空间统计分析在作物育种品系选择中的效果

为了研究空间统计分析法在作物育种田间试验品系选择中的效果,采用剩余误差空间相关线性混合模型对一个具有56个品系的小麦育种随机区组设计田间试验产量资料进行了空间统计分析。运用地理统计学中的半变异函数法确定剩余误差空间协方差的函数。结果表明,试验的剩余误差存在着典型的空间相关性,利用剩余误差空间协方差结构的信息可降低品系效应估计的误差和提高品系效应差异F检验与t检验的效率。此外,空间分析法对品系效应估计受试验条件不均匀的影响小,可导致较经典方差分析法不同的品系排序和优系选择结果。     

Getting the Most Out of Sorghum Low‐Input Field Trials in West Africa Using Spatial Adjustment

Breeding sorghum for low‐input conditions is hindered by soil heterogeneity. Spatial adjustment using mixed models can help account for this variation and increase precision of low‐input field trials. Large small‐scale spatial variation (CV 39.4 %) for plant available phosphorus was mapped in an intensely sampled low‐input field. Spatial adjustments were shown to account for residual yield differences because of this and other growth factors. To investigate the potential of such models to increase the efficiency of low‐ and high‐input field trials, 17 experiments with 70 sorghum genotypes conducted in Mali, West Africa, were analysed for grain yield using different mixed models including models with autoregressive spatial correlation terms. Spatial models (AR1, AR2) improved broad sense heritability estimates for grain yield, averaging gains of 10 and 6 % points relative to randomized complete block (RCB) and lattice models, respectively. The heritability estimate gains were even higher under low phosphorus conditions and in two‐replicate analyses. No specific model was best for all environments. A single spatial model, AR1 × AR1, captured most of the gains for heritability and relative efficiency provided by the best model identified for each environment using Akaike's Information Criterion. Spatial modelling resulted in important changes in genotype ranking for grain yield. Thus, the use of spatial models was shown to have potentially important consequences for aiding effective sorghum selection in West Africa, particularly under low‐input conditions and for trials with fewer replications. Thus, using spatial models can improve the resource allocation of a breeding program. Furthermore, our results show that good experimental design with optimal placement and orientation of blocks is essential for efficient statistical analysis with or without spatial adjustment.     

籼型染色体置换片段在杂交粳稻中的配合力分析

利用10个以粳稻为遗传背景、籼稻为供体的染色体片段置换系(CSSL)及6个粳稻测验种, 按NCII设计, 分析了籼粳亚种间杂种在10个染色体区段上的配合力效应及遗传力等参数。结果表明, 除千粒重外, 各置换系主要产量构成性状的GCA值均高于背景亲本Asominori, 其中带有第12、第4、第1和第11染色体片段的AIS84、AIS27、AIS3、AIS80和AIS76置换系产量相关性状的GCA综合表现最好。说明在染色体片段水平上, 水稻籼粳亚种主要产量构成性状的杂种优势都大于粳亚种内的杂种优势, 对粳稻基因组导入籼稻X24-2~R367 (Chr.12)、R1854~R288 (Chr.4)、C970~C955 (Chr.1)、C1350~R257 (Chr.11)和X52~R2913 (Chr.11)染色体片段, 可显著提高杂交粳稻的产量水平。同一亲本所配的不同组合及同一组合在不同性状间的特殊配合力差异较大, 最高或最低SCA的组合可来自不同GCA的亲本组合类型, 表明在一般配合力与特殊配合力间不存在必然的联系。在双亲一般配合力均高的前提下结合较高的特殊配合力是超高产杂交稻育种中亲本选择的基本原则。     

Improving the precision of cotton performance trials conducted on highly variable soils of the southeastern USA coastal plain

Reliable agronomic and fibre quality data generated in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivar performance trials are highly valuable. The most common strategy used to generate reliable performance trial data uses experimental design to minimize experimental error resulting from spatial variability. However, an alternative strategy uses a posteriori statistical procedures to account for spatial variability. In this study, the efficiency of the randomized complete block (RCB) design and nearest neighbour adjustment (NNA) were compared in a series of cotton performance trials conducted in the southeastern USA to identify the efficiency of each in minimizing experimental error for yield, yield components and fibre quality. In comparison to the RCB, relative efficiency of the NNA procedure varied amongst traits and trials. Results show that experimental analyses, depending on the trait and selection intensity employed, can affect cultivar or experimental line selections. Based on this study, we recommend researchers conducting cotton performance trials on variable soils consider using NNA or other spatial methods to improve trial precision.     

Incomplete split-plot designs based on α-designs: a compromise between traditional split-plot designs and randomised complete block design

The paper shows how the α-design (also known as generalised lattice) may be used for constructing incomplete split-plot designs and describes four different methods (A, B, C and D) of construction. Intra-block efficiency factors and theoretical considerations are used to compare the methods. Based on those considerations method B was considered to be the most appropriate method for trials where tests for interaction between the two factors were important and thus this method was used and most of the paper deals with trials based on this construction method. The incomplete split-plots were superior to traditional split-plots in most cases—and the increase in efficiency of the designs can be quite large—especially for comparisons involving the whole-plot treatment. The efficiency for the comparison of the main effect of the whole-plot treatment was in most cases larger for randomized complete block design than for the incomplete split-plot design, but for other comparisons the proposed designs were in most cases more efficient than a randomized complete block design. The efficiency of the designs was compared to traditional split-plot designs and randomized complete block designs using three types of data. The three types were simulated data with known covariance structure, data from uniformity trials and data from actual trials using incomplete split-plot designs for comparing cereal varieties under different growing conditions. It is concluded that the incomplete split-plot designs may be a good alternative to traditional split-plots and a good compromise between split-plots and randomised complete blocks.     

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.     

Quality evaluation of D-zone omega gliadins in wheat

One-hundred and eighty-one wheat cultivars and breeding lines of diverse origin, together with 409 and 540 Swedish spring and winter wheat breeding lines, respectively, were analysed by electrophoretical methods for D-zone omega gliadins. Correlations were calculated between the D-zone omega gliadin and high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunit patterns, with Zeleny volume or specific Zeleny volume. The results showed that simultaneous screening of D-zone omega gliadins and HMW subunits of glutenin was possible, and that the variation in Zeleny volume was attributed approximately equally between these protein groups. Both protein patterns can be used as parameters when breeding for bread-making quality. Positive relationships were found between gliadins d7 and d2 d4, and the specific Zeleny volume. Gliadins d11 d12 and the null allele of chromosome IB showed indications of negative relationships. Common D-zone omega gliadin patterns in the Swedish winter-wheat breeding lines were d2d4 and d11 d12 (67% of the lines), and the null allele of chromosome IB and d11 d12 (in 25%). Greater variation was documented in the spring breeding lines than in the winter lines.     

Effectiveness of honeycomb selection for yield superiority at three interplant distances: a field simulation study using chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) inbred lines

The effect of interplant distance on differentiation and selection a) of the superior lines from a mixture of inbred lines, and b) of individual plants originating from the top lines, was studied in chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.). For this, 28 chickpea inbred lines were evaluated on a single plant basis in a honeycomb design and in the same field at three interplant distances, for four growing seasons, at Larissa, Greece. The interplant distances were 15 cm (520000plants/ha, strong allo-competition), 30 cm(128630 plants/ha, medium allo-competition) and 100 cm (11500plants/ha, without competition). In addition, the inbred lines were evaluated in replicated plot trials under an agronomically accepted plant stand (520000plants/ha, crop environment) and the ranking of the 28 lines based on the average yield per plot over growing seasons was determined. Selection was applied in each season for each interplant distance and the three and six top lines with the highest average yield per plant were identified. These top lines from each interplant distance were compared with the three and six top lines(say: proven superior lines) identified after their evaluation under crop environment over seasons. In addition, selection was applied at the individual plant level with six selection pressures in each season and each interplant distance. Then we determined for each experiment and selection pressure the number of the selected plants which belonged to the six proven top lines. It was observed that the ranking obtained under crop environment was best correlated with the ranking at the intermediate interplant distance (30 cm), followed by the ranking at the high interplant distance (100 cm). In contrast this correlation was very weak for the ranking at low interplant distance (15 cm).In addition, the interplant distance identifying the highest number of the proven high yielding lines after their evaluation in one season was the intermediate interplant distance followed by the high interplant distance and certainly not the low interplant distance. The relative effectiveness was further increased when selection was based on average performance of the lines across seasons. This, together with the relatively small number of seeds produced per plant, renders selection at low interplant distance less favorable than selection at the intermediate or high interplant distance.The individual plant selection was effective at all three interplant distances. Selection effectiveness generally increased as the selection pressure increased. Again the best results were obtained when selection was applied at intermediate or at high interplant distance. It was concluded that line selection as well as individual plant selection was more effective at intermediate interplant distance and certainly not at low interplant distance. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Does interplot interference affect the screening of wheat for yellow rust resistance?

Summary In small plots, adjacent to one another, a representational error can be expected when screening for quantitative forms of resistance to airborne pathogens. The representational error or interplot interference may occur as an underestimation of the level of resistance and/or as an error in the ranking of the entries tested.Four experiments were carried out with wheat (Triticum aestivum) exposed to yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis), three in Kenya, one in Mexico (exp. III).In experiment I 57 entries were compared in an unreplicated trial with three adjacent and one isolated plot situation. The range in the standard deviation of and the ranking order for disease severity (DS) between the 57 entries were the same for all plot situations at all observation dates.In experiment II nine entries from experiment I, representing a wide range of quantitative resistance and having a similar heading date, were compared in adjacent plots consisting of two rows of 10 m in eight replicates and isolated plots of one, six and ten rows of 4 m in three replicates. The range in the standard deviation of and the ranking order for DS between the entries were very similar for the four plot situations.The 10 entries in experiment III differed from those in experiment II, but represented a similar wide range of resistance. Three adjacent plot situations of 0.9×0.5 m, 0.9×2.0 m and 2.7×2.0 m, respectively, were compared with one isolated one with plots of 2.7×2.0 m. The ranking order was not affected, the range in and the standard deviation of the DS in the isolated plots were slightly larger than in the adjacent plots.In experiment IV two mixtures of two entries each were made. Per mixture one entry was fairly resistant (R) the other rather susceptible (S). Within each mixture the entries had a similar heading date. The ratios of the R:S mixtures were 0:100, 50:50, 67:33, 75:25, 82:18 and 100:0. The DS of each entry was the same as its DS in monoculture irrespective of the mixture ratio. There was no mixture effect on DS.The three experiments in Kenya gave no indication of any interplot interference occurring. In Mexico there was a very slight underestimation of the resistance in adjacent plots. The ranking order was always the same irrespective of the test plot situation. The screening of wheat for yellow rust resistance in small adjacent plots is representative for the farmers fields. This is contrary to what has been found in other windborne pathosystems such as barley-barley leaf rust (strong under estimation of resistance), barley-powdery mildew (some under estimation of resistance and different ranking order) and durum wheat-stem rust (fair under estimation of resistance).     

Efficiency of 35-p Fractional Factorial Designs Determined Using Additional Information on the Spatial Variability of the Experimental Field

The paper presents estimates of the relative efficiency (RE) of the 3^5‐1 (V) and 3^5‐2 (III) fractional factorial designs. Three variants of each fractional design were generated from a one‐replicated 3⁵ full factorial design applied in field experiments with pea (Pisum sativum L.). Plant height and seed yield were determined in the study. Additional measurements of soil properties (pH, P, K, Mg) and plant traits determined on the alleys between experimental strips, sown with a single cultivar, were performed in regular nets of sampling points. Geostatistical methods were used to estimate the spatial variation of the experimental field. Information on spatial variation was included in the statistical analysis. It was found that in the 3^5‐1 (V) fractional designs most of the significant effects were the same as in the 3⁵ full factorial design. Information from these two types of design was similar, although there was a distinct tendency to higher values of the coefficient of determination R² for linear models of the 3^5‐1(V) designs. The 3^5‐2 (III) fractional designs were more variable in detecting significant effects. Generally, mean RE was higher in the 3^5‐2 (III) design than in the 3^5‐1 (V) design, but at the same time the standard error of the latter one was distinctly lower. It was also demonstrated that in agricultural field experiments factorial fractional designs are a very good alternative to full factorial designs as concerns the estimation of main and two‐factor interaction effects in the case of the 3^5‐1 (V) designs and main effects in that of the 3^5‐2 (III) designs. Even if the designs have a highly reduced number of treatments to be tested they are equally or more effective than the original 3⁵ design from which they were generated, provided that the generator is chosen very carefully and the spatial variation of the experimental field is considered in statistical analysis of the experimental data.     

Internal browning disorder and fruit quality in modified atmosphere packaged ‘Bartlett’ pears during storage and transit

Internal browning (IB) can be a serious problem with the use of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) for ‘Bartlett’ pears (Pyrus communis L.) grown in the Pacific Northwest during storage and transit to distant markets. To investigate this disorder, ‘Bartlett’ pears harvested at commercial maturity were packed in a commercial MAP (MAPc), an experimental MAP (MAPe) and commercial perforated plastic bags (control) and stored in air at −1.1 °C. After 1 and 3 months of storage, samples of MAPc and control fruit were transferred to rooms at temperatures of 2, 4.5, 7.5, and 10 °C for 3 weeks to simulate transit temperatures and the time required to reach distant markets. MAPc maintained an average internal atmosphere of 12.3% O₂ + 5.6% CO₂ and significantly extended ‘Bartlett’ pear storage life with high eating quality and without IB and other disorders for up to 4 months at −1.1 °C. The internal gas atmosphere of MAPe equilibrated at 2.2% O₂ + 5.7% CO₂, which resulted in fruit with 25.5 and 62.3% IB after 3 and 4 months of storage, respectively. During simulated transit conditions of 2, 4.5, 7.5, and 10 °C, the CO₂ level in MAPc was maintained at 5.6–7.9%, while O₂ was reduced dramatically to 10.5, 5.0, 2.5, and 1.0%, respectively. IB developed at 7.5 and 10 °C but not at 2 and 4.5 °C, regardless of pre-transit storage duration (1 and 3 months) at −1.1 °C. The longer the storage duration and the higher transit temperature, the higher the incidence and severity of IB. The MAP-related IB disorder observed in this study included two types of symptoms: classic pithy brown core and wet brown flesh. The MAPc storage gas atmospheres maintained fruit firmness, color and higher eating quality after ripening, eliminated senescent scald and core breakdown, suppressed the loss of ascorbic acid (AsA) and titratable acidity, and slowed the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) during storage at −1.1 °C for up to 4 months or 3 months + 3 weeks at simulated transit temperatures of 2 and 4.5 °C. In contrast, fruit held in MAP with low O₂ levels (1.0–2.5%) developed IB that appeared to be associated with a reduction in AsA, accumulated MDA and exhibited an increase in membrane leakage. MAP inhibited ripening at high CO₂ + high O₂ but lead to IB when the packaging material or elevated temperatures resulted in high CO₂ + low O₂ conditions. The incidence of IB closely correlated with lipid peroxidation and appeared to be related to fruit AsA concentration. The MAPc designed for pears appears to be suitable for ‘Bartlett’ fruit stored at −1.1 °C for up to 4 months or storage for 3 months and a transportation duration of up to 3 weeks at 0–4.5 °C during the early season and at 0–2 °C during the late packing season. These conditions yielded fruit of high eating quality and without IB or over-ripening upon arrival at distant markets.     

Marker-assisted selection efficiency in multiple connected populations: a simulation study based on the results of a QTL detection experiment in maize

Many studies already investigated marker-assisted selection (MAS) efficiency but mainly in biparental populations. Connected multiparental populations address a broader diversity and confer a gain of power for QTL detection which must be beneficial for MAS. Our objective was to compare multiparental connected designs to biparental populations taken separately for MAS and phenotypic selection. We first detected QTL for flowering time and grain yield in an experimental maize design involving four parental inbred lines crossed to produce six different biparental populations and confirmed the advantage of multiparental connected designs over biparental populations for QTL detection. Based on these results we performed stochastic simulations to evaluate the expected efficiency of four generations of MAS and phenotypic selection. Different parameters were considered: trait heritability, genetic architecture and whether QTL were assumed to be known or have to be detected. Genetic gains were higher in the multiparental design than on average over the biparental populations considered separately, especially when favourable alleles were equally distributed among parental lines. When QTL detection was included in the simulation process, we found that type I error risk considered for declaring QTL as significant should be adapted to the design. Type I error risks leading to the best response were higher for the biparental populations than for the multiparental design. Besides addressing a broader diversity, multiparental designs increase the power of QTL detection, which reinforces their superiority over biparental designs for MAS. Application of MAS to multiparental designs therefore appears promising to accelerate genetic gain in plant breeding programs.     

Stay green trait in grain sorghum: relationship between visual rating and leaf chlorophyll concentration

Post‐flowering drought tolerance is referred to as the stay green trait in sorghum. Plants with stay green resist drought‐induced premature plant senescence. In breeding programmes, stay green is evaluated under limited irrigation, post‐flowering moisture‐stress field conditions and visually scored at or soon after physiological grain maturity. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the stay green rating and total leaf chlorophyll content. The parents B35 and Tx7000, and their 98 F, recombinant inbred lines were evaluated in replicated field trials under limited (post‐flowering stress) and full‐irrigation (non‐stress) conditions. After scoring the stay green trait of stressed plants, total leaf chlorophyll contents were measured with a chlorophyll meter (SPAD values) and a spectrophotometer method. The SPAD value had a significant linear relationship with total leaf chlorophyll (R²= 0.91) and with visual stay green rating (with R²= 0.82). Relative water content in top leaves of the stay green lines was about 81%, much higher than non‐stay green lines (38%), indicating that the stay green lines kept the stalk transporting system functioning under severe drought conditions, The results indicate that visual stay green ratings were a reliable indicator of leaf senescence an should be useful to sorghum breeders in evaluating progeny when breeding for drought tolerance.     

Studies on classification models to discriminate ‘Braeburn’ apples affected by internal browning using the optical properties measured by time-resolved reflectance spectroscopy

This work aimed at studying the feasibility of time-resolved reflectance spectroscopy (TRS) to nondestructively detect internal browning (IB) in ‘Braeburn’ apples through the development of classification models based on absorption (μ_a) and scattering (μ_s′) properties of the pulp.This research was carried out in two seasons: in 2009, apples were measured by TRS at 670 nm and in the 740–1040 nm spectral range on four equidistant points around the equator, whereas in 2010 apples were measured by TRS at 670 nm and at 780 nm on eight equidistant points.The values of the absorption coefficients measured in the 670–940 nm range increased with IB development. On the contrary, μ_s′780 was higher in healthy fruit than in IB ones. The μ_a780 also significantly increased with IB severity, showing high values when IB affected the pulp tissues compared to the core ones. Also μ_a670 changed with IB development, but it was not able to clearly discriminate healthy fruit from IB ones because its value was also affected by the chlorophyll content of the pulp.The absorption and scattering coefficients were used as explanatory variables in the linear discriminant analysis in order to classify each apple tissue as healthy or IB; then the models obtained were used for fruit classification. The best classification performance was obtained in 2010 using μ_a780 and μ_s′780 and considering the IB position within the fruit: 90% of healthy fruit and 71% of IB fruit were correctly classified. By using all the μ_a measured in the 670–1040 nm range plus the μ_s′780, IB fruit classification was slightly better while healthy fruit classification was worse. The better result of 2010 was due to the increased number of TRS measurement points that allowed better exploration of the fruit tissues. However, the asymmetric nature of this disorder makes detection difficult, especially when the disorder is localized in the inner part of the fruit (core) or when it occurs in spots. A different TRS set-up (position and distance of fibers, time resolution) should be studied in order to reach the deeper tissue within the fruit in order to improve browning detection.     

Two-component method for crossing self-fertilized crops

Summary The paper presents the method of choosing parents for simple and multiple crossings formularizing the well-known principles i) effective performance of breeding traits in hybrid population and ii) genetic divergence between parents; an original procedure of the integral performance estimation of hybrid population taking into consideration the specific features of a breeding program; an estimation of divergence between parents by way of computing the parentage coefficients. It gives a substantiated computation of the objective heuristic function in the process of assessing various combinations of crossing on the basis of both estimations, the said function offering a quantitative evaluation of the relative perspective efficiency of the hybrid combinations before crossing.     

玉米杂交种产量与产量构成因素的相关和通径分析

通过玉米产量构成因素与产量的相关和通径分析,研究产量构成因素对产量的作用方式和大小,为玉米高产育种提供理论依据.本试验以85个玉米杂交组合为研究对象,通过随机区组试验进行鉴定,收集参试品种的穗长、穗粗、穗行数、行粒数、500粒重、出籽率等6个主要产量构成因素与单株产量,采用DPS数据处理软件的回归分析程序进行遗传相关和通径分析.结果表明:对产量影响最大的因素是行粒数,其次是粒重和穗粗,它们与产量呈极显著正相关(r=0.421 1,0.450 2,0.473 7),对产量的直接通径系数也较大(P=0.562 5,0.449 9,0.370 8);增加行粒数、粒重和穗粗,并兼顾其他农艺性状是提高玉米产量的有效途径.     

Some Comments on Gerechte Designs

Gerechte designs are row and column designs which have an additional blocking structure formed by spatially compact regions. In this paper, and a companion paper (B ailey et al. 1990) we consider the correct analysis of these designs. In this paper we discuss the purpose of gerechte designs, and we note that the regions are not orthogonal to the rows and columns. This means that the usual sums of squares for rows, columns and regions are not additive. We show how the correct analysis can be performed, either through the use of appropriate formulae, or by the use of a statistical package. In the companion paper we show that the correct analysis cannot be justified by a randomization argument, and we outline other developments in analysis and design that may be more satisfactory.     

Combining ability analysis and correlation between breeding values in true potato seed

True potato seed (TPS) requires the selection of appropriate parents for developing hybrid offspring. Parents for routine crossing schemes need to be selected according to their combining ability. Hierarchical and factorial mating designs provide a mean values to assess the general combining ability (GCA) of clones included in crossing schemes. Furthermore, specific combining ability (SCA) may be investigated using the factorial mating design. The aim of this research was to determine the combining ability of clones included in early and intermediate TPS breeding populations developed by the Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP). Likewise, correlations between breeding values (or additive genetic correlation, p_A) were calculated. Two hierarchical mating designs (in both the early and intermediate populations) and one factorial mating design (in the intermediate population) were evaluated in two contrasting Peruvian locations (La Molina ‐ coastal desert, and San Ramon, warm humid tropics). Plant and tuber characteristics were recorded in these experiments. Significant GCA was observed for tuber yield in all experiments. The male's p_A between plant vigour after transplanting and tuber yield was significant, thereby suggesting that offspring with early vigorous growth are high yielding. Plant vigour was also correlated with tuber set, but only among the breeding value of female parents, which suggests that high tuber yield could be achieved because offspring with early, vigorous growth have many tubers. High tuber yielding hybrids can be obtained by choosing parents with significant GCA, whose tuber yield can also be further enhanced if the crosses have a significant SCA.     

A comparison between single seed descent and early cross selection in wheat breeding

Summary Two selection procedures in wheat breeding were compared on the basis of their ability to supply high yielding inbred lines. The first procedure consists of an early selection between crosses in the F₃ generation, based on predictions of the cross mean and the between line variance. In the second procedure selection is postponed until the F₆, which is derived by single seed descent. The two procedures are evaluated in a two year test, using pseudo-lines of spring wheat. These pseudo-lines consist of mixtures of varieties and enable an estimation of the exact genetic parameters. In this way the accuracy of the predictions can be examined.In case of early selection, it appears that the predictions of the cross mean and especially the between line variance are very inaccurate. This is caused by the effects of plot size, intergenotypic competition and, to a lesser extent, dominance and/or epistasis. It results in an erroneous ranking of the crosses and the discarding of the potentially best cross. The F₆-SSD line estimates are much more accurate and thus the better lines are indeed selected. A first comparison between the two selection procedures therefore indicates a preference to the SSD method.     

高产优质白皮大粒小麦品种绵阳25号的选育研究

绵阳25号是根据与众不同的育种目标，利用自创的优良基因结合作与当时最优品种（系）进行4次阶梯式杂交的新方法，聚集了11个物种的、地理的与生态的远缘品种之亲缘，经14年培育稳定而成的．1995年通过四川省品审会审定．该品种具有高产、稳产、优质、抗病、白皮、大粒、商品性十分突出等优点，因其具有“三高”农业的特点，深受广大种子生产、经营和加工部门的喜爱。