Meeting demands for increased cereal production in China

Meeting demands for increased cereal production in China is a great challenge and this paper provides updated information on cereal production and the potential adaptation of cropping systems to climate change, as well as on progress in improving yield potential and developing molecular markers and GM cereals in China. Maize production and soybean imports are increasing significantly to meet the strong demand for feed by a rapidly growing livestock industry. Extension of the rice and maize growing seasons in northeastern China and improvement of the cropping system through delayed wheat planting have contributed to improving cereal productivity despite changing climatic conditions. Significant improvements in yield potential of rice, maize, and wheat have been achieved. Comparative genomics has been successfully used to develop and validate functional markers for processing quality traits in wheat, and also for developing new varieties. Although transgenic Bt rice and maize, and maize expressing phytase have been developed, their commercialization has not been officially permitted. International collaboration has contributed significantly to cereal production by providing germplasm and improved crop management practices. Full integration of applied molecular technologies into conventional breeding programs and promotion of lower-input technologies, will play a key role in increasing and sustaining future cereal production.     

Control of volunteer cereals with post-emergence herbicides in maize (Zea mays L.)

Volunteer winter cereals are found sporadically in maize (Zea mays L.) fields across southern Ontario. Seven field trials were conducted over a two-year period (2006 and 2007) at four locations to determine the efficacy of five acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides for the control of volunteer cereals applied at two post-emergence application timings (2–4 and 4–7 maize leaf tips). The volunteer cereals were a hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (‘Hyland AC Morley’), soft red winter wheat (‘Pioneer 25R47’), soft white winter wheat (‘Pioneer 25W41’), and a autumn rye (Secale cereale L.) (‘FR’) cultivar. Volunteer cereal competition in maize resulted in a yield reduction of up to 44%. Foramsulfuron, nicosulfuron, nicosulfuron/rimsulfuron provided greater than 70% control of the volunteer cereals at 56 days after treatment (DAT), while primisulfuron and rimsulfuron provided greater than 60% control. Volunteer cereal control with early and late application was greater than 82 and 61%, respectively. Hard red winter wheat was the most sensitive to the ALS-inhibiting herbicides with control of 84–93%. Soft red and soft white winter wheat cultivars were intermediate in sensitivity with control of 76–87%, while autumn rye was the least sensitive with control of at 56–71% control at 56 DAT. Maize yields were improved when volunteer cereals were controlled with the use of herbicides compared to the weedy control, but were lower than the weed-free control. Early herbicide application resulted in improved control of volunteer cereals and higher maize yield.     

Isolation and characterisation of friabilin genes in rye

The Hardness locus on chromosome 5D is the main determinant of grain texture in hexaploid wheat. Puroindoline-a (pin-a), puroindoline-b (pin-b) and Grain Softness Protein (GSP) genes are tightly linked at this locus and their products are the predominant components of friabilin, a 15 kDa endosperm protein complex. Differences in grain texture are mainly caused by specific puroindoline genes mutations and are known to play a large impact on the end-product quality of wheat, contributing to the distinction of well-suited market classes for specific end-uses. We investigated friabilin genes in rye (Secale cereale L.), aiming at an increase information on the friabilin molecular system in cereals and to further investigate their potential use for the genetic improvement of this crop. Using a PCR approach, puroindoline-b and GSP-like sequences were identified for the first time in several rye and triticale cultivars, sequenced and located on specific chromosomal arms. The primary structures of deduced proteins were determined and compared with those from other cereal species. In contrast with data from previous studies, secaloindoline-a was not found. Our results introduce new evidence for a discrete allelic variation at the secaloindoline loci in rye, indicating that future larger screenings may facilitate preliminary selection of germplasm for rye breeding purposes and triticale production.     

母体对小麦胚的ABA敏感性和种子休眠性的影响

种子休眠是品种穗发芽抗性的主导因素,休眠特性与母体效应和胚对ABA的敏感性均有密切关系。为了了解母体对小麦胚的ABA敏感性和种子休眠的影响,为抗穗发芽育种提供科学依据,对穗发芽抗性不同的小麦品种及它们正反交F1后代授粉后不同发育阶段的胚进行了ABA敏感性鉴定,并对收获前的籽粒发芽能力进行了测定。结果表明,在种子发育过程中,不同基因型的离体胚萌发能力存在差异,抗穗发芽品种的胚对ABA敏感性明显高于易穗发芽品种,胚对ABA的敏感性与其萌发能力关系密切,随着萌发能力的升高,胚对ABA的敏感性降低。在成熟种子中,F1的休眠性偏向于抗性亲本。尽管成熟种子和胚的休眠表现出一定的母体效应,但母体对发育至成熟过程中胚的ABA敏感性并没有影响。因而,母体对种子休眠的影响可能与胚的ABA敏感性无关。     

Agropyron elongatum HMW-glutenins have a potential to improve wheat end-product quality through targeted chromosome introgression

After screening of 177 disomic addition lines (DALs) of wheat (Triticum aestivum) containing a pair of chromosomes from different alien species, we found that the chromosome 1E addition line of Agropyron elongatum, that is known to be a potential genetic resource for drought and salinity tolerance, showed potential for improvement of bread-making quality of wheat. This was indicated by increased SDS sedimentation, specific sedimentation, mixograph peak time and SE-HPLC analysis of polymeric proteins. This addition line spontaneously gave rise to a substitution line for chromosome 1D in subsequent generations that showed weak dough strength. Analysis of the x-type HMW-glutenin subunit sequence of Ag. elongatum from DAL1E indicated that it closely resembled the x-type sequence of the A and B genomes of wheat, and the y-type was intermediate between x- and y-type HMW-glutenin subunit genes. From these observations, it was inferred that 1E-encoded seed storage proteins have considerable potential for improvement of wheat end-product quality if transferred to specific chromosomes such as 1A of Chinese Spring (CS) wheat, which has a negative overall effect on bread-making quality.     

Agropyron elongatum HMW-glutenins have a potential to improve wheat end-product quality through targeted chromosome introgression

After screening of 177 disomic addition lines (DALs) of wheat (Triticum aestivum) containing a pair of chromosomes from different alien species, we found that the chromosome 1E addition line of Agropyron elongatum, that is known to be a potential genetic resource for drought and salinity tolerance, showed potential for improvement of bread-making quality of wheat. This was indicated by increased SDS sedimentation, specific sedimentation, mixograph peak time and SE-HPLC analysis of polymeric proteins. This addition line spontaneously gave rise to a substitution line for chromosome 1D in subsequent generations that showed weak dough strength. Analysis of the x-type HMW-glutenin subunit sequence of Ag. elongatum from DAL1E indicated that it closely resembled the x-type sequence of the A and B genomes of wheat, and the y-type was intermediate between x- and y-type HMW-glutenin subunit genes. From these observations, it was inferred that 1E-encoded seed storage proteins have considerable potential for improvement of wheat end-product quality if transferred to specific chromosomes such as 1A of Chinese Spring (CS) wheat, which has a negative overall effect on bread-making quality.     

Simple ELISA Detection of a New Polymorphic Ha Locus Encoded Protein

A rapid two-site sandwich ELISA was developed for detection of a previously uncharacterised protein encoded at the Ha locus on chromosome 5DS of wheat (Triticum aestivum). The assay used the combined specificity of two antibodies to detect a protein that was soluble in aqueous alcohol, salt solutions and water. It was expressed in the endosperm of all soft wheats and Triticum tauschii accessions tested. The ELISA was highly specific, with no signal obtained with varieties that did not express the protein. The presence of the 5DS-encoded protein correlated with a significant change in both water absorption and average hardness and particle size indices in a doubled haploid population derived from a cross between cvs. Cranbrook×Halberd. Only some hard varieties expressed this protein indicating that the protein is not predictive for hardness. However, it may be a new factor, or a marker for a new factor, affecting kernel texture. A polypeptide ofM_r 66 000 was purified from an extract of Halberd flour by immunoaffinity chromatography. Its N-terminal amino acid sequence identified it as an albumin with high homology to both mammalian serum albumins and sucrose synthase from a range of cereals. The assay may be valuable in wheat breeding programmes for assessing kernel texture where the parents are of different ELISA phenotype, or for varietal identification, as the expression of the polypeptide is variable in hard wheat varieties.     

Wheat ferritins: Improving the iron content of the wheat grain

The characterization of the full complement of wheat ferritins show that the modern hexaploid wheat genome contains two ferritin genes, TaFer1 and TaFer2, each represented by three homeoalleles and placed on chromosome 5 and 4, respectively. The two genes are differentially regulated and expressed. The TaFer1 genes are, except in the endosperm, the most abundantly expressed and regulated by iron and abscisic acid status. The promoter of TaFer1, in contrast to TaFer2, has iron- and ABA-responsive elements, supporting the expression data. The TaFer1 and TaFer2 genes encode two isoforms, probably functional different and acting in heteropolymer structures of ferritin in cereals. Iron biofortification of the wheat grain is possible. Endosperm targeted intragenic overexpressing of the TaFer1-A gene results in a 50–85% higher iron content in the grain.     

湖北省小麦种业现状与展望

种业是农业特别是粮食产业发展的基石。湖北省是我国的小麦主产省,大力发展小麦种业对湖北省乃至全国小麦生产发展和粮食安全有重要意义。本文对湖北省小麦种业所取得的成就、面临的问题、发展的重点任务和前景进行了分析和探讨,旨在为制定湖北省小麦种业发展规划、政府决策提供参考。     

Endosperm Texture in Wheat

One of the fundamental means of classifying wheat is through its endosperm texture. It impacts significantly on the milling process affecting among other things flour particle size and milling yield. Hardness in wheat is largely controlled by genetic factors but it can be affected by the environment and factors such as moisture, lipid, and pentosan content. The principal genetic locus controlling endosperm texture in wheat, Ha, is located on the chromosome 5D. At this locus several genes, notably the puroindolines, have been identified. Puroindolines are the major components of the 15 kDa protein band associated with starch granules that is more abundant in soft wheats than in hard. Recently the puroindolines have been shown to enhance grain hardness in rice. In this review we discuss the structure of hard and soft wheat endosperm with particular emphasis on when differences in endosperm texture can be detected in the developing seed. The role of the environment and other factors that may affect the endosperm texture is also examined together with the role of the puroindoline genes at theHa locus. Finally, we compare endosperm hardness in wheat and in barley.     

A novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of Wx-B1 null wheat lines using a monoclonal antibody and its application for the detection of marker heterogeneity within commercial cultivars

A monoclonal antibody was raised with specificity for the granule bound starch synthase (GBSS1) Wx-B1 homeoallele of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using a synthetic peptide immunogen. This was used to develop a simplified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the discrimination of Wx-B1a and Wx-B1b alleles which differ in the starch properties they confer. Discrimination of these alleles is important for the selection of wheat lines for Udon-style noodle production. The simplified ELISA worked in a single antibody (indirect) format and gave improved ease of use, discrimination of alleles and resolution relative to a previously developed 2-antibody (sandwich) ELISA. When the test was validated using breeders seed of a panel of commercial cultivars, heterogeneity of Wx-B1 alleles was observed for a significant proportion of the cultivars tested and this was confirmed using PCR analysis of the Wx-B1 and Wx-A1 genes. This observation has implications for cultivar wheat quality assessment, the application of molecular markers for variety identification purposes and the establishment of mapping populations from commercial cultivars.