Genetics of Resistance to Fruit Borer, Heliothis armigera Hübner, in Lycopersicon

Inheritance of resistance to the fruit borer, Heliothis armigera Hübner in tomato was studied in TWO interspecific crosses. L. hirsutum f. gLabratum‘B 6013′. a fruit borer-resistant parent, was crossed with two susceptible L. esculentum varieties ‘HS 101’ and. ‘HS 102′. Six generations of two crosses were evaluated for percentage fruit: infestation (on a number basis) and the estimates of the gene effects were derived from the generation mean using a three parameter model A preponderance of additive gene effects was found for this trait. Heritability in the narrow sense was observed to be high indicating the fixable nature of the character.     

Widening the gene pool of cultivated lentils through introgression of alien chromatin from wild Lens subspecies

Wild Lens species/subspecies are a potential source for increasing genetic diversity in cultivated lentil. Four intraspecific crosses were attempted between cultivated and wild lentils. Viable hybrids were produced between L. culinaris ssp. culinaris × L. culinaris ssp. orientalis and L. culinaris ssp. culinaris × L. culinaris ssp. odomensis. Normal meiosis and pollen fertility were observed in the first set of crosses, whereas chromosomal abnormalities and reduced pollen fertility were observed in the second set of crosses. These crosses were also studied for some quantitative traits. The range, mean and coefficient of variation were calculated in parents, F₁, F₂ and BC₁ generations to determine the extent of variability generated in the cultivated lentil through introgression of genes from wild lentil. The cultivated lentil × L. culinaris ssp. orientalis crosses showed substantially higher variability for all the traits than crosses involving cultivated lentil ×L. culinaris ssp. odomensis. The results of the present study indicated that these wild subspecies can be exploited for breeding purposes and their variation can easily be utilized to widen the genetic base of the cultivated lentil.     

Inheritance of shelf life and other quality traits of tomato fruit estimated from F<Subscript>1</Subscript>’s,F<Subscript>2</Subscript>’s and backcross generations derived from standard cultivar, <Emphasis Type="Italic">nor</Emphasis> homozygote and wild cherry tomato

A tomato cultivar with high quality fruit and a long shelf life is a main goal in tomato breeding and it would be achieved using wild germplasm. The objective of this work was to explore the inheritance for fruit quality traits, especially fruit shelf life, in three tomato crosses using a standard Argentinean cultivar (Ca, cv ‘Caimanta’), a ripening mutant (nor, homozygous for the nor gene) of Solanum lycopersicum, and a wild cherry type (Ce, LA1385 of S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme). The wild parent had a shorter fruit shelf life than the mutant genotype but higher than Ca. When the Ce genotype was analyzed in hybrid combination, the F₁ (Ca×Ce) was similar to the wild genotype for shelf life whereas the F₁ (nor × Ce) had a longer shelf life. Both F₁ crosses and backcrosses to the cherry type genotype had significantly lower fruit weight than the cultivated genotypes but higher than the cherry type parent. In the F₂ analysis, it was found that the inheritance underlying quality traits is complex since non allelic interactions were detected. A significant additive genetic variance was found for fruit shelf life as well as for other fruit quality traits in each cross. The genetic parameters analyzed by mean values and variances in parental, F₁ and F₂ and backcross generations indicated that the cross between the normal ripening cultivar and LA1385 of S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme offers the best possibility to obtain long shelf life tomato genotypes with good fruit quality.     

Exploitation of wild annual Cicer species for widening the gene pool of chickpea cultivars

Introgression of unadapted genes from the wild Cicer species could contribute to the widening of genetic base of important traits such as yield, yield attributes and resistance to major biotic and abiotic stresses. An attempt was made successfully to intercross two wild annual Cicer species with three cultivated chickpea cultivars. Four interspecific cross‐combinations were made, and their true hybridity was ascertained through morphological and molecular markers. These cross‐combinations were also studied for some important quantitative traits under real field conditions. The range, mean and coefficient of variation of agro‐morphological traits were assessed in the parental lines, their F₁ and F₂ generations to determine the extent of variability generated in cultivated chickpea varieties. A high level of heterosis was recorded for number of pods/plant and seed yield/plant in F₁ generation. Three cross‐combinations of ‘Pusa 1103’ × ILWC 46, ‘Pusa 256’ × ILWC 46 and ‘Pusa 256’ × ILWC 239 exhibited substantially higher variability for important yield‐related traits. The present research findings indicate that these wild annual Cicer species can be easily exploited to broaden the genetic base of cultivated gene pool for improving seed yield as well as adaptation.     

Efficient hybridization between Lycopersicon esculentum and L. peruvianum via 'embryo rescue' and in vitro propagation

For the transfer of valuable traits from wild species into the cultivated tomato, excised globular-stage embryos 13 and 15 days after pollination (DAP) were cultured in vitro. Plants were regenerated from interspecific crosses of Lycopersicon esculentum cv. ‘Early pink’×L. peruvianum PI270435, and backcrosses of L. esculentum‘Giban (JF) No. 1’× (‘Early pink’× PI270435). Somatic embryos and single cotyledons emerged on hypocotyl sections of the embryos. Five to nine plantlets per embryo were obtained by clonal propagation. The hybrid nature of the plants is confirmed by comparing hybrids and parents in their ability to regenerate shoots from leaf segments in vitro, by comparing plant morphology and characteristics and by chromosome number. This study describes an efficient ‘embryo rescue’ method, as well as somatic embryogenesis by clonal propagation. A novel and simple method for the characterization of the interspecific hybrids is also reported.     

Introgression from wild Cicer reticulatum to cultivated chickpea for productivity and disease resistance

Interspecific hybridization is known to improve productivity and resistance to diseases in many crops. Therefore, an attempt was made to introgress productivity and disease resistance into chickpea from wild Cicer species. The true F₁ hybrids of cultivated chickpea genotypes ‘L550’ and ‘FGK45’ with C. reticulatum were backcrossed twice to their cultivated female parents to minimize the linkage drag of undesirable wild traits. The pedigree method was followed to advance the segregating populations from straight crosses (without backcross) and BC₁/BC₂ generations to F₅–F₇. The interspecific derivatives recorded up to a 16.9% increase over the check cultivars and a 25.2% increase over the female parent in a preliminary yield evaluation trial. Of the 22 interspecific derivatives thus derived, four desi and two kabuli lines were further evaluated for seed yield in replicated trials at three diverse locations. These lines possess a high degree of resistance to wilt, foot rot and root rot diseases, and recorded a 6.1–17.0% seed yield increase over the best check cultivars.     

The genetics of hard seed coat in the genus Lens

Summary Seeds of the cultivated lentil are capable of germinating shortly after maturation. The seed dormancy of wild lentil species is due to a hard seed coat. In crosses between the cultivated species L. culinaris and its wild progenitor L. orientalis the hard seed coat of the wild species was controlled by a single recessive gene in homozygous condition. In a cross between the wild species L. ervoides and L. culinaris the hard seed coat of L. ervoides was controlled by a single dominant gene. The significance of the genetics of seed coat hardness in the domestication of lentil is briefly discussed.     

Genetic Analysis of Developmental Traits in Chickpea

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important legume crop in India. The present study was conducted to investigate the inheritance of several developmental traits in three crosses of chickpea, viz., WFWG III’בT20’, ‘T88’בBold Seeded’, and ‘NP34’בP1528-1-1’, each having seven generations. The seven generations were P₁, P₂, F₁, B₁, B₂, F₂, and F₃. The experimental lay-out was randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were acquired on days to flowering (DF), days to maturity (DM), plant height in cm (PH), number of primary branches (PB), and number of secondary branches (SB). Generation mean analysis was used to estimate the genetic components; narrow sense heritability was estimated using variance components; and correlation analysis to estimate correlation coefficients among different traits. Genetic differences were found in all three crosses for all traits studied. Additive, dominance, and epistatic effects were found for many traits'. Duplicate epistasis was observed for all traits except number of PB. Higher order interactions and/or linkage were detected for DM and SB. For many traits the relative magnitudes of the genetic effects differed among crosses, thus the extrapolation to other crosses may be difficult. The inheritance becomes more complex as the fate of the character is decided at a later stage in the life cycle. Positive heterosis was observed for some traits, but the exploitation of this component may not Feasible since stable male sterile lines are not available. Early maturity and high yield ‘may be selected independently because of the absence of any significant correlation between these two traits.     

Genetic analysis and linkage study of seed weight in lentil

Summary The genetics of seed weight was studied in crosses between the cultivated lentil L. culinaris and the wild species L. orientalis and L. ervoides. Seed weight was found to be under polygenic control with additive and dominant gene action and with partial dominance of low seed weight alleles. High heretability estimates were obtained in the analysed crosses. Nuclear-cytoplasmic interaction was found to affect seed weight in crosses involving accession No.138 of L. orientalis. Factors affecting seed weight were linked to morphological and DNA markers distributed over several linkage groups. High seed weight in segregating generations were usually associated with alleles of marker loci originated from the cultivated parent. Factors enhancing seed weight were detected in accession No.138 of L. orientalis, indicating the potential of wild genetic resources for seed weight improvement in lentil.     

Broadening the genetic base of lentil cultivars through inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses of Lens taxa

Wild Lens taxa are invaluable sources of useful traits for broadening genetic base of cultivated lentil. Nine inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses were made successfully between cultivated (Lens culinaris ssp. culinaris) and wild lentils (L. culinaris ssp. orientalis, odemensis, lamottei and ervoides). The effect of species groups, day length and temperature on crossability in lentils was evident under normal winter sowing in New Delhi and in summer Himalayan nursery at Sangla in Himachal Pradesh, India, although pollen fertility assessed in all the cross‐combinations showed no significant variation. True hybridity of nine inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses was confirmed through morphological and molecular (ISSR) markers, in which three of 120 primers could confirm the hybridity of all the crosses. All cross‐combinations were also studied for important quantitative traits related to yield. The range, mean and coefficient of variation were estimated in parental lines, F₁ and F₂ generations to determine the extent of variability generated in cultivated lentils through the introgression of genes from wild L. taxa. A high level of heterosis was observed in F₁ crosses for important traits studied. Substantially higher variations for seed yield and its attributing traits were exhibited in F₂ generations indicating transgressive segregation. The results of the present investigation revealed that wild L. taxa can be successfully exploited for lentil improvement programmes, and the variations generated could be easily utilized for broadening the genetic base of cultivated lentil gene pool for improving the yield as well as wider adaptation.     

Introduction of aromatic fragrance into cultivated tomato from the peruvianum complex'

This study was performed to introduce the distinct aromatic fragrance of Lycopersicon peruvianum LA 1554 into the cultivated tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum. The strong breeding barriers existing between these two distantly related species were circumvented by the ovule selection and culture method. A large BC₁F₁ population was developed and among 127 plants, 36 were self‐compatible and yielded fruits. Fruits of some of these selected plants were found to be enriched with a sweet aromatic flavour. Sensory evaluation of the fruit aroma of these selected plants was performed by a panel of 12 members against one of the best consumer‐rated Japanese commercial tomato cultivars, ‘Momotaro’. Although extensive variation was observed in fruit‐aroma in the BC₁F₁ population, panel opinion on ‘flavour‐desirability’ significantly favoured the BC₁F₁ fruits of some selected plants over the cv. ‘Momotaro’. Therefore, it can be concluded that the aromatic fragrance of a ‘L. peruvianum’ accession has successfully been introduced into the cultivated tomato gene pool.     

Crossability between cultivated and wild tuber-and non-tuber-bearing Solanums

The cultivated potato has over 200 extant wild relatives many of which contain genes valuable for disease resistance, hardiness, processing and agronomic traits. Crossability of these wild species directly with the cultivated potato is complicated by several reproductive phenomena such as stylar and ploidy barriers and Endosperm Balance Numbers (EBN). However, a systematic analysis of crossability with many of these wild relatives has never fully been examined. Reciprocal crosses were made between cultivated potato and over 400 wild potato accessions; stylar barriers and 2n gamete production were examined as was the fertility of many of the putative hybrids. Generally, the seed/fruit ratio increased the more closely related the species were to the cultivated potato. However, a few crosses were successful in spite of predicted failure due to ploidy or EBN differences. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Association of leaf rust and powdery mildew resistance in a recombinant derived from a Hordeum vulgare × Hordeum bulbosum hybrid

While studying powdery mildew resistance in a recombinant line (code 81882) derived from a Hordeum vulgare (cv. ‘Vada’) ×Hordeum bulbosum hybrid, a low infection type of resistance to leaf rust was observed. To determine the mode of inheritance of the leaf rust resistance and whether there was linkage between the two resistances, F₂ and F₃ progenies from crosses between 81882 and ‘Vada’ were inoculated with the leaf rust and powdery mildew pathogens. Southern blots were prepared using restricted DNA extracted from leaves of 82 F₂ plants and four chromosome 2HS sequences were hybridized with the blots to define the length of the introgression. The leaf rust resistance appears to be inherited as a single dominant gene on chromosome 2HS, which co-segregates with the powdery mildew resistance. There was an almost complete association between the resistances and the respective molecular markers, but it is likely that the strong linkage results from the frequent inheritance of the introgressed H. bulbosum DNA as an intact segment of chromatin with only low levels of recombination within the segment.     

Overcoming interspecific barriers in Sorghum and molecular characterization of the derivatives

Crop improvement in sorghum has progressed extensively availing the variation available in the primary gene pool of S. bicolor. Crossing further, the yield plateau can be accomplished by bringing in the genes from tertiary gene pool into the cultivated gene pool. Earlier efforts for wide hybridization in sorghum with tertiary gene pool were not successful due to inhibition of wild pollen germination on the stigma of cultivated species. In the current study, elite lines of cultivated Sorghum species were pollinated with wild species using different floral treatments. The results showed that spray with the synthetic auxin, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, has promoted the seed set. Overall, 76% crosses showed seed set, but many seeds were underdeveloped and deformed. F₁ progeny showed traits of both cultivated and wild parents. Hybrids were confirmed through PCR analysis. Many (80%) F₁ plants were sterile, and 20% of F₁s were advanced to F₂ generation. Wide variation was observed in F₂ progeny, and the phenotype selections were made and are being evaluated in the field.     

Study of heritable variation and genetics of earliness in mungbean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna radiata</Emphasis> L. Wilczek)

Fifty-five mungbean lines were evaluated for days to maturity and grain yield per plant. This material showed considerable range of variability for the target traits. Eight genetically diverse parents were selected and used for a full diallel set of crosses to study the mode of inheritance for earliness related parameters (days to flowering, days to maturity and length of reproductive phase) during summer 2005. The F₁ generation of these crosses was sown during the spring of 2006 and the selfed seeds were used to raise the F₂ generation during kharif season. The data recorded from two generations were subjected to genetic analysis. The formal ANOVA showed the significance of both additive and dominance effects for all the traits in both generations. Significance of D, H₁ and H₂ components also confirmed the contribution of both additive and dominance effects in controlling the inheritance of these traits. The estimates of narrow sense heritability were low to moderate except higher estimates for days to maturity in F₂ generation, while the broad sense heritability estimates were relatively higher. Seasonal and environmental effects were also found to be significant. In view of the complex nature of gene action for earliness, it is suggested that breeders should look for transgressive recombinants of earliness and other desirable attributes in later segregating generations to gain higher genetic advance. The variety NM92 was found to be the best source of earliness in mungbean breeding.     

The inheritance and chromosomal location of morphological traits in wild wheat, Triticum turgidum L. ssp. dicoccoides

The homoeologous groups of chromosomes carrying the genes for some morphological traits in wild wheat Triticum turgidum L. ssp. dicoccoides (T. dicoccoides) were determined, but not the actual chromosomes carrying them. The objectives of this study were to investigate the modes of inheritance, and determine the chromosomes carrying some morphological traits in wild emmer (2n = 28; AABB), the progenitor of most cultivated wheats. To investigate the inheritance of morphological traits, crosses were made between T. turgidum L. ssp. durum (T. durum cultivar Chartokhmi (IR10) and T. dicoccoides accessions TA1150 and TA1131. F₂ seeds from each cross were grown in the field and six qualitative characters were investigated. Purple coleoptile, purple auricle, purple culm, hairy auricle, hairy rachilla, and fragility of spike were controlled by single dominant genes. To determine the chromosomal locations, accession TA1131 was crossed with the complete set of LDN D-genome disomic substitution lines. Assessments of F₂ populations showed that chromosomes 7A, 6A, 7B, 5B, 5A and 3B carried genes for purple coleoptile, purple auricle, purple culm, hairy auricle, hairy rachilla and brittle rachis, respectively.     

Attempts to overcome postfertilization barrier in interspecific crosses of the genus Lens

Wild relatives are a potential source of genetic diversity to lentil (Lens culinaris Medik). The objective of this research was to obtain viable interspecific hybrids between the domesticated lentil and its wild relatives. The paper details the results of a number of interspecific crosses among L. culinaris, L. orientalis, L. odemensis, L. ervoides and L. nigricans. Viable hybrids were produced between L. culinaris × L. orientalis, L. culinaris × L. nigricans, L. culinaris × L. ervoides and between L. culinaris × L. odemensis. Further viable hybrids were obtained between L. culinaris and L. ervoides, which have the potential to be a ‘bridge’ in hybridization to L. culinaris for specific L. nicrigans lines which proved recalcitrant in L. culinaris × L. nigricans crosses. This is the first time that four wild species of lentils have been used successfully in hybridization with cultivated lentils, and viable hybrids produced. This paper also suggests that the artificial supplement of GA₃, hormone is needed after fertilization for the normal growth of the hybrid embryo, possibly as the natural GA₃ production is restricted with alien pollinations in cultivated lentils in both F₁ and backcross hybrids.     

The inheritance of days to flowering in broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)

Summary Crosses between an early flowering inbred broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) HS140 and four later maturing inbred lines, S301, S310, s318, and S258, were studied to determine the inheritance of earliness as expressed by days to first open flower. Mean days to first flower for F₁ and F₂ were almost identical, and were close to the mean of the two parents in three crosses, indicating additive inheritance. In the cross HS140×S258, for which no F₁ plants were available, the F₂ mean was closer to the mean of the early parent, but this was likely due to a distortion of the data caused by the very late maturation of S258, the latest maturing parent in the study. Frequency distribution for parents and progenies supported the conclusions from parent and progeny mean values and indicated that days to maturity is a quantitative character, with mostly additive inheritance.Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Paper No. 7578.     

Cross compatibility between chickpea and its wild relative,Cicer echinospermum Davis

Summary Cicer echinospermum, a wild relative of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), has traits that can be used to improve the cultivated species. It is possible to obtain successful crosses between the two species, even though their cross progenies have reduced fertility. The reasons for this low fertility could be due to the two species differing in small chromosome segments or at genic level. Another limitation to the use ofC. echinospermum at ICRISAT Asia Center is that the species is not adapted to the short photoperiod which prevails during the chickpea cropping season at Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India. Future work will include screening the segregating progenies for monitoring traits from both the species through isozyme analysis and to incorporate these into good agronomic backgrounds following backcrosses.Submitted as JA 1669 by ICRISAT     

The influence of a spring habit gene, Vrn-D1, on heading time in wheat

The adaptability of wheat cultivars to environmental conditions is known to be associated with a vernalization requirement, that is, spring/winter habit. To clarify the genetic effect of the spring habit gene, Vrn‐D1, on heading time in the field, recombinant inbred lines (RILs) with or without the Vrn‐D1 gene were produced from F₂ plants of the cross between ‘Nanbukomugi’ and ‘Nishikazekomugi’, non‐carrier and carrier cultivars of this gene, respectively. Using growth chambers with a controlled temperature and photoperiod, three components of heading time, i.e. vernalization requirement, photoperiodic sensitivity and narrow‐sense earliness (earliness per se), were evaluated in each RIL. RILs with the Vrn‐D1 gene (E lines) showed greatly reduced vernalization requirements and slightly shorter narrow‐sense earliness than RILs without Vrn‐D1 (L lines), although no difference in photoperiodic sensitivity was observed between the two groups. RILs were planted at four different sites in Japan and examined for their heading time in the field. E lines headed significantly earlier than L lines at all locations, indicating that the earliness of E lines is stable in various environmental conditions. These results indicated that spring habit caused by Vrn‐D1 gene, as well as narrow‐sense earliness, was responsible for heading time in the field.