QTL mapping in diploid potato by using selfed progenies of the cross <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. tuberosum</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. chacoense</Emphasis>

Usually, mapping studies in potato are performed with segregating populations from crosses between highly heterozygous diploid or tetraploid parents. These studies are hampered by a high level of genetic background noise due to the numerous segregating alleles, with a maximum of eight per locus. In the present study, we aimed to increase the mapping efficiency by using progenies from diploid inbred populations in which at most two alleles segregate. Selfed progenies were generated from a cross between S. tuberosum (D2; a highly heterozygous diploid) and S. chacoense (DS; a homozygous diploid clone) containing the self-incompatibility overcoming S locus inhibitor (Sli-gene). The Sli-gene enables self-pollination and the generation of selfed progenies. One F2 population was used to map several quality traits, such as tuber shape, flesh and skin color. Quantitative trait loci were identified for almost all traits under investigation. The identified loci partially coincided with known mapped loci and partially identified new loci. Nine F3 populations were used to validate the QTLs and monitor the overall increase in the homozygosity level.     

Comparative performance of diploid and tetraploid progenies from 2x.2x crosses in potato

Summary Selection criteria for agronomic characters in a potato breeding program at the diploid (2x) level may differ from selection criteria used when selecting breeding lines at the tetraploid (4x) level. Differences between selection criteria are expected, (1) when expression of the characters is different at both ploidy levels and/or (2) when the effect of diploid breeding lines on agronomic characters of tetraploid progenies is different from the effect of tetraploid breeding lines. In this investigation sets of diploid and tetraploid progenies, each set derived from the same 2x.2x cross, were compared as to the expression of six agronomic characters. Diploid progenies had significantly lower yields (due to smaller tubers) and significantly higher under water weights than tetraploid progenies. Vine maturity and chip colour were similarly expressed at both ploidy levels. Correlations between yield and yield components, and between under water weight and chip colour were similar at both ploidy levels. The lower yields and higher under water weights found in diploids point to the need of different selection criteria for selecting diploid and tetraploid breeding lines.     

Analysis of pollen tube growth in situ to investigate self-incompatibility in the wild potato Solanum commersonii

Summary Pollen tube growth was investigated in a diallelic crossing design with seven genotypes of the diploid wild potato species Solanum commersonii, accession O/S UR-9, CIP 762459. Pollen tube growth in the style was recorded using a combined quantitative and qualitative evaluation scale. Clear-cut differences in pollen tube growth behavior in compatible and in partially or completely incompatible crosses were detected. Diallelic crossing of the seven randomly chosen genotypes, intercrossing within two progeny families, and backcrossing of two progeny populations to the parents revealed the existence of a one-locus gametophytic system of stylar incompatibility. The S-allele status of all genotypes investigated was determined.     

Levels of self-incompatibility in wallflower,Cheiranthus cheiri L.

Summary Approximately 1000 plants from 30 wallflower cultivars were selfpollinated in the open flower and bud stage. Only a very small number of plants failed to set seed and the averages ranged from 3.3 to 11.0 seeds per siliqua. Cultivars with mixed colours appeared to show most self-incompatibility and it is suggested that they form un-evolved populations in terms of the incompatibility system by comparison with their related single-colour cultivars.S1 progenies tended to remain at the same self-incompatibility level as their parents although some segregation occurred with approximately the same number of plants from low to high self-incompatibility and vice-versa.S1 progenies showed no apparent inbreeding depression, as is the case also for their descendants, but there was a tendency for progeny heterogeneity to be associated with high parental self-incompatibility while homogeneous inbreds were most often derived from more self-compatible parents.     

Transmission of a Bacillus thuringiensis cry3Aa transgene from diploid to tetraploid potato using 4x-2x hybridization: effect of ploidy increase on transgene expression and implications for TPS hybrid production

The study examined the effect of ploidy elevation through unreduced gametes on transgene expression in potato. Tetraploid transgenic progenies were obtained from one tetraploid potato cultivar crossed with 2n pollen producing diploid clones harbouring an exogenous transgene (cry3Aa). Both single‐ and multiple‐insert diploid transgenic lines that were regenerated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens leaf disc inoculation were used in crosses. A DAS‐ELISA system and no‐choice feeding bioassay enabled characterization of the parental lines as either ‘high’ or low’ expressers of the Cry3Aa protein. High Cry3Aa expression was observed for both single‐insert transgenic diploids and their 4x‐2x progeny. On the contrary, 68% of 4x‐2x progeny derived from a multiple‐insert, diploid transgenic had significantly reduced Cry3Aa expression compared with the parent, with 32% demonstrating nearly complete silencing of the transgene. Multiple copies of a transgene, like homologous native genes, may be susceptible to transgene silencing following polyploidization. Therefore, incorporation of exogenous transgenes into a true potato seed (TPS) production system is feasible if a single‐insert diploid parent is used. Gene‐centromere mapping of the cry3Aa transgene demonstrated that a non‐transgenic refuge might be naturally created in a TPS hybrid system through genetic recombination.     

A comparison of progeny from diallel crosses of diploid potato with regard to the frequencies of 2n-pollen grains

Summary Selection of diploid potato genotypes that produce high frequencies of 2n-pollen grains in different environments is an important requirement for analytic breeding as well as for true potato seed production. In this context, quantitative estimates of 2n-pollen formation were made in two type of diploid potato populations. One population set consisted of the progeny from diallel crosses of five well-known diploid potato clones (A=US-W 5293.3, B=US-W 5295.7, C=US-W 5337.3, D=US-W 7589.2 and E=772102-37). Another population set was obtained by pollinating three genotypes of Solanum phureja, IvP35, IvP48 and IvP101 with clones A, C and E. It was observed that the behaviour of the parental clones with respect to 2n-pollen grains formation in different environments, such as in Europe and China, was stable. The correlation coefficient between means of 2n-pollen grains frequency of combinations and percentage of genotypes with more than 5% 2n-pollen grains in a given combination were estimated and that between mean and maximum frequency of 2n-pollen grains formation in each combination. The results showed that the former coefficients were significant wheareas the latter were not. The combining ability analysis revealed variation in 2n-pollen grains formation between families. Specific combining ability (SCA) effects contributed much more than general combining ability (GCA) to the variation in 2n-pollen grains formation. The broad-sense heritability of 2n-pollen grains formation was estimated to vary between 0.45 and 0.53 and the narrow-sense heritability was calculated to be 0.15 and 0.20 in the two types of populations. This means that additive variance was relatively low. Two to four genes were estimated to control the inheritance of 2n-pollen grains formation.     

Somatic hybridization between Solanum tuberosum and species of the S. nigrum complex: Selection of vigorously growing and flowering plants

Fusion experiments were performed between diploid (2n = 2x = 24) or tetraploid (2n = 4x = 48) potato genotypes and four species of the Solanum nigrum complex, namely S. nigrum (2n = 6x = 72), S. villosum (2n = 4x = 48), S. chenopodioides (2n = 2x = 24) or S. americanum (2n = 2x = 24 and 2n = 6x = 72). All five accessions of the S. nigrum-species were successfully hybridized with at least one of the potato genotypes. Somatic combining abilities were influenced by the ploidy level as well as the genotype of the parental species. The use of kanamycin or hygromycin resistance as cell-selectable markersystem had no influence on somatic combining ability, but such markers can be useful to improve efficient selection of somatic hybrids in sufficient numbers. At least 20% of the hybrids of each successful combination performed well in vitro. However, only 60 genotypes out of 761 somatic hybrids were vigorous as well as flowering in the greenhouse. Analysis of the DNA content of somatic hybrids could be used as a criterion for the indirect selection in vitro of hybrids that were vigorous in the greenhouse. Flowering somatic hybrids of S. nigrum (+) 2x potato and S. americanum (+) 4x potato were selected with the aim of introgression of resistance traits after recurrent backcrossing with cultivated potato. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Analysis of parental effects on mean vine maturity and chip colour of 4x.2x potato progenies

Summary The parental effects on progenies from potato 4x.2x(FDR) crosses were analyzed to determine anether and to what extent selection criteria used for selecting tetraploid breeding lines have to be adjusted when selecting diploid breeding lines. For vine maturity and chip colour multiple regression analysis of progeny means on means of diploid and tetraploid parents revealed high coefficients of determination (R²) for both characters, indicating good predicting power of the performance of both diploid and tetraploid parents on the performance of their 4x.2x progenies. For vine maturity the multiple regression slope for the tetraploid perents was significantly larger than for the diploid parents, and progeny means were towards the tetraploid parents. This indicates that selection criteria for vine maturity may be less stringent at the diploid level. However, diploids may be earlier maturing than tetraploids and therefore selection criteria can better be similar at both ploidy levels. For chip colour, multiple regression slopes for diploid and tetraploid parents were similar and progeny means were towards the darkest coloured parent irrespective of its ploidy level. This indicates that selection of breeding lines for chip colour can be conducted similarly at both ploidy levels.     

玉米不同基因型种子发芽及幼苗性状分析

对Ｓ２２、４７８、４８９自交系及其单交、回交、自交后代共１６个基因型的种子发芽和幼苗特性研究表明：①Ｓ２２（深色）、Ｓ２２（中色）、及（Ｓ２２×４８９）自交和回交后代各项指标均较差,且物质运转率低;Ｓ２２（浅色）与４７８相比,发芽率较高,但发芽较慢。②单交种的种子发芽和幼苗特性均随着杂种优势的产生而显著提高,自交、回交后代又随杂种优势的衰退而明显降低。③种子发芽及幼苗特性与粒色有关,受母本胞质基因的影响。④Ｓ２２的种子发芽和出苗特性可以通过后代选择予以改良。     

Evaluation of Self and Polycross Progeny Testing in Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) for Forage and Seed Yield

Self and cross fertility, forage and seed yield of parents, self (Sl), and polycross (PX) progenies were measured in a selected and an unselected population of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), Self fertility was significantly less than cross fertility in both populations. In a field planting S1 progenies had lower forage yield in 1979 and 1980 and seed yield (relative to the parents) was less in the selected population than the unselected in 1979. All correlation coefficients between years and progenies were non-significant for forage yield bur the parents-poly cross progeny correlation was significant for seed yield in the selected population. Percentage survival of plants after cutting in 1980 was higher in the selected population, and the parents and PX progenies survived better than S1 progenies in both populations. The better performance of the selected population may be due, in pan, to higher frequency of favorable genes resulting from four cycles of recurrent selection, S1 progeny testing does not appear to be worth while in birdsfoot trefoil because of low self fertility and the reduced vigour of the progeny.     

Expression of S-locus inhibitor gene (Sli) in various diploid potatoes

Summary S-locus inhibitor gene (Sli), which can inhibit gametophytic self-incompatibility in diploid potatoes and alter self-incompatible to self-compatible plants, was introduced by crossing into 32 diploid genotypes as females and its expression in the F₁ and S₁ progenies was investigated. We found that the expression of self-compatibility in the F₁ hybrid progeny depended largely upon the female genotypes and partly upon the male genotypes (=Sli gene donor clones). Successful females produced hybrid plants, in which 67.1% of self-pollinated plants set S₁ seeds. By second selfing upon the S₁ plants, an average of 44.2% of self-pollinated plants were self-compatible. Unsuccessful females produced hybrids, most of which were self-incompatible or male-sterile. Restriction fragment patterns of chloroplast DNA (ctDNA) were able to distinguish successful females (S- or A-type ctDNA) from unsuccessful females (W- or T-type ctDNA). A ctDNA high-resolution marker analysis using seven microsatellites and H3 marker supported a higher degree of differentiation between the two groups of ctDNA types and implied a possible interaction between the cytoplasm and Sli gene function. However, it has been known that the cytoplasm having T-type ctDNA and that derived from Solanum demissum (haplotype 26 of W-type ctDNA) cause male sterility, and the present case with unsuccessful females were likely caused by male sterility rather than the failure of Sli gene function.     

Resistance to viruses in F1 hybrids produced by direct crossing between diploid Solanum series Tuberosa and diploid S. brevidens (series Etuberosa) using S. phureja for rescue pollination

Resistance to potato viruses was examined in the F₁ hybrids (TET) obtained from a cross between a diploid (2n = 24), tuber-bearing interspecific hybrid 87HW13.7 (Solanum tuberosum W231 ×S. multi-dissectum PI 473354) and a diploid (2n = 24), nontuber-bearing wild potato species (S. brevidens CPC 2451) using S. phureja IvP35 (2n = 24) for rescue pollination. The parental plants were susceptible to PVX, whereas two hybrids (TET38.2 and TET38.9) and S. phureja IvP35 reacted with hypersensitivity to PVX. Two hybrids (TET 38.9 and TET 38.12) were extremely resistant to PVY°, which was similar to S. brevidens and S. phureja IvP35, whereas the remaining two hybrids were moderately resistant to PVY°. No resistance to PVA and PLRV was observed in the progenies, in contrast to S. brevidens which was extremely resistant to PVA and PLRV. Hypersensitivity to PVX in two progenies suggested (1) integration by somatic translocation or heterofertilization and expression of genes from the rescue pollinator S. phureja IvP35, or (2) transgressive or complementary gene action.     

Cryptic improvement for fertility by continuous selfing of diploid potatoes using Sli gene

While a diploid potato was continuously selfed by a function of Sli gene, the level of heterozygosity reduced, and the fertility also reduced (inbreeding depression), which might be improved because continuous selfing could eliminate undesirable recessive alleles. To explore what was occurring as advancing self-generations in terms of fertility, 51 plants of an S₃ diploid potato family were evaluated for fertility-related traits and analyzed by RFLP markers. The level of heterozygosity was positively correlated with any of fertility-related traits (r = 0.108−0.333). At least six loci on six chromosome sections were associated with fertility-related quantitative trait loci (QTLs), of which three performed better in the heterozygotes and three in the homozygotes. By further continued selfing, QTLs performing better in heterozygotes were likely fixed to homozygotes with secondly better performance, and those performing better in homozygotes were fixed to the best genotypes. Thus, the selfed progenies were cryptically being improved for fertility by genetic fixation to the best or better genotypes in fertility-related QTLs.     

Morphology and vigour of monohaploid potato clones,their corresponding homozygous diploids and tetraploids and their heterozygous diploid parent

Summary To study the joint effects of homozygotization and polyploidization in potato, the performance has been examined of five potato genotypes at three (x, 2x, 4x) and two genotypes at two (x, 2x) ploidy levels. Six out of the seven genotypes studied were compared with their heterozygous diploid parental clone. In this way comparisons could be made between i) the heterozygous diploid and its monohaploid derivatives, ii) three or two ploidy levels per genotye and iii) homozygous di- and tetreploids and their heterozygous diploid source.Large variation could be detected between monohaploids obtained from one diploid source. A striking increase in vigour was observed with somatic chromosome doubling from x to 2x, but less clearly from 2x to 4x. The relatively vigorous diploids showed a weaker response to tetraploidization than the less vigorous ones. The heterozygous diploid exceeded all homozygous di- and tetraploid derivatives in performance. The results of this study suggest positive gene dosage effects for tuber production more than for leaf area and plant height. The observations on plant vigour in homo- and heterozygotes suggest that dominance effects are stronger than additive gene effects. Owing to sterility problems, homozygous potato clones will presumably be of little importance for practical breeding.     

Inbred lines with dominant incompatibility alleles for use as parents of F1 hybrid brussels sprouts

Summary To improve the chances of obtaining highly self-incompatible inbred lines for use as parents of F₁ hybrid Brussels sprouts and to extend the range of mutually cross-compatible combinations available, new inbred lines are being produced from plants selected for the presence of dominant S-alleles. The material comprises 42 different inbred families representing 15 cultivars and contains 12 dominant S-alleles of uncommon occurrence in Brussels sprouts. Data on S-allele interactions in the material are presented.Tests showed that whilst many of the parent plants containing dominant S-alleles were highly self-incompatible, a few had only weak self-incompatibility. Although the chances of obtaining strongly self-incompatible inbreds may be increased by using material with dominant S-alleles, it remains necessary to test and select for strong self-incompatibility during the breeding programme.Production of such inbred lines requires the application of two independent selection procedures, one for agronomic type and one for S-allele constitution. Only a small proportion of the plants of a parent cultivar are acceptable on both counts. Thus large populations of the cultivar and large numbers of selections are necessary: this in turn involves much expensive S-allele screening. To alleviate this problem a wide-based panmix containing only dominant S-alleles is being produced. It is hoped that from this it will be possible to extract inbred lines which carry only dominant S-alleles, so avoiding the need to screen each parent plant for its S-allele content.     

The Importance of the Bolivian Wild Potato Species in Breeding for Globodera pallida Resistance

Screening for resistance to the potato cyst nematode, Globodera pallida, in potatoes from. Bolivia, was carried out in 1983 and 1984, using a mixture of four nematode populations representing pathotypes Pa₁, Pa₂ and Pa₃ From the 66 accessions of 17 species and subspecies evaluated, highly resistant genotypes were identified in 21 accessions from seven species. All had Pf/Pi values of 2 or less, whereas the susceptible control, Solanum tuberosum cv. ‘Disiree’ had Pf/Pi values of more than 2G in both tests. Two diploid wild species, S. brevicaule and S. leptophyes, showed the best resistant. The geographical distributional of resistant populations and the evolution of resistance in wild potato populations are discussed.     

The importance of wild potato species resistant to the potato cyst nematode,Globodera pallida,pathotypes P4A and P5A,in potato breeding. I. Resistance studies

Summary Seven wild diploid potato species, Series Tuberosa, representing 1023 clones were screened for resistance to the potato cyst nematode, Globodera pallida. Over 25% of the clones were resistant to pathotype P₄A and almost 30% were resistant to pathotype P₅A. The resistance in hybrid progenies of these and other resistant species with cultivated potatoes was evaluated, and over 2200 seedlings were screened. High frequencies of resistance (>50%) to P₄A were found in progenies with Solanum leptophyes, S. vernei, S. gourlayi and S. capsicibaccatum, whereas resistance to P₅A was found in these species as well as S. sparsipilum. The importance of nematode resistant wild species for potato breeding is discussed.     

Breeding for yield and quality in durum wheat

Three populations of an intervarietal durum wheat cross IWP5308/PDW208, F₅, F₅BIP₁ (population derived after intermating in F₂) and F₅BIP₂ (population derived after intermating in BIPF₁), were evaluated under three different agronomic environments for mean performance and stability of genotypes for grain yield, yield components and protein content. Though the biparental progenies indicated a higher mean performance, they did not differ significantly from progenies of the pedigree method for almost all characters. The biparental progenies, however, produced a higher number of stable genotypes for grain yield per plant, grains per ear and protein content. The F₅ population had a higher number of stable genotypes for 1000 grain weight and number of tillers per plant. The BIP progenies also had a higher number of genotypes with above average mean performance, and many were significantly higher than the checks WH896 and WH542, compared with F₅ progenies. Hence, in spite of high G x E interactions, the use of cycles of biparental mating and selection of top yielding lines on the basis of yield components can enable selection of stable genotypes with high protein content. Number of tillers per plant and 1000 grain weight were the yield component characters which made maximum contribution to phenotypic stability of the genotypes. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Development of PCR-based markers for the identification of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">RNase</Emphasis> alleles in wild potato species

Sexual self-incompatibility in wild diploid potato species is controlled by a single multiallelic S-locus encoding a polymorphic stylar ribonuclease (S-RNase) that is responsible for the female function in pollen–pistil recognition. In this study, an approach using PCR-based markers were originally developed to amplify the S-RNase alleles in Solanum chacoense. Subsequently, to investigate their general applicability in Solanum, this molecular approach was successfully tested on S. spegazzinii and S. kurtzianum. Application of PCR-SSCP approach revealed potentially new S-RNase alleles in the three species, demonstrating for the first time the existence of S-RNase genetic variability within and between populations of wild diploid potato species. Species-specific SSCP markers that may be successfully used in gene flow studies was also detected in this investigation.     

Reciprocal recurrent selection in maize enhances heterosis and ears yield

The objective of the research was to evaluate recurrent selection strategies in maize (Zea mays L.) by determining the expected and realized responses to selection, as well as the alterations in heterosis, of hybrids from the cross between the original populations (C0) and the third cycle (C3). The genetic variances and covariances were obtained for intrapopulational (P₁₁ and P₂₂) and interpopulational (P₁₂ and P₂₁) half-sib progenies from populations 1 and 2 in cycles C0 and C3. One-hundred progenies of each type were evaluated [husked ear weight (g plant^?1)] at two separate locations by conducting 10 × 10 triple lattice design experiments contiguous for each cycle. Four different recurrent selection strategies were investigated: reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS), interpopulation testcross half-sib selection (THS 1 and THS 2) and intrapopulational half-sib recurrent selection (HSS). THS 1, which employed population 1 (with the lowest frequency of favorable alleles) as tester, was most efficient in the simultaneous improvement of the hybrid and the two populations per se. RRS showed the highest efficiency in improving the interpopulational hybrid but not in the parental populations. In order to estimate heterosis and realized responses to RRS, representative samples of seed from intra and inter-populational half-sib progenies from C0 and C3 were employed in randomized block design experiments with 10 repetitions carried out at two separate locations. RRS increased heterosis in the interpopulational hybrid from 12.3 % (C0) to 24.9 % (C3), and the productivity gain [husked ear weight (t ha^?1)] was 13.5 % over the three cycles.