典型玉米自交系氮素吸收利用特点的研究

在大田条件下,对8个代表性的玉米自交系在不同施氮水平下的氮素吸收与利用特点及与氮效率相关的一些性状进行了研究。结果表明：玉米自交系在产量、生物量和氮累积量上存在显著的差异。通过玉米自交系各性状与氮效率的关系的分析表明,低氮胁迫下,应选择抽丝期穗位叶叶绿素含量高、穗位叶叶面积大、籽粒含氮量高和氮收获指数大的自交系,高氮处理条件下,应选择抽丝期生物量大和成熟期生物量大的自交系。通径分析表明,氮吸收和氮利用效率对氮效率的作用均是直接作用大于间接作用。3个施氮水平条件下,对氮效率的直接作用是氮吸收效率大于氮利用效率。在低氮条件下,氮吸收效率的直接作用更强,而氮利用效率对氮效率的直接作用是随着施氮量的增加逐渐增强。在氮2、氮3处理中,吸收效率和利用效率的共同影响导致了产量差异,并且是吸收效率的影响较大;高氮处理则主要是吸收效率的影响。     

Influence of genotype on phosphate uptake and utilization efficiencies in spring barley

To investigate the genetic variation of phosphate (P) uptake and P utilization efficiency, 24 high-yielding spring barley cultivars were grown in two pot experiments on a loess loam-sand mixture. In the first experiment, the plants grew until maturity under P stress (50% of the maximum yield), and in the second experiment, the plants grew until the stage of tillering (DC 25) at a low or at a high P supply.

At maturity, the range between cultivars with the highest and the lowest values were 30% for total dm yield (grain and straw), 28% for grain yield, 24% for P uptake efficiency (P in grain and straw), 26% for P concentration in grains and 24% for P utilization efficiency quotient PEQ (g dm grain per mg P in shoots) (mean of all cultivars = 100%). Grain yield was correlated with P uptake per plant, r = 0.71^***, and with PEQ, r = 0.60^**. Between P uptake and PEQ, there was only a weak relationship (r = −0.14). Therefore, a combination of high uptake efficiency and high PEQ in a cultivar may be possible.

At growth stage DC 25, the cultivars showed a significant variability in shoot biomass, P concentration, P removal, P influx, acitvity of acid phophatases (P_ase) and root length. The ranking of the cultivars, however, was very different at the two P levels, but the root-length and the P_ase activity were more influenced by genotype than by the P supply.

As the relationships between grain yield, P removal, PEQ and the characters of the young plants cultivated under P stress were very weak (r < 0.43), selection for P efficiency at the stage of tillering cannot be recommended.     

Variation and inheritance of response to acetochlor among maize inbred lines and hybrids

Summary The variation of response to acetochlor was studied in a two-year experiment carried out by subjecting 18 maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines to three herbicide rates (0, 2.5 and 5 l a.i./ha). In both years some inbred lines consistently exhibited an evident susceptibility, with symptoms consisting of the seedling curling up below the soil surface and causing impaired field emergence. The results were poor plant density and lower grain yield in comparison to control. In contrast, other lines showed a satisfactory level of tolerance.Then, to gather data on the inheritance of response to acetochlor, four tolerant inbreds (T) and four susceptible inbreds (S) were crossed to obtain four T×T, four S×S, four S×T and the corresponding four T×S two-way hybrids. These hybrids were studied together with parental lines by applying the same herbicide rates used in the previous trial. The S×S hybrids showed susceptibility to the herbicide and the T×T were tolerant, whereas the S×T and the T× S hybrids showed a tolerance very close to that of the T×T hybrids. No difference was found between S×T and the corresponding T×S hybrids as to herbicide response. On average, the 16 hybrids exhibited greater tolerance than the eight parental lines, with each hybrid group being more tolerant than its parental line group. These results indicate that tolerance to acetochlor is prevailingly dominant, that action of extranuclear genes should be ruled out, and that the level of plant vigour can affect herbicide reactiveness.     

Nitrogen uptake and utilization efficiency of European maize hybrids developed under conditions of low and high nitrogen input

Maize varieties with improved nitrogen(N)‐use efficiency under low soil N conditions can contribute to sustainable agriculture. Tests were carried to see whether selection of European elite lines at low and high N supply would result in hybrids with differential adaptation to these contrasting N conditions. The objective was to analyze whether genotypic differences in N uptake and N‐utilization efficiency existed in this material and to what extent these factors contributed to adaptation to low N supply. Twenty‐four hybrids developed at low N supply (L × L) were compared with 25 hybrids developed at high N supply (H × H). The N uptake was determined as total above‐ground N in whole plants, and N‐utilization efficiency as the ratio between grain yield and N uptake in yield trials at four locations and at three N levels each. Highly significant variations as a result of hybrids and hybrids × N‐level interaction were observed for grain yield as well as for N uptake and N‐utilization efficiency in both hybrid types. Average yields of the L × L hybrids were higher than those of the H × H hybrids by 11.5% at low N supply and 5.4% at medium N level. There was no significant yield difference between the two hybrid types at high N supply. The L × L hybrids showed significantly higher N uptake at the low (12%) and medium (6%) N levels than the H × H hybrids. In contrast, no differences in N‐utilization efficiency were observed between the hybrid types. These results indicate that adaptation of hybrids from European elite breeding material to conditions with reduced nitrogen input was possible and was mainly the result of an increase in N‐uptake efficiency.     

Heterosis and Genetic Variances and their Implications for Breeding Improved Varieties of Spring Beans (Vicia faba L.)*

Handcrosses were made in a factorial manner with 24 Vicia faba inbred lines m three sets, each between four male and four female parents. The resulting 48 hybrids, their parental inbreds and three commercial varieties were grown in performance trials during the years 1985—87 with three replications at one location. Yield and yield components were recorded on single plant basis. The average superiority of the hybrids above the control varieties was 26 % in plant yield. The best crosses outyielded the controls by more than 50 %. However, a few inbred lines also reached, the yield level of the controls. The average heterosis was significant for all characters except for maturity date. In plant yield the average heterosis was 75%, ranging between 34% and 148% in the various cross combinations. The highest average heterosis of 110 % was observed in yield at the lateral stems. In all characters the best inbreds were superior to the lower hybrids and in some characters even equal to the average of the hybrids. A strong positive relationship was found for all characters between hybrid performance and mid-parent value and between the per se performance of the inbreds and their general combining ability. Genotypic differences between the hybrids as well as between the inbreds were highly significant. Most of the variability between the hybrids in all characters were attributed to general combining, ability with only little evidence for specific combining ability. In the discussion the results are evaluated according to the choice of the breeding category of the partial allogamous faba bean species.     

不同来源玉米自交系及杂交组合杂交当代子粒性状的差异分析

玉米杂种优势的研究对于提高玉米产量和品质有重要意义。对2013年海南三亚种植收获的89份温带自交系、59份热带/亚热带自交系和由这148份自交系随机组配的179份杂交组合进行当代子粒性状的测定。分析了温带玉米与热带/亚热带玉米自交系子粒性状的多样性与差异性,同时依据亲本来源的不同,探索了不同组合的杂交当代子粒性状的差异性。结果表明：温带来源的玉米自交系粒长和百粒重比热带/亚热带材料的粒长和百粒重显著偏长偏重;不同来源的自交系组配的杂交当代F₁,母本来源于温带的杂交当代F₁粒长显著长于母本来源于热带/亚热带材料;杂种优势分析结果说明,杂交当代F₁在粒厚和百粒重性状上表现的相对高亲和相对中亲优势强于粒长和粒宽。     

Retrotransposon-related genetic distance and hybrid performance in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Heterosis is a main force leading the development of the hybrid seed industry in sunflower. The purpose of this study is to evaluate if heterosis effects for morphological traits among sunflower hybrids can be related to differences in the repetitive component of the genome of parental lines. The assumption is that, at least for certain traits, heterosis results from mutations in the cis-regulatory elements of genes, largely related to retrotransposon insertions and/or removals. Our experimental approach consists of a correlation study between hybrid performance and retrotransposon-related genetic distances between inbreds. Six sunflower inbred lines of different origin were crossed in a half diallel fashion; comparing parental lines and hybrids, mid parent heterosis of F₁ hybrids was evaluated for six traits. We estimated the parental genetic distances between the six inbreds on data gathered by the inter-retrotransposon-amplified-polymorphism (IRAP) protocol. Different retrotransposons previously isolated in sunflower were targeted by 11 primer pairs designed on conserved LTR domains. As a control, genetic distances were also calculated using 86 genic SNPs. We analysed the correlation between the mid-parent heterosis for each of the six traits analysed and the genetic distance (calculated on data obtained by SNP or IRAP analyses) between the parental lines. Differences between parents showed to be largely related to variations in the retrotransposon component of the genome. Retrotransposon-related genetic distance between parents resulted to be larger than that related to genic SNPs, and significantly correlated to seed yield and, at a lesser extent, to plant height and stem diameter in hybrids. The hypothesis that variations in the repetitive component of the genome, especially LTR-retrotransposons, affect the displaying of heterosis is discussed.     

Heterosis and hybrid performance in topless faba beans (Vicia faba L.)

Parental lines, F₁ and F₂ hybrids from a 7×7-diallel of topless faba beans and eight standard cultivars were grown in single-rows for two years at four sowing dates on a highly fertile loam soil near Göttingen. In grain yield, F₁ hybrids showed 21 to 54% advantage over the higher yielding parent. Compared with the midparental value an average heterosis of 50% was observed for grain yield. Corresponding heterosis mean values ranged from 3 to 37% for yield components and up to 11% for phenological traits. The grain yield of the highest yielding topless F₁ hybrid was equal to that of Alfred, the highest yielding indeterminate standard cultivar. High grain yield in the topless hybrids was closely correlated with high biomass yield, late ripening and tall plants generally having a high number of podded nodes and pods on the main stem. Due to their agronomic advantages, i.e., lower plant length, reduced lodging sensitivity and earlier ripening, efforts at breeding topless hybrids seemed to be worth-while in faba beans. However, their yielding ability must be improved further before they can compete with normal, semi-dwarf and stiff-strawed cultivars.     

陕西省不同年代玉米品种产量和氮效率性状的变化

明确陕西省不同年代玉米产量和氮效率性状响应氮肥的变化趋势,对西北旱区玉米高产氮高效品种选育具有重要的实践意义。本文以1981—2010年间陕西省12个玉米主栽品种为材料,于2011年和2012年在典型旱区陕西长武进行3个氮水平(0、120和240 kg hm–2)的田间试验,分析了不同年代玉米品种农艺和氮效率性状变化趋势。结果显示,不同年代玉米品种籽粒产量随氮水平增加而提高,在施氮0、120和240 kg hm–2处理下籽粒产量增益分别为每年46、65和83 kg hm–2。所有氮水平下2000—2010年间品种产量和生物量显著高于1980—1989年间品种,而秸秆产量变化不明显;现代玉米品种(2000—2010年)产量的增加归因于穗粒数、千粒重和生物量的提高。不同年代玉米品种消光系数随氮水平增加而降低,说明现代玉米品种(2000—2010年)较老品种(1980—1989年)叶片直立,截获更多的光能,致使产量和生物量高。随着年代的递进,玉米品种氮肥农学利用率呈递增趋势,在低氮水平下现代品种氮肥利用效率最高,且显著高于老品种。氮肥农学利用率与氮吸收效率(NUpE)和花后氮素积累量呈显著相关(r=0.75;r=0.72),而与氮生理效率(NUtE)和花前氮素积累量相关性不显著(r=0.42;r=0.39)。说明现代玉米品种氮肥农学利用率提高主要来自氮肥吸收效率和花后氮素积累量的增加。上述结果表明,陕西玉米育种应注重穗粒数、千粒重、氮吸收效率性状和株型结构改良,低氮环境压力选择将有助于旱区玉米高产氮高效新品种培育。     

Genetic Analysis of Grain Yield and Other Traits of Early‐Maturing Maize Inbreds under Drought and Well‐Watered Conditions

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important staple food crop in West and Central Africa (WCA). However, its production is constrained by drought. Knowledge and understanding of the genetics of hybrid performance under drought is invaluable in designing breeding strategies for improving maize yield. One hundred and fifty hybrids obtained by crossing 30 inbreds in sets using the North Carolina Design II plus six checks were evaluated under drought and well‐watered conditions for 2 years at three locations in Nigeria. The objectives of the studies were to (i) determine the mode of gene action controlling grain yield and other important agronomic traits of selected early inbred lines, (ii) examine the relationship between per se performance of inbreds and their hybrids and (iii) identify appropriate testers for maize breeding programmes in WCA. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) mean squares were significant (P < 0.01) for grain yield and other traits under the research environments. The GCA accounted for 64.5 % and 62.3 % of the total variation for grain yield under drought and well‐watered conditions, indicating that additive gene action largely controlled the inheritance of grain yield of the hybrids. Narrow‐sense heritability was 67 % for grain yield under drought and 49 % under well‐watered conditions. The correlations between traits of early‐maturing parental lines and their hybrids were significant (P < 0.01) under drought, well‐watered and across environments. Mid‐parent and better‐parent heterosis for grain yield were 45.3 % and 18.4 % under drought stress and 111.9 % and 102.6 % under well‐watered conditions. Inbreds TZEI 31, TZEI 17, TZEI 129 and TZEI 157 were identified as the best testers. Drought‐tolerant hybrids with superior performance under stress and non‐stress conditions could be obtained through the accumulation of favourable alleles for drought tolerance in both parental lines.     

海南硅高效水稻的筛选及硅吸收特征

为了深入研究水稻硅营养机理,通过盆栽和小区试验在施硅（低硅）和不施用硅（缺硅）条件下,比较了25个海南主要栽培水稻品种产量的变化,筛选出了硅高效水稻,并探讨了施用硅对水稻产量构成、硅吸收特点的影响。结果表明：产量或稻草干重可以作为筛选的指标,得到10个硅高效水稻品种（系）,其中不耐低硅的4个,耐低硅的6个;施用硅肥对不同品种的成穗数、穗粒数和千粒重的影响不尽相同;施用硅肥对水稻的株高影响在多数品种间并不显著,提高了3个品种株高;谷壳中的硅含量在不同的品种间差异显著;在不施用硅的条件下稻草硅的含量没有显著差异,不过施用硅后硅高效品种更能显著提高稻草硅含量;施用硅后硅高效品种稻米硅的含量比硅不敏感品种的增加的更快,其中耐低硅的硅高效水稻施用硅后提高更显著。硅高效水稻地上部分各器官硅含量能敏感地响应硅的变化,不过产量构成对硅的响应特征不尽相同。     

热带水稻光合特性及氮素光合效率的差异研究

在国际水稻研究所（IRRI）农场试验条件下,选用6个不同的热带水稻材料,其中包括2个常规籼稻、2个杂交籼稻和2个新株型稻（NPT）,研究氮肥农学利用率（AE）和氮素光合效率（PNUE）及其相关叶片参数的基因型差异,并探讨了它们之间的关系。结果表明,新株型稻的净光合速率(P_n)大于常规籼稻,杂交籼稻居中。各基因型间的气孔导度(G_s)、胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)、蒸腾速率(T_r)和Ci/Gs的差异趋势不同。不同基因型叶片的氮浓度（N%）和比叶重（SLW）存在一定的差异。常规籼稻的单位叶绿素的净光合速率（P_n/Chl）较NPT低,杂交籼稻为中间类型;叶片净光合速率和单位面积含氮量（Na）之间存在显著的正相关;本研究所选用的热带杂交籼稻的PFP（氮肥偏生产力）和AE比新株型稻和常规籼稻高,两者最低的均为常规籼稻。氮素光合效率与AE间存在显著正相关,表明后期的氮素光合效率对氮肥利用率具有一定的指示和预测作用,这对于判断水稻品种氮肥利用率将具有重要的应用价值。     

中国不同年代玉米亲本自交系的灌浆特性与氮素运转

大田试验条件下,选择我国1960s、1980s、2000s三个年代在生产中大面积应用的玉米亲本自交系为试验材料,比较分析了遗传改良过程中玉米骨干自交系灌浆特性及氮素运转的演变特征。结果表明,当代玉米品种及其亲本自交系的产量显著高于其他年代品系(P<0.05),且不同年代品种产量提高与其亲本产量密切相关(P<0.05),亲本自交系产量提高与其穗粒数相关性不显著,而与粒重呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。对粒重变化研究表明,当代亲本自交系的灌浆速率呈先慢后快的趋势,籽粒灌浆的积累起始势(R₀)较高,灌浆最大速率出现时间(T_max)延迟,灌浆速率最大时生长量(W_max)和最大灌浆速率(G_max)明显较高。当代亲本自交系具有较高的干物质积累和日增干重,其茎鞘物质输出率和茎鞘物质贡献率均高于1960s自交系,且在高密度条件下优势更为明显。当代亲本自交系具有较高的氮素积累总量(P<0.05),氮素输出率、贡献率的优势不明显(P>0.05),而氮素利用效率及氮收获指数显著高于1960s自交系(P<0.05)。表明遗传改良过程中玉米骨干自交系籽粒产量及氮效率得到同步提高,这与其自身较高的籽粒灌浆能力和物质运转效率密切相关。     

Importance of P uptake efficiency versus P utilization for wheat yield in acid and calcareous soils in Mexico

There are large agricultural areas in the world where wheat yields are limited by low phosphorus (P) availability. Breeding for P uptake and P utilization efficiency may reduce this problem. This study was conducted to determine the contribution of P uptake and utilization efficiency to grain yield of selected spring wheat genotypes in different environments. Thirty-eight semidwarf spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotypes were grown in two experiments in Mexico, each on an acid Andisol under rainfed conditions and on a calcareous Aridisol with irrigation, without (−P) and with 35 kg P per ha fertilized (+P). Without P fertilization, grain yield ranged from 0.8 to 4.6 t ha⁻¹ in the acid soil and from 2.4 to 5.2 t ha⁻¹ in the calcareous soil. With P fertilization, this range was even larger. Under conditions of P deficiency, i.e. in the acid soil at −P and +P (high P adsorption) and calcareous soil at −P (P-depleted soil), P uptake explained 71–100% of the variation in grain yield, and was highly correlated with grain yield (r=0.79–0.95). In contrast, at +P in the calcareous soil, P utilization efficiency explained 60–63% of the variation in grain yield. Here, low grain P concentration was related to high grain yield (r=−0.40 to −0.59). In the calcareous soil, the harvest index was correlated with grain yield, irrespective of the P level. In the acid soil, post-anthesis P accumulation was important. It was positively correlated with grain yield, whereas in the calcareous soil, no post-anthesis-P accumulation occurred. Here, grain P accumulation at maturity was completely determined by translocation of pre-anthesis shoot P. We conclude that the combination of improved P uptake and P utilization efficiency in the same genotypes requires selection under both high and low-P conditions.     

Inheritance of resistance to phomopsis (Diaporthe helianthi) in sunflower

The inheritance of resistance of sunflower to phomopsis (Diaporthe helianthi) was studied on 10 inbred lines representing a range of resistance and susceptibility levels, and 25 hybrids from a factorial cross of these lines. Analyses of observations over a 3-year period, of semi-natural infection (presence of stem lesions greater than 5 cm) on the hybrids indicated that additive gene control was predominant, with no significant interactions between parental effects. Correlations between infection of parental lines and the mean of their hybrids were not always significant, with certain inbreds which appeared quite susceptible giving hybrids with good levels of resistance. In order to predict hybrid values, it appears necessary to determine the general combining abilities of parental lines. Some inbreds gave very high levels of resistance, others gave very high levels of susceptibility. A test measuring the rate of extension of D. helianthi mycelium on leaves was significantly correlated with the results of natural infections. In particular, it permitted distinction of the most susceptible genotypes, and thus could be used in first generations of breeding to eliminate the most susceptible plants.     

不同来源玉米自交系籽粒品质性状研究

为提供玉米育种品质改良的依据,研究了不同来源的211份玉米自交系籽粒品质性状间的差异及相关性。采用近红外光谱分析仪测定籽粒粗蛋白、粗脂肪、粗淀粉、赖氨酸含量4个籽粒品质性状,并在系统聚类分析的基础上进行了类群间各性状变异分析。结果表明,各性状不同自交系间、年份间、地点间、年份×自交系、自交系×年份×地点均存在显著或极显著差异;不同自交系间粗蛋白、粗脂肪和赖氨酸的含量存在明显差异,赖氨酸含量变异系数最大（22.77%）,粗淀粉含量变异系数相对较小（1.89%）;各品质间的相关性分析显示粗脂肪和粗蛋白、赖氨酸和粗蛋白、赖氨酸和粗脂肪含量间呈显著正相关,粗淀粉和粗蛋白、粗脂肪、赖氨酸含量间呈负相关;供试自交系可分为9类,其中类群G1~G5包含205个自交系,占97.16%,品质性状优良的自交系以类群G1、G2、G4和G5最多,与‘郑单958’和‘先玉335’两大杂交种的4个亲本自交系比较,本研究共选出32份籽粒品质优良自交系,为玉米自交系籽粒品质性状的改良提供参考。     

Combining ability for rancidity and associated traits in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

Pearl millet occupies an important place in attaining nutritional security in marginal areas; however, as it develops off-flavours, it is less preferred by food industry. The objective of the current study was to determine the variations in rancidity-related traits and estimate the combining ability of inbreds and hybrids for these traits under varied environmental conditions. In this study, 32 hybrids were developed from eight lines and four testers using line × tester mating design and evaluated along with parents and checks 86M86 and HHB 67 for yield and rancidity-associated traits in three environments. The hybrids L7T2 and L6T1 are identified as promising hybrids for grain yield and rancidity. Higher variance due to specific combining ability and predictability ratio for grain yield and rancidity-associated characters indicate the predominance of non-additive gene action. The tester T1 recorded a significant negative GCA effect with low alcoholic acidity. A significant and positive SCA for grain yield was observed in L3T1 and L7T2, whereas for rancidity in L5T4. Alcoholic acidity showed a significant positive association with 1000 seed weight, lipase and lipoxygenase in parents and negative association with 1000 seed weight in hybrids.     

Combining ability and heterotic patterns of extra-early maturing white maize inbreds with genes from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea diploperennis</Emphasis> under multiple environments

Low soil nitrogen (Low N), Striga hermonthica and recurrent drought are major constraints to maize production and productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Only a few extra-early maturing hybrids with combined tolerance to drought, Striga and low N have been commercialized in SSA. The objectives of the study were to determine the general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects of grain yield and other traits, classify the inbreds into heterotic groups using the SCA effects of grain yield, and the heterotic group’s SCA and GCA of grain yield (HSGCA) methods, and examine the performance of hybrids under contrasting environments. Sixty-three extra-early white maize inbred lines containing genes from Zea diploperennis were crossed to four elite testers to obtain 252 single-cross hybrids and evaluated together with four checks at four locations for 2 years under drought, Striga-infested, low N and optimal environments in Nigeria. The GCA and SCA effects were significant (P ≤ 0.01) with preponderance of GCA over SCA effects for all measured traits indicating that additive genetic effects were predominant in the lines under all the contrasting environments. The HSGCA was more efficient than the SCA method in the classification of the inbreds into heterotic groups. The hybrids TZdEEI 74 × TZEEI 13 and TZdEEI 74 × TZEEI 29 were high yielding and most stable across research environments. These hybrids should be further evaluated in on-farm trials to confirm the consistency of performance for commercialization in SSA.     

Heterosis and inheritance of drought tolerance in faba bean, Vicia faba L.

Twelve parental lines of faba beans and 27 F₁ hybrids derived from them were field-tested under a dry and a well-watered treatment, at two German locations (Göttingen, Hohenheim) in two years (1995, 1996). Drought was artificially induced using rain shelters from anthesis until maturity. Data were collected on yield under dry (Yd) and well-watered (Yw) conditions. Drought tolerance was assessed as Yd/Yw. The mid-parent heterosis was significant for Yd and Yw, but not for Yd/Yw. Relative heterosis for Yd (52.0%) was greater than for Yw (39.3%). Parental heritability was greater for Yw (0.86) than for Yd (0.61). However, it was similar for both traits in F₁ hybrids (0.65 and 0.66). Principal component analysis showed that F₁ hybrids exhibited the same pattern of adaptation as their parents. The heritability of drought tolerance was 0.48 in F₁ hybrids and 0.70 in parents. Attention should be paid to its negative correlation with yield. Several hybrids combined high tolerance, a favourable pattern of adaptation and appropriate performance.     

Genetic analysis of the nitrogen and phosphorus utilization efficiencies in mature spring barley plants

Inheritance of the efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus utilization in grain production was studied in diallel hybrids of spring barley. Effects of varied NPK fertilization and soil moisture on the genetic variance was evaluated at maturity in pot‐ and field‐grown plants. A preponderance of general combining ability effects was found for the efficiency ratios and utilization efficiencies, suggesting that the generative efficiency indices were mainly controlled by an additive genetic system. However, the relatively high narrow‐sense heritabilities (0.33‐0.81) found under optimal conditions tended to decline to 0.00‐0.36 following water and nutrient shortages. The importance of non‐additive gene effects for utilization efficiencies was demonstrated in the field under reduced nutrition. This leads to the conclusion that the involvement of additive gene action should facilitate selection efforts only under favourable environments. Selection delayed until later hybrid generations should be used when trying to improve the nutrient efficiency of barley under less favourable nutrition conditions.