Estimates of heritability for,and relationships between,root and shoot characters of white clover. I. Replicated clonal material

Summary A total of 749 genotypes from a number of white clover (trifolium repens L.) cultivars and populations, many collected from dryland areas, were cloned and grown in field titles. Several morphological characters, including leaf size, number and diameter of large nodal roots (taproots), and proportion of root weight that was classified as taproot were measured. There was large variation between lines and genotypes for all characters measured, and differences between genotypes within lines are also reported. Broad sense heritability estimates were higher (>0.5) for leaflet width, petiole length and stolon diameter, than for all root character heritability estimates which were between 0.2 and 0.4.     

Response to selection for root dimension in a Mediterranean natural population of Lolium rigidum Gaud

In the Mediterranean environment, root systems are very important for water utilization. For this reason, the effects of selection for increased root dimensions upon root and shoot characteristics of a natural population of Lolium rigidum Gaud, were analysed. Two cycles of phenotypic recurrent selection were carried out on a population collected in Nurra (north-western Sardinia, Italy). Plants derived after two cycles of selection, together with unselected plants, were grown hydroponically in a greenhouse. Data on root volume, longest root length, number of stems and leaves, leaf length, shoot and root dry weight were collected from the selected material and also from unselected material for use as a control. An analysis of variance was performed and correlation coefficients were calculated. The increased size of the root system did not have a negative effect on the above-ground biomass and there was genetic variation for root traits in the ‘Nurra’ population. The improved population will be utilized for further breeding work to obtain L. rigidum varieties capable of withstanding dry periods during the vegetative phase.     

Rice root morphology under contrasting moisture regimes and contribution of molecular marker heterozygosity

Evaluation for root morphology and related characters at three different stages and different moisture regimes was made using 9backcross populations obtained by crossing selected doubled haploid lines derived fromIR64 × Azucena with IR64. Marked genotypic differences were observed for all the characters across three samplings. In samplings at 80 days after sowing, significant reductions in mean root and shoot dry weights were noticed from well-watered to severely-stressed conditions, but higher root to shoot dry weight ratios were observed under severe stress condition. In the samplings at maturity, significant increases in mean values of all characters except shoot dry weight and root number, were observed from both well watered to stress conditions. However, individual backcross populations varied with respect to root and shoot dry weights across the moisture regimes. Estimates of heritability were reduced from the 1^st to 3^rd samplings as well as from WW to SS conditions. In the third sampling, root volume, root thickness and maximum root length were found to be interrelated. The experimental materials were classified into two distinct groups by dendrogram based on 175 markers. This classification was fairly similar to phenotypic classification based on root morphology with IR64 and Azucena falling into the respective main groups. Correlations of marker heterozygosity with hybrid performance and heterosis differed markedly between the 2^nd and 3^rdsamplings as well as between well watered and severe stress conditions. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Origin,diversity and utilization of the Cuban germplasm of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary Wheat root characters which influence vital plant processes have scarcely been explored for their genetic control. This study was conducted to i) examine the diversity of root traits and associated shoot traits in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars; ii) study the nature of genetic control of selected traits; and iii) examine associations among root and shoot traits. Three experiments were conducted in the greenhouse with plants grown in the vermiculite medium in clear plastic tubes. In the first experiment, 42 spring wheat cultivars were grown for three weeks and measurements were taken on root length, leaf length, root number, leaf number, root dry weight, and top dry weight. In the second study, 15F₁'s originating from a partial diallel mating of six cultivars along with the parents were evaluated for 4 weeks. The data on root length, leaf length, and root number were subjected to diallel analysis according to Griffing's method 4, fixed model. A third experiment consisted of studying 2 F₂ populations with 141 plants per population. In the first study the 42 cultivars exhibited a wide range of variation for all six traits. Diallel analysis revealed significant effects of both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for root length, leaf length, and root number. Parents with high GCA estimates were identified. Significant positive correlation coefficients were found among root and shoot traits. Analysis of F₂'s for root length indicated quantitative nature of inheritance of root length.     

Responses to Selection for Root Dimension in a South European Variety of Perennial Ryegrass)*

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of selection for large root dimension on root and shoot characteristics of an Italian variety of Lolium perenne L. (cv. ‘Vejo’). Two cycles of recurrent restricted phenotypic selection (RRPS) were carried out in 1983 and 1984 at Perugia (Italy). In each cycle, 20 out of 1,500 plants were selected and intercrossed under isolation. In 1985, 120 plants from‘Vejo selected’ and an equal number of plants from‘Vejo’ initial seed-lot were grown hydroponically for 92 days; at the end of the experiment, the plants were measured for their number of leaves and stems, leaf length, length of the longest root, root volume and shoot and root dry weight. Sufficient genetic variability existed among plants of cv. ‘Vejo’ to allow highly significant responses to selection for root dimension (+25 % in root length, +39 % in root volume, + 67 % in root dry weight and +31 % in root: shoot dry weight ratio). Furthermore, two cycles of RRPS for root dimension did not show negative responses of the above-ground parts of the plant.     

Responses to divergent selection for adventitious root growth in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)

Summary Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) persistence is improved by the growth of adventitious roots from the crown. The effect of one cycle of divergent phenotypic selection for adventitious roots in red clover was evaluated and root and shoot traits including degree of flowering habit correlated. Three classes of single-cross progenies were produced by crossing plants within and between the high and low root selections. Parents and progeny were grown as spaced plants. Adventitious root score and volume were significantly correlated (p<0.05); however they generally had low or nonsignificant correlations with other variables. A significant correlation (r=-0.36, p<0.01) was found between adventitious root score and flowering score (growth type) in 1988 but not in 1989. Significant variation was found among the three classes of single-cross progeny for adventitious root score and crown diameter. The effect of progeny class on score of adventitious roots was not linear, suggesting dominance effects for the absence of adventitious roots may have been present. A narrow-sense heritability estimate of 0.30 was found by midparent offspring regression of the adventitious root score. This low heritability value implies that successful selection would require progeny testing.     

Root characteristic system improves drought tolerance in orchardgrass

Plant genotypes with higher drought tolerance through improved root characteristics are poorly studied in orchardgrass. In the current research, 30 orchardgrass genotypes were polycrossed and the resulting half‐sib families evaluated under both normal and water stress environments. Under water stress conditions, values for most root traits decreased at 0–30 cm soil depth, while at 30–60 cm depths, the root length (RL), root area (RA), root volume, percentage of root dry weight (RDW) and the ratio of root to shoot were increased. We identified drought‐tolerant genotypes with a high combining ability for root characteristics and a high yield potential. High estimates of heritability as well as genetic variation for root traits indicated that phenotypic selection would be successful in order to achieve genetic progress. Indirect selection to improve dry matter yield was most efficient when selecting for RL and RDW under water stress conditions. Significant associations between a drought tolerance index and RL, RA and root volume confirmed the importance of these traits in conferring drought tolerance of orchardgrass.     

Vigour evaluation for genetics and breeding in rose

Breeding of cut and pot rose cultivars for efficient production under low-energy conditions in greenhouses will be facilitated by understanding the inheritance of vigour. To get insight into the genetic variation of vigour-related traits, a diploid rose population was employed for an evaluation study in greenhouses in The Netherlands and Denmark. For all the traits investigated the population showed a continuous quantitative variation as well as a considerable transgression. For most of the traits, the genetic variation found among the tested entries was highly significant and tended to be large in comparison to the effects of genotype by environment interaction. The heritability based on means of the traits was high and ranged from 68 to 92%. Strong simple correlations (r = 0.65 to 0.95) were found among the traits shoot length, leaf area, leaf dry weight, stem dry weight, total dry weight and growth rate. The total dry weight and leaf area are suggested to be good parameters for early selection of rose genotypes with vigorous growth under suboptimal growth conditions.     

Variation in traits affecting nodulation of common bean under intercropping with maize and sole cropping

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), an important food crop in Europe, America, Africa and Asia, is thought to fix only small amounts of atmospheric nitrogen. It contributes significantly to the sustainability of traditional cropping systems because of the predominance of small-scale farmers who cultivate beans in those areas. The objectives of this work were to evaluate bush bean varieties under common agronomic cropping systems and to evaluate breeding lines under low N-fertility sole cropping and intercropping systems. The purpose of the study was to characterize the genotype and cropping system's variability in symbiotic and plant characters and to identify the most suitable genotypes to establish an effective symbiosis with indigenous strains of Rhizobium. No significant differences among the bush bean varieties evaluated under typical fertilization practices were observed for N₂-fixation and plant traits except for seed nitrogen. Significant differences among the bean lines studied under low N-fertilization conditions were detected for plant growth,plant component and N₂-fixation traits. A significant interaction of bean genotype x cropping system was found for number of nodules per plant and nodule moisture on the bush bean varieties studied, and for days to emergence, days to flowering, end of flowering, shoot length, root dry weight and shoot nitrogen on the bean lines evaluated. Nodulation parameters were correlated positively with the yield components, shoot and root parts and duration of flowering, and correlated negatively with seed crude protein, pod and seed dimensions and seed dry weight. These observations indicate that it may be possible to increase both the symbiotic N₂-fixation and seed yield through plant breeding. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

爆裂玉米产量及膨爆特性遗传效应分析

以12个爆裂玉米自交系间杂交F1为材料,采用三倍体胚乳模型对子粒膨爆特性及穗粒重、百粒重的3类遗传效应研究结果表明,3项膨爆特性指标同时受到直接效应和母体效应2种遗传体系所控制,百粒重和穗粒重由3套遗传体系所决定。穗粒重、百粒重、爆花率和膨化体积以普通直接遗传率为最主要分量,膨化倍数的普通母体遗传率最高。各自交系的直接加性效应和母体加性效应的显著性不同,要注意不同自交系的恰当组配。     

Genetic variation in salt tolerance at the seedling stage in an interspecific backcross inbred line population of cultivated tetraploid cotton

Soil salinity reduces cotton growth, yield, and fiber quality and has become a serious problem in the arid southwestern region of the Unites States. Development and planting of salt-tolerant cultivars could ameliorate the deleterious effects. The objective of this study was to assess the genetic variation of salt tolerance and identify salt tolerant genotypes in a backcross inbred line (BIL) population of 142 lines from a cross of Upland (Gossypium hirsutum) × Pima cotton (G. barbadense) at the seedling growth stage. As compared with the non-saline (control) conditions, seedlings under the salinity stress (200 mM NaCl) showed a significant reduction in all the plant growth characteristics measured, as expected. Even though the two parents did not differ in salt response as measured by percent reduction, significant genotype variations in the BIL population were detected for all traits except for leaf number. Based on percent reduction of the traits measured, several BILs were more salt tolerant than both parents. The results indicate that transgressive segregation occurred during the process of backcrossing and selfing even though both parents were not salt tolerant during seedling growth. Coefficients of correlation between all the traits were significantly positive, indicating an association between the traits measured. The estimates of broad-sense heritability were 0.69, 0.46, 0.47, 0.43, and 0.49 for plant height, fresh weight of shoot and root, and dry weight of shoot and root, respectively, indicating that salt tolerance during cotton seedling growth is moderately heritable and environmental variation plays an equally important role. The overall results demonstrate that backcrossing followed by repeated self-pollination is a successful strategy to enhance salt tolerance at the seedling stage by transferring genetic factors from Pima to Upland cotton.     

Combining ability of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) genotypes for root traits across diverse environments

Root system architecture is important for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) adaptability to diverse environments. Beans employ complex adaptive root mechanisms for coping with multiple stresses in production environments. Understanding genetic control of root traits is central to improvement of common bean for adaptation to marginal environments. The objectives of this study were to (i) determine combining ability of root and agronomic traits and (ii) estimate the heritability and genetic correlation of root and agronomic traits in common bean. Four bean lines with superior root traits were crossed with four locally adapted varieties in a North Carolina II mating scheme to generate 16 crosses. The 16 F₁s were selfed and advanced to F₂ generation. Eight parents and their F₂ progenies were evaluated in an alpha-Lattice design with two replications. General and specific combing ability mean squares were significant (p ≤ .05) for all traits measured. General predictability ratios ranged from .47 to .68 across locations suggesting that both additive and non-additive gene action modulate root traits and seed yield. Positive and significant (p ≤ .05) phenotypic and genetic correlations revealed significant association between root traits and yield. Moderate to high heritability estimates of between .43 and .67 were realized. Such estimates point to possible deployment of a successful selection programme. Genotype AFR398 displayed significant positive GCA effects among its crosses for both root and agronomic traits hence a potential candidate genotype for inclusion in a bean genetic improvement programme for marginal environments.     

Resistance to Pseudomonas solanacearum in the potato: II. Aspects of host-pathogen-environment interaction

Summary White clover genotypes were selected for high and low values of leaf size, taproot diamater, number of taproots, proportion of total root and taproot dry weight. Crosses within selected groups of genotypes resulted in 14 seed lines, which were compared with parent genotypes in field tiles. Selections for taproot diameter and proportion taproot were more successful than those for taproot number and proportion root.Narrow sense heritability of characters calculated by regression of progeny on mid-parent values were well correlated with broad sense heritabilities derived from replicated clonal comparisons (r=0.73^*), indicating that the genetic variation is controlled predominantly by additive gene effects.     

对大豆耐萎蔫材料PO471938根系和地上部的性状鉴定、QTL定位

PI471938是从美国引进的大豆耐萎蔫抗旱种质资源。为更好了解和利用该材料,分别在灌水和干旱胁迫条件下比较PI471938与普通大豆品种Dare、丰收黄根系及地上部性状的差异,并配制杂交组合,构建分离群体,利用主基因-多基因混合遗传模型分析杂交后代根系性状的遗传规律。结果表明,在正常灌水和干旱处理条件下,PI471938的根干重、根体积、主根长均显著高于Dare和丰收黄(P<0.01),说明根系发达是PI471938耐萎蔫的重要原因。供试亲本和各世代材料的株高、地上部干重均与根干重及根体积显著正相关,可作为对根系性状进行间接选择的指标。在Dare×PI471938杂交组合的F₂代,不论在灌水还是干旱条件下,根干重均以微效多基因控制为主,主基因遗传率较低;根体积在灌水条件下表现多基因遗传,而在干旱条件下则由2对加性-显性-上位性主基因+加性-显性多基因控制,主基因遗传率为54.63%。在干旱条件下,丰收黄 × PI471938组合的根干重、根体积均以多基因控制为主。以在干旱条件下种植的Dare×PI471938组合的F₂代群体为材料,采用SSR标记对大豆根系及地上部性状进行QTL定位,检测到位于3个不同连锁群的5个主效QTL,表型贡献率在16.07%~38.44%之间。     

Growth habit and gene pool effects on inheritance of yield in common bean

Summary To satisfy farmer and consumer preferences, breeding efforts to increase yield potential in common bean must take into account the interrelated effects of growth habit, seed size, maturity, and gene pool on yield expression in segregating populations. To examine the relationships among these traits, a genetic study was conducted to determine the effect of growth habit on yield and seed size in crosses among five bean lines from diverse gene pools. Two parental bean lines had determinate, type I growth habits and large seed size typical of the Neuva Granada-Andean gene pool. Two other lines were tropical Mesoamerican types with type II growth habits and small seed size; and the fifth line, G13625, a landrace of the Jalisco gene pool from the Mexican highlands, had a type IV climbing growth habit and medium seed size. Individual F₂ plants from each cross and parental lines were evaluated for growth habit and yield component traits under high input field conditions. The following season, the evaluations were repeated on random F₃ plants. Of the five parental lines, only G13625 showed significant GCA effects for yield in both the F₂ and F₃ generations. Improved yielding ability of G13625 progeny was associated with an increased expression of climbing bean growth habit traits: guide length, climbing ability, node number on main stem, and plant height. Crosses between Andean x Mesoamerican and Andean x Jalisco genotypes, as well between growth habit type I (Andean x Andean) and between type II (Mesoamerican x Mesoamerican) had very low parent-offspring heritability values for yield. Yield heritability was only significant for crosses between Mesomerican x Jalisco gene pools. An apparent simple genetic control of growth habit modification towards semi-climbing and climbing types is proposed as the major reason for increased yields in these crosses. No genetic linkage between genes controlling growth habit and seed size was detected which might restrict the development of high yielding large-seeded type II lines.     

Genetic and environmental effects on abscisic acid accumulation in leaves of field-grown maize

Summary This study analyzes the components of phenotypic variation for abscisic acid (ABA) content in maize (Zea mays L.) leaves and the correlations with drought sensitivity index (DSI) and silk delay (SD), involved in the reaction to water deficit. Eight early- and seven medium-maturity inbreds were examined in field trials: in 1990 with low irrigation volume and in 1991 with low and high irrigation volumes. ABA concentration and DSI were investigated at growth stages (S) corresponding to stem elongation (S3), appearance of the first husks (S4), and mid-end of silking (S5). The ABA concentration was significantly higher in conditions of water deficit and in the later growth stage. The genetic component for ABA concentration attained higher relative values than those shown by DSI in the same growth stages and by SD; moreover, it increased from growth stage 3 to stage 5. The genotype × year and genotype × irrigation volume interactions were smaller for ABA concentration than for DSI and SD. The broad sense heritability on a plant basis, estimated in drought conditions, for ABA concentration ranged from 21.4 to 55.1% according to maturity group and growth stage. A wide variation was observed among lines for ABA concentration: the medium-maturity group showed a three-fold range (from 219 to 605 ng ABA g^–1 dry weight). No clear relationships between ABA concentration, DSI and SD were found. These results indicate the feasibility of a selection for ABA concentration within segregating populations derived from crosses between the inbred lines herein tested.Abbreviations ABA - abscisic acid - DSI - drought sensitivity index - DW - dry weight - SD - silk delay     

Genetic and statistical models for estimating genetic parameters of maize seedling resistance to Fusarium graminearum Schwabe root rot

Root lodging is an important problem in corn fields. Fungi recovered from roots include seedling blight and stalk rot pathogens. The objective of this work was to study the inheritance of maize seedling resistance to pathogens causing maize lodging. The Fusarium graminearum strain, 241 Fr1, was isolated from maize lodged plants and identified as the most pathogenic isolate for root rotting. Nine inbred lines of maize and their diallel F₁ crosses plus control genotypes were studied. Seedlings were inoculated at the stage of four-leaves. Disease severity was measured as percentage of the root rotted area. Highly significant differences between inoculated and non-inoculated genotypes were found. Four genetic models and two statistical approaches—the mixed model for the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) and the general linear model (GLM)—were used for the analysis. Favorable heterosis of resistance of hybrids over inbreds was the most important effect detected. The general combining ability (GCA) effects were significant for all genetic models and statistical methods studied, and a good agreement existed among the GCA estimates by the different methods. The type of gene action, either additive or dominance, showed a large variation among the parental inbreds and hybrids. Selection of additive effects based exclusively on inbred lines is not sufficient to confer resistance to hybrids, additional selection should be practiced on hybrids to look for favorable dominance effects. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Diallel analysis of sooty stripe resistance in sorghum

Sooty stripe [Ramulispora sorghi (Ellis and Everhart) Olive and Lefebre] is a widespread foliar disease of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in West Africa, responsible for grain yield losses up to 46%. We studied the inheritance of sooty stripe resistance in a 9 × 9 sorghum F₂-population diallel grown together with parent lines and checks in1996 under natural disease pressure at two locations in Mali. The percentage of infected leaf area was determined twice over a two-week interval during the season. At the second evaluation, the mean sooty stripe severity amounted to 13% infected leaf area at Samanko and 12% at Cinzana. The frequency distribution of the entries was approximately normal for the mean disease severity, averaged across assessment dates and locations, pointing to the involvement of multiple genes. With the data combined across the two locations, genetic differences among lines and among F₂ populations were highly significant. Genotype × location interaction variances were also significant but much smaller than the genetic variances. Broad-sense heritability estimates were 0.92 for lines and 0.94 for the F₂ populations, for the mean percentage infected leaf area across the two assessment dates. General combining ability effects (GCA) determined most of the differences among the F₂ populations. Specific combining ability effects (SCA), and the interactions of GCA or SCA with locations were also significant but less important. Line performance per se was highly correlated with GCA. Because of the high heritability and predominance of additive effects, prospects are good for the genetic improvement of resistance to sooty stripe in sorghum in Mali, using simple pedigree or recurrent selection procedures. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic variability of drought-avoidance root traits in the mini-core germplasm collection of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).

Extensive and deep root systems have been recognized as one of the most important traits for improving chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) productivity under progressively receding soil moisture conditions. However, available information on the range of variation for root traits is still limited. Genetic variability for the root traits was investigated using a cylinder culture system during two consecutive growth seasons in the mini-core germplasm collection of ICRISAT plus several wild relatives of chickpea. The largest genetic variability was observed at 35 days after sowing for root length density (RLD) (heritability, h ² = 0.51 and 0.54) across seasons, and followed by the ratio of plant dry weight to root length density with h ² of 0.37 and 0.50 for first and second season, respectively. The root growth of chickpea wild relatives was relatively poor compared to C. arietinum, except in case of C. reticulatum. An outstanding genotype, ICC 8261, which had the largest RLD and one of the deepest root system, was identified in chickpea mini-core germplasm collection. The accession ICC 4958 which was previously characterized as a source for drought avoidance in chickpea was confirmed as one with the most prolific and deep root system, although many superior accessions were also identified. The chickpea landraces collected from the Mediterranean and the west Asian region showed a significantly larger RLD than those from the south Asian region. In addition, the landraces originating from central Asia (former Soviet Union), characterized by arid agro-climatic conditions, also showed relatively larger RLD. As these regions are under-represented in the chickpea collection, they might be interesting areas for further germplasm exploration to identify new landraces with large RLD. The information on the genetic variability of chickpea root traits provides valuable baseline knowledge for further progress on the selection and breeding for drought avoidance root traits in chickpea.     

Heritability and genetic advance in recombinant inbred lines of tef (Eragrostis tef)

Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of the tef cross Kaye Murri × Fesho were evaluated for nine quantitative traits at three locations in the central highlands of Ethiopia during the 1998/99 main season in order to estimate the genetic coefficient of variation (GCV), heritability and genetic advance expected from selection. Highly significant differences were obtained among the RILs for all traits studied. Grain yield, panicle weight and yield per panicle showed a relatively high GCV (12–16%). A comparatively high heritability was obtained from days to heading (31%) followed by panicle length (25%) and grain yield (23%). Moderate amounts of heritability values were obtained for panicle weight and yield per panicle. High genetic advance as percent of the mean were obtained from grain yield (16%), yield per panicle (12%) and panicle weight (10%) at5% selection intensity, which indicated the possibility of improving these traits. Several RILs were identified that have exceeded the better yielding parent at all locations. Grain yield showed a strong positive association (r = 0.26–0.70) with shoot biomass, lodging index, panicle length, plant height, panicle weight and yield per panicle. Overall, the present results showed a) the availability of genetic variance for some useful traits in the RILs for exploitation through selection, b) the existence of significant genotype × location interaction that indicated the need to test inbred populations in more environments, and c)the availability of superior inbred lines for further breeding work. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.