Development and characterization of a new 1BL.1RS translocation line with resistance to stripe rust and powdery mildew of wheat

The 1BL.1RS wheat-rye translocation from Petkus rye has contributed substantially to the world wheat production. However, following the breakdown of disease resistance genes in 1RS, its importance for wheat improvement decreased. We have developed a new 1BL.1RS line, R14, by means of crossing rye inbred line L155, selected from Petkus rye to several wheat cultivars. One new gene each, for stripe rust and powdery mildew resistance, located on 1RS of the line R14, are tentatively named YrCn17 and PmCn17. YrCn17 and PmCn17 confer resistance to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici pathotypes that are virulent on Yr9, and Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici pathotypes virulent on Pm8. These two new resistances, YrCn17 and PmCn17, are now available for wheat improvement programs. The present study indicates that rye cultivars may carry yet untapped variations as potential sources of resistance.     

Selection of rye by means of leaf counting

In experiments conducted with rye over the years 1951 to 1959 inclusive, the writer found that the leaf number per plant can be increased considerably through selection. This increase of the leaf number appeared to result in an increase of the total leaf area.A selection from Petkus winter rye which showed a higher leaf number (called selection H) in a field trial gave a lower yield than the original Petkus rye, perhaps as a result of inbreeding. However, such a selection may offer prospects as a fodder crop.

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Samenvatting Aangetoond werd, dat bij rogge het bladgetal van de hoofdas door middel van selectie belangrijk verhoogd kan worden. Deze verhoging van het bladgetal bleek samen te gaan met een verhoging van het totale bladoppervlak van de plant en een verhoging van het aantal spruiten.Een selectie met hoger bladaantal uit de Petkuser winterrogge bleek in een veldproef een lagere opbrengst te geven dan de orig. Petkuser. Het is echter niet uitgesloten, dat inteelt hierbij een rol heeft gespeeld. Een dergelijke selectie biedt overigens wellicht perspectief als voedergewas.

     

An STS marker distinguishing the rye-derived powdery mildew resistance alleles at the Pm8/Pm17 locus of common wheat

A sequence‐tagged site marker has been developed from restriction fragment length polymorphism marker probe IAG95 for the rye‐derived powdery mildew resistance Pm8/Pm17 locus of common wheat. This polymerase chain reaction marker enables the amplification of DNA fragments with different sizes from T1AL.1RS and T1BL.1RS wheat‐rye translocation cultivars with chromatin from ‘Insave’ and ‘Petkus’ rye, respectively, and therefore will be very useful in distinguishing Pm8‐carrying cultivars from Pm17‐carrying cultivars. Results obtained with that marker were compared with resistance tests performed on detached primary leaves of 29 wheat lines from two populations derived from doubled haploid production. The molecular assay corresponded well with the resistance tests in all the lines, and therefore will be helpful for the identification of Pm17 in lines in which other Pm genes or quantitative trait loci are present.     

Variation in pathogenicity of the potato root eelworm (Heterodera rostochiensis woll.,) and its significance in potato breeding

Summary Breeding for resistance to Heterodera rostochiensis was started in Scotland in 1952, using certain clones of Solanum tuberosum subsp. andigena as the source of resistance. Resistance was manifest by the almost complete failure of larvae to mature in the roots of resistant seedlings, particularly those derived from the clone C.P.C.1673.In 1955 an eelworm population was found which overcame this resistance and was, for this reason, designated as aggressive.Resistance was also overcome in selfed and hybrid seedlings derived from subsp. andigena C.P.C. 1685 and C.P.C.1690. Resistance in Solanum vernei was apparently maintained against the aggressive eelworm population which was studied. This aggressive eelworm population multiplied normally on commercial potato varieties.In a first survey of Potato Root eelworm infested soils in Britain about 10 per cent of the eelworm populations sampled were found to differentiate little or no resistance in a test plant which was at least simplex for a resistance factor H, derived from C.P.C. 1673.

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Hiermede wordt hetzelfde bedoeld als met S. andigenum.     

Quantitative-Genetic Basis of Sprouting Resistance in Rye

The quantitative-genetic basis of sprouting resistance in winter rye (Secale cereale L.) was investigated in order to facilitate breeding for improved baking quality. Crosses within and between the Petkus and Carsten gene pools were tested along with the parental lines over two locations, two years, and two harvest dates. Heritabilities of approximately 0.6 were found for falling number (FN), a-amylase activity, dormancy, and amylograph curve characters. FN showed moderate heterosis that reached 35%. High genetic variation for FN was observed in most genetic materials, and error variances were generally small. Considerable genotype × year interactions occurred. Genotypes with high FN showed more instability for FN over environments. General combining ability was the main source of genetic variation for FN (80%) and was correlated with line per se performance in the Carsten gene pool (r = 0.66). FN showed moderate to strong correlations with slowness of development, but only loose ones or none with other agronomic traits. We conclude that improving sprouting resistance by selecting for FN should be highly effective and would not cause unfavourable side effects with regard to yielding performance.     

About the origin of 1RS.1BL wheat-rye chromosome translocations from Germany

In order lo investigate the origin of two of the German 1RS. 1BL wheat-rye translocations used world-wide in breeding, a number of DNA probes were considered which (a) were critical for the short arm of the rye chromosome 1 R and (b) should show a specificity for the gene pool of Petkus rye. The DNA probe CDO580 was revealed as a specific one. (1) It clearly differentiated 1RS.1AL (‘Amigo’). 1RS.lBL (‘Salmon’) and 1RS.1DL (‘Gabo’) from the two German sources. (2) Both translocation wheats deriving from the Weihenstephan (Munich) and from the Salzmünde (Halle/S.) origin showed an identical DNA fragment which was typical for the gene pool of Petkus rye. It is supposed that both German sources have one progenitor in common.     

Improvement of the homogeneity of the barley variety balder

Summary For the improvement of the purity of the Swedish barley variety Balder, a selection within this variety was started at the Plant Breeding Station of the Centraal Bureau at Hoofddorp in 1949.During the period 1950–1954 it appeared that a large number of types occurred which differed more or less distinctly from each other. The differences concerned inclination and colour of the leaves, length of straw, date of heading, stiffness of straw, length and inclination of the ear, earliness, yield capacity, grain- and malting quality.Of about 5,000 lines (progenies of selected ears) of 1950, only one, Balder 50.4 was chosen ultimately in 1954. Already in 1954 the breeder's seed of Balder was obtained by multiplication of selection 50.4.The purpose of the selection, described in this paper, viz. to give the barley variety Balder a sufficient approximation of a pure line, can be considered as being achieved. Certainly there is no indication that a decrease in yield capacity and malting quality occurred.Moreover, in comparison with the original variety Balder, selection 50.4 has distinctly stiffer and somewhat shorter straw, and a little earlier maturity. The attitude of the ear approximates more that of the erectum-type.     

Effects of genotype and genotype—environment interaction on deoxynivalenol accumulation and resistance to Fusarium head blight in rye, triticale, and wheat

Fusarium culmorum is one of the most important Fusarium species causing head blight infections in wheat, rye, and triticale. It is known as a potent mycotoxin producer with deoxynivalenol (DON), 3‐acetyl deoxynivalenol (3‐ADON), and nivalenol (NIV) being the most prevalent toxins. In this study, the effect of winter cereal species, host genotype, and environment on DON accumulation and Fusarium head blight (FHB) was analysed by inoculating 12 rye, eight wheat, and six triticale genotypes of different resistance levels with a DON‐producing isolate at three locations in 2 years (six environments). Seven resistance traits were assessed, including head blight rating and relative plot yield. In addition, ergosterol, DON and 3‐ADON contents in the grain were determined. A growth‐chamber experiment with an artificially synchronized flowering date was also conducted with a subset of two rye, wheat and triticale genotypes. Although rye genotypes were, on average, affected by Fusarium infections much the same as wheat genotypes, wheat accumulated twice as much DON as rye. Triticale was least affected and the grain contained slightly more DON than rye. In the growth‐chamber experiment, wheat and rye again showed similar head blight ratings, but rye had a somewhat lower relative head weight and a DON content nine times lower than wheat (3.9 vs. 35.3 mg/kg). Triticale was least susceptible with a five times lower DON content than wheat. Significant (P = 0.01) genotypic variation for DON accumulation existed in wheat and rye. The differences between and within cereal species in the field experiments were highly influenced by environment for resistance traits and mycotoxin contents. Nevertheless, mean mycotoxin content of the grain could not be associated with general weather conditions in the individual environments. Strong genotype‐environment interactions were found for all cereal species. This was mainly due to three wheat varieties and one rye genotype being environmentally extremely unstable. The more resistant entries, however, showed a higher environmental stability of FHB resistance and tolerance to DON accumulation. Correlations between resistance traits and DON content were high in wheat (P = 0.01), with the most resistant varieties also accumulating less DON, but with variability in rye. In conclusion, the medium to large genotypic variation in wheat and rye offers good possibilities for reducing DON content in the grains by resistance selection. Large confounding effects caused by the environment will require multiple locations and/or years to evaluate FHB resistance and mycotoxin accumulation.     

Genetic variation for ergot (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Claviceps purpurea</Emphasis>) resistance and alkaloid concentrations in cytoplasmic-male sterile winter rye under pollen isolation

Ergot caused by Claviceps purpurea results in the contamination of rye grain by sclerotia that contain alkaloids toxic to humans and other mammals. Ergot incidence and severity are affected by various factors including the availability of pollen during flowering. To test the presence of variation for ergot resistance due to anatomical and/or biochemical factors in rye, we studied cytoplasmic-male sterile (CMS) inbred lines of the Petkus gene pool (two sets each having 30 lines) and their testcrosses with maintainer tester lines (Set I crossed with two and Set II with a third tester line). Sixty-four CMS lines (60 lines, three testers in CMS form, one standard CMS line) and 90 CMS testcrosses were evaluated in four and three environments, respectively, for ergot severity measured as sclerotia weight per ear under pollen isolation and artificial spray inoculation. We also analysed the concentration of the six most important alkaloids and their isomeres in 25 lines. A very high ergot severity was achieved, and despite that genotypic variance among the 64 CMS lines was significant (P < 0.01). In testcrosses, genotypic variance was smaller, even being not significant in testcrosses of one tester. Genotype × environment interaction variances and correlation coefficients between lines and their testcrosses were significant (r = 0.56–0.75, P < 0.01) in all instances. Most prevalent alkaloids were ergosin, ergocristin, and ergotamin. There were no significant genotypic differences among lines for any alkaloid or isomer, but total alkaloid concentration showed genotypic variation with low significance level (P < 0.1). In conclusion, we detected genotypic differences for resistance in CMS rye based on variable response of ovaries during infection process that can be exploited by multi-locational evaluation and selection to develop ergot resistant hybrids.     

Genome-wide association mapping and genomic prediction of Fusarium head blight resistance,heading stage and plant height in winter rye (Secale cereale)

Rye is a multi-purpose cereal crop grown in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Western Canada. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the diseases that have a severe negative impact on rye, but knowledge about FHB resistance at the genomic level is totally missing in rye. The objective of this study was to elucidate the genetic architecture of FHB resistance in winter rye using genome-wide association (GWA) mapping complemented by genomic prediction (GP) in comparison with marker-assisted selection (MAS). Additionally, plant height and heading stage were analysed. A panel of 465 S₁-inbred lines of winter rye was phenotyped in three environments (location–year combinations) for FHB resistance by inoculation with Fusarium culmorum and genotyped with a 15k SNP array. Significant genotypic variation and high heritabilities were found for FHB resistance, heading stage and plant height. FHB did not correlate with heading stage, but was moderately correlated with plant height (r = −.52, p < .001) caused by some susceptible short inbred lines. The GWA scan identified 15 QTL for FHB resistance that jointly explained 74% of the genotypic variance. In addition, we detected 11 QTL for heading stage and 8 QTL for plant height, explaining 26% and 14% of the genotypic variance, respectively. A genome-wide prediction approach resulted in 44% higher prediction abilities than marker-assisted selection for FHB resistance. In conclusion, genomic approaches appear promising to improve and accelerate breeding for complex traits in winter rye.     

Reaction of triticale,wheat and rye accessions to graminaceous Fusarium spp. infection at the seedling and adult plant growth stages

Summary Pathogenicity of 20 isolates of 12 Fusarium species recovered from triticale seed against seedlings of 14 varieties of winter cereals (triticale, wheat, and rye) was tested. The most pathogenic inoculum was a mixture of isolates (a composite isolate) of all the species. The following species were individually the most pathogenic: F. avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. sambucinum var. coeruleum, and F. graminearum. Winter triticale was more resistant to seedling blight than rye but more susceptible than wheat.Also reactions of 31 winter and 12 spring varieties of cereals to head inoculation with a composite isolate of 4 Fusarium spp. (F. avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. graminearum, and F. sambucinum var. coeruleum) was studied. In comparison to other cereals of similar type winter and spring wheat appeared to be the most susceptible while winter rye reaction was comparable to winter triticale. Spring and winter triticale varieties responded to head infection intermediately.There was no significant correlation between seedling and head reactions to infection with Fusarium spp. for winter rye and triticale. For winter wheat a negative trend was found. The above findings imply that screening of cereals at the seedling stage can not be used to predict the resistance to head blight. Nevertheless, resistance at the stage is highly desirable to prevent excessive damage of the crops due to the seedling blight incited by Fusarium spp..     

Estimates of combining ability for resistance of winter rye to Fusarium culmorum head blight

Summary Head blight caused by Fusarium culmorum and F. graminearum is damaging in all winter rye (Secale cereale L.) growing areas. For hybrid breeding, the relative magnitude of general (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) is a crucial parameter for developing appropriate selection procedures. Forty single-cross hybrids were produced by crossing six and seven inbred lines of the Petkus and Carsten gene pool, respectively, in a factorial design. Hybrids were evaluated in two years with artificial F. culmorum inoculation. Resistance traits were head blight rating and grain weight relative to the non-inoculated control. Both resistance traits were closely correlated across both years (r-0.8, P=0.01). Significant genotypic variation was found for both traits with medium to high estimates of heritability (h²=0.6-0.8). Components of variance for GCA were, across years, 10 and 6 times larger than those for SCA for head blight rating and relative grain weight, respectively. Significant SCA effects were found for 15 to 20% of all cross combinations across both traits in each year. SCA effects were, however, inconsistent over years leading to a high SCA-year interaction. In conclusion, resistance to Fusarium head blight among the interpool hybrids tested was conditioned mainly by additive gene action that could be utilized by recurrent selection in multi-environment trials.Abbreviations GCA general combining ability - SCA specific combining ability     

Androgenetic green plants from winter rye, Secale cereale L., of diverse origin

Twenty varieties and breeders’ lines of winter rye, Secale cereale L., including Finnish, Polish, Russian, Swedish and Danish germplasm, were tested for their anther culture ability. To establish a reference point, the initial culture method was based on published results from rye anther culture. Following results from methodological studies, a modified protocol was tested on the same 19 winter rye lines. The modifications to the protocol included growth of mother plants under controlled greenhouse conditions, prolonged cold pretreatment of spikes for 3 weeks at 4°C, excision of anthers with microspores in the late uninucleate/binucleate developmental stage and induction on liquid medium supplemented with a buoyancy increasing component, Ficoll. With the modified protocol, the total production of green androgenetic plants increased nearly fivefold; it reached an average of 2.75% with the best line yielding 12.5%, while the proportion of green to albino plants increased by 50% to 25.1%. Eighteen rye lines showed green plant regeneration ability. Several genetically different winter rye lines with relatively good anther culture ability, yielding ≤ 1/% green plants per 100 anthers, were identified for the use in further methodical studies and for researching doubled haploidy in rye breeding.     

Mildew-resistant barley mutants induced by X-rays

Summary In 1951, a line of the Austrian barley variety Vollkorn (a brewing barley widely grown in Lower Austria) was exposed to X-rays with a view to selecting mildew resistant mutants.Mildew infection was restricted to X₂-ear progenies. In the X₃-generation one mutant (indicated No. 3502/53) was found to be resistant to the mildew races A₁, B, C, D, F and some other mutants showed a moderate resistance to the races A and B.Field trials proved that there was a correlation between the susceptibility to mildew and lodging. Mutant lines with high yields (127% of mother line) combined a good mildew resistance with a good resistance to lodging.The type of resistance induced and its interitance in various mutants is under investigation.Details of irradiation, infection and selection are given by Hänsel (6).Dr., Lecturer in Plant Breeding at the University of Agriculture, Vienna, Geneticist and Cereal Breeder at the Probstdorfer Saatzucht Station, N.Ö., Austria.Director of the Experimental X-ray Station Vienna 9, Alserstrasse 4.     

Breeding wheat and rye for resistance to Fusarium diseases

Fusarium culmorum and F. graminearum Groups 1 and 2 cause seedling blight, crown rot, foot rot and head blight in wheat and rye that may affect grain yield and quality for baking and feeding. This review starts with an analysis of Fusarium populations with regard to their genetic variation for aggressiveness, mycotoxin production, and isolate-by-host genotype interaction. To assess resistance in the different host growth stages, quantitative inoculation and disease assessment techniques are necessary. Based on estimated population parameters, breeding strategies are reviewed to improve Fusarium resistance in wheat and rye. Epidemiological and toxicological aspects of Fusarium resistance that are important for resistance breeding are discussed. F. culmorum and F. graminearum display large genetic variation for aggressiveness in isolate collections and in naturally occurring populations. The production of mycotoxins, especially deoxynivalenol and its derivatives, is a common trait in these populations. Significant isolate-by-host genotype interactions were not found across environments in wheat and rye. Artificial infections in the field are indispensable for improving Fusarium crown rot, foot rot and head blight resistance in wheat and rye. For a reliable disease assessment of large populations, disease severity ratings were found to be the most convenient. The differentiation of host resistance is greatly influenced by an array of nongenetic factors (macro-environment, microclimate, host growth stage, host organ) that show significant interactions with host genotype. Selection for environmentally stable resistance has to be performed in several environments under a maximum array of different infection levels. Selection in early growth stages or on one plant organ does not in most cases allow prediction of resistance in adult-plant stages or another plant organ. Significant genetic variation for resistance exists for all Fusarium-incited diseases in breeding populations of wheat and rye. The patho-systems studied displayed a prevalence of additive gene action with no consistent specific combining ability effects and thus rapid progress can be expected from recurrent selection. In wheat, intensive testing of parental genotypes allows good prediction of the mean head blight resistance after crossing. Subsequent selection during selfing generations enables the use of transgression towards resistance. In hybrid breeding of winter rye, the close correlation between foot rot resistance of inbred lines and their GCA effects implies that selection based on the lines per se should be highly effective. This is not valid for F. culmorum head blight of winter rye caused by a greater susceptibility of the inbred lines compared to their crosses. For both foot rot and head blight resistance, a high correlation between the resistance to F. graminearum and F. culmorum was found in wheat and rye. Mycotoxin accumulation occurs to a great extent in naturally and artificially infected plant stands. The correlation between resistance traits and mycotoxin contents are medium and highly dependent on the environment. Further experiments are needed to clarify whether greater resistance will lead to a correlated reduction of the mycotoxin content of the grains under natural infection.     

Breeding for resistance to fusarium oxysporumF. SP. tulipae in tulip (tulipaL.).2. phenotypic and genotypic evaluation of cultivars

Summary Fusarium bulb rot is a serious tulip disease. Breeding for resistance may contribute considerably to a solution of the problem.It has been demonstrated that juvenile and adult bulbs of the same cultivars in Fusarium contaminated soil showed good agreement in degree of resistance.From an incomplete diallel cross of these cultivars second-year bulblets of 62 progenies were planted in both contaminated and non-contaminated soil. The percentages of non-diseased bulbs harvested provided a criterion for resistance. The analysis of combining ability for the degree of resistance revealed that both the mean square of GCA and that of SCA were significant. The relative magnitudes of the GCA and SCA mean squares suggest that resistance is governed primarily by additive gene action. The GCA of individual parents could be estimated and tested. In general it corresponded with their phenotypic behaviour.     

Anther-Culture ability in Secale cereale L.

Success in anther culture of rye (Secale cereale L.) has mainly been restricted to genotypes whose genome is partly determined by S. vavilovii Grossh. The aim of this study was to identify true S. cereale genotypes with anther-culture ability. The plant material used included the semi-wild standard genotype SC35, six single crosses of the ‘Petkus’ and 10 of the ‘Carsten’ gene pool, plus a double cross between SC35 and one of the ‘Carsten’ single crosses. Three anther-culture experiments were performed. Several single crosses within the ‘Carsten’ gene pool produced green plants. The ‘Petkus’ single crosses tested did not show anther-culture ability. As expected, the induction and regeneration rates of SC35 were higher than those of all other genotypes tested. The performance of the double cross was intermediate between its parents. The results demonstrate for the first time that anther culture in rye is a valuable tool in plant breeding. The data also show the possibility of transferring anther-culture ability from high- to low-responding genotypes.     

Variation and covariation for quantitative resistance to head blight (Fusarium culmorum) in two testcross series of S2 lines in winter rye

The amount of genetic variation among inbred lines and testcrosses, and covariation between both genetic materials, are of crucial importance for selection efficiency in hybrid breeding. To estimate these quantitative genetic parameters for resistance of winter rye (Secale cereale) to head blight caused by Fusarium culmorum, 88 three-way cross hybrids, produced by crossing each of 44 S₂ Carsten inbred lines with two unrelated Petkus single-cross testers, were evaluated along with the parental lines over 2 years. Resistance traits were head-blight rating and grain weight per spike relative to the non-inoculated control. Significant genotypic variation occurred among lines and in both testcross series. S₂ lines displayed considerably more variation than testcross series. Genotype × environment interaction was more marked among the inbred lines, while estimates of heritability were similar for both genetic materials. Testcrosses showed heterosis for head-blight resistance. No relationship existed between S₂ lines and the two testcross series for any resistance trait. This might be caused by an association between inbreeding and Fusarium-head-blight susceptibility and different inbreeding depression among the S₂ population. The phenotypic correlations between the testcross series were moderate for both traits (r = 0.58, P < 0.01). In conclusion, Fusarium-head-blight resistance has to be selected at the respective heterozygosity levels.     

秸秆还田对滨海盐碱地棉苗光合特性及生长的影响

为探讨秸秆还田对滨海重度盐碱地棉苗光合特性及生长的影响,设置增施有机肥、播前秸秆还田、冬前秸秆还田3个处理,测定了棉花苗期3个层次土壤含盐量、水分和容重,棉花叶片光合参数、叶片SPAD值以及干物质积累和棉花产量。结果表明,与对照相比,增施有机肥和秸秆还田的处理各个土层含盐量和容重明显降低,棉苗叶片LAI和SPAD明显增大,光合能力提高,干物质积累量、根冠比以及棉花产量明显增加。其中,冬前秸秆还田各土层含盐量低于2.00 g·kg-1,容重保持在1.15~1.40 g·cm-3,叶片SPAD值高于40.0,LAI提高65.5%,光合性能系数增高23.4%~92.8%,非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)降低12.2%,干物质积累总量增大46.3%,根冠比提高56.5%,产量提高36.2%。因此,在本试验条件下,冬前秸秆还田更有利于滨海盐碱地改良及棉苗的正常生长。     

Breeding for tolerance to beet-cyst eelworm Heterodera schachtii Schm. in sugarbeet

Summary Successive mass selections were made in sugarbeet varieties (Beta vulgaris L.) and in B. vulgaris × B. maritima L. hybrids for tolerance to wilting caused by beet-cyst eelworm attack. The selected lines showed improved tolerance to wilting, but no evidence of resistance to eelworm infection was demonstrated. By repeated back-crossing of the selected lines with the commercial varieties and concurrent selection root yield could be improved without substantially decreasing the tolerance to eelworm attack. These results indicate that tolerance is partly conditioned by complete and incomplete dominant genes.