Variation of harvest index in several wheat crosses

Summary Harvest index was studied in F₁ and F₂ generations of eight wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crosses and their reciprocals. The parental varieties involved in the crosses represented a fairly wide range of character expression for plant height, tillering potential, grain yield per plant and harvest index. Differences between reciprocal crosses were not evident for the expression of harvest index of the crosses under study. Means and degrees of dominance of F₁ and F₂ populations suggested partial dominance of high harvest index over low harvest index. The pattern of variation among F₂ segregates was quantitative and the distribution was normal. The gene action governing the expression of harvest index was largely additive. Evidence was obtained for non-additive gene action in some crosses. There was complete absence of high parent heterosis for harvest index in the F₁'s but midparent heterosis was found to be present in all crosses. Estimates of heritability and genetic advance were moderate to high. Usefulness of selecting for harvest index as a measure of yield efficiency particularly in early generations is discussed.     

圆锥小麦四排穗性状基因的遗传及分子标记分析

四排穗(four-rowed spike, FRS)性状是超数小穗(supernumerary spikelets, SS)性状的一种类型,表现为在一个穗轴节片上近垂直地着生2个无柄小穗,从而增加了小穗数和穗粒数,对提高产量有一定的潜力。为了解圆锥小麦0880 FRS性状的遗传特征,将0880与正常穗(normal spike, NS)圆锥小麦0879杂交,构建了遗传群体,并对0880 (FRS) × 0879 (NS)与0879 (NS) × 0880 (FRS) F₁、F₂及F_2:3植株的穗部性状进行了调查。结果显示,正反交组合的F₁植株均表现为正常穗,F₂群体中正常穗与四排穗符合3∶1的分离比例,表明0880的四排穗性状由隐性单基因控制,将该基因定名为frs1;细胞质对frs1无显著影响。采用已定位于普通小麦A组与B组的SSR分子标记并结合混合分组分析法(BSA), 筛选出32个在双亲及F₂单株构建的四排穗型池和正常穗型池都具有多态性的SSR分子标记,利用JoinMap4.0软件构建了与frs1连锁的2A染色体11个SSR分子标记遗传图谱,其中SSR标记Xwmc598和Xwmc522位于frs1基因两侧,与该基因的遗传距离分别为4.0 cM和2.4 cM。利用2A染色体缺失系对这11个SSR进行物理定位,Xwmc598和Xwmc522均被定位在2A染色体短臂FL0.00~0.78区域。本研究的结果为frs1基因的精细定位及分子标记辅助选择奠定了基础。     

Genetic variation and interrelationships of agronomic characters in landraces of bread wheat from southeastern Iran

There is renewed interest in wheat landraces as important sources of genetic variation for agronomic characters. Fifty-three pure lines of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) derived from seven landraces collected from southeastern Iran were used to estimate genetic variation and heritability for 13 developmental and quantitative characters. Path-analysis was used to partition the genetic correlations between grain yield and six grain yield-related traits. Mean values of landraces were also compared with three improved cultivars from California and Iran. Genotypic differences among the landraces and among the pure lines collected from the landraces were highly significant for all characters considered. Compared with the modern cultivars, the landrace genotypes were, on average, later in days to heading and taller than the cultivars but had lower values for number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield and harvest index. Some landrace genotypes were similar to the modern cultivars for grain yield. Moderate to high genetic variation was displayed by number of grains per spike, number of spikes per plant, 1000-grain weight, and harvest index. The heritability estimates ranged from 59% for grain yield to 99% for days to anthesis. Expected genetic advance (as % of the mean) was ≈34% for number of spikes per plant, number of grains per spike, and 1000-grain weight. Days to heading and to anthesis correlated positively with number of spikes per plant, shoot biomass, and straw biomass but negatively with number of grains per spike and harvest index. The strong direct effect of number of spikes per plant on grain yield was completely counterbalanced by its indirect negative effects via number of grains per spike and 1000-grain weight. Number of grains per spike and 1000-grain weight were positively correlated with grain yield, and they had large direct effects. These two characters, however, were negatively correlated and exhibited a substantial counterbalance effect via one another and via number of spikes per plant. The landraces could be improved by intercrossing the promising genotypes identified in this study, with simultaneous selection for earliness, fewer number of spikes per plant, greater number of grains per spike and heavier grains. For further improvement, crossing programs between the landraces and introduced germplasm may be necessary. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

云南旱地小麦不同穗型品种减源缩库与穗部性状的关系

通过剪叶、剪穗处理探讨云南三种穗型的旱地小麦品种的源库关系，结果认为：平地小麦在齐穗后不同剪叶、剪穗处理，其穗部性状变化明显。大穗型品种云麦39不同的剪叶处理其每穗重量和单粒重下降幅度较大，而小穗型品种云麦42和中穗型品种97591与云麦39相比每穗重量和单粒重下降幅度较小；不同剪叶处理的每穗饱粒重也下降，下降的程度依次是云麦39＞97591＞云麦42。大穗型品种的每穗饱粒数下降明显，而小穗型和中穗型品种的下降较少。对于不同的剪穗处理，大穗型品种的单粒重增加幅度较大，而小穗型品种增加幅度较小，中穗型品种的甚至减少。对于不同穗型品种的穗部性状源库结构调整的反应不同表明：其灌浆过程或光合器官间的相互补偿能力不同，这种不同使不同穗型品种对各种环境的适应性有差异，栽培管理应该有所区别。     

Designing a Wheat Ideotype with Increased Sink Capacity

In this investigation, genotypes with branched, tetrastichon (two spikelets per node of the rachis), and normal spikes were used in order to induce changes in sink capacity, while high-yielding domestic and foreign varieties served as donors of other traits. These materials were crossed by the methods of single-, back-, and top crossing and the desirable genotypes were selected by the pedigree method. After 10 years of breeding for the desired ideotype, whose main features had been a highly fertile spike of normal structure, short straw, curved leaves, and reduced tillering, 229 lines were tested in comparative yield trials. Among them, four lines were superior in yield and other traits to the highest yielding standards. Regarding the expected changes in sink capacity, considerable progress was made in spike length, number of grains per spike, number of grains per spikelet, and the weight of grains per spike.     

K,V型杂种小麦优势的研究

利用５（Ａ）×２（Ｒ）两组亲本杂交的１０个杂种及其相应的亲本材料，探讨高产条件下Ｋ、Ｖ型小麦的杂种优势。结果表明：单株产量有很强的杂种优势，７个组合超双亲平均值为７．１１％～２５．１％，其中３个为１５．７％～２５．１％，４个组合超标优势２．４％～１８．１％。Ｋ、Ｖ型杂种优势的主要表现是千粒重的增高，其次是穗粒数，有３个组合超双亲平均值。单株穗数的减少对杂种产量有影响，选择多穗亲本，对提高杂种的穗数有效     

小麦收获指数与主要农艺性状的相关性探析?

小麦收获指数是指籽粒产量占地上部生物产量的百分率。研究小麦品种主要农艺性状和经济性状间与其产量的相互关系,采用相关性分析与回归方法,对影响收获指数的10个主要农艺性状及因素进行了研究分析。结果表明：供试小麦HI具有较大的改良空间;HI与穗颈长、株高、穗长、小穗数、主茎生物产量有显著负相关,与单穗质量、产量呈正相关,与生物产量没有显著相关性;主成分分析结果显示,3个主成分累积贡献率达 87.427%,表明 3 个主成分已覆盖所有性状的主要信息;通过回归分析,小麦HI与单穗籽粒产量、生物产量、千粒质量有显著回归关系。结论: 通过对10份小麦材料农艺性状的统计分析,得出如下结论。HI受单穗质量、生物产量、千粒重影响较为明显有显著回归关系,与单穗质量、产量和穗粒数有明显正效应,生物产量对其有负效应。小麦HI提高可通过选育生物产量不宜过大,而穗粒数较高、单穗重较大的小麦品种。     

不同矮秆基因对冬小麦农艺性状的影响

利用以冬麦品种ＭａｒｉｓＨｕｎｔｓｍａｎ为背景的含有不同矮杆基因Ｒｈｔ１,Ｒｈｔ２和Ｒｈｔ３及其不同结合形式的６个近等基因系,研究了不同矮秆基因对小麦农艺性状的作用,结果表明,Ｒｈｔ１半矮秆基因显著提高了单株穗数,粒数和粒重,地下部生物产量,经济系数和倒二叶面积,Ｒｈｔ２半矮秆基因显著提高了单株（或单穗）粒数和粒重,经济系数和倒二叶面积,显著降低了千粒重,Ｒｈｔ３矮秆基因对单株粒数,地上部生物产量     

Selection for biomass yield in wheat

Summary Biomass (above ground plant parts) yield may be a useful selection trait for yield improvement in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). This study was conducted to estimate realized heritability of biomass yield and to determine the response to selection for high and low biomass yield in 8 genetically diverse populations of spring wheat under two production systems. Selections were made among the F₃ lines. Progenies of the selected lines were evaluated in replicated field tests in the F₄ generation under high fertility and low fertility production systems at Rampur, Nepal, in 1991. Fertility level had a significant effect on biomass yield, grain yield, effective tiller number, number of kernels per spike, thousand kernel weight, and harvest index. Selection in the F₃ for high and low biomass yield was effective in identifying F₄ lines with high and low biomass yield, respectively. Biomass yield differences between high and low selection groups in the F₄ generation, expressed as percent of the mean of the low selection group and averaged over the eight populations, were 53.9 and 36.5% higher than the mean of the low selection group under the high and the low fertility production systems, respectively. The corresponding figures for grain yield were 48.8 and 34.9% under the high and the low production systems, respectively. Also, selection for high biomass yield resulted in higher effective tiller number, and number of kernels per spike, but lower harvest index. Realized heritability estimates for biomass yield were greater at high fertility (range 0.49 to 0.85) than at low fertility (range 0.22 to 0.44). Biomass yield showed positive genotypic correlations with grain yield, effective tiller number, and number of kernels per spike but a negative correlation with harvest index. The results indicated that selection for high biomass yield should bring about positive improvements in biomass yield, grain yield, effective tiller number, and number of kernels per spike. The correlation between F₃ and F₄ generations suggested that biomass yield in the F₃ generation was a good predictor of biomass yield and grain yield in the F₄ generation. Selection for biomass yield in wheat should be made under the standard production system to obtain a realistic response.     

The Nutritive Value and Yield of Alfalfa in Relation to Nitrogen Fertilization on Sulphur Industry Reclaimed Lands

The aim of this study was to determine the direction and magnitude of change in morphological and agronomical characters of spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) in Germany over a period of 80 years and to assess the value of various strategies for further crop improvement. Old and new two-rowed cultivars, eight in each case, were tested together with their F₂ intra-group diallel crosses in a field trial at Braunschweig-Völkenrode in 1994. New parents and their crosses showed a higher dry matter grain and total biomass yield, a lower plant height, and a higher harvest index as compared to the respective old germplasm. The annual genetic gain in grain yield was estimated at 0.15%. The superior grain yield of the new germplasm was attributable to the higher number of ears per plant and the larger kernel weight. The F₂ mid-parent heterosis in grain yield was 7.6 and 7.2 % for the old and new crosses, respectively. The differences between the two types of crosses were nonsignificant except for the higher heterosis for plant height in the new crosses. General combining ability effects were significant for all characters in both types of crosses, whereas specific combining ability effects were significant in a few cases only. In the new crosses, a significant positive correlation was found between grain yield and straw yield (r = 0.52), whereas no such association was observed between grain yield and harvest index. For further gain in grain yield, improvement of the straw yield is more promising than increasing harvest index.     

Genetic distance and its association with heterosis in peas

Summary The relationship between the genetic distance of parents and both the heterosis of F₁ hybrids and the variance of F₅ lines was investigated in 72 crosses of pea (Pisum sativum L.). The genetic distance between each pair of parents was estimated, using isozyme (GDi), morphological (GDm) or quantitative (GDq) markers and finally a combination of isozyme and morphological markers (GDi+m). GDm was poorly correlated with the other measures of genetic distance, which in turn were strongly correlated with each other. Genetic distance was moderately correlated with the level of heterosis for yield over midparent in the F₁ generation, with the highest correlation obtained from GDi+m. GD was not significantly correlated with heterosis for yield over the better or best parent but it was significantly correlated with all three measures of heterosis for pods per plant and hundred seed weight. There was no correlation between genetic distance and the level of heterosis for yield and total dry matter in the F₂ generation, but GDi, GDi+m and GDq were predictive for the level of inbreeding depression in grain yield and total dry matter. When parents were high in genetic distance, crosses produced highly transgressive segregants for basal branches per plant, hundred seed weight, harvest index and onset of flowering. Genetic distance between parents was thus a useful measure for predicting a portion of hybrid performance and also of the variance of derived inbred lines. It was concluded that when choosing parents for a cross, consideration should be given to their genetic distance as well as their overall adaptation and their yield. There is considerable potential for optimising choice of parental combinations in the development of improved pea cultivars.     

Heterosis and combining ability for biomass and harvest index in chickpea under a drought-prone, short-duration environment

Heterosis and combining ability studies were conducted on selected chickpea genotypes in order to (1) acquire an understanding of the predominant type of gene action governing biomass (BY) and harvest index (HI), (2) estimate the magnitude of heterosis, (3) estimate combining ability effects and (4) assess correlations between per se performance and general combining ability (GCA) of the parents under a drought-prone, rainfed short-duration environment (SDE) where BY is considered to be an important trait for enhancing chickpea productivity. The experimental material comprised 30 F₁s obtained by crossing ten adapted genotypes as females to three testers as males in a line × tester design. The GCA variances were significant and of a high magnitude, while specific combining ability (SCA) variances were non-significant, indicating the predominant role of additive gene action on BY and the HI. A large number of crosses showed positive mid-parent heterosis (MPH) and better-parent heterosis (BPH). The average MPH and BPH for BY was 22.36 and 12.65, respectively, and the average MPH and BPH for the HI was 2.22 and −0.92, respectively. The higher magnitude of the MPH and BPH recorded for BY indicated that the scope for increasing the HI in chickpea in a drought-prone, SDE is limited and that further increases in productivity have to come mainly through enhanced BY. The majority of the heterotic crosses involved poor × good combiners. This study demonstrates that in order to achieve greater progress in improving BY and the HI in chickpea, the selection of parents should be based on per se performance as well as combining ability and heterosis.     

Barley mutant heterosis and fixation of'F1-performance'in doubled haploid lines

The phenomenon of mutant heterosis was studied in barley using F₁ hybrids developed from crosses involving two mutants derived from the same parent variety (067AR× 032AR), or from crosses of mutants with their parent varieties (Diva × 228DV; 437MG × Mg 4170). The agronomic performance (plant height, tillers per plant, kernel number and weight per plant) of F₁ hybrids was evaluated in relation to the corresponding parent variety used for mutant development. Wide-space sowing (0.O6 m²/plant) was applied to allow the full expression of hybrid vigour. The hybrids significantly exceeded their parent varieties in various yield parameters in each year of the experiment, Depending on the cross, the level of heterosis ranged from 39.45% to 82.1% for kernel number and from 44.45% to 91.2% for kernel weight, as an average of observations over three years. The increased yield of hybrids was accompanied by an increase in spikes/plant, without significant changes, in most cases, in yield components such as kernels/spike and 1000 kernel weight. The height of F₁ plants remained similar to the corresponding parent variety. Doubled haploicls (DH) were developed through anther culture from three F₁ hybrids to determine whether the heterotic effect could be fixed, even partly, in homozygous lines. Twenty-eight, 42 and 68 DH lines per cross were produced, and evaluated in the field, space-planted at 0.06 m²/plant, together with hybrids and parent varieties. The best-performing DH lines were evaluated again the following season in a conventional field trial. We were able to select 1.5 -14.3% of‘F₁,-performing’DH lines per hetorotic cross combination, which, in two years of studies, reached the yield of heterotic hybrids and significantly out-yielded the parent variety in plot. The yield potential of DH lines was better expressed under a wide sowing density, but even under normal growing conditions, the yield of the best selected DH lines surpassed their corresponding parent varieties by 17.77ndash;30.1%.     

普通小麦光合碳同化与产量性状杂种优势的关系

以按照NCII遗传交配设计配制的20个普通小麦杂交种及其亲本为材料,系统测定灌浆初期、中期和后期旗叶的6个光合碳同化相关性状,包括光合速率、气孔导度、胞间CO₂浓度、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率和原初光能转化效率,并与产量性状杂种优势进行相关分析。结果显示,杂种优势值因组合、性状和发育时期不同而差异很大。偏相关分析表明,光合碳同化性状与穗长和有效穗数杂种优势之间没有相关性,但与其他产量性状杂种优势之间存在显著的相关关系,特别是在作物籽粒产量形成最为关键的灌浆中期,光合速率、胞间CO₂浓度、水分利用效率和原初光能转化效率与穗粒数、千粒重、单株产量和主茎穗产量等性状的杂种优势呈显著或极显著正相关,说明较高的光合能力及水分利用效率可能是小麦产量杂种优势形成的重要生理基础之一。     

A comparison of yield and yield component selection in winter wheat

Summary Three populations of winter wheat were formed by crossing Avrora to Sage, TAM W-101, and Danne. Approximately 10% of the F₂ plants from these crosses were selected for high and low levels of number of tillers per plant, number of kernels per spike, 1000-kernel weight, and grain yield. Forty-eight solid seeded F₃ lines obtained from the selected F₂ plants were then selected for high and low expressions of yield components and grain yield. Realized heritabilities were estimated. Indirect responses of yield to yield component selection and direct response to selection for grain yield were measured. Heritabilities were low for tiller number, number of kernels per spike and kernel weights but were high or intermediate for grain yield when selection occurred in the F₂ generation. When selection was practiced in the F₃ generation, heritabilities for tiller number and yield were low, but were intermediate to high for number of kernels per spike and kernel weight and high heritabilities were found for kernel weight. Selection for kernel weight often increased grain yield; however, direct selection for grain yields was usually as effective.Journal article no. J-4488 of the Oklahoma Agri. Exp. Stn., Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074.     

与紧凑型小麦品种"莱州3279"正反交F1杂种优势比较

以莱州 32 79为中心亲本 ,与冀东地区 5个基因型不同的冬小麦品种配置正反交组合 ,并对 10个正反交 F1 的产量性状、叶绿素含量及旗叶与茎秆间的夹角进行了对比分析。结果表明 :无论正交还是反交 ,5个产量性状平均中亲杂种优势大小顺序均为 :单株产量 >单株有效穗数 >千粒重 >穗粒数 >每穗结实小穗数。单株产量表现出最强的杂种优势 ,但个别组合优势不明显 ,甚至出现负优势。大部分组合叶绿素含量杂种优势不明显 ,只有 1个组合正反交 F1 叶绿素含量均表现出较强的杂种优势。同一性状的杂种优势某些组合正交高于反交 ,而某些组合反交高于正交。莱州 32 79株型直立紧凑 ,与其他品种配成的正反交 F1 旗叶夹角减小幅度均较大 ,该品种对改良株型有很好的利用价值。杂种优势的表达很复杂 ,不仅与杂种核基因有关 ,核质互作对杂种优势也有很强的影响。     

Near-isogenic lines of durum wheat: their development and plant characteristics

Summary The effect of specific plant characteristics on the grain and biomass yield of durum wheat can be accurately determined by using isogenic lines, which, however, were not usually available. This study reported the effects of long glume, glaucousness, glume pubescence, black glume and purple culm on the yield and its associated characteristics in near-isogenic lines of durum wheat cv. LD222, which were developed by continuous backcrossing. The long glume trait which resulted in a large photosynthetic area did not enhance yield. Increased glume size associated with the P gene tended to increase the main culm dominance, characterized such as vigorous main culm and weak tillers, and plant height, but to reduce tillering and spike number. Consequently, grain yield and harvest index declined. Under the adequate water supplying condition of the present study, the glaucous trait was beneficial for grain yield. The trait of glume pubescence did not excert any significant effect on the yield related characteristics in the LD222 background. The traits of black glume and purple culm reduced the number of spikes per unit area and the number of kernels per unit area.     

Ear:stem ratios in breeding populations of wheat: significance for yield improvement

Earlier studies showed that the ratio of the weight of the wheat ear to stem at anthesis (ear:stem ratio) may give a better indication of potential yield than harvest index because it is determined early in the life cycle and is not affected by post anthesis stress. These studies concluded that selection for high ear:stem ratio at anthesis may lead to further improvement in grain yield of wheat. The present work was undertaken in the field to identify lines varying in ear:stem ratio in breeding populations and to study its implications for yield improvement.At anthesis stem length, ear length, tiller number, dry weight of stem and ear and ear:stem ratio were measured in 14 crosses on F₂ single plants and F₂ derived lines grown in the F₃, F₄, and F₅ at three locations in Western Australia over four seasons. In addition, biomass, grain yield and yield components were measured on selected crosses at two locations on F₂ derived lines grown in the F₄ and F₅. There was a considerable range of ear:stem ratio between and within the crosses studied. Although ear:stem ratio was strongly correlated with stem length, there was substantial variation within stem length classes. Ear:stem ratio had a high mean broad sense heritability (82%), whereas HI, grain yield and above ground biomass had lower heritabilities, 68, 55 and 35% respectively. Ear:stem ratio was strongly correlated between generations and sites indicating stability of this character. Ear:stem ratio had a significant positive correlation with grain yield, HI, grains per ear and per m². The correlation of grain yield with HI was equal or slightly higher than that of grain yield with ear:stem ratio.Ear:stem ratio offers promise as a predictor of HI and yield potential where post-anthesis moisture stress can influence HI. Ear:stem ratio measurement is unlikely to be adopted for selection purposes in routine breeding programs, as it is laborious and time consuming. However, ear:stem ratio could be used to identify superior parental genotypes and early generation selections from special crosses in terms of its ability to partition assimilate.     

Heterosis for yield and other agronomic traits of winter triticale F1 and F2 hybrids

Triticale is generally treated as a self‐pollinating crop and line breeding is practised. Hybrid breeding has been discussed for some time, but there is little information for winter triticale. This study investigated heterosis for eight agronomic traits in F₁ and F₂ hybrids grown together with their parents as drilled plots in three environments. On average, grain yield heterosis was 12.5 dt/ha (a relative 10.5%) compared with the mid‐parent value for F₁ hybrids, and 6.2 dt/ha (5.0%) for F₂ hybrids and withawide range of 4.4–17.1 dt/ha for F₁ hybrids. A positive contribution to the heterosis of yield was made by kernels/spike and 1000‐kernel weight, whereas spikes/m² showed negative heterosis. Hybrid plants in F₁ and F₂ were taller than mid‐parents (8.3 cm and 5.3 cm, respectively), with a tendency to earlier heading. The negative heterosis for falling number in F₁ and F₂ hybrids could be a problem for commercial production of triticale hybrids. By selecting parents for combining ability and the identification of heterotic patterns, grain yield heterosis of 20% appears feasible.     

Intra- and intergeneration relationships among yield,its components and other related characteristics in spring wheat

Summary The relationships between yield, its components and other associated characteristics, both within and across generations, were studied in the F₂, F₃ and F₄ of two Hard Red Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) crosses using simple correlation, path coefficient and step-wise multiple regression analyses. In the F₂ and F₃ the plants were grown 50 cm apart from each other while in the F₄ they were grown under the usual farm practices. Selection was practiced for high and low yield in the F₂ and F₃ mainly on the basis of individual plant yield. Statistically significant, but not always practically useful, correlations were found between yield and its components and other associated characters. The relationship between yield and protein content was negative and significant within all generations but not so between F₂ (and F₃) and F₄. The intergeneration correlation coefficients between F₄ grain yields and grain yields measured in the F₂ and F₃ were all positive and highly significant. These coefficients, which are also heritability estimates in standard units, were small in magnitude.Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified plant yield as the most significant factor in determining F₄ line yield, followed by its components in the order of 1000-kernel weight, grain yield per plant and number of tillers per plant.Path coefficient analysis identified tiller number per plant and grain yield per spike as having strong positive direct effects on single plant yield. Harvest index of individual F₂ plants can be used as an indirect selection criterion for yield.