Screening for resistance to big-vein disease of lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

A methods was developed for screening of breeding populations and evaluation of genotypes of lettuce for resistance to big vein. First and rapid screening of plant populations or large numbers of genotypes was in greenhouse trials by inoculation of the substrate in which the seedlings to be tested were grown with viruliferous zoospores of Olpidium brassicae. Further testing with limited numbers of genotypes was in container tests, using dry soil with viruliferous resting spores as inoculum. No single criterion or simple and early parameter was found to represent fully the final effect of the disease on yield and quality at the time of harvest. Effect on head weight was not correlated with disease incidence or sympton severity. The final effect on promising lines and cultivars could only be studied in field experiments after zoospore inoculation of seedlings in the greenhouse or on naturally infested soil. All 55 lettuce genotypes tested, including American ‘resistant’ crisphead cultivars and breeding lines, developed symptoms of big vein in either test, but there were considerable differences in length of incubation time, sensitivity, and capacity to recover from disease. Loss of head weight was considerable in all nine genotypes tested for yield reduction after early inoculation, and for the crisphead cultivars also after late inoculation. Cos lettuce ‘Lobjoit's Green’ and ‘grasse’ lettuce ‘Little Gem’ are promising parental genotypes for breeding for resistance, as are two entries of Lactuca virosa.     

Relationship between leaf injury and colonization of cabbage by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Mechanical and insect feeding injuries of cabbage provided sites for ingress by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. In field studies, injuries sustained by hitting cabbage heads with a blunt object penetrated several leaf layers and were readily infected by S. sclerotiorum. Incidence of Sclerotinia rot ranged from 15 to 36% infected plants in the hitting treatment. Disease incidence was low (0–5%) when wounds were created by allowing lepidopterous larvae (the imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae L., the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L., and the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni Hubner) to feed on cabbage leaves. The incidence of colonization of lepidopterous larvae feeding sites by S. sclerotiorum was greater in greenhouse studies (5–60% infected feeding sites) than in field studies. In greenhouse studies, disease incidence was significantly greater in plants receiving hitting injuries than tearing injuries. There was little evidence of inoculation day or injury day effects. Colonization frequency of tissue injured mechanically was similar whether wounds were inoculated immediately or 4 days later. Plants that were incubated in a dry environment developed fewer infections than plants held in a moist environment. Inoculated plants that were not injured did not develop disease.     

Susceptibility of potato varieties and advanced breeding lines (Solanum tuberosum L.) toPhytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary in greenhouse screenings

Late blight (Phytophthora infestons (Mont.) de Bary) has re-emerged as an important pathogen of the cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum subsp.tubero-sum L.) in North America. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative susceptibility of potato germplasm in the greenhouse in order to initiate a breeding program for resistance to the US-8/A2 mating type which is the more aggressive and prevalent strain of late blight. Whole plants of 147 cultivars and breeding lines were evaluated. Percent plant area infection was visually assessed. Seven days after inoculation, infection ranged from 0 to 100% and the overall mean was greater than 50%. Two-thirds of the cultivars and breeding lines tested were very susceptible to the US-8 genotype. The highest resistance was identified in the somatic hybrids betweenS. tuberosum andS. bulbocastanum and their backcross derivatives. Pike and Snowden were less susceptible than the other North American cultivars. Zarevo was most resistant among the European cultivars. Seven of the advanced breeding lines were equivalent to Zarevo in infection levels. The host plant resistance identified among the material tested in this study can be used by breeding programs to develop improved cultivars with resistance to US-8 genotypes of late blight.     

Susceptibility of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) foliage and tubers to the US8 genotype ofPhytophthora infestans

Late blight is an important disease of potato(Solanum tuberosum L.) worldwide, and therefore, many potato-breeding programs have prioritized the development of late blight-resistant potato cultivars. Although the emphasis has been to enhance foliar resistance, it is also necessary to evaluate tuber late blight resistance in new breeding lines and new sources of late blight resistance. We report here on the assessment of foliar and tuber resistance and the correlation between these aspects of resistance in a sample of Michigan State University potato breeding lines. Two MSU breeding lines had significantly less infected foliage than the susceptible check cultivars. Tuber susceptibility was significantly different (P < 0.05) only between the most susceptible and the least susceptible breeding lines/cultivars. Foliar and tuber susceptibility to potato late blight were not correlated as low tuber susceptibility was associated both with extremely low (e.g., MSG274-3) and high (e.g., MSE202-3Rus) foliar susceptibility.     

Yield stability of faba bean lines under diverse broomrape prone production environments

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is one of the important pulse crops grown in many parts of the world. Its production and productivity are affected by different biotic and abiotic stresses. Broomrape (Orobanche and Phelipanche spp.) causes yield losses of 7- 80% in major faba bean growing countries mainly in the Mediterranean Basin and Nile Valley countries. Host plant resistance is found to be the most effective and economic method of broomrape control. Efforts made at the International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas over many years to develop advanced breeding lines with acceptable resistance and tolerance levels to broomrape have resulted in the identification of several useful breeding lines. These lines were shared with National Agricultural Research Systems (Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia and Portugal) as part of the Faba Bean Orobanche International Nursery, in order to test their stability across three seasons (2005, 2006 and 2007). The results showed that Orobanche plant number, dry weight, Orobanche index, flowering date, maturing date and grain yield were significantly different among lines and locations. AMMI analysis showed that some lines derived from hybrid bulk populations “HBP/DS0/2000” and “HBP/ES0/2000” showed acceptable levels of yield stability in the presence of Orobanche infections across all environments compared with susceptible check. In highly infested soils, the tolerant and resistant lines gave acceptable levels of yield compared with the susceptible check. However, the yield potential of resistant and tolerant lines in non-infested soils was lower than the highly susceptible check.     

二斑叶螨为害前后抗、感木薯转录组分析及水杨酸、茉莉酸途径差异表达基因验证

本研究通过比较二斑叶螨为害前后抗、感螨木薯品种转录组差异,筛选差异表达基因,并采用qPCR验证水杨酸、茉莉酸信号途径基因的差异表达。转录组分析结果表明,与螨害前相比,螨害1、8 d后,抗螨木薯品种C1115的差异表达基因为589、587个,感螨木薯品种BRA900的差异表达基因为1271、930个,C1115相对于BRA900的差异表达基因分别为383、251个。GO和KEGG富集分析发现这些差异表达基因主要显著集中在次生代谢物质合成、苯丙烷生物合成、类黄酮生物合成和氧化还原反应等过程。qPCR验证结果显示,二斑叶螨为害后,抗螨参照标准木薯品种C1115的水杨酸信号途径基因PAL2、4CL3、WRKY7和NPR3的表达量较为害前呈现先显著提高后降低的趋势,而感螨参照标准木薯品种BRA900中上述4个基因的表达始终维持在显著高于为害前的水平。受螨害后抗螨木薯C1115中茉莉酸信号途径基因JAR1、LOX2和OPR11的表达量也较为害前显著提高,而感螨木薯BRA900中这3个基因的表达量则降低至显著低于螨害前的水平,qPCR验证结果和转录组分析结果相一致。本研究结果表明,抗螨木薯品种C1115受螨害后能够同时激活水杨酸、茉莉酸信号途径以抵御二斑叶螨为害,为深入阐明木薯抗螨分子机理,选育和创制抗螨木薯品种提供了理论参考依据。     

Impact of varietal resistance in rice and predation on the mortality of Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (Homoptera: Delphacidae)

Highly resistant, resistant and susceptible rice cultivars were tested in the greenhouse to determine their effect on Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) populations. The highly resistant cultivar IR2035-117-3, with resistance genes Wbph 1 and Wbph 2, caused the highest S. furcifera mortality. When the effects of varietal resistance and predation were combined the increase in mortality due to predators was additive. The spider Lycosa pseudoannulata Boes. et Str., mirid bug Cytorhinus lividipennis Reuter, ladybird beetle Harmonia octomaculata (F.) and rove beetle Paederus fuscipes Curt. were effective predators of S. furcifera and generally caused 30% mortality on the various cultivars. Results indicate that the integration of varietal resistance and predation would provide effective control of S. furcifera populations under field conditions.     

Field study of the interaction between Orobanche crenata Forsk. and some new lines of Vicia faba L. in Egypt

In Egypt, some newly derived lines of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) as well as Giza 402, all of which had shown a certain resistance against the parasitic weed Orobanche crenata Forsk., were tested in the field. For reasons of comparison, the susceptible cultivars Giza 3 and Reina Blanca were included in this test. Faba bean plants and Orobanche attachments were regularly harvested and examined. The susceptible cultivars completely collapsed before the end of the growing season, whereas others, particularly line 402/294, remained alive until pod formation was completed. It appeared that fewer Orobanche spikes emerged on the new lines and Giza 402. Evidence is given that this was not due to avoidance mechanisms, such as smaller root mass, a deeper root system or lack of germination stimulants. Numbers of Orobanche attachments per unit of lateral root length were found to be low. Hence, it could be concluded that these lines are partially resistant; this resistance must be due to some defence mechanism in their roots. The few Orobanche plants attached grew very fast so that final Orobanche dry weight was similar in resistant and susceptible host plants. Further experiments, including broomrape-free controls, are required to study whether some tolerance mechanism might be involved.     

Achievements and future directions of sunflower breeding

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is among the most important oil crops in the world. Due to its low to moderate production requirements, high oil quality, protein content, and utilization of all plant parts, it is grown on about 14 million ha. The major sunflower-producing countries in the world are the Soviet Union, Argentina, China, the United States, France, Spain, Romania, Turkey and Hungary. Sunflower became an oil crop around the end of the 19th century, when ‘popular selection’ was practiced in several parts of Russia to improve sunflower populations grown at that time.

The most important contributions to the development of sunflower were made by Pustovoit and Jdanov in the Soviet Union, who increased the oil concentration in sunflower seed above 500 g kg⁻¹. Leclercq of France discovered the first usable sourccytoplasmic male sterility in a cross H. petiolaris Nutt. × H. annuus L. and Kinman of the United States developed fertility restorer lines RHA 265 and RHA 266 which allowed practical development of sunflower hybrids.

When starting a breeding program, it is useful to design a model of the desired hybrid and then strive to develop the envisaged model as closely as possible. It is also advisable to direct breeding efforts toward a limited number of economically important traits. These should include: (1) components of seed and oil yield: the number of seeds per plant, test weight, 1000-seed weight, low husk content and high oil concentration in the seed; (2) architecture of the sunflower plant: plant height, head size and shape, angle of the head, leaf area and leaf canopy; (3) increased harvest index: oil quality, protein concentration and quality, early maturation, short stem and uniform height; and (4) resistance to diseases and drought using wild sunflower species.

Mass selection, a method of selecting desirable plants from a population on the basis of phenotypic traits, is still in effective method in sunflower breeding. Recurrent selection appears to be a promising method of increasing the frequency of desirable genotypes in a source population.

Genetic variability of the cultivated sunflower may be increased by interspecific hybridization with wild sunflower species. The inclusion of wild species programs is difficult because of differences in chromosome number (2n, 4n, 6n) and incompatibility. These obstacles have been overcome by embryo culture and other tissue culture techniques. Generally, the use of new technologies in sunflower breeding is imperative, particularly in regard to the introduction of resistance genes to diseases and insect pests.     

Use of UV reflective mulch to delay the colonization and reduce the severity of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) infestations in cucurbits

Effectiveness of UV reflective plastic mulch for the management of silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring) was evaluated in selected cucurbits. The reflective mulch repelled silverleaf whitefly adults in pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo L.). Reduced colonization by B. argentifolii adults resulted in reduced populations of nymphs and a delay and reduction in the incidence of silverleaf in pumpkin and zucchini squash. Reflective mulch was as effective in reducing nymphal B. argentifolii populations as was a pre-plant soil application of imidacloprid. Zucchini squash, pumpkin and cucumber yields were significantly higher in plants grown over reflective mulch than in those grown over unmulched soil. Zucchini squash yields from plants grown over reflective mulch also were higher than from plants grown in plots receiving a pre-plant application of imidacloprid. This study confirmed that UV reflective plastic mulch can be used to manage B. argentifolii and the mulches give protection equal to that provided by imidacloprid.     

Preventing spread of Fusarium wilt of Hiemalis begonias in the greenhouse

To develop strategies to manage Fusarium wilt of Hiemalis begonias (Begonia×Hiemalis), caused by Fusarium foetens, studies were conducted to understand how the disease might be spread in the greenhouse. Inoculum density studies showed that as few as 100 conidial ml⁻¹ were sufficient to cause significant disease indicating that shared irrigation systems need strict sanitation along with bench tops, pots, and trays. The role of fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.) in vectoring F. foetens within a greenhouse was studied using nylon tent cages with diseased and healthy Hiemalis begonias. Fungus gnats were released into half of the cages. In cages where fungus gnats were present only healthy plants became diseased, indicating the effectiveness of fungus gnats in spreading Fusarium wilt. The pathogen was also isolated from adult fungus gnats. In vitro studies showed that two commercially available H₂O₂-based compounds, ZeroTol^® (2.0% peroxyacetic acid and 27.0% hydrogen peroxide), and SaniDate^® (12.0% peroxyacetic acid and 18.5% hydrogen peroxide), were effective in causing 100% spore mortality at rates that would allow their use in irrigation water. Seven cultivars of Hiemalis begonias (Begonia×Hiemalis) grown in soil infested with F. foetens were highly susceptible. No other Begonia species showed typical symptoms of chlorosis and wilt, but two cultivars of Rex begonia (Begonia rex) exhibited significant stunting in repeated trials.     

Effects of an insect–nematode–fungus pest complex on grain yield and composition of specialty low linolenic acid soybean

Linolenic acid is a precursor to components in plant defense responses to pests and pathogens. Soybean cultivars with altered seed linolenic acid contents have been developed for improved oil qualities, specifically reduced fatty acid content with increased stability. We examined how three common soybean pests, the soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines), brown stem rot (BSR) caused by Cadophora gregata and the soybean aphid (SBA; Aphis glycines), affect yield and seed linolenic acid percentage of low linolenic acid cultivars. In a micro-plot field experiment, soybean cultivars with varying concentrations of linolenic acid in the seed (ultra-low or low) and resistance to SCN (susceptible or resistant) were grown at a central Iowa research farm. Plots were kept free of pests (control) or artificially infested with a single pest (SCN, BSR or SBA) or the combination of all three pests (multiple pest). The use of resistant cultivars (SCN and BSR) or an insecticide at an economic threshold (SBA) was analyzed to determine the efficacy of current management recommendations for low linolenic acid soybean production. Seed was collected at the end of the season to measure yield and grain composition. All three pests alone or in combination were capable of reducing yield, but only the three pests in combination were capable of affecting seed linolenic acid percentages, increasing linolenic acid percentages by 11.7% in SCN-susceptible cultivars. For all three pests, current management recommendations (resistant cultivars or economic thresholds) provided protection of both yield and grain composition, indicating no changes in management are necessary for altered linolenic acid soybean cultivars.     

Bacillus thuringiensis insecticides in crop protection — reality and prospects

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has been the leading biopesticide against lepidopterous pests since 1959. In the 1990 s the following developments contributed to increased rational uses of Bt: (1) natural and recombinant Bt products were developed to broaden the insect host range in pest management programs; (2) new formulations based on conventional or genetically engineered encapsulation of the toxins and/or feeding stimulants to increase ingestion and, in turn, the efficacy of the microbe; (3) screening of the interactions of Bt with insect herbivores and plant allelochemicals or natural enemies of the pests, to aid the formulation of biological control strategies; and (4) knowledge and management of insect resistance to Bt. The prospects for Bt insecticides will be described and discussed.     

Evaluation in pot and field trials of resistance of potato cultivars and breeding lines to common scab caused byStreptomyces scabies

Summary The resistance to common scab of nine cultivars and eight advanced breeding lines of potatoes, fiveSolanum andigenum Juz. et Buk. clones, and three potato breeding lines selected for resistance to common scab, was investigated in a field and a pot trial. In the pot trial potaroes were planted in inoculated coarse river sand in plastic pots (150 mm in diameter) placed on irrigated subsoil in a glassfibre house. In a field trial potatoes were planted in an artificially infested field. The harvested tubers were scored individually for scab incidence according to two scales, viz. a 1–5 point scale for percentage surface covered with scab and a 1–3 point scale for lesion type. A scab index value was calculated for each tuber. A significant correlation coefficient of 0.82 was obtained for the results of the two tests.     

Study of some resistance mechanisms to Orobanche spp. infestation in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) breeding lines in Tunisia

The behavior of seven faba bean breeding lines toward Orobanche foetida and Orobanche crenata infestation was examined under field, pots, and in vitro conditions and compared to reference cultivars. The breeding lines presented resistance reaction to Orobanche spp. in different experiment conditions. In infested field by O. foetida, the grain yield reduction ranged from 55.7 to 83% for the breeding lines compared to 97% for the susceptible cultivar Badï. Lines L6 and L7 were the less affected by Orobanche parasitism considering severity, number of emerged Orobanche, and yield. In pots, the number of attachments varied from .6 to 3.4 and from 1.4 to 6.4 for the breeding lines against 10.4 and 12.3 for Badï inoculated, respectively, by O. foetida and O. crenata. In Petri dish experiment, Orobanche germination reached the highest rates; 69.9 and 59.7%, respectively, with O. crenata and O. foetida for Badï. For the breeding lines, it ranged from 6.3 to 44.9% for O. crenata and from 4.8 to 40.8% for O. foetida. Moreover, all breeding lines showed low tubercles number and delay in Orobanche attachments as compared to Badï. All breeding lines, except L5, maintained an acceptable level of resistance to Orobanche species manifested by a reduced Orobanche germination rate, low Orobanche number and dry weight, delay of attachments, and higher grain production compared to Badï. L5 seems to be less resistant even it behaves better than Badï in different culture conditions. The studied breeding lines could be recommended as resistance sources or candidates for varieties registrations.     

8个绣球品种耐热性综合评价与耐热指标筛选

夏季高温已成为制约绣球引种与园林应用的首要限制因子,为构建绣球品种耐热性评价体系并筛选耐热品种,本研究以8个绣球品种为材料,对其高温半致死温度（HLT₅₀）及其高温胁迫下热害指数（HII）进行观测,通过测定44 ℃/33 ℃（昼/夜）高温胁迫6 d后的14项生理生化指标,采用多元统计分析方法对其耐热性进行综合评价。结果表明：通过主成分分析法将原有14项指标转化为4个彼此独立的综合指标,利用隶属函数法得到各品种的综合评价值（D值）,通过聚类分析将8个绣球品种分为3个类群,耐热型包括‘花手鞠’与‘头花’;中等耐热型包括‘爱莎’‘含羞叶’‘小町’和‘纱织小姐’;不耐热型包括‘银边’与‘灵感’。在此基础上采用逐步回归法建立了以游离脯氨酸（Pro）含量、叶绿素（Chla+Chlb）含量、类胡萝卜素（Car）含量、叶绿素a/b值（Chla/Chlb）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性、相对含水量（RWC）与可溶性糖（SS）含量7个指标为变量的耐热性评价模型。此外,HLT₅₀与HII也可作为鉴定绣球品种耐热性的可靠方法。本研究可为绣球品种在南方城乡园林中的应用推广以及耐热型绣球品种选育提供理论依据。     

Germplasm Innovation of Heat Tolerance in Rice for Irrigated Lowland Conditions in the Philippines

Heat-tolerant varieties, such as N22 and Dular, which were used in this study, usually have low yield potential and undesirable plant characteristics but combining them with high yielding and improved rice varieties, new heat-tolerant rice genotypes with high yield potential can be achieved. In this study, phenotyping and selecting desirable materials from various crosses were performed under high temperature conditions during the reproductive stage. Screening was performed in the field and glasshouse to select individuals with heat tolerance and high yield potential. Several advanced breeding lines from Gayabyeo/N22 cross produced desirable individuals with heat tolerance, resistance to pests and diseases, and high yield potential. The genetic variation in percent sterility among the selected backcross populations grown in high temperature environments showed that large number of plants can be identified and selected with lower percent sterility.     

New genes for resistance to green leafhopper, Nephotettix virescens (distant) in rice, Oryza sativa L.

The inheritance of resistance to the green leafhopper, Nephotettix virescens (Distant) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), in 12 cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was studied at Joydebpur, Bangladesh. The resistance of Kosatawee is governed by a single recessive gene. The remaining 11 varieties possess single dominant genes for resistance, which are different from the genes Glh 1, Glh 2, Glh 3 and Glh 5. The single dominant genes conveying resistance in TAPL 796, Ptb 18 and IR36 are allelic to each other but are non-allelic to the dominant resistance gene of Maddai Karuppan. The resistance genes in TAPL 796 and Maddai Karuppan were designated Glh 6 and Glh 7 respectively. The dominant resistance gene in Sulai is independent of Glh 6, but its allelic relationship to Glh 7 is not known. The allelic relationships of the dominant genes for resistance of Sulai, TAPL 628, TAPL 651, Leu-Wei-Theu, Bir-co-se-mao-17, Gu-win-gu-gi-goo, and Dikwee to Glh 6 and Glh 7 need to be investigated.     

Number of Pollen Grains in Rice Cultivars with Different Cool-Weather Resistance at the Young Microspore Stage

Abstract

The difference in the number of pollen grains may be the primary factor determining the resistance to cool weather at the young microspore stage in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars. To confirm this hypothesis, we compared the number of pollen grains among the cultivars or lines with various cool-weather resistance. The cultivars or lines used in the experiments were mainly released or grown in the Tohoku district (the northern part of the mainland of Japan). The number of pollen grains showed high correlation with the degree of cool-weather resistance, but considerably varied with the cultivar or line, even in the group having the same cool-weather resistance. Each group with different cool-weather resistance was divided into two subgroups, implying the existence of another genetic factor determining the resistance. The number of pollen grains in the plants cooled at the young microspore stage showed higher correlation with the degree of the cool-weather resistance than that in the control plants without exposure to low temperature. The correlation between the pollen number and spikelet sterility was also analyzed using the data of Satake and Shibata (1992, Jpn. J. Crop Sci. 61 :454–462), who primarily used the cultivars in Hokkaido (the northernmost island of Japan). The results were basically the same as those obtained in the present experiments. These results confirmed the hypothesis that the variation in the number of pollen grains is a primary factor of the resistance to cool weather at the booting stage in the cultivars in the northern part of Japan. The results also suggested the existence of another genetic factor determining the resistance.     

大豆种质资源对菌核病的抗性鉴定研究

１９９１－１９９３年，在黑龙江省大豆菌核病发生较重的嫩江地区，选择国营农场九三管理局山河农场作为试验基点。在疫区自然感病条件下，评价了８００多份大豆种质资源对菌核病的相对抗性。在年发病率分别为１２．１％、２８．１％和２１．３％的条件下，编号为９１号、１３９号、３０号等９份大豆种质材料，对菌核病表现了相对稳定的抗性。这表明，开展抗病育种研究，利用抗病品种防治大豆菌核病是可能的。试验中发现，田间发病率