Early Generation Selection for Grain Yield in Narrow-Leaf Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.)

Experiments were undertaken to identify an efficient method of selection for yield in early segregating generations of narrow-leaf lupin crosses. A first series of experiments involved simulation of F₂ populations with mixtures of ten cultivars and advanced breeding lines. The performance of genotypes in mixtures sown at different densities was compared with their monoculture [commercial density) yields m the same and the following year. These comparisons provided a basis for assessing the value of different planting designs and different selection criteria in early generation selection for yield. Correlated monoculture yield responses to simulated selection for single plant yield were similar for the honeycomb design and standard selection procedures at both low and commercial densities. These responses were much higher than that for grid selection in a low density population. Correlated monoculture yield responses to selection for other plant characters were substantial only for flowering time and number of pod bearing branches under certain conditions. These responses were greatest for selection in a low density mixture and in the year following selection. A procedure involving selection of the earliest flowering plants and selection within this group of plants with the highest number of pod bearing branches should be an effective approach to early generation yield selection in the narrow-leaf lupin.     

豇豆种质资源农艺性状的相关性、主成分及聚类分析

为给豇豆育种中品种资源的合理利用提供依据,对41份豇豆品种资源15项主要农艺性状进行相关性、主成分和聚类分析。结果表明,枯萎病发生程度的变异系数最大,与豇豆产量关系密切的单荚重和单株嫩荚数2个农艺性状,与株型、嫩荚长、单株花序数和单荚种子粒数都呈现显著正相关,单株嫩荚数与开花期、叶宽和单株分枝数呈现显著负相关。15个主要农艺性状可以归纳为5个主成分,第1主成分包括株型、初花节位、嫩荚长、单荚重、单荚种子粒数、单株花序数、单株嫩荚数和单株分枝数;第2主成分包括开花期、叶长和叶宽;第3主成分包括种皮颜色和嫩荚宽;第4主成分包括嫩荚颜色;第5主成分包括枯萎病发生程度。41份豇豆种质资源在遗传距离为25处分为2大类,在遗传距离为15处分为Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ类,其中第Ⅰ类的品种优势明显,具有较好的应用前景。     

Plant character correlations and path analysis of pod yield in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

Summary Genotypic, phenotypic and environmental correlation coefficients were calculated for fifteen characters during two growing seasons. Correlation coefficients varie between seasons. Edible pod weight, edible pod length, edible pod width, number of seeds per plant, weight of 100 seeds, length of mature pods and number of branches per plant showed significant genotypic correlation with pod yield per plant; only number of branches per plant, edible pod length and weight of 100 seeds were phenotypically correlated with pod yield. Environmental correlation coefficients were generally low but edible pod length, final plant height and edible pod weight showed significant environmental correlation with pod yield during the two seasons.The genotypic correlation coefficients of selected eight characters with pod yield were partitioned into direct and indirect causes. In the early seasons, edible pod weight had the largest positive direct effect on pod yield with its largest indirect effect through reduction in edible pod width. Edible pod width which was highly correlated with pod yield had a negative direct effect on pod yield. In the late season, edible pod weight had the largest direct effect on pod yield, with large indirect effects through reduction in number of days to flowering and number of pods per plant. Number of days to flowering had a large direct effect on pod yield with its largest indirect effect through reduction in edible pod weight. The residual factors during the two seasons were negative. The study indicated that only number of branches per plant, edible pod length and weight of 100 seeds would be useful for indirect selection for pod yield. The path analysis indicated that edible pod weight was the most reliable and effective character to select for when high yield is the objective.     

Expected levels of heterozygosity in autotetraploid progeny populations

Summary A breeding program aimed at improving the seed yield in bean for processing was started. Six parents divergent in a range of agronomical characters were crossed according to diallel mating design. Cluster analysis performed on the composite cross population evidenced divergence between F1 hybrids and to maximize genetic recombination, the most different F1 hybrids were intercrossed. A Factor analysis was performed on 7 morphological and yield-determining traits of 15 hybrids F1 and parents. Three Factors, representing patterns of variables interpreted as productivity per plant, growth factor, and branching-productivity, were extracted. These results evidenced the inverse relationship between seed yield components (seeds/pod, pods/plant, and hundred seed weight): i.e. the selection for either variable is detrimental to the other. It may be possible to break this association if the plant construct assures high sink to satisfy all plant requirements: tall and large plants bearing numerous nodes, leaves and reproductive structures. Moreover, the selection practiced simultaneously on the yield components positively affected the seed yield trait. An index of selection and response to selection were estimated on the segregant populations. The realized gain in seed/yield reached after one cycle of selection (C1) was 6.5 g, about 20% over the base population (C0). The expected gain from selection based on the superior 5% plants in C2 families was 25.5% and approached the realized gain. The result of this paper gives evidence to support that the seed yield can be improved by an adequate selection intensity and selection index can be very useful when it is faced with the improvement of several traits at the same time.     

Identification of Genes Controlling Pod Length in Spring Rapeseed, Brassica napus L., and their Utilization for Yield Improvement

Experiments were undertaken to determine the inheritance of pod length in a cross with spring rapesecd, Brassica napus, and to assess the value of pod length as a criterion of selection for high seed yield. Analyses of patterns of variation in F₂; and backcross populations derived from a cross between a short-pod line TB42 and long-pod line CA553 indicated that much of the variation in pod length could be attributed to two major genes interacting in a complementary manner. Short-pods were produced when cither one or both genes were homozygous for the recessive allele. Analyses of F₃ progenies of selected F₂ and inbred-backcross lines derived from the same cross supported the two-gene hypothesis but also indicated that the effects of the major genes on pod length were possibly modified by genes of minor effect. Field testing of families derived from random intermating between F₂, plants of the TB42 × CA553 cross showed that number of pods per plant varied independently of pod length, but seed weight per pod tended to increase with increasing pod length. As a result, families with the longest pods generally had significantly higher yields than those with short pods. It was concluded that yield improvement in B. napus could be achieved through introgression of long-pod genes into cultivars with an appropriate genetic background to ensure that selection for the long-pod character would be accompanied by an increase in seed weight per pod with little or no reduction in number of pods per plant.     

唐山红小豆地方品种资源数量性状的遗传变异分析

以71份唐山红小豆地方品种资源为研究对像,对资源各数量性状的平均表现、遗传变异、遗传力及预期遗传进度进行了分析。结果表明,唐山红小豆地方品种资源生育期类型单一、株型高大、产量性状较好,子粒大小中等;主茎分枝、单株荚数、单株生产力、小区产量、生育前期、百粒重、单荚粒数具有中等以上的遗传变异系数和遗传进度,对其选择有一定的效果;在选择效果明显的性状中,生育期、百粒重、主茎分枝遗传力较高,可在早代选择;小区产量遗传力中等,可在遗传基础相对稳定的较高世代选择;而株高、单株荚数、单荚粒数、单株生产力的遗传力较低,应在遗传基础纯合稳定的高世代选择。     

Genetic analyses of agronomic and seed quality traits of doubled haploid population in Brassica napus through microspore culture

Summary The results showed that the F1 genotype from the cross (Brassica napus cv. Zheshuang 758 × cv. Z-4115) had good response to embryogenesis, and their embryo yield and rate of plant regeneration reached 69.8 embryo/bud and 46.9%, respectively. Characters from the doubled haploid (DH) populations in B. napus were analyzed and it was showed that the means of each agronomic trait were between their parents, but they were nearer to the paternal in 6 agronomic traits (plant height, branch position, number of pods in the main raceme, length of pod, number of pods/plant and number of seeds/pod). The number of genes controlling each agronomic trait was analyzed based on the DH populations. The results showed that the number of genes controlling number of pods in the main raceme was the highest (15.6), and the least number of genes was involved for stem width (only 7.9). According to estimated coefficients of skewness and kurtosis of the traits tested, gene interaction was found to be absent for stem width, plant height, length of main raceme, number of primary and secondary branches, pod density in the main raceme and seed weight/plant. Complementary interaction was also observed in five agronomic traits (number of pods in the main raceme, length of pod, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod and 1000-seed weight). A significantly positive correlation was observed between seed yield/plant and four agronomic traits (length of main raceme, length of pod, number of pods/plant and 1000-seed weight). The experiment also showed that the erucic acid, glucosinolate, oil and protein contents of DH populations were 34.23%, 87.09 μmol/g, 44.09% and 42.67%, respectively. The numbers of genes controlling each quality trait were 7.8, 9.7, 9.4 and 8.7, respectively. Partial correlations between the seed quality traits and the agronomic characters of DH populations were analyzed. In this experiment, the partial correlations among seed quality traits were also analyzed and it was found that the oil content had a negative correlation with the other three seed quality traits.     

Genetic analysis of yield and its components in vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

The F2 and backcrosses of a cross between two vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) varieties with contrasting characteristics were evaluated for pod yield and its components, with the aim of understanding the genetic basis of these characteristics. A four-parameter model incorporating the additive, dominance and additive × additive genetic components fitted the data for pod yield and clusters per plant. The additive and additive × additive effects were positive and were larger than the dominance component. The relatively large additive and the predominantly positive dominant effects suggest that selection would be effective. Pod weight had high broad (84%) and narrow sense heritability (75%) and can be effectively selected for in the early generations. The study suggested that vegetable cowpea improvement programs should focus on selecting for clusters per plant and average pod weight in the early generations, while selection for dry pod yield could be delayed to later generations. It was concluded that pods per plant may be a useful selection criterion in multi-location trials aimed at selecting for stability of yield. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Direct and indirect selection for yield in chickpea

Summary The efficiency of indirect selection for seed yield was compared with direct selection for yield per se in chickpea. A total of 2500 single F₂ plants, derived from 50 crosses with 50 plants from each cross, were divided into five sub-populations (SP1 to SP5) of 500 plants each by including 10 plants from each of the 50 crosses. The five sub-populations were advanced upto F₆ by exercising 10% selection intensity for four successive generations for number of pods per plant in SP1, number of seeds per pod in SP2, seed weight in SP3, seed yield in SP4 and random selection in SP5. The efficiency of direct and indirect selection for yield was evaluated by comparing groups of 50 F₆ lines from each sub-population. SP1 and SP3 F₆ lines showed higher mean grain yield than the other three methods. SP1 and SP3 were found to be almost equally efficient in developing F₆ lines which were significantly superior to the check. This suggests that indirect selection for yield via pod number and seed weight is more efficient than direct selection for yield.     

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.     

利用混合线性模型分析绿豆主要农艺性状的遗传及相关性

以19个绿豆品种(系)为亲本, 采用非完全双列杂交试验设计及混合线性模型,研究绿豆主要农艺性状的遗传规律及其性状间的相互关系。结果表明, 绿豆全生育日数、株高、主茎节数和百粒重均以加性效应为主, 狭义遗传率较高且达极显著水平;单株荚数、单株产量和总产量的加性效应和显性效应均显著或极显著, 狭义遗传率相对较低;单荚粒数主要受显性效应影响, 广义遗传率较高;播种至开花天数与株高间存在显著或极显著遗传和表型正相关;单株荚数、单荚粒数与百粒重显著或极显著负相关;单株荚数与单株产量、总产量显著或极显著正相关;百粒重与单株产量、总产量相关性不大;针对全生育日数、株高、主茎节数和百粒重的选择可在早期世代进行, 而对产量的选择可以根据单株荚数和单株产量在晚期世代进行。     

半无叶型菜豌豆7个农艺性状的通径分析

对“普通型日本菜豌豆×半无叶型菜豌豆宝菜2号”后代株系的株高（x1）、分枝数（x2）、糖度（x3）、单株荚数（x4）、双荚率（x5）、单株粒数（x6）、鲜百粒重（x7）、鲜荚产量（y）进行了通径分析。结果表明：各个性状对鲜荚产量均有直接正向效应,其相对重要性排序为单株粒数>鲜百粒重>单株荚数>分枝数>株高>糖度>双荚率,其中各个农艺性状对鲜荚产量的直接效应中单株粒数最高,鲜百粒重次之。间接效应中单株荚数通过单株粒数对鲜荚产量的间接作用最大。综合各影响因素,在选育半无叶型菜豌豆时应注意各农艺性状指标的合理搭配。     

Putrescine Increases Floral Retention, Pod Set and Seed Yield in Cold Stressed Chickpea

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is sensitive to cold stress (<8 °C) at its reproductive phase that results in flower abortion, poor pod set and thus reduced yield. Early maturing genotypes are especially more sensitive. In this crop, the metabolic causes underlying cold injury that are imperative to induce cold tolerance are not known. In the present study, the endogenous levels of putrescine (diamine), spermidine (triamine) and spermine (tetramine) were examined in early maturing chickpea genotype ICCV 96029, subjected to chilling temperatures of field (12–15/4–6 °C; average maximum and minimum temperature respectively), at flowering or early podding stage. These were compared with controls growing in warmer conditions (28/12 °C) of the glasshouse. The polyamine levels increased six to nine times because of stress. Relatively, putrescine (PUT) elevation was the highest but short-lived and its decrease appeared to match with the onset of flower and pod abscission in stressed plants. Compared with controls, chilling injury, observed as electrolyte leakage (EL), increased by 60 % while cellular respiration declined by 68 % in stressed plants. Exogenous application of 10 mm PUT to stressed plants reduced the EL by 29 % and elevated the cellular respiration by 40 %. PUT application at flowering stage resulted in increase of 30, 31, 23 and 25 % in floral retention, pod set, pod retention and fertile pods respectively. At the early podding stage, PUT treatment increased the seed yield per plant, seed number per 100 pods and individual seed weight by 50, 17 and 19 % respectively. The number of single-seeded pods per plant increased from 4.4 in stressed plants to 12.2 in PUT-treated plants while the number of double-seeded pods reduced from 6.2 to 4.3. The number of infertile pods declined from 8.2 in stressed plants to 3.1 in PUT-treated plants.     

夏大豆产量性状的遗传力和配合力分析

用６个夏大豆品种进行双列杂交试验，估算了主要产量性状的遗传力、配合力效应。结果表明：大豆有效分枝数，每荚粒数，百粒重的狭义遗传力较高，可以进行早代选择；单株数、单株产量的狭义遗传力较低，在中高世代进行选择效果较好。大豆产量性状的加性遗传效应都是主要的，并以单株产量表现较大的特殊配合力效应。新品系８５２１２．８４２４０Ｂ１、７７２４９都是高产育种较理想的亲本材料，尤以品系７７２４９育种的效果最佳。     

栽培大豆(G.max)×半野生大豆(G.gracilis)后代主要农艺性状遗传参数的初步分析

本试验利用三个不同结荚习性的栽培大豆(G.max)做母本,分别与三个半野生大豆(G.graeilis)按NCⅡ设计配制的9个杂交组合,估测了F_1、F_2代主要农艺性状的优势指数;F_2代主要农艺性状的平均数、变幅、遗传变异系数、遗传力和预期遗传进度。试验结果表明:F_1代除百粒重、主茎有效节数以外,其余性状均有明显的杂种优势;F_2代除有效分枝、主茎粗以外,其余性状的优势指数均明显下降;F_2代遗传变异幅度大小的趋势为有限组合>亚有限组合>无限组合;生育日数、株高的遗传力高,可在早期世代进行选择;单株粒数、单株荚数、主茎粗的遗传力低,应在较晚世代选择;单株粒重及其主要构成因素均有较大的遗传进度绝对值,无限组合的遗传进度明显低于有限、亚有限组合。     

Yield, yield components and plant architecture in the F3 generation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) derived from a cross between the determinate cultivar ‘Prelude’ and an indeterminate landrace

Growth trials were conducted outdoors in the UK to determine the yield, yield components and plant architectural differences between determinate and indeterminate Phaseolus vulgaris bean plants. F3 lines derived from crosses between ‘Prelude’, a determinate cultivar and ‘V8’, an indeterminate landrace, were grown together with the parents and ‘Carioca’, an indeterminate landrace from Brazil. Data were recorded on flowering date, number of nodes on main stem at flowering, plant height at maturity, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, number of seeds/plant, 100-seed weight, seed mass/plant, percentages of diseased and healthy seeds/plant. Determinate F3 lines had significantly lower (P < 0.05) seed mass/plant, fewer pods/plant, fewer seeds/pod, fewer seeds/plant, lower harvest index, shorter stems, earlier date of flowering, fewer nodes at flowering and fewer healthy seeds/plant than indeterminate F3 lines. However, determinate genotypes had significantly larger (P < 0.05) pods to accommodate their larger seeds compared with indeterminate lines. A similar situation was found when the yield and yield components of ‘V8’, ‘Prelude’ and ‘Carioca’ were evaluated; the highest seed mass/plant was given by ‘V8’ and the lowest by ‘Prelude’. Furthermore, some indeterminate genotypes with Type IV growth habit yielded significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the high-yielding parent, ‘V8’, indicating a positive influence on seed yield by crossing different genotypes.     

Heterosis for yield and related characters in pea

Summary To determine the levels of heterosis in F1 hybrids, four current pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars from southern Australia were used as female parents and crossed with 18 introduced genotypes. The 22 parents, 72 F1 hybrids and, depending on the environment, either 54 or all 72 F2 families were grown in replicated plots in four environments. Grain yield, total dry matter, harvest index, branches per plant, pods per plant, seeds per pod, hundred seed weight, plant height, onset of flowering and flowering periods were evaluated. For both the F1 and F2 generation, heterosis was determined as the superiority over the mid-parent and also over the better parent. In addition, the superiority over the best commercial cultivar was calculated. Most hybrids were higher yielding than their mid-parent but were less stable in yield across environments. Four F1 hybrids were significantly higher yielding than the best parent, by up to 26%. There were significant correlations between F1 hybrid and mid-parent value for plant height, pods per plant and hundred seed weight but not for yield. Overall, grain yield heterosis was mainly due to more pods per plant in the hybrids. The level of heterosis for yield in a poor yielding environment was higher than that in a high yielding one. Both additive and non-additive gene effects were important in the expression of all studied traits. The average level of heterosis for grain yield and total dry matter in the F2 population was half of that in F1 hybrids. The low level of inbreeding depression from the F1 to the F2 generation suggested that epistatic gene action also contributed to the expression of grain yield. Some F2 populations maintained the high yield levels of the corresponding F1 hybrids.     

The importance of two-seeded pods in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)

Summary The effect of selection for two-seeded pods in diploid and tetraploid populations and the effect of chromosome doubling on two-seededness were studied. The material obtained was examined to find out how important two-seeded pods are for seed set, grain weight and seed yield.In a mixoploid plant the percentage two-seeded pods in the tetraploid heads was far smaller than that in the diploid heads. Only when the character had developed relatively strongly in the diploid, did it exceed a very low value.By selection of individual plants in the best families of a diploid group of plants the percentage two-seeded pods could be raised from on average 7.4 to 30.6% as early as the following generation. Similar selection in tetraploid material with 2.5% two-seeded pods did not increase the percentage.The reduction of grain weight of seed in two-seeded pods compared with that in one-seeded pods was greater in the tetraploid plants than in the diploids.No effect of two-seededness on seed yield was found in our material. A marked effect on seed-set was observed in a diploid population (286 plants) when the percentages two-seeded pods rose about 16%.As the correlation between the calculated number of heads and the seed yield per plant is high, it may be adopted that in our material the number of heads per plant was decisive of seed yield. This will contribute to the small effect of two-seededness on the seed yield of the plant.The results of the present study showed that the production of tetraploids with a high percentage two-seeded pods will take more advantage of selection of diploid material followed by doubling of chromosomes than of direct selection in the tetraploids.Protrusion of pods in heads indicates a very high percentage two-seeded pods. This will enable relatively rapid selection for two-seeded pods.A quite small percentage two-seeded pods also occurred in two tetraploid populations that had not been selected for two-seeded pods.     

The Influence of Row Spacing and Seeding Rate on Seed Yield and Yield Components of Forage Turnip (Brassica rapa L.)

The effects of four row spacings (17.5, 35.0, 52.5 and 70.0 cm) and five seeding rates (50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 viable seeds m^?2) on seed yield and some yield components of forage turnip (Brassica rapa L.) were evaluated under rainfed conditions in Bursa, Turkey in the 1998–1999 and 1999–2000 growing seasons. Plant height, stem diameter, pods/terminal raceme, total pods/plant, seeds/pod and primary branches/plant were measured individually. The number of plants per unit area was counted and the lodging rate of the plots was scored. The seed yield and 1000‐seed weight were also determined. Row spacing and seeding rate significantly affected most yield components measured. The number of plants per unit area increased with increasing seeding rate and decreasing row spacing. Plant height was not greatly influenced by row spacing and seeding rate, but higher seeding rates reduced the number of primary branches and the stem diameter. The number of pods/main stem was affected by row spacing and but not by the seeding rate. Also, the number of seeds per pod was not affected by either the row spacing or the seeding rate. In contrast, the number of pods per plant clearly increased with increasing row spacing, but decreased with increasing seeding rate. The plots seeded at narrow row spacings and at high seeding rates were more sensitive to lodging. Seeding rate had no significant effect on seed yield in both years. Seed yield was similar at all seeding rates, averaging 1151 kg ha^?1. However, row spacing was associated with seed yield. The highest seed yield (1409 kg ha^?1) was obtained for the 35.0‐cm row spacing and 200 seeds m^?2 seeding rate combination without serious lodging problems.