Divergent recurrent selection for cold tolerance in two improved maize populations

Maize (Zea mays L.) production has significantly expanded into very short-season environments where germination and growth in cooler environments is essentially a pre-requisite. Therefore, an important goal for maize breeders is to improve local germplasm sources of inbred lines that are able to grow under these challenging conditions. The objective of this research was to evaluate direct and correlated responses in two improved early maturing maize populations [NDSCD(M)C10 and BS22(R)C7] after two cycles of S₁ and full-sib intra-population recurrent selection for cold tolerance. The S₁ and full-sib progenies were obtained by self-pollinating 100 random plants and by intercrossing 200 random plants, respectively. Ten percent of the families were selected, based on an index that included emergence percentage, seedling vigor, and root lodging percentage, and recombined at the same time in a summer nursery based upon data across northern North Dakota locations. The essential benefit of this breeding methodology was to achieve one year per cycle of selection based upon progenies. However, direct response to selection was not significant while some correlated responses were significant. We decided to report these results in order to encourage other scientists the evaluation of additional sources of germplasm, the screening at various dates, and the selection of target environments with more intensive cold stress before initiating long-term selection programs for cold tolerance. In addition, further research on the current and alternative long-term selection methods for cold tolerance is recommended for continuous genetic improvement of advanced cycles in the northern U.S. Corn Belt. Part of the thesis submitted by B. Sezegen in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a MS degree at North Dakota State University.     

Combining ability,maternal, and reciprocal effects of elite early-maturing maize population hybrids

Choosing germplasm based on elite and diverse genetic sources is essential for the genetic improvement of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the agronomic and economic potential of maize population and single-cross hybrids and whether significant maternal (ME) and reciprocal effects (RE) reside in elite population hybrids for seed production purposes. Seven elite maize populations currently under recurrent selection at North Dakota State University (NDSU) [NDSCD(M-S)C11, NDSAB(MER-FS)C14, BS21(R)C7, BS22(R)C7, LEAMING(S)C4, CGL(S₁-S₂)C5 and CGSS(S₁-S₂)C5] were crossed in a diallel mating design to form 42 population hybrids, including their reciprocals. The 42 population hybrids with eight single-cross hybrids were evaluated at six U.S. North Central locations in 2005. Data collected across locations indicated that differences across genotypes were significant (P ≤ 0.05) for all traits observed, except for grain yield ear components. General combining ability (GCA) effects were on average larger than specific combining ability (SCA) effects. ME and RE were not significant for all traits, except for ear height. The large grain yield differences between macro-environments were reflected in the ranking of genotypes, with BS21(R)C7 × BS22(R)C7 being the top performer in eastern environments and CGSS(S1-S2)C5 × NDSAB(MER-FS)C14 being the top one across western environments where drought is the major limitation. The increased ethanol production and demand from maize make test weight (and grain quality), earliness, lodging resistance, and drought tolerance as important as grain yield for maintaining a sustainable maize-ethanol relationship. Part of the thesis submitted by McDonald B. Jumbo in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a MS degree at North Dakota State University.     

Crop yield and grain quality of emmer populations grown in central Italy, as affected by nitrogen fertilization

The increasing demand for traditional and natural foods has renewed the interest in hulled wheat species. Among these, Triticum dicoccum Schübler has survived in Italy only in a few hilly and mountainous areas of central and southern Italy. As a rule, emmer is cultivated in marginal areas with organic farming procedures that use very low N inputs, since this wild species is characterised by low yield, long and weak culms that easily lodge under windy conditions. Unfortunately, there is a lack of information on crop productivity and N effect for this crop. Research was carried out to study the effect of cultivation year (2004 and 2005), plant origin (Garfagnana, Leonessa and Molise) and N dressing (N₀, N₃₀, N₆₀ and N₉₀ kg ha⁻¹) on crop yield and grain quality of emmer grown in south-central Italy. Fertilizer was split at seeding, tillering and stem elongation. Tested parameters were highly influenced either by crop origin or N application (biomass, hulled and threshed grain yield, spikes m⁻², spikelets per spike, kernel weight, plant height, lodging, kernel ash and proteins). Several parameters augmented as fertilization rate increased (hulled and unhulled grain yield, biomass accumulation, spikes m⁻², kernels m⁻², protein content); 1000-kernel weight showed an opposite trend and in some cases no differences were noticed among fertilized treatments (plant height and spikelets per spike). Molise was the most productive population, closely followed by Garfagnana. The present research rejected some common belief that emmer has to be grown without N dressing, and crop undergoes lodging in marginal mountainous areas. Besides, grain yield of N₉₀ and N₆₀ treated emmer was only 6 and 18% lower compared to the five most important durum wheat varieties cultivated in the same area, suggesting emmer as a possible alternative crop to durum wheat in marginal areas of Mediterranean-type agro-ecosystems.     

Dry matter and nitrogen accumulation and residues of oil and protein crops

Oil and protein crops are of growing importance in cropping systems. This study was carried out to compare oil crops of linseed, rapeseed, sunflower and protein crops of faba bean and white lupin for grain production, residual plant dry matter and nitrogen. Two field experiments with either oil or protein crops were conducted in 1993 and 1994, respectively. Total dry matter production, grain yield, residues, N concentrations and mineral N in the soil were measured. Dry matter production and distribution as well as N uptake and residues varied greatly among species and between years. In 1993, oil crops gave up to 3 t ha⁻¹ grain and 16 t ha⁻¹ residues with sunflower, while in 1994 up to 5 and 11 t ha⁻¹, respectively, were recorded with winter rape. Protein crops showed an opposite reaction in years. Nitrogen uptake and residual N amounts were correlated with dry matter production. Plant residues of oil crops contained 20–140 kg N ha⁻¹; those of protein crops up to 80 kg N ha⁻¹. Despite the variation of residual plant N the variability of mineral N in the soil at harvest was hardly influenced by crops and amounted to only 20–50 kg NO⁻₃-N ha⁻¹.     

Genetic improvement of soybean varieties released in India from 1969 to 1993

Summary Soybean is an important oilseed crop in India and varieties with high yield potential are being developed since 1969. This study was conducted to assess the impact of breeding on yield and plant characteristics during the last 25 years. A 3-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate forty three soybean varieties belonging to two different selection cycles and representing most of the varieties developed in the domestic breeding programme of India from 1969 to 1993. Varieties resulting from selection cycle 1 showed 4 times higher seed yield and harvest index as compared to the farm traditional variety Kalitur. This yield increase was due to an increase in biomass, pods plant^–1, mean seed weight and longer seed filling duration, but a reduced plant height and improved lodging tolerance, less seeds pod^–1 and early flowering and maturity dates. The varieties of selection cycle 2 showed 19% higher seed yields and 16% increase in harvest index over selection cycle 1 accompanied by longer seed filling duration, more seeds pod^–1 and reduced plant height. The annual genetic gain in seed yield of soybean varieties released in India from 1969 to 1993 was approximately 22 kg ha^–1.     

氮肥水平和种植密度对冬小麦茎秆抗倒性能的影响

以中穗型小麦品种山农15为材料,在2个氮肥水平(180 kg hm^-2和240 kg hm^-2)和2个密度(150×10⁴ hm^-2和225×10⁴ hm^-2)下,研究了抗倒性能相关的形态学特征、茎基部节间化学组分、抗倒指数（茎秆机械强度/茎秆重心高度）、木质素合成相关酶活性和籽粒产量的变化特点,以及抗倒指数与形态学和生化指标的相关性。结果表明,施氮水平和种植密度间存在显著的互作效应,当施氮水平由180 kg hm^-2增至240 kg hm^-2或种植密度由150×10⁴ hm^-2增加到225×10⁴ hm^-2时,茎秆重心高度、基部节间长度显著提高,基部节间直径、厚度、充实度、机械强度和抗倒指数显著降低,同时茎秆基部节间纤维素含量、木质素含量显著减少,含氮量显著升高,碳氮比(C/N比)以及木质素合成相关酶活性显著降低。逐步回归分析表明,氮肥水平对小麦抗倒性的影响大于种植密度。本试验条件下,氮肥水平180 kg hm^-2和种植密度为150×10⁴ hm^-2的处理穗数较低,但穗粒数和千粒重显著高于其它处理,因而籽粒产量最高。建议在降低氮肥用量至180 kg hm^-2的同时降低种植密度至150×10⁴ hm^-2,可在增强植株抗倒伏能力的同时获得高产。     

源于陕A群、陕B群玉米自交系在不同密度条件下配合力分析

采用NC-II遗传设计,以郑58、昌7-2为测验种,与17份高密度条件下筛选的玉米自交系组配成34份杂交组合,2014—2015年分别于陕西杨凌、长武、榆林进行3种密度(45 000、67 500和90 000株hm–2)配合力分析试验。采用PROC VARCOMP分析不同密度条件下产量及耐密性相关性状的遗传效应,采用频率直方分布图研究不同密度条件下产量及耐密性相关性状一般配合力(GCA)平均数的变化规律,利用AMMI评价玉米自交系与杂交组合的稳定性。结果表明,产量、倒伏率、茎秆强度主要受加性遗传效应控制,空秆率主要受非加性遗传效应控制。加性遗传效应对产量及耐密性相关性状的贡献率随种植密度的增加呈上升趋势。玉米自交系产量、空秆率、倒伏率、茎秆强度的一般配合力频率均属于正态分布,随着种植密度的增加,产量GCA的平均值提高了0.28,空秆率GCA平均值降低了0.21,倒伏率GCA平均值降低了0.03,茎秆强度GCA平均值增加了0.02。玉米杂交组合产量与玉米自交系产量GCA密切相关(r=0.877**,r=0.811**,r=0.672**)。随着种植密度的增加,表现稳定的玉米自交系及杂交组合的数量呈上升趋势。因此,强化逆境选择压力,实施高密度选择策略,是增强玉米自交系耐密性和抗倒性,提升一般配合力,实现产量增益的有效措施。     

Maize commercial hybrids compared to improved population hybrids for grain yield and agronomic performance

Improved maize (Zea mays L.) populations and population hybrids can both be profitable alternatives to commercial single-cross hybrids as well as good elite sources of diverse inbred lines. The objective of this research was to compare grain yield and agronomic performance between early maturing maize population hybrids and current early maturing commercial single-cross hybrids. This is a consequence of our research program targeted at identifying alternative heterotic patterns for the northern Corn Belt. Improved maize populations and population hybrids (S₀ generations) were evaluated in experiments arranged in randomized complete block and partially balanced lattice designs across 29 environments. Grain yield potential of population hybrids was optimally expressed under irrigated conditions. Data across environments showed that 20% of the population hybrids evaluated were not different (P 0.05) from at least one of the commercial single-cross hybrids for grain yield performance, root lodging, and stalk lodging percentages. The average mid-parent heterosis value across population hybrids from different geographic regions was 20.4% with negative estimates observed in only two population hybrids. Breeding efforts toward elite populations and population hybrids have demonstrated that germplasm improvement is extremely valuable and deserves public funding. These efforts should be supported in order to enable the development of elite sources of diverse inbred lines and the development of improved population hybrids for specific markets (e.g., organic) to increase producer options. Public maize breeding programs utilizing recurrent selection methods for germplasm improvement could address the need. These programs, however, should incorporate extensive testing of population hybrids.     

种植密度对不同株高夏玉米品种茎秆性状与抗倒伏能力的影响

倒伏是影响夏玉米在密植条件下获得高产的重要限制因素之一,本研究旨在探讨种植密度对不同株高夏玉米品种茎秆性状与抗倒伏能力的影响。以矮秆品种登海661 (DH661)和高秆品种鲁单981 (LD981)为试验材料,通过设置4.50×10⁴株 hm^-2、6.75×10⁴株 hm^-2和9.00×10⁴株 hm^-2 3个种植密度,研究茎秆节间长度、茎秆穿刺强度、茎秆显微结构以及倒伏率等方面的变化。结果表明,随种植密度增加,夏玉米的基部第3茎节间和穗位节间变细,茎秆穿刺强度显著下降,较密度4.50万株 hm^-2,DH661和LD981 6.75万株 hm^-2、9.00万株 hm^-2地上第3节间茎秆穿刺强度分别降低了8.5%、22.6%和13.3%、29.6%;茎秆皮层和维管束内部厚壁细胞厚度及维管束数目均随种植密度的增加显著下降,倒伏风险增加,但矮秆品种的下降幅度小于高秆品种,而产量的增加幅度大于高秆品种,说明矮秆品种在高密度下能够保持较好的抗倒伏性能,有助于其在高密度种植条件下获得高产、稳产。     

Effect of plant density on selection for seed yield in two population types of Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Summary Pedigree selection for seed yield, using early generation yield tests, was practiced from the F₂ to F₇ in two populations of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in three plant densities: 66, 133, and 266 thousand plants ha^-1 at CIAT-Palmira, Colombia. The six highest yielding lines selected from each plant-density, along with 13 parents, were evaluated in a 7×7 lattice design with three replications at the three densities utilized for selection, and at 399,000 plants ha^-1 in 1988 and 1989.Based on the mean performance of selected lines and the mean of the parents, selection for seed yield was effective in all densities in both populations. However, none of the lines selected from the population within the race Mesoamerica (TC 4673) significantly outyielded their best parent under any plant density. The highest yielding lines selected from the interracial population (TR 4635) outyielded their best parent irrespective of the plant-density used for selection. The highest yielding line originated from the highest density used for selection. Low density was neither good for selection nor for evaluation and identification of high-yielding cultivars of common bean. There was no significant difference between the mean yield of lines selected at the intermediate and high population densities. The effects of plant density, year, and their interactions were significant for seed yield.     

Development of unique and novel lines for early-maturing hybrids: moving GEM germplasm northward and westward

Future maize (Zea mays L.) genetic gains are dependent on the incorporation of unique and useful genetic diversity to breeding programs actively improving germplasm and developing cultivars. Our ultimate goal is to increase the genetic diversity currently available in early maturing maize hybrids by developing novel lines that can be utilized competitively in the northern US Corn Belt. A long-term breeding project (EarlyGEM) was initiated to move US Germplasm Enhancement Maize (GEM) germplasm northward and westward. Nine out of 152 breeding crosses were adapted and data from one breeding cross is presented. Five hundred BC₁:S₁ lines derived from (AR16026:S17-66-1-B × ND2000) × ND2000 were advanced, selected, and crossed to several commercial testers for early and late generation hybrid testing. Experiments were arranged in various partially balanced lattice designs and grown across 23 North Dakota (ND) environments. Data showed experimental GEM-derived hybrids had better grain yield (10.4 vs. 9.2 t ha^?1), test weight (72.5 vs. 70.1 kg h L^?1), extractable starch (67.8 vs. 64.2%) and fermentable starch, grain oil (4.3 vs. 3.5%), and grain protein (10.5 vs. 9.4%) when compared to popular hybrids at similar grain moisture at harvest. This is the first research incorporating GEM-derived tropical and late-temperate genetic materials for inbred line development representing a relative maturity (RM) below 90 days. As a consequence of these breeding efforts GEM materials were adapted to the northern US Corn Belt and are not only sources of useful and unique novel genetic diversity but also competitive products for industry use as requests for experimental EarlyGEM lines have been extensive. This research has practical implications with regards to new ways of conducting maize breeding for high latitudes.     

共生期与种植密度对棉田套播油菜生长及产量的影响

为探讨共生期和密度对棉田套播油菜生长和产量的影响, 设置3个共生期: 棉油共生10 d (T10)、20 d (T20)和30 d (T30)及4个种植密度 30 (D1)、45 (D2)、60 (D3)和75万株 hm^–2 (D4)裂区试验。结果表明: (1)同一密度下, 延长共生期, 越冬期、蕾薹期和花期绿叶数、叶面积指数均增加, 促进了根系及地上部干物质累积, 根冠比、株高、根茎粗增加, 茎秆酸不溶木质素和总木质素含量下降, 可溶性糖、半纤维素和纤维素含量升高。油菜根倒角度虽增加, 但茎倒角度、总倒伏角度减小, 油菜单株和群体产量均增加, 以T30D2群体产量最高。(2)密度对油菜生长和产量的影响因共生期不同存在差异。相同共生期处理下, 随密度增加, 单株绿叶数减少, 根系干物质、地上部干物质累积量降低, 单株产量降低。T30条件下, 叶面积指数(LAI)随密度增加呈先增后减的趋势, 在D3密度时, LAI最大; 在T20、T10条件下, LAI则随密度增加而增加。群体产量与LAI变化趋势一致。在T30、T20处理下, 茎倒角度随密度增加呈先降后增趋势, 在T10处理下, 则逐渐增加, 与茎秆纤维素含量变化趋势相反, 两试点均为T30D3田间总倒伏角度最小。(3)武穴及天门试点棉田套播油菜产量所要求的共生期及密度最优配置分别为29.8 d、48.8万株 hm^–2, 29.7 d、57.6万株 hm^–2; 在此配置下, 两试点油菜产量理论值分别为3243.0、3082.8 kg hm^–2, 与当地棉田套播油菜常用栽培模式(共生期15 d, 密度15.0~22.5万株 hm^–2, 产量约2625 kg hm^–2)相比, 可实现增产23.5%、17.4%。     

Reciprocal recurrent selection for multitrait indices in maize

Summary Reciprocal recurrent selection was carried out with two populations of maize (Zea mays L.) having good combining ability. We selected for higher grain yield, early maturity, shorter plant height and lodging resistance. Two cycles were completed in two years (four seasons), by resorting to late planting of S1 lines for recombination in the main season in which top-cross families were assessed. Top-crosses and selfings were made in the off-season. The original and improved versions of the populations and their crosses were evaluated in multilocation trials. The superiority of the population hybrid was 10.3% for grain yield, 5.5% for plant height and 1.8 days to silk. The improved hybrid had delayed leaf senescence and better resistance to lodging and post-flowering stalk rots. Among the yield components, only ear girth showed improvement. Syn 2 of the improved population cross showed a yield reduction of 6.2% in comparison to Syn 1. Intrapopulation gains were not significant except for lodging resistance in one population.     

Mass selection for kernel depth in early maize

Summary Effectiveness of mass selection for kernel depth in an early maize (Zea mays L.) synthetic, i.e. NDSAB, was evaluated in eight North Dakato environments. Four cycles of selection for deeper kernels were evaluated for grain yield and associated traits by using corresponding randomly selected subpopulations of NDSAB to adjust out inbreeding effects on selected subpopulations. General combining ability (GCA) effects of selected subpopulations also were evaluated for these traits.Subpopulations selected from one to four cycles for deep kernels were reciprocally crossed to corresponding randomly selected subpopulations in a factorial mating design. Subpopulations, selfed subpopulations, and subpopulation crosses were evaluated for yield and associated traits. Subpopulations selected for deep kernels generally had deeper kernels, higher yields, heavier kernels, more kernel rows per ear, and lower test weights than corresponding randomly selected subpopulations. Differences in GCA effects among selected and unselected subpopulations generally corresponded to differences between selected and unselected parental subpopulations. Inbreeding effects from selfing were observed for all traits, but no average heterosis was detected when subpopulation crosses were compared to parental subpopulations. Reciprocal differences were observed for all traits except kernel depth, but these differences were inconsistent relative to whether deep kerneled females made superior hybrids to unselected females.Results supported the use of mass selection for kernel depth as a means of grain yield improvement in the short term for NDSAB. However, negative associations of kernel depth with test weight may restrict long term use of this procedure.Journal Article No. 1505 of the North Dakota Agric. Exp. Stn., Fargo     

Responses to selection and changes in combining ability after three cycles of a modified reciprocal recurrent selection in maize

This research reports responses to selection and changes in general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities after three cycles of a modified reciprocal recurrent selection procedure (MRRS) in EPB-4 and EPB-5 maize populations. In the MRRS procedure a cycle can be completed in 1 or 2 years depending on the availability of winter breeding nurseries. The original and the three selection cycles of the two populations per se (eight entries) and the partial diallel developed from the crosses between them (16 entries) were evaluated in six environments. Realized response to selection on the population cross was 7.25% cycle⁻¹ for grain yield, −13.63% cycle⁻¹ for plant lodging, and 11.93% cyle⁻¹ for prolificacy, whereas plant and ear heights remained unchanged. GCA estimates increased with selection cycles for both populations for grain yield and prolificacy, and decreased for plant lodging, indicating that the frequency of favorable alleles with additive effects for these traits increased with the MRRS cycles in both populations. SCA estimates increased for grain yield and prolificacy indicating that the frequency of favorable complementary alleles at loci with non-additive effects in the reciprocal populations increased with the MRRS cycles. For grain yield, SCA effects increased more than GCA effects with selection cycles, indicating that MRRS exploited more the non-additive effects than the additive effects for the improvement of this trait. The overall results showed that the MRRS procedure was highly effective in improving the population cross, exploiting both GCA and SCA effects.     

Associations between grain yield and carbon isotope discrimination in cowpea

Twenty cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) genotypes, comprising Kenyan cultivars and Kenyan and introduced breedings lines, were grown in 15 replicated field trials carried out at three locations in semi-arid eastern Kenya over four seasons. Grain and straw yields and the carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) of this material were determined, and days to flowering and maturity observed.None of the seasons in which the trials were conducted was appreciably drier than the long term average for the sites, and some trials received excessive rain. Averaging the data for the 15 trials, one genotype yielded much less grain (77 g m⁻²) than the 19 others, whose yield ranged from 125 to 177 g m⁻² (average 148 g m⁻²). Trial mean yield trials had a high straw Δ (r = +0.567) and had received more rain between flowering and maturity (r = +0.428) than lower yielding ones. Among genotypes, averaging over trials, the correlation coefficient (r) between grain yield and grain Δ was +0.394, and between grain yield and straw Δ, +0.460. Early genotypes had the highest grain Δ and straw Δ. The correlation among genotypes between date of flowering and grain Δ was −0.632 and with straw Δ, −0.502. When comparisons were made among trials, there was no clear relationship between the strength of the correlations among genotypes between grain yield and straw Δ or grain Δ and the degree of stress experienced by a trial (as indicated by the rainfall it had received). It appeared that this was because the variances of grain Δ and straw Δ were greater in the most droughted trials, whereas the variance of yield was greatest in the least droughted trials.It is concluded that the genetic correlation between grain yield and either grain Δ or straw Δ is unlikely to be strong enough to make either Δ a useful surrogate or adjunct in selecting for high yield in the segregating generations of a breeding programme for semi-arid eastern Kenya, but that Δ may be of value in the selection of parent genotypes.     

Solar radiation interception and canopy expansion of sweet corn in response to phosphorus

Insufficient phosphorus (P) availability decreases the yield of Zea mays, particularly for sweet corn crops grown in cool environments. This research examined the mechanisms of yield reductions with initial emphasis on canopy expansion processes that affect the interception of solar radiation. Experiments in two consecutive seasons (2001/2002 and 2002/2003) were grown at a low P site (Olsen P = 6 μg ml⁻¹) at Lincoln, New Zealand. Each experiment contained five rates of P application. In 2001/2002 rates of 0, 50, 100, 150, or 200 kg P ha⁻¹ were applied. In 2002/2003 an additional 0, 0, 10, 20 or 40 kg P ha⁻¹ was applied to the same plots producing total P treatments of 0, 50, 110, 170 or 240 kg P ha⁻¹ summed over the two seasons.When P availability was limited (0 or 50 kg P ha⁻¹) the rates of leaf tip and fully expanded leaf appearance were slower in both seasons. Phyllochrons (°Cd leaf tip⁻¹) were 5 °Cd longer in crops that received 0 kg P ha⁻¹ than those fertilised with ≥100 kg P ha⁻¹. The area of individual leaves was also reduced by low P inputs but the ranking of leaf area by main stem leaf position was conservative. The leaf area of the largest leaf of the unfertilised crops was at least 22% less than the maximum measured leaf area in both seasons. In contrast, P fertiliser application had no effect on leaf senescence.The rate of leaf appearance per plant, individual leaf area and plant population were integrated to calculate green leaf area index (GLAI) and to estimate accumulated radiation interception (RI_cum) for these crops. The total RI_cum throughout the season in the unfertilised crops was 12–28% less than for those crops that received ≥100 kg P ha⁻¹ in both seasons. This difference partly explained the differences in crop biomass production in response to P availability. A sensitivity analysis showed that RI_cum was equally sensitive to changes of the rate of leaf appearance and the area of individual leaves in response to P supply. Both processes need to be incorporated in mechanistic models of P effects on Z. mays which can be used to design efficient P fertiliser strategies.     

Genetic improvement of spring barley cultivars grown in eastern Canada from 1910 to 1988

Summary Spring barley is an important feed crop in eastern Canada, and the development of high-yielding, high grain protein cultivars is desirable. This study was conducted to assess the impact of breeding on the yield and protein aspects of cultivar development, and to identify related changes in plant characteristics which may have been altered over time. A 3-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate twenty six-rowed spring barley genotypes representing the majority of cultivars developed from 1910 to 1988 for eastern Canada. The yields of barley cultivars released from 1935 to 1988 increased at a rate of about 0.03 t ha^-1 yr^-1, and showed no evidence of having reached a plateau. Increases in yield were associated with higher total dry matter production and harvest index, reduced plant height and increased lodging resistance. No consistent change in main stem or tiller yield components was observed. Grain protein concentration decreased progressively with time, especially with the newer cultivars. Reduction in grain protein concentration was not associated with lower protein content on a per grain basis, but rather with an increase in the amount of non-structural carbohydrate per grain. Total plant and grain N accumulation showed positive trends with time. No trends were observed for N harvest index, apparent post-heading N uptake, N retranslocation, and retranslocation efficiency. Thus, while the newer cultivars accumulated more total and grain N, proportional N partitioning to the grain was not altered.     

Inbreeding Depression and Other Genetic Effects in Populations of Maize Containing Highland Tropical Germplasm

A variety cross diallel of five populations of maize (Zea mays L.) was evaluated in a cool, temperate environment. Two of the parental populations were Corn Belt Dent synthetics (AS3 and BS22), one was developed from selected lines from a CIMMYT population developed for highland regions of the tropics and four Corn Belt Dent inbred lines (NZS3), and the other two had the pedigrees ‘Criollo de Toluca’× AS3² (NZS1) and ‘San Gerónimo’× BS222 (NZS2). ‘Criollo de Toluca’ is from the highlands of Mexico and ‘San Gerönimo’ is from the highlands of Peru. The objective was to study the influence of introgressing highland tropical germplasm into elite Corn Belt Dent synthetics on genetic effects, especially inbreeding depression, and to develop recommendations for the utilization of the introgressed populations. Inbreeding depression explained the greatest proportion of the variation among entries for grain yield, days to silking and plant height, but not for grain moisture at harvest and root lodging. For grain yield, NZS1, NZS2, and NZS3 had high levels of inbreeding depression and the difference between NZS1 and AS3 was statistically significant. High levels of root lodging were associated with NZS1 and high grain moisture at harvest with NZS2. These results indicate that a recurrent selection method, such as S₁ selection, which effectively reduces inbreeding depression, should be used in early cycles of selection with introgressed populations containing highland tropical germplasm.     

吉林省大豆品种遗传改良过程中主要农艺性状的变化

以吉林省1923—2005年间育成的30个大豆品种为材料, 两年的研究结果表明, 大豆种子产量随育成年代呈线性增加, 根据回归方程计算, 产量从1923年的1 197.80 kg hm^-2到2005年的2 305.54 kg hm^-2, 82年来增加了 1 107.73 kg hm^-2, 平均每年增加14.60 kg hm^-2。随着产量的提高, 株高降低, 主茎直径增加, 节数增多, 节间缩短, 分枝减少。相关和通径分析表明, 产量与单株荚数、单株粒数、单株叶面积、叶面积指数和单株复叶数目呈显著正相关(P<0.05), 单株荚数和单株粒数对于产量的提高贡献最大; 产量与株高、单株分枝数和倒伏指数呈显著负相关(P<0.05), 表明大豆产量的遗传改良过程中, 植株抗倒伏能力提高, 库容量增加, 源器官叶片的同化能力增强。