Little heterosis for yield and yield components in hybrids of six cucumber inbreds

Heterosis and inbreeding depression for fruit yield has been reported for pickling cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). However, cucumber inbreds often perform as well as hybrids, and there is little inbreeding depression. The objectives of this study were to reexamine the amount of heterosis and inbreeding depression for fruit yield and yield components in pickling cucumber, and to determine the relationship between yield components and yield for heterosis. Two pickling cucumber inbreds (M 12, M 20) and inbreds from four open-pollinated monoecious cultivars (‘Addis’, ‘Clinton’, ‘Wisconsin SMR 18’, ‘Tiny Dill’) were hybridized to form four F₁ hybrids (‘Addis’ × M 20, ‘Addis’ × ‘Wis. SMR 18’, ‘Clinton’ × M 12, M 20 × ‘Tiny Dill’). F₁ hybrids were then self-pollinated or backcrossed to generate F₂, BC_1A, and BC_1B progeny. Thirty plants of each generation within each hybrid family were grown in plots 3.1 m long with four replications in each of two seasons. Data were collected from once-over harvest for vegetative, reproductive, yield, and fruit quality traits. Heterosis and inbreeding depression for fruit yield and yield components were not observed in three of the hybrids. Only ‘Addis’ × ‘Wis. SMR 18’ exhibited high-parent heterosis and inbreeding depression for total, marketable, and early fruit weight. For ‘Addis’ × ‘Wis. SMR 18’, heterosis for fruit yield was associated with a decreased correlation between percentage of fruit set and fruit weight, an increased negative correlation between percentage of fruit set and both the number of branches per plant and the percentage of pistillate nodes, and an increased negative correlation between the number of nodes per branch and total fruit weight. Inbreeding depression was associated with a weakening of the strong negative correlations between percentage of fruit set and the number of branches per plant, and between the number of nodes per branch and total fruit weight. Those correlations were associated with high-parent heterosis and inbreeding depression only for one cross, and do not necessarily apply to future crosses in which heterosis may be observed for yield. We did not observe the heterosis or inbreeding depression for yield in cucumber in most of the crosses as was reported by Ghaderi & Lower (1979a; 1979c). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Generation means analysis of plant architectural traits and fruit yield in melon

Unique architectural phenotypes have the potential for increasing yield in commercial melon (Cucumis melo L.). Therefore, a generation means analysis was conducted to investigate the inheritance of architectural traits (days to anthesis, primary branch number, fruit number and weight, and average weight per fruit). Progeny (F₁, F₂, BC₁P₁ and BC₁P₂) from a cross between US Department of Agriculture (USDA) line, USDA 846‐1 (P₁) and ‘TopMark’ (P₂) were evaluated at Arlington (AR) and Hancock (HCK), Wisconsin in 2001. Significant (P ≤ 0.05) environment effects and genotype × environment interactions (G × E) analyses necessitated analysis by location. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) among parents and generations were observed for all traits, and the two parental lines differed significantly for primary branch number, fruit number and average weight per fruit. Additive gene effects were most important in governing primary branch number and fruit number per plant, while dominance and epistatic genetic effects mainly controlled days to anthesis, fruit weight per plant and average weight per fruit. Narrow‐sense heritabilities were 0.62 (AR) for days to anthesis, 0.71 (AR) and 0.76 (HCK) for primary branch number, 0.68 (AR) and 0.70 (HCK) for fruit weight per plant, 0.33 (AR) and 0.45 (HCK) for fruit weight per plant, and 0.06 (AR) and 0.79 (HCK) for average weight per fruit. Estimations of the least number of effective factors for primary branch number were relatively consistent at both AR (approx. 4) and HCK (approx. 2). Results suggest that introgression of yield‐related genes from highly branched melon types (e.g. USDA 846‐1) into US Western Shipping germplasm may aid in the development of high‐yielding cultivars with concentrated fruit set suitable for machine and/or hand‐harvesting operations.     

Analysis of genetic architecture for some physiological characters in sesame (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sesamum indicum</Emphasis> L.)

Combining ability for some important physiological parameters in sesame were examined to understand the nature of gene action and to identify parents for breeding programme. Seven diverse genotypes of sesame, their 21 F₁s and 21 F₂s were grown in summer, 2003, in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected on leaf area index (LAI) at 30, 45, 60 and 75 days after sowing (DAS), crop growth rate (CGR) estimated between 30–45 DAS, 45–60 DAS and 60–75 DAS, days to peak flowering (DPF), duration of flowering (DF), duration from peak flowering to maturity (DFM), oil content in percentage (OC) and oil yield (OY) plant⁻¹. Analysis of combining ability was done on the above physiological characters following Method-2, Model-I of Griffing (Aust J Biol Sci 9:463–493 1956). Variances due to general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for all the physiological traits were highly significant in both F₁ and F₂ generations indicating importance of both additive and non-additive gene actions for the inheritance of all the physiological characters in both F₁ and F₂ generations. Preponderance of non-additive gene action was recorded for CGRs, LAI 3, LAI 4, DPF, DF and OY in both the F₁ and the F₂ generations. For OC additive gene action was predominant in F₁ while non-additive gene action in F₂. The genotype OS-Sel-2 appeared as best overall general combiner in both the F₁ and the F₂ generations. For DPF, DF and DFM, the variety B 67 was best general combiner, followed by CST 2002, which could be utilized for developing early flowering and early maturing lines with determinate growth habit. Association between GCA-effects and mean performance of the parents suggested that the performance per se could be a good indicator of its ability to transmit the desirable attributes to its progenies. Crosses CST 2002 × TKG 22, CST 2002 × MT 34, MT 34 × AAUDT 9304-14-4, AAUDT 9304-14-4 × B 67, TKG 22 × Rama and TKG 22 × B 67 which showed high SCA-effect for OY, also exhibited positive and significant SCA-effects for other physiological component characters in F₁ generation. The overall results indicated that crosses CST 2002 × TKG 22 and MT 34 × AAUDT 9304-14-4 could be utilized for development of high oil yielding hybrids. The crosses OS-Sel-2 × AAUDT 9304-14-4, AAUDT 9304-14-4 × B 67 and MT 34 × OS-Sel-2 could be promising for isolation of superior recombinants for high oil yield coupled with early maturity and other growth characters in advanced generations of segregation. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Identification of QTLs for BYDV tolerance in bread wheat

We searched for QTLs involved in tolerance to barley yellow dwarf (BYD), a serious viral disease of small grain cereals in two wheat populations, Opata × Synthetic (ITMI)and Frontana × INIA66 (F × I), for which marker data had previously been generated. The populations were evaluated in replicated field trials under artificial inoculation with a BYDV-PAV-Mex isolate and under disease-free conditions. Disease symptoms (yellowing, dwarfism and biomass reduction) were visually recorded and agronomic traits (number of tillers,height, biomass, yield and thousand-kernel weight) were measured on five plants per plot. Phenotypic data on all evaluated traits showed normal distribution with high correlation between visual estimates and measured values. Heritabilities were mostly moderate to high in the 114 lines of the ITMI population, and from low to moderate in the 117 lines of the F × I population. QTL analyses were based on genetic maps containing 443 loci for the ITMI population and 317 loci for the F × I population. Using composite interval mapping, 22 QTLs in the ITMI population and seven in the F × I population were detected, explaining9.8–43.3% of total phenotypic variation (σ² _P)per agronomic trait in the first population, and 4.1–13.7% in the second. Individual QTLs explained less than 15.8%of σ² _P. In the F × I population a minor QTL explaining 7% of σ² _P for yellowing was detected on the short arm of 7D, linked to leaf tip necrosis, a morphological marker for linked genes Bdv1, Yr18 andLr34. A QTL consistently detected for several traits on 2D in the ITMI population and on the short arm of group 6 chromosome(6S) in F × I explained 10–15% of σ² _P. The large number of QTLs having mostly small effects and the continuous distribution of all evaluated traits confirmed the polygenic nature and complexity of BYD tolerance in wheat. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Chinese melon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis melo</Emphasis> L.) diversity analyses provide strategies for germplasm curation,genetic improvement,and evidentiary support of domestication patterns

The genetic diversity of melon market types (Cucumis melo L., 2n = 2x = 24) in China, an important secondary center of diversity, has not been examined. Therefore, reference accessions from India and Africa, Crete/Greece, Japan, Europe, U.S.A., Spain, and 68 Chinese cultigens (fresh-market non-netted thin-skinned; non-netted thick-skinned; netted thick-skinned; and non-netted thin-skinned, and vegetable) were evaluated by using 17 10-mer RAPD primers (32 mapped loci), days to flower, sex expression, lateral-branch number, and fruit number and weight per plant. While Chinese thin-skinned melons differed from vegetable melon types only in sex expression, the U.S. Western Shipping market type reference accession “Top Mark” and Chinese thick-skinned melons were similar for all of the morphological traits examined. The average similarity (Jaccard Coefficient) between any two pairs of accessions examined as estimated by RAPD variation was 0.47 ± 0.14. Within-group genetic similarities ranged between 0.94 (thin-skinned type) and 0.08 (non-netted thick-skinned type). The average/standard deviation, maximum, and minimum similarity between any two Chinese reference accessions was 0.41 ± 0.13, 0.75, and 0.12, respectively. Cluster analysis partitioned accessions into two main branches consisting of Group Cantalupensis and Inodorus reference accessions (clade 1) and Chinese accessions (clade 2). A second cluster analysis partitioned China, India, and Africa accessions into one major group, and accessions from Japan, Europe, and U.S.A. into another. Results indicate that Chinese accessions are a rich source of genetic diversity for plant improvement, and that molecular assessments support previously described theoretical melon domestication patterns constructed from historical and archeological evidence.     

Combining ability analysis across environments for some traits in dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under low and high soil phosphorus conditions

Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important grain legume for small-scale farmers in eastern Africa who nonetheless, grow beans with limited phosphorus (P) fertilizer supply or none at all. Phosphorus rank second, after nitrogen (N), as the most limiting soil nutrient in bean production in East African soils. This study was conducted to determine combining ability for five polygenic traits in the red mottled, large seeded bean market class, under low and high soil P conditions and two locations. Three parents tolerant to low soil P were hybridized with five well adapted, but non-low P tolerant lines in a diallel mating scheme. The resulting 28 F₁ hybrids were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications, under low and high soil P conditions at two sites. There were highly significant (P ≤ 0.001) differences among the genotypes for all the traits under all the study conditions. The GCA mean squares were highly significant (P ≤ 0.001) for these traits, indicating importance of additive effects for both study conditions and sites. The GCA × Environment and SCA × Environment were significant for all the parameters and test conditions. CAL143 had positive GCA effects that were significant; except for 100-seed weight under P stress; for all the traits and under all the study conditions. The negative GCA effects for the none P tolerant parents indicate that they impacted positively in imparting earliness.     

Development of molecular markers linked to the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fom-1</Emphasis> locus for resistance to Fusarium race 2 in melon

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (F.o.m), is a worldwide soil-borne disease of melon (Cucumis melo L.). The most effective control measure available is the use of resistant varieties. Resistance to races 0 and 2 of this fungal pathogen is conditioned by the dominant gene Fom-1. An F₂ population derived from the ‘Charentais-Fom1’ × ‘TRG-1551’ cross was used in combination with bulked segregant analysis utilizing the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, in order to develop molecular markers linked to the locus Fom-1. Four hundred decamer primers were screened to identify three RAPD markers (B17₆₄₉, V01₅₇₈, and V06₁₀₉₂) linked to Fom-1 locus. Fragments amplified by primers B17₆₄₉ and V01₅₇₈ were linked in coupling phase to Fom1, at 3.5 and 4 cM respectively, whereas V06₁₀₉₂ marker was linked in repulsion to the same dominant resistant allele at 15.1 cM from the Fom-1 locus. These RAPDs were cloned and sequenced in order to design primers that would amplify only the target fragment. The derived sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers SB17₆₄₅ and SV01₅₇₄ (645 and 574 bp, respectively) were present only in the resistant parent. The SV06₁₀₉₂ marker amplified a band of 1092 bp only in the susceptible parent. These markers are more universal than the CAPS markers developed by Brotman et al. (Theor Appl Genet 10:337–345, 2005). The analysis of 24 melon accessions, representing several melon types, with these markers revealed that different melon types behaved differently with the developed markers supporting the theory of multiple, independent origins of resistance to races 0 and 2 of F.o.m.     

Genetic variability and interrelationships of seed yield and yield components in switchgrass

Information on the genetic variability of seed yield and yield components is limited and no information is available on correlations among seed yield and yield components and direct and indirect effects of the yield components on seed yield in switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L. Accordingly, we conducted replicated experiments at Chickasha and Perkins, OK, in 1998 involving 11 lowland type switchgrass populations to assess genetic variation for seed yield and yield components, quantify interrelationships among them, and determine direct and indirect effects of yield components on seed yield through path coefficient analysis to identify traits for indirect selection of seed yield. Significant (P ≤ 0.01) variation existed among the 11 populations over locations for percent seed set and 100-seed weight. Seed yield/plant and the seed yield components panicle number/plant, spikelet number/panicle, and seed number/panicle had significant (P ≤ 0.05) population × location interactions, indicating substantial environmental influence on these traits for these populations. Accordingly, data for these traits were analyzed separately for each location revealing significant (P ≤ 0.01) differences among populations at both locations for each of these traits. Phenotypic correlation between seed yield/plant and seed number/panicle was positive (r = 0.76** at Chickasha and r = 0.72** at Perkins). Path coefficient analyses revealed that seed number/panicle had the highest positive direct effect on seed yield at both locations. Ample genetic variability was present among the switchgrass populations studied to allow breeding improvement of seed yield. Selection for increased seed number/panicle would be the most effective means of indirectly selecting for higher seed yield within this germplasm. Correlation and path coefficient analyses among biomass yield, seed yield, and harvest index indicated that, at least within the switchgrass germplasm studied, it would be possible to breed switchgrass cultivars with enhanced biomass yielding ability and sufficient seed production capability for their commercial propagation.     

Genetic mapping and QTL analysis of fruit and flower related traits in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) using recombinant inbred lines

A set of 224 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a narrow cross between two fresh eaten types (S94 (Northern China type) × S06 (Northern European type)) (Cucumis sativus L.) was used to construct a genetic linkage map. With the RILs a 257-point genetic map was constructed including 206 SRAPs, 22 SSRs, 25 SCARs, 1 STS, and three economically important morphological markers (small spines (ss), uniform immature fruit color (u), dull fruit skin (D)). The seven linkage groups covered 1005.9 cM with a mean marker interval of 3.9 cM. The ss locus was linked to D and u, and they were all on Linkage group 6. The RIL map contained a total of 51 sequence-specific markers, which made possible the comparison of molecular linkage maps developed in different laboratories. Using the F_6:7 derived families, a total of 78 QTLs were detected with relatively high LOD scores (2.9–84.4) for nine fruit-related traits (fruit weight, length, and diameter, fruit flesh thickness, seed-cavity diameter, fruit-stalk length, fruit pedicel length, length/diameter and length/stalk ratio) and three flower-related traits (first flower node, first female flower node and female flower ratios). Several sequence-anchor markers (CSWCT25, CS30, CMBR41, CS08 etc.) were closely linked with some QTLs for fruit weight, fruit length, fruit flesh thickness and sex expression, which can be used for the future marker-assisted selection to improve the fruit traits in cucumber breeding. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. X. J. Yuan and J. S. Pan contributed equally to this investigation.     

Heterosis and heritability in crosses among Asian and Ethiopian parents of hot pepper genotypes

Hot pepper is the most important worldwide grown and consumed spice and vegetable crop. Though hybrid breeding has been proposed for genetic improvement in the crop, but there is lack of information on heterosis in crosses among crop genotypes in Ethiopia. Twelve genotypes (nine Asian and three Ethiopian parents) of hot pepper were crossed in 2003 cropping season in a half-diallel fashion to fit Griffing’s fixed effect model analysis. An open field experiment was conducted in 2004/2005 to investigate heterosis for fourteen traits in 66 F₁ hybrids grown together with their 12 selfed parents. Highly significant genotypic differences were observed for all the traits except for leaf area. Variance component due to specific combining ability (dominance) were larger than that due to general combining ability (additive) for each of the studied traits with few exceptions. Broad sense heritability (H _b²) for fruit traits were more than 60% and with wide gap from narrow sense heritability (h _n²) for most of the important traits like number of fruit per plant (H _b² = 88.3% and h _n² = 46.0%), days to maturity (H _b² = 87.2% and h _n² = 23.1%) and dry fruit yield per plant (H _b² = 72.6% and h _n² = 14.6%). Maximum heterosis over mid-parent and better-parent, and economic superiority of hybrid over standard check were recorded, respectively for dry fruit yield per plant (163.8, 161.8 and 92.1%), number of fruits per plant (104.4, 79.6 and 136.4%) and days to maturity (−29.8, −31.5 and −23.6%). These observations suggested a possibility of utilizing dominance genetic potentiality available in diverse genotypes of the crop by heterosis breeding for improving hot pepper to the extent of better economic return compared to the current commercial cultivar under production in the country. Low narrow sense versus very high broad sense heritability for days to maturity and dry fruit yield per plant could be a sign for achievability of earliness and high fruit yield using heterosis in hot pepper. The maximum heterobeltiosis were recorded either from F₁s obtained from Ethiopian and Asian crosses or from within Asian crosses, suggesting the possibility of maximizing heterosis by considering genetically diverse parental genotypes. The manifestation of highest heterosis in hybrids from among Asian lines indicated existence of genetic diversity among Asian genotypes and the potentiality for improvement of hot pepper using genotypes from different regions of the world along with elite inbred lines from local cultivars.     

Inheritance of resistance to Fusarium wilt and yield traits in pigeonpea

Fusarium wilt is the main pigeonpea production constraint in Malawi. The purpose of the study was to understand the nature and mechanism of inheritance of F. wilt resistance, yield and secondary traits in pigeonpea. 48 crosses were generated in a 12 lines × 4 testers mating scheme. Some F₁ plants were selfed for segregation analysis for inheritance pattern of resistance, while others were evaluated for resistance, yield and secondary traits. There were significant variations among F₁ plants for F. wilt, days to 50 % flowering, seed/pod, and number of secondary branches. Specific combining ability (SCA) effects were predominant for F. wilt, days to 50 % flowering and number of secondary branches. The general combining ability (GCA) effects, mainly due to maternal genotypes, were preponderant for yield and other secondary traits. The significance of GCA and SCA effects suggested that variations were due to additive gene action in both the testers and parental lines arising from their interactions, and the dominance effects due to interactions of the parental lines. The χ² analysis suggested dominant patterns of inheritance for wilt in most of the F₂ populations. The segregation ratios of 3:1, 15:1, and 9:7 suggested the involvement of single or two independent/complementary dominant genes in the test donors. Involvement of a few genes governing wilt resistance suggested the ease of breeding for this trait. Pedigree breeding method would be recommended for incorporating various traits in pigeonpea.     

Interspecific cross of Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra and B. napus : effects of growth condition and silique age on the efficiency of hybrid production, and inheritance of erucic acid in the self-pollinated backcross generation

Interspecific hybrids were produced from reciprocal crosses between Brassica napus (2n = 38, AACC) and B. oleracea var. alboglabra (2n = 18, CC) to introgress the zero-erucic acid alleles from B. napus into B. oleracea. The ovule culture embryo rescue technique was applied for production of F₁ plants. The effects of silique age, as measured by days after pollination (DAP), and growth condition (temperature) on the efficiency of this technique was investigated. The greatest numbers of hybrids per pollination were produced under 20°/15°C (day/night) at 16 DAP for B. oleracea (♀) × B. napus crosses, while under 15°/10°C at 14 DAP for B. napus (♀) × B. oleracea crosses. Application of the ovule culture technique also increased the efficiency of BC₁ (F₁ × B. oleracea) hybrid production by 10-fold over in vivo seed set. The segregation of erucic acid alleles in the self-pollinated backcross generation, i.e. in BC₁S₁ seeds, revealed that the gametes of the F₁ and BC₁ plants carrying a greater number of A-genome chromosomes were more viable. This resulted in a significantly greater number of intermediate and a smaller number of high-erucic acid BC₁S₁ seeds.     

Inheritance of tree and fruit characters in progenies from crosses of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars

Summary Approximately 1000 seedlings from 20 combinations crossed in 1979, 1980 and 1981 (Theiler-Hedtrich 1985a) were tested for several characters: fruit set (yield), fruit size, fruit colour, formation of abscission layer and bleeding after fruit removal from fruit stalks, bacterial canker resistance, flowering and harvesting time. From progeny of crosses with Stella as pollinator, 56% (Vittoria × Stella) and 46% (Schüttler × Stella) of the seedlings were self-compatible, of which 14 were high yielding with good fruit size and quality. From the data recorded it can be concluded:fruit set is a recessive character; only 5 to 20% of very good yielding seedlings were obtained in different progeny, even if the parental plants were both very good croppers.Fruit juice and skin colour was in most progenies ‘black’ even if they were from combinations with ‘white’ varieties, e.g., Merton Glory or Schüttler. Only from the combination Schiittler (‘white’) × Stella (‘black’), 50% of the seedlings were ‘white’; Stella therefore is heterozygous for the character of fruit juice and skin colour.Fruit size is evenly distributed in progeny with respect to the fruit size of their parent plants.Abscission layer formation and non-bleeding is a genetically complex character. In combinations where both parent plants formed fruits with complete abscission layers and which were not bleeding after fruit removal from the stalk, this character was inherited only to 50% (Vittoria × Schüttler) or 85% (Vittoria × Frühe von der Weid) in the progeny. For the genetical control of this character further studies are necessary.Bacterial canker susceptibility was evenly distributed in seedlings from all combinations even if the highly resistant cv. Vittoria was used as one parent plant, thereby not confirming the expected results of a higher proportion of resistant seedlings from combinations with Vittoria.Flowering and harvest time of the seedlings from different combinations was within the range of the parent plants. Only in the combination of Vittoria × Stella (mid-to late-ripening season) one seedling out of 99 was found to form ripe fruits two weeks earlier than the parental plants. From the seedlings tested 40 have been chosen for further evaluation or genetical studies.     

Genetic variation in F<Subscript>2</Subscript> populations and their potential in the improvement of grain yield in tef (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eragrostis tef</Emphasis>)

Tef is a staple cereal of Ethiopia in high demand by consumers. In order to cope up with this high consumer demand, productivity per unit of land must increase through the development and use of high-yielding varieties. To this effect, the National Tef Research Project has long been striving towards the development of high yielding varieties through direct selection from germplasm and concentrating favourable alleles through hybridization and selection, despite the tedious crossing technique. The objective of this study was to assess the degree of genetic variation in F₂ populations of tef as a basis for improving grain yield. F₂ populations from 12 crosses and their parents were grown at the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia, and assessment was made on eight traits on individual plant basis. Eleven of the 12 crosses showed substantial genetic variation for grain yield and its components, indicating the potential for improvement through selection. Moreover, grain yield, plant weight and yield related traits showed moderate to high heritability values (17–80%). In all the crosses, tiller number, panicle weight, yield per panicle and panicle length showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) and positive association with grain yield. Considering the degree of genetic variation and heritability values, emphasis should be given to selected crosses in an effort to developing high-yielding tef varieties.     

Quantitative trait loci influencing fruit-related characteristics of tomato grown in high-temperature conditions

The objective of this study was to identify molecular markers linked to fruit-related traits in the tomato subjected to high temperatures. In total, 160 F₂ plants derived from a cross between a heat-tolerant breeding line, CL5915-93D4-1-0-3 (Solanum esculentum), and a heat-sensitive wild accession, L4422 (S. pimpinellifolium), were grown in a greenhouse. Six traits including fruit number, fruit weight, brix, seed number, fruit setting, and flower number were scored. The distributions of fruit number, fruit set, flower number, and seed number were skewed towards heat susceptibility which is known to be characteristic of L4422. Polymorphic bands were generated by PCR-derived methods of RAPD, ISSR and AFLP Polymorphism, the segregation ratio, and distribution over the genome of the above 3 markers were compared. Ten linkage groups, ranging 20.6–151.6 cM in size, were constructed with 62 informative markers spanning a total of 776.3 cM. Fruit-related quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were non-randomly distributed in the tomato genome. For the 6 traits investigated, 21 QTLs were dispersed on linkage groups 2–5. The genetic effects of the various QTLs were differently exhibited, in our study we have respectively found from 10.5% to 30.2% of the variation explained by the QTL for flower number (FRN4) and brix (BX2). Thirteen QTL-mapped markers were unique to 1 trait, and 4 markers were linked to more than 1 trait. Among them, QTLs linked to the I868-470 marker had effects on fruit weight and brix, and a significant positive correlation between these 2 traits was noted (r = 0.35, P < 0.05). Thus, the I868-470 marker may have the potential for simultaneous selection of high fruit weight and brix. These markers also allowed us to align genome linkage maps across distantly related species and to reveal the co-localization between these QTLs and major genes.     

Inheritance of beta-carotene-associated mesocarp color and fruit maturity of melon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis melo</Emphasis> L.)

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit production in U.S. can be improved through the introgression of early fruit maturity (FM) and the enhancement of fruit color [i.e., quantity of β-carotene (QβC); orange mesocarp]. However, the genetics of FM and QβC have not been clearly defined in U.S. Western Shipping market class melons (USWS). Thus, a cross was made between the monoecious, early FM Chinese line ‘Q 3-2-2’ (non-carotene accumulating, white mesocarp) and the andromonecious, comparatively late FM USWS line ‘Top Mark’ (carotene accumulating; orange mesocarp) to determine the inheritance of FM and QβC in melon. Parents and derived cross-progenies (F₁, F₂, F₃, BC₁P₁, and BC₁P₂) were evaluated for FM and QβC at Hancock, Wisconsin over 2 years. Estimates of narrow-sense heritability (h _N²) for QβC and FM as defined by F₁, F₂, and BC (by individuals) were 0.55 and 0.62, respectively, while estimates based on F₃ families were 0.68 and 0.57, respectively for these traits. Mesocarp color segregation (F₂ and BC₁P₂) fit a two gene recessive epistatic model, which in turn, interacts with other minor genes. Although the inheritance of QβC and FM is complex, introgression (e.g., by backcrossing) of early FM genes resident in Chinese germplasm into USWS market types is possible. Such introgression may lead to increased yield potential in USWS market types while retaining relatively high β-carotene fruit content (i.e., orange mesocarp), if stringent, multiple location and early generation family selection (F_3–4) is practiced for FM with concomitant selection for QβC.     

Allelic relationships of genes controlling number of flowers per axis in chickpea

Genetic variation for number of flowers per axis in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) includes single-flower, double-flower, triple-flower and multi-flower traits. A double-flowered (DF) line ICC 4929, a triple-flowered (TF) line IPC 99-18 and a multi-flowered (MF) line JGM 7 were intercrossed in all possible combinations and flowering behavior of parents, F₁s and F₂s was studied to establish allelic relationships, penetrance and expressivity of genes controlling number of flowers per axis in chickpea. The F₁ from ICC 4929 (DF) × IPC 99-18 (TF) cross were double-flowered, whereas F₁ from ICC 4929 (DF) × JGM 7 (MF) and IPC 99-18 (TF) × JGM 7 (MF) crosses were single-flowered. The F₂ from ICC 4929 (DF) × IPC 99-18 (TF) cross gave a good fit to a 3:1 ratio for double-flowered and triple-flowered plants. The F₂ from ICC 4929 (DF) × JGM 7 (MF) cross segregated in a ratio of 9:3:3:1 for single-flowered, double-flowered, multi-flowered and double-multi-flowered plants. The F₂ from IPC 99-18 (TF) × JGM 7 (MF) cross segregated in a ratio of 9:3:4 for single-flowered, triple-flowered and multi-flowered plants. The results clearly established that two loci control number of flowers per axis in chickpea. The double-flower and triple-flower traits are controlled by a single-locus (Sfl) and the allele for double-flowered trait (sfl ^d ) is dominant over the allele for triple-flower trait (sfl ^t ). The three alleles at the Sfl locus has the dominance relationship Sfl > sfl ^d > sfl ^t . The multi-flower trait is controlled by a different gene (cym). Single-flowered plants have dominant alleles at both the loci (Sfl_ Cym_). The double-flower, the triple-flower and the multi-flower traits showed complete penetrance, but variable expressivity. The expressivity was 96.3% for double-flower and 76.4% for double-pod in ICC 4929, 81.2% for triple-flower and 0.0% for triple-pod in IPC 99-18, and 51.3% for multi-flower and 24.7% for multi-pod in JGM 7. Average number of flowers per axis and average number of pods per axis were higher in JGM 7 than double-flowered line ICC 4929 and triple-flowered line IPC 99-18. The results of this study will help in development of breeding strategies for exploitation of these flowering and podding traits in chickpea improvement.     

Yield, yield components and plant architecture in the F3 generation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) derived from a cross between the determinate cultivar ‘Prelude’ and an indeterminate landrace

Growth trials were conducted outdoors in the UK to determine the yield, yield components and plant architectural differences between determinate and indeterminate Phaseolus vulgaris bean plants. F3 lines derived from crosses between ‘Prelude’, a determinate cultivar and ‘V8’, an indeterminate landrace, were grown together with the parents and ‘Carioca’, an indeterminate landrace from Brazil. Data were recorded on flowering date, number of nodes on main stem at flowering, plant height at maturity, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, number of seeds/plant, 100-seed weight, seed mass/plant, percentages of diseased and healthy seeds/plant. Determinate F3 lines had significantly lower (P < 0.05) seed mass/plant, fewer pods/plant, fewer seeds/pod, fewer seeds/plant, lower harvest index, shorter stems, earlier date of flowering, fewer nodes at flowering and fewer healthy seeds/plant than indeterminate F3 lines. However, determinate genotypes had significantly larger (P < 0.05) pods to accommodate their larger seeds compared with indeterminate lines. A similar situation was found when the yield and yield components of ‘V8’, ‘Prelude’ and ‘Carioca’ were evaluated; the highest seed mass/plant was given by ‘V8’ and the lowest by ‘Prelude’. Furthermore, some indeterminate genotypes with Type IV growth habit yielded significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the high-yielding parent, ‘V8’, indicating a positive influence on seed yield by crossing different genotypes.     

Variation in morphophysiological characters of fruits of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trigonobalanus doichangensis</Emphasis> (Fagaceae) according to individual trees,populations and years

Trigonobalanus doichangensis is recognized as a rare and endangered plant of China. The morphological and physiological traits of fruits were investigated in one population over 2 years (2006–2007) and in four populations during 2007 in order to facilitate ex-situ conservation and eventual reforestation through planting of propagules. The results indicated that morphological traits including fruit length, fruit width and 1,000-fruit weight showed significant variation among individual trees within populations (P < 0.01), however, not among populations. And each of them had significant positive correlation with each other (P < 0.01). Seed abortion occurred, and there was significant variation in percentage of fruit fill among populations and among individual trees within populations, whereas, percentage of fruit fill showed no correlation with the morphological traits. As for fruit germination, germination percentage, germination index and vigor index presented significant variation among populations and among individual trees within populations. The three germination-related indices had significant positive correlations with each other (r ≥ 0.9, P < 0.01) and with percentage of fruit fill (r > 0.86, P < 0.01), however, possessing weak correlations with morphological traits. It was also found that each of the traits mentioned above showed significant variation among individual trees within years, however, not between years. In addition, more than 48% of the variation occurred among individual trees both within populations and within years in all the fruit characters. We suggest that collecting fruits from various individuals at each of populations will be the preferred strategy to conserve the most genetic diversity of the species.