Induction of Generative Development of Winter Rape (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera) in Relation to Vernalization Conditions and Age of Vernalized Plants

Germinating seeds and young winter rape plants were vernalized 56–63 days at 5 or 2°C under nine-hour days or in darkness. The highest percentage of generative plants and the most rapid flowering were obtained following the vernalization of young seedlings and germinating seed under conditions of nine-hour day, at 5°C. The least effective induction of generative development followed the vernalization at 2°C in continuous darkness. The vegetation period from the end of vernalization till the beginning of flowering was the shortest when four-week-old plants were vernalized under conditions of nine-hour day, yet the vegetation period from the beginning of germination to flowering was the shortest when seed germinating under conditions of nine-hour day were vernalized. The period was extending as older plants were being vernalized. Data indicating that the optimal temperature for vernalization of older plants is higher than for germinating seed and young seedlings were obtained.     

Effect of Completion of Vernalization on Generative Development of Winter Rape (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera) Plants

Germinating seeds and young plants of winter rape var. Górczañski were vernalized for 56–63 days under conditions of 9-hour day, at the temperature 2 and 5 °C and in continuous darkness at the temperature 2 °C. After vernalization the plants grew under conditions enabling to complete vernalization: in a glass-house at the temperature day/night 15/10 °C and in semi natural conditions of open vegetation hall in the period from June till August. After sub-optimal vernalization further growth of the plants at lowered temperature increased its effectiveness (completion of vernalization). Depending on the degree of the vernalization of the plants the completion of their vernalization was both obligatory, i.e. conditioning the acquisition of the ability of generative development, and facultative i.e. accelerating this development. It has been demonstrated that the population of plants of the examined variety is strongly differentiated not only with respect of vernalization requirements in the particular plants, but also what regards the effectiveness of vernalization completion. New observations have been made indicating that the mechanisms controlling the successive phases of generative development, i.e. phase of forming flower buds and the flowering phase are not identical which may be interpreted as indicating that the "flowering factor" is polymorphous.     

Vernalization of immature embryos of winter wheat genotypes

Summary The effect of direct vernalization of immature embryos on flowering was studied in six winter wheat genotypes. Fourteen-, 17-, and 20-day-old embryos were excised and vernalized for 0–6 weeks on synthetic medium during a conditioning period. Percent germination of embryos was high (overall 96.1%), and free from genotypic effects. Genotypes differed for flowering in response to cold treatment of excised embryos. Embryo vernalization was as effective as or more than conventional vernalization (control, seedling vernalization for 6 weeks). Seventeen-day-old embryos were the most responsive to vernalization. With a 5-week vernalization of 17-day-old embryos, the percentage of plants anthesed was higher than those from 14-and 20-day-old embryos. For 17-day-old embryos vernalized for 5 weeks, the mean number of days from culture to anthesis was less than that of 6 week vernalization, less than that of 14- and 20-day-old embryos, and less than controls.Purdue Univ., Agronomy Dept., W. Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.     

The Effectiveness of Vernalization of Immature Embryos of Winter Wheat var. Grana as Related to Age and Exogenous Phytohormones

Starting from the 10th day after pollination, immature embryos of winter wheat var. Grana were isolated and then vernalized for 4 to 8 weeks on Murashige and Skoog nutrients containing BAP (0.5 or 2 mg/dm³), NAA (0.5 or 2 mg/dm³), or GA₃ (5 or 20 mg/dm³). Vernalized seedlings were cultivated in a greenhouse and the number of days to the heading of individual plants as well as the percentage of plants capable of generative development were estimated. The lower limit of size for 50 % survival of embryos strongly depended on the phytohormone used: from 0.9 mm in control, 1.1 mm in nutrient containing BAP, 1.2 mm for NAA, up to 1.7 mm in nutrient with GA₃. Exogenous GA₃ was lethal for embryos younger than 18 days but induced elongation of older embryos. Embryos isolated 2.5 to 4 weeks after pollination showed minimal requirements for the length of vernalization. BAP increased the percentage of heading plants originated from the youngest embryos. GA₃ improved partial vernalization, strongly increasing the percentage of heading plants, but did not change the time from the end of vernalization to heading. It has been postulated that GA₃ increases number of plants capable of overcoming the threshold of induction of generative development but does not accelerate the flowering process. Hormonized plants showed no deformation of generative development. As the effectiveness of vernalization increased, the heading of plants was faster but they were shorter, forming spikes with a smaller number of spikelets and producing fever lateral shoots. The very young embryos probably have in reserve sufficient amounts of auxins and gibberellins and therefore exogenous GA₃ decreases their viability or even exerts a deleterious effect. However, as the embryos' ageing, gibberellin starvation develops. This being especially pronounced during vernalization. The de novo synthesis or activation of gibberellins takes place during the second stage of vernalization. This is why exogenous hormone improves the effectiveness of partial vernalization, though it is not possible to substitute by gibberellins the vernalization requirements of immature embryos.     

Comparison of Vernalization Requirements and Frost Resistance of Winter Rape Lines Derived from Double Haploids

Vernalization requirements and cold resistance of 13 lines of winter rape derived from doubled haploids obtained by androgenesis were investigated. The degree of vernalization requirements was examined in two parallel experiments. In the first experiment seedlings aged 2 weeks were vernalized during 63 and 35 days under controlled conditions, at 5 °C. In the second experiment the natural conditions of vernalization were differentiated by sowing the plants at four different dates in spring: March 15th, April 15th, May 15th, and at the latest date excluding vernalization, June 5th. The lines examined revealed differentiation of vernalization requirements that were similar in both experiments; all the lines required a period of exposure to cold before flowering. Cold resistance of lines was estimated in two successive series at −15 °C and −17 °C. Before testing the plants were kept in natural field conditions from the beginning of September until the middle of November. Testing of cold resistance was preceded by hardening under controlled conditions. Considerable differences in cold resistance was found in the forms investigated.
The results obtained do not show any relation between frost resistance and the degree of vernalization requirements, as the line characterized by the strongest winter habit of growth showed low cold resistance, whereas the lines which were closer to spring growth habit showed the highest level of cold resistance; the lines with the least vernalization requirements revealed the highest level of cold resistance. This conclusion can be confirmed by the significance of the correlation coefficients between the various indices defining the frost resistance and the indices of vernalization requirements.     

Effect of embryo age and culture media on plant growth and vernalization response in winter wheat

Summary Embryo age and composition of nutrient medium affected plant growth and response to vernalization in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Root and shoot development was more in older than in younger excised embryos, and more in a medium without kinetin than in one with kinetin. Kinetin (2 mg/l) in the medium did not accelerate vernalization, probably because it tended to inhibit seedling and plant growth.Embryo age and media did not completely replace vernalization. Twenty- and 16-day-old embryos responded by flowering after 4 weeks of vernalization. Among plants raised on a standard medium from 20-day-old embryos and vernalized for 4 weeks, 84.2% flowered by or before 50 days after transplanting. Time from embryo culture to heading for 20-day-old embryos with-4-week vernalization averaged 84.6 days. Immature embryos (16–20 days old) needed only 4 weeks of vernalization compared to 6 weeks for mature embryos. Excised embryos could be vernalized as efficiently as seedlings raised by embryo culture. Embryo culture at 16–20 days after anthesis coupled with 4-week cold treatment shortens generation time of winter wheat by about 40 days.Contribution No. 82-131-j, Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.     

Relationship between vernalization requirement and winter hardiness in doubled haploids of barley

Summary Progeny lines of chromosome-doubled haploids from crosses between one winter and four spring barley varieties were analysed for winter hardiness and vernalization requirement in the field. About one quarter or less of the offspring lines required vernalization under field conditions showing that winter versus spring habit of growth is controlled by at least two pairs of genes. The vernalization requirement could be measured quantitatively by testing a few plants in a greenhouse after artificial cold treatment during germination. The individual winter lines tested required from two to seven weeks of vernalization in order to flower as early as possible. The cold treatment had no effect on the time of flowering in the spring lines.Winter hardiness varied from zero to 100% plant survival in the field. The majority of the lines requiring vernalization survived better than 90% and the survival of the rest was at least 60%. The winter survival of the spring lines varied from zero per cent (about one third of the lines) to 100%. Hence, it is possible to obtain lines of good winter hardiness without requirements for cold treatment. Conversely, a selection for vernalization requirement has a positive effect on winter hardiness.     

Effect of Temperature and Photoperiod on the Development of Lupinus albus L. in a Controlled Environment

An experiment to determine the effect of temperature and photoperiod on Lupinus albus under controlled environmental conditions was carried out, using the three Lupinus albus genotypes 'Tifwhite', 'Esta' and 'Kiev', and three temperature (10/20, 18/28 and 20 °C continuously) and two photoperiod (8 and 16 h daylength) regimes, in all combinations. Half of the seeds were vernalized for 21 days at 4 °C to alleviate the obligate vernalization requirement of Tifwhite. Although Esta and Kiev do not have obligate vernalization requirements, they were influenced by this vernalization period. Observations included the duration of the period from planting to seedling emergence, the duration of the period from planting to the beginning of flowering and the duration of flowering. The vernalization treatment accelerated plant development in all genotypes. The period from planting to emergence was shorter under the higher temperature regime. For all genotypes, the period from planting to flowering was shorter under the longer photoperiod, the same trend as would be expected for long-day plants. Duration of flowering periods were, in contrast to pre-flowering periods, shorter for all genotypes at cooler temperatures. The results of this study confirm that photoperiod does contribute to the growth period from planting to flowering in L. albus and that this species does behave as a long-day plant.     

Influence of Warm Intervals on the Effects of Vernalization and the Composition of Phospholipid Fatty Acids in Seedlings of Winter Wheat

Excised embryos of winter wheat were submitted to a different number of vernalization (2 °C) and devernalization (20 °C) cycles of different lengths. In all treatments sum of cold and warm intervals was 50 and 10 days, respectively. The influence of different temperature conditions of seedling growth on the effectiveness of vernalization and correlations between effectiveness of vernalization and final content of phospholipid fatty acids were analyzed.
All indexes of generative development of plants (length of vegetative phase, % of generative plants, number of side shoots) showed the most effective was uninterrupted vernalization beginning immediately after excision of embryos. Increasing the number of 2 ° C/20 °C cycles rapidly depressed effectiveness of vernalization, which reached the minimum with the 8.3 days at 2 °C and 2 days at 20 °C cycle and then improved again as cycles became shorter and more numerous.
Correlations between indexes of generative plant growth and indexes describing composition of fatty acids in seedlings showed that from 50 % to 60 % of variability in the composition of phospholipid can be associated with changes in the degree of generative induction. A higher degree of generative induction was associated with a higher share of < 16, 16: 0 and 18:2 acids and a lower share of 18: 3 acid and also with a lower value of the 16: 0/< 16 ratio of phospholipids.
The relation between the generative induction of plants and the composition of phospholipid fatty acids may however be blurred when induction proceeds under conditions of alternate short spells of vernalization and devernalization temperatures.     

Effect of vernalization and photoperiod on flax flowering time

Vernalization and photoperiodism are two important physiological processes related to yield of many cool-season annual crops. The flowering response of 20 flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) genotypes to two vernalization regimes (vernalized and unvernalized) and two photoperiod treatments (10 and 14 h) was evaluated in a growth chamber study in 2010 and 2011. The results suggest that photoperiod, vernalization, and genotype all had an effect on earliness as measured by days to anthesis. Unlike flax grown in the Upper US Midwest and Canada, Texas flax is grown in the fall due to high spring and summer temperatures. Genotype interaction was observed with both vernalization and photoperiod. Specifically, flax genotypes from Texas (winter type) were sensitive to both vernalization and photoperiods for flowering. Texas genotypes delayed anthesis for 7 days or more in unvernalized seedlings, whereas flowering time of most other spring grown flax genotypes was unaffected by the vernalization treatments. Texas genotypes also delayed anthesis for 12 days or more under vernalized and short day conditions, whereas most other genotypes were not influenced by photoperiodism in vernalized seedlings. The selection for vernalization and photoperiodic sensitivity in Texas genotypes and introgression of these traits into recently adapted spring grown genotypes is needed for development of high yielding flax genotypes for southern Great Plains production areas.     

早果、矮化、抗逆苹果砧木Y系的选育研究

为选育具有本土适应性的苹果矮化砧木,以中国原生的种质资源——野生晋西北山定子为试材,通过田间观察和综合评价,以其实生苗为自根砧嫁接苹果品种,以早花、早果为筛选指标进行初选,以连续开花和结果性能、耐旱性、抗寒性、接穗品种果实品质为主次顺序筛选指标,进一步逐级筛选,进行复选,以八棱海棠为自根砧,复选出的植株自根砧萌蘖苗为中间砧嫁接苹果品种,以矮化性、植株生长势、连续开花和结果性能、耐旱性、抗寒性、接穗品种果实品质为主次顺序筛选指标逐级筛选,进行决选。结果表明,以初选出的砧木群体(定名为Y系)作为自根砧的嫁接植株,早花早果特性和连续开花结果能力极为突出,矮化性状明显,抗寒、抗旱性较强;以决选出的4个优系为中间砧的嫁接植株,除具有Y系嫁接植株基本特性外,果实品质较好。Y系是具有较强的矮化、开花结果、抗寒、抗旱性能的苹果砧木群体,具有很大的苹果矮化砧木选育潜力;4个优系的矮化、开花结果、耐旱、抗寒性能较强,其中,Y-1(原名Y-B030)为矮化砧木,Y-2(原名Y-B094)为极矮化砧木,Y-3(原名Y-B007)为半矮化砧木,均已通过区试及品种审定。     

油菜中内源赤霉素嫁接转移研究

在温室条件下, 将未春化的油菜接穗分别嫁接在已春化和未春化油菜砧木上, 结果已春化 油菜砧木上的接穗植株很快开花, 而未春化砧木上的接穗植株不能开花。 其主要原因是已 春化油菜砧木内源赤霉素含量高, 并传递到接穗有关。     

A vernalization protocol for obtaining progenies from regenerated and transgenic tall fescue plants

Tall fescue is an important outcrossing forage and turf grass species that requires vernalization to flower. A reproducible protocol was developed for vernalization of regenerated, transgenic and seed‐derived tall fescue plants. Following the vernalization scheme that involved gradual changes of temperature and daylength, seeds were routinely produced from vernalized plants under greenhouse conditions. Molecular analyses of progenies obtained from crosses between transgenic and seed‐derived plants revealed stable meiotic transmission of transgenes following Mendelian inheritance in transgenic tall fescue.     

The Effect of Seed Vernalization and Irradiation on Growth and Photosynthesis of Field Bean Plants (Vicia faba L. minor) and on Nitrogenase Activity of Root Nodules

The effect of seed vernalization (2–3°C; 36 days) and irradiation intensity during vegetation of field bean upon growth and maximum leaf photosynthesis (P_max) as well as specific (SNA) and total nitrogenase activity (TNA) of root nodules was investigated. The measurements were performed at the initial stage of pod development of varieties with undetermined (cv. Nadwiśański) and determined (cv. Tibo) growth habit. In comparison with plants in shading, those which grew in full irradiation produced larger leaf area and more dry weight, achieving higher P_max values. Stimulation of leaf area enlargement and dry weight increase, especially in respect to the dry weight of underground parts had a positive and significant effect upon TNA value. Accumulation of dry weight was higher in vernalized than non-vernalized plants, but only in the case of cv. Nadwiślański, in full irradiation conditions. In the case of plants grown in poorer irradiation conditions TNA values were about 68 % (cv. Nadwiślański) and 54 % (cv. Tibo) lower, due to significant limitation of root nodules. TNA value of vernalized cv. Nadwiślański plants was 66 % higher in comparison with non-vernalized plants. However, the effect was visible only in full irradiation conditions, due to simultaneous greater intensity of root nodules production and higher SNA value. A positive effect of vernalization could also be observed in the decrease of a negative correlation between dry weight of root nodules and SNA in both varieties.     

开花期气象因子对油菜结实的影响

基于2011—2018年油菜开花日挂牌标记试验,考种不同开花时段油菜结荚率、单荚子粒数,分析不同时期低温对油菜结实的影响,建立气象因子与油菜子粒损失率的影响定量关系。结果表明,2月25日前的低温对油菜结实的影响以中度和重度为主,3月中下旬的低温对油菜结实的影响以轻度为主,2月26日—3月10日的低温对油菜结实的影响以轻度和中度为主。油菜子粒损失率与开花时日最低气温平均值、日平均降雨量相关不显著,与开花时平均气温、日最高气温平均值、日照时数平均值、日平均相对湿度相关显著。随开花平均气温下降,日最高气温平均值下降,空气相对湿度升高。开花时空气相对湿度为70%,且日平均气温≤6.9℃,或空气相对湿度为80%,日平均气温≤8.0℃,油菜中度受害;开花时空气相对湿度为80%,且日平均气温≤4.3℃,或空气相对湿度为85%,日平均气温≤4.8℃,油菜重度受害。其次分析确定了不同天气类型下油菜开花结实的冷积温指标,当日照低温天气的冷积温指标为≥16.5℃,或无日照低温阴雨天气的冷积温指标为≥5.0℃,为中度受害。当日照低温天气的冷积温指标为≥37.5℃,或无日照低温阴雨天气的冷积温指标为≥26.0℃,为重度受害。试验结果可为油菜灾害预警评估和减灾防灾农业气象服务提供技术支撑。     

EMS Induction of Early Flowering Mutants in Spring Rape (Brassica napus)

Studies were undertaken to induce early flowering mutants by ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) treatments of Brassica napus seeds. EMS treatments for 12 h of a highly inbred B. napus line TBS had adverse effects on M¹ plant development and fertility only when concentrations were greater than 1%. However, an EMS concentration of 1.5% did not reduce M₁ plant fertility to an extent which significantly reduced production of M₂ seeds. Genetic changes induced by EMS treatment and affecting flowering time were of three main types: (1) Changes within a polygenic system reflected by increased variation in flowering time among M₂ families. As the increase in variation was due primarily to a higher frequency of later flowering plants, these polygenic changes would be of little value in developing better-adapted cultivars. (2) Induction of a recessive mutation at a major gene locus which caused M₃ plants homozygous for the mutant gene to flower at least 20 days earlier than the parental line TB8. (3) Induction of a dominant mutation at a major gene locus which affects flowering time by causing a substantial reduction in vernalization requirement. M₂ plants carrying the mutant gene flowered as early as 59 days before the parental line. These major gene mutations could be rapidly exploited in the development of agronomically superior cultivars for short-season, lower rainfall environments in Western Australia.     

Influence of leaf and silique photosynthesis on seeds yield and seeds oil quality of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

With the purpose of enhancing oil production, the present work was carried out to elucidate relationships between photosynthesis of leaves, siliques and seeds yield and seeds oil accumulation of oilseed rape. Field trials, in which two repeated experiments was carried out during 2012–2014 growth season, a rape hybrids the “Qin You No.7” (Brassica napus L.) variety was taken into account. The results showed that, on rape plant the photosynthetic capacity and chlorophyll a, b, carotenoid contents of leaf were significantly higher than that of silique shell. Oil content of 94.7% was achieved in young seeds (sampled at 25th day after flowering ending stage of the tested rape plant) versus to mature seeds, saturated fatty acids percent was higher whereas oleic acid percent was lower of oil extracted from young seeds. During flowering period of the rape plants tested, area and dry weight of leaves attained maximum, treatments of removing leaves induced reduction in seeds number per silique, siliques number, seeds yield per plant and seeds oil content, these indexes were respectively decreased by 73.6%, 43.4%, 83.4% and 10.5% in maximum, and seeds oil composition was not significantly influenced; during seeds growing period of the tested plants, surface area and dry weight of siliques attained maximum, under shading siliques treatment, the 1000-seed weight, seeds yield per plant and seeds oil content were respectively reduced by 57.5%, 61.4% and 44.7% in maximum, and seeds oil oleic acid (C18:1) and linolenic acid (C18:3) percent was decreased, linolic acid (C18:2) and erucidic acid (C22:1) percent was increased. So for oilseed rape plant during flowering period, surface area and photosynthesis of leaves dramatically influenced siliques number, seeds number and seeds yield; while in seeds growth period, surface area and photosynthesis of siliques greatly influenced 1000-seed yield, seeds yield, seeds oil content and oil composition; oil accumulation in rape seeds initiated early since seeds commencing growth, seed mature degree influenced oil composition of seeds.     

甘蓝型油菜GZ522早花性状形成的分子基础

选择适当早花早熟的油菜资源是解决多熟制生产中冬季作物油菜与其它夏季作物接茬矛盾的关键;早花是早熟的基础,对油菜早花材料的早花形成原因开展研究,有利于通过分子育种加速选育适合生产需要的新品种。本研究选取稳定的早花早熟品系GZ522作为研究对象,以甘蓝型油菜XY15为对照,采用生物统计学和分子生物学方法对其农艺性状和早花形成的原因进行研究,结果表明,甘蓝型油菜GZ522播种后,50 d开始现蕾,60 d开始开花,比XY15要早75 d左右;在营养生长阶段,春化途径上的关键基因BnaFLC2的表达在GZ522中被抑制,在XY15中高表达;受BnaFLC2抑制的下游基因BnaFT和BnaSOC1在GZ522中表达显著上调。另外,在XY15与GZ522中,在BnaFLC2上游促进BnaFLC2表达的两个组蛋白甲基化基因BnaSDG8.A/C都是高表达的。根据BnaFLC2上下游基因的表达规律与开花早晚之间的关系,可以推断引起GZ522早花的原因是BnaFLC2基因表达沉默,因此GZ522是一个BnaFLC2突变的早花类型。     

Shortening vernalization of winter wheat with kinetin

Summary The addition of 5 to 100 ppm kinetin during vernalization is a substitute for a part of the cold treatment in the winter wheat cultivar Sava.A cold treatment that is not long enough in itself makes vernalization possible even if only 5 ppm kinetin is added. The effect can be gradually improved by increasing the dose from 20 to 100 ppm, but 200 ppm kinetin is harmful. The smallest quantity of kinetin added to the otherwise optimal 40-day cold treatment results in total oververnalization.A heading percentage comparable to that of the 40-day vernalization period without kinetin can be obtained in 20-day with 100 ppm kinetin. This method can reduce the vernalization time by half and accelerate winter wheat generations.