Comparison of space‐plant versus sward plot selection in thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus)

Thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus [Scribn. & J.G. Sm.] Gould) is an important native perennial grass species used for rangeland revegetation in North America. Plant breeding efforts relying on space‐plant evaluations have resulted in limited improvement in this species. The purpose of this study was to characterize the performance of thickspike wheatgrass half‐sib families under space‐plant and sward plot evaluations, estimate the correlation between measured traits in both evaluation settings, and determine the validity of selecting thickspike wheatgrass for rangeland revegetation in the nontarget environment space‐plant plots. The study included 50 thickspike wheatgrass half‐sib families and five commercial cultivars and experimental populations which were evaluated over 3 years in space‐plant and sward plot evaluations at a field site in Box Elder County, Utah, USA. Collected data included stand percentage, flag leaf height, and herbage dry mass. Narrow‐sense heritability estimates were low to moderate (h² < 0.60) and Spearman and genetic correlation estimates among traits were also generally low to moderate. Overall, there was little evidence to suggest the use space‐plant evaluations in thickspike wheatgrass improvement programmes.     

Molecular markers in Brassica oilseed breeding: current status and future possibilities

As PCR techniques have developed over the last 15 years, a wealth of new DNA marker technologies have arisen which have enabled the generation of high‐density molecular maps for all the major Brassica crop species. Molecular markers have also been heavily used in analyses of genetic diversity in Brassica crops. The majority of the work utilizing molecular markers in Brassica oilseed breeding has to date been based on genetic mapping using various DNA marker systems in segregating populations generated for specific investigations of particular traits of interest. For numerous qualitative traits, traditional mapping approaches have led to the development of marker‐assisted selection strategies in oilseed Brassica breeding, and in some cases to map‐based cloning of the responsible genes. For quantitative traits, however, it has become apparent that traditional mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) is often not sufficient to develop effective markers for trait introgression or for identification of the genes responsible. In this case, allele‐trait association studies in non‐structured genetic populations represent an interesting new approach, provided the degree of gametic phase disequilibrium between the QTL and the marker loci is sufficient. Because Brassica species represent the closest crop plant relatives to the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, significant progress will be achieved in the coming years through integration of candidate gene approaches in crop brassicas, using the detailed information now available for the Arabidopsis genome. Integration of information from the model plant with the increasing supply of data from physical mapping and sequencing of the diploid Brassica genomes will undoubtedly give great insight into the genetics underlying both simple and complex traits in oilseed rape. This review describes the current use of available genetic marker technologies in oilseed rape breeding and provides an outlook for use of new technologies, including single‐nucleotide polymorphism markers, candidate gene approaches and allele‐trait association studies.     

植物离体诱变及在百合育种中的应用

植物离体诱变技术目前已广泛应用于作物优质、高产、抗病、抗逆等新种质的筛选中。综述了体细胞无性系变异简况、离体诱变育种采用的技术、抗性突变体的筛选技术以及检测方法、应用现状及在百合育种中的应用情况。分析了离体诱变育种的优势及在百合抗病育种中的应用前景。     

Natural occurrence of autopolyploidy within the allotetraploid-cultivated peanut

The cultivated peanut is classified as an allotetraploid species. During the past several years, abnormal plants with coarse stems, thick leaves and an occasional single seed per pod have been found within different cultivars and advanced breeding lines. The spontaneous natural occurrence of these plants has been very rare, and frequently they do not produce any pods or seed. However, over a 3‐year period (2001–2003), four individual plant selections with one mature seed per plant were found and saved. In 2003, another similar plant was also found that had the same plant characteristics, except for a single branch that had normal leaves with typical two‐seeded pods. A greenhouse study was conducted during the winter of 2003–2004. The four coarse stem individual plant selections from the previous years were planted along with the check cultivar ‘Georgia Green’ and the sectorial plant found in 2003. S₁ seed from both the one‐seeded pods as well as normal two‐seeded pods were planted from the sectorial plant. Relative DNA content was measured by flow cytometry on all plants. Results from the test showed that the coarse stem, thick leaf plants with poor fruit set were autooctoploids and had about twice the DNA content when compared with the normal sectorial branch and the allotetraploid peanut cultigen.     

Generating genetic variation in narrow‐leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) for plant architecture by ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis

Narrow‐leafed lupin (NLL) is a source of protein and fibre with exceptional functional properties useful for a variety of purposes. In adapted NLL germplasm selected for low alkaloid contents, the genetic base is narrow, thus limiting fast breeding progress. In an EMS‐based mutagenesis programme, we have treated 40,000 seeds of cv. ‘Boruta’ and obtained a variety of phenotypic mutant lines expressing novel growth types with altered plant height and/or branching. In 3‐year field trials at two locations, three of these lines exhibited significantly improved grain yield components compared to the cv. ‘Boruta’. Growth types of these promising lines were shown to be inherited in a monogenic recessive manner and should, thus, be easily fixable by breeding.     

逆境胁迫下植物 DNA甲基化及其在抗旱育种中的研究进展

DNA甲基化作为一种重要的表观遗传现象,通过多种甲基转移酶的作用,能够在不改变DNA序列的情况下调节植物基因组的功能。此外,DNA甲基化能够对多种环境刺激做出迅速的反应,帮助植物应对不同的环境胁迫。由于DNA甲基化的变异可以遗传给后代,这种类似于经典遗传学的特性使其为植物育种中的应用提供了可能。对植物DNA甲基化的特点和变异的发生以及DNA甲基化在植物多种逆境胁迫下的研究进展等方面进行了总结和综述,并探讨了DNA甲基化在植物抗旱性育种中的应用前景。在将来的研究中可利用DNA甲基化/去甲基化抑制剂处理创造突变材料,创造抗旱性新种质;同时深入开展植物DNA甲基化与抗旱机制研究,开发新型甲基化分子标记用于抗旱分子育种实践。     

Kernel number as a positive target trait for prediction of hybrid performance under low-nitrogen stress as revealed by diallel analysis under contrasting nitrogen conditions

Environmental sustainability concerns make improving yield under lower N input a desirable breeding goal. To evaluate genetic variation and heterosis for low-N tolerance breeding, 28 F1 hybrids from a diallel scheme, along with their eight parental lines, were tested for agronomic traits including kernel number per ear (KNE) and grain yield per plant (GY), in replicated plots over two years under low-nitrogen (LN, without nitrogen application) and normal-nitrogen (NN, 220 kg N ha⁻¹) conditions. Taken together the heritability in this and our previous studies, the correlation with grain yield, and the sensitivity to the stress for target trait selection, KNE was a good secondary target trait for LN selection in maize breeding. KNE also showed much higher mid-parent heterosis than hundred-kernel weight under both nitrogen levels, particularly under LN, indicating that KNE contributed the majority of GY heterosis, particularly under LN. Therefore, KNE can be used as a positive target trait for hybrid performance prediction in LN tolerance breeding. Our results also suggest that breeding hybrids for LN tolerance largely relies on phenotypic evaluation of hybrids under LN condition and yield under LN might be improved more by selection for KNE than by direct selection for GY per se.     

Sustainable plant breeding

Plant breeders disrupt Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium through selection, non‐random mating, drift, migration and mutation. Sustainable plant breeding can be defined as productive and competitive breeding that is achieved without loss of genetic diversity in the elite breeding population during the professional career of the breeder. Breeding is often productive but not sustainable. From 1974 to 2000, the animal breeding programme Meatlinc in the United Kingdom had effective population size of 95, population inbreeding of 0.19% per year and generation interval of 2.15 years. Genetic progress in Meatlinc tripled in the 8 years following introduction of best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) selection (based on the information from relatives) in 1992. Canola breeding in Australia from 1970 to 2000 had longer generation interval (6 years), smaller effective population size (<11) and higher rates of inbreeding (>0.7% per year). BLUP selection in canola was first reported in 2010. Neither programme replaced genetic diversity lost through selection and drift. Most breeding programmes violate conditions of the infinitesimal model, thereby reducing predictability of selection, but breeders can minimize these limitations to sustainable plant breeding.     

Genetic variation, heritability and progeny testing in meadow bromegrass

Meadow bromegrass is a recently introduced pasture grass in western Canada. Its leafy production and rapid regrowth have made it a major grass species for pasturing beef animals in this region. Because relatively little breeding work has been done on this species, there is little information on its breeding behaviour. The main objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and assess breeding methodologies for meadow bromegrass. Forty half‐sib (polycross and open‐pollinated) and full‐sib (selfed) progenies were evaluated for dry matter and seed yield, fertility index, harvest index, plant height, plant spread, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre. Genetic variation for seed yield, harvest index, and plant height was significant in the open‐pollinated and selfed tests. Genetic variation estimates for dry matter yield were negative (polycross), not significant (open‐pollinated), or significant (selfed). Estimates of genetic variation for quality traits were not significant, except for acid detergent fibre (selfed). Correlations among characters indicated that it is possible to simultaneously improve seed and forage yield. Rankings of progenies by the half‐sib tests for forage and seed yield were not altered by the use of the synthetic parental value (SV_i), which includes information from selfed progeny. The polycross progeny test did not discriminate parents as well as the open‐pollinated and selfed tests; this may have been a result of non‐random pollination in the polycross. Correlation among the progeny tests, showed that open‐pollinated and selfed progeny tests agreed for all characters, except for harvest index, while correlation between polycross and selfed tests were significant for six characters but not dry matter yield, and acid and neutral detergent fibres. The most dissimilar tests were polycross and open‐pollinated, with significant correlations found only for fertility index, height, spread and neutral detergent fibre. It was concluded that there was significant variation and moderate heritability for most traits in the meadow bromegrass populations evaluated, and that the open‐pollinated progeny test is the method of choice for selecting parents for synthetics of this species.     

Genetic diversity among tea cultivars from China, Japan and Kenya revealed by ISSR markers and its implication for parental selection in tea breeding programmes

Tea plant [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] is an important beverage crop in the world. In recent years many clonal tea cultivars have been released, and they play major roles in improving the production and quality of tea. It is important to understand the genetic diversity and relatedness of these cultivars to avoid inbreeding and narrow genetic basis in future tea breeding. In the present study, genetic diversity and relationship of 48 tea cultivars from China, Japan and Kenya were evaluated by inter‐simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. A total of 382 ISSR bands were scored, of which 381 (99.7%) were polymorphic. The ISSR primers showed high ability to distinguish between tea cultivars according to their high Resolving Power (R_P) with an average of 7.4. The mean of Nei’s gene diversity (H) and Shannon’s information index (I) were 0.22 and 0.35, respectively. More abundant diversity was revealed among cultivars in China than those in Japan and Kenya. Within Chinese populations, the level of diversity in east China was higher than that in other regions. The coefficient of genetic differentiation (G_ST) was 0.202, which indicates a high degree of genetic variation within populations. This result was further confirmed by analysis of molecular variance, which revealed the variance component within the populations (92.07%) was obviously larger than that among populations (7.93%). The level of gene flow (N_m) was estimated to be 2.0. This could be explained by frequent natural cross‐pollination and seed dispersal among tea populations. The pairwise similarity coefficient between the cultivars varied from 0.162 to 0.538. A dendrogram of 48 tea cultivars was constructed where all the tested cultivars were divided into two groups. Our data show that the genetic relationship among tea cultivars can be determined by the ISSR markers. This will provide valuable information to assist parental selection in current and future tea breeding programmes.     

Creating favourable morphological and yield variations for rapeseed by interspecific crosses between Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea

Brassica napus is a most important oilseed grown worldwide with a limited genetic background, due to the short history of speciation, domestication and cultivation. To create novel germplasm for rapeseed breeding, we made interspecific crosses followed with chromosome doubling between B. rapa and B. oleracea to generate novel B. napus with favourable agronomic traits. The resynthesized (S0) hybrids were confirmed by SSR and cytogenetic analysis, and the fertility was increased from 32.7% in S0 generation to ~97.31% in S1 generation. The plant shapes of the progeny were dramatically improved compared to the diploid parents and B. napus cv. ‘Yangyou 6’, especially for the branch initiation height, branch number and pod number. The single‐plant yield was significantly improved in S1 progeny for the variations in branching sites and number. Significant improvement in plant shape and yield was observed on S2 generation compared to the local elite commercial open‐pollinated cultivar, which would be further fixed by intensive selection and pyramiding breeding. Such variation is of great value for breeding rapeseed with improved plant architecture and harvest index.     

DNA分子标记技术及其在高粱育种中的应用

近年来分子技术的快速发展,使其在高粱上也得到应用。由于分子标记具有诸多优点,因此它的发展和应用为高粱研究提供了一条有效的途径。此文概述了分子标记技术的基本类型,综述了近年来分子标记技术在高粱遗传连锁图谱的构建、基因定位、关联遗传学、突变体等的研究及应用现状。最后,分析了分子标记技术在高粱遗传育种研究中存在的问题及今后发展的方向。     

Microsatellite markers: an overview of the recent progress in plants

In recent years, molecular markers have been utilized for a variety of applications including examination of genetic relationships between individuals, mapping of useful genes, construction of linkage maps, marker assisted selections and backcrosses, population genetics and phylogenetic studies. Among the available molecular markers, microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) which are tandem repeats of one to six nucleotide long DNA motifs, have gained considerable importance in plant genetics and breeding owing to many desirable genetic attributes including hypervariability, multiallelic nature, codominant inheritance, reproducibility, relative abundance, extensive genome coverage including organellar genomes, chromosome specific location and amenability to automation and high throughput genotyping. High degree of allelic variation revealed by microsatellite markers results from variation in number of repeat-motifs at a locus caused by replication slippage and/or unequal crossing-over during meiosis. In spite of limited understanding of the functions of the SSR motifs within the plant genes, SSRs are being widely utilized in plant genome analysis. Microsatellites can be developed directly from genomic DNA libraries or from libraries enriched for specific microsatellites. Alternatively, microsatellites can also be found by searching public databases such as GenBank and EMBL or through cross-species transferability. At present, EST databases are an important source of candidate genes, as these can generate markers directly associated with a trait of interest and may be transferable in close relative genera. A large number of SSR based techniques have been developed and a quantum of literature has accumulated regarding the applicability of SSRs in plant genetics and genomics. In this review we discuss the recent developments (last 4–5 years) made in plant genetics using SSR markers.     

南疆自育陆地棉品种遗传多样性研究

以30年来南疆自育的33个新陆中品种为研究对象,通过聚类研究发现:33个自育品种通过聚类被明显地划分为两大类,第2类群自育品种遗传基础较第1类群品种有所拓展和丰富,基础遗传组分呈现逐渐拓宽的趋势。同一个育种单位选育的品种均聚为同一类,说明不同育种单位在常年选育过程中积累形成了本单位的优势和各自育种方向特点。通过遗传多样性研究发现:随着新疆栽培模式的变化,自育品种株型由紧凑型向松散型转变,果枝由短果枝向Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型中长果枝类型转变,蕾铃分布由内围铃向外围扩展,蕾铃空间结构更加合理。自育品种在产量性状上仍有很大的提升空间,单株铃数呈现递增趋势,铃重从大铃逐步向适中的铃重范围靠近,衣分提高的潜力巨大。早熟性状选择进一步加强,这为产量的持续提高奠定了基础。自育品种的纤维品质性状在育种演变进程中继续得到保持和加强,品质优势较为明显。     

Phenotypic and genotypic analyses of diversity and breeding progress in European triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack)

Knowledge of the extent of phenotypic variability, genetic diversity and the realized breeding progress is central for the optimum design of breeding programmes, but little information is available for triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack). In this study, a collection of 885 diverse European triticale lines was evaluated in multilocation field trials in 2 years. We observed significant genotypic variances and high heritabilities for several agronomic and morphological traits and significant correlations among different traits including grain yield. Based on a subset of the population of 121 varieties registered in Europe between 1983 and 2014, we observed a substantial breeding progress for grain yield with a significant rate of increase of 53 kg/ha or 0.67% per year. All lines were genotyped by a genotyping‐by‐sequencing approach yielding 58 888 polymorphic markers. Our analyses revealed the absence of major population structure but a certain grouping of lines according to their origin. Taken together, our results on triticale germplasm and its breeding history provide important information for breeding programmes and future selection gain in this crop.     

Genetic parameters for agronomic traits of triticale and other small-grain cereals grown on aluminium-toxic soil in southern Brazil

Aluminium (Al) toxicity is a major limiting factor for plant production on acid soils. Breeding of adapted genotypes presents an alternative to corrective lime application. This study estimated genetic and non‐genetic components of variation, heritabilities, and trait correlations for 20 triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) genotypes grown for 2 years on naturally acidic, Al‐toxic (pH 4.4) and lime‐amended soils (pH 5.0 and 6.3). Eight traits were assessed. A 51% mean reduction in grain yield as a result of soil acidity was due to 27% fewer grains/spike, 11% fewer spikes/m² and 7% reduced 1000‐grain weight. Genotypes were the most important source of variation for nearly all traits in the combined analysis across years. Genotype × lime interaction was relevant only for certain traits in a particular year. Despite a substantial genotype × year interaction, the general ranking of genotypes for acid‐soil tolerance did not change across years. Genotypic variation was higher on acidic than on lime‐amended soil. Heritability estimates were similar at the two extreme pH levels. Results suggest that in triticale a wide variation for adaptation to soil acidity exists. Selection under stress appears more effective than under optimal conditions. A visual plant‐development‐stress‐symptom rating can be used to select indirectly for grain yield in a breeding programme.     

Introducing host‐plant resistance to anthracnose in Kyrgyz common bean through inoculation‐based and marker‐aided selection

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the most important legume crops for human consumption. However, its grain yield can be reduced by up to 90% by the seedborne disease, anthracnose. Fungicide treatment is costly and time‐consuming. The introduction of host plant resistance against this disease appears, therefore, to be crucial for enhancing the productivity of this crop in Kyrgyzstan. The use of DNA‐based markers in backcrossing programmes may help speed up the breeding for resistance. In this study, we used a combination of inoculation tests and a DNA marker (SCAreoli marker) to track the transfer of host‐plant resistance (Co‐2 gene) from two donor cultivars, ‘Vaillant’ and ‘Flagrano’, to susceptible Kyrgyz cultivars ‘Ryabaya’, ‘Kytayanka’ and ‘Lopatka’, which are widely grown in the country. The segregating offspring were evaluated to test the reliability of the SCAreoli marker as selection aid for host‐plant resistance to anthracnose. Our study showed that a co‐dominant DNA marker can successfully be used in backcross breeding to distinguish segregating material in different market classes of common bean.     

Farmers' seed management practices open up new base populations for pearl millet breeding in a semi-arid zone of India

Farmers in western Rajasthan (north‐west India) produce and maintain their landrace populations of pearl millet through their own distinct seed management practices. The objective of this study was to characterize morphological and agronomic variability of different traits between and within three farmers' populations using quantitative‐genetic parameters. Populations examined were a typical landrace and two modified landraces, which were generated through farmer introgression of modern varieties with different levels of subsequent selection. From these three populations, 100 random full‐sib progenies were evaluated in field trials at two locations in western Rajasthan over two years. Significant genetic variation existed within the three populations. Estimates of heritability were moderate to high for all observed traits. Predicted selection response for grain yield across environments was 1.6% for the typical landrace and 2.2% for both the modified landraces. Results suggest that the introgression of modern varieties into landraces had increased the genetic diversity. Therefore, farmers' current breeding activities could open up new resources for plant breeding programmes aiming at plant improvement for the semiarid zones of India.     

Variation between and within Trifolium repens L. populations collected from sown swards in Uruguay

Nineteen Trifolium repens L. (white clover) populations were collected in different parts of Uruguay (where conditions are marginal for the species) from swards sown 2–15 years earlier. Twenty five genotypes of each population were grown as spaced plants on a single site. Leaflet length and width, petiole length, plant height, plant diameter and internode length were recorded. In a second experiment, ten of the populations were studied in a similar way. Large genetic correlations were obtained among leaflet length, leaflet width, petiole length and plant height as one group, and among major plant diameter, minor plant diameter and internode length as another group, in both experiments. Collection site characteristics that tended to result in relatively short, small-leaved plants were: the sowing of cv. Bayucuá or Santa Fé (rather than Zapicán orYi); a relatively old sward; relatively high available soil P; overgrazing; and dry conditions. There was an indication that, in some respects, there was less variation within a population in older than in younger swards. Overall and within populations heritabilities were relatively high for leaflet length, leaflet width and petiole length and relatively low for plant diameter, with plant height intermediate. Genotypes from populations (such as that from Romero) that survived for 15 years in unfavourable conditions could be useful in a plant breeding programme. Selection for rather smaller-leaved types might enhance persistence. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

植物关联分析的研究进展及其在茶树分子标记辅助育种上的应用前景

茶树是我国重要的经济和饮料作物,由于自交不亲和和长期的异花授粉使其高度异质杂合,选育一个良种耗时长,提高早期选育效率和准确鉴定目标性状成为茶树育种家关心的重大问题之一。关联分析是研究分子标记或候选基因与目标性状关系的一种新方法,现已广泛应用于植物等位基因发掘、功能基因验证以及功能性标记的开发和应用等各方面的研究中,为茶树遗传育种研究提供了新思路。本文主要介绍了关联分析的基本原理、策略和及其在植物中的应用现状,并且探讨了其在茶树分子标记辅助育种研究上的应用前景。