品系为试验材料,研究PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫对胚根长、胚根数、胚芽鞘长和一叶长的影响。利用广义遗传力分析法,筛选春小麦萌发期抗旱性指标。胚根长的广义遗传力最高,均大于0.55,遗传力的控制程度稳定。雨养区的红粒种子胚根长的遗传力高达0.95;雨养区的红粒种子的胚芽鞘长的广义遗传力最高,达0.94,但其遗传力控制程度不稳定,最低遗传力仅为0.06;胚根数和一叶长的遗传力很低,且控制程度极不稳定。春小麦萌发期胚根长的广义遗传力最高,控制程度稳定。其次是胚芽鞘长,但其遗传力的控制程度不稳定。胚根长可作为春小麦萌发期的抗旱指标鉴定抗旱材料,以胚芽鞘的长度为参考值。     

谷子萌芽期抗旱性鉴定研究

为了探索谷子种子萌发期相关抗旱性形态和生理生化指标,从而为谷子品种的早期抗旱性鉴定提供更多理论依据。通过PEG渗透胁迫人工模拟干旱条件,对20个谷子品种进行了萌芽期抗旱性研究。以种子的萌发抗旱指数为依据进行谷子萌芽期抗旱性筛选,将20个谷子品种分为五类。研究结果表明：在渗透胁迫条件下,谷子的发芽率、发芽势降低,幼根和幼芽的生长受到不同程度的抑制。其中发芽势、发芽率和幼芽长度与萌发抗旱指数呈极显著正相关(r=0.90**;r=0.73**;r=0.63**),根长和侧根数与萌发抗旱指数呈正相关(r=0.48*;r=0.51*),胚芽鞘长度与萌发抗旱指数相关性不显著。分析表明,发芽势可作为萌芽期抗旱性鉴定的一级指标;发芽率和幼芽长度可作为抗旱性鉴定的二级指标;根长和侧根数可作为萌芽期抗旱性鉴定的三级指标。鉴定谷子萌芽期抗旱性,可以以抗旱指数为主,结合其他5项指标进行综合评价。     

水杨酸对渗透胁迫下玉米种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

分别采用不同浓度的甘露醇和水杨酸处理玉米种子。结果表明:水杨酸处理对玉米种子的发芽率以及苗高、根长、根数、苗鲜重、根鲜重及根冠比都得到提高,说明水杨酸对玉米种子发芽和幼苗生长的有促进作用,可以在一定程度上解除渗透胁迫。     

外源ZnCl2对成县迟蒜盐胁迫响应研究

用不同浓度的ZnCl2对盐胁迫下成县迟蒜鳞茎种子进行处理,对大蒜鳞茎种子萌发、幼苗生长和幼苗中渗透调节物质的含量及4种抗氧化酶活性进行了测定.结果表明,在单一NaCl胁迫下,大蒜鳞茎种子萌发和幼苗的生长受到严重抑制,添加不同浓度ZnCl2后,大蒜鳞茎种子萌发率和幼苗的耐盐性明显增强.添加浓度为10-5 mol/L时,大蒜鳞茎种子萌发率、萌发指数和芽长、根长、发根数以及幼苗鲜重、苗干重、根鲜重、根干重和根体积、抗氧化酶SOD、POD、CAT和APX活性达到最大,可溶性糖、脯氨酸和丙二醛含量降到最低.因此,外源ZnCl2缓解NaCl胁迫对大蒜鳞茎种子萌发和幼苗伤害的最适浓度为10-5 mol/L.     

Root Growth of a Salt Susceptible and a Salt Resistant Rice (Oryza sativa L.) During Seedling Establishment Under NaCl Salinity

The salt susceptible rice ( Oryza sativa L.) cv. Jaya and salt resistant cv. Damodar seed germination and seedling growth rates were studied in laboratory and field conditions. The effect of salinity on seed germination, shoot and root length, seedling vigour index (SVI) and increase in the root: shoot length ratio in the laboratory was relatively more in cv. Jaya than in cv. Damodar. The relative susceptibility to salinity was more in cv. Jaya than in cv. Damodar in the field also. However, their responses varied with growth period. The root: shoot length and fresh and dry weight ratios increased with salinity at 15 days in cv. Jaya. The root: shoot fresh and dry weight ratio decreased with salinity at 15 days in cv. Damodar. However, the root: shoot fresh weight ratio decreased with salinity at 25 days in the susceptible cv. Jaya. The root and shoot length fresh and dry weight of cv. Damodar was enhanced at 0.5% (w/v) NaCl treatment compared to the control seedlings at 25 days. SVI in cv. Jaya decreased with salinity in the laboratory and field conditions. SVI in cv. Damodar, SVI showed little change at 15 days but decreased with salinity of 1–3% NaCl with an enhancement at 0.5% NaCl level in the laboratory and at 25 days in field conditions.     

Quantitative trait locus mapping for seed artificial aging traits using an F2:3 population and a recombinant inbred line population crossed from two highly related maize inbreds

Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for seed longevity is essential for breeding modern cultivars with resistance to deterioration during postharvest storage. The inbred lines X178 and I178 showed large differences in seed vigour after artificial aging treatment, while they had similar performances in terms of most agronomic traits. An F_2:3 population and a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population were generated to map QTL after 5 days under artificial aging conditions. Positive correlations were observed among all investigated traits including the aging germination rate, relative aging germination rate, aging simple vigour index, aging primary root length, aging shoot length and aging total length. Thirteen QTL were identified to locate on five chromosome regions: Chr.1:297 Mb (chromosome 1 region 297 Mb), Chr.3:205 Mb, Chr.4:240 Mb, Chr.5:205 Mb and Chr.7:155 Mb, with 2 to 4 QTL co‐located on a region. In each region, 3–8 previously identified aging‐related QTL were located, confirming the importance of these regions for controlling seed longevity in different maize populations. Taken together, the results of this work provide a foundation for further QTL fine mapping and the molecular‐assisted breeding of aging tolerant maize.     

乙草胺对玉米种子萌发和幼苗生长的胁迫效应

通过发芽试验和生物测定方法,研究了乙草胺胁迫对玉米种子萌发特性、幼苗生长发育和生理生化特性的影响。结果表明:浓度为10~100mg/L乙草胺药液胁迫能够降低种子发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数,抑制玉米幼苗的根长、芽长和鲜重。同时乙草胺胁迫降低了玉米种子萌发过程中α-淀粉酶活性和幼根根系活力,导致幼芽和幼根超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化物酶活性上升,对生理环境造成威胁。玉米受抑制程度随着乙草胺浓度的增加而增大,低浓度的乙草胺对玉米的抑制作用较小,浓度超过40mg/L的处理显著影响玉米生长和生理。芽长和根长与乙草胺浓度具有良好的浓度效应关系。     

Smoke-Water and a Smoke-Isolated Butenolide Improve Germination and Seedling Vigour of Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter under High Temperature and Low Osmotic Potential

The seeds of Eragrostis tef are often exposed to high temperatures and low water availability during unfavourable climatic conditions. This affects germination and seedling stand establishment of the crop. Smoke is currently widely studied for its stimulatory role in seed germination. The effect of smoke-water and a smoke-isolated butenolide was investigated on E. tef seed germination and seedling growth at different temperatures, light conditions and osmotic potentials. Treating E. tef seeds with smoke-water and butenolide increased the percentage germination relative to the control at all tested temperatures. These treatments significantly improved seedling length and the vigour index at 25, 30, 35 and 40 and 30/15 °C. Smoke-water and butenolide increased percentage imbibition from high to low osmotic potential. In comparison with the control, smoke-water- and butenolide-treated seeds of E. tef showed higher percentage germination with decreasing osmotic potential. Smoke-water treatment exhibited significantly longer and more vigorous seedlings than the control between 0 and −0.30 MPa osmotic potential. The findings of this study suggest the possibility of using smoke treatments for minimizing E. tef seedling losses at elevated temperatures and water stress.     

Genetic variation of germination cold tolerance in Japanese rice germplasm

Low temperatures at the initial stages of rice development prevent fast germination and seedling establishment and may cause significant productivity losses. In order to develop rice cultivars exhibiting cold tolerance, it is necessary to investigate genetic resources, providing basic knowledge to allow the introduction of genes involved in low temperature germination ability from accessions into elite cultivars. Japanese rice accessions were evaluated at the germination under two conditions: 13°C for 28 days (cold stress) and 28°C for seven days (optimal temperature). The traits studied were coleoptile and radicle length under optimal temperature, coleoptile and radicle length under cold and percentage of the reduction in coleptile and radicle length due to low temperature. Among the accessions studied, genetic variation for traits related to germination under low temperatures was observed and accessions exhibiting adequate performance for all investigated traits were identified. The use of multivariate analysis allowed the identification of the genotypes displaying cold tolerance by smaller reductions in coleoptile and radicle lenght in the presence of cold and high vigour, by higher coleoptile and radicle growth under cold.     

KH2PO4和青霉素对小麦老化种子发芽及幼苗生长的影响

适宜浓度的KH2PO4和青霉素能明显提高小麦老化种子发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数、幼苗根系活力、叶片叶绿素含量及幼苗长度，且能适当降低其种子浸泡液的电导率。其中以0．025％KH2PO4＋100mg／L青霉素效果最好。     

盐引发对不同水分条件下油菜种子发芽成苗的影响

试验用两个油菜(Brassica napus L.)品种"双72"和"浙油758"研究了Ca(NO3)2溶液引发对油菜种子在不同水分条件下发芽和幼苗生长的影响,探讨通过引发来提高大田直播油菜的活力.结果表明,经过引发处理后,两个油菜品种在30%的水分条件下无法发芽;在20%和25%的水分条件下种子的发芽指数显著提高,平均发芽天数显著缩短,幼苗POD活性显著提高,而幼苗的根长、苗高、苗干重、叶绿素含量和CAT活性与对照相比没有显著差异.引发后的"浙油758"种子在20%和25%水分条件下,发芽势和发芽率显著提高,而"双72"种子的发芽势在20%水分时显著高于对照.试验表明盐引发提高了油菜种子在水分逆境下的活力,提高了幼苗的抗逆性.     

Genetic mapping within the wheat D genome reveals QTL for germination, seed vigour and longevity, and early seedling growth

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling germination, seed vigour and longevity, and early seedling growth were identified using a set of common wheat lines carrying known D genome introgression segments. Seed germination (capacity, timing, rate and synchronicity) was characterized by a standard germination test, based either on the 1 mm root protrusion (germination sensu stricto) or the development of normal seedlings. To quantify seed vigour, the same traits were measured from batches of seed exposed for 72 h at 43°C and high (ca. 100%) humidity. Seed longevity was evaluated from the relative trait values. Seedling growth was assessed both under non-stressed and under osmotic stress conditions. Twenty QTL were mapped to chromosomes 1D, 2D, 4D, 5D, and 7D. Most of the QTL for germination sensu stricto clustered on chromosome 1DS in the region Xgwm1291–Xgwm337. A region on chromosome 7DS associated with Xgwm1002 harboured loci controlling the development of normal seedlings. Seed vigour-related QTL were present in a region of chromosome 5DL linked to Xgwm960. QTL for seed longevity were coincident with those for germination or seed vigour on chromosomes 1D or 5D. QTL for seedling growth were identified on chromosomes 4D and 5D. A candidate homologues search suggested the putative functions of the genes within the respective regions. These results offer perspectives for the selection of favourable alleles to improve certain vigour traits in wheat, although the negative effects of the same chromosome regions on other traits may limit their practical use.     

Germination characters and early seedling growth of wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.) genotypes under salt stress conditions

Screening of wheat genotypes as salt tolerance through seed germination and early seedling growth is crucial for their evaluation. Seeds of 20 wheat genotypes were germinated in Petri dishes on a sand bed irrigated with saline (15 dS m_-1) and control solutions for 10 days and also tested at different salinity levels (control, 4, 6, 8, and 10 dS m^-1) which were artificially developed in the soil for 30 days. At 10 days, germination percentage, rate of germination, co-efficient of germination, germination vigor index, shoot length, root length, and seedling dry weight were found to be affected due to salinity. Salt tolerance index (STI) for seedling dry weight maintained a significant positive correlation with rate of germination, germination vigor index, shoot length, and root length, which indicates that these parameters could be used as selection criteria for screening wheat genotypes against salt stress. Significant differences in shoot length, root length, and seedling dry weight in 30-day-old seedlings were observed among selected wheat genotypes as well. From the overall observation of germination characters and early seedling growth, it was concluded that the wheat genotypes including Gourab, Shatabdi, Bijoy, Prodip, BARI Gom 26, BAW 1186, and BAW 1189 showed better salt tolerance as compared to others.     

云南松种子萌发及芽苗生长对干旱胁迫的响应

采用PEG-6000(聚乙二醇)配制不同浓度溶液,研究干旱胁迫对云南松种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明,随着PEG浓度的增加,云南松种子的发芽率、萌发指数、活力指数和种苗长度先上升后下降,根芽比上升,萌发进程基本一致。云南松种子在轻度水分胁迫下萌发较好,表现出对干旱的适应性。     

Root characteristic system improves drought tolerance in orchardgrass

Plant genotypes with higher drought tolerance through improved root characteristics are poorly studied in orchardgrass. In the current research, 30 orchardgrass genotypes were polycrossed and the resulting half‐sib families evaluated under both normal and water stress environments. Under water stress conditions, values for most root traits decreased at 0–30 cm soil depth, while at 30–60 cm depths, the root length (RL), root area (RA), root volume, percentage of root dry weight (RDW) and the ratio of root to shoot were increased. We identified drought‐tolerant genotypes with a high combining ability for root characteristics and a high yield potential. High estimates of heritability as well as genetic variation for root traits indicated that phenotypic selection would be successful in order to achieve genetic progress. Indirect selection to improve dry matter yield was most efficient when selecting for RL and RDW under water stress conditions. Significant associations between a drought tolerance index and RL, RA and root volume confirmed the importance of these traits in conferring drought tolerance of orchardgrass.     

水分胁迫对棉花种子萌发的影响

 采用不同浓度的PEG (聚乙二醇6000)溶液模拟土壤自然水势,对棉花种子萌发进行人工水分胁迫试验。结果表明,随着水势的下降,发芽率、发芽速度、发芽指数、苗高、根长、根茎比、幼苗干、鲜重等都出现不同程度的降低。发芽率和根茎比的降低在轻度水分胁迫（10%）下不明显,随PEG浓度上升到15%以上时,上述指标均受到强烈抑制。     

Multi-trait stability index: A tool for simultaneous selection of soya bean genotypes in drought and saline stress

Drought and salinity are the main limiting environmental factors that restrict the establishment of soya bean plants. In order to recommend genotypes for cultivation under adverse drought and saline stress conditions, multi-environment trials (MET) are needed. However, MET analysis is usually performed considering a single trait, which provides lower reliability in recommending genotypes when compared to multi-trait analysis. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate the stability of multi-trait stability index (MTSI) in 46 soya bean cultivars under the effects of drought and saline stress on seed germination and initial seedling growth. Drought and saline stresses were imposed by seed exposure to −0.20 MPa iso-osmotic solutions with polyethylene glycol—PEG 6000 (119.6 g/L) or NaCl (2.36 g/L) for 12 days at 25°C. The germination rate, seedling length and seedling dry matter were measured. We showed here how genotypic stability can be quantified by MTSI when comparing drought and salinity conditions in relation to non-stressful environment (control) and how this index can be employed under different conditions. When considering the index for multiple environments, we can select as the most stable genotypes TMG 716 RR, FPS Antares RR, AS 3610 IPRO, NS 7300 IPRO and FPS Solar IPRO among the 46 tested genotypes. Owing to high stability and gains with selection verified for these genotypes under salinity and drought conditions, they can be used as genitors in breeding programs aimed at obtaining offspring with higher resistance to antibiotic stresses.     

Evaluation of drought and heat tolerance in wheat based on seedling traits and molecular analysis

Polyethylene glycol and cell membrane stability (CMS) assay were used to evaluate drought and heat tolerance, respectively, among 14 wheat lines based on seedling traits and molecular analysis. Significant variation was evidenced for all the investigated seedling traits. Different levels of heritability and genetic advance were found among the tested traits, indicating whether the trait is controlled by additive or non-additive gene action. Drought caused a significant reduction in root and shoot lengths. However, root/shoot ratio under drought stress was increased. Root length showed a highly significant negative correlation with drought susceptibility index (DSI) under drought conditions. Cluster analysis based on seedling traits separated lines mainly by DSI and CMS. Some lines showed drought and heat tolerance by exhibiting a low DSI with high CMS. Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) generated a total of 135 bands, with a level of polymorphism ranging from 30 to 86% among the tested lines. SRAP showed its efficiency in discriminating wheat genotypes by gathering all high-DSIlines in one sub-cluster and generating 10 and 3 unique and specific bands for high-DSI-lines and low-DSI-lines, respectively. These bands could be used for further work as SRAP markers associated with drought tolerance in wheat.