Characterization of segregation distortion on chromosome 3 induced in wide hybridization between indica and japonica type rice varieties

We previously surveyed chromosomal regions showing segregation distortion of RFLP markers in the F₂ population from the cross between a japonica type variety ‘Nipponbare’ and an indica type variety ‘Milyang23’, and showed that the most skewed segregation appeared on the short arm of chromosome 3. By comparison with the marker loci where distortion factors were previously identified, this region was assumed to be a gametophytic selection-2 (ga2) gene region. To evaluate this region, two near isogenic lines (NILs) were developed. One NIL had the ‘Nipponbare’ segment of this region on the genetic background of ‘Milyang23’ (NIL9-23), and the other NIL had the ‘Milyang23’ segment on the genetic background of ‘Nipponbare’ (NIL33-18). NIL9-23 and ‘Milyang23’, NIL33-18 and ‘Nipponbare’, and ‘Nipponbare’ and ‘Milyang23’ were respectively crossed to produce F₁ and F₂ populations. The F₁ plants of NIL9-23 × ‘Milyang23’ and NIL33-18 × ‘Nipponbare’ showed high seed fertility and the same pollen fertility as their parental cultivars, indicating that ga2 does not reduce seed and pollen fertility. Segregation ratio of a molecular marker on the ga2 region in the three F₂ populations was investigated to clarify whether segregation distortion occurred on the different genetic backgrounds. Segregation distortion of the ga2 region appeared in the both F₂ populations from the NIL9-23 and ‘Milyang23’ cross (background was ‘Milyang23’ homozygote) and the ‘Nipponbare’ and ‘Milyang23’ cross (background was heterozygote), but did notin the F₂ population from the NIL33-18 and ‘Nipponbare’ cross (background was ‘Nipponbare’ homozygote). This result indicates that ga2 interacts with a ‘Milyang23’ allele(s) on the different chromosomal region(s) to cause skewed segregation of the ga2 region. In addition, segregation ratio was the same between the F₂ populations from NIL9-23 × ‘Milyang23’ and ‘Nipponbare’ × ‘Milyang23’ crosses, suggesting that the both genotypes, ‘Milyang23’ homozygote and heterozygote, of gene(s) located on the different chromosomal region(s) have the same effect on the segregation distortion. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Zingiberene-mediated resistance to the South American tomato pinworm derived from Lycopersicon hirsutum var. hirsutum

The Lycopersicon hirsutum var. hirsutum accession PI 127826 is recognized as a good source of resistance to arthropod pests due to the action of the allelochemical zimgiberene, a sesquiterpene present in its glandular trichomes. Five genotypes were selected from the F₂ generation of the interspecific cross Lycopersicon esculentum ‘TOM-556’ × Lycopersicon hirsutum var. hirsutum ‘PI 127826’, based on their low levels (BPX-368-clone#56) or high levels(BPX-368-clone#92, BPX-368-clone#105,BPX-368-clone#179, BPX-368-clone#250) of zingiberene. The five F₂ genotypes were tested for resistance to the South American tomato pinworm Tuta absolutaalong with accession L. esculentum ‘TOM-556’ (pinworm susceptible), and the accessions L. hirsutum var. hirsutum ‘PI 127826’ and L. pennellii ‘LA716’ (resistant). The F₂ clones selected for high foliar zingiberene levels showed lower scores for leaflet lesion type(LLT), percent leaflets attacked (PLA) and overall plant damage (OPD) than the low zingiberene genotypes. The results indicated that zingiberene mediates resistance to the South American pinworm, based on feeding and on ovipositing deterrence, in populations derived from the interspecific cross between Lycopersicon. esculentum and Lycopersicon hirsutum var. hirsutum. Indirect selection for high foliar zingiberene content is suggested as an efficient technique for breeding tomatoes for resistance to the South American tomato pinworm. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Heritability estimates of spot blotch resistance and its association with other traits in spring wheat crosses

Summary Spot blotch caused by Cochliobolus sativusis considered a major disease problem of wheat(Triticum aestivumL.) in the warm areas of South Asia. This study estimated heritability (h ²) of resistance to spot blotch and its correlation with days to heading DH) and maturity (DM), one-hundred-kernel weight (HKW), and plant height (PHT) in 14 crosses involving four resistant (‘Attila’, ‘Chirya 7’, ‘G 162’, and ‘SW89.5422’) and two susceptible (‘Sonalika’ and ‘HD2329’) wheat genotypes. Data were recorded on F₅and F₆lines in fields under natural epidemics of spot blotch in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Heritability was estimated for area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), AUDPC/day, and the highest disease score (HDS) using offspring-parent regression (h _op ²) and realized heritability (h ² _R) procedures. Heritability estimates were low to high in terms of AUDPC (0.21 < h _op ²< 0.64; 0.32 < h _R ²< 0.70), AUDPC/day (0.40 < h _op ²< 0.96; 0.42 < h _R ²< 0.99), and HDS (0.29 < h _op ²< 0.92; 0.32 < h _R ²< 0.95). The h ²estimates for AUDPC/day were higher than for AUDPC and HDS. Estimates of h _R ²were by and large higher than h _op ²in the same cross. A weak negative or nonsignificant correlation of spot blotch score with HKW, DH, DM, and PHT indicated that independent selection for resistance and these agronomic traits is possible.     

In vitro screening of strawberry plants for cold resistance

Formation of embryo autonomy of strawberry, plant regeneration fro membryo components, plant freezing conditions in vitro and the possibility to differentiate objectively genotypes by freezing them in vitro and in vivo were studied to create strawberry screening technology in vitro for cold resistance. It was established that autonomy of strawberry embryos manifests itself not earlier than on 14–16^th day after pollination and full autonomy is reached on 20–22^nd day. Plants regenerated from 26 days old embryos grew most intensively. At the highest rate strawberry plants regenerated from an isolated embryo axis on MS medium without phytohormones, and from rescued cotyledons x on the medium with 1.0 BA and 0.5 NAA. The temperature interval, at which genotypes differentiated according to cold resistance in vitro, was -8 to 12 ^°C. Differentiation of strawberry genotypes according to this character conformed to their differentiation in vivo, provided hardening proceeded not less than 21 days. The correlation between cold resistance in vitro and in vivo reached 0.93. Domination of cold resistance manifested itself in strawberry seedlings from various crossing combinations. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

Performance stability of maize genotypes across diverse hill environments in Nepal

The national maize improvement program in Nepal regularly receives elite maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes from CIMMYT and other countries and tests them for their performance stability in highly diverse environments. Studies were conducted on research stations and farmers’ fields at five sites in three years to determine performance stability of exotic maize genotypes. Replicated on-station and on-farm studies were conducted using 25 and 10 genotypes, respectively, including a local check and an improved check (Manakamana-3), in 2004–2006. We analyzed grain yield, days to flowering, plant and ear height, plant population, husk cover, and plant and ear aspect. Stability and genotype superiority for grain yield was determined using genotype and genotype × environment (GGE) biplot analysis that compares among a set of genotypes with a reference ‘ideal’ genotype, which has the highest average value of all genotypes and is absolutely stable. Several genotypes produced significantly higher grain yield than the local check. Four genotypes (‘Across9942 × Across9944’, ‘Open Ended White Hill Population’, ‘Population 44C10’ and ‘ZM621’), that produced significantly higher grain yield than the improved check, also had other agronomic traits (days to flowering, plant and ear height, number of ears, resistance to leaf blight, plant and ear aspect and husk cover tightness) equal to or better than the improved check. GGE-biplot analysis showed that Across9942 × Across9944 and ZM621 were the most superior genotypes in the on-station and on-farm trials, respectively. The findings from this study provide new information on the stability of the maize genotypes that are also adapted to other regions of the world. Such information could be useful for maize improvement program for the highlands in Nepal and other similar environments.     

Screening methods of apple trees for resistance toValsa canker

Summary Valsa canker is the most serious wood rot disease of apple in Japan. Dormant, excised twig assay in vitro was used to determine resistance to Valsa canker. ‘Fuji’, ‘Starking Delicious’, ‘M.26 EMLA’, and ‘MM.106’ were considered to be highly susceptible, while Malus sieboldii showed moderate resistance. Several cultivars belonging toM. prunifolia, M. baccata, andM. × domestica showed comparative resistance. The phloridzin content in the bark ofMalus species was studied in relation toValsa canker resistance. Phloridzin content ofM. sieboldii was lower than inM. × domestica. Comparatively resistant cultivars had similar or higher phloridzin content compared to susceptible cultivars. No clear correlations were found between resistance and phloridzin contents in the bark ofMalus species.     

Obtention of haploid embryos and plants through irradiated pollen technique in squash (Cucurbita pepo L.)

The influence of gamma ray doses (25, 50, 75, 100, 200, 300 and 400 Gy) and genotypes (Eskenderany F₁, Acceste F₁, Sakiz, Urfa Yerli) on the induction of haploid embryos obtained by irradiated pollen technique was studied in squash (Cucurbita pepo L.). Different shapes and stages of embryos were derived from seeds extracted from fruits harvested 4–5 weeks after pollination. As a result of the present study, haploid embryos and haploid plants were obtained, with haploid production strongly influenced by gamma ray doses, embryo stages and genotypes. Gamma ray doses of 25 and 50 Gy gave the highest parthenogenetical response. All of the point shape, globular shape, arrow tips and stick-shaped embryos developed into haploid plants. However, only 53.8% of torpedo and 23.1% of heart-shaped embryos gave haploid plants. In contrast, cotyledon-shaped and amorphous-shaped embryos produced only diploid plantlets. The number of embryos per 100 seeds was the highest in ‘Eskenderany F₁’ and ‘Sakiz’ genotypes. After in vitro culture, a total of 93 haploid plantlets were obtained. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Introgression of unique characteristics of floral initiation under 24 hour day-length of Fragaria chiloensis ‘CHI-24-1’ into F. × ananassa

A unique flower initiation of the wild Junebearing strawberry strain ‘CHI-24-1’ in Fragaria chiloensis occurs under 24 h DL and high temperature conditions. To introduce the floral initiation characteristics of ‘CHI-24-1’ into cultivated strawberries of F. × ananassa, a cross pollination was conducted between ‘CHI-24-1’ and the Japanese short-day type strawberry cultivar ‘Nyoho’. The floral initiation of ‘CHI-24-1’ was induced in both parent and daughter plants linked with runners under a 24 h DL and 23/20 ^∘C, but not 8 and 16 h DLs at the same temperatures. Of the 21 F1 hybrids grown under the 24 h DL, 12 showed flower truss production in the parent and/or daughter plants linked with runners. Among 64 F1 hybrids, 26 exposed to 8, 16 and 24 h DLs for 30 days produced no flower trusses. However, 32, one and five F1 hybrids produced flower trusses under the 24 h DL alone, 8 h DL alone and both the 8 and 24 h DLs, respectively. The results of the experiments indicated that none of the F1 hybrids were day-neutral plants, but approximately 60% had the characteristics of floral initiation under 24 h DL, which was inherited from the pollen parent of ‘CHI-24-1’. The importance of the unique floral initiation characteristics under 24 h DL with high temperature for strawberry breeding was discussed.     

Cytological studies of 2n male gamete formation in sugarcane, Saccharum L.

The germplasm for modern sugarcane cultivars (Saccharum spp. hybrids)has been derived principally from S. officinarum (2n = 80), and S. spontaneum (2n = 40 to 128). Diploid gamete formation has been significant in developing cultivated sugarcane, but the cytological basis for the processes involved is not clearly understood. This research investigated microsporogenesis in nine clones of Saccharum spp. Hybrids and in S. officinarum and S. spontaneum. Diploid gamete formation occurred in all 11 lines, but was least frequent in S. spontaneum and S. officinarum which produced 0.5% and 0.8%2n gametes, respectively. In the hybrid lines, 2n gametes were formed infrequencies ranging from 0.9% to 4.4%. Cytological evidence was obtained for dyad and triad formation during microsporogenesis. Detailed analysis of chromosome behaviour at meiosis indicated that 2n male gamete formation is probably attributable to the absence of cytokinesis rather than a combination of asynchrony and non-disjunction. The clones were ranked on the basis of the frequencies with which they formed 4 × 1n microspores and the data were analysed using χ ² tests for homogeneity. These established that theSaccharum spp. hybrids could be designated as either ‘high’ or ‘low’ frequency haploid gamete producers. Conversely, the latter group, which formed diploid gametes most frequently (2.2%–4.4%), can be described as high frequency diploid gamete producers. The identification of clones most frequently forming diploid gametes may facilitate the more rapid recovery of desirable sugarcane genotypes because such clones could be selected for preferential use in clonal improvement. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Description of a new trans-generic <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>kb-RNase allele in apple

Polish apple cvs: ‘Ligol’, ‘Odra’ and ‘Primula’ served for studies of self-incompatibility. Basing on available sequence data, a new set of primers upstream and downstream of the hypervariable (HV) region of apple S-RNases were designed. Using the RT-PCR method, cDNA was amplified on RNA isolated from styles. PCR products were cloned and sequenced. A new trans-generic S-RNase allele, designated as Skb (GenBank accession no. EU443101), was discovered in cvs ‘Odra’ and ‘Primula’. Nucleotide sequence alignment revealed that Skb-RNase shows 98% identity to SaucS19-RNase from Sorbus aucuparia and 97% identity to CmonS17-RNase from Crataegus monogyna. The occurrence of extensive intergeneric hybridization among extant Pyrinae is considered since the deduced amino acid sequence of Skb-RNase from M. × domestica showed higher similarity to CmonS17 from C. monogyna, SaucS19-RNase from S. aucuparia, St from Malus transitoria, S5-RNase and S3-RNase from Pyrus pyrifolia, and S40-RNase from P. ussuriensis than to S-alleles from Malus × domestica and all of them are grouped in the same cluster of phylogenetic tree. In respect to extremely high similarities between aforementioned S-RNases it could be possible that these alleles existed before the separation of Malus, Pyrus, Sorbus and Crataegus genera. Within Malus, the Skb-RNase from M. × domestica and St-RNase from M. transitoria show 100% identity of the HV region at the deduced amino acid level, suggesting that these S-RNases diverged more recently than the other Malus S-RNases. In ‘Ligol’, the agronomically most important cultivar in Poland, the S2 and S9 were identified.     

Interspecific hybridisation between Hibiscus syriacus, Hibiscus sinosyriacus and Hibiscus paramutabilis

Interspecific hybrids from crosses between H. syriacus × H. paramutabilis and H. syriacus × H. sinosyriacus were obtained. In both cases unilateral incongruity was observed and reciprocal crosses yielded no fruits. In vitro embryo rescue, 11 weeks after pollination, increased the germination capacity of H. syriacus × H. sinosyriacus embryos, while this was not the case for H. syriacus × H. paramutabilis embryos. However, a lot of the generated H. syriacus × H. sinosyriacus seedlings were lost due to variegated and total albinism. In the progeny of H. syriacus ‘Oiseau Bleu’ × H. paramutabilis about 95% of the seedlings had an intermediate flower and leaf morphology compared to both parent plants. Leaves on the adult F1 hybrids showed a polymorphism. In total four different leaf types could be observed on the same plant. This leaf polymorphism also was seen in the progeny of H. syriacus ‘Melwhite’ × H. sinosyriacus ‘Lilac Queen’. In this progeny about 50% of the seedlings had an intermediate flower and leaf morphology compared with the parent plants. The hybrid nature of the seedlings of both progenies was also confirmed by AFLP analysis. Despite the low germination vigour of the pollen of the hybrids, a small F2 generation was obtained from H. syriacus ‘Oiseau Bleu’ × H. paramutabilis.     

Sequence of the S 9-RNase cDNA and PCR-RFLP system for discriminating S 1- to S 9-allele in Japanese pear

A new S ₉-allele was discovered in 6 Japanese pear cultivars, ‘Shinkou’, ‘Shinsei’, ‘Niitaka’, ‘Amanogawa’, ‘Nangetsu’ and ‘Nansui’. cDNA encoding S ₉-RNase, a stylar product of S ₉-allele, was cloned from pistils of ‘Shinkou’ and ‘Shinsei’ by 3' and 5' RACE. The S ₉-RNase gene had an open reading frame of 684 nucleotides encoding 228 amino acid residues. S ₉-RNase had a hypervariable (HV) region different from S ₁- to S ₈-RNase and shared higher similarity (95.2%) with apple S ₃-RNase than with 8 Japanese pear S-RNases (from 61.0% to 70.7%). Genomic PCR with primers ‘FTQQYQ’ and ‘anti-(I/T) IWPNV’ provided S ₁- to S ₉-amplicon (product), but could not discriminate the S ₂ from the S ₉ of ca. 1.3 kb. The S ₂ and S ₉ were distinguished by digestion with AflII and BstBI, respectively. The digestion with nine S-allele-specific restriction endonucleases, SfcI, AflII, PpuMI, NdeI,AlwNI, HincII, AccII, NruI and BstBI, distinguished S ₁ to S ₉, establishing that this PCR-RFLP system is useful for S-genotype assignments in Japanese pear harboring S ₁- to S ₉-allele. ‘Shinkou’, ‘Shinsei’, ‘Nangetsu’ and ‘Nansui’ assigned as S ₄ S ₉ were determined to be cross incompatible. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Development of Novel Brassica napus lines with canola quality and higher levels of oleic and linoleic acids derived from intergeneric hybrids between B. napus and Orychophragmus violaceus

Parents and their F₁ and F₂ progenies were evaluated for density of type IV glandular trichomes and resistance to Tetranychus urticae Koch during three stages of the plant growth. Results indicated significant differences between density of type IV glandular trichomes on F₁ and F₂ populations at different sampling times. As age of plant increased, density of type IV glandular trichomes and resistance to two-spotted spider mite increased. Density of type IV glandular trichomes on F₂ individuals showed a broad range of variability (0–42 trichomes/mm²). The estimated heritability was very high (>85%) for damage score and density of type IV glandular trichomes at different sampling times. Acylsugars content in Lycopersicon pennellii ‘‘LA2963’’ was more than two-folds high than those found in L. esculentum ‘‘Nandi’’, F₁ and F₂ populations, indicating that recessive gene(s) are responsible for the high acylsugar contents in L. pennellii ‘‘LA2963’’.     

Expression of resistance to downy mildew at cotyledon and adult plant stages in Brassica oleracea L.

This research compared the expression of resistance to downy mildew at cotyledon and adult plant stages in seven Brassica oleracea genotypes against two P. parasitica isolates of different virulence. Seven day old seedlings were dual inoculated under controlled environment by depositing two 10 μl droplets of a spore suspension of a different isolate on each cotyledon and the interaction phenotype (IP) evaluated 7 days later using a 0–5 scale of increasing susceptibility. The seedlings were transplanted to 16 cm pots and grown in the greenhouse for 110 days (15 to 28 leaves). Adult plants were tested using a single leaf inoculation method that allowed the same plant to be simultaneously inoculated with the two P. parasitica isolates. Leaves were scored 10 days after inoculation using a 0–5 scale of increasing susceptibility. The inoculation of the same plant with the two isolates produced different combinations of cotyledon (CT) and adult-plant (AP) interaction-phenotype according to the genotype. CrGC 3.1 was susceptible at CT and AP stages, ‘Algarvia’ resistant at CT and AP stages, and broccoli ‘A’ susceptible at CT and resistant at AP stage against the two isolates. ‘Murciana’ and broccoli ‘B’ were differential at CT and AP stages. Savoy and Shetland cabbages were differential at CT stage and resistant to both isolates as adult plants. Cotyledon resistance could not be used to predict adult-plant resistance since the two types of resistance were very poorly correlated. Resistance can be race specific either at cotyledon or at adult-plant stage. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Identification of self-incompatibility alleles in pear cultivars (Pyrus communis L.)

Self and cross-incompatibility determination by means of fruit and seed set experiments or pollen tube growth observations in the style has been frequently reported to be unclear in pear (Pyrus communis L.). Thus,in order to develop a reliable in vivo method to test pollen-pistil incompatibility in pear, pollen tube performance has been studied along the pistil following self and cross-pollinations. Results show that, while pollen tube growth in the style may be an unclear test, ovule observation at the microscope for the presence of pollen tube in the nucellus is a proper method to test incompatibility in this crop. With this analysis we could identify S-alleles of ‘Williams’ (S₁S₂) and ‘Coscia’(S₃S₄), and three of the four possible S-genotypes resulting from the ‘Williams’ × ‘Coscia’ cross, as represented by ‘Butirra Precoz Morettini’ (S₁S₃), ‘Santa Maria Morettini’ (S₂S₃)and ‘Tosca’ (S₁S₄). This result demonstrates that ‘Williams’ and ‘Coscia’ cultivars do not share any allele in common. We also established two new inter-incompatibility groups in pear. Furthermore, the presence of a common allele between ‘Williams’ and ‘Agua de Aranjuez’,and ‘Coscia’ and ‘Agua de Aranjuez’, three apparently unrelated old cultivars, may indicate a narrower genetic base than expected for European pear. This finding together with the fact that 40% of new released cultivars have direct or indirect parental relationship with the cultivars ‘Coscia’ and/or ‘Williams’, anticipates the possibility of new cases of cross-incompatibility for this crop in the future. Both the method described and the determination of the S-genotypes will facilitate the characterisation of self and cross-incompatibility relationships in this species. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Isolation of wheat mutants with increased resistance to powdery mildew from small induced variant populations

Small variant wheat populations created by induced mutagenesis (n = 69) or adventitious regeneration (n = 66) were intensively screened for an altered response (compared to the parent variety ‘Guardian’) to the causal pathogen of powdery mildew in wheat, Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici. Intensive field screening following natural infection of replicated plots of wheat lines over two years revealed a total of 13 mutants exhibiting significantly greater resistance than ‘Guardian’: eight from induced mutagenesis (11.6%) of the M2 population and five from adventitious regeneration (7.6%). Complete resistance was identified in two lines, (one (M66) developed following induced mutagenesis, and the other (SC240) by adventitious regeneration). The complete resistance in the induced mutant was stable over two generations and was associated with a high frequency of leaf flecking, and consequently a low grain yield. Resistance in SC240 proved to be unstable; SC240 exhibited complete resistance to powdery mildew in the SC₂ and SC₃ generations, but only 20% of the SC₄ plants were completely resistant, while the remainder were indistinguishable in mildew response to ‘Guardian’. The mildew response of all the SC₅ generation of SC240 was not significantly different from ‘Guardian’. Yield analysis of the thirteen mutants with increased resistance in the presence of powdery mildew indicated that eleven exhibitedgrain yields at least as high as that of ‘Guardian’, while the mutant M19 exhibited a yield significantly higher than that of ‘Guardian’. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Linked dominant alleles or inter-locus interaction results in a major shift in pomegranate fruit acidity of ‘Ganesh’ × ‘Kabul Yellow’

Summary Inheritance of fruit acidity in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) was studied in 3 sweet or low acid (‘Ganesh’, ‘Ruby’ and ‘Kabul Yellow’) and 3 sour or high acid (‘Nana’, ‘Daru’ and ‘Double Flower’) varieties and their progenies. The F₁ and F₂ data of ‘Ganesh’ × ‘Nana’ showed that fruit acidity is monogenically controlled and the sour nature is dominant over sweet. Further, whether a genotype produces sweet or sour fruit is determined by a major gene (SS) while a few modifiers with small effects cause fluctuations in the acidity levels within sour and sweet types. All the trees of 3 crosses involving ‘Daru’ produced acidic fruits but those of (‘Ganesh’ × ‘Nana’) × ‘Daru’ reached acidity as high as 71.2 g/l which could be because of cumulative influence of modifying genes derived from the two acidic varieties ‘Nana’ and ‘Daru’. Pollination of functionally sterile ‘Double Flower’ variety with single (normal) flower types revealed that ‘Double Flower’ is a dominant mutant from an acidic fruited genotype (Ss). The segregation pattern in F₁ indicated the possible linkage between genes governing total acidity and flower type. All the F₁ hybrids between ‘Kabul Yellow’ and ‘Ganesh’ (sweet × sweet) were sour fruited with almost 8-fold jump in fruit acidity over the mid-parental value. The steep increase in acidity cannot be convincingly attributed to overdominance which is certainly rare at major gene level. Alternatively, linked dominant alleles or epistatic effect of neighboring loci which readily simulate overdominance (pseudo-overdominance) could have caused a major shift in F₁ fruit acidity.     

Genetic diversity among elite varieties of the aromatic grasses, Cymbopogon martinii

The elite and popular cultivars of Cymbopogon martinii were examined for genomic and expressed molecular diversity through RAPD, enzyme and SDS-PAGE protein polymorphisms. The allelic score at each locus of the enzymes as well as presence and absence profiling in RAPDs, overall occurrence of band types etc. were subjected to computation of gene diversity, expected heterozygosity, allele number per locus, and similarity matrix. These, in turn, provide inputs to derive primary account of allelic variability, genetic bases of the cultivated germplasm, putative need for gene/trait introgression from the wild or geographically diverse habitat etc. in elite selections. ‘PRC1’ possessed highest number of unique bands based on RAPD polymorphism. In variety ‘IW31245E’, diaphorase and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase isozymes generated two unique bands as dia-III ² and got-II ⁴. ‘RRL(B)77’ exhibited three unique bands; one produced by esterase as allele est-II ¹ and two by malic enzyme (me-III ^1,3). Only one unique band was generated by malic enzyme in variety ‘Trishna’. But sofia had three unique bands, two contributed by diaphorase (dia-II ³ and dia-II ⁴ and one by glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (got-II ²). SDS-PAGE analysis revealed presence of unique polypeptide fragments (97.7 kDa to 31.6 kDa) in varieties ‘IW31245E’, ‘RRL(B)77’, ‘Tripta’, ‘Trishna’, ‘PRC1’ and var. sofia, generated as a diagnostic marker. In general, molecular distinctions associated with var. motia and var. sofia have been clearly noticed in C. martinii. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of alien 5R(5A) chromosome substitution on ear-emergence time and winter hardiness in wheat-rye substitution lines

Ear emergence time and response to vernalization were investigated in 12 alien substitution lines in which a pair of chromosomes 5A of recipient spring wheat cultivars was replaced by a pair of chromosomes 5R of Siberian spring rye ‘Onokhoiskaya’. The recipients were 12 spring cultivars of common wheat, each carrying different Vrn genes. Spring rye ‘Onokhoiskaya’ had the Sp1 (now called Vrn-R1) gene for spring growth habit located on chromosome 5R, but its expression was weaker. The Vrn-R1 gene had no effect on growth habit, ear emergence time and response to vernalization in wheat-rye substitution lines. Ears emerged significantly later in the 5R(5A) alien substitution lines than in the recipient wheat cultivars with the Vrn-A1/Vrn-B1/vrn-D1 or Vrn-A1/vrn-B1/Vrn-D1 genotypes. No difference in ear emergence time was found between most of the 5R(5A) alien substitution lines and the cultivars carrying the recessive vrn-A1 gene. The presence of the Vrn2a and Vrn2b alleles at the Vrn2 (now called Vrn-B1) locus located on wheat chromosome 5B was confirmed.The replacement of chromosome 5A by chromosome 5R in wheat cultivars ‘Rang’ and ‘Mironovskaya Krupnozernaya’, which carries the single dominant gene Vrn-A1, converted them to winter growth habit. In field studies near Novosibirsk the winter hardiness of 5R(5A) wheat–rye substitution lines of ‘Rang’ and ‘Mironovskaya Krupnozernaya’ was increased by 20–47% and 27–34%, respectively, over the recurrent parents.