Agricultural potential of Mediterranean grain and forage legumes: Key differences between and within Vicia species in terms of phenology, yield, and agronomy give insight into plant adaptation to semi-arid environments

In order to identify key adaptive traits which affect productivity in Mediterranean grain and forage legumes and simultaneously determine the agricultural potential of a wide range of Vicia species, germplasm collected from the wild throughout the eastern Mediterranean was grown under semi-arid conditions in Tel Hadya, Syria (313 mm growing season rainfall). These included species currently in use in Mediterranean agriculture, such as V. sativa L., as well as those more widely used in the past-such as V. ervilia L., but also a broad selection from Section Narbonensis (B. Fedtsch. ex Radzhi) Maxted, including V. narbonensis L, V. johannis Tamamsch., V. hyaeniscyamus Mout., V. serratifolia Jacq., and V. kalakhensis Khattab et al. V. faba, a near relative of the taxa in Section Narbonensis, was included as a domesticated control. Where applicable, a representative range of subspecies was used. Accessions were chosen from a wide range of habitats in terms of latitude (31.02–40.72 decimal^o), longitude (27.1–43.17 decimal^o), altitude (20–1510 m), rainfall (180–1700 mm/yr) and soil depth (5–50 cm) in order to maximise diversity within species. Agricultural potential was determined by measuring seed, hay and biological yield, as well as agronomic traits such as harvest index, standing crop height, and seed size. The comparative influence of phenology and key agronomic traits such as plant habit and seed size on productivity varied tremendously between species, depending on their reproductive strategies. In V. sativa and V. ervilia, the smaller seed species which rely on long vegetative phases and growing seasons to accumulate sufficient biomass to set seed, and in which there was comparatively little agronomic variation, phenology had a large impact on yield. In early emerging taxa such as V. ervilia and V. s. subsp. sativa, with built-in long vegetative phases and growing seasons, seed yield was negatively correlated with flower ing (r = –0.86 to –0.88), whereas the opposite was the case for later emerging taxa such as V. s. subsp. nigra (L.) Ehrh. (r = 0.95). Within V. narbonensis and relatives, the larger seeded Vicia species which rely on more conservative reproductive strategies where high seedling vigour associated with large seeds enables the species to enter reproductive phases relatively early, phenology had a much smaller impact on yield than did variation of key traits such as seed weight, plant habit and pod shattering. Among the undomesticated germplasm harvest indices ranged from 0.09–0.31, hay yields from 0.1–3.4 t/ha, seed yield from 0–2.0 t/ha, and dry matter at maturity from 1.6–6.5 t/ha. Sub-specific taxonomy was crucial in determining agronomic potential. V. narbonensis var. aegyptiaca Kornhuber ex Asch. et Schweinf. showed the most potential, combining an upright habit, large seeds (212 mg) and tendency to retain intact pods after maturity, with the highest yield, harvest index and crop height of all the wild Vicia species. V. sativa subsp. sativa, V. ervilia and V. narbonensis var. narbonensis were less productive, but still showed agricultural potential. The smaller seeded V. narbonensis, var. affinis, var. jordanica H. Schäf. and var. salmonea (Mout.) H. Schäf., and their close relatives V. johannis, V. hyaeniscyamus, V. serratifolia and V. kalakhensis have little to offer Mediterranean agriculture on the basis of poor agronomy.     

Hybridization barriers between diploid Solanum tuberosum and wild Solanum raphanifolium

Wild potato germplasm represents a unique, diverse and accessible resource for disease and pest resistance, along with useful agronomic traits that may be introgressed into the cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Hybridization of diploid wild Solanum species with haploids (2×) of cultivated potato (4×) is generally an effective technique for introducing genetic diversity and desirable traits into potato. However, in this study, hybridization barriers were found in crosses between S. tuberosum haploids and the wild species S. raphanifolium. Male sterility, likely due to nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions, was observed in some haploid tbr?×?S. raphanifolium hybrids. In addition, pollen-pistil incompatibilities were observed in backcross, F2, and reciprocal cross hybridization attempts that failed to produce seed. More crosses were successful when F1 clones were crossed as females to wild clones than to cultivated clones. When crosses were made in the other direction, with F1 hybrids used as male parents, seeds were almost never produced.     

Patterns of diversity in Cannabis

Summary A Cannabis germplasm collection was evaluated for traits relevant to the use of hemp as an arable source of paper pulp. The traits were related to stem yield and quality, psychoactive potency, resistance to root-knot nematodes and plant morphology. The present study is directed at diversity for these traits considered together. For the interpretation of diversity patterns, accessions were grouped on the basis of the presumed purpose and status of domestication resulting in the recognition of four plant-use groups: fibre cultivars, fibre landraces, drug strains, and truly wild or naturalized populations. Principal component analysis showed that stem quality, phenological development, psychoactive potency and host reactions to root-knot nematodes explained most of the total variation among accessions. The plant-use groups were reasonably well separated in the principal component space. Discriminant analysis showed that the a priori defined plant-use groups could be discriminated quite well on the basis of linear combinations of all agronomic and morphological traits. The contents of bark fibre and cannabinoids had the highest grouping value. Reallocations concerned mainly old fibre cultivars which were placed in the group of fibre landraces due to a low content of bark fibre.A genetic characterization of accessions was based on electrophoretic patterns of seed proteins. Isoelectric ocusing patterns of bulk seed extracts showed variation for the presence of six out of 45 protein bands in the H range from 4.75 to 6.40. Banding patterns were however independent from any grouping based on origin or gronomic and morphological traits and did not reflect expected common ancestry of accessions.     

马铃薯块茎顶端优势与主茎数及产量组分的相关性

马铃薯块茎产量性状复杂,由多个产量组分构成.为探究马铃薯块茎不同顶端优势类型、植株主茎数和产量组分的相关性,本研究对国际马铃薯中心引进的102份高代品系块茎的发芽情况进行筛选,以12个顶端优势强弱程度不同的马铃薯品系为试验材料,在马铃薯植株盛花期测定主茎数;收获期统计小区产量、小区大薯产量、小区小薯产量、单株产量、单株...     

甘薯淀粉产量及相关性状的遗传多样性和关联度分析

甘薯[Ipomoea batatas(L.)Lam.]是加工淀粉和燃料乙醇的重要原料,是目前我国最具开发前景的非粮食类新型能源作物。选育高淀粉产量的能源型甘薯新品种是甘薯育种的重要目标。为了获得准确筛选高淀粉产量育种材料的性状指标,提高甘薯高淀粉产量育种效率,缩短育种周期,本研究利用不同甘薯品种(系)的自然变异,根据淀粉产量、不同生长发育阶段的5个主要农艺性状和3个淀粉合成关键酶活性测定结果,利用相似系数和遗传距离矩阵,以类平均法对国内48份不同淀粉产量甘薯种质资源进行了遗传多样性分析,通过关联度分析研究了淀粉产量与不同时期农艺性状、淀粉合成关键酶活性的相关性。结果表明:48份甘薯种质资源材料在不同时期农艺特征差异较大;不同时期农艺性状的聚类结果中,栽后100 d的农艺性状与淀粉产量关联度最大,淀粉产量与该时期的基部分枝数呈极显著负相关(r=0.428),与干率呈极显著正相关(r=0.423),而与最长蔓长、单株结薯数和单株鲜薯重相关性不显著。48份甘薯种质材料在不同时期的酶活聚类结果差异明显。不同时期的甘薯淀粉合成关键酶活性聚类结果中,栽后50 d酶活聚类与淀粉产量聚类结果关联度最大,淀粉产量与该时期测得的ADPG焦磷酸化酶(ADPG-PPase)活性呈负相关关系(r=0.163),与蔗糖合成酶(SS)活性(r=0.101)、蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)活性(r=0.016)呈正相关,但相关性均未达到显著水平。加之淀粉合成关键酶活性测定步骤繁琐,不适宜作为甘薯高淀粉产量育种早期选择的生理指标。在高淀粉产量育种材料筛选时可于栽后100 d对农艺性状进行综合考察,重点考虑干率较高及分枝数较少的品系。本研究可为甘薯高淀粉产量育种提供一定的理论依据。     

Influence of ecological factors on population differentiation in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Summary Microgeographic differentiation was investigated at the phenotypic level for 10 agronomic traits between 24 pairs of adjacent populations of perennial ryegrass from Ireland. None of the univariate or multivariate statistical tests succeeded in finding any relationship between ecological characteristics of the contrasting sites and agronomic traits, which could have been interpreted as a result of directional selection.Complementary studies of isozyme loci on 12 populations indicated some genetic divergence for neutral genes in 3 out of 6 pairs. These genetically differentiated populations also differ for agronomic traits, and notably for heading date, which could lead to reproductive isolation.The possible influence of random drift, selection and reproductive isolation are discussed, as well as the consequences for collecting natural populations as genetic resources for breeding use.     

马铃薯对瓜列当种子萌发的化感作用研究

瓜列当给瓜类等经济作物造成较大危害。本研究采用盆栽4个推广马铃薯品种"夏波蒂"、"青薯168"、"冀张薯5号"和"克新1号",以不同生长时期(幼苗期、开花期和结薯期)马铃薯根际土、根系和地上部的浸提液(甲醇和水)刺激瓜列当种子萌发,根据发芽率来判定其对瓜列当化感作用的强弱,同时筛选刺激瓜列当发芽率高的品种用于列当杂草的防除。结果表明,马铃薯能刺激瓜列当种子萌发;不同马铃薯品种对瓜列当的化感作用各有差异,随着马铃薯的生长,根际土中化感物质积累不断升高,根系化感作用逐渐减弱,而地上部化感作用逐渐增强。甲醇浸提液刺激瓜列当种子发芽率高于水浸提液,即甲醇浸提化感作用效果较好。"夏波蒂"根系甲醇浸提液刺激瓜列当种子的发芽率在幼苗期最高,为48.5%;而地上部甲醇浸提液处理的发芽率在结薯期最高,为51.2%。可以在瓜列当危害的农田轮作"夏波蒂"5~8年,同时采用马铃薯秸秆还田来减少土壤中瓜列当种子库,达到防除瓜列当危害的目的。     

Variations in morphological and agronomic traits among Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) accessions

Jerusalem artichoke is a diversely-utilized crop. Selection for high yield, inulin content and other economically important traits are useful for improving this crop. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate genetic variability for qualitative and quantitative traits among Jerusalem artichoke accessions and to identify different groups of accessions using morphological and agronomic traits. Seventy-nine accessions were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with two replications in the late rainy season 2008, the early rainy season 2009 and the late rainy season 2009 at Khon Kaen University agronomy farm, Thailand. Morphological and agronomic characteristics were evaluated for genetic variations. High variations were found among Jerusalem artichoke accessions for qualitative and quantitative characters, and selection for these characters is possible. High variations were observed for tuber width, number of tubers/plant, biomass, fresh tuber yield and tuber size. Correlation coefficient between fresh tuber yield and tuber size was positive and significant (0.58, P ≤ 0.01). Improvement of tuber size is a means to improve yield and tuber quality. Based on morphological and agronomic characteristics, Jerusalem artichoke accessions were clustered into four distinct groups (R² = 0.88). These groups may be used as parental material to generate progenies for further improvement of this crop. This information will enable breeders to make informed decisions about possible heterotic groups for their breeding programs and germplasm conservation.     

Effect of location on starch content and tuber texture characteristics in potato breeding lines and cultivars

The texture of boiled potato tubers is one of the most important quality traits. The variation of tuber texture is usually examined in relationship with dry matter or starch content. The objective of the work was to examine variation and stability of texture and starch content in tubers grown in various environments. Both traits were evaluated for the set of potato breeding lines and 10 table potato cultivars. The lines were developed in the program of parental lines carried out in M?ochów Research Center, Poland. The environments were represented by three locations, which differed in cultivation system as well as climatic and soil conditions. The traits were influenced by the effects of genotype, location and their interactions. The effect of location on texture was not explained by the changes in starch content. The calculated stability parameters indicated that unstable expression of both traits was more pronounced and more frequent in breeding lines than in the cultivars. The short period of selection used in the development of the parental lines is not conducive to select potato genotypes with stable expression of quality traits. The starch content was at most moderately related with various characteristics of tuber texture.     

Performance of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Landraces from Spain in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Environments

Ninety-five common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces from Spain were evaluated in three different environments in northern Spain for their agronomic performance and seed quality. Significant differences among landraces were found for 14 quantitative traits related to phenology, yield and its components, and seed quality traits. Environmental effects were significant for all traits evaluated except for seeds pod^?1, seed width/thickness, seed weight, and seed water absorption. Landrace by environment interactions were significant for all traits except for seeds pod^?1 and seed water absorption. Selection of new breeding lines for agronomic performance and seed quality within landraces should be reliable because many of them are mixture of lines. Some heirloom varieties belonging to the types faba, caparrón,riñón,ganxet and tolosana had the best performances regarding to seed quality and yield. Principal component analysis revealed differences among environments affecting the performance of the bean landraces. Variation in the landraces seems to be organized in a different way in each one of the test environments, therefore, low plasticity and specific adaptation of Spanish bean landraces to different environments is derived from this study. Some landraces, especially those large and white seeded should be an useful resource for sustainable farming systems in different biogeographical areas and a worthy germplasm for the genetic improvement of agronomic value and seed quality.     

Micro-nutrient composition and end-user acceptable quality in potato in Ethiopia

Micronutrient deficiencies in diets, including iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), are an important public health problem across population in Ethiopia. Potato is a modest source of dietary nutrients. The purpose of this study was to assess the mineral (Fe & Zn) composition of potato germplasm in Ethiopia and grower's willingness to try new potato types. The Fe and Zn contents were assessed in peeled tubers of popular farmer varieties, and newly introduced Andean diploid group Phureja accessions and improved tetraploid clones grown in multi-location trials. Grower's preferences for the new potato types was assessed using a participatory approach. Significant variations in mineral and tuber yield traits exist among the germplasm assessed and broad-sense heritability appears to be high for most traits measured, suggesting that progress through breeding can be made among these materials. However, the slightly negative correlation of tuber yield with Fe and Zn content and user appreciation traits found in this study suggests that progress in improving crops for yield and enhanced Fe and Zn concentrations with end-user acceptable quality will be challenging. The results from this study provide baseline information on Fe and Zn composition of many popular farmer varieties in Ethiopia and end-user preference criteria for evaluating new potato varieties that would help to orient the biofortification breeding to the conditions and preference of farmers.     

Diversity of Nordic Landrace Potatoes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis> L.) Revealed by AFLPs and Morphological Characters

The management of genebank collections of cultivated potato is costly due to the need for in vitro maintenance and virus eradication. Therefore, it is important to set up conservation strategies, which prevent duplicates entering the collections. In this study, 32 Nordic potato landraces were studied for 57 morphological traits and analysed for amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Most landraces could be distinguished based on the morphological characters, except five accessions. Using five primer combinations to generate 114 reproducible AFLPs, of which 63 (55%) were polymorphic, the five morphologically indistinguishable accessions were placed into two groups with identical AFLP patterns, suggesting that some of the accessions were redundant for long-term preservation. The AFLP data showed that the Nordic collection of potato landraces is composed of genetically different clones, and morphological analysis revealed a wide range of variability. This variability seems to be distributed randomly over the Nordic region since the cluster analysis based on AFLPs and morphological traits revealed no grouping based on the country of origin. Principal component analysis suggests that fewer morphological traits than used in this study will be sufficient to discriminate between different genotypes of cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Future possibilities for rationalising potato collections are discussed.     

Constraints for potato production in the tropics

Potato tuber yields in the tropics are extremely low compared to those of temperate zones. The low yields merely reflect the inability of the current technology to overcome soil and environmental constraints. Given the various constraints affecting potato production in the tropics, few viable soil and crop management options remain. This paper reviews key constraints for potato production, assesses the impact of indigenous and/or adapted technology in managing them, and examines basic relationships describing productivity changes as management takes place. The overall intent of this paper is to outline the scientific basis for developing management strategies to sustain and improve potato production in the tropics.     

Agronomic traits of exotic barley germplasms resistant to soil-borne mosaic-inducing viruses

Summary In order to obtain information on agronomic performance and potential use of yellow mosaic virus resistant barley germplasms (Hordeum vulgare L.) in breeding programmes, twenty-six varieties were tested for agronomic traits in two years trials. The varieties tested differ in their reaction to the soil-borne mosaic-inducing viruses (BaMMV, BaYMV, BaYMV-2) and their genetic base of BaMMV-resistance. All of the exotic varieties tested are of inferior agronomic performance as compared to resistant German cultivars. Grain yield ranged from 77% to 33% in comparison to the highest yielding German winter barley cultivar Franka. Furthermore, a large variation was also observed in thousand grain weight, number of grains per spike, height, lodging, winterkilling and susceptibility to scald (Rhynchosporium secalis (Oudem) Davis).     

Vermicompost and Vermiwash Minimized the Influence of Salinity Stress on Growth Parameters in Potato Plants

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the fourth major crop worldwide after cereals. Some producers use irrigation water with high salinity, which consequently decreases the agronomic yield and potato quality. The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of vermicompost and vermiwash on plant growth and tuber yield and characteristic traits in Solanum tuberosum L. plants and tubers subjected to salinity stress. A surface response experimental design with three replicates using a central point and 15 treatments was used with vermicompost at 300, 580, and 860 g plant^?1; vermiwash at 5, 10, and 15 ml plant^?1; and salinity stress with 15, 20, and 25 mM of NaCl levels. Plant physiological measurements included plant height (cm), stem diameter (mm), and plant fresh and plant dry weight (g). Six months after planting, measurements on tuber fresh weight, pH, electric conductivity, and °Brix were carried out. The addition of vermicompost and vermiwash minimized the influence of salinity stress on growth parameters and tuber characteristics in potato plants. Vermicompost (580 g plant^?1) plus vermiwash (15 ml plant^?1) induced a greater plant height and stem diameter. Plants amended with vermicompost (860 g plant^?1), vermiwash (15 ml plant^?1), and salinity stress (15 mM) had higher pH values, whereas electrical conductivity value in potato tubers decreased.     

Increase of potato genetic resources in their center of diversity: the role of natural outcrossing and selection by the Andean farmer

Summary The Andean farmer conserves and maintains the existing genetic diversity of potato cultivars by means of clonal propagation of tubers. However, surveys of traditional farms showed that botanical seed propagation was used for disease elimination, stock rejuvenation and the creation of new cultivars. Electrophoretic surveys based on 542 tubers collected from 18 markets sampled in the Cusco area disclosed a total of 229 different cultivars from diploid, triploid and tetraploid forms of Solanum tuberosum L. These could be classified by isozyme cluster analysis into four major groups and six minor groups. However, they did not agree with groups based on flesh or skin color. It is therefore concluded that all genotypes belong to a single, large gene pool with considerable gene flow between cultivars of different groups. When the samples were grouped by the three most common tuber skin colors, namely red/pink (Q'ompis type), purple (Yana Imilla type), and yellowish/brown (Yuraq Kusi type), similar allozymes were observed in all three classes. The structure of the isozymic phenotypes within each group indicate that they may have been derived as segregants after outcrossing of diverse parental types. In order to provide further evidence for the origin of new types by hybridization, two segregating diploid progenies were generated by crossing purple by yellow skin types. In the resulting F₁, most of the tuber phenotypes observed in the Andean varieties were reproduced in these crosses. It can be concluded that the Andean potatoes form a large and plastic gene pool amplified and renovated by outcrossing followed in some cases by human selection of desirable phenotypes.     

New sources of resistance to race Ro1 of the Golden nematode (Globodera rostochiensis Woll.) among reputed duplicate germplasm accessions of Solanum tuberosum L. subsp. andigena (Juz. et Buk.) Hawkes in the VIR (Russian) and US Potato Genebanks

Cultivated Solanum tuberosum L. subsp. andigena is well known as a rich source of valuable traits for potato breeding, especially for resistance to diseases and pests. The golden potato cyst nematode, Globodera rostochiensis Woll., is considered to be one of todays most serious hindrances to potato production in Europe and North America. Thus, the breeding of new cultivars that have resistance to PCN is of great importance. The USPG (USA) and VIR (Russian) potato genebanks, as well as others, maintain many samples of primitive cultivated and wild potato species originating from Latin America. Many of these samples are assumed to be genetically duplicated because the material in both genebanks came from the same original source. A joint investigation of new genotypes of subsp. andigena forms resistant to potato cyst nematode (PCN) was carried out on samples of subsp. andigena at VIR with reputed duplicate samples at USPG. After careful screening, 14 samples which possessed resistance to PCN were identified. A high level of this resistance was transmitted to sexual progeny at a high frequency for all of the selections. Eleven of the accessions found to be resistant have reputed duplicates in USPG that were not previously known to be resistant. Thus, this research not only broadens the choice of parents available for resistance breeding, but identifies model materials for future research to test the parity of PCN resistance among reputed duplicate samples in the two genebanks.     

Allelopathy variation in dryland winter wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.) accessions grown on the Loess Plateau of China for about fifty years

In this study, we investigated the genetic variation of allelopathic potential, its grey correlation with important agronomic characters, and rank analysis on allelopathic stability of fifteen wheat accessions commonly grown in arid regions of the Loess Plateau in China. The genetic variation of allelopathic property in dryland winter wheat showed significant differences between accessions. Allelopathic effects exhibited high heritability (55–95%) throughout the life cycle of wheat. Heritability was highest in the tillering stage and weakest in the seed filling stage. Allelopathic potential varied and was discontinuous throughout the wheat life cycle. Grey correlation analysis indicated a close relationship between allelopathic potential dependant on growth phase and agronomic characters. Allelopathic expression during some growth periods induced a partial correlation effect on some important agronomic characters that affected wheat yield. Allelopathic heritability and its degree of influence on yield were more evident in the vegetative growth stage compared to the reproductive stage. A multiple linear regression was built between allelopathic potential during different growth periods and agronomic characters pursued in wheat breeding. Allelopathic potential had a linear effect on production traits cultivated in wheat breeding. When allelopathic intensity varied from 0 to 1 in the reproductive stage, plant height ranged from 44 to 108 cm, spike length from 6.4 to 9.2 cm, number of spikelets with seeds from 13.4 to 21.0, mean seed number per spike from 41.5 to 50.3 and thousand seed weight from 36.2 to 38.3 g. Based on rank analysis, we concluded that there was a synergistic relationship between allelopathic potential in wheat and genetic, chemical and ecological factors. Triticum aestivum L. ‘No 6 Lankao’ and T. aestivum L. ‘No 22 Xiaoyan’ were identified as stable and relatively strong allelopathic accessions, whereas T. aestivum L. ‘Lankao 95–25’ was a stable but relatively weak allelopathic cultivar. Other varieties showed unstable allelopathic potential.