Diallel cross analysis for maturity and yield-related traits in melon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis melo</Emphasis> L.)

A complete diallel cross study of six local populations of Iranian melon (Eyvanaki, Abasali, Tashkandi, Hose-sorkh, Mashhadi and Nahavand) and one foreign cultivar (Ananasi) was carried out. We investigated maturity, average weight per fruit, yield and acceptable yield in the pruning conditions over a period of two planting seasons. The analysis of variance for all of the characteristics indicated highly significant differences among genotypes. Additive gene effects were most important with respect to average weight per fruit and yield, while genetic dominance effects mainly controlled fruit maturity and acceptable yield. The reciprocal effects were significant for yield, acceptable yield and fruit maturity. Nahavand and Tashkandi had significant positive general combining ability effects for yield and acceptable yield. Favourable heterosis over the better parent was found for average weight per fruit, yield and acceptable yield. Thus, there is the potential to generate superior cultivars in segregant generation and hybrid production.     

陆地棉配合力与杂种优势、遗传距离的相关性分析

 用10个陆地棉亲本进行不完全双列杂交,共配置了45个组合,计算亲本的一般配合力（GCA）、特殊配合力(SCA)、杂种优势,并结合SSR标记研究了陆地棉亲本配合力与杂种优势、遗传距离之间的相关关系。配合力分析发现,10个亲本的一般配合力和特殊配合力存在显著或极显著差异。分析亲本配合力、杂种优势和遗传距离的相关性发现,子棉产量、皮棉产量、衣分的一般配合力和杂种优势呈显著或极显著相关,纤维长度、比强度、麦克隆值、株高、果枝数、单株铃数、铃重、子棉产量、皮棉产量、衣分的特殊配合力和杂种优势均呈极显著正相关,而与遗传距离相关均不显著。单株铃数、铃重、子棉产量、皮棉产量、衣分的杂种优势与遗传距离均为正向显著或极显著相关。在育种实践中这些显著或极显著相关的性状可能具有较高的改良潜力。     

转Cry1Ab基因玉米自交系的产量性状配合力

本研究采用6份转Cry1Ab抗虫基因玉米自交系与5份常规玉米自交系为试验材料,利用NCⅡ设计,共组配30个杂交组合,对其穗行数、行粒数、穗重、穗长、穗粗5个穗部性状和小区产量进行方差分析和配合力估算,以鉴定这6个转Cry1Ab基因玉米自交系的育种利用潜力。结果表明,5个穗部性状和小区产量在30个组合间差异均达到极显著水平,小区产量与行粒数、穗重、穗长和穗粗均呈现极显著性正相关,其中小区产量与穗重的相关系数最高;转基因系6的产量一般配合力效应值最高为11.717,其次为转基因系1,效应值为2.946,其他4个系的效应值都为负值;转基因系6产量一般配合力与转基因系1、2、3、4、5有着极显著差异。在30个组合中,M03×转基因系5的特殊配合力效应值最高为25.808 2,其次为PH6WC×转基因系1,效应值为22.221 4;PH6WC×转基因系1的小区产量最高为635.873 kg/667 m^2,其次为M03×转基因系5,产量为593.625 kg/667 m^2。     

Heterosis and combining ability for grain yield and other agronomic traits in winter triticale

Hybrid breeding is a widely discussed alternative for triticale. Heterosis as well as general (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were estimated for eight agronomic traits. The experiment comprised 24 F₁ hybrids, produced by a chemical hybridizing agent, together with their six female and four male parents, grown in drilled plots in two locations. In comparison with the mid‐parent values, hybrids averaged a 6.4 dt/ha (10.1%) higher grain yield, 8.4% more kernels per spike, a 6.8% higher 1000‐kernel weight, 9.7% lower falling number (FN) and 4.4% greater plant height. SCA effects for grain yield were significant and ranged from 4.5 to 6.9 dt/ha for grain yield. Together with GCA x location interactions, they explained most of the variation. For 1000‐kernel weight, GCA effects were predominant. SCA and interactions with location accounted for most of the variation in FN, whereas interactions were negligible for plant height. Correlations between mid‐parent and hybrid performance and between GCA and per se performance of parents were tight for all traits except grain yield, which allows for pre‐selection of parental lines. Although the amount of heterosis in triticale at present is closer to wheat than to rye, by selecting parents for combining ability and identifying heterotic patterns, grain yield heterosis of up to 20% appears sufficiently encouraging to embark on hybrid breeding.     

Genetic analysis of rapeseed self-incompatibility lines reveals significant heterosis of different patterns for yield and oil content traits

Self‐incompatibility is one of the most effective approaches to utilizing heterosis in oilseed rape around the world. To evaluate the heterosis of double low self‐incompatibility, the possibility of combining seed yield and oil content, and the genetic effects of parents on their hybrid progenies, a 2‐year field trial using a 3 × 22 NC II mating design was conducted during the 1999‐2001 growing seasons in Wuhan, China. Significant differences in seed yield per plant and seed oil content were observed among the F1 hybrids and between F1 progenies and their parents. However, the heterosis for seed yield per plant was much greater than that for seed oil content. Mid‐parent heterosis and high‐parent heterosis of seed yield per plant ranged from 5.50 to 64.11% and from –2.81 to 46.02%, while those of seed oil content ranged from –1.55 to 7.44% and –3.61 to 6.55%, respectively. Non‐additive genetic effects were a major mechanism that accounted for the yield heterosis in addition to additive effects. In contrast, seed oil content heterosis was mainly dependent on an additive genetic effect. General combining ability (GCA) determined the stability of hybrid cultivars. In hybrid breeding, parental materials might be selected by the sum of GCAs and variances of special combining abilities (SCAs) of female and male parents for traits affected by both additive and non‐additive effects, and by the sum of GCAs of two parents for traits controlled mainly by additive effects. Primary branches and their siliques were the most important yield traits.     

Hybrid performance and heterosis in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne), regarding acidity,soluble solids and dry matter content in fruits

A top‐cross‐mating design among 29 S₄ inbred lines and tester (cultivar ‘Dukat’) was carried out to study their breeding value in terms of general combining ability (GCA). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the acidity, soluble solids and dry matter contents in fruits of progeny F₁ in comparison with S₄ inbred lines as well as the cultivars (S₀); identify strawberry genotypes with high value of GCA for use in cultivar development; and determine mid‐parent heterosis regarding S₄ inbred lines and cultivated strawberry. The 2‐year observations showed statistically significant differences between tested genotypes in terms of the studied traits. The highest breeding value based on GCA was estimated for Chandler 123‐5 for soluble solids and dry matter content, and Kent 7‐6 for acidity. Estimated mid‐parent heterosis had positive and negative values. The highest heterosis in terms of extract and dry matter content (26.71% and 17.50%, respectively) occurred in the offspring Chandler 123‐5 × ‘Dukat’, but as regards acidity in hybrid Chandler 123‐22 with cv. ‘Dukat’. The study of genetic divergence by dendrograms may help to identify parents suitable for obtaining hybrids with higher heterosis effects.     

印水型杂交粳稻产量及产量构成因素的配合力分析

为确定新育成印水型杂交粳稻亲本的潜力,并为印水型杂交粳稻育种提供理论基础,本研究以4个不育系和4 个恢复系为亲本进行不完全双列杂交,研究产量及其构成因素的配合力。结果表明：产量性状一般配合力(GCA)方差均达到极显著水平,除结实率外,父本的一般配合力方差大于母本,单株产量、有效穗和结实率的特殊配合力(SCA)方差达到显著或极显著水平。139A和晚轮422 的GCA效应较高,产量性状以Ⅱ类为主,139A×晚轮422 和辽粳10A×晚轮422 的单株产量水平及组合SCA效应较高。父本GCA效应和组合SCA效应对产量性状的影响较大,母本GCA效应对产量性状的影响相对较小。本研究中,父本的遗传差异大于母本,对产量性状的影响也大于母本,139A和晚轮422 有较大的应用潜力。     

Effect of Bradyrhizobium Strain on Combining Ability for Nitrogen Fixation in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)*

Improving the host genotype is one method of increasing biological nitrogen fixation by Bradyrhizobium in symbiosis with peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), but host-strain interactions also must be considered. The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of Bradyrhizobium strains on the inheritance of traits related to nitrogen fixation. Eight parents and the F₁ generation of a diallel cross were evaluated in symbiosis with two bacterial strains for combining ability in a factorial arrangement in the greenhouse. The parents represented three taxa of cultivated peanuts. The two Bradyrhizobium strains NC 92 and NC 123 produced different general and specific combining ability, maternal (reciprocal general) effects, and reciprocal specific effects for the host genotypes. With strain NC 92, the peanut cultivars NC 7 and NC Ac 2821 had the best general combining ability for all traits evaluated; while, with strain NC 123, Robut 33-1 exhibited a high general combining ability (GCA) for nitrogenase activity and specific activity. Genotype NC Ac 2821, when inoculated with strain NC 123, had a negative GCA effect for nodule number, while with strain NC 92 this cultivar had the highest GCA effect. The importance of strain selection in evaluating lines in a breeding program is discussed.     

食用向日葵产量与籽粒主要性状配合力及遗传分析

选用4份分枝型恢复系和6份雄性不育系材料作亲本,按照不完全双列杂交（NCII）设计配制24份向日葵杂交组合,对组合的小区产量、单株产量、单盘实粒数、百粒重、籽仁率、籽粒长度和籽粒宽度7个性状的亲本配合力、遗传参数及竞争优势进行分析。结果表明,24份组合的7个性状存在真实性的遗传差异。在亲本不育系一般配合力（GCA）选择的基础上,应注意组合特殊配合力（SCA）的选择,GCA效应值高的亲本育种潜力较大,组配出优势组合的概率大;籽粒长度和籽粒宽度的狭义遗传力较低,分别为7.91%和14.89%,不宜进行早代选择;GCA较高的不育系为亲本A和亲本D,其中亲本A在各性状上均为正向GCA效应值,且在供试不育系中,其GCA效应值最大,其次为亲本D;组合1×A小区产量的SCA效应值及竞争优势最高,为本试验中的最优组合,其他籽粒性状与对照相比也均有提升。     

Genomic prediction of sunflower hybrid performance

Predicting single‐cross performance is of high importance to improve the efficiency of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrid breeding programmes. We used experimental data from inter‐ and intragroup sunflower hybrids and their parental lines adapted to Central Europe to (i) study the genetic diversity and combining ability and (ii) examine the accuracy to predict hybrid performance based on phenotypic and genomic data. We evaluated 133 intragroup and 104 intergroup hybrids with their parental lines in replicated trials at four environments for grain yield, oil yield and oil content. Furthermore, the parental lines were fingerprinted with 572 AFLP markers. Variance due to specific combining ability was comparable for intergroup and intragroup crosses. This suggested a lack of clearly defined heterotic groups for the sample of studied sunflower lines. Prediction accuracy of hybrid performance based on general combining ability effects was high and could not be increased using genomic selection approaches. For situations where no information on GCA effects of parental lines was available, hybrid prediction based on genomic selection methods was accurate for groups of related lines. For groups of unrelated lines, however, we observed a strong decrease in the prediction accuracy. This suggests that prediction of hybrid performance for crosses based on genetically distant parents remains challenging.     

Top‐cross vs. poly‐cross as alternative to test‐cross for estimating the general combining ability in potato

Test‐crosses for estimating combining ability in potato although useful are difficult to make being labour intensive and time consuming, and due to the problem of sterility. The objective of the present study was to test methods for estimating general combining ability (GCA) of parents based on fewer matings. The GCA of 12 females estimated based on matings with specific single testers (top‐cross) and three types of bulk pollen (poly‐cross) were compared with those estimated by 72 (12 × 6) test‐crosses, using common testers in three types of matings. The study was conducted for 2 years at each of the two locations representing short‐days subtropical conditions in plains and long‐days temperate conditions in hills of India. Analysis of variance of test‐crosses showed that both general and specific combining ability effects were important for tuber yield, late blight resistance as well as general impression, the characters studied. Correlation coefficients among three types of matings showed that bulk pollen matings had poor effectiveness in predicting the GCA of the females, whereas matings with selected individual testers resulted in GCA estimates similar to those based on six testers. Thus use of top‐cross involving selected tester could substantially reduce the number of matings required for estimating the GCA. Among the six testers used, the tester CFK69.1 could estimate the GCA of the females with reasonably high accuracy both for tuber yield and general impression, and ‘Tobique’ for reaction to late blight.     

Genetic control of alfalfa seed yield and its components

Seed yield is of little agronomic importance in alfalfa (lucerne) but is critical in the marketing of varieties. In order to develop breeding criteria, the quantitative genetics of seed yield components must be studied. The objective of this study was (1) to evaluate combining ability for seed yield and its components and (2) to estimate the genetic control of these same characters. A 7 × 7 diallel mating design, including reciprocals, among parents from different varieties, and a 7 × 7 factorial design within the ‘Flamande’ population were evaluated. In the diallel design, where the progenies were evaluated over two growing seasons, a high genotype effect was found for seed yield and its components while genotype × year interaction was only significant for seed yield per plant. General combining ability (GCA) effects explained most of the variation due to genotype effect. Specific combining ability (SCA) and reciprocal effects were only significant for seed yield per plant. ‘Europe‐1’, ‘Rival‐5’ and ‘Medalfa‐7’ were the most promising parents, conferring the highest GCA for most of the characters evaluated, especially for seed weight per inflorescence. In the factorial design, seed weight per pod was the only character for which the year effect was not significant. Male and female effects were significant for all characters and these effects were larger than the male × female interaction variance for all the characters. These results were stable over the 2 years for most characters. Additive variance was larger than dominance variance, for all traits. This resulted in high narrow‐sense heritabilities, especially for seed yield per plant, seed weight per inflorescence and number of seeds per pod. Seed weight per inflorescence and number of seeds per inflorescence were highly correlated with seed yield per plant among the full‐sib (FS) families, in both experiments. Increase in seed yield potential in alfalfa could be achieved by the use of seed weight per inflorescence as a selection criterion.     

A diallel study of yield components and fruit quality in chilli pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum baccatum</Emphasis>)

The aim of this work was to estimate the general and specific combining ability of peppers by measuring fruit quality and yield traits. This experiment was carried out on the garden field from Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Minas Gerais State—Brazil. Eight lines of Capsicum baccatum belonging to the UFV Horticultural Germplasm Bank were chosen based on their broad genetic and phenotypical background variation and then they were crossed in a complete diallel way. The F₁ seeds of the 56 hybrids and eight parents were planted in the field in a randomized complete block design. The data were submitted to ANOVA and the means were grouped by Scott–Knott test (P ≤ 0.01). Significant variation for fruit quality and yield components was observed among parents and F₁ generation. Analysis of variance for the combining ability showed that GCA effects exhibited significant difference and SCA effects of the crosses were significant, except for the height of first bifurcation. For almost all characters both additive and non-additive effects influenced the performance of hybrids.     

Estimates of parental combining abilities in rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) based on young seedling progeny

Summary The general combining ability (GCA) of parents for latex yield (0.7–14.4) and vigour (0.7–3.6) of young Hevea seedlings from the Phase V breeding programme of the RRIM were estimated. The GCA yield values were compared with the GCAs of different seedling populations in the mature phase. Results suggest that nursery data can be used to identify potential parents for futurecrosses. Further work will help significantly to shorten the breeding cycle in Hevea.     

Heterotic effects for yield and tuber solids and type of gene action for five traits in 4x potato families derived from interploid (4x-2x) crosses

The degree of heterosis for total tuber yield (TTY) and total solids (TS) in 4x‐2x crosses was estimated by comparing the performance of 12 families with their respective parents in two locations in Wisconsin (USA). The parental 2x clones were Phureja‐haploid Tuberosum hybrids with 2n‐pollen production by first‐division restitution. The general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were estimated for TTY, TS, vine maturity (VM), length of tuber sprout dormancy (LD), and tuber eye depth (ED). Family performance for TTY ranged from 74 to 146% at Hancock (E#1) and from 77 to 287 at Rhinelander (E#2) when compared with that of the 4x parent group. For VM, the families were late maturing, but a few precocious ones were identified. For TS, the families had heterosis of 5.1% over the 4x parent group. The families had slightly higher ED values than the 4x parents, but families with values within the commercial range were identified. The family average for LD (54 days) was closer to the 2x group (51 days) than to the 4x group (88 days). The direction and magnitude of the parent‐family relationships were variable. The 4x parent TTY was correlated with progeny in E#1 but not E#2. The 2x parent VM had correlation with the offspring at E#2 but not at E#1. The type of gene action had a trait‐specific expression. Significant SCA and GCA variances were observed, suggesting that additive as well as non‐additive genetic effects were operating. The 4x‐2x crosses were able to generate heterotic families for TTY and TS in combination with other useful traits. However, no promising results were found for LD because of the apparent dominance of the short‐dormancy phenotype. This result indicates the need of additional selection and breeding efforts for some specific traits when using S. phureja‐derived germplasm.     

黄淮地区大豆重要亲本间产量的杂种优势、配合力及其遗传基础

2003-2005年以选自黄淮地区及美国的8个大豆重要亲本品种(系)及其组配的28个双列杂交组合为材料, 分析大豆亲本间的产量杂种优势及其配合力, 探讨高优势组合的遗传基础, 包括杂种优势与亲本系数、SSR标记遗传距离的相关。结果表明: (1)黄淮地区大豆亲本间存在产量超亲优势, 平均20.39%, 组合间差异甚大, 变幅–5.34%~76.88%, 优选出豫豆22×晋豆27、淮豆4号×晋豆27、诱变30×蒙90-24, 超亲优势分别为76.88%、29.90%和34.42%, 超标率均在25.00%以上, 晋豆27和诱变30为优秀亲本材料。单株荚数及单株粒数的优势和产量优势相对一致;(2) 大豆亲本间产量杂种优势既与双亲一般配合力之和及特殊配合力有关, 又不完全相关。高优势高产组合的亲本产量配合力特点为亲本之一具有较高的一般配合力, 或双亲具有较高的一般配合力之和, 兼有较高的特殊配合力。单株荚数和单株粒数的情况和产量一致;(3) 按亲本系数聚类和按SSR标记遗传相似系数聚类揭示的8个亲本间的遗传关系相对一致, 均分为两组, 一组包含6个黄淮中、南部品种(系), 另一组包含1个山西和1个美国品种。要获得高优势高产组合, 亲本间必须具有一定的遗传距离, 但遗传距离大并不一定都高产高优势, 还有其他因素决定杂种优势。     

Combining ability and correlations for yield components in early generations of potato breeding

A partial diallel set of crosses was made between 14 potato cultivars chosen for their fertility, from those included in a potato breeding programme at the NEIKER – Basque Institute for Agricultural Research. The progeny were grown in completely randomized trials from 1997 to 1999. Performance for yield, tuber number and average tuber weight was analysed in seedling and two clonal generations. Variance estimates due to both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were significant in all generations for all traits under study. However, SCA was more important than GCA in almost all cases. Correlation coefficients among characters, generations, GCA and SCA effects were examined. For tuber yield no relation was obtained between generations; however, average tuber weight and yield were positively associated in all generations. The results indicate that appropriate selection criteria depend strongly on the particular cross. The implication for a breeding strategy are discussed.     

A diallel analysis of various traits in winter triticale

In triticale, preharvest sprouting tolerance is important for yield stability and quality of the grain. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to estimate quantitative genetic parameters of preharvest sprouting tolerance in triticale using a diallel of eight modern triticale cultivars and breeding lines. The 28 F₁‐hybrids and the parents were planted in the breeding nurseries in 2001 and 2002 at four locations. Heading, plant height, falling numbers of two harvest dates, thousand kernel weight (TKW) and preharvest sprouting (Spr) were measured. The heritabilities for plant height and TKW were the highest with 0.91 and 0.85, respectively. Falling number and sprouting showed heritabilities between 0.66 and 0.83. Mid‐parent heterosis (MPHET) was negative for heading, indicating a non‐significant earlier heading of the F₁‐hybrids. In plant height and TKW the heterosis was positive with 4.7% and 6.3% MPHET. Both falling numbers displayed a negative MPHET of nearly −15%. In contrast to falling numbers, the preharvest sprouting of hybrids was slightly reduced in comparison with the parents. In all traits analysed, general combining ability (GCA)‐variances were greater than specific combining ability (SCA)‐variances.     

Analysis of diallel crosses between wheat genotypes with genetically different resistance to Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides (Fron) Deighton

Two diallels were analysed for general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) to study the resistance of crosses‐between wheat genotypes, advanced to the F₅ generation, to Pseudocer‐cosporella herpotrichoides. The parents either carried the resistance‐gene Pch‐1 or had different levels of quantitative resistance, one genotype was susceptible. At medium milk‐ripening, significant effects were‐found for GCA and SCA. GCA effects were the more important. Diallel crosses between genotypes, all carrying Pch‐1, revealed interactions‐of the gene with the genotypic background. Some combinations had a‐higher level of resistance than the best parent. In these populations'CH‐75417’ was involved as a parent. Both ‘CH‐75417’ and ‘F–210.13.4.42’ had significant GCA effects. Crosses between quantitatively resistant parents yielded populations that transgressed both parents. The increased resistance level was associated with ‘Cappelle‐Desprez’, distinguished by its high GCA. In some crosses SCA contributed significantly to an increase in resistance level. Selection for resistance within the best advanced populations is recommended since it‐takes advantage of additive gene action and the high heritability estimates based on ELISA values in plant progenies.     

Winter × spring wheat hybridization - a promising avenue for yield enhancement

Introgression of the winter gene pool into spring wheat is being considered as one of the strategies to break through the yield plateau. However, little information is available on the combining ability of these two important but distinct groups of wheats in Indian conditions. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to determine the combining ability and gene action of yield and yield attributes in winter × spring wheat crosses. Seventy F₁ progenies developed by 14 winter and five spring wheat lines using a line × tester design were evaluated, along with their parents, for yield and yield attributes in a randomized complete block design under field conditions. The mean squares for all the characters studied showed highly significant differences. The mean squares due to female × male interactions were significant for all the characters studied except for grains per ear and grain weight per ear. Additive genetic effects were found to play a key role in controlling the expression of days to heading, plant height and spikelets per ear.‘MV 19’ and ‘Stepniak’/‘Karvuna’ among winter and ‘PBW 65’ among spring wheats were good general combiners for most of the yield attributes studied. The estimates for specific combining ability effects suggested that, although general combining ability (GCA) effects of most winter wheats are either average or poor, their combination can give desirable genotypes with spring wheat parents possessing a high GCA.