Induction of 2n pollen formation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Begonia</Emphasis> by trifluralin and N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O treatments

In this study, treatments of both trifluralin (at 10, 100 and 1000 μM) and N₂O (in the form of gas under pressure) were applied to Begonia flower buds to induce the formation of 2n pollen. Three male fertile species (B. cucullata, B. subvillosa var. leptotricha and B. fischeri) and two male sterile hybrids (B. schmidtiana × B. cucullata and B. subvillosa var. leptotricha × B. cucullata) were treated. Pollen size, which is related to pollen DNA content, increased after both N₂O and trifluralin treatments, but the induction of large pollen was genotype dependent. Trifluralin induced large pollen only in the male fertile species, while N₂O treatments induced fertile 2n pollen in the male sterile B. schmidtiana × B. cucullata. Cytological studies showed that trifluralin induced multinuclear monads that resulted in 4n gametes in stead of 2n gametes. In general, large pollen obtained after trifluralin treatments showed low germination capability, while large pollen obtained after N₂O treatments retained high germination capability. Seedlings with raised ploidy level could only be obtained after crosses were performed with large pollen obtained from N₂O treatments. Hence, N₂O treatments are preferable to the use of trifluralin to induce 2n gametes in Begonia.     

In vitro induction of tetraploids in ornamental <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ranunculus</Emphasis>

This study investigates the capacity of the antimitotic agents colchicine, oryzalin and trifluralin for inducing polyploidisation of Ranunculus asiaticus ‘Alfa’ in vitro shoots. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the optimal concentration of each antimitotic agent for polyploidisation. Trifluralin at a concentration of 2 μM resulted in the highest percentage of polyploidisation (27.5%), followed by a colchicine treatment of 200 μM, which induced 23.3% of polyploids. For oryzalin the highest percentage was achieved using a concentration of 1 μM. Different exposure periods were tested and turned out to be an important factor. The maximal exposure period tested (10 weeks) resulted in a significant increase in polyploidisation by oryzalin and trifluralin. In contrast, for colchicine (100 μM) exposure times of either 16 or 24 h did not significantly influence polyploidisation. Additionally the effect of the antimitotic agents on the viability was analysed. For colchicine no significant effect on the survival rate was observed, for trifluralin only a concentration of 10 μM affected viability whereas for oryzalin, concentration as well as exposure period were significant parameters. Flow cytometric data were confirmed by counting chromosomes in root tip cells.     

Vitamin C,flower color and ploidy variation of hybrids from a ploidy-unbalanced <Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinidia</Emphasis> interspecific cross and SSR characterization

Seedlings derived from an Actinidia interspecific cross between the hexaploid Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa ‘Jinkui’ and the diploid male A. eriantha × A. chinensis var. chinensis ‘Chaohong’ hybrid were analyzed using flow cytometry, SSR markers and phenotypic observations. The results show that the leaf vitamin C content of this hybrid population has a mid-parent heterosis. Separation of flower color in the progeny was also observed, progeny with red flowers lighter than ‘Chaohong’, white flowers as in ‘Jinkui’ and intermediate types with a red base to the petals and white margins were all present. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed that most of the progeny were tetraploids, and molecular marker data showed that most of these tetraploid progeny had three alleles from the hexaploid parent and one allele from the diploid parent. UPGMA analysis based on the SSR markers showed that the diploid parent was completely separated from the hexaploid parent and all the progeny.     

Identification and genetic characterization of different resistance sources to ascochyta blight within the genus Lens

The self-incompatibility mechanism in 10 local radish cultivars was investigated through seed set analysis and pollen tube growth behavior. The objective was to identify self-incompatible local radish lines for hybrid seed production. Based on a seed set ratio as an estimate for self-incompatibility, cultivars Tangail Local, Tasaki, Kuni, Aushi and Indian Aushi were identified as self-compatible. An intermediate seed ratio was observed in ‘Red Mollika’, ‘Pinky’ and ‘Red Bongi’. Moderately strong self-incompatibility was observed in ‘Red Kalpin’ and ‘Kuni White’. Pollen tube growth behavior revealed that self-incompatible lines had a relatively lower number of germinated pollen grains per stigma and pollen tubes per style than those of self-compatible lines. The two self-incompatibility test methods gave comparable results. None of the cultivars under study was found to be fully self-incompatible. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Analysis of introgression of the Tulipa fosteriana genome into Tulipa gesneriana using GISH and FISH

Southern hybridization and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) have demonstrated that ‘Purissima’ (2n = 2x = 24) is an interspecific hybrid comprised of one genome of Tulipa (T.) gesneriana and one genome of T. fosteriana. Backcrossing T. gesneriana with ‘Purissima’ was partially successful. Simultaneous GISH and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) distinguished chromosomes from both parent genomes, as well as recombinant chromosomes, in interspecific hybrids and their progeny. Chromosome recombination was observed in all cultivars except ‘Purissima’ and ‘Kouki’ (2n = 3x = 36). ‘Kouki’ (2n = 3x = 36) had two genomes of the T. gesneriana and a single genome of the T. fosteriana. The number of nonrecombinant T. fosteriana chromosomes in ‘Judith Leyster’ (2n = 4x = 48) and ‘Purissima’ progeny varied from two in ‘Hatsuzakura’ to six in ‘Kikomachi’ and ‘Momotaro’. The number and type of recombinant chromosomes also differed among cultivars. The total number of translocations ranged from one in ‘Kikomachi’ to six in ‘Hatsuzakura’. Each was a combination of a single T. fosteriana fragment and a single T. gesneriana fragment, indicating that they resulted from a single crossover event. Sequential GISH and FISH analysis with rDNA probes yielded chromosome-specific markers that were used to identify most of the chromosomes in ‘Purissima’ progeny. This is the first report of introgression of T. fosteriana chromatin into the T. gesneriana genome.     

Chromosomal regions associated with green plant regeneration in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) anther culture

Genetic capacity for green plant regeneration in anther culture were mapped in a population comprising 50 doubled haploid lines from a cross between two wheat varieties ‘Ciano’ and ‘Walter’ with widely different capacity for green plant regeneration. Bulked segregant analysis with AFLP markers and composite interval mapping detected four QTLs for green plant percentage on chromosomes 2AL (QGpp.kvl-2A), 2BL (QGpp.kvl-2B.1 and QGpp.kvl-2B.2) and 5BL (QGpp.kvl-5B).The three QTLs detected on chromosome 2AL and 2BL all derived their alleles favouring green plant formation from the responsive parent ‘Ciano’.The remaining QTL on chromosome 5BL had the allele favouring green plants from the low responding parent ‘Walter’. In a multiple regression analysis the four QTLs could explain a total of 80% of the genotypic variation for green plant percentage. None of the chromosomal regions with QTLs for green plant percentage showed significant influence on either embryo formation or regeneration frequencies from the anther culture. The three major QTLs located on group two chromosomes were fixed in a second DH population derived from two parents ‘Ciano’ and ‘Benoist’,both with high capacity to produce green plants. A QTL explaining31.5% of the genetic variation for green plant formation were detected on chromosome 5BL in this cross as well. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Interspecific hybridisation between Hibiscus syriacus, Hibiscus sinosyriacus and Hibiscus paramutabilis

Interspecific hybrids from crosses between H. syriacus × H. paramutabilis and H. syriacus × H. sinosyriacus were obtained. In both cases unilateral incongruity was observed and reciprocal crosses yielded no fruits. In vitro embryo rescue, 11 weeks after pollination, increased the germination capacity of H. syriacus × H. sinosyriacus embryos, while this was not the case for H. syriacus × H. paramutabilis embryos. However, a lot of the generated H. syriacus × H. sinosyriacus seedlings were lost due to variegated and total albinism. In the progeny of H. syriacus ‘Oiseau Bleu’ × H. paramutabilis about 95% of the seedlings had an intermediate flower and leaf morphology compared to both parent plants. Leaves on the adult F1 hybrids showed a polymorphism. In total four different leaf types could be observed on the same plant. This leaf polymorphism also was seen in the progeny of H. syriacus ‘Melwhite’ × H. sinosyriacus ‘Lilac Queen’. In this progeny about 50% of the seedlings had an intermediate flower and leaf morphology compared with the parent plants. The hybrid nature of the seedlings of both progenies was also confirmed by AFLP analysis. Despite the low germination vigour of the pollen of the hybrids, a small F2 generation was obtained from H. syriacus ‘Oiseau Bleu’ × H. paramutabilis.     

A practical method for apple cultivar identification and parent-offspring analysis using simple sequence repeat markers

Differentiation of cultivars with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers is a very useful technique for the true-to-type characterization of cultivars and clarification of parent-offspring relationships. We developed an SSR marker set for cultivar identification comprising 15 markers that were screened from 46 previously published SSRs. This marker set could be used for apple varieties including Malus × domestica and/or other Malus species. These SSRs successfully characterized 95 apples, including the leading and major founding cultivars used worldwide for modern apple breeding. Therefore, this marker set could be applied to almost all apple cultivars. We also analyzed the parent-offspring relationships of 69 cultivars by considering allele transmissions. This analysis revealed the true parentage of the following seven cultivars: ‘Kizashi’, ‘Chinatsu’, ‘Honey Queen’, ‘Haruka’, ‘Seirin’, ‘Ozenokurenai’, and Morioka #48. This analysis also revealed a parentage discrepancy for ‘Hacnine’. From the parent-offspring analysis, two microsatellite mutation events at alleles inherited from pollen parents were observed.     

Residual macronutrient concentration and follower maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis>) crop performance in soilless growth medium previously cropped with six <Emphasis Type="Italic">Musa</Emphasis> genotypes

The nutrient mining abilities of six Musa genotypes: ‘Agbagba’, ‘PITA 22’, ‘Nsukka Local’, ‘FHIA 17’, ‘Fougamou’, and ‘BITA 7’, grown in organic medium formulated by decomposing rice husks with poultry manure in volume proportions of 3:2, were determined at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. Results indicated significant variation in nutrient mining with respect to Musa genotype and duration of growth. The medium previously cropped with ‘Agbagba’ recorded highest residual mean values for P and Ca, while the medium cropped with ‘Fougamou’ had the highest residual concentration of Mg and S. Residual amount of K was highest in the medium where ‘PITA 22’ and ‘Nsukka Local’ were previously grown. Peak residual concentration of P and K occurred in the medium in which Musa plants were grown only for 4 months, decreasing thereafter, in contrast to Ca, Mg, and S. Residual N tended to increase with longer growth duration of the Musa crops. Follower crop of maize grown in the medium previously cropped with Musa genotypes showed variable performance. While medium previously cropped with ‘PITA 22’ and ‘BITA 7’ favored growth attributes and leaf greenness of the follower maize plant, ‘Fougamou’ favored maize fresh weight attributes. Ectomycorrhiza association was observed in medium previously cropped to ‘BITA 7’ and ‘PITA 22’. Generally, ‘Agbagba’ and ‘Fougamou’ seemed to be the most reticent nutrient miners while uptake of P and K appeared to be low 4 months after planting (MAP) in contrast to Ca, Mg, and S uptake. However, substrate previously cropped with ‘PITA 22’, ‘BITA 7’ and ‘Fougamou’ gave rise to superior growth and fresh weight attributes, respectively, of the maize, the follower crop. A prospect of utilizing the ectomycorrhiza association observed with some genotypes to upgrade Musa yields and those of associated or follower crops exist.     

Male fertility and occurrence of 2n gametes in East African Highland bananas (Musa spp.)

The quantity and quality of pollen produced by a genotype are important attributes to be considered in the selection of male parents for breeding. The objective of this research was to determine the quantity and quality of pollen in 13 selected East African Highland bananas (EAHB) in relation to six diploids commonly used as male parents. Pollen quantity was scored on a scale of 0–6 while the variation of pollen stainability along the rachis was determined using acetocarmine glycerol jelly. Actual male fertility was determined by using pollen from the EAHB varieties on M. acuminata spp. burmannicoides, ‘Calcutta 4’, as the female. The diameter of 200 viable pollen grains was measured under a microscope with the aid of a graduated eyepiece. Significant differences were obtained for mean pollen stainability and pollen diameter. The pollen stainability for diploids was higher than that for the EAHB. Node numbers contributed significantly to variation of pollen stainability in EAHB (P ≤ 0.01) and ‘Pisang lilin’ (P ≤ 0.001). ‘Pisang lilin’ and the EAHB varieties had about 100 nodes as opposed to about 200 in other diploids. The EAHB varieties produced less pollen than most of the diploids. The actual male fertility of EAHB varieties was low (1 seed/bunch), compared to that of ‘Calcutta 4’ (223.3 seeds/bunch) and ‘Pisang lilin’ (13.7 seeds/bunch). Although the production of 2n pollen in EAHB varieties was low (0–7%), the potential exists for using them in new breeding approaches.     

Genetic diversity among elite varieties of the aromatic grasses, Cymbopogon martinii

The elite and popular cultivars of Cymbopogon martinii were examined for genomic and expressed molecular diversity through RAPD, enzyme and SDS-PAGE protein polymorphisms. The allelic score at each locus of the enzymes as well as presence and absence profiling in RAPDs, overall occurrence of band types etc. were subjected to computation of gene diversity, expected heterozygosity, allele number per locus, and similarity matrix. These, in turn, provide inputs to derive primary account of allelic variability, genetic bases of the cultivated germplasm, putative need for gene/trait introgression from the wild or geographically diverse habitat etc. in elite selections. ‘PRC1’ possessed highest number of unique bands based on RAPD polymorphism. In variety ‘IW31245E’, diaphorase and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase isozymes generated two unique bands as dia-III ² and got-II ⁴. ‘RRL(B)77’ exhibited three unique bands; one produced by esterase as allele est-II ¹ and two by malic enzyme (me-III ^1,3). Only one unique band was generated by malic enzyme in variety ‘Trishna’. But sofia had three unique bands, two contributed by diaphorase (dia-II ³ and dia-II ⁴ and one by glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (got-II ²). SDS-PAGE analysis revealed presence of unique polypeptide fragments (97.7 kDa to 31.6 kDa) in varieties ‘IW31245E’, ‘RRL(B)77’, ‘Tripta’, ‘Trishna’, ‘PRC1’ and var. sofia, generated as a diagnostic marker. In general, molecular distinctions associated with var. motia and var. sofia have been clearly noticed in C. martinii. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Identification of male sterility maintainer lines for Ogura radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

‘Ogura radish’, a cytoplasmic genetic male sterile line, was crossed with four local and three Japanese cultivars to identify maintainer lines. Out of seven F₁ families, one cross involving a local cultivar, Aushi, produced 100% male sterile (MS) progeny. The crosses involving the other two local cultivars, Tangail Local and Kuni, produced about 90% MS progeny, indicating the presence of maintainer gene(s) for male sterility. The fourth local cultivar, Tasaki, produced 100% male fertile (MF) progeny. All three exotic cultivars appeared to possess the chromosomal gene(s) for controlling the male sterility. In BC₁, BC₂ and BC₃ generations, segregation of MS plants were more frequent when ‘Aushi’ was used as recurrent parent. The expression of male sterility was not affected by seasonal influences. Thus the local cultivar ‘Aushi’ may be used as maintainer line for ‘Ogura radish’. To produce hybrid seed, ‘Tasaki’ can be used as pollinator line as it exhibit high heterosis with ‘Aushi’. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Identification of self-incompatibility alleles in pear cultivars (Pyrus communis L.)

Self and cross-incompatibility determination by means of fruit and seed set experiments or pollen tube growth observations in the style has been frequently reported to be unclear in pear (Pyrus communis L.). Thus,in order to develop a reliable in vivo method to test pollen-pistil incompatibility in pear, pollen tube performance has been studied along the pistil following self and cross-pollinations. Results show that, while pollen tube growth in the style may be an unclear test, ovule observation at the microscope for the presence of pollen tube in the nucellus is a proper method to test incompatibility in this crop. With this analysis we could identify S-alleles of ‘Williams’ (S₁S₂) and ‘Coscia’(S₃S₄), and three of the four possible S-genotypes resulting from the ‘Williams’ × ‘Coscia’ cross, as represented by ‘Butirra Precoz Morettini’ (S₁S₃), ‘Santa Maria Morettini’ (S₂S₃)and ‘Tosca’ (S₁S₄). This result demonstrates that ‘Williams’ and ‘Coscia’ cultivars do not share any allele in common. We also established two new inter-incompatibility groups in pear. Furthermore, the presence of a common allele between ‘Williams’ and ‘Agua de Aranjuez’,and ‘Coscia’ and ‘Agua de Aranjuez’, three apparently unrelated old cultivars, may indicate a narrower genetic base than expected for European pear. This finding together with the fact that 40% of new released cultivars have direct or indirect parental relationship with the cultivars ‘Coscia’ and/or ‘Williams’, anticipates the possibility of new cases of cross-incompatibility for this crop in the future. Both the method described and the determination of the S-genotypes will facilitate the characterisation of self and cross-incompatibility relationships in this species. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inheritance of pollen color in hazelnut

In contrast to the yellow color of pollen of European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) cultivars, an unusual cream color was observed in some seedlings from self-pollination of the Sicilian cultivar ‘Montebello.’ After elimination of accidental outcrosses, the segregation fit a 3 yellow: 1 cream ratio, indicating the possibility of simple genetic control. Two seedlings with cream-colored pollen were backcrossed to their parent ‘Montebello,’ and the progeny segregated 1 yellow: 1 cream for pollen color. When two seedlings with cream-colored pollen were crossed with each other, all of the resulting seedlings had cream-colored pollen. These segregation ratios indicate that pollen color in hazelnut is controlled by a single locus with yellow dominant to cream color. The symbol pc is proposed for this locus. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inheritance of resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">melonis</Emphasis> races 0 and 2 in melon accession Tortuga

The inheritance of the resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (F.o.m.) races 0 and 2 in ‘Tortuga’, a Spanish cantalupensis accession, was studied from crosses of ‘Tortuga’ by the susceptible line ‘Piel de Sapo’ and the resistant one ‘Charentais-Fom1’ that carries the resistance gene Fom-1. The segregation patterns observed in the F₂ (‘Tortuga’ × ‘Piel de Sapo’) and the backcross (‘Piel de Sapo’ × (‘Tortuga’ × ‘Piel de Sapo’) populations, suggest that resistance of ‘Tortuga’ to races 0 and 2 of F.o.m. is conferred by two independent genes: one dominant and the other recessive. In the F2 derived from the cross between accessions ‘Tortuga’ and ‘Charentais-Fom1’, the lack of susceptible plants indicated that the two accessions are carrying the same resistance gene (Fom-1). The analysis of 158 F₂ plants (‘Tortuga’ × ‘Piel de Sapo’) with a Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequence marker 618-CAPS, tightly linked to Fom-1 (0.9 cM), confirmed that ‘Tortuga’ also carries a recessive gene, that we propose to symbolize by fom-4.     

Identification of QTLs for stay green trait in wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.) in the ‘Chirya 3’ × ‘Sonalika’ population

Stay green or delayed senescence is considered to play a crucial role in grain development in wheat when assimilates are limited. We identified three QTLs for stay green on the chromosomes 1AS, 3BS and 7DS using a recombinant inbred (RI) population developed by making crosses between the stay green parent ‘Chirya 3’ and non-stay green ‘Sonalika’. The RI lines were evaluated in natural field conditions for 2 years in replicated trial. The QTL on chromosome 1A was identified in both the years, while the QTLs on 3BS and 7DS were identified only in 1st and 2nd year, respectively. The QTLs explained up to 38.7% of phenotypic variation in a final simultaneous fit. The alleles for higher stay green values derived from the stay green parent ‘Chirya 3’. The QTLs were named as QSg.bhu-1A, QSg.bhu-3B and QSg.bhu-7D. The QTL QSg.bhu-3B and QSg.bhu-7D were placed in the 3BS9-0.57-0.78 and 7DS5-0.36-0.61 deletion bins, respectively.     

Characterization of segregation distortion on chromosome 3 induced in wide hybridization between indica and japonica type rice varieties

We previously surveyed chromosomal regions showing segregation distortion of RFLP markers in the F₂ population from the cross between a japonica type variety ‘Nipponbare’ and an indica type variety ‘Milyang23’, and showed that the most skewed segregation appeared on the short arm of chromosome 3. By comparison with the marker loci where distortion factors were previously identified, this region was assumed to be a gametophytic selection-2 (ga2) gene region. To evaluate this region, two near isogenic lines (NILs) were developed. One NIL had the ‘Nipponbare’ segment of this region on the genetic background of ‘Milyang23’ (NIL9-23), and the other NIL had the ‘Milyang23’ segment on the genetic background of ‘Nipponbare’ (NIL33-18). NIL9-23 and ‘Milyang23’, NIL33-18 and ‘Nipponbare’, and ‘Nipponbare’ and ‘Milyang23’ were respectively crossed to produce F₁ and F₂ populations. The F₁ plants of NIL9-23 × ‘Milyang23’ and NIL33-18 × ‘Nipponbare’ showed high seed fertility and the same pollen fertility as their parental cultivars, indicating that ga2 does not reduce seed and pollen fertility. Segregation ratio of a molecular marker on the ga2 region in the three F₂ populations was investigated to clarify whether segregation distortion occurred on the different genetic backgrounds. Segregation distortion of the ga2 region appeared in the both F₂ populations from the NIL9-23 and ‘Milyang23’ cross (background was ‘Milyang23’ homozygote) and the ‘Nipponbare’ and ‘Milyang23’ cross (background was heterozygote), but did notin the F₂ population from the NIL33-18 and ‘Nipponbare’ cross (background was ‘Nipponbare’ homozygote). This result indicates that ga2 interacts with a ‘Milyang23’ allele(s) on the different chromosomal region(s) to cause skewed segregation of the ga2 region. In addition, segregation ratio was the same between the F₂ populations from NIL9-23 × ‘Milyang23’ and ‘Nipponbare’ × ‘Milyang23’ crosses, suggesting that the both genotypes, ‘Milyang23’ homozygote and heterozygote, of gene(s) located on the different chromosomal region(s) have the same effect on the segregation distortion. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Carbamate-induced flowering in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) seedlings: optimization of treatment and cultivar variation in flowering response and pollen germination

Optimal carbamate treatment conditions were studied for flower induction in seedlings of an asparagus cultivar ‘Mary Washington 500 W’. Flower induction was most accelerated by soaking seeds in 50 mg l⁻¹ carbamate solution for 12 days at 25 ^°C under the fluorescent light. Longer exposure to carbamate over a 12 day period induced a higher percentage of seedlings to flower. A higher percentage of flowering seedlings were male. Flower induction frequency among seven cultivars through carbamate treatment widely ranged from 13 to 67%. ‘Geynlim’, ‘Mary Washington 500 W’ and ‘Welcome’ exhibited a high percentage of flowering seedlings, while ‘Larac’ and ‘Vulkan’ showed low values. Only male flowers were induced in all-male cultivars. Variation in pollen germination was found within all cultivars. ‘Geynlim’, ‘Cito’ and ‘Mary Washington 500 W’ showed high values of average pollen germination. Application of carbamate compound to induce flower production can rapidly produce homogenic cultivars which include both sexes. This is necessary for genetic studies and breeding purposes. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Little heterosis for yield and yield components in hybrids of six cucumber inbreds

Heterosis and inbreeding depression for fruit yield has been reported for pickling cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). However, cucumber inbreds often perform as well as hybrids, and there is little inbreeding depression. The objectives of this study were to reexamine the amount of heterosis and inbreeding depression for fruit yield and yield components in pickling cucumber, and to determine the relationship between yield components and yield for heterosis. Two pickling cucumber inbreds (M 12, M 20) and inbreds from four open-pollinated monoecious cultivars (‘Addis’, ‘Clinton’, ‘Wisconsin SMR 18’, ‘Tiny Dill’) were hybridized to form four F₁ hybrids (‘Addis’ × M 20, ‘Addis’ × ‘Wis. SMR 18’, ‘Clinton’ × M 12, M 20 × ‘Tiny Dill’). F₁ hybrids were then self-pollinated or backcrossed to generate F₂, BC_1A, and BC_1B progeny. Thirty plants of each generation within each hybrid family were grown in plots 3.1 m long with four replications in each of two seasons. Data were collected from once-over harvest for vegetative, reproductive, yield, and fruit quality traits. Heterosis and inbreeding depression for fruit yield and yield components were not observed in three of the hybrids. Only ‘Addis’ × ‘Wis. SMR 18’ exhibited high-parent heterosis and inbreeding depression for total, marketable, and early fruit weight. For ‘Addis’ × ‘Wis. SMR 18’, heterosis for fruit yield was associated with a decreased correlation between percentage of fruit set and fruit weight, an increased negative correlation between percentage of fruit set and both the number of branches per plant and the percentage of pistillate nodes, and an increased negative correlation between the number of nodes per branch and total fruit weight. Inbreeding depression was associated with a weakening of the strong negative correlations between percentage of fruit set and the number of branches per plant, and between the number of nodes per branch and total fruit weight. Those correlations were associated with high-parent heterosis and inbreeding depression only for one cross, and do not necessarily apply to future crosses in which heterosis may be observed for yield. We did not observe the heterosis or inbreeding depression for yield in cucumber in most of the crosses as was reported by Ghaderi & Lower (1979a; 1979c). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Chromosome arm location of the gene controlling leaf pubescence of a Chinese local wheat cultivar ‘Hong-mang-mai’

The inheritance of the leaf pubescence character of a Chinese local wheat cultivar ‘Hon-mang-mai’ was investigated by monosomic and telosomic analyses. Leaf pubescence was evaluated by observation of the adaxial side of the penultimate leaf of adult plants. F₁ hybrids of ‘Hong-mang-mai’ with a non-pubescent cultivar ‘Chinese Spring’ had leaf pubescence, but its density was about a half of that of ‘Hong-mang-mai’. In the F₂ generation, the segregation ratio of pubescent to non-pubescent plants fitted a ratio of 3: 1, suggesting that leaf pubescence was controlled by one dominant gene. Monosomic analysis revealed that the gene for pubescence is located on chromosome 7B. Telosomic analysis showed that the gene is located on the short arm of chromosome 7B with a distance of 14.3%from the centromere. This gene is not allelic with the previously reported hairy leaf gene Hl on chromosome 4B, and therefore, is designated Hl2, hairy leaf 2. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.