Estimation of parental value for varieties used in plant breeding

A method to estimate variety value directly in a plant breeding process is proposed. The approach is based on frequencies of variety progenies succeeding in breeding trials. The number of crossing combinations is demonstrated to estimate parental breeding values (PBV) more effectively than the number of lines. Because of the possibility of significant sexual effects the parental breeding value is estimated by the square mean of the female and male variety breeding values. For adequate PBV estimation, all the varieties tested should involve an equal number of crossing combinations as male and female parents. The Latin square principle can be used for planning such crosses. The results of barley breeding programmes are used as an example for the application of the proposed method. It is shown that the PBV estimates obtained in a current breeding cycle allow the effectiveness of the following cycles to be increased by better planning of the subsequent crosses.     

Genetic control of aluminum tolerance in mutant lines of the wheat cultivar Anahuac

The behavior of 17 gamma irradiation mutant lines derived from the aluminum sensitive wheat cultivar `Anahuac' was compared with two sensitive and three tolerant cultivars in nutritent solutions containing seven Al<sup>3+</sup> concentrations (0; 0.5; 1; 2; 4; 6 and10 mg/liter), at a temperature of 25 <sup>°</sup>C and 4.0 pH. Tolerance was measured by the continued growth of the primary roots in a solution without aluminum after 48 hours in a solution containing a known concentration of aluminum. 14 mutant lines were as tolerant to the presence of 10 mg/liter of Al<sup>3+</sup> in the treatment solutions as were the tolerant `BH-1146', `IAC-60' and `IAC-24' cultivars. Two mutant lines were tolerant and one was sensitive to the presence of 1 mg/liter of Al³⁺, while the cultivars `Siete Cerros' and `Anahuac' were sensitive to 1 and 0.5 mg/liter Al³⁺ in the solutions, respectively. F₂ seedlings, obtained from cross among one sensitive and twelve tolerant mutant lines to the sensitive cultivars (`Siete Cerros' or `Anahuac') and the tolerant cultivars (`BH-1146' or `IAC-24') were assessed for tolerance to 2 mg/liter Al³⁺ in nutritient solutions. The twelve tolerant mutant lines and the tolerant `IAC-60' and `IAC-24' cultivars differed from the sensitive `Siete Cerros' or `Anahuac' cultivars by one pair of dominant alleles. The results indicated that tolerance in the induced mutants was due to a single pair of dominant alleles and that these alleles expressed the same tolerance as `BH-1146' and `IAC-24' cultivars. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Landraces and folk varieties: a conceptual reappraisal of terminology

Farmers’ seeds are most often lumped together in one broad category called ‘landraces’. But such a category covers variety types that reflect different levels of farmer involvement. Those differences matters when we discuss such issues as genetic erosion, on-farm conservation and seed related policies. The term landrace can be traced to the time when ‘modern’ varieties of cereals were introduced to European farmers in the late nineteenth century. The farmers’ varieties of the time were called ‘landraces’ and understood as seeds adapted to local growing conditions through natural adaptation usually with no intentional selection. But the term was quickly adopted as generic for all farmers’ varieties including those that are bred and maintained by active seed selection on-farm. Such farmer-bred varieties are better termed ‘folk varieties’. The article discusses how interaction of crop characteristics and developing technologies resulted in the evolution of crop varieties as either landraces or folk varieties. It is argued that vulnerability to different agents of genetic erosion and feasibility of on-farm conservation are clearly different for the two categories of farmers’ varieties. Likewise seed policies, particularly the issue of Farmers’ Rights would benefit from clarity of type of farmers’ varieties.     

Characteristics and Inheritance of Seed-Ageing Induced Mutations in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Mutations affecting qualitative traits were induced by seed ageing in lettuce. The mutant plants were isolated in the A₂ generation and included chlorophyll-deficient types (chlorotica, lutescens, chlorina-virescens, luteo and viridalbo maculate), and morphological variants (dwarf and narrow, thick and curly leaf types). The leaf mutants were found to be either partially or completely sterile. Segregation pattern of the mutants in A₃ generation showed that, except for the maculata types, all chlorophyll deficiencies and the dwarf mutant are controlled by single recessive nuclear genes. The genetic status of the leaf mutants was not clear, due to possible pleiotropic effect of the mutant genes in inducing gametophytic sterility. The maculata mutants exhibited sorting out of the normal and chlorophyll deficient regions during vegetative development and segregated for different degrees of chlorophyll deficiency in selfed progenies. The maculata mutants probably originated by plastome mutations induced by nuclear mutator genes.     

Assessment of the uniformity of wheat and tomato varieties at DNA microsatellite loci

By analysing a number (20–38) of individuals from selected varieties of wheat and tomato, we have been able to assess intra-varietal uniformity at certain micro satellite (simple sequence repeat, SSR) loci. In total, 45 varieties of wheat were analysed at between 7–9 different SSR loci, and 10 varieties of tomato were analysed at six loci. The results showed that there was variation both between varieties and between microsatellites in the degree of non-uniformity observed, and it was possible to identify a number of different probable sources of non-uniformity. Twenty-four of the wheat varieties and nine of the tomato varieties were sufficiently uniform to meet the standards currently applied for distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) testing using phenotypic characteristics. The implications for the potential future use of SSRs in DUS testing are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

EMS Induction of Early Flowering Mutants in Spring Rape (Brassica napus)

Studies were undertaken to induce early flowering mutants by ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) treatments of Brassica napus seeds. EMS treatments for 12 h of a highly inbred B. napus line TBS had adverse effects on M¹ plant development and fertility only when concentrations were greater than 1%. However, an EMS concentration of 1.5% did not reduce M₁ plant fertility to an extent which significantly reduced production of M₂ seeds. Genetic changes induced by EMS treatment and affecting flowering time were of three main types: (1) Changes within a polygenic system reflected by increased variation in flowering time among M₂ families. As the increase in variation was due primarily to a higher frequency of later flowering plants, these polygenic changes would be of little value in developing better-adapted cultivars. (2) Induction of a recessive mutation at a major gene locus which caused M₃ plants homozygous for the mutant gene to flower at least 20 days earlier than the parental line TB8. (3) Induction of a dominant mutation at a major gene locus which affects flowering time by causing a substantial reduction in vernalization requirement. M₂ plants carrying the mutant gene flowered as early as 59 days before the parental line. These major gene mutations could be rapidly exploited in the development of agronomically superior cultivars for short-season, lower rainfall environments in Western Australia.     

Competition among components of synthetic varieties in alfalfa

Summary Eighteen alfalfa polycross progenies were tested for forage and seed yield in pure stand as well as in competition with the mixture of all progenies included in the test. The type of border affected significantly the forage and seed yield of individual progenies in one third of the cases. In most of these cases competition from the mixture resulted in reduction of the yield of individual progenies. There was no correlation between pure stand forage and seed yield, but there was significant positive correlation between forage and seed yield determined under conditions of competition. It is concluded that polycross progenies should be tested in plots bordered by the mixture of all progenies being tested.     

Sunn pest problems in Central Anatolia and the role of wheat varieties in integrated control

Wheat production is a major source of income for most people and forms the backbone of the economy in Central Anatolia, Turkey. Sunn pest, known in Turkey since 1927, is one of the most harmful pests of wheat in this region where the infested area has reached 0.3 million ha and the cost of chemical application has reached US$ 2 million per year. Two species of Eurygaster, E. maura and E. austriaca, are prevalent in the region. Observations of tests carried out on different genotypes under natural field conditions and controlled greenhouse tests showed variable response of wheat to sunn pest. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Somatic Embryogenesis in Maize and Comparison of Genetic Variability Induced by Gamma Radiation and Tissue Culture Techniques

Sixteen inbred lines and one hybrid of manse were tested for their capability of somatic embryogenesis, and fully developed plants could be regenerated, from ten inbred, lines. The highest frequency of plant regeneration was expressed in the inbred line CHI 31, and when this line was crossed with a recalcitrant, non-regenerating line, the F₁ and BC hybrids were regenerable. The results of reciprocal crosses demonstrated that dominant nuclear genes and cytoplasmic factors are primarily responsible for the heritable determination of embryogenic callus proliferation and in vitro regeneration of maize plants. Somaclonal and radiation-induced variability was studied in maize to assess their nature and potential contribution to plant breeding., The inbred line CHI 31 possessing a high in vitro capacity of somatic embryo formation was used as experiments.] material. CHI 31 plants were selfed and twelve-day old zygotic embryos irradiated with ⁶⁰Co gamma radiation in situ. Mature caryopses were harvested and assigned as M₁ material. In another series, immature zygotic embryos (size 1.2—1.5 mm) were cultured in vitro on N-6 medium supplemented with 2,4-D (2.5 μM), and somatic embryos regenerated into plants; these were transplanted into soil and self-pollinated. Regenerants from non-irradiated cultures were grown as R₁ generation, while regenerants from irradiated explants were considered as M₁R₁ generation. The genetic variability was evaluated in the M₂, R₂ and M₂R₂ generations, respectively, and compared with a non-treated seed control. Irradiation induced a variety of chlorophyll and morphological variants segregating in the M; generation; however, the frequency of deviant types obtained in the R: generation (somaclonal variation) was significantly exceeding the one derived from the M₂ populations. The combination of expert irradiation and in vitro regeneration was most effective for the manifestation of chlorophyll and morphological o if types in the M₂R₂ generation, and increased drastically the frequency of early flowering variants. Differences in the segregation patterns of mutant phenotypes amonsister somaclones in the R₃ and M₃R₃ generations indicate a different genetic basis, of plants originating from the same explant. This phenomenon suggests a mutational sectoring of the callus during culture. Radiation induced and somaclonal variation exerted a similar spectrum of chlorophyll and morphological deviants.     

Proposal for the identification of barley varieties based on the genotypes for 2 hordein and 39 isoenzyme loci of 47 reference varieties

Summary Fifty-nine spring and 7 winter barley varieties in The Danish List of Varieties of Agricultural Crops, 1983/84 were examined for variation at 39 isoenzyme and two hordein loci. Twenty-three isoenzyme loci had one allele only, and 16 loci had from two to five alleles. One hordein locus had 12 and the other 15 alleles. The variation in the 16 enzyme loci permitted the division of the 66 varieties into 63 groups, while the two hordein loci produced 34 groups. A study of 20 individuals from each variety showed that 22 varieties were polymorphic in at least one locus. Eight starch gel electrophoresis with various buffer systems, one agar gel electrophoresis (for amylases), and one polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (for hordein) were performed to develop the patterns associated with the 41 loci. The polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis developing hordein patterns was clearly the most powerful single system for identifying barley varieties because of the large number of alleles.     

Increase of genetic variation in some lettuce cultivars by induction of mutations: A technical note

Summary Colchicine treatments of 13 lettuce cultivars for production of polyploid lettuce also resulted in rapid growing diploid mutants.     

条（白蜡条）农间作生态经济效益与配置

根据二十多年来的调查研究,着重论述条农间作在改变生态环境、提高作物产量、增强物质能量循环以及生物效应和经济效益等方面的作用,为条农间作的合理配置、类型划分提出理论依据.     

Genetic improvement of soybean varieties released in India from 1969 to 1993

Summary Soybean is an important oilseed crop in India and varieties with high yield potential are being developed since 1969. This study was conducted to assess the impact of breeding on yield and plant characteristics during the last 25 years. A 3-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate forty three soybean varieties belonging to two different selection cycles and representing most of the varieties developed in the domestic breeding programme of India from 1969 to 1993. Varieties resulting from selection cycle 1 showed 4 times higher seed yield and harvest index as compared to the farm traditional variety Kalitur. This yield increase was due to an increase in biomass, pods plant^–1, mean seed weight and longer seed filling duration, but a reduced plant height and improved lodging tolerance, less seeds pod^–1 and early flowering and maturity dates. The varieties of selection cycle 2 showed 19% higher seed yields and 16% increase in harvest index over selection cycle 1 accompanied by longer seed filling duration, more seeds pod^–1 and reduced plant height. The annual genetic gain in seed yield of soybean varieties released in India from 1969 to 1993 was approximately 22 kg ha^–1.     

Genotype × environment interactions in the expression of net blotch resistance in spring and winter barley varieties

The net blotch resistance of barley varieties widely grown in Denmark was studied using data obtained from naturally infected field plots and inoculated disease nurseries in multiple years and locations. Data were analysed by combining two statistical procedures, 1) joint regression (JR) and 2) additive main effect, multiplicative interactive effect analysis (AMMI). Of the total variation for net blotch disease severity, 61–81% could be explained by plant genotype (G) and environment (E) main effects. Of the remaining variation, 77–86% could be explained by significant G × E interactions that were due to genotype sensitivity to the mean environmental disease level and/or to specific reactions of individual genotypes in particular environments. G × E interactions led to a different ranking of varietal performance across environments. There was evidence for G × E interactions caused by the virulence characteristics of the initial inoculum sources. The spring barley varieties Alexis and Bartok and the winter barley varieties Jolante, Ludo, and Rafiki were identified as varieties with high levels of net blotch resistance in all environments. Their performance was little affected by G × E interactions, suggesting that they represent good sources for non-specific resistance. Combining JR and AMMI reduced the dimensionality of complex G × E problems greatly, identified systematic reaction patterns of varieties possibly pertaining to different resistance mechanisms, and described specific and non-specific resistance of varieties by means of few parameters while maintaining the possibility to reconstruct the original data with little loss of information. This is very useful for improving the evaluation of varietal resistance for breeding and disease management purposes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic Resources for Salt Tolerance in the Wild Progenitors of Wheat (Triticum dicoccoides) and Barley (Hordeum spontaneum) in Israel

Salt tolerance was tested in the progenitors of cultivated cereals, wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) and wild emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccoides) from Israel. Plants from five selected populations of H. spontaneum from the Mediterranean Coastal Plain and northern Negev desert, were grown on 250 and 350 mM of NaCl. Likewise, five populations of T. dicoccoides from the eastern Samaria steppes, Mt. Hermon and Mt. Carmel, were grown on 175 and 250 mM of NaCl. Here we report on superior genotypes of H. spontaneum, ripening at 350 mM NaCl (= 60 % sea water), and of T. dicoccoides ripening at 250 mM (— 40 % sea water). We are proceeding now with both genetical and physiological studies aimed at chromosomally-locating salt tolerant genes and unravelling the mechanism(s) of salt resistance in these wild cereals.     

晋城市近53年气候变化及对农业生产的影响

通过对晋城市有气象记录以来近53年的气温、降水量气候资料的分析发现,晋城市的气候变化出现了一些值得重视的特点:冬季明显变暖,夏季变暖幅度较小;年降雨量明显减少,20世纪初的季节特点是秋冬偏多,春夏偏少。探讨了气候变化对晋城市农业生产的有利影响和不利影响,提出调整种植季节、加强病虫害防治、培育和选用抗逆性强品种、建立生态农业系统,以及加强农业气象监测预报等应对不良气候变化的对策与措施。     

Regeneration, establishment and evaluation of somaclones in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

Novel in vitro techniques have the potential to aid conventional breeding programs. Somaclonal variation is considered to be a useful source of variation and has been demonstrated to be feasible in crop species like wheat, rice and maize. A study was taken up at Tissue Culture Laboratory, University of Agricultural Sciences Dharwad, India, for callus induction, maintenance and regeneration of two well established sorghum varieties, M35-1 and A-1 to study somaclonal variation for both qualitative and quantitative characters. The frequency of callus induction was 90 and 83.3 percent in M35-1 and A-1, respectively, on MS medium with 2 mg l-l of 2,4-D. On higher levels of sucrose (60 gl-l), M35-1 showed good response for both regeneration and rooting, while for variety A-1 BA(0.5 mg l-l) and NAA (0.2 mg l-l) had to be supplemented for satisfactory levels of regeneration (73.3%) and rooting respectively. The regenerated plants (SC₁) were selfed to obtain the seeds for the next generation. In M35-1, variations were observed for chlorophyll, phyllotaxy and midrib structure, while male sterile and branched phenotypes occurred in A-1 families. Combined analysis of variances showed that there was significant difference between and within families for most of the quantitative characters in both cultivars except for the character, fourth leaf breadth in the cultivar A-1. The variation, accompanied by a positive shift from the mean is an indication of the response to selection for any specific character. Occurrence of productive variants among the somaclones of established cultivars like M35-1 and A-1 indicates the possibility of their improvement through somaclonal variation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Improving participatory varietal selection processes: participatory varietal selection and the role of informal seed diffusion mechanisms for upland rice in Ghana

This paper considers the process of Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS) and presents approaches and ideas based on PVS activities conducted on upland rice throughout Ghana between 1997 and 2003. In particular the role of informal seed systems in PVS is investigated and implications for PVS design are identified. PVS programmes were conducted in two main agroecological zones, Forest and Savannah, with 1,578 and 1,143 mm of annual rainfall, respectively, and between 40 and 100 varieties tested at each site. In the Savannah zone IR12979-24-1 was officially released and in the Forest zone IDSA 85 was widely accepted by farmers. Two surveys were conducted in an area of the Forest zone to study mechanisms of spread. Here small amounts (1–2 kg) of seed of selected varieties had been given to 94 farmers. In 2002, 37% of 2,289 farmers in communities surveyed had already grown a PVS variety and had obtained seed via informal mechanisms from other farmers, i.e. through gift, exchange or purchase. A modified approach for PVS is presented which enables important issues identified in the paper to be accommodated. These issues include: utilising existing seed spread mechanisms; facilitating formal release of acceptable varieties; assessing post-harvest traits, and; the need for PVS to be an ongoing and sustainable process.     

The impact of genotype x soil texture interaction on the efficiency of selection for yield in maize (Zea mays L.)

Summary This study was undertaken to investigate the implications of genotype x soil texture interaction on response to selection in maize. Mass honeycomb selection for yield was applied for 11 cycles from the F₂ of the single cross maize hybrid F68×NE2 in a field B with silty-clay-loam soil texture. Response to selection compared to the original single cross hybrid was estimated both in absence of competition and under solid stand in the selection field B and in a nearby field A differing in soil texture (clay-loam).A strong crossover type of interaction occurred both under solid stand and in the absence of competition in the two tests the improved population outyielded the hybrid in field B in the two densities, but lagged behing the hybrid in field A. The results suggest that interaction between genotype and soil texture might affect efficiency of selection detrimentally unless provision is taken for parallel selection early in the crop improvement program in fields differing in soil texture.     

Collaboration of farmers and breeders: Participatory crop improvement in perspective

Participatory Crop Improvement (PCI) has developed over the past decade as an alternative and complementary breeding approach to Formal Crop Improvement (FCI). In that context, PCI principally aims at more effectively addressing the needs of farmers in marginal areas in developing countries. This paper describes the rationale behind the emerging of the PCI-concept, the first experiences, and its place in a development-context. The relation with in situ conservation of plant genetic resources is briefly described. The paper uses the distinction in PCI between PVS (Participatory Varietal Selection, i.e. participatory selection among varieties and advanced materials) and PPB (Participatory Plant Breeding, i.e. selection within segregating materials). While successful experiences of PVS are reported, the potentials of PPB are still to be explored. Among other issues, this article pays attention to Genotype x Environment interaction: while G × E interaction is recognised as an important issue in plant breeding and a justification for PCI, the implications for the design of selection systems with farmer participation, and, eventually the potential of PPB has only been analysed to a limited extend. Questions in relation to materials, breeding strategies and selection procedures to achieve sufficient progress in the different crops and environments are identified; these will however remain unanswered until more experiences from the field are available. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.