Rhodes grass breeding in Kenya I. Intra-variety variation and character relationships

Summary Spaced swards of 3000 plants and a selected subpopulation of 750 plants of 3 commericial Rhodes varieties, Mbarara, Masaba and Pokot, were studied between 1969 and 1975. Intra-variety variation was large in heading date, vigour of growth, seed (PGS) yield, persistence, drought tolerance and in vitro digestibility.There were on average 6 weeks between the heading date of the first and the last 5% of the plants within a variety. Variation in heading date was largely accounted for by variation in vigour and vice versa. Vigorous plants tended to be early heading and only few plants were found to possess a combination of high vigour and late heading.Among plants equally selected for high vigour from within a variety, early-heading plants were higher in PGS yield, persistence, drought tolerance and digestibility.     

Rhodes grass breeding in Kenya. III. Seed and herbage yield in selections of four maturity classes based upon intra variety variation

Summary Selections of four maturity classes developed from within each of three commercial varieties of Rhodes grass, Mbarara, Masaba and Pokot, were assessed for yield of PGS (pure germinating seed), speed of establishment after sowing, total dry matter yield and dry matter yield under frequent clipping (persistence), over three years.The range in heading date between the selections was well outside the range of the original varieties. The best selection with the highest overall response was the early-heading selection developed out of Mbarara with a 127% gain in PGS yield, 75% gain in dry matter yield three months after sowing, 11% gain in overall dry matter yield and 17% gain in dry matter yield under frequent clipping, compared with the standard Mbarara.Mbarara entries were the best in PGS yield, herbage yield and % dry matter. Masaba entries were better in persistence, while the late-heading Pokot entries were the poorest in PGS yield, herbage yield and persistence.Within varieties, yield of PGS dropped progressively and sharply in later maturity classes, whereas dry matter yields were largely unaffected by heading date. Thus late-heading selections dropped below the standard varieties in PGS yield but remained above the standard varieties in dry matter yield.Early-heading selections were generally more persistent than late-heading selections.     

Non-arrowing and broad-leaved mutants in Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth.)

Summary Non-arrowing and broad-leaved mutants of Rhodes grass have been isolated following gamma irradiation. The green forage yield in non-arrowing and broad-leaved types were respectively 67 and 171 percent more than the control. Crude protein, nitrogen and calcium fractions nearly doubled in the non-arrowing type and remained approxymately the same in the broad-leaved type over controls.     

Mutagenic response of rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth.) to gamma rays. II. Studies on second (M2) generation parameters

Summary The effect of gamma rays on parameters such as chlorophyll mutation frequency and spectrum, mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency and viable mutation frequency and spectrum were studied in M₂ generation of Rhodes grass employing nine doses of gamma rays. The chlorophyll mutation frequency increased in a linear fashion at low and medium doses and was erratic at higher doses. The chlorophyll mutant spectrum ineluded albina, xantha, chlorina, viridis, tigrina, striata, albo-xantha and albo-viridis. The frequency of these mutants varied with treatments. A dose rate of 60 krad was found to be effective as well as efficient both on M₁ and M₂ plant basis in inducing chlorophyll mutations. The highest frequency of viable mutations was found in 50 krad treatment. Viable mutants found were: nodal variant, peduncle variant, lax ears, coxcomb ears, earhead proliferation, level of fingers, incurved fingers, gappy ears, apical sterility, partial sterility and high sterility.     

Molecular markers for yield components in Brassica juncea – do these assist in breeding for high seed yield?

A population of 112 F₁-derived doubled haploid lines was produced from a reciprocal cross of Brassica juncea. The parents differed for seed quality, seed color and many agronomic traits. A detailed RFLP linkage map of this population, comprising 316 loci, had been constructed, and was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for seed yield and yield components, viz. siliqua length, number of seeds per siliqua, number of siliques per main raceme and 1000-seed weight. Stable and significant QTLs were identified for all these yield components except seed yield. For yield components, a selection index based on combined phenotypic and molecular data (QTL effects) could double up the efficiency of selection compared to the expected genetic advance by phenotypic selection. Selection indices for high seed yield, based on the phenotypic data of yield and yield components, could only improve the efficiency of selection by 4% of the genetic advance that can be expected from direct phenotypic selection for yield alone. Inclusion of molecular data together with the phenotypic data of yield components in the selection indices did not improve the efficiency of selection for higher seed yield. This is probably due to often negative relationships among the yield components. Most of the QTLs for yield components were compensating each other, probably due to linkage, pleiotropy or developmentally induced relationships among them. The breeding strategy for B. juncea and challenges to marker assisted selection are discussed.     

Correlation and path-coefficient analysis of components of seed yield in bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea)

Summary Direct and indirect effects of components of seed yield upon seed yield and those of leaf number and leaf size upon components of seed yield were examined using path analysis, in bambara groundnut germplasm from Ghana. The number of pods per plant and 100-seed weight had direct positive effects on seed yield, but the two traits were negatively correlated. The number of pods per plant gave the best indication of seed yield status. The number of leaves was more important in determining seed yield in the bunch types, but leaf size was rather more important in the spreading types. Seed size is genetically determined and the genes for seed size may have pleiotropic effects on leaf size. The genes for seed size may also be linked to genes for leaf size. Selection for varieties with high and stable number of pods per plant should improve production level of bambara groundnut.     

Breeding and evaluation of Digitaria eriantha for improved spring yield and seed production

Summary Digitaria eriantha is a subtropical grass which is widely sown as a pasture species in South Africa and cultivars have recently been released in Australia. The species is variable in seed production and in other agronomic attributes. This paper describes a breeding program designed to combine the seed production of cv. Premier with the high productivity in winter-spring of an almost sterile genotype.Hybrids between the two accessions were either triploid and sterile, or diploid with low fertility. The F₂ to F₅ generations were selected intensively for fertility and, at two contrasting sites, for spring productivity, with both maternal and paternal selection. The F₆ generation was grown as replicated swards and yield in spring, and fertility, were used for selection of elite F₅ plants to comprise the parents of a new cultivar (cv. Advance).In evaluation trials, spring dry matter production of Advance averaged 40% higher than that of Premier. On average, seed production of Advance was 11% lower than that of Premier and botanical fertility was consistently about half that of Premier. Experimental yields of cleaned seed of Advance were up to 138 kg/ha. In commerce, seed yields of Advance are likely to be lower than those of Premier unless higher inflorescence densities than Premier can be achieved.     

Associations of some characters with seed yield in chickpea collections

Summary Three thousand two hundred and sixty-seven kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germplasm accessions were grown during the spring season of 1980 at Tel Hadya, the main research station of ICARDA, Syria to determine the components of seed yield. Observations were recorded on seed yield and 14 other characters. Correlation and path coefficient analyses were done to find out associations among characters and to assess the direct and indirect contribution of each character to seed yield.Large variation was observed for all the characters studied except days to flowering, days to maturity and protein content. Correlation and path coefficient analyses showed that biological yield and harvest index were the major direct contributors to seed yield. The 100-seed weight, plant height, days to flowering and maturity, canopy width, and protein content contributed to seed yield mainly through indirect effect via biological yield and harvest index. The 100-seed weight and seed yield were major contributors to biological yield. Major contributor to protein content was days to maturity. Results indicated that selection for high biological yield and harvest index would lead to high seed yield; and selection for large seed size would lead to high biological yield. Therefore, these characters should receive the highest priority in selecting high yielding plants in chickpea breeding.     

Breeding Panicum maximum in Brazil. 1. Genetic resources,modes of reproduction and breeding procedures

Summary Apomixis is widely distributed among tropical forage grasses, and has long been merely regarded as an impediment to breeding. Panicum maximum is presented as the first opportunity for Brazilian geneticists to develop and test original breeding schemes adapted to an apomictic species.A large and representative germplasm of P. maximum has been introduced and is currently being evaluated. Basic knowledges on biology and reproduction are also available, which demonstrate an easy manipulation of apomixis and sexuality. Several limiting traits have already been detected during evaluation, which justify breeding attempts. An ideal scheme is given to transfer new qualities to already selected varieties.     

Selection for yield in wheat breeding

Summary If selection based on F₃ yield tests is to be effective, the yield tests must be successful in discriminating among yield genotypes. The available literature indicates that simple tests with limited or no replication are not very effective, although more extensive, replicated tests may be.Data from an experiment comparing F₃ yield tests with a single seed descent procedure showed that F₃ selection based on a two-replicate test with single seed descent procedure did not justify the extra work involved.     

Combining ability of seed vigor and seed yield in soybean

Studies have shown no consensus in relationships between seed yield and vigor in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]. The lack of information regarding the inheritance of seed vigor prompted this study to determine the types of gene action and combining ability estimates for seed vigor and its related traits. Five high and six low seed vigor soybean genotypes were crossed in a diallel, and selfed to produce 55 F₂ progenies, which were examined, along with the parents, for seed vigor, yield, and seed weight. Significant genotype and environment effects were found for seed vigor and yield. General combining ability (GCA) effects for seed vigor and seed yield were significant (p≤ 0.01) and larger than specific combining ability (SCA) effects. Significant GCA and SCA effects were found for seed weight, indicating that both additive and non additive genetic effects were involved in conditioning seed weight. The ratios of mean square, 2GCA / (2GCA+SCA), were 0.96 for seed vigor and 0.93 for seed yield. These ratios indicated that additive gene effects were more important than non additive gene effects for seed vigor and seed yield in these crosses. Mean seed vigor(83.8%), as determined by accelerated aging germination, and mean seed yield (2,155 kg ha^-1)in high vigor × high vigor crosses were higher than the high vigor × low vigor and low vigor × low vigor crosses. Mean percent accelerated aging germination rates in F₂ populations from diallel crosses were significantly related to mid-parent seed vigor(r² = 0.52^**) and midparent seed size (r² = 0.31^**). These results indicated that levels of seed vigor can be improved through breeding, while maintaining high yields because of the predominance of GCA effects in both seed vigor and seed yield. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ear:stem ratios in breeding populations of wheat: significance for yield improvement

Earlier studies showed that the ratio of the weight of the wheat ear to stem at anthesis (ear:stem ratio) may give a better indication of potential yield than harvest index because it is determined early in the life cycle and is not affected by post anthesis stress. These studies concluded that selection for high ear:stem ratio at anthesis may lead to further improvement in grain yield of wheat. The present work was undertaken in the field to identify lines varying in ear:stem ratio in breeding populations and to study its implications for yield improvement.At anthesis stem length, ear length, tiller number, dry weight of stem and ear and ear:stem ratio were measured in 14 crosses on F₂ single plants and F₂ derived lines grown in the F₃, F₄, and F₅ at three locations in Western Australia over four seasons. In addition, biomass, grain yield and yield components were measured on selected crosses at two locations on F₂ derived lines grown in the F₄ and F₅. There was a considerable range of ear:stem ratio between and within the crosses studied. Although ear:stem ratio was strongly correlated with stem length, there was substantial variation within stem length classes. Ear:stem ratio had a high mean broad sense heritability (82%), whereas HI, grain yield and above ground biomass had lower heritabilities, 68, 55 and 35% respectively. Ear:stem ratio was strongly correlated between generations and sites indicating stability of this character. Ear:stem ratio had a significant positive correlation with grain yield, HI, grains per ear and per m². The correlation of grain yield with HI was equal or slightly higher than that of grain yield with ear:stem ratio.Ear:stem ratio offers promise as a predictor of HI and yield potential where post-anthesis moisture stress can influence HI. Ear:stem ratio measurement is unlikely to be adopted for selection purposes in routine breeding programs, as it is laborious and time consuming. However, ear:stem ratio could be used to identify superior parental genotypes and early generation selections from special crosses in terms of its ability to partition assimilate.     

Spaced-plant traits related to seed yield in plots of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Summary Seed yield in perennial ryegrass is low and selection criteria for high seed production are lacking. Indirect selection in spaced plants would be efficient, but spaced-plant traits need to be identified that correlate with seed yield in drilled plots. Spaced plants were studied of nine perennial ryegrass cultivars with a different seed production when grown in plots. Genotypic variation within cultivars for seed yield components and other traits was assessed in four environments in replicated clonal experiments. Extensive genotypic variation for most traits was present within each cultivar. Based on cultivar means of 25 or 50 genotypes, significant differences among cultivars were found for most traits. Cultivar-year interactions were found for most traits, but no significant cultivar-location interactions were generally found. Spaced-plant traits in general showed poor correlation to corresponding traits in drilled plots. Cultivars with contrasting seed yield in plots could not be distinguished on the basis of their spaced-plant traits and therefore no criteria for indirect selection for seed production in drilled plots could be identified in spaced plants.     

Winter environment increases self seed yield in self-incompatible (SI) Petunia hybrida clones

Summary SI inbreds of P. hybrida and crosses between self-incompatible (SI) petunia plants were brought to flower under winter and summer glasshouse conditions. SI response, as measured by self seed, ranged from zero seed set under both conditions to low or zero seed set during the summer and high seed set during the winter. Some plants produced comparable seed yields during either pollination time. Increased expression of pseudo-self-compatibility (PSC) during the winter months was attributed to a breakdown of the Si system by the low light conditions of Minnesota winters (45°N). Genotypic differences within and between populations in the winter provided differences facilitating selection for increased SI. These differences were masked in some populations by the summer environmental conditions. The use of simulated or natural low light conditions as a technique for selecting for SI should increase selection efficiency.Scientific Journal Series Paper Number 10,499 of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Self-fertility and the distribution of seed yield in Vicia faba L.

Summary Five lines of field beans (Vicia faba L.) bred and selected for a high level of self-fertility have demonstrated heritable differences in distribution of seed yield on the reproductive nodes when grown under conditions of selfpollination. Fully self-fertile genotypes produce a large proportion of the seed yield on the lower nodes. The breeding and selection for both self-fertility and the distribution of seed yield is discussed.     

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.     

Comparison of selection procedures in breeding for seed yield in segregating sesame populations

Summary Four hundred sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) lines selected by five methods from five crosses were tested for yield and other agronomic characters in F₆ and F₇. More high yielding lines were isolated by the bulk method and in the cross involving two local cultivars when two seasons means and performance in each individual season were considered. The cross involving two exotic cultivars did not produce a single line superior to local recommended variety. The 80 highest yielding lines recorded a 10.8% increase in yield compared to the mean of 400 lines. Thirty five lines were among the top 20% both seasons with a 13.2% increase in yield. Highly significant seasonal and population effects were recorded. There were no significant differences among the methods of selection although the yield differences among lines were highly significant. Interactions of seasons × populations, seasons × methods, populations × methods and seasons × populations × methods were highly significant. The results indicate that simple and less expensive bulk method may be used with equal success as the pedigree, single seed descent or early generation testing methods when selecting for yield in segregating sesame populations. The importance of inclusion of a high yielding, locally adapted cultivar in the crossing programmes for yield breeding of sesame has also been revealed.Abbreviations BM Bulk method - EGT Early generation testing - G × E Genotype × environment - MSS Modified single seed descent - PM Pedigree method - SSD Single seed descent     

Identification of quantitative trait loci for grain yield, seed protein concentration and maturity in field pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Breeding efforts to improve grain yield, seed protein concentration and early maturity in pea (Pisum sativum L.) have proven to be difficult. The use of molecular markers will improve our understanding of the genetic factors conditioning these traits and is expected to assist in selection of superior genotypes. This study was conducted to identify genetic loci associated with grain yield, seed protein concentration and early maturity in pea. A population of 88 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) that was developed from a cross between 'Carneval' and 'MP1401' was evaluated at 13 environments across the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada in 1998, 1999 and 2000. A linkage map consisting of 193 AFLPs (amplified fragment length polymorphism), 13 RAPDs (random amplified polymorphic DNA) and one STS (sequence tagged site) marker was used to identify putative quantitative trait loci (QTL) for grain yield, seed protein concentration and early maturity. Four QTL were identified each for grain yield and days to maturity, and three QTL were identified for seed protein concentration. A multiple QTL model for each trait showed that these genomic regions accounted for 39%, 45% and 35% of the total phenotypic variation for grain yield, seed protein concentration and days to maturity, respectively. The consistency of these QTL across environments and their potential for marker-assisted selection are discussed in this report.     

Inheritance of seed colour in Brassica campestris L. and breeding for yellow-seeded B. napus L.

Summary Seed colour inheritance was studied in five yellow-seeded and one black-seeded B. campestris accessions. Diallel crosses between the yellow-seeded types indicated that the four var. yellow sarson accessions of Indian origin had the same genotype for seed colour but were different from the Swedish yellow-seeded breeding line. Black seed colour was dominant over yellow. The segregation patterns for seed colour in F₂ (Including reciprocals) and BC₁ (backcross of F₁ to the yellow-seeded parent) indicated that the black seed colour was conditioned by a single dominant gene. Seed colour was mainly controlled by the maternal genotype but influenced by the interplay between the maternal and endosperm and/or embryonic genotypes. For developing yellow-seeded B. napus genotypes, resynthesized B. napus lines containing genes for yellow seed (Chen et al., 1988) were crossed with B. napus of yellow/brown seeds, or with yellow-seeded B. carinata. Yellow-seeded F₂ plants were found in the crosses that involved the B. napus breeding line. However, this yellow-seeded character did not breed true up to F₄. Crosses between a yellow-seeded F₃ plant and a monogenomically controlled black-seeded B. napus line of resynthesized origin revealed that the black-seeded trait in the B. alboglabra genome was possibly governed by two independently dominant genes with duplicated effect. Crossability between the resynthesized B. napus lines as female and B. carinata as male was fairly high. The sterility of the F₁ plants prevented further breeding progress for developing yellow-seeded B. napus by this strategy.     

Assessment of drought resistance in 20 accessions of Triticum aestivum L. and related species II. Stability in yield components

Summary Stability in yield components was estimated in several species of Triticum grown across a range of soil moisture. The aim was to assess the effect of varying soil moisture on mechanisms leading to grain yield stability, particularly in the accessions identified as having stable yields and drought resistance viz., T. sphaerococcum, T. vavilovii and T. aestivum cv. C 306 (Paper I of this series). The study indicated that number of grains per spike provided stability to the accessions of T. sphaerococcum and T. vavilovii whereas number of spikes per unit area contributed towards the stability of T. aestivum cv. C 306. It is suggested that these accessions could be utilized as the genetic sources for improving specific yield components with regard to grain yield stability under droughted conditions.