Stability analysis over seasons and locations of multilines of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Summary Three multilines each of Kalyansona and PV 18 varieties of wheat were compared for their stability of yield and agronomic characters and disease resistance against the respective recurrent parents. The experiments were conducted for four years at nine locations.The multilines had more tillers and bolder seeds than the recurrent parents. There were, however, no differences for plant height, ear length and number of spikelets per spike.The genotypes x years x locations interaction was much more important than genotypes x years or genotypes x locations interaction as well as the main effects for genotypes. It is suggested that the number of test locations should be increased while decreasing the number of years.The stability parameters indicated that the multilines had a higher mean yield in the case of Kalyansona multilines whereas the yield of multilines of PV 18 was not significantly inferior to that of the recurrent parent. The regression coefficients were very close to unity except for KSML 3 (b=1.132). The deviations from regression were much larger for the multilines than for the recurrent parents.For rust resistance the multilines were superior over the varieties Kalyansona and PV 18.This is publication No. 9 of the series Studies on multilines in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)     

Analysis of genotypic and environmental variation in international mungbean trials

Summary Two-way classification analysis, combined with analysis of variance and linear regression techniques, was applied to a set of yield data from twenty-one genotypes grown at twelve locations for two years in International Mungbean Nursery trials. Genotypes and environments with similar yield response patterns were grouped and differences between groups identified. Genotypes were also grouped on the basis of flowering time and the relation between days to flower and yield was examined. It was concluded that cluster and associated analyses are of value in determining response patterns of mungbean genotypes to a wide range of environments, and a useful aid in the selection of materials and locations for mungbean evaluation. In particular we note the adaptation of genotypes M409 and M1134 to high elevation locations, and the positive yield response of M374 (MG50-10A) to high yielding environments. Highest yielding lines were also the earliest to flower. Disease resistance was considered the most important breeding objective for mungbean yield improvement.     

Analysis of a site x year experiment with timothy polycross progeny

Summary Results from a cooperative breeding programme with timothy for the northern areas of Scandinavia are presented. The main aim of the programme was to identify genotypes for synthetic populations that are high yielding, adapted over the whole area and stable over years. A polycross comprising 12 genotypes from each of five sites within the region was formed. The subsequent 60 half-sib families and four reference varieties were then compared under sward conditions at the same sites. The trials lasted for three years and results for total dry matter yields are presented.Significant differences in yield between lines were found. There were also significant two and three factor interactions between lines, sites and years. A new two-step procedure is presented to select the genotypes to make up a synthetic variety. Firstly, a superiority measure (Q-value) is used to select a group of genotypes that are high yielding and stable over sites and years. Secondly, the GxE part of the Q-value is split into two terms. One measures adaptation to predictable environmental conditions. The other one measures stability to unpredictable changes in the environment. A plot of these two measures provides a tool for discarding unstable or poorly adapted genotypes. The statistical properties of the selection parameters are discussed.     

Variation in forage grasses as hosts of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne naasi (Franklin) and selection for resistance in ryegrass

Summary Reactions of 13 grasses to Meloidogyne naasi varied with species; ryegrasses, fescues and their hybrids were generally susceptible and cocksfoot and timothy resistant. Marked variation in host resistance levels occurred between genotypes within cultivars.Selection of single plants, followed by tests on replicate tillers, identified resistant and susceptible genotypes in both Italian and perennial ryegrass cultivars. Resistant plants had few nematode-induced galls and fewer females and eggs than susceptibles. There was more or less continuous variation, with many genotypes intermediate between extremes of resistance and susceptibility. Selected resistant and susceptible genotypes are of use in assessing variation in nematode populations and as controls for breeding and selection programmes.     

Evaluation of salt tolerance in rice genotypes by multiple agronomic parameters

The lack of an effective evaluation method for salt tolerance in the screening process is one of the reasons for limited success in conventional salt tolerance breeding. This study was designed to identify useful agronomic parameters for evaluation of salt tolerance and to evaluate genotypes by multiple agronomic parameters for salt tolerance at different growth stages. Twelve genotypes were grown in a greenhouse in sand and irrigated with nutrient solutions of control and treatments amended with NaCl and CaCl₂ (5:1 molar concentration) at 4.4 and 8.2 dS m^-1 electrical conductivity. Wide genotypic differences in relative salt tolerance based on seedling growth were identified. The duration of reproductive growth between panicle initiation and anthesis was either reduced or increased by salinity, but the response was not strictly correlated with relative salt tolerance in seed yield among genotypes. Wide genotypic differences in relative salt tolerance based on spikelet and tiller numbers were identified. Few genotypic differences were identified for fertility and kernel weight. Spikelet and tiller numbers contributed most of the variation to seed yield among parameters investigated. When genotypes were ranked for salt tolerance based on the means of multiple parameters, dramatic changes of salt tolerance at early and seed maturity stages were observed in two genotypes, GZ5291-7-1-2 and GZ178. IR63731-1-1-4-3-2 was identified with a favourable combination of salt tolerance at early seedling and seed maturity stages. Cluster group ranking of genotypes based on multiple agronomic characters can be applied in salt tolerance breeding to evaluate salt tolerance and may have great advantage over conventional methods. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A genetic analysis of the number of cells,length of cell,and gibberellic acid sensitivity in sugar beet and their relation to bolting mechanism

Summary Three series of full-sib progenies and parental inbred lines or populations were used to study the inheritance of the number of cells and length of cell along the hypocotyl length, and the response to gibberellic acid in young plants of sugar beet. Variance components were determined by using a factorial cross design. There were no significant estimates of non-additive genetic variation for either cellular characters. Both additive and non-additive genetic variance were responsible for the variability of stem length after GA3 treatment. It is concluded that additive type genes predominantly control the number of cells in all series. The length of cell had significant additive variances in most cases, but it was indeed markedly influenced by environmental factors. Number of cells (cell division rate) and GA3 sensitivity in young plants even before vernalization were related to bolting tendency. Bolting-susceptible genotypes generally expressed higher stem length in the response to added GA3 as compared to the bolting-resistant genotypes. However, some genotypes bolted easily in the field but reacted weakly to the GA3 treatment and vise versa. Genotypes that were susceptible to bolting and/or sensitive to GA3 had a specific range (intermediate) of cell number. There were, however, some genotypes containing an intermediate number of cells which demonstrated low bolting. These responded faintly to gibberellin treatment. The results suggest that several physiological requirements have to be fulfilled before bolting can occur, and that other plant characters interfere with the bolting phenomenon.     

Relationships between seed yield and growth characters,yield components,seed quality of summer-type oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

Summary Five genotypes of rapeseed were observed in the field on a single plant and plot basis to evaluate growth characteristics, yield, yield components and seed quality. Observations were made in two years at two locations on three seeding date and three seeding rate treatments. Correlation of seed yield with growth characters demonstrated no consistent trend, indicating that an early maturity and high seed yield should be possible. Harvest index was strongly correlated with seed yield. Percent seed oil and protein were not directly related to seed yield.     

Interrelationships between cropping systems for pod and seed quality components and breeding implications in common bean

Breeding programmes in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) have mainly focused on performance under monoculture conditions. Interactions among cultivars and cropping systems do occur and genotypes bred for pure cropping may not be suitable for intercropping. This study was undertaken to obtain estimates of genetic parameters of quality traits for bush bean landraces grown in two cropping systems, and the interrelationships of these traits between pure cropping and intercropping with maize (Zea mays L.). Field experiments were conducted at two locations for two years. Expression of most traits was not strongly influenced by genotype × environment interactions. Heritability estimates were similar in both cropping systems for most pod and seed quality traits. Positive correlations were observed between pure cropping and intercropping for pod characters (weight, length, width and texture) and seed characters (dry and imbided weight, length, hardness, coat proportion, water absorption and crude protein). Use of a selection index is suggested for breeding for seed size, water absorption,coat proportion and crude protein for both cropping systems. However, larger gains would be expected in pure cropping for most traits. Bean accessions PHA-0267, PHA-0285, PHA-0286 and PHA-0299 should be used for developing acceptable culinary and high protein breeding lines for either cropping system. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cooperative breeding for the northern marginal areas

Summary A joint breeding project for the northern areas of Scandinavia and Iceland was initiated in 1981 under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Initially, efforts concentrated on cooperative trials in which both early and more advanced breeding material was tested at a number of experimental stations in the northern regions. This was followed by a joint breeding programme for timothy with the primary aim of developing varieties that possess broad adaptation to a range of Nordic climates and managements and can be grown throughout the northernmost part of Scandinavia. Each of the five national breeding stations originally provided 12 timothy genotypes for the project giving a total of 60 genotypes. The parental genotypes were compared as spaced plants at all five stations and their polycross progeny were grown under sward conditions at the same sites. On the basis of results obtained from these field trials parent clones have been selected and intercrossed to form synthetic populations.     

Genetic variation in a Norwegian germplasm collection of white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Genetic variation and genotype × environment interactions for important agronomic characters were estimated for eleven Norwegian populations of white clover (Trifolium repens L.), originating from between 58^°52′N and 69^°30′N latitude, and from altitudes of 10 to 450 m a.s.l. The populations were evaluated in monoculture clonal field plots for two years at two locations in Norway. The medium-leaved Danish cultivar Milkanova was also included in the experiment as a standard market cultivar. Considerable variation between populations was observed for winter survival, spring growth, morphological characteristics, dry matter yield, general performance, earliness and seed yield. Winter survival, measured as plant cover after two years, was significantly different at the two locations. All the populations had sufficient winter survival at the southern, continental highland site (61^°07′N).At the northern coastal location (69^°30′N),where the winter climate is unstable with physical stresses such as frost, ice-encasement and water-logging frequently occurring, only the northernmost, coastal populations showed sufficient winter survival. Highly significant interactions were found between populations and locations, and between populations and years for all characters measured at both locations and in both years, respectively. Interaction effects between populations, locations and years were significant only for leaflet length. The largest leaf lamina's were observed in the most southern populations. However, genotypes possessing relatively long leaflets were also found in the northernmost populations, although at low frequencies. In general, the populations originating from the northernmost locations had lower biomass production, and were smaller-leaved, more prostrate and exhibited shorter internodes and stolons compared to the populations from South and Middle Norway. These populations also initiated inflorescences earliest, and were among the lowest seed yielding populations. Otherwise, no clear clinal variation in growth characteristics was observed which could be related to the latitude or altitude of origin of the populations. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effectiveness of selection for plant characters of barley in simulated segregating rows

Summary Single plants of 12 barley (Hordeum vulgare L. and H. distichum L.) cultivars were randomized to form simulated segregating (mixed) rows. There were 16 mixed rows 15 cm apart, each row containing 24 plants 5 cm apart. In addition, every third row was a control row of one of the cultivars, Bonanza. Each plant was harvested separately.The cultivars differed significantly for all seven characters measured. These seven characters fell into 3 performance groups. Group I characters, seeds/head, 1000 kernel weight, days to ripe and height, showed a higher variance in the mixed rows than in the control rows, had high average heritabilities, and were consistent in performance from one row to another when measured by correlation amongst the cultivars. In Group II, yield/plant and seeds/plant, variance, heritabilities and performance consistency were all low or non-significant. Group III, heads/plant, fell between Groups I and II. These results suggested that single plants with the desired genotype could be successfully selected for characters in Group I only.The frequency with which the most desirable genotype would actually have been chosen with 12.5% selection intensity generally confirmed the above conclusions but indicated that the degree of differences among genotypes was also important in selecting the most desirable genotypes.Contribution No. NRG 77–9 from the Beaverlodge Research Station.     

Non-parametric measures of phenotypic stability in chickpea genotypes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer arietinum</Emphasis> L.)

Multi-environment trials (MET) play an important role in selecting the best cultivars and/or agronomic practices to be used in future years at different locations by assessing a cultivar's stability across environments before its commercial release. Objective of this study is to identify chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes that have high yield and stable performance across different locations. The genotypes were developed by various breeders at different research institutes/stations of Iran and the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dray Areas (ICARDA), Syria. Several statistical methods were used to evaluate phenotypic stability of these test chickpea genotypes. The 17 genotypes were tested at six different research stations for two years in Iran. Three non-parametric statistical test of significance for genotype × environment (GE) interaction and ten nonparametric measures of stability analyses were used to identify stable genotypes across the 16 environments. The non-parametric measures (Kubinger, Hildebrand and Kroon/Van der) for G × E interaction were highly significant (P < 0.01), suggesting differential responses of the genotypes to the test environments. Based on high values of nonparametric superiority measure (Fox et al. 1990) and low values of Kang's (1988) rank-sum stability parameters, Flip 94-123C was identified as the most stable genotype. These non parametric parameters were observed to be associated with high mean yield. However, the other nonparametric methods were not positively correlated with mean yield and were therefore not used in classifying the genotypes. Simple correlation coefficients using Spearman’s rank correlation, calculated using ranks was used to measure the relationship between the stability parameters. To understand the nature of relationships among the nonparametric methods, a hierarchical cluster analysis based on non weighted values of genotypes, was performed. The 10 stability parameters fell into three groups.     

Performance and prediction of potato genotypes tested in international trials

Summary A series of international trials with the potato crop was conducted in eight countries representing widely differing environments. The purpose of the experiments was: (1) to develop a method for obtaining environmental indexes which measure productivity of diverse potato-growing areas, and (2) to construct performance models for individual genotypes based on the environmental indexes. Yield data of 32 genotypes obtained from a series of 13 experiments conducted in the eight countries in 1983 and 1984 were used in the study. The response pattern of the genotypes was studied by a multivariate analysis. Five genotypes were chosen as representatives for different response patterns to the environments and their data were used for calculating a series of independent indexes for each of the experimental sites based on principal component analysis. Performance models for each of the genotypes were constructed by stepwise regression analysis of yields of a genotype on the environmental indexes based on 1983 data. Yield data of 1984 experiments were used to verify the models. Satisfactory correspondence between observed and predicted yields was obtained for most of the genotypes.     

Inheritance of characters determining growth and development of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) under low energy conditions

Summary Diallel crosses were made between 15 tomato genotypes with varying performance under a low energy regime. It appeared that differences between genotypes for 11 vegetative and generative plant characters are determined mainly by additive genetic variation. For breeding cultivars adapted to low energy conditions, crossing genotypes with a high GCA for weight of trusses and fruits (WTF) and genotypes with a high GCA for weight of vegetative plant parts (WVP) seems most promising. Complications may arise from the negative correlation between GCA values for WTF and WVP, and the strong positive correlation between GCA values for fruit number and WTF, causing small fruits.     

Rhodes grass breeding in Kenya II. Clonal evaluation for seed yield within maturity classes of two varieties

Summary A study was made over three seasons of seed yield characters in replicated genotypes of two maturity classes selected from within both Mbarara and Masaba Rhodes.Within maturity classes significant 2–4 fold ranges were observed in PGS (pure germinating seed) yield. The component most responsible for this increase was seed setting. Significant differences were also observed in seed retention, 1000-seed weight, head number and the number and length of racemes.Even though heading date, within a maturity class of a variety did not vary more than 10 days, differences were significant and the early-heading plants were the most productive in seed yield characters.Heritability estimates, based on individual plants, ranged from less than 0.10 for % PGS to over 0.30 for 1000-seed weight and raceme characters.     

Genetic relationships between Southern African Solanum retroflexum Dun. and other related species measured by morphological and DNA markers

In this study, the genetic relationship between 14 genotypes of black nightshade, most which were part of the Solanum nigrum complex, was investigated. Fifteen morphological characters were measured and used to compile a dendrogram. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were also used to assess the level of polymorphism between the 14 Solanum genotypes. Three EcoR I/Mse I primer combinations with three selective nucleotides per primer were used for screening the respective genotypes. Multiple polymorphisms could be detected to the extent that all the genotypes studied could be distinguished, using any single primer combination, thus showing the usefulness of AFLP's for this purpose. Up to 43 polymorphic bands were detected with a single primer combination among the 14 different genotypes. The three primer combinations generated a total of 359 bands, of which 222 (62%) were clearly polymorphic. This data was used to compile a dendrogram. Both the morphological and AFLP marker analysis clearly separated the different genotypes into similar groups. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Durum wheat landraces from Syria

Syrian durum wheat landraces from diverse collection sites were evaluated for agronomic performance under arid conditions over two seasons at four locations, at two levels of nutrient availability.Grain yield differed considerably among locations. Within locations, significant population and fertilizer effects were demonstrated. In most cases, maximum yield was achieved by landraces, which demonstrates the breeding value of local germplasm. In a particular environment, the population effect was nonsignificant for total dry matter production, but significant for straw and grain yield. Nitrogen application was ineffective if moisture availability was the dominant growth limiting factor.Correlations between plant characteristics at evaluation and collection site characteristics were limited, and therefore, their utilization in germplasm evaluation appear limited. The negative relation between grain yield and soil nitrogen content at the collection site may be caused by the comparative disadvantage that germplasm from regions with favourable growing conditions has under low-yielding conditions.Particular environmental conditions at the collection site were no indicator for the response to changed growing conditions. Relatively high grain yields under good and adverse growing conditions excluded each other in all but two cases. Also, it was difficult to relate grain yield to regions of collection, as the response of individual landraces from a certain region to changing growing conditions differed strongly. Differentiation on the basis of landrace groups appears more promising. The Hauran landrace group provided the largest number of populations with relatively high grain yields over diverse environments.     

Agronomic performance of three cocoyam (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthosoma violaceum</Emphasis> Schott) genotypes grown in Nicaragua

Cocoyam (Xanthosoma spp.), the third most important starch food crop in Nicaragua, can be cultivated countrywide. However, very little information about the field performance and genetic background of the different genotypes is available. In this study, the agronomic performance of three purple genotypes established in four locations with different climatic conditions, were evaluated during 2 years. Phenotypic characteristics, yield, and virus incidence were assessed and the time at which the different genotypes reached their physiological maturity was estimated. The trials were based on randomized complete block design with three or four blocks. Genotype × location interaction was found both for phenotypic and yield traits. A differential response of the genotypes to the varying climatic conditions at the locations is suggested to be one of the causes to the interaction. The unpredictable and variable climate in the area where cocoyam traditionally has been grown is one possible explanation to the frequent genotype × year interaction at that location. Other locations with more stable climate only showed an interaction between genotype and year in a few traits. The genotypic differences regarding the time when the area of the largest leaf reached its maximum and the variation in presence of sprouts and roots on the cormels at harvest, indicate differences in optimal harvest time between genotypes. The percentage of plants infected with dasheen mosaic virus (DMV) differed across locations but not between genotypes.     

Genetical studies of hullability in comparison with other sunflower seed characteristics

Summary To study the genetic control of hullability in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), 36 hybrids, produced by a factorial cross of six male sterile and six restorer lines, were evaluated in two locations in Spain and one in France. Hullability was calculated as the ratio of the quantity of hull removed by a mechanical huller compared with total hull content. In dry conditions in Spain, hullability was twice (83.1%) that observed in France (41.5%). In all locations, male, fernale and interaction effects were significant. Estimates of narrow sense heritability varied between 0.78 and 0.82, values similar to those for other seed characters such as oil content. There were positive genetic and phenotypic correlations between hullability and 1000 seed weight (means 0.81 and 0.74, respectively) but negative correlations with seed oil content (–0.73 and –0.68, respectively). It is concluded that selection in early segregating generations of crosses involving good hulling material needs a specific strategy in order to maintain reasonable levels of oil and protein contents in the seed of the selected genotypes.     

Selection environment and environmental sensitivity in barley

Summary Groups of 10 barley genotypes were selected for high grain yield under either high yielding (two groups) or low yielding conditions (two groups). The genotypes had a similar average grain yield across a wide range of yielding conditions, but differed in their linear response over environments (environmental sensitivity). The genotypes selected for high grain yield under low yielding conditions were less sensitive to changing environments than genotypes selected for high grain yield under high yielding conditions. The higher stability of genotypes selected under low yielding conditions was shown by both the linear regression analysis and the comparison of coefficients of variation. The use of a safety-first index showed that the probability of a crop failure of genotypes selected for high grain yield under high yielding conditions was between 1.8 and 2.7 times higher than for genotypes selected for high grain yield under low yielding conditions. The development of new cultivars for areas where a large proportion of the crop is grown by subsistence farmers should therefore be based on selection under low yielding conditions.