Hybridization between Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz (false flax) and North American Camelina species

The potential for gene flow between Camelina sativa, a promising edible and industrial oil crop in Canada, and its wild North American relatives C. alyssum, C. microcarpa and C. rumelica subsp. rumelica, was investigated. Sequence analysis of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) was used to differentiate Camelina species and/or accession‐specific nucleotide markers and identify interspecific F₁ hybrids. ITS analysis identified hybrids in progeny of C. alyssum × C. sativa, C. microcarpa accession 36010 × C. sativa and C. sativa × C. rumelica subsp. rumelica. Seed set on C. alyssum × C. sativa F₁ and F₂ progeny was similar to the parents; few seeds were produced on hybrid progeny of C. microcarpa accession 36010 × C. sativa and C. sativa × C. rumelica subsp. rumelica. The study provided evidence that should the species have sympatric distributions and overlapping flowering periods, gene flow between C. sativa and its wild North American relatives is possible and that it would most likely occur with C. alyssum given the high fertility of the F₁ hybrids recovered.     

Sterility in the rice hybrids and its significance

The degree of sterility resulting in F₁ hybrids has been used by several workers while considering the relative affinity between the different varieties and sub-species within a species and that between different species. The authors contend that sterility cannot be used as a criterion and present spikelet sterility data in F₁ hybrids of inter-varietal, inter-subspecific and interspecific crosses in the cultivated rices to support this contention. They conclude that the evolution of the three sub-species (viz., japonica, javanica and indica) may have taken place independent of each other from the various ecotypes of the putative species Oryza perennis through introgression although the possibility of the indica giving rise to japonica on the one hand and the javanica on the other cannot be altogether ruled out.The consequences of such a mode of evolution are discussed and the possibility of the existence of a slightly different set of linkage groups in indica rices compared with that of japonica rices is suggested.     

Genetics of grains per spike in durum wheat under normal and late planting conditions

Parental, F₁, F₂, BC₁, BC₂, BC₁₁, BC₁₂, BC₂₁, BC₂₂, BC₁ self and BC₂ selfed generations of three crosses involving six cultivars of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) were studied for grains per spike under normal and late sown environments to analyze the nature of gene effects. A 10-parameter model did not fully account for the differences among the generation means. In two cases more complex interactions or linkage were involved in the inheritance of grains per spike in durum. Both digenic and trigenic epistatic interactions had a role in controlling the inheritance of grains per spike, however, trigenic interactions contributed more than digenic interactions. Non-fixable gene effects were many times higher than fixable ones in all three crosses and in both sowing environments indicating a major role of non-additive gene effects in the inheritance of this trait. Duplicate epistasis between sets of three genes under both environments was recorded for the cross Raj 911 × DWL 5002. Epistatic interactions, particularly the trigenic ones, contributed the maximum significant heterosis. Epistatic interactions involving dominance in the F₂ generations caused significant inbreeding depression. Selective diallel mating and/or biparental mating could be used for amelioration of grains per spike in durum wheat.     

Cytogenetical studies of two amphidiploids in the genus Oryza

Results of cytogenetic studies of 2 amphidiploids, O. glaberrima-sativa and O. sativa-breviligulata, are reported for the first time in the genus Oryza. All the 3 species have 2n=24 chromosomes. They were produced by treating buds of F₁ stubbles with 0.1% colchicine solution.The gigas effect of polyploidy was observed in both the amphidiploids. While the F₁ hybrids were completely sterile polyploidy resulted in 75.0% pollen fertility in both, with 47.0% spikelet fertility in O. glaberrima-sativa and 12.7% in O. sativa-breviligulata. Meiosis in the 2 amphidiploids was generally similar. Quadrivalents ranging from 0 to 12 were observed with 2 modes at 6IV and 8IV. The average number of IVs in the C₂ and C₃ generations ranged from 6.2 to 7.8. Segregation of characters was observed in the C₂ and C₃ generations in O. glaberrima-sativa. The C₂ plants segregated for spikelet size and hairiness. Of the 4 C₃ progenies studied, one segregated in the ratio 3:1 for the presence of anthocyanin pigmentation and hairiness of spikelets.The occurrence of IVs in high frequency and the segregation for differences in characters of the original parents noted in O. glaberrima-sativa are similar to the results reported from autotetraploids of O. sativa. It is suggested that these results point out to the rather close structural similarity in the chromosome complements of the 3 species and provide experimental evidence to the theory that the 2 cultivated species O. sativa and O. glaberrima have evolved independently from a common species O. perennis.     

Inheritance of resistance to broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) race F in a sunflower line derived from wild sunflower species

Genetic resistance to broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) race F in sunflower line J1, derived from the wild perennial species Helianthusgrosseserratus Martens and Helianthus divaricatus L., has been reported to be controlled by dominant alleles at a single locus, Or6. However, deviations from this monogenic inheritance have been observed. The objective of the present study was to gain insight into the inheritance of resistance to broomrape race F in the sunflower line J1. F₁, F₂, F₃ and BC generations from crosses between J1 and three susceptible lines, P21, NR5 and HA821 were evaluated. F₁ hybrids showed both resistant (R) and moderately resistant (MR) plants, the latter having a maximum of five broomrape stalks per plant compared with >10 in the susceptible parents. This indicated incomplete dominance of the Or6 alleles. F₂ plants were classified as R, MR or susceptible (more than five broomrape stalks per plant). Three different segregation ratios were observed: 3 : 1, 13 : 3 and 15 : 1 (R + MR : S), suggesting the presence of a second gene, Or7, whose expression was influenced by the environment. A digenic model was confirmed, based on the evaluation of F_2:3 families.     

Inheritance of siliqua orientation and seed coat colour in Brassica tournefortii

The inheritance of siliqua orientation and seed coat colour in Brassica tournefortii was investigated using four genotypes varying in these two characters. The F₁, F₂ and backcross generations of two crosses were used for studying the segregation pattern of the traits. The plants were classified for seed colour as having brown or yellow seeds and for siliqua orientation as having upright, semi‐spread or spread siliqua. Seed colour was found to be under monogenic control with brown being dominant over yellow. Siliqua orientation was under digenic polymeric gene action: upright siliqua was produced by the presence of two dominant genes and spread siliqua by two recessive genes. The absence of even a single dominant gene resulted in a third type of siliqua orientation, semi‐spread siliqua.     

A dominant gene in rice for resistance to white-backed planthopper and its relationship to other plant characteristics

Summary The inheritance of resistance to white-backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera Horvath, was investigated in a rice, Oryza sativa L., cultivar N22. Resistance to the white-backed planthopper in the cross IR30×N22 appears to be governed by a single dominant gene-designated Wbph. The classification for various characteristics of 397 F₃ families of the IR30×N22 cross confirmed earlier results about the monogenic dominant control of resistance to brown planthopper, green leafhopper, and bacterial leaf blight, and about the monogenic recessive control of short stature. Additionally, the genes governing plant height and resistance to white-backed planthopper, brown planthopper, green leafhopper, and bacterial leaf blight were found to segregate independently of each other in these 397 F₃ families.     

Genetic control of boron efficiency in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The genetic control of boron (B) efficiencyin wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) wasstudied for three genotypes representing Binefficient (I, Bonza), moderately Binefficient (MI, SW 41) and B efficient (E,Fang 60) categories. Boron efficiency wasexpressed as a partially dominant characterbut the phenotypes of F₁ hybrids,relative to parents, indicated geneticcontrol varying from recessive to additiveto completely dominant with different crosscombinations and B levels. Major geneswere identified from the evaluation ofF₂-derived F₃ populations derivedfrom intercrosses between the threeparents. Monogenic segregation was foundin Bonza × SW 41 and SW 41 × Fang 60crosses and digenic segregation resultedin Bonza × Fang 60. Among thethree wheat genotypes with widely differentB efficiency, genetic variation forresponse to B could be accounted for by twogenes, Bo _d 1 and Bo _d 2.     

Analysis of mode of inheritance of Fusarium wilt resistance in castor (Ricinus communis L.)

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is an important industrial oilseed crop grown worldwide. Wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ricini is a devastating disease in castor. The inheritance mode of wilt resistance was investigated. The F₁, F₂ and backcross generations of four crosses involving four resistant and three susceptible parents were developed. The role of digenic (R¹ and R²) epistatic interactions on wilt resistance was confirmed. The 15 : 1, 9 : 7 and 13 : 3 ratios indicated duplicate dominant, duplicate recessive and dominant and recessive epistatic interactions, respectively. Castor parents used in the crosses exhibited varied inheritance modes. All generations of a cross exhibited similar inheritance mode when parents were comparable. However, generations varied in inheritance mode when parents were not comparable in inheritance mode. These results would have practical interest when decisions are required regarding the choice of parents and methodology in resistance and hybrid breeding. The results also provided a basis for investigating molecular genetics of wilt resistance mechanisms.     

Inheritance of petal colour and its independent segregation from seed colour in Brassica rapa

The inheritance of petal (flower) colour and seed colour in Brassica rapa was investigated using two creamy‐white flowered, yellow‐seeded yellow sarson (an ecotype from Indian subcontinent) lines, two yellow‐flowered, partially yellow‐seeded Canadian cultivars and one yellow‐flowered, brown‐seeded rapid cycling accession, and their F₁, F₂, F₃ and backcross populations. A joint segregation of these two characters was examined in the F₂ population. Petal colour was found to be under monogenic control, where the yellow petal colour gene is dominant over the creamy‐white petal colour gene. The seed colour was found to be under digenic control and the yellow seed colour (due to a transparent coat) genes of yellow sarson are recessive to the brown/partially yellow seed colour genes of the Canadian B. rapa cvs.‘Candle’ and ‘Tobin’. The genes governing the petal colour and seed colour are inherited independently. A distorted segregation for petal colour was found in the backcross populations of yellow sarson × F₁ crosses, but not in the reciprocal backcrosses, i.e. F₁× yellow sarson. The possible reason is discussed in the light of genetic diversity of the parental genotypes.     

Phylogenetic differentiation of cultivated rice,XXIII. Potentiality of wild progenitors to evolve the Indica and Japonica types of rice cultivars

Summary Studies of intermediate wild-cultivated plants suggested that the Indica-Japonica differentiation of cultivars of Oryza sativa L. has taken place with the domestication of wild plants. The wild progenitor, which is considered to be the Asian form of O. perennis Moench, shows no trace of differentiation into two such types as the Indica and Japonica. To elucidate the potentiality of the wild progenitor to evolve the two types when domesticated, the selfed progenies from an Indica × wild and a japonica × wild cross were examined with regard to three characters known to be useful for distinguishing between the two types. The data showed that Japonica-like plants were derived from the Indica × wild cross and Indica-like plants from the Japonica × wild cross. The Indica-Japonica differentiation was considered to have resulted from selection of incipient domesticates having such potentiality under different climatic conditions; the dynamics was discussed.     

Cytological observations in some hybrids between the rice species Oryza sativa L. and O. glaberrima Steud.

Summary Several hybrids between Oryza sativa and O. glaberrima and their backcrosses with O. sativa were studied. Their seed sterility was very different; large differences were also observed in the level of pollen sterility and in the earliness of microspore failure. The proportion of aborted embryo sacs was much lower than the rate of sterile male gametophytes. The backcross populations were much more sterile than the corresponding F₁ hybrids. On the base of our observations and according to the literature, we may conclude that genic unbalance is the main cause of sterility of these hybrids, but that physiological factors may also be involved. Thus a restoration of fertility is generally possible by selection. On the other hand, male-sterile lines could be bred from some of these hybrids.     

Increasing biodiversity of irrigated rice in Africa by interspecific crossing of Oryza glaberrima (Steud.) × O. sativa indica (L.)

The African rice Oryza glaberrima, traditionally cultivated since more than 3.500 years, is of poor agronomic performance but resistant/tolerant to various stresses and diseases. The introduction of these characters into O. sativa cultivars is difficult since crossing barriers cause spikelet sterility in F1. Backcrossing can restore fertility and recently facilitated the development of fertile O. glaberrima × O. sativa ssp. japonica hybrid progenies for rain fed systems. With the objective to gain access to African rice germplasm for improvement of irrigated rice, crosses were performed with eighteen O. glaberrima and twenty O. sativa ssp. indica accessions. In total about one hundred F1-hybrid grains were obtained. The F1 plants were all completely sterile and backcrossing (BC) to O. sativa was performed in order to restore spikelet fertility. Monitoring of Tog5681 × IR64 hybrid progenies under field conditions revealed a broad genetic diversity within the BC₁ and BC₂ populations. Some BC₁ and BC₂ progeny plants outperformed the O. sativa parent, indicating that the heterozygocity level and complementary gene action after two backcrosses are still sufficient to positively influence plant vigor. Spikelet fertility of progenies was highly variable, but almost complete fertility was already observed within the BC₁F₂ population. High spikelet fertility was preserved in one out of two analyzed BC₁F₃ families and inmost of the BC₂F₃ families. The ability to restore spikelet fertility within few generations and the potential of the genetic diversity present in interspecific progenies facilitates the development of plant types specifically designed for the African irrigated and lowland environment. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

Studies on the inheritance of five qualitative characteristics in clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub)

Summary The inheritance of five characteristics namely branching behaviour, clustering pattern, growth habit, leaf size and hairiness was studied in clusterbean. All the traits were controlled by single pairs of genes except branching behaviour which exhibited digenic inheritance. Complementary gene effects were involved in the expression of branching in the F₁ and F₂ generations; the F₂ showing a ratio of 9:7 for branched to unbranched genotypes in the cross FS 277 × NC 70 where both the parents were single shooted. The alleles governing branching, discontinuous clustering, indeterminate growth habit, small leaf size and hairiness were dominant over the alleles controlling non-branching, continuous clustering, determinate growth habit, broad leaf and glabrous leaf and stem.     

Genetic and agronomic analyses of red rice-Clearfield hybrids and their progeny produced from natural and controlled crosses

Clearfield rice technology is a popular method for controlling noxious red rice weeds (Oryza sativa L.) in commercial rice fields in the southern U.S. Previous research has detected red rice-Clearfield variety F₁ hybrids at low rates in Louisiana and Arkansas. The first research objective was to determine genetic control of imazethapyr resistance in F₁ hybrids and F₂ populations derived from natural and controlled hybridizations of red rice and Clearfield rice. The second objective was to characterize and compare agronomic performance of the hybrids and their progeny with Clearfield varieties. Genetic analysis showed that imazethapyr resistance was dominant in all tested F₁ hybrids with single and two-gene inheritance observed across composite F₂ populations. F₁ hybrids exhibited high levels of variation for plant height, heading date, and seven reproductive traits. Heterosis was observed in the hybrids versus Clearfield varieties for plant height, heading date, seed-bearing tillers, panicle length, and spikelets/panicle. While seed production of the F₁ hybrids was generally inferior to that of the commercial varieties, one red rice/CL121 hybrid produced greater seeds/panicle than the CL121 commercial parent. Extensive variation was observed for all measured traits in the F₂ populations derived from either natural or controlled crosses. Results from this study indicate that red rice/Clearfield F₁ hybrids normally exhibit low reproductive seed capacity, but a small proportion of the subsequent F₂ progeny can produce high fecundity levels. Effective stewardship practices are therefore warranted to reduce the occurrence of such hybrids and their offspring to ensure continued success of the Clearfield technology. Approved for publication by the Director of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station as manu number 2008-306-1392.     

Inheritance in Solanum aethiopicum,the scarlet eggplant

Summary Analyses of F₁ and F₂ hybrid progenies from crosses between the ancestral species Solanum anguivi and cultivars of its domesticated derivative S. aethiopicum, have proved the mode of inheritance of prickles, stellate hairs and some other morphological characters and suggested the mode for several more. Most wild-type traits were dominant: many recessive domesticated traits involved imperfect morphogenesis suggesting loss of genetic control. F₁ hybrids between cultivars show marked heterosis and are recommended for crop production.     

Identification and transfer of a new cytoplasmic male sterility source from Oryza perennis into indica rice (O. sativa)

Summary Most of the commercial hybrids of indica rice are based on wild abortive (WA) source of cytoplasmic-genetic male sterility (CMS). Such cytoplasmic uniformity may lead to genetic vulnerability to disease and insect pests. To overcome this problem, diversification of CMS sources is essential. Crosses of 46 accessions of O. perennis and two accessions of O. rufipogon as female parents were made with two restorers (IR54, IR64) of WA cytosterility. Sterile hybrids were backcrossed with the respective recurrent parents. Of all the backcross derivatives, one line having the cytoplasm of O. perennis Acc 104823 and the nuclear background of IR64 was found to be stable for male sterility. The newly developed CMS line has been designated as IR66707A. This line is completely sterile (0% seed set) under selfed conditions. Crosses of IR66707A with 10 restorers of WA cytoplasm showed almost complete (93–100%) pollen sterility, indicating that the male sterility source of IR66707A is different from WA sterility. Southern hybridization of IR66707A, O. perennis (cytoplasmic donor), IR66707B (maintainer) and V20A (WA cytoplasm) using mitochondrial DNA specific probes (5 endonucleases × 8 probes) showed identical banding patterns between IR66707A and O. perennis. However, in more than half of the combinations, different banding patterns were observed between IR66707A and IR66707B and between IR66707A and V20A. The results suggest that IR66707A has the same cytoplasm as the donor (O. perennis), and CMS may not be caused by any major rearrangement or modification of mtDNA. The new CMS source identified will be useful in cytoplasmic diversification in hybrid rice breeding.     

Cyto-morphological evidence for segmental allopolyploid origin of Teasle gourd (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Momordica subangulata</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">renigera</Emphasis>)

Teasle gourd [Momordica subangulata Blume subsp. renigera (G. Don) de Wilde, 2n = 56] exhibits morphological characters found in both M. dioica (2n = 28) and M. cochinchinensis (2n = 28). Morphological analysis of M. subangulata subsp. renigera suggests an allopolyploid origin. We present evidence elucidating the genomic relationships between M. dioica, M. cochinchinensis and M. subangulata subsp. renigera. A triploid M. dioica × M. subangulata subsp. renigera hybrid had an average of 12.76 bivalents, 13.84 univalents and 0.88 trivalents at metaphase I, while the M. cochinchinensis × M. subangulata subsp. renigera hybrid had an average of 13.08 bivalents, 12.96 univalents and 0.96 trivalents. F₁ hybrids of the two diploid species (M. dioica × M. cochinchinensis) showed an average of 9.12 bivalents and 9.76 univalents, suggesting that the genomes of these species are only partially homologous. A higher number of bivalents in the triploid hybrids suggests that M. subangulata subsp. renigera is a segmental allopolyploid of M. dioica and M. cochinchinensis and that its genomes have diverged from the parental genomes.     

Trichomes on leaves of Lycopersicon hirsutum,L. esculentum and their hybrids

Summary Density of certain types of trichomes were characterized on leaflets of Lycopersicon hirsutum, L. esculentum and their hybrids. Trichome density covaried with leaflet development, and depending on the species and type of trichome, density also covaried with leaflet surface. Type IV trichomes were not observed on leaflets of L. esculentum and Type V trichomes were not observed on leaflets of L. hirsutum. Type IV and V trichomes were present on F₁ hybrids and densities of these two types of trichomes segregated in the F₂ population. When corrected for differences of leaflet size between L. hirsutum and L. esculentum, densities of Type VI trichomes were more similar between species than uncorrected densities. There was little difference in Type VI density among F₂ individuals. The appearance, lipid and phenol staining properties, and native fluorescence of the multicellular tip of the Type VI trichome differed between L. hirsutum and L. esculentum. F₁ hybrids were intermediate for these characters and these characters segregated in the F₂ generation.The investigation reported in the paper (84-10-94) is in connection with a project of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and is published with the approval of the Director. This material is based upon work supported, in part, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agreement No. 59-2213-1-1-717-0 (Competitive Research Grants Program).