Divergent selection for sprouting resistance in spring wheat

The development of sprouting-resistant spring-wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars is a major breeding objective in many wheat-producing regions. Sprouting resistance is thought to be associated with delayed maturity. The primary objective of this study was to measure the reciprocal effects of selection for sprouting resistance and maturity. Two experiments were conducted over a 3–4-year period in Saskatoon, Canada. In the first experiment, two populations of hard red spring wheat were subjected to divergent selection (k = 10%) for maturity. In the second experiment, six populations derived from crosses between two sprouting-resistant, late-maturing, white-grained cultivars ('AUS1293' and 'AUS1408') and three early maturing, red–grained cultivars ('Park', 'PT516' and 'Roblin'), were subjected to divergent selection (k = 10%) for sprouting resistance. Selection for earliness reduced sprouting resistance in one population but had no effect in the second. For both populations, earlier maturity was associated with higher test weight but lower grain yield. In the second experiment, selection for increased sprouting resistance was effective, with realized heritabilities averaging 0.74. Increased sprouting resistance was associated with a slight delay (1–2.5 days) in time to spike emergence in four out of six populations, but had little effect on time to maturity in most populations. There was a trend towards redder grain in the sprouting-resistant selections. The recovery of sprouting-resistant, early maturing segregants was relatively low, averaging less than 10% over the six populations. In conclusion, selection for increased sprouting resistance can result in delayed maturity, but the magnitude of that delay will vary among populations.     

Spike-based and seed-based selection for preharvest sprouting resistance in wheat

Summary The utility of spike- and seed-based mass selection techniques for improving preharvest sprouting resistance in heterogeneous wheat (Triticum spp.) populations was evaluated. Sorting seed by size improved selection efficiency in some cases, putatively by physiological synchronization. Progeny testing, as well as changes in frequency of red-kernelled types, indicate effectiveness of both spike- and seed-based mass selection for reduced preharvest sprouting. Differential effectiveness of mass selection, in populations segregating for dormancy from different sources, is consistent with previous work on mechanisms of dormancy from these sources. These results are of value to improvement of preharvest sprouting resistance in large, heterogeneous wheat populations.     

1994 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Towards a marker assisted breeding for resistance against apple scab

Summary We present the first attempts to find molecular markers (RAPDs) in the apple genome linked to theVf gene conferring resistance to scab. The availability of genetic markers will allow selection of individuals with resistance genes in progeny. Moreover genetic markers allow us to recognise individuals with minimal linkage drag in back-crossing experiments with wild species. The feasibility of the bulk-segregant analysis to identify linked markers has been demonstrated on several occasions (Martin et al., 1991; Giovannoni et al., 1991; Michelmore et al., 1991). In this paper we report the preliminary results proving that the method could also be applied successfully in allogamous plants.     

Mapping genes for resistance to sprouting damage in wheat

A series of experiments to investigate the genetic basis of pre-harvest sprouting are reported. The results are combined with previously published studies in a composite genetic map for sprout resistance in hexaploid wheat. Different studies, using classical genetics, aneuploids, chromosome substitutions, or QTL mapping, have identified various regions of the A, B, and D genomes affecting dormancy. Comparisons between the available studies lead to the following conclusions: • Different studies often identify different genetic loci, in part reflecting different sampling from the available gene pool. This implies that many loci are involved in determining resistance, and that new loci may be discovered as the number of mapping studies increases.• There are, however, examples where similar map locations are implicated over different crosses. These may reflect the detection of key resistance genes. • Finally, (genotype × environment) interactions are frequently observed. The implications of these observations for crop improvement and research programmes are discussed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

QTL analysis and mapping of pre-harvest sprouting resistance in Sorghum

One of the most important agronomic problems in the production of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in humid climates is pre-harvest sprouting (PHS). A molecular linkage map was developed using 112molecular markers in an F₂ mapping population derived from a cross between IS 9530 (high resistance to PHS) and Redland B2 (susceptible to PHS). Two year phenotypic data was obtained. By means of interval mapping analysis, two significant QTL were detected in two different linkage groups with LOD scores of 8.77and 4.39. Each of these two QTL individually explained approximately 53% of the phenotypic variance, but together, in a two-QTL model, they explained 83% of the phenotypic variance with a LOD score of 12.37.These results were corroborated by a one-way ANOVA in which the four flanking markers of the most likely QTL positions displayed highly significant values in theF-test, and significant variation in trait expression was associated with marker genotypic classes. The four markers with highest effect in the one-way ANOVA were also detected in the second year replication of the F₂ population, and significant genotype × environment interactions was observed. The putative relationship between PHS resistance in sorghum and the maize Vp1 gene is also discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Development of an STS marker and SSRs suitable for marker-assisted selection for the BaMMV resistance gene rym9 in barley

Based on the RAPD marker OP‐C04H910 which is closely linked to the barley mild mosaic virus (BaMMV) resistance gene rym9 derived from the variety ‘Bulgarian 347’ the marker STS‐C04H910 cosegregating with OP‐C04H910 and generating a single additional band on plants carrying the recessive resistance encoding allele has been developed. Furthermore, the simple sequence repeats (SSRs) WMS6 and HVM67 have been integrated into the genetic map of the rym9 region on chromosome 4HL. Because of their close linkage to rym9 and distinct banding pattern STS‐C04H910 and HVM67 are well‐suited for marker‐ assisted selection, enhanced backcrossing procedures and pyramiding of resistance genes.     

Quantitative-Genetic Basis of Sprouting Resistance in Rye

The quantitative-genetic basis of sprouting resistance in winter rye (Secale cereale L.) was investigated in order to facilitate breeding for improved baking quality. Crosses within and between the Petkus and Carsten gene pools were tested along with the parental lines over two locations, two years, and two harvest dates. Heritabilities of approximately 0.6 were found for falling number (FN), a-amylase activity, dormancy, and amylograph curve characters. FN showed moderate heterosis that reached 35%. High genetic variation for FN was observed in most genetic materials, and error variances were generally small. Considerable genotype × year interactions occurred. Genotypes with high FN showed more instability for FN over environments. General combining ability was the main source of genetic variation for FN (80%) and was correlated with line per se performance in the Carsten gene pool (r = 0.66). FN showed moderate to strong correlations with slowness of development, but only loose ones or none with other agronomic traits. We conclude that improving sprouting resistance by selecting for FN should be highly effective and would not cause unfavourable side effects with regard to yielding performance.     

节水抗旱稻恢复系的抗褐飞虱分子标记辅助选育及抗性评价

褐飞虱是水稻的主要害虫之一,利用水稻抗褐飞虱基因培育抗虫品种是目前公认最经济有效、环境友好的策略。本研究利用水稻功能基因组已克隆的抗褐飞虱基因,通过分子标记辅助选择和常规回交育种相结合的方法,将抗褐飞虱基因Bph6、Bph9、Bph14和Bph15单独和聚合导入到节水抗旱稻恢复系旱恢3号,获得了一系列含有单基因、双基因、三基因和四基因的改良系。采用标准苗期集团筛选法进行褐飞虱抗性鉴定,评价这些基因在旱恢3号背景下的效应及相互作用。表明单基因改良系中, Bph9的抗性最强,且Bph9 Bph6 Bph15 Bph14;在聚合改良系中,抗性均优于单基因改良系,四基因聚合改良系的抗性最强,不同基因型组合的抗性效应是Bph6+Bph9+Bph14+Bph15Bph6+Bph9 Bph6+Bph9+Bph14 Bph6+Bph9+Bph15 Bph6+Bph14+Bph15 Bph9+Bph14+Bph15 Bph14+Bph15。在自然条件下,改良系与旱恢3号在株高、有效穗和千粒重等农艺性状上差异不显著,其他性状与旱恢3号相仿或略差。本试验表明单独和聚合导入Bph6、Bph9、Bph14和Bph15基因能显著提高节水抗旱稻恢复系的褐飞虱抗性,这4个基因的加性效应明显,可为今后节水抗旱稻抗褐飞虱育种提供理论依据和材料基础。     

Genetic mapping,marker assisted selection and allelic relationships for the Pu6 gene conferring rust resistance in sunflower

Rust resistance in the sunflower line P386 is controlled by Pu₆, a gene which was reported to segregate independently from other rust resistant genes, such as R₄. The objectives of this work were to map Pu₆, to provide and validate molecular tools for its identification, and to determine the linkage relationship of Pu₆ and R₄. Genetic mapping of Pu₆ with six markers covered 24.8 cM of genetic distance on the lower end of linkage Group 13 of the sunflower consensus map. The marker most closely linked to Pu₆ was ORS316 at 2.5 cM in the distal position. ORS316 presented five alleles when was assayed with a representative set of resistant and susceptible lines. Allelism test between Pu₆ and R₄ indicated that both genes are linked at a genetic distance of 6.25 cM. This is the first confirmation based on an allelism test that at least two members of the R_adv/R₄/R₁₁/ R_13a/R_13b/Pu₆ cluster of genes are at different loci. A fine elucidation of the architecture of this complex locus will allow designing and constructing completely new genomic regions combining genes from different resistant sources and the elimination of the linkage drag around each resistant gene.     

Potential of marker-assisted selection in hemp genetic improvement

Summary The development and applications of molecular markers to hemp breeding are recent, dating back only to the mid-1990s. The main achievements in this field are reviewed. The analysis of Cannabis germplasm by RAPD, AFLP and microsatellites is discussed, with its consequence for the still debated species concept in Cannabis. DNA-based markers have also been exploited in the field of forensic science, in an attempt to discriminate licit from illicit crop. The main applications of the molecular markers to the breeding, however, have been achieved with the development of markers closely linked to the male sex and to some of the most relevant chemotypes. Active research is carried out by several groups in the field of identification and characterization of the genes involved in fiber quality and quantity, and in the determination of monoecy, another very important target of hemp breeding. Besides, markers associated to new, potentially useful chemotypes are being developed, for the marker-assisted breeding of pharmaceutical Cannabis.     

小麦穗发芽抗性的4个分子标记有效性检验

为筛选出适宜黄淮麦区和长江中下游麦区种植的抗穗发芽白粒小麦品种或种质资源,以36份黄淮麦区和长江中下游麦区的主要品种（系）及地方品种为研究对象,对已报道的4个与穗发芽抗性相关的分子标记：Vp1B3、Xgwm155、Xgwm269和Xbarc170进行有效性验证。测定参试材料种子萌发指数（GI）,并用上述4种标记进行PCR扩增,对扩增条带进行统计分析。结果表明,GI值显示,红粒品种（GI均值为5.1%）明显较白粒品种（GI均值为28.0%）低;4种标记扩增出的带型中仅Vp1B3的845 bp片段能有效地区分36份小麦品种(系);GI值筛选出6份抗穗发芽品种（系）中,其中3份为Vp1B3标记鉴定,可作为黄淮麦区和长江中下游麦区小麦穗发芽抗性育种中首选基因资源。     

Mapping of a gene for leaf scald resistance in barley line 'B87/14' and validation of microsatellite and RFLP markers for marker-assisted selection

Seedlings of the barley line ‘B87/14’ were resistant to 22 out of 23 Australian isolates of Rhynchosporium secalis, the causal agent of leaf scald.‘B87/14’‐based populations were developed to determine the location of the resistance locus. Scald resistance segregated as a single dominant trait in BC₁F₂ and BC₁F₃ populations. Bulked segregant analysis identified amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) with close linkage to the resistance locus. Fully mapped populations not segregating for scald resistance located these AFLP markers on chromosome 3H, possibly within the complex Rrs1 scald locus. Microsatellite and restriction fragment length polymorphism markers adjacent to the AFLP markers were identified and validated for their linkage to scald resistance in a second segregating population, with the closest marker 2.2 cM from the resistance locus. These markers can be used for selection of the Rrs.B87 scald‐resistance locus, and other genes at the chromosome 3H Rrs1 locus.     

Sample size required for marker assisted selection in improving quantitative traits of self-fertilizing species

The efficiency of selection for desired trait genotypes in a molecular marker assisted selection for a quantitative trait in self-fertilizing crop is considered. The QTLs controlling the trait were assumed to be unlinked. It was supposed that the selection starts in F₂, derived from a cross between inbred lines, and this selection will terminate if one or more plants with the desired trait genotype is found. If no plant with the desired trait genotype is found in F₂ then the selection is continued in the F₃ progeny that is derived from a single selected F₂ plant. Which F₂ plant is to be selected was determined according to the rank which is related to the marker genotype of the F₂ plants. And this rank was based on the expected frequency of the desired trait genotype in the progeny. The plant with the top rank among all F₂ plants is then selected with the first priority. Additionally the number of F₃ plants in the progeny was set to be equal to the number of plants that are required for detecting one or more plants with the desired trait genotype with a given probability. The probability of getting at least one plant with the desired trait genotype is expressed as a function of the number of F₂ plants (N).The required value for N and the total number of plants (T) in F₂ and F₃ for detecting at least one plant with the desired trait genotype were calculated for different situations. T was always smaller for a single marker than for flanking markers. The minimum of T and monotonous decrease of N can be observed when the cumulative-expected-frequency of selected marker genotypes of F₂ plants increased. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Molecular and physical mapping of genes affecting awning in wheat

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for three traits related to awning (awn length at the base, the middle and the top of the ear) in wheat were mapped in a doubled‐haploid line (DH) population derived from the cross between the cultivars ‘Courtot’ (awned) and ‘Chinese Spring’ (awnless) and grown in Clermont‐Ferrand, France, under natural field conditions. A molecular marker linkage map of this cross that was previously constructed based on 187 DH lines and 550 markers was used for the QTL mapping. The genome was well covered (more than 95%) and a set of anchor loci regularly spaced (one marker every 20.8 cM) was chosen for marker regression analysis. For each trait, only two consistent QTL were identified with individual effects ranging from 8.5 to 45.9% of the total phenotypic variation. These two QTL cosegregated with the genes Hd on chromosome 4A and B2 on chromosome 6B, which are known to inhibit awning. The results were confirmed using ‘Chinese Spring’ deletion lines of these two chromosomes, which have awned spikes, while ‘Chinese Spring’ is usually awnless. No quantitative trait locus was detected on chromosome 5A where the B1 awn‐inhibitor gene is located, suggesting that both ‘Courtot’ and ‘Chinese Spring’ have the same allelic constitution at this locus. The occurrence of awned speltoid spikes on the deletion lines of this chromosome suggests that ‘Chinese Spring’ and ‘Courtot’ have the dominant B1 allele, indicating that B1 alone has insufficient effect to induce complete awn inhibition.     

Pyramiding three rust‐resistance genes confers a high level of resistance in soybean (Glycine max)

Pyramiding Asian soybean rust (ASR) resistance (Rpp) genes in a single genotype has been shown to increase ASR resistance in soybean. However, it remains unclear which combinations of Rpp genes are superior. Therefore, here, we developed six new Rpp‐pyramided lines carrying different combinations of Rpp genes and evaluated their resistance against 13 Bangladeshi rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) isolates (BdRPs) alongside seven previously developed Rpp‐pyramided lines. We found that lines carrying one, two and three Rpp genes had high ASR resistance without sporulation in 13.8%, 35.2% and 73.1% of the assays, respectively. Among the new lines that were developed, those with Rpp3 + Rpp4 and Rpp3 + Rpp4 + Rpp5 had high levels of ASR resistance, while the line containing Rpp2 + Rpp4 + Rpp5 showed immunity phenotype at two weeks after inoculation by the BdRP‐22 infection. Thus, pyramiding larger numbers of Rpp genes confers soybean with a higher level of resistance to ASR pathogens and can produce an immunity phenotype at two weeks after inoculation.     

甘蔗抗黄锈病G1标记的分子检测及候选抗病基因WAK的分析

甘蔗黄锈病是屈恩柄锈菌(Puccinia kuehnii Butler)引起的一种世界性真菌病害,导致产量减少和糖分降低,给甘蔗产业造成严重损失。本研究采用抗黄锈病分子标记G1,检测我国和世界上重要的甘蔗栽培品种、野生种和近缘属的抗黄锈病基因,并对扩增的代表性特异条带进行克隆测序、功能注释和聚类分析,推测其抗性基因的起源和进化。G1检测结果表明,国内124份甘蔗栽培品种检测到G1标记的有83份,占66.9%;国外46份甘蔗栽培品种检测到G1标记的有31份,占67.4%。34份甘蔗野生种和近缘属中检测到G1标记的有17份,占50%,其中割手密种含有该基因比例最高,为100%。功能注释揭示,G1标记的候选基因编码一种细胞壁连接的类受体激酶,并在甘蔗栽培品种的单倍体蛋白组数据库中鉴定到3个相似度较高的蛋白,这些蛋白都有细胞壁受体激酶结构的胞外域、跨膜域和激酶活性的胞内域。聚类结果则清晰展示了抗病候选基因的起源及进化关系,具体可分为3组,第1组来源于割手密种和大茎野生种;第2组来源于大茎野生种、热带种和河八王属;第3组来源于割手密种、大茎野生种、中国种和栽培品种。研究结果为抗黄锈病甘蔗品种的选育提供重要的抗源支撑,并为抗性分子机制的解析奠定基础。