Morphological characterization of kale populations from northwestern Spain

Crops belonging to the genus Brassicaare widely grown in Galicia (northwesternSpain). Kales (Brassica oleracea L.convar. acephala (DC.) Alef.) are oneof the most important Brassica cropsin this region where landraces aretraditionally grown by farmers on smallplots for either human or animal food.Fifteen kale populations from northwesternSpain were evaluated in two locations andtwo planting dates (early and late). Theobjectives were i) to study theirmorphological diversity, ii) to determinetheir relationships, and iii) to evaluatetheir morphological and agronomiccharacteristics that could be incorporatedto breeding programs in the future.Significant differences were found amongpopulations for all traits while genotype ×environment interaction was not significantfor most of them. Cluster and principalcomponent analysis were performed todetermine relationships among landraces andto obtain information on the usefulness ofthe characters for the definition ofgroups. The phenogram showed five groups,two groups including most of thepopulations and three small independentgroups. Groups of landraces were associatedwith the geographical origin and withmorphological differences amongpopulations, mainly with the length oftheir vegetative phase: north and earlypopulations (cluster A) and south and latepopulations (cluster B). Morphologicaldiversity was higher in coastal populationsthan in inland populations. As conclusion,the populations evaluated in this workdisplay a wide diversity of traits whichenable us to select and combine someinteresting landraces for important traitsin order to obtain improved varieties.     

Variation of glucosinolates and nutritional value in nabicol (Brassica napus pabularia group)

Glucosinolate levels in leaves were determined in a collection of 36 varieties of nabicol (Brassica napus pabularia group) from northwestern Spain grown at two locations. Crude protein, acid detergent fibre, and sensory traits were also assessed by a consumer panel. The objectives were to determine the diversity among varieties in total glucosinolate content and glucosinolate profile and to evaluate their sensory attributes in relation to glucosinolate content for breeding purposes. Eight glucosinolates were identified, being the aliphatic glucosinolates, glucobrassicanapin, progoitrin, and gluconapin the most abundant. Glucosinolate composition varied between locations although the glucosinolate pattern was not significantly influenced. Differences in total glucosinolate content, glucosinolate profile, protein, acid detergent fibre, and flavour were found among varieties. The total glucosinolate content ranged from 1.4 μmol g⁻¹ to 41.0 μmol g⁻¹ dw at one location and from 1.2 μmol g⁻¹ to 7.6 μmol g⁻¹ dw at the other location. Sensory analysis comparing bitterness and flavour with variation in glucosinolate, gluconapin, progoitrin, and glucobrassicanapin concentrations suggested that other phytochemicals are probably involved on the characteristic flavour. The variety MBG-BRS0035 had high total glucosinolate, glucobrassicanapin, and gluconapin contents at both locations and could be included in breeding programs to improve the nutritional value of this vegetable crop.     

Genetic diversity in a germplasm collection of Brassica rapa subsp rapa L. from northwestern Spain

In Galicia (northwestern Spain), Brassica rapa subsp. rapa L. includes turnips, turnip greens, and turnip tops. The objectives of this study are (i) to determine the genetic diversity and morphological resemblances among the B. rapa landraces of northwestern Spain in order to have information relative to the resources preserved, and (ii) to evaluate their agronomic characteristics, considering the three potential products that can be harvested. A collection of 120 landraces was evaluated for 34 morphological and agronomical traits by an augmented design at two locations. Two landraces were the most promising for turnips production (MBG-BRS0183 and MBG-BRS0256), two showed the best characteristics for turnip greens (MBG-BRS0082 and MBG-BRS0184), and three were the most appropriate landraces for turnip tops production (MBG-BRS0143, MBG-BRS0173 and MBG-BRS0401). Landraces were classified into five clusters (A–E) using the Ward–MLM (Modified Location Model) strategy: (A) included plants with the worst agronomic potential, (B) included most of the turnip populations with rosette growth habit, (C) included turnip populations without rosette growth habit, having more vigorous plants than cluster B, (D) gathered the most vigorous local varieties, with the highest early vigor, fresh matter content per leaf, and number of secondary stems per plant, and (E) landraces characterized by their earliness, large flowering periods, high numbers of secondary stems, and large seed weights. As conclusion, landraces evaluated in this work displayed enough variability to differentiate among appropriate populations for each one of the distinct crops. Their classification, using the Ward–MLM strategy, grouped accessions with similar characteristics into homogeneous categories.     

Resistance to Brevicoryne brassicae in horticultural brassicas

Summary A wide range of cultivated brassica accessions including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, collard, kale and swede material was tested against the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae, at HRI, Wellesbourne in the field and laboratory in both 1992 and 1993. In the field, B. brassicae attack was assessed as the proportion of infested plants and the numbers of aphid colonies present. In the laboratory, aphid performance was measured in terms of the pre-reproductive and reproductive period, population increase, and insect mortality. Interpretation of the data was facilitated by plotting sorted accession means against normal order statistics. This statistical approach indicated the spread of variation amongst the accessions and permitted identification of extremes. Partial levels of antixenosis resistance were discovered in red brassicas. Glossy accessions of cabbage and cauliflower possessed antixenosis and antibiosis resistance that lasted throughout the season of crop growth in the field. Other accessions were shown to withstand aphid attack and therefore possessed tolerance. The laboratory studies provided information on mechanisms of antibiosis resistance. The potential value of the different sources of resistance is discussed.     

Field performance of natural narrow-leafed lupin from the northwestern Spain

Summary Narrow-leafed lupin or lupine (Lupinus angustifolius L.) is one of the three species of the genus Lupinus that grows naturally in Galicia (northwestern Spain). In this region, with more than one million of cattle heads, almost 20% of Spanish total, there is no cultivation of any protein legume for feed. Lupins are widely used as a source of protein and energy in livestock feed and would contribute to the supply of vegetable protein at low cost. A 2-year study of natural narrow-leafed lupin germplasm was conducted under winter Mediterranean conditions in northwestern Spain. Fifty-nine wild populations and two cultivars developed in Poland were evaluated for major morphological, phenological, and agronomical characteristics. The objectives were to assess the agronomic potential of this germplasm for the future production and breeding, and to know the relationships among populations studied. Lupin populations showed significant differences for most of the traits studied. Genotype × environment interaction was significant for plant height, green and dry mass, pod length, seeds per pod, seed length and width, and water permeability of seed coat, indicating that some genotypes were better fitted to a specific environment than others. Three narrow-leafed lupin populations (LUP-0098, LUP-0138 and LUP-0200) were identified with suitable agronomical characteristics for their possible future cultivation in the region and breeding purposes. The accession LUP-0138 presented the best behaviour for seed production. These results open the way for the winter narrow-leafed lupin to become a promising crop in the future for the northwestern Spain.     

Self-incompatibility interactions in Brassica napus

Summary The interactions of nine S-gene lines of Brassica napus were examined. Seven different S-genes were involved in the crosses, with three lines of different origin having the same S-gene. In general, the reactions on selfing the heterozygotes were as expected from the results of test crosses with the homozygous parent lines. All types of dominance relationships were found, including reversal of dominance in pollen and pistil. Weakening of activity of one or both genes was found in several cases. Background genotype was found have to some effect and reciprocal differences in reactions were also observed.     

Genetic effects on biomass yield in interspecific hybrids between Brassica napus and B. rapa

This study was conducted to estimate the genetic effects on biomass yield in the interspecific hybrids between Brassica napus and B. rapa, and to evaluate the relationship between parental genetic diversity and its effect on biomass yield of interspecific hybrids. Six cultivars and lines of oilseed B. napus and 20 cultivars of oilseed B. rapa from different regions of the world were chosen to produce interspecific hybrids using NC design II. Obvious genetic differences between B. rapa and B. napus were detected by RFLP. In addition, Chinese B. rapa and European B. rapa were shown genetically differences. Plant biomass yield from these interspecific hybrids were measured at the end of flowering period. Significant differences were detected among general combining ability (GCA) effects over two years and specific combining ability (SCA) effects differences were detected in 2000. The ratios of mean squares, (σ² _GCA(f) + σ² _GCA(m)) / (σ² _GCA(f) + σ² _GCA(m) + σ² _SCA), were 89% and 88% in 1999 and 2000, respectively. This indicates that both additive effects and non-additive effects contributed to the biomass yield of interspecific hybrids and the former played more important role. Some European B. rapa had significant negative GCA effects while many of Chinese B. rapa had significant positive GCA effects, indicating that Chinese B. rapa may be a valuable source for transferring favorable genes of biomass yield to B. napus. Significant positive correlation between parental genetic distance and biomass yield of interspecific hybrids implies that larger genetic distance results in higher biomass yield for the interspecific hybrids. A way to utilize interspecific heterosis for seed yield was discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Taxonomy of Portuguese Tronchuda cabbage and Galega kale landraces using morphological characters,nuclear RFLPs,and isozyme analysis: A review

Summary Morphological characters, nuclear RFLPs, and isozyme analysis were used to study the similarity between 32 Portuguese Tronchuda cabbage and Galega kale landraces, and some cabbage cultivars traditionally grown in Portugal. Forty-six morphological characters observed in two consecutive years, RFLP data from 55 nuclear probes, detecting 291 polymorphic nuclear DNA restriction fragments, and allelic frequencies in 21 putative loci, generated by nine isozymes, were analyzed by the unweighted pair group method, using arithmetic averages (UPGMA), in order to present the results in the form of a phenogram. The three methods resulted in different clustering patterns of the 32 cole accessions. Morphological characters gave consistent clustering according to the traditional landrace definition and denomination, producing clear separation between Tronchuda cabbages and Galega kales. RFLPs were unable to separate Tronchuda cabbages from Galega kales and defined five landrace groups corresponding to their geographic origins rather than to their morphological similarities. Isozymes showed poor accession discrimination and an intermediate clustering pattern with some accessions being clustered according to their geographic origins and others according to their morphological similarities. Portuguese Tronchuda cabbages and Galega kales constitute a distinct and relatively homogenous group within Brassica oleracea, sharing the same genetic background. It is concluded that Portuguese coles have evolved independently from a common ancestor to the present cultivated forms. Portugal should be considered as an important region of domestication of specialized leafy coles.     

甘蓝型油菜蔗糖磷酸合酶(SPS)基因家族成员鉴定及表达分析

蔗糖磷酸合酶(sucrose phosphate synthase, SPS)是调控植物蔗糖合成的限速酶, 对光合产物的转运和积累有重要影响。利用拟南芥SPS蛋白保守结构域在甘蓝型油菜基因组数据库鉴定出11个甘蓝型油菜SPS基因家族成员, 根据系统进化分析将其分成A、B和C共3个亚家族。基因结构预测表明, SPSC-1有5个外显子, 其他SPS基因均有11~15个外显子。顺式作用元件分析表明, 油菜SPS基因除含基本的启动子保守元件外, 还含有许多与逆境和激素响应相关的顺式作用元件。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明, BnSPSA1在花中表达量最高, BnSPSA2在各组织中均有不同程度的表达, BnSPSB只在叶、蕾和花中表达, BnSPSC在叶中表达量最高, 在蕾和花中有少量表达而在其他组织中基本不表达, 说明SPS基因在甘蓝型油菜中的表达具有明显的组织特异性; BnSPSA1和BnSPSC在高生物产量油菜叶片中的表达高于低生物产量油菜, BnSPSB则在低生物产量油菜中的表达量更高, 说明SPS基因与油菜生物产量密切相关。本研究为油菜SPS基因的功能研究和利用奠定了基础。     

The transfer of triazine resistance from Brassica napus L. to B. oleracea L. I. Production of F1 hybrids through embryo rescue

Summary Triazine resistant Brassica napus ssp. oleifera and ssp. rapifera were hybridized to cultivars of B. oleracea ssp. italica, ssp. botrytis, ssp. capitata and ssp. fimbriata. The interspecific embryos did not survive in vivo but could be rescued in vitro using a culture medium developed by Monnier (1973). The embryos did not grow directly into normal plants but were successfully regenerated using the protocol developed by Keller (1984). Hybridization efficiency ranged from 0 to 2.64 hybrids per pollination. Interspecific embryo abortion may be related to abnormal endosperm development.     

甘蓝型油菜BnGS3和BnGhd7的同源克隆及其与油菜产量相关性状的关系

甘蓝型油菜为异源四倍体, 基因组结构复杂, 而水稻基因组与油菜基因组具有一定的共线性。本研究利用水稻产量相关基因GS3和Ghd7序列信息, 通过同源克隆方法, 获得了甘蓝型油菜的同源基因BnGS3和BnGhd7。BnGS3有6个外显子, ORF全长666 bp, 编码222个氨基酸。BnGS3蛋白具有水稻GS3四个保守结构域中的VWF结构, 属于A型。BnGhd7含有1个外显子, ORF全长1014 bp, 编码337个氨基酸。BnGhd7蛋白具有N端的B-Box和C端的CCT两个重要的结构域。BnGS3和BnGhd7分别位于A2和A10连锁群, 比较测序得到BnGS3的多态性标记brgs-16及BnGhd7的多态性标记brghd-3和ghd7-7, 其中brghd-3与千粒重(P < 0.05)、ghd7-7与株高(P < 0.01)正相关, ghd7-7与开花期负相关(P < 0.05)。上述结果表明, 利用水稻功能基因序列信息克隆甘蓝型油菜的同源基因是可行的, 为油菜功能基因研究提供了一种有效途径。     

Inheritance of seed colour in Brassica campestris L. and breeding for yellow-seeded B. napus L.

Summary Seed colour inheritance was studied in five yellow-seeded and one black-seeded B. campestris accessions. Diallel crosses between the yellow-seeded types indicated that the four var. yellow sarson accessions of Indian origin had the same genotype for seed colour but were different from the Swedish yellow-seeded breeding line. Black seed colour was dominant over yellow. The segregation patterns for seed colour in F₂ (Including reciprocals) and BC₁ (backcross of F₁ to the yellow-seeded parent) indicated that the black seed colour was conditioned by a single dominant gene. Seed colour was mainly controlled by the maternal genotype but influenced by the interplay between the maternal and endosperm and/or embryonic genotypes. For developing yellow-seeded B. napus genotypes, resynthesized B. napus lines containing genes for yellow seed (Chen et al., 1988) were crossed with B. napus of yellow/brown seeds, or with yellow-seeded B. carinata. Yellow-seeded F₂ plants were found in the crosses that involved the B. napus breeding line. However, this yellow-seeded character did not breed true up to F₄. Crosses between a yellow-seeded F₃ plant and a monogenomically controlled black-seeded B. napus line of resynthesized origin revealed that the black-seeded trait in the B. alboglabra genome was possibly governed by two independently dominant genes with duplicated effect. Crossability between the resynthesized B. napus lines as female and B. carinata as male was fairly high. The sterility of the F₁ plants prevented further breeding progress for developing yellow-seeded B. napus by this strategy.     

Nuclear genetic control of variation in simazine tolerance in oilseed brassicas

Summary Substantial variation in tolerance to the triazine herbicide simazine was observed among a wide range of Brassica napus cultivars grown in a hydroponic screening system. None of these cultivars was as tolerant of are simazine treatment as the Canadian cultivar Triton which carries cytoplasmic gene(s) which confer a high level of resistance through their modification of chloroplast membranes to which triazine herbicides normally bind. A field study showed that the most tolerant cultivar Haya had a significantly higher yield than Triton in both handweeded plots and plots treated with 1000 ml/ha simazine. This finding supported other observations that the yield potential of cultivars such as Triton is substantially reduced because of the impairment of photosynthesis by cytoplasmic gene(s) for triazine resistance. A slight reduction in the yield of Haya with an increase in simazine concentration from 500 to 1000 ml/ha suggested that further increases in simazine concentration required for optimal weed control are likely to have a detrimental effect on the yield of Haya and other tolerant cultivars. Genetic analyses of variation in simazine tolerance in populations derived from crosses among cultivars representative of the range in tolerance indicated that the narrow-sense heritability of tolerance was of sufficient magnitude to allow for isolation of genotypes tolerant of higher simazine concentrations. These could be utilized in developing high yielding cultivars in areas of southern Australia where simazine treatment is necessary for effective weed control in Canola crops.     

Genetic diversity of Brassica napus L. Germplasm from China and Europe assessed by some agronomically important characters

Summary The genetic diversity and relationships among 63 rapeseed accessions, including 34 Chinese, 22 Czech, 2 Swedish, 2 German, one French and 2 Canadian accessions, were evaluated by nine agronomically important characters in the field at Yangling, Shaanxi, China. Significant differences between Chinese and European group in plant height, setting position of the first primary branch, number of siliques of the terminal raceme, thousand seed weight and seed yield per plant were detected. There were significant variations in nine agronomic characters among the tested rapeseed accessions. Ward’s minimum variance cluster analysis based on Mahalanobis distances on the raw data of nine agronomic characters clearly separated the European accessions from the Chinese ones. However, the Chinese accessions with erucic acid free and/or low glucosinolates could not be separated from those Chinese accessions with both high erucic acid and glucosinolates. In general, cluster analysis of the 63 accessions based on the selected agronomic characters was consistent with known pedigree information and geographic origin, as well as the previous RAPD results of these accessions. The European rapeseed could be important germplasm resources for enriching the genetic background of Chinese rapeseed, and vice versa.     

The transfer of triazine resistance from Brassica napus L. to B. oleracea L. II. Morphology,fertility and cytology of the F1 hybrid

Summary F₁ hybrids of triazine resistant Brassica napus and triazine susceptible B. oleracea were morphologically intermediate to the parent species. Of 49 hybrids examined, 44 had 28 chromosomes, two had 37, one had 38 and two had 56. The 38-chromosome plant was thought to be a matromorph, the others, A₁C₁C (28), A₁C₁CC (37) or A₁A₁C₁C₁CC (56) type hybrids. Pollen stainability averaged 9.0% in the sesquidiploid, 32.0% in the tetraploids and 89.5% in the hexaploids. All the interspecific hybrids were resistant to 1.0×10^-4 mol L^-1 atrazine. The sesquidiploid hybrids produced gametes with chromosome numbers ranging from 9 to 17 and the tetraploid hybrid gametes had chromosome numbers from 15 to 22. Most hybrids produced self-seed. The partial fertility of these hybrids may permit their backcrossing to one or both parents.     

The transfer of characters from Brassica campestris L. to Brassica napus L.: Production of clubroot-resistant oil-seed rape (B. napus ssp oleifera)

Summary Four oil-seed rape lines were crossed with a clubroot resistant Brassica campestris line from the European Clubroot Differential sct. The allotriploid hybrids were backcrossed to the rape lines to introgress clubroot resistance into oil-seed rape. Using a combination of screening for disease resistance and chromosome number, a high proportion of 38-chromosome, clubroot resistant selections were obtained.     

Evolving gene pools in crop plants

Summary The three gene pool system can be applied usefully to the whole range of crop plants. The primary gene pool (GP1) show varying degrees of fragmentation. No morphological discontinuity is apparent between wild and cultivated Lathyrus sativus but clear discontinuities have developed between conspecific wild and cultivated Phaseolus and Vigna species. Further discontinuities can develop in cultigens where disruptive selection has been practiced, as in Beta vulgaris, Linum usitatissimum and Brassica oleracea where more than one distinct crop has evolved within a single biological species. Each such crop has developed its own distinctive gene pool.     

Inbreeding and selection in swedes (Brassica napus ssp rapifera)

Summary The effect of inbreeding and selection within the old swede cultivar Scotia was examined. A decline in yield was shown by lines produced by selfing from the highest yielding progenies selected after open pollination. It is assumed that these progenies were from heterozygous plants. The yield of two groups of lines did not decline and from these, after a second generation of selfing, eight lines were selected with a mean dry matter yield 10 per cent higher than Scotia.Now part of Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundee, Scotland.     

The introgression of S alleles into forage rape,Brassica napus L. from turnip. Brassica campestris L. ssp. Rapifera

Summary Forage rape. B. napus, is self-compatible, the work described illustrates the introgression of functional incompatibility alleles into B. napus from turnips, B. campestris, in two generations. By grading seed, produced by backcrossing turnip/rape hybrids to rape, the frequency of 2n=38 semi articial B. napus recovered, amply justifies the cytological screening involved in such breeding programmes.     

Variation in flowering response to pre-vernalisation growth in swedes (Brassica napus ssp. rapifera)

Summary The effect of pre-vernalisation growth (pre-growth) period on time of flowering was examined in four lines of swedes. No effect was found with the line from cv. Marian. The lines from cvs. Ruta Øtofte and Bangholm Wilby showed increases in time to flowering with increased pre-growth period; maximum delay occurred with 4 wk and 6 wk pre-growth, respectively. Most plants from a line of cv. Criffel showed no effects, but a small proportion did show long delays with pre-growth.