The allelic relationship between A IP(internal pigmentation) and A RC (red cabbage) in Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.

Summary Internal anthocyanin pigmentation (IP), previously reported to be controlled by a single gene dominant to aa of normal green cabbage, was studied further to determine its relationship to A ^RC A ^RC of red cabbage. When IP line R52 was crossed with an early red cabbage line. F₁ heads were pigmented throughout, but pigment intensity was intermediate. Subjective classification of F₂ plants by pigmentation intensity and distribution scores gave a ratio of 1 intense red throughout (red cabbage):2 medium red throughout:1 medium to light red, restricted to the central portion of the head (IP). The genotypes A ^RC A ^RC: A ^RC A ^IP: A ^IP A ^IP. respectively, are proposed to explain these 3 phenotypic classes. F₂ progenies contained no normal green plants, supporting the conclusion that A ^IP and A ^RC are alleles.Technical Paper 7052, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Inheritance of internode length,plant form,and annual habit in a cross of cabbage and broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. and var. italica Plenck.)

Summary When an inbred line of cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L., was crossed with an inbred line of broccoli B. oleraceae var. italica, the F₁ progeny were vigorous late annuals. All F₁ × broccoli backcross plants and 92% of the 3260 F₂ plants were annuals, while 40% of the F₁ × cabbage backcross plants were biennials. Annual habit is thus dominant and controlled by more than a single gene. Number of days to bud appearance in annuals varied continuously, and was primarily additive in inheritance. F₁ data suggested partial dominance for lateness but this was not supported by the F₂. Internode length was also continuous in distribution and primarily additive in inheritance, but with some dominance for short internodes in the F₁. Cabbage head forming ability was recessive and multigenic, with 2% of the F₂ plants forming heads, of which none were of commercial type and about half bolted as annuals. There was a significant chi square association between biennial habit and tendency for cabbage head formation. Clasping habit of terminal leaves was recessive to open leaves, multigenic, and associated with both cabbage heading and biennial habit.Technical Paper 4836, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station; from an M.S. thesis by the senior author.     

An S-allele survey of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. Capitata)

Summary A total of 31 S-alleles was found in a survey of 197 cabbage plants representing 11 cultivars of diverse type. Most of these S-alleles also occurred in either kale or Brussels sprouts, but five of them have not been found previously and apparently occur only in cabbage. A more detailed study of five cultivars of spring cabbage showed only 12 S-alleles in all, with 6–10 S-alleles in four older cultivars and only 3 S-alleles in the newer more highly selected cultivar. S2 was by far the commonest S-allele, as it is in B. oleracea as a whole. The highly recessive alleles S5 and S15 were not particularly common in cabbage and this may partly explain why the sib problem in F₁ hybrids is apparently less in cabbage than in Brussels sprouts. Three cases were found in which an S-allele was completely recessive in both the stigma and the pollen. The problems for the breeder created by this rather unusual situation are discussed.     

Transfer of resistance to race 2 of Plasmodiophora Brassicae from Brassica napus to cabbage (B. oleracea var. Capitata). I. Interspecific hybridization between B. napus and B. oleracea var. Capitata

Summary Interspecific hybridization between Brassica napus L. (2n=38, a₁a₁c₁c₁) and B. oleracea var. capitata L. (2x- and 4x-cabbage; 2n=2x=18, cc and 2n=4x=36, cccc) was carried out for the purpose of transferring clubroot disease resistance from the amphidiploid species to cabbage. Nineteen hybrids with three different chromosome levels (2n=28, a₁c₁c; 2n=37, a₁c₁cc and 2n=55, a₁c₁cccc) were obtained. The F₁ plants were mostly intermediate between the two parents but as the number of c genomes in the hybrids increased, the more closely the hybrids resembled the cabbage parent. All F₁ hybrids were resistant when tested against race 2 of Plasmodiophora brassicae wor. The complete dominance of resistance over susceptibility suggested that the gene(s) controlling resistance to this particular race of the clubroot pathogen is probably located on a chromosome of the a genome in Brassica.Contribution No. J654.     

Inheritance of stalk rot resistance in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis L.)

Summary The inheritance of resistance in cauliflower to stalk rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary) was investigated in population from six generations of six crosses. Disease incidence was recorded on 4 parents, 6 F^s ₁, 6 F^s ₂ and 12 back-crosses in a screenhouse under artificially created epiphytotic conditions. Resistance to stalk rot in this set of parents was found to be polygenic and under the control of recessive genes and due primarily to additive gene action. A breeding strategy emphasizing recurrent selection should lead to improvement in resistance.     

The inheritance of days to flowering in broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)

Summary Crosses between an early flowering inbred broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) HS140 and four later maturing inbred lines, S301, S310, s318, and S258, were studied to determine the inheritance of earliness as expressed by days to first open flower. Mean days to first flower for F₁ and F₂ were almost identical, and were close to the mean of the two parents in three crosses, indicating additive inheritance. In the cross HS140×S258, for which no F₁ plants were available, the F₂ mean was closer to the mean of the early parent, but this was likely due to a distortion of the data caused by the very late maturation of S258, the latest maturing parent in the study. Frequency distribution for parents and progenies supported the conclusions from parent and progeny mean values and indicated that days to maturity is a quantitative character, with mostly additive inheritance.Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Paper No. 7578.     

The somatic karyotype of cabbage (Brassica oleracea ssp. capitata)

Summary The individual chromosomes of cabbage are identifiable in nucellar cells found in the ovaries of immature pistils by the combination of their relative length, arm ratios, secondary constrictions, chromatic and achromatic regions and the presence of satellites.     

Breeding system,taxonomy, and breeding strategy in cauliflower,Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.)

Summary Cauliflowers representing those maturing in Britain in autumn, winter and spring were assessed for self-compatibility by self-pollen tube growth. A tendency existed for groups taking longer to mature to be more self-incompatible, but a range of incompatibilities was apparent in all groups. These results complement those of other workers.It is argued that despite demonstrable heterosis within many groups of cauliflowers, radical advances are probably best made by selecting self-compatible material from annual × biennial hybrid populations.     

Competition between cultivars of fodder kale (Brassica oleracea L.) in yield trials with single-row plots

Summary Two experiments were done to evaluate the use of single-row plots for assessing digestible organic-matter (DOM) yield.In the first experiment 29 cultivars were grown in both single-row plots (unguarded) and five-row plots from which only the centre row was harvested (guarded single-row plot). The correlation between yields in the unguarded and guarded plots was very low (r=0.20). Yield was correlated (r=0.89) with cultivar height in the unguarded plots, but not in the guarded plots (r=0.19). Therefore selection for yield in unguarded single-row plots is undesirable and would favour tall kales which are prone to lodging.In the second experiment 16 cultivars were grown in single row-plots guarded by the short cultivar Maris Kestrel, the tall cultivar Vulcan and by the cultivars themselves as control. The correlations between yield in the control plots and yields in the plots guarded with Maris Kestrel and Vulcan were only moderate (r=0.56 and r=0.64 respectively). Therefore the use of a single distinct cultivar to guard single row-plots is undesirable.Selection for DOM yield should therefore be made in multiple-row plots, from which the outer rows are discarded, in order to avoid the undesirable effects of competition.     

Effect of genotype,environment and carbohydrate on anther culture response in head cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. convar. capitata (L.) Alef.)

Summary The effect of genotype, growing conditions for donor plants and type and concentration of carbohydrate in the culture medium was investigated for anther culture of head cabbage (white cabbage, savoy cabbage, pointed-headed cabbage). Strong genotypic effects on embryo formation from the cultured anthers were shown as well as superior embryo formation from anthers of field grown donor plants compared to plants grown in the greenhouse. When comparing 7, 10 and 13% sucrose in the medium, embryo response increased with increasing sucrose concentration. With maltose, which was generally inferior to sucrose as carbohydrate source for anther culture, the embryo response did not increase with maltose concentration above 10 per cent.     

Transfer of resistance to race 2 of Plasmodiophora brassicae from Brassica napus to cabbage (B. oleracea var. capitata). II. Meiosis in the interspecific hybrids between B. napus and 2x and 4x cabbage

Summary Meiosis in 14 interspecific F₁ hybrids with three chromosomal levels (triploid, tetraploid, hexaploid; 2n=28, 37 and 55) between Brassica napus L. and 2x and 4x cabbage (B. oleracea var. capitata L.) was studied. The oleracea genome from B. napus maintained close homology with the c genome of cabbage while the campestris genome of B. napus showed partial homology with the c genome contained in the hybrids. Genotypic influence on chromosome pairing was indicated. Structural chromosome differences and spontaneous chromosome breakage and reunion were suggested as causes for the abnormalities which related to the unbalance of the genotypes. The divergence of the genomes of B. napus and B. oleracea and the need for the qualification of the term secondary association were discussed.Contribution No. J. 673, Research Station, Agriculture Canada, St. Jean, Québec.     

Plant traits associated with resistance to Thrips tabaci in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata)

Thrips tabaci is a major problem in the cultivation of cabbage for storage, as this pest causes symptoms that necessitate the removal of affected leaves from the product. Between cabbage varieties large differences in susceptibility occur. This study aimed to identify plant traits associated with these differences, in field experiments with natural infestation in 2005 and 2006. One factor affecting the amount of thrips damage was the timing of the development of the head. In an experiment with different planting dates especially the early maturing, more susceptible varieties were shown to benefit from later planting. In comparisons of multiple varieties in both years, regression studies showed that more advanced plant development in August and early September increased thrips damage at the final harvest. However, no single plant trait explained more than 25% (2005, Brix) or 48% (2006, compactness) of the variation in thrips damage. Optimal regression models, explaining up to 75% of the variation in thrips damage included Brix and leaf surface wax late in the season, as well as an indicator of plant development earlier in the season, and in 2005 also leaf thickness. The possible role of these plant traits in relation to thrips is discussed.     

An extended random primer amplified region (ERPAR) marker linked to a dominant male sterility gene in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Similar to SCAR, an extended random primer amplified region (ERPAR) marker is a PCR amplified genomic DNA fragment at a single genetically defined locus. However, ERPAR uses specific primer pairs derived from RAPD primers by adding bases sequentially to their 3′-ends. As an example, an ERPAR marker was derived from a RAPD marker (OT11₉₀₀) linked to a dominant male sterility gene in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata). After two cycles of base adding and primer pair screening, a primer pair (5′-TTCCCCGCGACT-3′and 5′-TTCCCCGCGAGA-3′) amplified a single intense band with the same size as OT11₉₀₀. The identity of the new marker and OT11₉₀₀ was verified by segregation analysis. The new marker amplified by this extended primer pair was named as EPT11₉₀₀. The development of ERPAR exploits the importance of 3′-end bases of primers in PCR ERPAR shares advantages of SCAR, but eliminates the need for cloning and sequencing. It is a fast and universal way of converting RAPD markers into stable markers. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inheritance of head splitting in cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L.)

Summary The inheritance of head splitting was probed by studying two moderate inbred lines of early-splitting and late-splitting cabbages, their F₁, F₂ and backcross progenies under field condition. It was concluded that there were at least 3 gene pairs for controlling head splitting. Gene action was mostly additive but partial dominance for early splitting was detected. Narrow sense heritability was estimated as 47%.     

Screening of Portuguese cole landraces (Brassica oleracea L.) with Peronospora parasitica and Plasmodiophora brassicae

Summary Forty-four landraces of Portuguese coles (Brassica oleracea L.), representing different morphotypes, were screened at the cotyledon stage for downy mildew resistance, caused by Peronospora parasitica. Two isolates of the pathogen, PHW 630 and PHW 828, were used in the experiment. The mean disease interaction phenotype varied among the landraces. Overall, the Portuguese coles have shown resistance to both isolates, particularly to isolate PHW 828. Some landraces were identified with differential reaction to the two P. parasitica isolates. Some of the Portuguese coles are, therefore, good sources of resistance genes to P. parasitica, and could be used in breeding programs or in the development of a downy mildew host differential set. Among the morphotypes tested, Couve Algarvia (ISA 207), Couve Galega (ISA 243 and 187) and Couve Glória de Portugal (ISA 84) have presented the highest resistance interaction. For the development of host differential sets, the landraces ISA 2 (Penca de Mirandela), ISA 35 (Couve de Valhascos) and ISA 600 (Penca Espanhola) could be further selected for the differentiation of P. parasitica isolates. They are resistant to PHW 828 and susceptible to PHW 643.The same morphotypes and landraces were also screened at the seedling stage for resistance to clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae Woron.. Although some variation for resistance could be noticed in some the landraces tested, mainly Galega kale types, none of them presented a sufficient level of resistance as to be directly be useful in breeding for resistance to race 6 of P. brassicae.     

Inheritance of resistance to black rot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. Campestris) in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis)

Summary Black rot disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris is a limiting factor in the commercial production of the cauliflower crop. Crosses were attempted between SN 445, a mid season cultivar resistant to black rot and two highly susceptible commercial cultivars (Pusa Snowball-1 and K-1). Studies of the F₁'s, F₂'s and back crosses indicated that SN 445, carries a dominant gene imparting resistance to black rot.     

The effect of alternating temperatures on the self-incompatibility of some clones of Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea L. var. Gemmifera (DC.) Schulz)

Summary The influence of temperature on self-incompatibility of six S-homozygous clones of Brussels sprouts was studied. The clones were treated with constant temperatures of 14°, 17° and 20°C and alternating day and night temperatures of 17/14°, 20/14°, 23/14° and 26/14°C. To determine the degree of incompatibility the mean number of pollen tubes per style after selfing was calculated.The clone with the weak S-allele S-5 was less self-incompatible in the 23/14° and 26/14°C treatments than in the other treatments. The other clones with the weak S-alleles S-15 and S-45 remained sufficiently self-incompatible during all treatments. The clone with the rather strong S-39 showed the highest level of self-incompatibility at 26/14°C.In the two weakly self-incompatible clones with S-5 and S-39 a clear difference in self-incompatibility was found between young and old flowers. The strongly SI clones with S-39 showed no difference and in the two clones with S-15 the differences were small and significant in one case only.     

Inheritance of resistance to tipburn in cabbage

Summary Tipburn resistance was identified as being highly but not completely dominant in three nearly isogenic populations of cabbage. Narrow sense heritability estimates of 0.14, 0.34, and 0.49 and broad sense heritability estimates of 0.64, 0.74, and 0.77 were obtained with 2–4 genes controlling resistance. Analysis of resistance was made under conditions of high fertility, especially high N and plentiful moisture and generally high humidity which together resulted in very severe tipburn in susceptible plants.Journal Paper No. 3038 of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, New York, USA.     

Identification of S-alleles in Brassica oleracea

Summary S-alleles of Brassica oleracea were identified using a method which is based on the amplification of S-sequences from genomic DNA, followed by digestion of the PCR products with selected restriction enzymes (PCR-RFLP). A study was made in which the same S-allele was present in the homozygous state in a range of different crop types. This showed that, with minor exceptions, characteristic restriction patterns were obtained, and therefore that it was possible to identify the S-allele. To test whether the method was also suitable for the identification of both the S-alleles present in heterozygotes, a number of S-heterozygotes together with an F₂ population were screened. The results showed that the standard method was not very reliable for the identification of both of the S-alleles. This is because firstly, one of the S-alleles may be amplified preferentially, and secondly, the restriction patterns are not unique to a particular combination of S-alleles. Finally, although it is not possible to identify unequivocally both S-alleles of heterozygotes using a standard technique, the procedure can be modified for particular combinations of alleles to enable the identification to be made.     

Classification of S-alleles by their activity in S-heterozygotes of brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. Gemmifera (DC.) Schultz)

Summary Over a period of many years, data on dominance relationships of S-alleles in Brussels sprouts were collected at URL and IVT. The level of activity of S-alleles in heterozygotes was assessed on the basis of the number of pollen tubes that penetrated into the stigma. 209 out of 210 possible combinations between 21 S-alleles were used for this investigation. The S-alleles were grouped separately for activity in pollen and style on the basis of their sensitivity to lose activity in S-heterozygotes. Besides S-allele interaction per se, activity was found to be influenced by environment and genetic background.Results suggest that in stigma, co-dominance is the normal pattern and that deviations are caused by factors other than S-allele interaction as such.In pollen, only three truly recessive alleles were found. Besides several combinations with mutual weakening in pollen, examples of independent weakening were found.