A note on the evolution of kabuli chickpeas as shown by induced mutations in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer reticulatum</Emphasis> Ladizinsky

Two distinct chickpeas of the domestic chickpea, C. arietinum L., exist and are referred to as ‘desi’ or microsperma and ‘kabuli’ or macrosperma. Cicer reticulatum Ladiz. is considered to be the wild progenitor of the domestic chickpea. However, the morphological variation in 18 original accessions of C. reticulatum is narrower than those of the domestic chickpeas. The aim of the study is to increase the variability in C. reticulatum. In M₂ generation, a mutant with white flower color was isolated despite of the fact that the parent has the pink flower. Although seed coat color of the parent was dark brown, the mutant was cream like ‘kabuli’ chickpea. It is commonly accepted that the large seeded domestic ‘kabuli’ chickpeas originated from the small seeded ‘desi’ chickpeas, but the induced mutants (white flower and cream seed coat color) of C. reticulatum may suggest an additional path for the evolution of ‘kabuli’ chickpea. ‘Kabuli’ chickpeas could have originated from spontaneous mutants of C. reticulatum. In M₃ generation, multipinnate leaf, erect growth habit, green seed and double-podded chickpeas were isolated. Among these progenies, morphologic variability increased and approached domesticated chickpea. Based on historical records and the induced mutants obtained from this study, the domestic ‘kabuli’ chickpea could have directly emerged from C. reticulatum in ancient Eastern Turkey.     

Genetic diversity and structure of Ethiopian,Yemen and Brazilian C<Emphasis Type="Italic">offea arabica</Emphasis> L. accessions using microsatellites markers

Genetic diversity among 115 coffee accessions from the Coffea Germplasm Collection of IAC was assessed using SSR markers. The germplasm represents 73 accessions of Coffea arabica derived from spontaneous and subspontaneous plants in Ethiopia and Eritrea, species center of origin and diversity, 13 commercial cultivars of C. arabica developed by the Breeding Program of IAC, 1 accession of C. arabica cv. ‘Geisha’, 13 accessions of C. arabica from Yemen, 5 accessions of C. eugenioides, 4 accessions of C. racemosa and 6 accessions of C. canephora. Genetic analysis was performed using average number of alleles per locus (A), proportion of polymorphic loci (P), Shannon’s genetic index (H′ and G′_ST) and clustering analysis. All evaluated species were distinguished by a cluster analysis based on Jaccard’s coefficient. Differentiation between the cultivated plants of C. arabica and accessions derived from spontaneous and subspontaneous plants was observed. Spontaneous and subspontaneous accessions from Ethiopia were separated according to the geographical origin: east and west of the Great Rift Valley. Cultivated plants showed a low genetic diversity with a division in two groups: accessions from Yemen (H′=0,028) and Brazilian commercial cultivars (H′=0,030). The results agreed with previously reported narrow genetic basis of cultivated plants of C. arabica and supported the hypotheses about domestication of the species. This study also showed a significant genetic diversity among accessions from Ethiopia and Eritrea present in the Germplasm Collection of IAC. This diversity is specially observed in accessions from Sidamo (H′=0,143), Kaffa (H′=0,142) and Illubabor (H′=0,147) indicating their importance as source of genetic variability for coffee breeding programs.     

On the occurrence,distribution and taxonomy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Momordica subangulata</Emphasis> Blume subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">renigera</Emphasis> (G. Don) de Wilde in India

Different authors in India and South East Asia treat dioecious species in the genus Momordica differently. The cultivated ‘bhat karela’ of East and North East India is referred to as Momordica dioica Roxb. by botanists and herbarium curators whereas agricultural scientists, in general, designate it as Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng. A critical study of 266 herbarium sheets housed at CAL and BSISH and in situ field studies at specific pockets in the North East India followed by preliminary characterization revealed its correct identity as Momordica subangulata Blume subsp. renigera (G. Don) de Wilde. First hand information on its occurrence, taxonomy and distribution in India is given. The species was found in wild as well as in homestead cultivation in North Eastern India and exemplify direct utilization of biodiversity by indigenous people.

Genetic diversity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">rbc</Emphasis>L gene in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elymus trachycaulus</Emphasis> complex and their phylogenetic relationships to several Triticeae species

Elymus trachycaulus complex species are known for their morphological variability, but little is known about their genetic basis. The phylogenetic relationships among the E. trachycaulus complex, and their systematic relation to other species in Triticeae remain unknown. Nucleotide diversity of ribulose-1,5 bisphosphate-carboxylase (rbcL) gene in E. trachycaulus complex species and several other Triticeae was first characterized and compared. A primary conclusion of the present study is that nucleotide diversity for rbcL gene in E. trachycaulus species was detected with the estimates of nucleotide diversity θ = 0.00039 and π = 0.00043. The estimate of nucleotide diversity in rbcL gene for species with different genome constitution here ranged from 0.00099 (π) and 0.00099 (θ) for the species with Ns genome to 0.00226 (π) and 0.00291 (θ) for the species with St genome. The phylogenetic relationships of these species were assessed using these rbcL sequences. A total of 47 variable positions including 19 parsimony-informative sites were detected among 24 accessions of 18 species/subspecies. The species with St, H/I and Ns genomes well separated from each other, and formed a three distinct clades with higher bootstrap values support for both Parsimony and NJ analyses. The St genome containing species is sister group of H/I genome containing species. Our result confirms that Pseudoroegneria is the maternal genome donor to these Elymus species studied here, regardless of their distribution. Elymus trachycaulus complex are more related to each other than to E. glaucescens, E. patagonicus, and E. solandri. This study suggested that Elymus species with StH genomes may form from multiple closely related sets of donors.     

Effects of long-term mineral fertilization on microbial biomass,microbial activity,and the presence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">r</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis>-strategists in soil

Long-term effects of mineral fertilization on microbial biomass C (MBC), basal respiration (R _B), substrate-induced respiration (R _S), β-glucosidase activity, and the r–K-growth strategy of soil microflora were investigated using a field trial on grassland established in 1969. The experimental plots were fertilized at three rates of mineral N (0, 80, and 160 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) with 32 kg P ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 100 kg K ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. No fertilizer was applied on the control plots (C). The application of a mineral fertilizer led to lower values of the MBC and R _B, probably as a result of fast mineralization of available substrate after an input of the mineral fertilizer. The application of mineral N decreased the content of C extracted by 0.5 M K₂SO₄ (C _ex). A positive correlation was found between pH and the proportion of active microflora (R _S/MBC). The specific growth rate (μ) of soil heterotrophs was higher in the fertilized than in unfertilized soils, suggesting the stimulation of r-strategists, probably as the result of the presence of available P and rhizodepositions. The cessation of fertilization with 320 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (NF) in 1989 also stimulated r-strategists compared to C soil, probably as the result of the higher content of available P in the NF soil than in the C soil.     

AFLP similarities among historic Danish cultivars of fodder beet (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Beta vulgaris</Emphasis> L. subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">vulgaris</Emphasis>var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">rapacea</Emphasis> Koch)

Dead seeds of a fodder beet cultivar ‘Elvetham’ stored under ambient conditions since 1880 were compared to a homonymous sample preserved in an on-farm situation in Denmark. DNA was isolated from single seeds and successfully applied to Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of the accessions. Six primer pairs were used to determine the similarity between the two accessions based on 112 polymorphic bands. Furthermore, similarity among seven cultivars of fodder beets representing the main types used in Scandinavia at the end of the 19th century was determined. This analysis was based on 152 polymorphic bands. Differentiation among the seven cultivars was determined to a mean G _ST value of 0.438, while G _ST between the two ‘Elvetham’ accessions was 0.266. A principal coordinate analysis based on jaccards similarity index illustrates that the two ‘Elvetham’ accessions are different from each other. The differentiation is higher than the value found between two separate ‘Eckerndorfer’ accessions. The results indicate that the cultivated accession has changed. Additionally, the value of applying old dead seed material for documentation in gene banks is demonstrated. During the analysis it was found that DNA isolated from seeds and leaves behaved differently in the AFLP process, however, the two fractions assigned to their common accession.     

Acquisition and ecological characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactuca serriola</Emphasis> L. germplasm collected in the Czech Republic,Germany, the Netherlands and United Kingdom

Expeditions were conducted in the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands and United Kingdom in 2001 (partly 1998) to study Lactuca serriola L. (prickly lettuce, compass plant) geographic distribution, ecology, habitat characteristics and occurrence of diseases and pests on this species. During these missions the seed material of L. serriola L. was collected in an east–west transect of these four countries. The European transect where seeds were collected and field observations were made represents a relatively large area between 2°34′50′′ W–17°32′46′′ E and 47°40′42′′–54°04′19′′ N. The seed material was used for regeneration, inclusion in the national genetic resources collections of individual countries and for research purposes in follow-up studies. During the missions, 50 locations with occurrence of L. serriola L. were visited (16 in Czech Republic and Germany, 10 in UK and 8 in the Netherlands). Individual seed lots of sixteen different plants were collected at each location (L. serriola L. population). Thus, in total 800 seed samples were collected. In Czech Republic and Germany L. serriola L. f. serriola dominated in all observed populations, in the Netherlands both f. serriola and f. integrifolia occurred in pure or mixed stands, whereas in the United Kingdom L. serriola L. f. integrifolia (S.F. Gray) S.D. Prince et R.N. Carter was dominant. L. serriola L. was recorded at various altitudes (−4 to 410 m), different habitats (ditches, along roads, fields and field margins, ruderal places, pavements and parking sites, fallow fields), individual populations varied substantially in size (20 to >1000 plants), area covered (25–10,000 m²), and the structure and character of associated plant communities. Natural infections by downy mildew (Bremia lactucae Regel) and powdery mildew (Golovinomyces cichoracearum (DC.) V.P. Gelyuta) were observed in some populations. B. lactucae Regel was recorded only in Czech Republic, G. cichoracearum (DC.) V.P. Gelyuta was more common in continental Europe. General and specific aspects of L. serriola L. geographic distribution and ecology are discussed.     

Molecular Confirmation of the Position of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium trifurcatum</Emphasis> Vollesen

Taxonomic understanding is a necessary prerequisite for intelligent germplasm maintenance and evaluation. Here, we use molecular evidence to address the generic position of the poorly known and morphologically unusual taxon Gossypium trifurcatum Vollesen. This species possesses dentate leaves, a feature not otherwise found in Gossypium L. but one that is common in Cienfuegosia Cav., a related genus in the small Malvaceous tribe Gossypieae. G. trifurcatum is a rare plant, restricted to deserts of Eastern Somalia and known from only two collections, the last in 1980. Using DNA extracted from an herbarium specimen, we amplified and sequenced the chloroplast gene ndhF. Phylogenetic analysis reveals G. trifurcatum to be cladistically nested within Gossypium. These data diagnose dentate leaves as an autapomorphy within a genetically diverse assemblage of African–Arabian species, which remain the least well-represented cottons in germplasm collections.     

Conservation in a changing world: <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> conservation of the giant maize of Jala

Using survey data from Jala, Mexico, this case-study evaluates in situ maize conservation of the variety ‘Jala’ (Zea mays L.). Though historically ‘Jala’ was the dominant variety grown in the valley of Jala, today less than 20% of farmers grow it on only 5% of the maize area. Younger growers of the ‘Jala’ variety specialize in it, growing relatively large amounts for niche markets. Older, diversified farmers grow small areas for household use and to compete in a local contest. Conservation of the ‘Jala’ variety has been heavily influenced by shifting ideal concepts of maize, as determined by market and consumption demands and by a contest designed to promote in situ conservation. The current move away from nationalized purchasing may favor ‘Jala’s’ continued conservation.     

Assessing genetic diversity of Polish wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis>) varieties using microsatellite markers

Fifty-three wheat cultivars have been genotyped using 24 SSR (simple sequence repeat) markers in order to evaluate genetic similarities among Polish wheats, i.e. 53 spring and winter cultivars; ‘Chinese Spring’ was taken as reference. ll but one SSR marker allowed to identify DNA polymorphisms, giving in total 166 alleles (including nulls), from 3 to 13 alleles per marker with mean of 7.22. Based on marker data, genetic similarities were calculated and a dendrogram was created. ‘Spring’ cultivars were less diverse than winter ones, showing the biggest similarity to ‘Chinese Spring’. Four sister cultivars (Nutka, Tonacja, Zyta and Sukces), formed a cluster of very similar materials, of which Zyta and Sukces had the highest similarity indices. Parental lines Jubilatka and SMH 2182 were more distant from each other (genetic similarity of 0.227). It was possible to differentiate all the wheats using only four SSR markers: Xgwm186, Xgwm389, Xgwm459 and Xgwm577.     

Molecular differentiation,diversity, and folk classification of “sweet” and “bitter” cassava (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Manihot esculenta</Emphasis>) in Caiçara and Caboclo management systems (Brazil)

This study focuses the inter-relationships among the men, the use, and the intra-specific cassava diversity, under the perspective of this crop evolutionary dynamics. The origin, the use and the current local management of varieties with high and low cyanogenic potential are important questions around cassava domestication. We collected 169 local varieties identified as “sweet” or “bitter” cassava by traditional farmers from Atlantic Forest and Amazon (Medium Negro River Basin), Brazil. Using a population genetics and an ethnobotany approach, the diversity and the genetic structure of cassava were evaluated. We found a total of 115 vernacular names, and in the Atlantic Forest sample the average genetic diversity (H _S = 0.654) was higher for the sweet varieties than for bitter ones (0.582). The genetic differentiation coefficient (R _ST), used to estimate the diversity among groups, was 0.057 (P < 0.001), indicating that the divergence between the two groups is low. We obtained a low correlation between the morphological and genetic distances, and the congruence was high when the ethnoclassification and the genetic structure were considered. We discuss the adaptive advantages of the sweet varieties use, the current socio-economic changes in bitter varieties use, and the ecological history of these variety groups.     

Powdery Mildew Resistance in a Collection of Chinese Barley Varieties

One hundred and forty-seven Chinese barley varieties maintained at the Gene Bank of the National Barley Improvement Centre, Zhejiang, and 84 progenies from these varieties were tested at the seedling stage for their reaction to 32 selected pathotypes of Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei. Eighteen resistance spectra were identified comprising single or combined resistances from eight known (Ml(Bw), Ml(Ch), Mla7, Mla8, Mla9, Mla13, MlaRu4 and Mlg) and six unknown resistance genes. The most frequent gene was Ml(Bw), which was found in 69 varieties and previously detected in only a few European winter barley varieties. The genes Mla8 and Ml(Ch) were also often present, but other resistance genes were rare. After inoculation, considerably fewer pathogen colonies were observed in ‘Aiganqi’ and one line of ‘Tong5’. Twenty varieties were composed of lines with different resistance genes. China is likely to be a region of origin of the genes Ml(Bw), Mla7, as well as three unknown genes found in original landraces and perhaps another three unknown genes detected in cultivars bred in China. The resistances of varieties from the Zhejiang province and those originating from 11 other Chinese provinces were quite different. Unfortunately, none of the varieties are promising sources of resistance to powdery mildew and China does not seem to be a region suitable for identifying such sources.     

Maintaining Genetic Resources of Peach Palm (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bactris gasipaes</Emphasis> Kunth): The Role of Seed Migration and Swidden-fallow Management in Northeastern Peru

Knowledge of the effects of farmer practices on population genetic parameters of peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) is relevant to the improvement and conservation of the palm’s genetic resources. Microsatellite markers were used to assess genetic diversity and population structure of peach palm in swidden-fallow agroforestry systems in northeastern Peru. The study covered eight communities, comprising two study areas 160 km apart – one occupied by indigenous Amerindians and the other by mixed race campesinos. Simultaneous analysis of an ex situ peach palm germplasm collection provided a means to compare population genetic parameters. Farmers who were surveyed on seed selection practices for peach palm reported that an average of only four palms (4.3 for campesino and 1.5 for indigenous populations) were used to provide seed for the establishment of the forest gardens sampled. As expected, inbreeding coefficients observed within communities were relatively high (f = 0.105 − 0.210), however, observed heterozygosities within communities were also high (0.625–0.741). A metapopulation approach was used to describe migration within and among regions, implying a hierarchical structure of gene flow which maintains relatively high levels of genetic diversity. Seed migration was found to occur over longer distances (≤600 km) and at a higher frequency (46% of palms sampled) in the indigenous study area, and a proportionally greater number of alleles was found (49 vs. 43 over three loci) with twice as many private alleles occurring only in the indigenous populations. The farmers’ practice of preserving remnant palms through successive swidden generations may have contributed to the maintenance of alleles by reducing the severity of founder effects. Although the campesino study area exhibited a significant (20% of the variation; p < 0.01) isolation-by-distance relationship across 35 km distance, in general, both study populations had relatively limited genetic structure (θ = 0.012–0.03), which is believed to have resulted from the exchange of seeds over long distances and periods of time.     

Transfer of leaf rust and stripe rust resistance from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegilops umbellulata</Emphasis> Zhuk. to bread wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.)

Aegilops umbellulata acc. 3732, an excellent source of resistance to major wheat diseases, was used for transferring leaf rust and stripe rust resistance to cultivated wheat. An amphiploid between Ae. umbellulata acc. 3732 and Triticum durum cv. WH890 was crossed with cv. Chinese Spring Ph ^I to induce homoeologous pairing between Ae. umbellulata and wheat chromosomes. The F₁ was crossed to the susceptible Triticum aestivum cv. ‘WL711’ and leaf rust and stripe rust resistant plants were selected among the backcross progenies. Homozygous lines were selected and screened against six Puccinia triticina and four Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici pathotypes at the seedling stage and a mixture of prevalent pathotypes of both rust pathogens at the adult plant stage. Genomic in situ hybridization in some of the selected introgression lines detected two lines with complete Ae. umbellulata chromosomes. Depending on the rust reactions and allelism tests, the introgression lines could be classified into two groups, comprising of lines with seedling leaf rust resistance gene Lr9 and with new seedling leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes. Inheritance studies detected an additional adult plant leaf rust resistance gene in one of the introgression lines. A minimum of three putatively new genes—two for leaf rust resistance (LrU1 and LrU2) and one for stripe rust resistance (YrU1) have been introgressed into wheat from Ae. umbellulata. Two lines with no apparent linkage drag have been identified. These lines could serve as sources of resistance to leaf rust and stripe rust in breeding programs.     

Diversity of aroma patterns in wild and cultivated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fragaria</Emphasis> accessions

Plant breeders are interested in strawberry species as donors of volatile compounds in breeding programmes because of the diversity and intensity of wild strawberry aroma. Therefore, the topic of this paper is the prospective analysis of four accessions of four wild strawberry accessions in comparison to a standard cultivar of Fragaria × ananassa Duch. by using human sensory, gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) and gas chromatography–olfactometry (GCO). The wild species have higher aroma intensities compared with the cultivated one. The flavour quality differs significantly. Semiquantitative GC analysis revealed that F. × ananassa cv. ‘Elsanta’ has the lowest content of volatile compounds whereas Fragaria moschata L. ‘Cotta’ has the highest. The aroma impressions, measured by GCO, support the findings of GCMS analyses. The nasal impact frequency (NIF)-profiles of the wild types are more manifold and of higher intensities than those of the cultivated F. × ananassa cv. ‘Elsanta’ which corresponds with the overall flavour impression when tasting the fresh fruits.     

Production of Intergeneric Hybrids Between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sinapis alba</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica carinata</Emphasis>

Reciprocal crosses were made between Brassica carinata and its related species Sinapis alba. Pollen germination studies indicated the presence post-fertilization barriers in both ways. Sequential ovary–ovule culture helped to realize the intergeneric hybrids from the cross S. alba × B. carinata. The F₁ obtained was confirmed as a hybrid based on morphology, cytology and isozyme studies. The hybrid was backcrossed to its male parent and obtained BC₁ seeds, which were used to raise BC₁ generation. The BC₁ generation plants were further backcrossed to B. carinata in order to develop alloplasmic lines.     

Sources of Resistance to Stem Rust (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Puccinia graminis</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">tritici</Emphasis>) in Ethiopian Tetraploid Wheat Accessions

Seedlings of 41 emmer (Triticum dicoccon Schrank) and 56 durum (T. durum Desf.) wheat accessions were evaluated for their response to stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) infection under greenhouse condition at Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia. The objectives were to identify tetraploid wheat accessions that could serve as sources of resistance to stem rust, and postulate the stem rust (Sr) resistance genes through multipatotype testing. The test included screening of accessions for stem rust resistance and multipatotype testing. To ensure vigorous screening, a mixture of six isolates (Si-1a, Am-2, Ku-3, Dz-4a, Ro-4 and Na-22) that were collected from severely infected emmer, durum, and bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties of major wheat growing areas of Ethiopia was used as inocula. Out of the tested accessions, 18 emmer and 6 durum accessions exhibited low infection types (0–2) response and hence selected as a source of resistance to stem rust infection. Multipatotype testing was done to postulate Sr genes in the selected accessions. In the test, 10 different stem rust races (A2, A9, A11, A14, A16, A17, B3, B7, B15, and B21), 33 stem rust differential lines, and a universal susceptible check variety, Morocco were used, The high (3–4) and low infection type reaction patterns of the tested accessions and differential lines were used to postulate the genes that exhibit gene-for-gene relationship. The presence of Sr 7b, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10, 14, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and Tt-3+10 genes were postulated in 16 selected emmer and 5 durum wheat accessions. Efforts to transfer these valuable Sr genes from cultivated tetraploid wheats could be rewarding to get stem rust resistant varieties and boost wheat production.     

Evaluation and utilization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegilops</Emphasis> and wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum</Emphasis> species for enhancing iron and zinc content in wheat

Grains of 80 accessions of nine species of wild Triticum and Aegilops along with 15 semi-dwarf cultivars of bread and durum wheat grown over 2 years at Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, were analyzed for grain iron and zinc content. The bread and durum cultivars had very low content and little variability for both of these micronutrients. The related non-progenitor wild species with S, U and M genomes showed up to 3–4 folds higher iron and zinc content in their grains as compared to bread and durum wheat. For confirmation, two Ae. kotschyi Boiss. accessions were analyzed after ashing and were found to have more than 30% higher grain ash content than the wheat cultivars containing more than 75% higher iron and 60% higher zinc than that of wheat. There were highly significant differences for iron and zinc contents among various cultivars and wild relatives over both the years with very high broad sense heritability. There was a significantly high positive correlation between flag leaf iron and grain iron (r = 0.82) and flag leaf zinc and grain zinc (r = 0.92) content of the selected donors suggesting that the leaf analysis could be used for early selection for high iron and zinc content. ‘Chinese Spring’ (Ph ^I ) was used for inducing homoeologous chromosome pairing between Aegilops and wheat genomes and transferring these useful traits from the wild species to the elite wheat cultivars. A majority of the interspecific hybrids had higher leaf iron and zinc content than their wheat parents and equivalent or higher content than their Aegilops parents suggesting that the parental Aegilops donors possess a more efficient system for uptake and translocation of the micronutrients which could ultimately be utilized for wheat grain biofortification. Partially fertile to sterile BC₁ derivatives with variable chromosomes of Aegilops species had also higher leaf iron and zinc content confirming the possibility of transfer of required variability. Some of the fertile BC₁F₃ and BC₂F₂ derivatives had as high grain ash and grain ash iron and zinc content as that of the donor Aegilops parent. Further work on backcrossing, selfing, selection of fertile derivatives, leaf and grain analyses for iron and zinc for developing biofortified bread and durum wheat cultivars is in progress. Nidhi Rawat, Vijay K. Tiwari, and Neelam Singh have contributed equally to the work.     

Evaluation of annual wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer</Emphasis> species for drought and heat resistance under field conditions

About 90% of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in the world is grown under rainfed conditions where it is subjected to drought and heat stress. Unlike the cultivated chickpea, annual wild Cicer species possess sources of resistance to multiple stress; annual wild Cicer species were therefore evaluated for resistance to drought and heat stress. Eight annual wild Cicer species (Cicer bijugum, C. chorassanicum, C. cuneatum, C. echinospermum, C. judaicum, C. pinnatifidum, C. reticulatum, and C. yamashitae) were compared with special checks, the cvs ICC 4958 and FLIP 87-59C (drought resistant) and ICCV 96029 (very early double-podded). ILC 3279 and 8617 as drought susceptible checks were sown after every 10 test lines. Yield losses due to drought and heat stress in some accessions and susceptible checks (ILC 3279 and ILC 8617) reached 100%. Accessions were evaluated for drought and heat resistance on a 1 (free from drought and heat damage)−9 (100% plant killed from drought and heat) visual scale. Four accessions of C. reticulatum and one accession of C. pinnatifidum were found to be as resistant to drought and heat stress (up to 41.8°C) as the best checks. C. reticulatum should be taken account in short term breeding programs since it can be crossed with the cultivated chickpea.