Resistance to the glasshouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westw.) in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Summary Fourteen cultivars, one F₁-hybrid and one half-wild type (Cind) of sweet pepper were tested on resistance to glasshouse whitefly. Several mutually significant levels of resistance were found. Most resistant appeared to be California Wonder, Severka M, Korál and Yolo Wonder. During the test sweet pepper plants were infested both with whiteflies and their parasite — Encarsia formosa, which caused the blackening of whitefly puparia. The blackened puparia are easily seen, enabling an easier and more rapid evaluation of the number of puparia present.     

Low light intensity and flower bud abortion in Asiatic hybrid lilies. I. Genetic variation among cultivars and progenies of a diallel cross

Summary When Asiatic lilies are forced during the winter period, additional light is needed to prevent flower bud abscission and flower bud blasting. Growth room experiments showed considerable differences among eight lily cultivars in their response to low light. Among these cultivars, Connecticut King and Enchantment appeared to be the most sensitive to low light conditions while Uncle Sam and Scout were the least sensitive.Analysis of an incomplete diallel cross between nine cultivars showed significant differences in general combining ability (GCA) for flower bud abortion, number of buds, forcing time, plant height and leaf scorch under winter greenhouse conditions. Enchantment had the highest positive GCA for bud abortion, indicating a high sensitivity to low light conditions. Uncle Sam had the lowest GCA. Pirate and Scout appeared to have a high GCA for sensitivity to leaf scorch. Connecticut King was found to be a probable source of cytoplasmic male sterility. The data suggest that male sterility is associated with better response to low light conditions.     

Male-sterility in nigerian bulrush millets (Pennisetum americanum (L.) K. Schum)

Summary The occurrence of three male-sterile plants is reported. One in a population of ex-Bormu, an improved recommended variety of day-length neutral gero bulrush millet and the two others in the selfed progeny of a population of maiwa bulrush millet, a short-day photoperiod-sensitive type. Tests confirmed the cytoplasmic-genic nature of the male-sterility in the gero population. No tests could be conducted for maiwa.The transfer of male-sterility from the male-sterile Tift 23A bulrush millet, obtained from the United States, into a maiwa population is also reported. After six backcrosses the maiwa genotype appeared to have been reconstituted against the background of a male-sterility inducing cytoplasm. Maiwa male-sterility maintainer plants have also been identified.     

Diallel analysis of yield components of snap beans exposed to two temperature stress environments

Ten snap beans (Barrier, Brio, Carson, Cornell 502, CT 70, HB 1880, Hystyle, Labrador, Opus and Venture) were selected for differential temperature tolerance and used as parents in a complete diallel mating design. The 45 F₁ hybrid lines (with reciprocals) and parents were screened at 32 C day/28 C night, and in a separate experiment, 16 C day/10 C night, during reproductive development in replicated controlled environments. Variation for yield under temperature treatments was observed among parents and hybrids, with certain hybrids exceeding parental performance. Significant (P 0.0001) general combining ability (GCA), and significant (P 0.05) specific combining ability (SCA) were observed for yield components including pod number, seed number, and seeds per pod. There was evidence that pod number and seeds per pod under temperature stress are under separate genetic control. Reciprocal effects and heterosis were not significant. GCA could not be predicted from parental performance. The breeding line Cornell 502 had the highest GCA under high temperature, and the cultivar Brio had the highest GCA under low temperature. The cross Brio × Venture was high yielding in both temperature treatments. Heat tolerance and chilling tolerance were associated in certain parents and hybrids. However, performance under high and low temperature treatments was not generally correlated in the parents and hybrids, indicating that these traits should be selected separately.     

Genes for resistance to stripe rust in four spring wheat varieties

Summary The stripe rust resistant spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties Anza, Glennson 81, Ollanta, and Yecora Rojo gave 1,2,2, and 2-gene segregations, respectively, in hybrids with susceptible Jupateco 73 when inoculated in field conditions at Davis, California USA with Puccinia striiformis West. pathotype CDL-6 and rated at post-heading stage. Intercrosses of these varieties, Anza/Yecora Rojo was not studied, permitted the following conclusions about the genes expressed in adult plants: Anza, one recessive gene; Glennson 81, two dominant genes; Ollanta, two genes, at least one is dominant; and Yecora Rojo; one dominant and one recessive gene, one of which is common with Ollanta. The resistance genes in these varieties, which expressed resistance in the seedling stage, were believed to be effective at the adult stage. Thus, seven resistance genes were identified in the four varieties. The genotypes were designated for the purposes of this study as follows: Anza, YrA YrH; Glennson 81, Yr9, YrJ, Ollanta YrL YrD; and Yecora Rojo, YrC YrD. It was recommended that these and other Yr genes be used as multiple gene complexes to increase durability of resistance to P. striiformis, an organism known to evolve virulence rapidly in field conditions. The demonstrated durability of Anza in California may be a result of its combination of resistance alleles at two loci.     

Evaluation of maize varieties for their potential as breeding populations

Summary A 7-variety diallel of synthetic varieties that have not had selection for yield improvement and a 10-variety diallel of synthetic varieties that either resulted from recurrent selection for yield improvement or from the introgression of exotic germ plasm into adapted varieties were evaluated in six environments for yield and five other agronomic traits. The specific objective was to determine the relative potential of the synthetic varieties as germ plasm sources for breeding programs.Recurrent selection improved population yield in BSSS CO, BSK CO, and Alph CO in the varieties and also in crosses with other varieties. BSSS(R)C6 and BSSS(HT)C7 yielded 11.4% and 16.1% more than BSSS CO, and the variety crosses of BSSS(R)C6 and BSSS(HT)C7 yielded 21.6% and 22.0% more than the variety crosses of BSSS CO. Recurrent selection also improved stalk-lodging resistance for BSSS(R)C6 and BSSS(HT)C7, but root lodging for BSSS(HT)C7 was significantly higher. BS15 had 61.0% higher yields than Alph CO, with 9.3% less stalk lodging. Average heterosis of the 10-variety diallel was 1120 kg/ha (19.6%) and ranged from 800 kg/ha (13.7%) for BSK(S)C5 to 1770 kg/ha (39.4%) for BS12(HI)C5. The heterosis expressed among individual variety crosses ranged from 4.3% for BSK(S)C5 x BSTE(FR)C1 to 37.6% for BSSS(R)C6 x BS12(HI)C5, which approached the yield of the two highest yielding single-cross checks.In the 7-variety diallel of unselected varieties, BSTE CO and Late Rootworm Synthetic were superior as varieties and in crosses for yield and stalk quality. Average heterosis for the 7-variety diallel was 950 kg/ha (18.5%). Stalk lodging was important in the performance of varieties with poor stalk quality.Although recurrent selection improved yield, development of superior breeding populations also will require selection for general agronomic performance. The performance of BS16 and the yields of BSTL and Teozea and their crosses suggest that exotic germ plasm should receive greater attention.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Journal Paper No. J-8096 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa 50010. Project No. 1897.     

Resistance to potato virus Y (pathotype 1–2) in Capsicum annuum and Capsicum chinense is controlled by two independent major genes

Summary The genetic basis of the resistance to a pepper strain of potato virus Y (PVY pathotype 1–2) was investigated in two lines: Capsicum annuum Criollo de Morellos 334 and Capsicum chinense PI 159236. F1, backcrosses, and F2 populations were produced using C. annuum Magda as the susceptible parent. Segregation ratios indicated that the resistance in C. annuum Criollo de Morellos 334 is governed by a nuclear, single dominant gene with a very high but incomplete penetrance. On the other hand, the resistant response of C. chinense PI 159236 is associated with the presence of a major recessive gene with an apparently complete penetrance. The failure in recovering or detecting PVY from/in the inoculated leaves of both resistant genotypes is strongly suggestive that both genes are acting by preventing the multiplication of the virus in the leaf tissue. Both mechanisms of resistance closely resemble either an operational immunity or a single-cell hypersensitive reaction to PVY pathotype 1–2. The name Ry 1–2 is suggested for the resistance gene from Criollo de Morellos 334. The gene for resistance to PVY pathotype 1–2 identified in C. chinense PI 159236 may be the same designated et ^c1, which is mentioned to be allelic to the et ^av locus. The phenotypic expression of the et ^av gene was characterized in C. annuum Avelar as a tolerant but not immune or hypersensitive reaction against some potyviruses in Florida. These data suggest that a critical reexamination of the allelic relationships at the locus et should be performed.     

Inheritance of pod cross-section in beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary OSU 5062, a green bean line with a tendency for pods to become creasebacked (wider than deep) in cross-section, was crossed to near-round-podded cultivars Oregon 83 and Slenderette, oval-podded Bountiful, and flat-podded Roma, to further clarify the inheritance of pod cross-section. Differences among generations in pod cross-section index (PCS), calculated as pod width/depth, were small in the near-round x creaseback crosses (1.07 and 1.01 for Oregon 83 and Slenderette versus 1.20 for OSU 5062). Bountiful (0.63) and Roma (0.50) differed to a greater extent from 5062. Generation means of individual plant PCS of the F₁ and F₂ were almost identical, were almost exactly intermediate between parents, and strongly supported additive inheritance. Backcross data generally supported additive inheritance, but in some cases indicated degrees of dominance of higher PCS. A generation means analysis indicated additive gene action, but deviations from an additive-dominance model were significant in each cross.     

Chromosomal location of genes controlling 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase,glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutamate dehydrogenase isozymes in cultivated rye

Summary The 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) zymogram phenotypes of wheat, rye and their aneuploid derivates were determined. At least three genes involved in the production of 6-PGD isozymes were located on chromosome arms 4RL, 6RL and 2RL of Imperial rye, King II rye and Dakold rye. Evidence was obtained that at least one gene located on chromosome arm 5RS controls G-6-PD isozyme activities in these varieties of rye and one gene involved in the production of GDH isozymes was located on chromosome arm 2RS of Imperial, King II and Dakold rye. The results indicate that the 6-PGD isozymes exist as dimers and monomers. No possible structure of the G-6-PD and GDH could be determined.     

Lilium x ‘Black Beauty’—a potential bridging hybrid in Lilium

Summary Lilium Black Beauty, a rare intersectional hybrid previously reported sterile, was re-examined for pollen and ovule fertility. No pollen tubes were detected following incubation of styles pollinated with Black Beauty pollen. However, embryos varying in size from small globular to long boat-shaped and only rarely associated with endosperm, were found in 0.1–1.0% of the ovules in Black Beauty pistils pollinated with Oriental or Aurelian division lilies. Aseptic extraction and culture of these embryos on a nutritive medium resulted in growth, germination, and plantlets. It is apparent that with embryo culture, Black Beauty has unique value as a species bridge in that it accepts pollen of both Oriental and Aurelian lilies, two of the major commercial lily divisions.Scientific Journal Series Paper Number 9197 of the Minnesota Agricultural Experimental Station.     

On the chimeral nature of the Shamouti orange

Summary Evidence that Shamouti orange is a periclinal chimera has been obtained as all nucellar seedlings from two Shamouti trees, yielded only Beledi type fruit. All nucellars from another Shamouti tree bore only Shamouti type fruit, thus indicating a homohistont condition in another tree source.     

Inheritance of firmness in raw cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) fruit

Summary Inheritance of raw cucumber fruit texture (Magness-Taylor Fruit Pressure Tester firmness) was investigated over a 4-year period from 1971–1974. Results from 2 separate but related experiments suggested that firmness was quantitatively inherited with sufficient additive effects to permit gain from selection. In a selection study within 4 F₂ populations derived from crosses between firm (Chipper and Gy3) and soft (Mincu and Green F) fruit type cultivars, variation among and within F₃ and F₄ families was significant but overall family means were not significantly higher than the high parent in any of the 4 crosses. Narrow sense heritability estimates for fruit texture were 0.80 in the Mincu × Chipper population and 0.77 in the Green F × Chipper, Mincu × Gy3, and Gy3 × Green F crosses. In a separate experiment, generation means analysis was used to assess the mode of gene action in 2 crosses: Green F × Chipper, and Gy3 × Green F. Additive genetic effects accounted for 98.8% and 99.3% of the total genetic variation within each cross, respectively.Scientific Journal Series Paper No. 9794.     

The inheritance and association of resistance to rust,common bacterial blight,plant habit and foliar abnormalities in Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Summary No antagonistic or synergistic interaction was found between isolates of Uromyces appendiculatus var. appendiculatus and Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli when inoculated to the same plant. A single dominant gene was suggested to control resistance to three isolates of rust in the crosses Pompadour Checa × Chichara and Pompadour Checa × NE W-4. A two-gene model was confirmed for the reaction to the three rust isolates for the crosses Pompadour Checa × GN Tara and Pompadour Checa × San Cristobal; a dominant (Ur _p) gene determined resistance and was epistastic to a dominant gene (Ur _t) for susceptibility. (Ur _t) was expressed only in the presence of recessive (ur _p) alleles. The reaction to common bacterial blight was quantitatively inherited and an association was detected with plant habit but not with rust reaction and leaf variegation. Plants with leaf variegation and crippled growth, were detected in the progeny of the cross Pompadour Checa × GN Tara and were controlled by duplicate recessive genes (mutatorunstable genes) and three genes, acting additively, respectively. The developmental expression of the latter trait varied considerably. Linkage was detected between genes controlling the variegated and the crippling traits.Published as Paper No. 7839, Journal Series, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station. Research was conducted under project No. 20-036.     

Resistance to Corynebacterium michiganense in tomato genotypes

Summary The highest level of resistance to Corynebacterium michiganense was found in Irat L3 and Okitsu Sozai 1–20. Resistance was partial and symptomless plants proved to be carriers of the disease. The resistance is at least partially based on a diminished multiplication of the pathogen in the host plant.     

Partial self-compatibility in ‘Tombul’ and ‘Montebello’ hazelnuts

Summary Self-pollination of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) cultivars in 1988 and 1990 revealed the existence of partial self-compatibility in Tombul and Montebello. Percent cluster set in these cultivars averaged 44 and 20%, respectively, but was less than 10% in 8 other cultivars investigated. Percent cluster set from pollination with Segorbe averaged 62 and 41% in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Self-pollination produced 40% fewer nuts per cluster and twice as many blanks as cross-pollination. All cultivars and selections have an active sporophytic incompatibility system.Evaluation of self-compatibility in seedlings from the cross Montebello × Compton revealed that the partial self-compatibility of the maternal parent was transmitted to some of the progeny. Self-pollination resulted in greater than 10% cluster set in two selections, OSU 41.134 and OSU 43.025, in both years, but only in 1988 in OSU 42.089 and Willamette. Three other selections had very low set in both years. Results of incompatible crosses with standard testers were generally in agreement with those of self-pollination, except that the S₂ tester induced greater set on 3 genotypes in 1988 and the S1 tester on 2 genotypes in 1990 than self-pollination. The partial self-compatibility of Montebello, OSU 41.134, and OSU 43.025 appears to be due to a failure of their stigmas to prohibit pollen tube growth in incompatible crosses. There is no evidence of a pollen-part mutation in Montebello, nor is there evidence that partial self-compatibility is due to the interaction of S-alleles, as Barcelona, which has the same alleles as these three genotypes, failed to set nuts in all incompatible crosses.     

Inheritance of seed coat colour in broad bean (Vicia faba L.)

Summary The inheritance of the seed coat colours violet, spotted, brown, green, red, black and beige was investigated in a 10×10 diallel cross between broad bean (Vicia faba L. major) lines. Spotted seed colour was dominant over any uniform seed coat colouring. Brown was dominant over black, green and normal (beige colour). Black and red seed parents behaved as recessive in all F₁ progenies. A 3 (coloured): 1 (normal) segregation ratio was observed in the F₂ of crosses of violet, brown, black, red and spotted seed coat parents to nornal seed coloured parents. Green x beige gave a segregation ratio of 9:7 in F₂. When two parents with different seed coat colour were involved in a cross, the F₂ showed a typical digenic segregation ratio thus demonstrating two unlinked and sometimes epistatic loci.Segregation of a multiallelic series at two loci explains all segregation ratios observed for seed coat colour in broad bean.     

Effects of nucleus,cytoplasm and male sterile nucleus-cytoplasm combinations on callus initiation in anther culture of wheat

Summary Nuclear and cytoplasmic factors affect tissue culture response in wheat (Triticum aestivum), and cytoplasmic male sterility may enhance callus initiation in anther culture. Three wheat nuclear genotypes, each in normal and two alien cytoplasms conferring cytoplasmic male sterility, were evaluated for callus initiation frequency in anther culture. Nuclear genotype had the greatest effect on callus initiation, but cytoplasm and nucleus X cytoplasm interaction also produced significant effects. The nuclear genotype of Chris outperformed Butte and Coteau in all cytoplasms. Ordinary wheat and Triticum timopheevi cytoplasms outperformed Aegilops speltoides cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic male sterility did not increase callus initiation. This suggests manipulating the nuclear genotype is the best strategy for improving the capacity of wheat to initiate callus in anther culture.     

Identifying flavour targets for fruit breeding: A kiwifruit example

The current study illustrates that fruit breeding should not only target elite fruit that are significantly more liked than existing cultivars, but also target special unique fruit that create major new flavour niches. Breeding targets can be identified in terms of consumer preferences for new and defined flavours. A trained panel was used to assess the flavours of a wide range of kiwifruit, and these characteristics were systematically arranged into flavour and odour wheels. These wheels describe some of the diversity found within the kiwifruit germplasm. Next, consumers from Japan and New Zealand rated their overall liking of fruit from each of 10 genotypes. Consumer preference mapping was used to explore the relationships between consumer liking and flavour. Cluster analysis was used to explore the diverse responses consumers may have to the same fruit. Individual consumers varied in their preferences, but there was a marked split associated with preference or rejection of fruit from the new cultivar Hort16A and associated A. chinensis genotypes. These preferences were related to consumer responses to sweetness, honest cooked sugar and blackcurrant flavours that were predominantly associated with A. chinensis genotypes, and absent in previous commercial kiwifruit cultivars. The first significant export of Hort16A fruit occurred in 1998. Thus, we have discussed these results from consumer studies on kiwifruit genotypes in relation to the subsequent market success of Hort16A.     

Inheritance of resistance to powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei) in eleven primitive barley varieties

The inheritance of the powdery mildew resistance of eleven primitive barley varieties was investigated. crosses with varieties with identified resistance genes revealed that at least three different genes are present in a group of six genotypes from Greece (Hor736, Hor847, Hor878, Hor1159, Hor1379 and Hor1873) and one from Turkey (Hor1188). One dominant gene is common to these seve genotypes and in the Greek accessions a second gene is present. The expression of this second gene was respectively dominant in the crosses with Hor736 and Hor1159, recessive in the crosses with Hor878 and Hor1873, and depended on the employed powdery mildew isolate in the crosses with Hor847 and Hor1379. The detected genes differ from the resistance genes of the crossing partners, viz. Ml-al2, Ml-(Ab), Ml-(CP) and Ml-(1402). The accessions from China (Hor824 and Hor4021) each possess two resistance genes which differ from Ml-a12, Ml-(La) and Ml-(CP). The major gene is common to both accessions and is either identical, allelic or closely linked to a gene in the variety Nigrate. The Columbian accession Hor1894 possesses one resistance gene linked to a resistance gene in Nigrate but this gene differs from the Ml-a locus. The variety Palestine (Hor3997) possesses two resistance genes of which one is allelic or closely linked to Ml-(at).     

Genetics of resistance to five strains of turnip mosaic virus in Chinese cabbage

Summary Inheritance of resistance to turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) strains C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5 in Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris subsp. pekinensis) was evaluated using monoclonal antibodies. Crosses were made between a resistant line, 0–2, and four susceptible line. Seoul (SE),SSD31 (SS), Cheongbang (CH), and Yaki 1 ho (YA), to determine the inheritance of resistance of 0–2 in different genetic backgrounds. Resistance to TuMV was controlled by a single dominant gene or double dominant genes depending on the strain and cross. The resistance genes of 0–2 were modified by susceptible parents such that a single dominant gene was involved in the SS×0–2 combination, but double dominant genes in the SE×0–2 against TuMV-C3 or TuMV-C5. ELISA tests using inoculated and noninoculated leaves in the same plant suggested that the dominant resistance genes inhibit virus movement rather than virus multiplication.