Early Generation Selection for Grain Yield in Narrow-Leaf Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.)

Experiments were conducted with early segregating generations of a selected narrow-leaf lupin cross to determine the effectiveness of selection for yield based on alternative criteria. F2 plants were selected on the basis of seed yield and several other yield-related characters to generate separate F3 populations. Randomly selected plants from each population were grown over the summer (off-season) in a glasshouse to generate F4 populations. Analyses of relationships between F2 plant measurements and F3 progeny mean yields revealed significant correlations only for those characters with the highest heritabilities - flowering time, 100 seed weight and harvest index. However, selection for the earliest flowering F2 plants followed by selection within this group of plants with the highest number of pod bearing branches would result in the greatest increase in F3 mean yield. The F2-derived F4 populations with the highest seed yields were those obtained by selection for total plant dry weight, number of pod bearing branches and number of pods per plant. Improvement in commercial crop yield should therefore be obtained through selection in early generations for those characters contributing to the greatest number of pods per unit area. A scheme involving selection for early flowering and high number of pod bearing branches in the F2 combined with replicated yield tests in the F4 is proposed.     

中美几个棉花品种育种应用价值研究

用3个美国陆地棉品种为母本与2个中国品种配制6个杂交组合。5个亲本与其6个杂交组合F2和F3种植在美国密西西比州立大学农业试验站。利用加性 显性 加×加互作遗传模型(ADAA)进行数据分析。结果表明,除了加性和显性效应外,加×加互作效应控制大多数农艺性状和纤维性状。两个中国品种均可用于纤维麦克隆值的改良。品种CR110及Deltapine90(DP90)在纤维长度和强度方面具有较好的一般配合力。与品种DP90的杂交组合可以在较晚世代用于产量的改良。杂交组合Stoneville474(ST474)×CR110可用于在早期提高皮棉产量。除ST474×CR110之外,其它各组合均具有产量改良的潜力。组合Sure Grow747(SG747)×86 1在早期和晚期均比其它组合有较高的纤维强度。考虑到皮棉和纤维品质的基因型值,组合SG747×86 1可用于提高早期和晚期产量的改良且有好的纤维品质。     

The relation between wheat lines derived from the F2, F3, F4 and F5 generations for grain yield and harvest index

Summary The relationships between the F2, F3, F4 and F5 generations for grain yield were determined using random, pedigreed lines derived from each generation. The lines from two crosses were grown in plots at two sites over two years. In the first year, only F2 and F3 derived lines were available, but in the second year the F2 to F5 were grown.Correlations between lines in one generation and the mean of lines derived from them in a following generation increased as the generations were advanced. Correlations between consecutive generations were higher than those between generations two or three apart. Correlations between F2 and F5 derived lines, which indicate the effectiveness of selecting F2 lines, varied from 0.10 ns to o.49^** when lines from both generations were grown in the same environment. Correlations between years of lines from the same or different generations were low and often non-significant.Harvest index was measured on the F2 and F3 derived lines at the one site in the first year. Selection for improvement of grain yield using harvest index was no more effective than selection for yield directly, when considered across years.It is conclued that, while gains in yield can be achieved by selecting for yield in early generations, a foremost consideration needs to be the influence of different sites and years on the effectiveness of selection.     

Heritability and correlations among traits in four-way soybean crosses

Recurrent selection programs can use several crossing arrangements to synthesize basic populations for breeding purposes. This study evaluated heritability and correlations among traits in forty-five populations of F_2[4] and F_2:3[4] generations obtained throughout four-way crosses [4] between two dialells among ten semi-late and ten late maturity soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) genotypes. The generation advance was made by the TSHD (Thinned Single Hill Descent) method and all individual plants were evaluated for the following traits: number of days to flowering (NDF) and maturity (NDM), plant height at flowering (PHF) and maturity (PHM), agronomic value (AV) and seed yield (YLD). Four-way crosses associated with TSHD method provided high genetic variability in the populations with little or no reduction from F_2[4] to F_2:3[4]. The ‘narrow sense’ heritability estimated using correlations between F_2[4] and F_2:3[4] plants was lower than but closely related to broad-sense estimates. The populations 21(IAC-4 × IAC-9) × (GO79-1039 × Paranagoiana) and 23 (IAC-4 × Santa Rosa) × (GO79-1039 × Tropical) were the most productive with high variability in F_2[4] and/or F_2:3[4] generations. Genotypic correlations measured were generally high, positive and consistent for the two generations except for those related to AV and YLD. These results indicate that the use of four-way crosses can be an efficient method to increase the genetic base of populations for recurrent selection or cultivar development. Significant AV × YLD correlations indicated visual selection can be used as additional selection criteria for improving populations. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evaluation of parent selection methods for yield improvement of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

Summary The mean aim of this study was to identify an effective method of predicting cross-potential in respect of yield improvement of the cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) through hybridization and subsequent selection.Three prediction tests based on data collected from experiments with ten cowpea lines and the F1 and F2 generations of all possible crosses between these lines were evaluated. The three prediction tests were based on: i Yields of prospective parents. ii. General combining abilities estimated from F1 and parental data iii. Frequencies of superior plants in F2 populationsEach of the three procedures was used to identify the crosses with the lowest or highest yield potential, i.e. those crosses most likely to produce the greatest number of lines with yields higher or lower than those of either parent. Crosses selected on the basis of these criteria were evaluated in the following growing season on the basis of biometrical analysis of F2 and backcross populations and the performance of the respective F3 and F4 generations.Six different crosses were selected from the 45 tested on the basis of the three prediction tests. Analyses of F2 and backeross populations from each cross provided estimates of [d] the difference in parental means and 1/2D the additive genetic component which, in turn, were used to predict the frequency of transgressive inbred lines obtained by single-seed descent from the F2. Both crosses selected on the basis of F2 data were expected to produce a much higher frequency of transgressive lines than those selected on the basis of parental yields. The high potential cross selected on the basis of general combining ability was expected to produce a higher frequency of transgressive lines than the corresponding low yield potential cross. Replicated trails of F3 bulks of the selected crosses showed that high yield potential crosses were significantly higher yielding than low yield potential crosses for all prediction criteria. In a trial with 22F4 lines of each of the two crosses selected on the basis of parental yields and frequency of high yielding F2 plants, the high yield potential cross in each case had a greater mean and variance for seed yield than the corresponding low yield potential cross.It was concluded that parental yields provide a sound basis for an initial screening of prospective parents. This screening should identify a high yielding line which can be crossed with a number of contrasting lines to produce F2 populations for the final screening phase.     

Wide hybridization and introgression breeding in safflower: Effectiveness of different selection methods

Possibility of using interspecific hybridization to increase genetic diversity of drought tolerance in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and effectiveness of different selection methods is poorly understood. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of (a) interspecific hybridization to expand genetic diversity in safflower for agronomic traits and drought tolerance in advance generations and (b) different selection methods (direct vs. indirect) for improving seed yield. Interspecific hybridizations were performed between species of C. tinctorius × C. palaestinus (TP), C. palaestinus × C. oxyacantha (PO) and C. tinctorius × C. oxyacantha (TO). Based on the field screening of genotypes in F3 generation, four groups of selected genotypes (derived from combination of direct and indirect selection under both drought and normal environments along with selection based on drought tolerance index (STI)) were evaluated in F4 and F5 generations. Indirect selection for seed yield was significantly more efficient than direct selection. Selection in stress environment resulted to more efficiency than selection in normal environment. No significant difference was observed between direct selection and selection based on STI. The result showed that TP was the best population to combine high seed yield and drought tolerance in safflower.     

Correlation Studies and Path Coefficient Analysis in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Field investigations were carried out at the Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, India during 1989—1990 to study the genotypic character association in sesame. The F4 and F5 generations of TSS6 X TMV3 and TMV3 X TSS6 were raised and eight genotypic characters were recorded: plant height; primary branches; secondary branches; capsule number per plant; seed number per capsule; 1000 seed—weight; oil content and seed yield per plant. Correlation studies showed that the magnitude and direction of correlation between eight pairs of traits varied with generations in both crosses involving two genotypes reciprocally. Single plant yield had a strong significant and positive relationship with capsule number in both generations of the two cross combinations indicating the close link between the two traits. The path coefficient analysis revealed that direct and indirect contributions by different traits primary branches, secondary branches, capsule number per plant, seed number per capsule and 1000—seed weight had to be considered as the most important traits in the determination of seed yield and selection of parents.     

Genotypic variability in vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L for foliage yield and its contributing traits over successive cuttings and years

Summary Twenty nine strains of vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor were grown for two successive seasons to study different selection parameters for foliage yield and its nine contributing morphological and quality traits. The strains AV-38 (5.06 kg/plot) and AV-31 (5.04 kg/plot) recorded highest foliage yield, followed by AV-30 (4.78 kg/plot) and AV-23 (4.70 kg/plot). The protein and carotenoid content averaged 1.24 ± 0.03 mg/100 mg and 0.83 ± 0.02 mg/g respectively. The leaves of A. tricolor also have considerable quantities of ascorbic acid (112.33 ± 5.00 mg/100 g) and fibre (8.39 ± 0.10%). The mean of individual cuttings for plant height, leaf size, stem diameter, foliage yield, protein, ascorbic acid and fibre content increased with successive cuttings till third cutting and thereafter showed a decline. Genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) values ranged from 6.80 to 28.25%. However, the fibre content, branches/plant, leaves/plant, plant height and stem diameter showed lowest values of GCV. The values of heritability estimates were high for all the traits in all the cuttings as well as on pooled basis and ranged from 0.89 for branches/plant to 0.98 for foliage yield. Highest expected genetic advance was noticed for ascorbic acid (57.48%), followed by foliage yield (48.30%) and leaf size (29.51%).     

亚麻温敏雄性不育系F1、F2的优势分析

通过对以温敏亚麻雄性不育系1S为母本配制的6个杂交组合F1、F2代主要农艺性状和产量性状杂种优势的测定和分析,结果表明：不同杂交组合F1、F2代在株高和工艺长度上的平均优势均表现为负向超父本优势,而各产量性状上的平均优势均表现出很强的正向超父本优势;但与F1代相比,F2代平均优势明显下降。产量性状构成因素平均优势大小顺序为：单株产量＞单株果数＞千粒重＞每果粒数。不同组合间F1、F2代杂种优势表现差异较大,其中1S×黑亚15号组合产量性状的超父本优势最强,F1、F2代均表现出很强的杂种优势。     

Efficiency of Early Selection for Yield Performance in Wheat

Selection for yield in early generations is difficult, mainly due to a shortage of seed. In the breeding company Fr. Strube the breeder uses three-way crosses and first selects for yield between F₂′-derived lines in the F₄′. The generations are called F₁, F₂′, etc., because the first generation is already segregating. The efficiency of this selection was checked in the F₅′ and F₆′. For this purpose F₃′-derived progenies, corresponding to poor and good yielding bulks in F₄′, were selected. In later generations the average yield of the group of strains with good yield in the F₄′ was 4 % (F₅′) and 3 % (F₆′) higher, respectively, than the mean of the strains with low yield in the F₄′. Strains with very low yielding potential can easily be discarded in the F₄′. The risk of discarding lines with a very high yield is minimal. Selection for yield in the F₄′ was as effective as in the F₅′. The importance of testing F₂′-derived bulks in the F₄′ is not only based on the assessment of yield but also on the possibility of reliable intensive selection through recording visual characters (height, resistance against diseases) in a second environment in parallel to the single plant progenies.     

利用籼稻资源中的“隐蔽有利基因”提高粳稻苗期耐冷性

苗期低温是制约东北水稻生产的一个重要逆境因子,培育苗期耐低温的水稻品种是解决这一问题最有效的途径之一。以粳型恢复系C418为轮回亲本与7个来自不同地域的供体杂交和回交培育BC₂F₂群体，利用沈阳春季田间自然低温进行耐冷筛选，并对入选的177个苗期耐冷导入系后代在自然和人工气候室两种不同强度的低温胁迫条件下的苗期表现进行评价。结果表明，虽然供体亲本均为苗期耐冷性弱的品种，但在全部回交后代中均出现耐冷的超亲分离，表明这些供体亲本均携带对耐冷性有利的“隐蔽基因”, 不过组合间的耐冷性选择效率存在较大差异。以人工气候室低温胁迫后的存活率为耐冷性鉴定指标，导入系之间出现广泛分离，田间筛选入选比例高的BG300和中413导入系群体中出现存活率高的导入系后代比例较其它群体高，说明在同一轮回亲本遗传背景下回交后代的耐冷水平取决于供体。在室内严格低温条件下表现为强耐冷性的导入系在相对温和的自然低温胁迫下表现为苗高、苗干重较非胁迫条件生长抑制不明显，且能够促进根系生长。结果表明，大量的耐冷有利基因以“隐蔽”的形式存于水稻种质资源中。通过利用来源广泛的种质资源作为供体进行回交育种，对回交后代进行严格耐冷筛选，可有效选育高产耐冷水稻品种和有价值的育种材料。     

Identification of quantitative trait loci across interspecific F2, F2:3 and testcross populations for agronomic and fiber traits in tetraploid cotton

The most widely grown tetraploid Gossypium hirsutum and G. barbadense differ greatly in yield potential and fiber quality and numerous quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have been reported. However, correspondence of QTLs between experiments and populations is poor due to limited number of markers, small population size and inaccurate phenotyping. The purpose of the present study was to map QTLs for yield, yield components and fiber quality traits using testcross progenies between a large interspecific F₂ population and a commercial cotton cultivar as the tester. The results were compared to these from its F₂ and F_2:3 progenies. Of the 177 QTLs identified from the three populations, 65 fiber QTLs and 51 yield QTLs were unique with an average of 8–12 QTLs per traits. All the 26 chromosomes carried QTLs, but differed in the number of QTLs and the number of QTLs between fiber and yield QTLs. The congruence of QTLs identified across populations was higher (20–60 %) for traits with higher heritabilities including fiber quality, seed index and lint percentage, but lower (10–25 %) for lower heritability traits-seedcotton and lint yields. Major QTLs, QTL clusters for the same traits and QTL ‘hotspots’ for different traits were also identified. This research represents the first report using a testcross population in QTL mapping in interspecific cotton crosses and provides useful information for further comparative analysis and marker-assisted selection.     

Evaluation of Chromosome Segment Substitution Lines Related to Fiber Yield and Quality Traits from Gossypium hirsutum×Gossypium barbadense

Three generations of chromosome segment substitution lines lines (BC₄F₃, BC₄F_3:4, and BC₄F_3:5, Anyang, Korla) were used to evaluate phenotypic traits related to fiber yield and quality. The average performance of the traits in the population was near to the control, CCRI45, in the four populations. Seventy-eight percent of the lines showed longer and stronger fibers than the recurrent parent, and 22.59%～53.61% of lines had bigger bolls and higher lint percentages than the recurrent parent. Correlation analysis showed that the yield and fiber quality traits were positively correlated among the four populations. These results indicated that most of the genetic background in the substitution lines has been restored to the recurrent parent with abundant genetic variations. In addition, most of substitution lines had good yield and fiber quality. This study provided a large amount of basic research materials for cotton quantity genetics, gene pyramiding, and gene function analysis, and provided parent materials and new strains that can directly applied for cotton breeding.     

Genetics of Seed Yield and its Components in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) of Middle-American Origin

Genetic variance, heritability, and expected response from selection arc useful in devising alternative methods and criteria of: selection. The objectives of this study were to estimate these for seed yield and its components from 200 F₂: populations involving 80 cultivars and lines of mostly small-seeded dry bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) of habits growth I, II, and III of Middle-American origin. All cultivars and lines were crossed in eight sets of ten parents each in a Design II mating system. The F₂ populations, without parents, were evaluated in the field in a replicates-in-sets design at two locations in Colombia in 1983. Estimates of additive genetic variance were significant for yield, pods/m², seeds/pod, and seed weight. Interaction with environments was also significant. Values for nonadditive genetic variance were not significant for either yield or yield components. The estimates of narrow sense heritability, based on the F₂ population mean and unbiased by genotype x environment interaction, were 0.21 ± 0.13 for yield. 20 ± 0.13 for pods/m², 0.57 ± 0.13 for seeds/pod, and 0.74 ± 0.15 for seed weight. The expected direct response from selection of the top 20 % of F₂ populations for yield per se would result in a 4.30 % increase in yield with a correlated response of 0.21 % in seed weight. In contrast, the expected gain from direct selection for seed weight would result in a 11.76 % increase in seed weight with a, correlated gain of 0.28 % for yield. Direct selection for pods/m² would decrease yield, seeds/pod and seed weight, while direct selection for seeds/pod would reduce pods/m² and seed weight but increase seed yield by 0.37 %. Data on yield from replicated trials in the early segregating generations could be utilized for identification and selection of promising crosses and families or lines with crosses for dry bean yield improvement.     

控制双亲混合选择对不同玉米合成群体的改良效应

基于田间试验的统计分析和SSR分子标记的遗传参数评估,分析了3个玉米人工合成群体GP3、GP4和GP5经4轮控制双亲混合选择的改良效应。结果表明,多数性状在不同群体及不同轮回间存在真实的遗传差异,粒深遗传增益以GP4＞GP5＞GP3,穗行遗传增益以GP3＞GP5＞GP4,各个群体C4的粒深、穗行均值都显著或极显著大于C0,直接选择效应显著;株高和穗位高随选择周期增加呈明显增加趋势,且GP4的增幅显著大于GP3和GP5,单株产量及穗粗的遗传增益以GP4大于GP3和GP5,各群体多数产量性状的均值以C4显著大于C0,相关选择效应显著;除株高、穗位高外,其他性状GCA变异群体间差异达显著或极显著水平,GP5多数产量性状的GCA优于GP3和GP4,各群体多数产量性状的GCA效应值随改良进展呈增加趋势,对照优势大于8%的大部分测交组合均为各群体C4所配组合,间接选择效应显著;随改良世代进行,群体部分性状的表型变异系数虽有所减小,但变化幅度不大;基于SSR分子标记估算的群体内遗传相似系数,GP3和GP4改良后代呈略增趋势,GP5变化不大,对于群体基因型数,GP3和GP4随改良代数增加呈略减趋势,GP5呈略增趋势。上述结果说明,适度控制双亲混合选择在有效改良群体的同时,还能较好地保持群体的遗传多样性,但不同基础群体及不同性状间,其改良效应存在一定的差异。     

陆地棉重组自交系产量及产量构成因子性状的上位性QTL分析

棉花的产量及产量构成因子性状是以复杂的方式遗传,遗传力较低并易受环境条件影响。经典数量遗传学指出,上位性是复杂性状的遗传基础。本研究以湘杂棉2号F8和F9世代重组自交系为材料,调查了3个环境下的产量及产量构成因子性状,并构建了遗传连锁图。旨在定位产量及产量构成因子性状的上位性QTL并分析QTL与环境的互作效应。所有产量及产量构成因子性状均检测到上位性QTL,共检测到16对加性互作QTL（AA）,涉及的位点中仅4个有单位点效应,这反映了上位性的复杂性及其对产量和产量构成因子性状的重要贡献。共检测到17对QTL加性和环境互作（AE）,以及14对上位性QTL与环境的互作,表明环境因素对产量和产量构成因子性状起重要影响作用。研究结果还表明上位性效应作为湘杂棉2号的遗传基础起着重要作用。对各性状在不同环境的优良基因型进行了预测。综合优良家系（GSL）和特定环境下的优良家系（SL）的性状表现高于两亲本,表明湘杂棉2号重组自交系各性状都有提高的潜力。由于QTL加性和环境互作以及上位性QTL与环境互作的影响,预测的优良家系基因型会随着环境的改变而不同,表明应针对特定环境开展棉花育种。     

Selection in Early Generations of Dried Peas, Pisurm sativum L.

Seed production in peas is limited by early and severe lodging and by a low multiplication rate and pea breeders have tried to overcome such disadvantages by growing plants in early generations widely-spaced against wire netting. Progenies of four pea crosses were each tested over a period of tour years to investigate whether single plant selection for quantitative characters, in particular grain yield, is efficient in such circumstances in the Is generation. Efficiency of selection was also studied for yield and yield related characters in the F₃ based on f₂ derived single plant progenies grown in unreplicated microplots. Early yield selection in the F₂ as well as in the F₃ proved to be of poor efficiency. Heritability values of all recorded traits were only slightly higher in the F₃ than in the F₂. Efficiency of yield selection could not be increased significantly in these early generations by indirect selection, either for single traits or for index traits. Possible reasons are discussed for the low efficiency of direct and indirect selection for grain yield in early generations and proposals are made for its improvement and for alternative selection strategies.     

红麻产量和纤维品质性状的遗传效应与杂种优势分析

红麻产量与品质性状的各项遗传效应、关联性及其杂种优势表现是杂种优势利用的基础,采用加性-显性遗传模型,分析了7个杂交红麻亲本和21个F1 代组合的12个产量与品质性状的研究结果表明,（1）株高、鲜皮厚、单株干皮重、千粒重、纤维支数同时受到加性和显性效应的控制;而茎粗、单株干茎重、皮骨比、出麻率、单株纤维重、精     

Effect of Selection for Chip Colour on Some Economic Traits of Potatoes

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of selection for chip colour after harvest (CH), after storage at 12. 8°C (OR), and after storage at 3°C (GO) on maturity, yield, tuber size and specific gravity. Three hybrid populations of random clones were used in this study. The parents plus seven other cultivars were also evaluated, as checks. Experiments were carried out at Benton Ridge and at Fredericton, NB, in 1991. The experimental design was an augmented block. Clones of populations were non-replicated and distributed randomly in the experiment. Check cultivars were replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. Negative responses were predicted for maturity, marketable and total yield, and tuber size (agronomic traits) and positive response for specific gravity in varying amounts for the three populations by selection for the three chip quality traits (CH, CR and CC). Therefore, selection for CH, CR and CC and the agronomic traits could not be made without some adverse effects on each other, whereas chip quality traits and specific gravity could be improved simultaneously.     

Effect of generation of inbreeding, cutting treatment and year on agronomic traits in berseem populations

The selfing effect in berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) was analysed by comparing generation means for nine agronomic traits (dry matter yield, plant height, leaf-stem ratio, harvest index, seed yield and its components). Parents, S₁, S₂, S₃, and S₄ generations of six populations of different geographical origin (3 from Egypt and 3 from southern Italy) were investigated to estimate the relative changes with increasing homozygosity and to prove the effectiveness of selfing in a breeding program. The experiment was carried out at Foggia (Italy) under field conditions for two years (1995 and 1996) adopting two cutting treatments: at fifth internode elongation (A) and flowering (B). The mean values decreased with the advancement in selfing generations in both years and cutting treatments for the most of the traits. Treatment B yielded more biomass and seed yield than treatment A in both years. Cutting treatments did not affect the adaptability of the selfed progenies of populations with different geographical origin, in fact, the Italian populations were more productive for dry matter under both cutting treatments (856.6 g m^-2 on average), whereas Egyptian populations proved superior for seed yield particularly under treatment B (62.5 g m^-2 on average). Inbreeding depression was greater for forage dry matter and seed yield (−62and −79% on average, respectively), whereas the plant height and 1000-seed weight were the least susceptible traits (−26 and −19% on average, respectively). Estimates of the parameters of the stability analysis showed that not all populations responded to inbreeding level and environment variations to the same degree. Differences were evident under treatment A, only. Development of self-fertile, relatively vigorous inbred lines of berseem clover with different degrees of homozygosity appears possible. Genotypes tolerant to selfing from Egyptian and Italian groups have been obtained by inbreeding and selection for self-fertility; they could be utilised as basis for producing new breeding activities. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.