Theoretical studies on the methodological procedures of radiation breeding

Radiation breeding for the introduction of additional desirable characters into improved varieties in autogamous plants, especially in cereals, would be much more feasible if more efficient screening methods could be found. Such methods are proposed in this report. From the standpoint of the theory of probability, it is intended to establish effective screening methods by which a desirable X₂ mutant can be detected in a minimum total of X₂-plants, and/or X₁- and X₂-plants in the aggregate.The relative efficiencies of four new methods and the standard method are compared, the improved ear-to-row method (method B), the one-plant-one-grain method (method C), the one-plant-two-grain method (method D) and one-plant-three-grain method (method E) all of which are more effective than the conventional ear-to-row method (method A). In method B, the total number of X₂-plants required to recover at least one desirable X₂-plant is obtained when the probability of detecting at least one X₂-line with one or more desirable mutants among X₂-lines is equal to the probability of detecting at least one desirable mutant among plants in that X₂-line. In methods C, D and E, one, two or three grains respectively, taken from each of the X₁-plants of the number required to detect at least one desirable X₂-plant, are sown to obtain corresponding X₂-plants.The number of X₁-plants, total X₂-plants, and X₁- and X₂-plants in the aggregate required to obtain at least one desirable mutant (m, mn and m+mn respectively) shows the following relations: method C>D>A>E>B for m, ABED>D>C for mn and ABC>D>E (the last two being very close to each other) for m+mn.Each of the new methods B, C, D and E will be applicable in radiation breeding. When the discrimination of a mutant is difficult method B will be useful. On the contrary, when a mutant is easily distinguishable, method C, with dense planting in X₁, will frequently be much better. In some cases methods D and E, especially D, will be more useful in the practice of radiation breeding than method C. Method A should not be used in any case.     

Inheritance of tolerance to leaf iron deficiency chlorosis in tomato

By using two tomato genotypes, 227/1 (Fe chlorosis susceptible) and Roza (Fe chlorosis tolerant), and their reciprocal F₁, F₂ and BC₁ generations, the inheritance of tolerance to leaf Fe deficiency chlorosis of Roza was studied. Plants were grown in a nutrient solution and subjected to 2.0 × 10^–6 M Fe EDDHA and 10 mM NaHCO₃ to induce Fe deficiency stress by stabilization of pH to 7.8–8.2. A rating scale of 1–3 for chlorophyll was used and both monogenic and polygenic inheritance hypotheses were tested. Better responses to Fe deficiency, as measured by SPAD meter values, were obtained from the cross Roza × 227/1 than from the reciprocal cross. Data from F₂ and BC₁ suggest Fe chlorosis tolerance of Roza is to be controlled by polygenic loci with a relatively high additive effect.     

Diallel analysis of yield components of snap beans exposed to two temperature stress environments

Ten snap beans (Barrier, Brio, Carson, Cornell 502, CT 70, HB 1880, Hystyle, Labrador, Opus and Venture) were selected for differential temperature tolerance and used as parents in a complete diallel mating design. The 45 F₁ hybrid lines (with reciprocals) and parents were screened at 32 C day/28 C night, and in a separate experiment, 16 C day/10 C night, during reproductive development in replicated controlled environments. Variation for yield under temperature treatments was observed among parents and hybrids, with certain hybrids exceeding parental performance. Significant (P 0.0001) general combining ability (GCA), and significant (P 0.05) specific combining ability (SCA) were observed for yield components including pod number, seed number, and seeds per pod. There was evidence that pod number and seeds per pod under temperature stress are under separate genetic control. Reciprocal effects and heterosis were not significant. GCA could not be predicted from parental performance. The breeding line Cornell 502 had the highest GCA under high temperature, and the cultivar Brio had the highest GCA under low temperature. The cross Brio × Venture was high yielding in both temperature treatments. Heat tolerance and chilling tolerance were associated in certain parents and hybrids. However, performance under high and low temperature treatments was not generally correlated in the parents and hybrids, indicating that these traits should be selected separately.     

The influence of modifier genes on the intensity and stability of self-incompatibility in cabbage

Summary Four inbred cabbage lines have been derived from a single parental plant through several generations of selfing. Two inbreds have been found homozygous for an S ₁ allele while the other two are each homozygous for S ₂. Each inbred is self-incompatible, cross-incompatible with the inbred carrying the same S allele, and fully cross-compatible with inbreds carrying the other S allele. The S ₁ and S ₂ pairs of inbreds were each found to consist of one inbred with very high self-incompatibility (mean seed set of 0.15–0.25 seeds per pod) and one inbred with less intense self-incompatibility (mean seed set of 1.25–1.70 seeds per pod). For the S ₁ pair, flower to flower and plant to plant variation in seed set per pod was much larger for the less incompatible inbred that for the highly incompatible inbred. Further, incompatibility expression of the less incompatible inbred was influenced by temperature variation while that of the highly incompatible inbred was stable under different temperature regimes. The F₁ between the two inbreds of high and low incompatibility with the common S ₁ allele behaved like the less incompatible parent. F₂ plants showed intermediate intensities of selfincompatibility as well as variation for both lesser and greater intensities than those exhibited by the parents. The variations of self-compatibility and the sensitivity to environmental differences are considered to be conditioned by genes which modify incompatibility expression of the S alleles.     

Effect of genetic blends of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) of different Plant architecture on apothecia production of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and white mold infection

Summary The determinate Phaseolus vulgaris L. cvs Dark Red Kidney Charlevoix, and near-isogenic Great Northern Nebraska 1 were grown in blends with the indeterminate GN Nebraska 1 in white mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) disease field nurseries. A critical difference between Charlevoix and indeterminate GN Nebraska 1 is that the latter has a greater leaf area closer to the soil surface, and this is associated with increased numbers of apothecia beneath the canopy and higher disease severity. White mold infection and apothecia number/m² beneath the canopy of the blends containing Charlevoix were significantly reduced in comparison with the severely infected, homogeneous, indeterminate GN Nebraska 1. A reduction of white mold infection for the indeterminate GN Nebraska 1 was not observed in blends grown under severe or moderate white mold incidence, but did occur under slight incidence in blends containing 65% and 75% Charlevoix.No significant difference for seed yield occurred between the blends and homogeneous cultivars planted in four experiments under severe, moderate, slight and zero white mold incidence, respectively, except in Experiment 1 under moderate white mold incidence, the blend of 50% indeterminate GN Nebraska 1 and 50% Charlevoix exceeded the yield of the indeterminate GN Nebraska 1. Mean weight of white (GN Nebraska 1) and red seed (Charlevoix) increased and decreased, respectively, in some blends due to the more vigorous growth of the indeterminate GN Nebraska 1.Published as Paper No. 5341, Journal Series, Nebraska Agric. Exp.t Station. Research was conducted un under Project 20–3.     

Theoretical studies on the methodological procedures of radiation breeding

If the expectation of the number of desirable mutants for equal size of X ₂-populations decreases with decreasing number of plants per X ₂-line, the one-plant-one-grain method (method C), the one-plant-two-grain method (method D), and the one-plant-three-grain method (method E), especially method C, would be disadvantageous in comparison with the improved ear-to-row method (method B) and the conventional ear-to-row method (method A).From theoretical considerations it can be shown that a probability of occurrence of an X ₂-line containing desirable mutant (p ₁) and a conditional probability of occurrence of such desirable mutant for each one of the plants in such an X ₂-line (p ₂) are not affected by the number of X ₂-lines (m), but by the number of plants per X ₂-line (n). Consequently, the expectation of the number of desirable mutants in an X ₂-population, E(I), can be given by E(I) = mp ₁(1– q ₂ n · n p ₂/(1 –q ₂ n) = mn p ₁ p ₂ where p ₁+q ₁=1 and p ₂+q ₂=1.Therefore, with respect to E(I), method A=B=C=D=E for equal size of X ₂-populations. However, method ABE>D>C for different sizes of X ₂-populations.Most of this work was carried out in the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Hiratsuka, Japan.     

Genetic analysis of inbred lines and their crosses for resistance to head blight (Fusarium culmorum,F. graminearum) in winter rye

Summary For genetic analysis of head blight in winter rye (Secale cereale) caused by Fusarium culmorum, six homozygous inbred lines from the Petkus gene pool were crossed in all combinations to obtain 15 diallel F₁ crosses and the corresponding 15 F₂ crosses. These materials and 10 additional inbreds were artificially inoculated in a 2-year field experiment. The inbreds were also tested with F. graminearum in a separate sub-experiment.Single disease rating, average disease rating, and yield components (grain-weight per spike, 1000-grain weight, kernel number per spike) relative to the non-inoculated treatment were significantly affected by Fusarium head blight in all material groups. The relative grain weight per spike ranged from 26% to 88%. Significant genotypic and genotype x year interaction variances were found throughout. Heritabilities were highest for homogeneous inbreds (h²=0.6–0.8) and lowest for heterogeneous F₂ crosses (h²=0.4–0.6). Disease rating and relative grain-weight per spike were highly correlated for the inbreds and F₂ crosses (r0.7, P0.01), but lower for the F₁ crosses (r0.6, P0.05). Inter-annual correlation coefficients for disease ratings and relative grain-weight per spike ranged from r0.7 (inbreds) to r0.5 (F₂ crosses). The diallel analysis showed significant GCA effects only for relative 1000-grain weight in 1990, but significant SCA and SCAx year interaction variances for most traits. The resistances of 16 inbreds to F. culmorum and F. graminearum were tightly associated for all traits (r=0.96–0.97, P0.01).In conclusion, only slow progress can be expected from selecting for Fusarium head blight resistance in rye due to the limited amount of additive genetic variance and the great improtance of environmental factors.     

Inheritance of firmness in raw cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) fruit

Summary Inheritance of raw cucumber fruit texture (Magness-Taylor Fruit Pressure Tester firmness) was investigated over a 4-year period from 1971–1974. Results from 2 separate but related experiments suggested that firmness was quantitatively inherited with sufficient additive effects to permit gain from selection. In a selection study within 4 F₂ populations derived from crosses between firm (Chipper and Gy3) and soft (Mincu and Green F) fruit type cultivars, variation among and within F₃ and F₄ families was significant but overall family means were not significantly higher than the high parent in any of the 4 crosses. Narrow sense heritability estimates for fruit texture were 0.80 in the Mincu × Chipper population and 0.77 in the Green F × Chipper, Mincu × Gy3, and Gy3 × Green F crosses. In a separate experiment, generation means analysis was used to assess the mode of gene action in 2 crosses: Green F × Chipper, and Gy3 × Green F. Additive genetic effects accounted for 98.8% and 99.3% of the total genetic variation within each cross, respectively.Scientific Journal Series Paper No. 9794.     

Colchicine, trifluralin, and oryzalin promoted development of somatic embryos in Ilex paraguariensis (Aquifoliaceae)

A protocol for somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration of Ilexparaguariensis St. Hil. from embryos cultures was developed. Heart stage zygotic embryos were removed from seeds of immature, light green fruit and treated with antimicrotubule agents (0.1; 0.2, and 0.5% colchicine for 24 and 48 h; 1; 10, and 20 M of either trifluralin, - trifluoro- 2,6-dinitro-N,N- dipropyl-p-toluidine, or oryzalin, 3,5-dinitro-N₄, N-dipropylsulphate during 48 h). The embryos were cultured aseptically on quarter-strength Murashige and Skoog medium containing 3% sucrose, 0.65% agar (1/4MS), and 0.46 M zeatin. Cultures were incubated in darkness at 27 ± 2 °C. All thetreatments provoked a diminution of the number of germinated embryos and in some of the treated embryos somatic embryogenesis was induced. Somatic embryo maturation and conversion into whole plants could be achieved by culturing the embryos on 1/4MS lacking hormones and incubated at 27 ± 2 °C, 14 h photoperiod (116 mol m^-2s^-1). Mostof the plants regenerated from somatic embryos appeared morphologically normaland grew under greenhouse conditions. Only 2 plants out of 152 studied contained the tetraploid number of the chromosomes (2n = 4x = 80), meanwhile the rest of the plants had the normal diploid number of chromosomes (2n =2x = 40). Somatic embryos with abnormal morphology were also observed.     

Relationship between allelic variation of Glu-1 and Gli-1/Glu-3 prolamin loci and gluten strength in hexaploid wheat

Summary Allelic variation of prolamin loci was examined in the F₂ from crosses between the hexaploid wheat varieties: Cajeme 71, Yécora 70, Ablaca, Anza, Pané 247 and Axona. Different allelic blocks for gliadins and LMW glutenin subunits were determined in Gli-1, Gli-2 and Glu-3 loci. A percentage of recombination of 1.5 ± 0.3 was determined between Gli-A1 and Glu-3 in the F₂ progeny of Yécora 70 x Axona. A significant positive association was found between gluten strength, measured by SDS-sedimentation volume, and the prolamins coded by Anza Gli-D1/Glu-D3 loci and Yécora 70 Gli-A1/Glu-A3 loci. Interactions between non homeologous loci Glu-1 and Gli-1/Glu-3 were also found.     

Inheritance of gliadin composition in bread wheat,Triticum aestivum L.

Summary The gliadin compositions of 101 selected lines from 2 crosses between varieties of T. aestivum were examined by applying starch-gel electrophoresis at pH 3.1. The gliadin patterns of these lines were recognized to be composed of sections of the parental patterns. In a wheat variety the gliadin pattern proved to be divisible into 6 or 7 sections, the configurations of which are inherited unaltered. Its gliadin composition, consequently, is determined by at least 6 genetic factors. The sections appeared to be identical to the gliadin fractions currently known as , , , and ; the gliadin proved to consist of 2 sub-fractions and the gliadin of 2 or 3 sub-fractions.Dedicated to Professor Dr H. Veldstra on the occasion of his retirement from the chair of biochemistry of the University of Leiden.     

The breeding of peas in the Netherlands

Summary The varietal assortment of Dutch round blue pea varieties has changed considerably. At the beginning of this century their cultivation was based entirely on the varieties bred by Dr R. J. Mansholt at Westpolder (Gr.). Since 1937 the Unica pea produced by P. J. Hijlkema, Mensingeweer (Gr.), has gained ground. Mansholt's G.E.K. and Unica were dominant for many years, and were also used abroad.A remarkable change in the varietal assortment of the round blue peas occurred since the appearance of varieties less susceptible to the Fusarium solani foot disease. Particularly the Rondo C.B. pea of the Plant Breeding Station C.B. (Dir.: Ir C. Koopman) at Hoofddorp has become widely grown (Fig. 2).In addition, it was this same station that succeeded in breeding a variety entirely resistant to fusarium wilt.It is clear that, in the course of the past few years, new varieties have been bred by the breeders. The new varieties excelled the established ones in one or more respects.Some varieties were widely distributed, others were discarded by the breeders after a couple of years, or (since 1924, the year when the first List of Varieties appeared) written off the List.Widely cultivated varieties had to retire in their turn when better ones came on the market.Even at present time Dutch plant breeders are working hard to improve the yield, quality and reliability of peas.     

The production of hexaploid Solanum x juzepczukii

The colchicine-grafting method of doubling the chromosome number of potato cuttings was used successfully for producing hexaploids from the triploid species, Solanum x juzepczukii. All the plants with hexaploid flowers were triploid/hexaploid sectorial chimeras. Seeds were obtained from crosses of the hexaploid parts with both an andigena-tuberosum hybrid and a tuberosum variety.     

Inheritance of straw-protein content and its association with other traits in interspecific oat crosses

Summary Ten interspecific crosses of Avena sativa L. x A. sterilis L. were used to study inheritance of protein content in oat straw and its associations with selected seed and agronomic traits. Each cross was grown in a replicated experiment, and the materials for each cross consisted of parents and F₂-derived lines in the F₄ generation. Straw-protein percentages were transformed to square roots to normalize the data before statistical analyses were carried out.Frequency distributions were reasonably symmetrical for square roots of straw-protein percentages (SP%) in eight crosses, suggesting that additive gene action conditioned this trait. There was a preponderance of low SP% lines in the remaining two crosses. SP% was not consistently correlated with plant height, 10-groat weight, or groat-protein percentage. SP% was positively and significantly correlated with heading date in all crosses, so the SP% variances were adjusted for heading date by covariance analyses. Whereas all crosses had significant variability among F₂-derived lines for SP% before covariance analysis, only two showed significant variability after adjustment for heading date.Mean per-plot and per-experiment heritabilities for SP% before adjustment for heading date were 56 and 69%, respectively, whereas after adjustment for heading date, they were 22 and 32%, respectively. Although the inheritance of SP% appears relatively simple, this trait is greatly influenced by date of maturity.Journal paper No J-7603 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa, USA. Project 1752 Supported in part by a grant from the Quaker Oats Co., Chicago, Ill., USA.     

Inheritance of seed coat colour in broad bean (Vicia faba L.)

Summary The inheritance of the seed coat colours violet, spotted, brown, green, red, black and beige was investigated in a 10×10 diallel cross between broad bean (Vicia faba L. major) lines. Spotted seed colour was dominant over any uniform seed coat colouring. Brown was dominant over black, green and normal (beige colour). Black and red seed parents behaved as recessive in all F₁ progenies. A 3 (coloured): 1 (normal) segregation ratio was observed in the F₂ of crosses of violet, brown, black, red and spotted seed coat parents to nornal seed coloured parents. Green x beige gave a segregation ratio of 9:7 in F₂. When two parents with different seed coat colour were involved in a cross, the F₂ showed a typical digenic segregation ratio thus demonstrating two unlinked and sometimes epistatic loci.Segregation of a multiallelic series at two loci explains all segregation ratios observed for seed coat colour in broad bean.     

Large-scale use of F1 hybrids in „Vorstenlanden” tobacco

Summary In the preceding pages an outline has been given of the methods used in breeding of Vorstenlanden tobacco. The new tobacco strains introduced on a large scale have been obtained by:1. Individual selection in old populations.2. Individual selection in F₂ and following generations, after crossing several true-breeding Vorstenlanden types.3. Individual selection in F₂ and following generations, after crossing of a Timor strain with Vorstenlanden tobacco and repeated backcrossing with Vorstenlanden strains. Through this practice,Phytophthora resistance could be combined with good Vorstenlanden quality.4. Artificially induced mutations by means of X raying young flower buds. This gave a tobacco strain with an exceptionally bright leaf color. This latest new strain could only be introduced through growing of F₁ hybrid mutant × typica, by doing so the bright color of the leaves could be combined with the normal number of leaves per plant.By growing various F₁ hybrids on a large scale, viz. of thePhytophthora resistant tobacco strain crossed with several other tobacco strains, selected for quality characteristics, combinations have been obtained, in whichPhytophthora resistance has been saved, while the advantage of growing different types of tobacco has not been lost.Because of a decrease in the variation of quality types, through the loss of seed of many selected strains at the reopening of the tobacco plantings, it is highly recommendable to pay full attention in the future to the possibilities, created by the large scale use of F₁ hybrids.Samenvatting Het op grote schaal gebruik maken van F₁ planten bij de Vorstenlandse tabak.De in de practijk op grote schaal verbouwde nieuwe tabakslijnen werden verkregen door:1. Individuele selectie in de oude populatie.2. Individuele selectie in de F₂ en volgende generaties na kruising van verschillende zaadvaste Vorstenlandse typen.3. Individuele selectie in de F₂ en volgende generaties na kruising van een resistent Timor-type met Vorstenlandse tabak en herhaalde terugkruising met Vorstenlandse lijnen. Hierdoor konPhytophthora-resistentie worden gecombineerd met zeer goede Vorstenlandse kwaliteit.4. Kunstmatig opgewekte mutaties door middel van Röntgenbestraling van de jonge bloemknoppen. Dit leverde een voor de practijk zeer gewaardeerde tabakslijn op met uitzonderlijk heldere bladkleur. Deze laatste lijn kon in de practijk uitsluitend worden geintroduceerd door het planten van de F₁ mutant × typica, waardoor de heldere bladkleur kon worden gecombineerd met het normale aantal bladeren per plant.Door op grote schaal gebruik te maken van F₁ planten, verkregen door dePhytophthora-resistente tabakslijn te kruisen met verschillende andere op kwaliteitseigenschappen geselecteerde lijnen, werden belangrijke resultaten verkregen. DePhytophthora-resistentie werd behouden en het voordeel om tabak van verschillend type aan de markt te kunnen brengen, ging niet verloren.Doordat de variatie in kwaliteitstypen, door het verlies van het zaad van vele geselecteerde lijnen, is verminderd, verdient het aanbeveling in de toekomst, bij herstel van de tabakscultuur, alle aandacht te besteden aan de mogelijkheden, welke door het op grote schaal gebruik maken van F₁ planten worden geschapen.     

Functions of time for growth characters,their evaluation and approximation to examine differences between genotypes

Summary As a follow up to a previous paper on growth curves (Keuls & Garretsen, 1982) a procedure is described to derive functions of time for growth characters from elementary growth curves which are suited for statistical analysis.For each plot from the parameters , , of the second degree growth curves of type + (t–t) + (t–t)², corresponding functions of time (of harvest) are obtained for the derived growth characters: relative growth rate (of dry weight per plant), net assimilation rate, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, leaf weight ratio. The elementary growth curves concern ln W, ln LA and ln LW, where W = dry weight per plant, LA = leaf area per plant, LW = leaf dry weight per plant.Only relative growth rate is a simple linear expression in t, i.e., + 2(t–t), where t represents average harvest time.The functions for the four other growth characters are approximated by quadratic functions in t, such that for each plot a curve is characterized by a triple of parameters f(t), f(t), % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabaGaaiaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaKabGfaammaalaaaba% Gaaiymaaqaaiaackdaaaaaaa!3946!\[\frac{1}{2}\]f(t), representing respectively mean, slope and curvature for that plot at time t The approximation of the function of time is given by f(t) + (t–t)f(t) + % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabaGaaiaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaKabGfaammaalaaaba% Gaaiymaaqaaiaackdaaaaaaa!3946!\[\frac{1}{2}\](t–t)²f(t).These sets of parameters per plot: (, , ) for ln W(t) etc.; (, 2, 0) for RGR(t) or (f(t), f(t), % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabaGaaiaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaKabGfaammaalaaaba% Gaaiymaaqaaiaackdaaaaaaa!3946!\[\frac{1}{2}\]f(t)) for the four other growth characters can be analysed by the MANOVA-procedure for 3 parameters as exemplified by Keuls & Garretsen (1982).     

Results of one cycle of recurrent selection in rye

A sufficiently variable rye population was subjected to one cycle of recurrent selection for combining ability in order to ascertain whether this complex property can be repatterned.Some hundreds of clones derived from this population were toperossed to an other unrelated variety used as tester. Through visual selection, more than half of these clones were rejected. The topcross progenies of the remaining clones were subjected to a comparative test whereby, as was to be expected, a considerable degree of variability was demonstrated. From the best 10% and the poorest 10% that is from those which surpassed the general average by at least 1.5 standard deviation units or remained below that average by at least 1.5 , narrowed populations were built up. This was done with the aid of reserve seed which in the year in which the top cross was made had been obtained from these clones, either through compulsory selfpollination or by allowing the clones to fertilize each other in isolation. The two subpopulations obtained through selection in opposite directions further indicated as high and low were crossed en masse with the same tester variety as the first time. In addition a large number of randomly taken individuals from the high synthetic were cloned and toperossed to this common tester. On testing the top crosses carried out en masse, the high synthetics clearly yielded more than the low ones. In one trial it was even found that the high synthetic surpassed our standard variety Petkus by approximately 20%. It is possible, therefore, to segregate a population into two fractions of different combining ability.The optimistie pieture to be derived from the foregoing trials unfortunately is shaded by the results of the individual test crosses pointing to a shift of the frequency distribution in a negative sense in regard to the original population. The influence of the year may be mentioned as a possible cause of this contrast and also the fact that in the original population a close visual selection had been practised while those obtained from the synthetic resulting after one cycle were derived from individuals which had been taken entirely at random.

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Samenvatting Een voldoende variabele roggepopulatic werd onderworpen aan één ronde van cyclisch herhaalde selectic op combinatie-geschiktheid ten einde na te gaan of deze complexe eigenschap kan worden vervormd.Enige honderden klonen voortgekomen uit deze populatie werden onderworpen aan een top-cross door een als tester gebruikt ander, onverwant, ras. Op grond van visuele selectie werd meer dan de helft van deze klonen afgekeurd. De proefkruisings-nakomelingschappen van de overblijvende klonen werden aan een vergelijkende toets onderworpen waarbij zoals viel te verwachten een aanzienlijke variabiliteit in opbrengstvermogen aan het licht trad. Uit de beste 10% en de slechtste 10%, d.w.z. die welke het algemeen gemiddelde met minstens 1,5 overschreden resp. daar minstens 1,5 beneden bleven, werden vernauwde populaties opgebouwd. Dit geschiedde met behulp van reservezaad dat in het jaar waarin de top-cross werd verricht van deze klonen was gewonnen, hetzij door gedwongen zelfbestuiving, hetzij door de klonen in isolatie aan onderlinge bestuiving over te laten. De op deze wijze verkregen twee in tegenovergestelde richting geselecteerde sub-populaties-aangeduid als high en low-werden en masse gekruist met hetzelfde tester ras als de eerste keer. Bovendien werd een groot aantal willekeurig uit het high syntheticum genomen individuen tot klonen gemaakt en onderworpen aan een top-cross door het zoëven genoemde tester ras. Bij de toetsing van en masse uitgevoerde proefkruisingen bleek de combinatie high x tester duidelijk meer op te brengen dan low tester. In een proef werd zelfs gevonden dat high x tester ons standaardras Petkus met ongeveer 20% overtrof. Het blijkt dus mogelijk een populatie te splitsen in 2 fracties van uiteenlopende combinatie-geschiktheid.Het optimistische beeld dat men uit de zo juist vermelde proeven krijgt wordt helaas verduisterd door de resultaten van de individuele proefkruisingen welke wijzen op een verschuiving van de frequentieverdeling in negatieve zin ten opzichte van de oorspronkelijke populatie. Als mogelijke oorzaken van deze tegenstelling kunnen worden aangewezen jaarinvloeden en tevens het feit dat onder de klonen uit de oorspronkelijke populatie een scherpe selectie op het oog werd toegepast terwijl die uit het na één cyclus verkregen syntheticum werden afgeleid van volkomen willekeurig genomen individuen.

     

The genetical control of the everbearing habit and three other characters in varieties of fragaria vesca

A genetical study was made of three diploid varieties of Fragaria vesca, namely, wild type and two cultivated Alpine varieties, Baron Solemacher and Bush White. The varieties differ in several characters, including flowering habit, runnering habit, branching habit and fruit colour. Wild type is seasonal flowering, produces runners, has a simple branching habit and has red fruit. Both the Alpine varieties have a perpetual flowering (everbearing) habit and produce no runners. Buron Solemacher resembles wild type in branching habit and fruit colour, whereas Bush White has a very bushy habit (i.e., has a large number of crowns per plant) and has white fruit.Wild type F. vesca was crossed with the two Alpine varieties, and the F₁ progenies were selfed and back-crossed to the Alpine parents. The results indicate that the differences in flowering habit are controlled by a single major gene, seasonal flowering being dominant to perpetual flowering, the recessive alleles in the two perpetual flowering varieties apparently being identical. Differences in runnering habit also appear to involve a single gene locus but non-runnering is associated with the bushy habit in Bush White and therefore either the three alleles of the same gene occur or the gene controlling bushiness in separate but closely linked with the gene controlling runnering. Fruit colour is controlled by one major gene locus, red being dominant to white fruit. All three major genes segregate independently. In all cases the characters of the wild type are dominant. The possible nature of the physiological process controlled by the gene for flowering habit is discussed.     

Interspecific hybridization between Abelia × grandiflora ‘Francis Mason’ and A. schumannii via ovule culture

Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata Braun) is a potential oil crop for the Mediterranean area. The objective of this study was to develop an efficient system of mutagenesis using ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation of isolated microspores from Brassica carinata. From the survival curve based on embryo yield after irradiation of the microspores with UV light, the LD50 was estimated to be an exposure of 8 min. Total content of glucosinolates and fatty acid composition were analysed in the seeds of the doubled haploid homozygous plants with the purpose of selecting lines with modified glucosinolate and erucic acid contents. Three groups of doubled haploid lines exhibiting low and high glucosinolate contents, and high erucic acid content have been identified from a population of 270 doubled haploid lines. In eight lines, the content of glucosinolates was reduced from an average of 80.6 mol g^-1 seed to 37.5 mol g^-1 seed, whereas in four lines, the content of glucosinolates was increased up to 99.2 mol g^-1 seed. In six additional lines, the content of erucic acid was increased from 42.8% in the nontreated lines to 49.5% of the totalfatty acid composition in some of the mutant lines. All lines showed stablelevels of erucic acid in two generations, the M₂ and M₃.