Heritability estimates of field resistance to spot blotch in four spring wheat crosses

Spot blotch of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc. in Sorok.) Shoem., is a major disease in South Asia. Popular commercial cultivars have low levels of resistance to spot blotch. Information on the inheritance of spot blotch resistance in wheat is lacking. Field studies were conducted in four wheat crosses, each involving a Chinese hexaploid parent with high levels of resistance and a commercial cultivar with low to intermediate levels of resistance to spot blotch. Data were recorded in the F₂, F₃ and F₄ generations to estimate heritability. Field studies were conducted in three years (1992–94) at Rampur. Nepal, involving 150 lines in each cross. The spot blotch score was recorded as the percentage necrosis and associated chlorosis of the two upper most leaf surface. In the F₂ generation three spot blotch readings on the flag leaf were taken whereas in the F₃ and F₄ generations four readings were recorded at 5-day intervals on the flag and the penultimate leaves. The highest disease score (HDS) and the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) were analysed. Heritability (h²) estimates for spot blotch resistance were intermediate to high measured in terms of HDS (0.47 < h² < 0.67) and also AUDPC (0.58 < h² < 0.77) both in F₃ and F₄ generations in each of the four crosses. Heritability values were somewhat higher for AUDPC than HDS. There were significant negative correlations (r) of days to heading with HDS (-0.186 < r < -0.515) and AUDPC (-0.218 < r < -0.623). One-hundred kernel weight was significantly negatively correlated to AUDPC (-0.245 < r < -0.454) in all crosses in each generation. The results suggest that selection for resistance to spot blotch could be effective in the segregating populations generated from hexaploid wheat parents having different levels of resistance. Although AUDPC appeared to be a better measure to determine genetic differences for spot blotch in wheat, HDS would be adequate in screening trials for resistance to spot blotch.     

Rapid phenotypic assessment of bird cherry-oat aphid resistance in winter wheat

Rhopalosiphum padi L. causes significant damage to winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), even without obvious aboveground symptoms of injury. Our objectives were to develop a juvenile-plant bioassay for bird cherry-oat aphid (BCOA) resistance that allows rapid phenotypic differentiation. Central features of the bioassay include root and shoot weight measurements of 3-week-old seedlings produced in seed germination pouches, a 14-day aphid exposure period, and a non-infested control treatment to establish a baseline for expected biomass per genotype. Cultivars used in bioassay development were 'Illinois Rustproof' and 'Skala', which showed smaller BCOA-induced reductions in biomass than the more susceptible genotypes, 'Patrick' and 'Scout 66'. Mean reductions in root biomass were 48% for 'Patrick' and 'Scout 66', compared with 29% for 'Illinois Rustproof' and 'Skala'. This rapid and repeatable bioassay is extendable to large wheat collections and inbred line populations.     

Reciprocal performance of winter wheat in Hungary and Oklahoma, USA

International wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) performance trials have revealed adaptive responses in vernalization and photoperiod for certain Eastern European cultivars when field-tested in Oklahoma in south central USA. Common experiments were conducted in Hungary and Oklahoma with 12 elite germplasm varieties or lines from each locale to uniformly and directly compare the agronomic potential of hard red winter (HRW) North American wheat and Hungarian bread wheat and to identify potential benefits or hazards for introducing germplasm into reciprocal breeding programmes. Results from four Oklahoma and six Hungarian environments showed that non-native cultivars were 14% and 25% lower in grain yield than native ones in Hungary and Oklahoma, respectively, although one HRW cultivar (2163) exhibited exceptional yield potential in both locations. The lower grain yield potential of Hungarian genotypes in Oklahoma was reflected primarily in lower spike production at harvest. Yield performance in one location did not correlate with performance in the other. Greater consistency between locales was found for test weight (r = 0.6, P < 0.05) and heading date (r = 0.9, P < 0.01); thus, screening for those traits prior to introduction of parent material may be useful. Although some recovery of the genetic yield potential of native material will be necessary, intergroup crossing between these apparently distinct gene pools should provide a new and valuable resource for bread wheat cultivar development.     

黄淮麦区Fhb1基因的育种应用

小麦赤霉病是由禾谷镰孢菌引起的一种世界性重要病害,严重威胁小麦生产安全。黄淮麦区作为我国小麦主产区,赤霉病危害日趋严重,因缺乏半冬性抗源,抗赤霉病育种进展缓慢。Fhb1基因是迄今发现的效应最大、抗性最稳定,也是被广泛应用于全球小麦赤霉病抗性育种的主效基因,但Fhb1基因在黄淮麦区尚未被广泛应用。本研究以感病品种矮抗58为轮回亲本, H35为Fhb1基因供体亲本,通过有限回交和分子标记辅助选择,同时利用双单倍体育种和传统系谱选育两种方法,培育出了一批综合性状较好、具有Fhb1基因的优良新品系,其中徐麦DH9和徐麦17252经多年鉴定均达到中抗水平。在以徐麦36和徐麦2023为杂交父本的后代品系中,含Fhb1基因的家系赤霉病平均抗性明显优于感病对照。Fhb1基因的导入显著提高了赤霉病抗性,但部分家系对赤霉病仍旧表现出高感水平,说明赤霉病抗性还受到Fhb1基因以外其他遗传因素的显著影响。本研究为Fhb1基因在黄淮麦区抗赤霉病小麦育种中的应用提供了成功的经验。     

Genetic studies of antifreeze proteins and their correlation with winter survival in wheat

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) accumulate in the leaves of winter cereals during cold acclimation, where they may inhibit ice recrystallization during freezing and thawing cycles and provide nonspecific disease resistance. In this study, 21 wheat chromosome substitution lines and the parental lines Chinese Spring and Cheyenne wheat were used to determine the heritability of AFPs and the relationship between the accumulation of AFPs and winter survival. In cold-acclimated lines, antifreeze activity in leaf apoplastic extracts ranged from 1 (low) to 5 (high) with an average value of 3.2, and the accumulation of apoplastic proteins ranged from 30 μg (g FW)^-1 to 115 μg (g FW)^-1 with a mean value of 70 μ (g FW)^-1. Examination of the individual lines revealed that Cheyenne chromosomes 5B and 5D carry major regulatory genes that increase both antifreeze activity and the accumulation of antifreeze proteins in plants grown at low temperature. Substitution lines carrying Cheyenne chromosomes 2A, 3A, 6B, and 7A exhibited lower freezing tolerance and also showed a marked decrease in the accumulation of specific AFPs during cold acclimation. Antifreeze activity and apoplastic protein content were not correlated with freezing tolerance (defined as % survival at -11 °C), but they were both significantly and positively correlated with winter field survival rates. Antifreeze activity (positively correlated) and total leaf fresh weight (negatively correlated) together accounted for about 55% of the variation in winter survival, indicating that high antifreeze activity and slow vegetative growth at low temperature are both important quantitative traits for winter survival. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evidence of a major genetic factor conditioning freezing sensitivity in winter wheat

The inheritance of freezing tolerance in F₂‐derived F₄ populations from all possible crosses of winter wheat cultivars ‘Kestrel’, ‘Eltan’, ‘Tiber’, ‘Froid’ and germplasm line Oregon Feed Wheat #5 (ORFW) was investigated. When frozen to a temperature equal to the LT₅₀ of the least freezing tolerant parent (ORFW), survival frequency distributions were skewed to greater survival in six of the 10 crosses, however, very few of the progeny from the four crosses to ORFW survived. The inheritance of this freezing sensitivity was investigated with freezing of F_2:4 populations from the crosses of ORFW to ‘Eltan’ or ‘Tiber’ to the LT₅₀ of the hardier parent. Very few of the F_2:4 populations survived as well as ‘Eltan’ or ‘Tiber’, indicating a small number of strongly dominant genetic factors in ORFW that conditioned freezing sensitivity. Molecular analysis indicated these factors were not spring‐type vernalization alleles.     

北疆膜下滴灌高产棉花灌溉和施肥模式的初探

摘 要：通过不同年际间,北疆膜下滴灌高产示范田中灌水、施肥措施对棉花产量及产量构成特点影响的研究。结果表明,新疆滴灌棉田产量逐步提高与棉花种植密度的增加,水肥后移,增加花期以后钾的施用量等栽培措施密切相关。在蕾期-盛花结铃期增加灌水次数,减少灌水周期、时间及灌水量;结铃期到始吐期,在保证灌水次数的同时,适当减少灌水量,能明显提高全生育期的水分利用效率,有效的节约生产成本。     

Relationship between the amount of reduced nitrogen accumulated in winter wheat shoots and the activity of nitrate reductase measured in situ

Nitrate reductase activity measured in shoots of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Apollo and Soissons) was assessed as an indicator of the nitrate assimilation rate in plants grown in the field and subjected to various nitrogen nutrition treatments. In N-deficient plants, the nitrate reductase activity was lower than in well fertilized plants and was an early indicator of nitrogen deficiency. At each stage of stem elongation, there was a constant relationship between the nitrate reductase activity in the shoots and the quantity of reduced nitrogen accumulated daily in these organs. This relationship was not affected by the level of nitrogen fertilization.     

Aluminium tolerance in wheat: correlating hydroponic evaluations with field and soil performances*

The objective of this study was to correlate root length of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes grown in Al-containing, acidic hydroponic solutions, with root weights from acid-soil experiments and field scores from Brazilian acid-field trials. A total of 43 wheat genotypes, primarily from Brazil, were evaluated by growing seedlings for 4 days in hydroponic solutions containing 0.0–4.0 mg/l Al. The root growth rate of all the genotypes was reduced with the addition of Al to the solution and the Al-sensitive and Al-tolerant wheat genotypes were clearly identified. Genotypes with intermediate Al-tolerance levels showed variable root lengths in response to Al stress. Correlations between root length or a root tolerance index (RTI) in the Al solutions versus acid-soil experiments and acid-field trials were highly significant (r = 0.71–0.85, P < 0.01). The most significant correlation was observed among seedlings grown in 1 mg/1 Al. This study presents evidence that this short duration and simple screening technique provides a highly significant correlation with previous acid-soil Al-tolerance evaluations. Furthermore, the data obtained suggest that hydroponic screening of wheat seedlings for Al tolerance may be used in breeding programmes or in screening germplasm collections.     

Endopeptidase polymorphism and linkage of the Ep-D1c null allele with the Lrl9 leaf-rust-resistance gene in hexaploid wheat

The aim of this study was to test whether the null allele Ep-D1c of the endopeptidase Ep-D1 can be used as a marker for the Lrl9 leaf rust resistance gene. The frequency of Ep-D1c was determined in 1134 winter wheat, spring wheat and spelt breeding lines and varieties. Only eight lines were found to carry Ep-D1c. Six of these lines originated from crosses with RL6040, the gene donor for Lrl9. The other two lines were leaf-rust susceptible in the seedling stage and therefore did not carry Lr19. The genetic distance between Ep-D1c and Lr19 was determined in a reciprocal cross between the lines FAP75184 (Ep-D1c, Lr19) and FAP75106 (Ep-D1a, leaf-rust susceptible in the seedling stage). Out of 840 F₂ seedlings screened, 162 were homozygous for Ep-D1c. From 150 of these F₂ plants, F₃ seedlings were screened for segregation for leaf-rust resistance with isolates avirulent on Lr19. Only one F₂ plant produced susceptible F₃ progeny indicating a recombination event between Ep-D1c and Lr19. From these data, a genetic distance of 0.33 ± 0.33cM between Ep-D1c and Lr19 was calculated. The results show that Ep-D1c is a useful marker for a practical breeding programme allowing the rapid identification of plants homozygous for Lrl9.     

A major QTL effect controlling resistance to powdery mildew in winter wheat at the adult plant stage

Powdery mildew is one of the major diseases of wheat in regions with a maritime or semi‐continental climate which can strongly affect grain yield. The objective of the study was to identify and compare quantitative resistance to powdery mildew of line RE9001 at the adult plant and vernalized seedling stages. RE9001 has no known Pm gene and shows a high level of adult plant resistance in the field. Using 104 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of an RE9001 × ‘Courtot’ F8 population, a genetic map was developed with 363 markers distributed over 26 linkage groups and covering 3825 cM. The global map density was 1 locus/10.3 cM. RILs were assessed under field and tunnel greenhouse conditions for 2 years in two locations. Eleven quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected at the adult stage and they explained 63% of the variation, depending on the environment. Three QTLs were found, at least, in the two environments. One QTL from RE9001, mapped on chromosome 2B, was stable in each environment. This QTL, QPm.inra.2B, explained 10.3–36.6% of the variation and could be mapped in the vicinity of the Pm6 gene. At the vernalized seedling stage, one QTL detected by the isolate 93‐27 could be an allele of the Pm3g gene present in ‘Courtot’. No residual effect of the Pm3g gene was detected at either stage. Markers flanking the QTL 2B could be useful tools to combine resistance to powdery mildew in wheat cultivars.     

A leaf rust resistance gene, different from Lr34, associated with leaf tip necrosis in wheat

The gene Lr34 has contributed to durable resistance to leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina in wheat worldwide. The closely associated leaf tip necrosis is generally used as the gene's marker. Lr34 has been postulated in many Indian bread wheat cultivars including ‘C 306’, based on the associated leaf tip necrosis and a few other field and glasshouse observations. The present study showed monogenic control of adult‐plant resistance in ‘C 306’ to leaf rust pathotype 77‐5 (121R63‐1). The F₂ segregation in the crosses between ‘C 306’ and the two known carriers of Lr34, ‘Line 897’ and ‘Jupateco 73’‘R’ fitted a digenic ratio. The F₃ families derived from the susceptible F₂ segregants were true breeding for susceptibility, proving the absence of Lr34 in ‘C 306’. The cross between ‘Line 897’ and ‘Jupateco 73’‘R’ did not segregate for susceptibility. Resistance in the cross ‘Agra Local’ (susceptible) × ‘C 306’ was associated with leaf tip necrosis, showing that the leaf rust resistance gene in ‘C 306’ was associated with leaf tip necrosis, but was different from Lr34. This gene is being temporarily designated as Lr‘C 306’. Hence, leaf tip necrosis cannot be considered as an exclusive marker for selecting Lr34 in wheat improvement.     

Effect of the leaf rust resistance gene Lr28 on grain yield and bread-making quality of wheat

Near‐isogenic lines carrying the Lr28 gene developed in five genetic backgrounds were tested for 2 years with and without fungicide treatment. The Lr28 gene increased grain yield, 1000‐grain weight and number of effective tillers per plant under heavy leaf rust infection with no negative effects on yield and bread‐making quality in rust‐free plots. Although a reduction in dough development time was found to be associated with Lr28, it can still be used extensively in wheat breeding programmes.     

Photoperiod and vernalization response of wheat under controlled environment and field conditions

Characterization of large numbers of breeding lines for vernalization and photoperiod response in wheat is needed to enhance adaptation. A total of 20 wheat lines were evaluated for response to vernalization and photoperiod under two controlled environments and high ambient air temperatures under field conditions. Vernalized and non-vernalized seedlings were transplanted into pots and placed in three photoperiod (8, 12 and 16 h of light) cabinets, in the greenhouse or in growth chambers. Days to anthesis decreased with increasing photoperiod. Vernalized plants flowered earlier than non-vernalized. There was a significant correlation between days to anthesis in the greenhouse and the growth chamber (r = 0.88, P < 0.001). Basal vegetative period, effect of vernalization and photoperiod from the two screening techniques were positively correlated with each other. Growth habit, vernalization requirement and heading date in the field were highly correlated with the main effect of vernalization in the two controlled environments. The results indicate that selection for vernalization response in a large number of genotypes can be achieved under high ambient air temperatures in the field and the selected material can subsequently be screened for photoperiod response under greenhouse conditions.     

Callus induction and plant regeneration from immature and mature embryos of winter durum wheat genotypes

Seven genotypes of winter durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) were cultured to establish an efficient method of callus formation and plant regeneration from mature embryo culture, and to compare the responses of immature and mature embryo cultures. Immature embryos were aseptically dissected from seeds and placed, with the scutellum upwards, in dishes containing Murashige and Skoog's (MS) mineral salts and 2mg 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) per litre. Calli and regenerated plants were maintained on 2,4-D-free medium. Mature embryos were moved slightly on the imbibed seeds. For callus formation, the seeds with moved embryos were placed, furrow downwards, in dishes containing 8 mg 2,4-D per litre. The developed calli and regenerated plants were maintained on the MS medium. Plants regenerated from both embryo cultures were vernalized and grown to maturity in soil. Variability was observed among the wheat genotypes tested for various culture responses in both explant cultures. Callus induction rate and regeneration capacity of callus were independent of each other. Mature embryos have a low frequency of callus induction but a high regeneration capacity. Considering availability, rapidity and reliability, this form of mature embryo culture can be used as an alternative method for immature embryo culture.     

Identification of specific powdery-mildew-resistance genes in individual wheat plants using the first two seedling leaves

Identification of resistance genes in individual plants requires the use of leaves that have homogeneous reactions to the pathogen. The reactions of the first two leaves of seedlings of 12 wheat differential varieties to 20 Erysiphe graminis f.sp. tritici isolates were compared using in vitro tests on detached leaf segments. The expression of resistance and susceptibility did not differ significantly between the first two leaves with the 12 resistance genes tested. Consequently, the identification of specific powdery-mildew-resistance genes in individual plants is possible if approximately 10 segments of the primary and secondary leaves are used, each of them inoculated by one out of a set of 10 differential isolates. The reaction pattern of a plant to the tester isolates is interpreted according to a procedure in two steps, that are easily computerized. Identification of resistance genes in individual plants is particularly useful for resistance studies in heterogeneous plant populations.     

Selection for Fusarium head blight resistance in early generations reduces the deoxynivalenol (DON) content in grain of winter and spring wheat

Fusarium head blight (FHB) results in yield losses and contamination of kernels by mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON). For minimizing DON content in grain, indirect selection methods would increase gains from selection compared to the costly and time‐consuming DON analysis. The aim of this study was to examine whether an early selection for fewer FHB symptoms would lead to a reduced DON content in grain after inoculation with Fusarium culmorum. Starting with a double‐cross derived population of about 1,100 genotypes, 30 F_1:3 genotypes were selected for FHB rating in a two‐step selection in spring wheat with the non‐adapted resistance sources CM82036 and ‘Frontana’. In winter wheat, 30 F_1:2 genotypes were selected out of a double‐cross derived population of about 600 F₁ plants from crosses with German resistance sources (‘Dream’, G16‐92). Selected genotypes were grouped in three categories according to their FHB rating (low, moderate and high) and analysed afterwards for grain DON content. The three groups differed in their DON content illustrating that indirect selection should already be feasible in the earliest generations. Because of the wide genotypic ranges for DON contents within one grouping, a final DON analysis for selected materials is advisable to achieve full selection gain.     

我国北部冬麦区小麦区域试验重复次数和试点数量的优化设计

农作物品种区域试验重复次数和试点数量的合理配置有利于提高试验的成本效率和品种选择效率。本研究分析了2010—2019年期间北部冬麦区小麦品种区域试验的重复次数和试点数量设置的合理性,依据小麦品种试验的信噪比和遗传力水平随重复次数和试点数量的变化规律,提出了重复次数和试点数量的优化设计方案。结果表明:(1)北部冬麦区小麦单点试验的遗传力平均达到0.87,需要的重复次数平均值仅为1.4,说明3次重复可以充分保证试验精确度的需求。(2)北部冬麦区水地组和旱地组小麦区域试验达到0.75的遗传力水平时,需要的试点数量分别为11个和13个,目前有效试点数量分别约为11个和8个,分别达到0.75和0.60的遗传力水平。(3)小麦品种区域试验结果对品种的审定和应用十分重要,而每年都可能有少数试验点因为各种异常情况而报废,为保证试验结果的可靠性,可按H=0.75的水平需求安排试验点数量和重复次数,即重复次数可保持当前的3次;水地组的试点数量可保持在11个左右;旱地组可将试点增加到13个;如要将遗传力提高到0.80的水平,则需约16个试点。     

Effectiveness and environmental stability of quantitative powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis) resistance among winter wheat cultivars

Powdery mildew in wheat (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) is a major disease in Northern and Central Europe. The aim of the study was to analyse the effectiveness and environmental stability of quantitative powdery mildew resistance under high epidemic pressure in the field across years in the absence/presence of ineffective race‐specific resistances. Cultivars with and without Pm (major) genes were inoculated in three experiments with a genetically broad mildew population with all matching virulences. Resistance was measured three times by assessing the percentage of leaf area covered by powdery mildew on a plot basis (0–100%). Mean powdery mildew severity of the highly susceptible cv. ‘Kanzler’ varied across 10 years from 24% to 66% (Exp. 1). Means of three cultivars without Pm genes, ‘Ramiro’, ‘Miras’ and ‘Zentos’, and several cultivars with ineffective Pm genes varied quantitatively from 4% to 13%. Environmental stability of the quantitative resistances was on average higher than that of susceptible genotypes, as revealed by a regression approach. In the second experiment, all groups of cultivars with ineffective Pm gene(s) contained a large proportion of entries with a similar low mildew rating as the quantitatively resistant standard ‘Miras’. Mildew severity of pairs of cultivars with the same Pm gene(s) was significantly different across 6 years (Exp. 3) indicating the presence of additional quantitative resistances in some of these cultivars. In the analysis of variance, genotypic variance had a high impact (P < 0.01) with low importance of genotype × environment interaction. Consequently, heritabilites were high (0.95–0.97). In conclusion, breeders have already accumulated effective minor genes for powdery mildew resistance in many of the released German winter wheat cultivars. These quantitative resistances are long lasting, environmentally stable and provide a high level of protection to powdery mildew.