The effect of interplant distance on the effectiveness of honeycomb selection in spring rye. III. Accumulated results of five selection cycles

The effect of interplant distance on the efficiency of mass selection was studied by performing five cycles of honeycomb selection at two interplant distances (d), i.e. d = 100 cm (low plant density, implying absence of interplant competition) and d = 15 cm (high plant density, implying presence of intergenotypic competition). The offspring of plants selected either at low or at high plant density were compared, both at high plant density and at low plant density, with the original population (in fact: offspring of plants taken at random from this population). At high plant density offspring of plants selected at high density performed better than the original population for most of the characters recorded on a per plant basis. At low plant density offspring of plants selected either at high or at low density performed better than the original population for the characters recorded on a per plant basis. The selections differed, however, significantly from each other: the offspring of plants selected at low density performed better. As the latter did not occur at high density genotype × density interaction was indicated. It is concluded that mass selection should be applied at the plant density used in commercial practice. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Indirect selection for grain protein and grain yield in winter wheat

Summary The efficiency of the honeycomb selection procedure in selecting outstanding genotypes was observed at two interplant distances (d), i.e. d=100 cm, low density, representing noncompetitive conditions and d=15 cm, high density, representing presence of interplant competition. Progress due to selection among the plants grown with and without competition was established by comparison of the plot performance of offspring from selected plants with that of offspring from plants taken at random. The relation between selection intensity and response to selection was observed to detect a possible negative correlation between competing and yielding ability.So far, the results obtained do not yet allow to make a choice between selection of individual plants in presence or in absence of interplant competition. No significant correlation between single plant yield and plot yield was found at any of the two densities. However, response to selection for yield was higher when selecting at low density supporting Fasoulas' preference for selecting single plants in absence of competition. These results must be taken with caution since seed quality and a biassed sample of random plants exerted an important effect on the obtained response to selection.     

The effect of interplant distance on the effectiveness of honeycomb selection. II. Results of the second selection cycle

Summary For a second consecutive generation, the efficiency of the honeycomb selection procedure was observed at low and at high density, i.e. interplant distance being 100 cm and 15 cm respectively. Progress due to selection was determined for each of the two plant densities applied by comparing the performance of offspring from selected plants with that of offspring from plants taken at random. The relation between selection intensity and selection response was observed to study the relation between competing and yielding ability in presence and in absence of interplant competition.Compared to results obtained in a previous generation, it is now dared to be more positive about the perspectives of selection in absence of interplant competition. It is tentatively concluded that single plant selection for yield at wide spacing gives a higher progress and allows a better identification of outstanding genotypes. However, the superiority of selection at low density is not confirmed neither by any estimator of a quantitative genetic parameter nor by the correlation between single plant yield and plot yield of their offspring. The disturbing factors found already in the former generation, namely variation in seed quality and a biased sample of random plants, exerted a less important role in the estimation of the progress. Nevertheless, it is believed that only when they can be reduced more reliable results can be achieved.     

Correlations between auto-, allo- and nil-competition and their implications in plant breeding

Summary This study was undertaken to explore the relation between auto-, allo- and nil-competition using a long established pure line cultivar of bread wheat, where genes controlling yielding and competing ability co-exist and co-interact. The investigation lasted three growing periods, the first two with trials grown at nilcompetition (100 cm), and the third with trials grown at the three conditions of competition. In the first growing period, divergent single plant honeycomb selection for high and low yield was applied in the cultivar Siete Cerros, to continue in the second growing period with divergent line honeycomb selection. In the third growing period, top and bottom lines selected under nil-competition were compared with the mother variety Siete Cerros under auto-, allo- and nil-competition.Correlation coefficient estimates between auto-, allo- and nil-competition demonstrated that auto-competition and nil-competition are correlated positively interse and negatively with allo-competition. In general, the results suggest that yielding and competing ability are correlated negatively.The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to the possibility of (1) selecting for heritable high yield on a single plant basis, (2) avoiding biased results due to interplot competition, (3) substituting cultivar degeneration for cultivar improvement.     

Selection for seed set capacity uncorrelated with flower heteromorphism in Primula vulgaris Hudson

Within-line pollinations were used when measuring the seed set of plants from seven early generation inbred lines of Primula vulgaris. One high seed setting plant and one low seed setting one were selected from each line and the seed set was evaluated on the offspring from selfings and within-line pollinations of these plants. Regression of offspring on parents for seed set was studied. The slope was estimated to be 0.17 ± 0.08, equivalent to an estimated heritability of around 34%. No significant differences in the slope of regression between the two reproduction methods (selfings or within-line pollinations) were detected. The realized improvement through one cycle of selection of high seed setting single plants in this early generation inbred material of P. vulgaris was 23.7%. Analysis of the seed set of within-line pollinated clones from late generation inbred lines of P. vulgaris revealed that only limited within-line variation remained after removal of the effects of the heteromorphic incompatibility system. It was concluded that selection of high seed setting single plants during early generations of inbreeding is efficient for improvement of seed set in future inbred lines of P. vulgaris to be used for hybrid seed production.     

Some remarks on honeycomb selection

Summary Up to now the only experiences in favour of the method of honeycomb selection were reported by the spiritual father of the method, i.e., Fasoulas. Three other reports presented very moderate results. Possible causes for these contrasting results are discussed. Fasoulas' preference for growing the plants in the selection field in absence of competition is in conflict with the conditions in commercial crops where intragenotypic competition occurs. This preference is considered in comparison with the more popular preference for growing the plants in the selection field in presence of intergenotypic competition, which in turn also deviates from the conditions in a commercial field. It is suggested that at some degree of interplant competition the highest response to honeycomb selection will be obtained. Further, it is explained why the average of the phenotypic values of the six neighbours of a central plant may be an unreliable measure for the growing conditions for the central plant.     

Single-plant selection within lentil landraces at ultra-low density: a short-time tool to breed high yielding and stable varieties across divergent environments

Nil-competition (ultra-low plant density) has been asserted to highlight individual genotypes of high yielding potential. This was tested on three lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) landraces originated from different regions of Greece, germplasm presumably comprising mixtures of homozygous genotypes due to the self-pollinating nature of the crop. Single-plant selection under ultra-low density (interplant distance of 50 or 80 cm) resulted in first- and second-generation sister lines. Progeny testing was conducted in three locations, while the final evaluation at farming density included an additional marginal environment. Wide interplant distance accelerated phenotypic expression of susceptibility to viruses, reflected by high coefficient of variation of single-plant yields. Compared to the mother populations, higher yields combined with reduced virus incidence was observed in the first-generation sister lines, and even higher yields in the second-generation lines partly attributable to further improvement of their sanitary status. Remarkably, at the farming density across five environments, second generation sister lines had mean grain yields by 8, 10 and 20% higher compared to their respective ancestors. Individual sister lines exhibited up to 32% higher yields and stability in ‘agronomic’ terms, i.e. on both the GGE biplot model and regression approach of G×E interaction. In conclusion, the procedure appears an efficient tool that allows the breeder to exploit the natural genetic variability within landraces and develop in short-time pure-line varieties adaptable to a wide range of conditions.     

Effect of plant density on selection for seed yield in two population types of Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Summary Pedigree selection for seed yield, using early generation yield tests, was practiced from the F₂ to F₇ in two populations of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in three plant densities: 66, 133, and 266 thousand plants ha^-1 at CIAT-Palmira, Colombia. The six highest yielding lines selected from each plant-density, along with 13 parents, were evaluated in a 7×7 lattice design with three replications at the three densities utilized for selection, and at 399,000 plants ha^-1 in 1988 and 1989.Based on the mean performance of selected lines and the mean of the parents, selection for seed yield was effective in all densities in both populations. However, none of the lines selected from the population within the race Mesoamerica (TC 4673) significantly outyielded their best parent under any plant density. The highest yielding lines selected from the interracial population (TR 4635) outyielded their best parent irrespective of the plant-density used for selection. The highest yielding line originated from the highest density used for selection. Low density was neither good for selection nor for evaluation and identification of high-yielding cultivars of common bean. There was no significant difference between the mean yield of lines selected at the intermediate and high population densities. The effects of plant density, year, and their interactions were significant for seed yield.     

Originality of M3S maize population and changes in allele frequencies revealed by SSR markers after two cycles of selfed progeny recurrent selection

Maksimir 3 Synthetic (M3S) maize population was developed at the Faculty of Agriculture University of Zagreb by intercrossing inbred lines, whose origins trace back to several open-pollinated varieties and local populations from different regions of the former Yugoslavia. The population was subjected to two cycles of selfed progeny recurrent selection for grain yield. The objectives of this study were: (i) to determine genetic distances among the parental inbred lines of the M3S population (M3S progenitors), the M3S population before and after two cycles of recurrent selection, and elite inbred lines representing the BSSS and Lancaster heterotic group; and (ii) to examine the effect of two cycles of recurrent selection on allele frequency changes in the population. Nine M3S progenitors, three BSSS lines, and three Lancaster lines were genotyped at 24 SSR loci, out of which nine randomly chosen loci were used for genotyping 96 individuals from both C0 (the M3S population before selection) and from C2 (M3S population after two cycles of selection). A total of 101 alleles were detected across 24 loci in the 15 lines, whereas 83 alleles were found in the nine M3S progenitors. Among the latter 83 alleles 31 were unique, i.e. found only in one of the progenitors. Mean genetic distance among nine M3S progenitors was 0.61 indicating a broad genetic base of the M3S population. High mean genetic distance was found between M3S progenitors and BSSS lines (0.69) and M3S progenitors and Lancaster lines (0.71). This indicates that the M3S population represents a germplasm source unrelated to both the BSSS and Lancaster germplasm. Mean genetic distance between the M3S population and BSSS as well as Lancaster lines decreased slightly after two cycles of recurrent selection suggesting the need to introduce testers from both groups in future selection in the M3S population in order to maintain heterotic complementarity of the M3S population to these groups. A test of selective neutrality identified several non-neutral loci in the population whose allele frequency changes from the C0 to the C2 cannot be explained by genetic drift. The majority of non-neutral alleles, whose frequency increased after two cycles of selection, were present in at least one line from the BSSS or Lancaster heterotic group.     

A comparison of several procedures for mass selection in winter rye. II. What are the merits of adjusting phenotypic values?

Summary To get an improved impression of the genotypic value of individual plants the literature suggests to adjust their phenotypic values according to a moving mean correction or by means of an analysis of covariance, where the mean phenotypic value calculated across neighbours is used as the concomitant variable. In the present paper it is shown that the theoretical merits of these adjustments are promising: they eliminate the contribution due to the trend in soil fertility from the phenotypic value. In an experimental verification actual merits did, however, not show up.It is concluded that interplant competition is the main cause for the failure of the studied adjustments. These may be effective in virtual absence of intergenotypic competition. Thus, in case of single plant selection an extremely low plant density would be required, whereas selection among lines or families would require evaluation by means of multi-row plots.     

Genetic distance among doubled haploid maize lines and their testcross performance under drought stress and non-stress conditions

In contrast to conventional inbreeding that takes up to seven generations to develop inbred lines, the doubled haploid (DH) technology allows production of inbred lines in two generations. The objectives of the present study were to: (a) evaluate testcross performance of 45 doubled haploid lines under drought stress and non-stress conditions (b) estimate heritabilities for grain yield and other traits and (c) to assess the genetic distance and relationship among the DH lines using 163,080 SNPs generated using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). The 45 hybrid and five checks were evaluated using a 10 × 5 alpha lattice in six drought stress and nine well-watered environments in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Differences in trait means between the drought stress and well-watered conditions were significant for all measured traits except for anthesis date. Genetic variances for grain yield, grain moisture, plant height and ear height were high under well-watered environments while genetic variance for anthesis date, root lodging and stalk lodging were high under drought stress environments. Combined analyses across drought stress and well-watered environments showed that ten top hybrids produced 1.6–2.2 t/ha grain yield under well-watered condition and 1–1.4 t/ha under drought stress condition higher than the mean of the commercial checks. Genetic distance between pairwise comparisons of the 38 of the 45 DH lines ranged from 0.07 to 0.48, and the overall average distance was 0.36. Both cluster and principal coordinate analysis using the genetic distance matrix calculated from 163,080 SNPs showed two major groups and the patterns of group was in agreement with their pedigree. Thirteen (13) of the best hybrids are currently in National Performance Trials testing, an important step towards commercialization in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.     

Marker-assisted selection for complex trait in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) using QTL-based index

A procedure was developed for marker-assisted selection of complex traits for common bean (Phaseolus vulgarisL.) using an index based on QTL-linked markers and ultrametric genetic distances between lines and a target parent. A comparison of the mean seed yields of the top five lines selected by different schemes demonstrated that the highest yielding group was selected on the basis of a combination of phenotypic performance and a high QTL-based index,followed by groups identified by a high QTL-based-index, conventional selection,and a low QTL-based-index. This study demonstrated a simple way to use information obtained from QTL studies to make selection decisions. The study also showed that the use of the QTL-based-index in conjunction with the ultrametric genetic distance to the target parent would enablea plant breeder to select lines that retain important QTL in a desirable genetic background. Therefore, this type of MAS would be expected to be superior to the phenotypic selection. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sample size required for marker assisted selection in improving quantitative traits of self-fertilizing species

The efficiency of selection for desired trait genotypes in a molecular marker assisted selection for a quantitative trait in self-fertilizing crop is considered. The QTLs controlling the trait were assumed to be unlinked. It was supposed that the selection starts in F₂, derived from a cross between inbred lines, and this selection will terminate if one or more plants with the desired trait genotype is found. If no plant with the desired trait genotype is found in F₂ then the selection is continued in the F₃ progeny that is derived from a single selected F₂ plant. Which F₂ plant is to be selected was determined according to the rank which is related to the marker genotype of the F₂ plants. And this rank was based on the expected frequency of the desired trait genotype in the progeny. The plant with the top rank among all F₂ plants is then selected with the first priority. Additionally the number of F₃ plants in the progeny was set to be equal to the number of plants that are required for detecting one or more plants with the desired trait genotype with a given probability. The probability of getting at least one plant with the desired trait genotype is expressed as a function of the number of F₂ plants (N).The required value for N and the total number of plants (T) in F₂ and F₃ for detecting at least one plant with the desired trait genotype were calculated for different situations. T was always smaller for a single marker than for flanking markers. The minimum of T and monotonous decrease of N can be observed when the cumulative-expected-frequency of selected marker genotypes of F₂ plants increased. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mass selection for crown height in sugar beets (Beta vulgaris L.). 1. Divergent selection in diploids

Summary Five cycles of divergent mass selection for crown height in sugar beets gave average gains of 11.3% to 24.1% per cycle. Realised heritabilities were about 0.4. This progress from mass selection was obtained by paying special attention to soil uniformity, seedbed preparation and sowing, regular stands with plant distances of 50 cm, selection per plot, checking of the measurements, equal representation of seed parents in the next generation, reasonable population sizes and flexible selection intensities.Comparing the data of the generations grown in different seasons with the data of the same generations in one growing season resulted in very high correlation coefficients. It is concluded that mass selection can still be a powerful method of intrapopulation improvement.     

直播条件下行距对不同穗型粳稻产量及倒伏性状的影响

为探索直播条件下行距对不同类型粳稻产量的影响,以3种穗型粳稻品种通禾833、铁粳7号、沈稻506为试材,研究了直播粳稻在5个不同行距水平下的产量以及乳熟期(齐穗期后25 d)、蜡熟期(齐穗期后40 d)2个倒伏敏感时期水稻茎秆及穗部的物理性状和形态特征。结果表明:行距通过影响直播稻生长发育过程中行内、行间竞争关系,从而影响植株的物理性状和形态特征,改变群体结构,最终决定直播稻的产量和倒伏性状。通禾833在22.5 cm行距下产量最高,但随着行距减小,有效穗数、结实率降低,产量降低,且在低行距下弯穗型品种行间竞争激烈,造成群体郁闭、长势差、节间抗折力降低,从而易发生倒伏;铁粳7号17.5 cm行距下产量最高,且抗倒伏能力较强;沈稻506在行距20.0 cm时,协调了行内、行间的竞争,个体长势优良,群体结构合理,使其高产、抗倒。总之,过宽、过窄的行距分别加大了行间、行内竞争,从而影响植株个体长势及物理性状、群体结构,进而影响直播稻的产量及抗倒伏能力。因此,弯穗型品种应选用稍大行距(22.5 cm)、直立穗型品种选用稍小行距(17.5 cm)、半直立穗型品种选用中等行距(20.0 cm),通过协调行内和行间竞争,保证足够的单位面积有效穗数和较高的结实率,提高植株抗折力和基部节间弯曲力矩,构建合理植株个体形态和群体结构,以达到高产、抗倒的目标。     

Combining ability and heterosis of elite drought-tolerant maize inbred lines evaluated in diverse environments of lowland tropics

Estimates of combining abilities and heterosis of inbred lines are imperative for selection of suitable parents of maize hybrids. This study examined the combining ability of 24 drought-tolerant maize inbred lines, 12 each from International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT) and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The lines were allotted into six groups each comprising four lines. The four lines in one group were used as females and crossed to the four lines in another group as males in six different sets using a North Carolina Design II mating scheme to generate 96 hybrids. The hybrids were evaluated together with four checks across six environments in the rainforest and savannah agro-ecologies of Nigeria between 2011 and 2012. The parental inbred lines were also evaluated in separate trial in each location. Significant hybrids × environment interaction was observed for grain yield and other measured traits. GCA effects accounted for 83.3% of the variation for grain yield at Bagauda, 78.1% at Saminaka, and 77.7% at Ikenne. GCA also contributed 91.1 and 80.0% to the variation observed for plant height and ear aspect, respectively, across the environments. Significant SCA × environment interaction detected for grain yield suggests that hybrids were not stable across test environments. Prediction of grain yield in hybrids using midparent values resulted in a R ² value of 0.13. Midparent heterosis for grain yield varied from 80 to 411%, with the top 36 hybrids recording >200%. Four CIMMYT (EXL02, EXL06, EXL04 and EXL16) and three IITA (ADL33, ADL41, and ADL32) inbred lines had positive and significant GCA effects for grain yield across environments. The novel alleles present in the CIMMYT lines will improve the adapted IITA germplasm in a new population for extracting new set of more productive inbred lines for developing adapted high yielding drought-tolerant maize hybrids.     

The effect of low plant density on response to selection for biomass production in switchgrass

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a model bioenergy species with a high biomass production from which renewable sources of fuel and electricity can be generated. The objective of this study was to perform divergent single-plant selection for biomass yield at low plant density, intermate the selected plants in polycrosses, and evaluate the performance of their half-sib (HS) progenies in sward and row plots. One thousand plants from Alamo and Kanlow populations were planted in unreplicated honeycomb trials with a plant spacing of 120 cm. Moving-ring selection was applied to select 15 high- and 15 low-yielding plants from each population. These were grown in separate polycrosses to create HS-families. Four HS-families from high- and 4 from low-yielding parents of Alamo and Kanlow, along with their bulks were evaluated for 3 years in sward plots with row spacing of 18 cm. Five HS-families from high- and five from low-yielding parents of Alamo and Kanlow were evaluated for 2 years in row plots spaced 76 cm along with their bulks. Overall, the row-plots had 20% higher biomass per unit area than the sward-plots. Across populations and plant densities, the highest-yielding HS-families produced between 2.0 and 9.3 t/ha more biomass than the lowest-yielding HS-families. The mean biomass of the HS-families from parents selected for high-yield was between 0.34 and 4 t/ha higher than the mean of the HS-families from the low-yielding parents. The annual response to selection for the mean and the bulk of the HS-families from the high yielding parents was 19 and 27% higher than the check. These results indicate that on average, high- and low-yielding parental genotypes were effectively selected from the two populations under low plant density.     

Ermittlung geeigneter Selektionskriterien zur Verbesserung der Persistenz beim Deutschen Weidelgras

Screening for persistence in Lolium perenne L.
The assessment of persistence, as well as yield potential, is fundamentally important for cultivar evaluation of perennial grasses. But it is difficult to estimate the persistence because of limited time available for testing new varieties. The aim of this study was to find out conditions for effective and quick selection for persistence in Lolium perenne. Four strains of Lolium perenne were investigated for three years in the following split pot design with 3 replications: 180–220 kg N/ha or 360–440 kg N/ha and year, 3 or 6 cuts/year and 3–4 cm or 7–8 cm cutting height.
Yield, regrowth (score 0–9, 7 days after each cut) and persistence (number of non-surviving ramets) were determined for each ramet of all clones and for each plot of the strains. The dry matter yield was reduced to about 50 % between the first and the third year of the investigation. The differences in the dry matter yield between the four strains have been more evident in the six than in the three cutting treatment.
Already at the end of the first year of the investigation the strains differed significantly in the regeneration in the six cut treatment. The regrowth of strain III showed a significant reduction compared with the other three strains.
A significant reduction of the surviving ramets was first observed at the end of the second year of the investigation in the six cut treatment only, but between the strains were no significant differences.
These results demonstrate, that an investigation on single plants over a period of three years cannot give an exactly prediction about the persistence of Lolium perenne strains.     

waxy基因功能标记开发及在糯玉米育种中的应用

为利用分子标记辅助选择加快糯玉米种质资源改良进程,以糯玉米自交系云539和普通玉米自交系昌7-2为材料,通过DNA序列测定和分析,探明糯玉米自交系云539 wx基因属于wx-D7突变类型。根据2个自交系基因组序列差异,开发出waxy基因功能标记FMD7,并通过了表型验证和通用性验证。利用开发的基因功能标记FMD7进行分子标记辅助选择,结合产量、株型和品质性状分析,获得携带wx基因的优良昌7-2改良系6个。利用本研究开发的基因功能标记FMD7进行辅助选择可加快回交转育进程,提高育种效率,为选育高产糯玉米杂交种提供材料基础,同时也为分子标记辅助选择单基因或少数主效基因控制的性状提供理论参考。     

Changes in relative growth rate with plant ontogeny in spring wheat genotypes grown as isolated plants

Summary For a better insight in the effect of wide spacing on the outcome of plant selection in spring wheat, the growth of free-grown individual plants was followed in time for each of 12 cultivars. As time proceeded, the cultivar differences for per-plant weight showed progressively less relation with those for seedling weight. At anthesis, the genetic correlation with seedling weight was still about 0.80, but at final harvest it was only 0.06. This contrasted with the genetic correlation between seedling weight and final biomass in closely planted mixtures which was on the average 0.77. The outcome of selection of genotypes in isolation is therefore expected to deviate substantially from that of selection in densely planted segregating populations where the differences in initial size tend to be maintained in time.The ranking of the varieties grown in isolation changed in time because of differences in relative growth rate (RGR). The genetic variance of RGR decreased much less with time than RGR itself. Late-flowering varieties showed the higher RGR so that these varieties improved their position in the ranking in isolation.Special attention is paid to the methodology of plant growth analysis in variety experiments and in estimating means and variances of RGR.