Variability of Yield Characters and Selection in Solanum ladniatum Ait.

The steroid bearing medicinal plant, S. laciniatum, was bred for high solasodine yield for commercial cultivation in Thailand. Starting materials for breeding consisted of seven populations of different origin. Variability among these populations was examined using an unselected control population cultivated over three years. Additive and dominance variance were estimated from a polycross and diallel mating design. Significant genotypic variability was found for solasodine concentration, height of the plants, and total shoot length, promising successful selection for the most important yield characters. Additive variance and heritability in the narrow sense were low for all yield characters, due to previous selection of the parental plants used for the polycross and diallel mating. No dominance effects could be found for any of the characters. In conclusion, breeding S. laciniatum for quantitative yield characters by selection will be superior to hybrid breeding. As a result of selection, significant increases in the most important yield characters in the offspring of selected populations were obtained.     

我国常用玉米自交系秸秆品质性状及其相关分析

利用近红外反射光谱法对我国91份常用普通玉米自交系和11份高油自交系秸秆的体外干物质消化率（IVDMD）、粗蛋白（CP）、粗脂肪（EE）、可溶性糖（WSC）、酸性洗涤纤维（ADF）、酸性木质素（ADL）、中性洗涤纤维（NDF）7个品质性状进行了分析评价,以探讨秸秆品质性状间的关系以及影响秸秆品质的主要成分。结果表明,各品质性状变异较大,各性状自交系间差异均达极显著水平,IVDMD及其相关品质的含量近似正态分布。不同品质性状变异程度不同,其中WSC含量变异最大,变异系数达33.15%。IVDMD与NDF、ADF、ADL呈极显著负相关,与WSC、EE含量呈极显著正相关,与CP含量显著正相关。影响秸秆品质的性状依次是IVDMD、ADF、NDF、WSC、ADL、CP和EE含量。根据青贮玉米育种的要求,筛选出5份IVDMD和WSC含量高、NDF、ADF含量低的自交系。     

Chemical Composition and In Vitro Digestibility of Whole-Crop Pea and Pea–Cereal Mixture Silages Grown in South-western Quebec

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition and in vitro dry matter (IVDMD) and neutral detergent fibre (IVNDFD) digestibilities of silages made from whole‐crop pea [Pisum sativum L. (PS)], pea–wheat [Triticum aestivum L. (PW)], pea–barley [Hordeum vulgare L. (PB)] and pea–oat [Avena sativa L. (PO)] mixtures harvested 8 weeks (H8) and 10 weeks (H10) after seeding. Forty‐five days after ensiling, all forages were well ensiled as indicated by low pH and low water‐soluble carbohydrate content and high lactic acid concentration. Regardless of forage type, crude protein (CP) and IVNDFD were higher while starch and acid detergent lignin were lower in H8 than H10. However, harvest date had no effect on neutral (NDF) and acid (ADF) detergent fibre of the silages. Within each harvest date, CP was higher while NDF was lower for PS than pea–cereal silages. Differences in CP and fibre fractions between the pea–cereal mixture silages were not consistent for the two harvest dates. The IVDMD of PS was higher than that of the three pea–cereal mixture silages in H8 but was only higher than that of PB in H10. For the pea–cereal mixtures, IVDMD was higher for PO than PB and PW in H8 and was higher for PB than PW in H10. It was concluded that silage from pea monoculture had similar forage yields and a generally higher nutritive value than silages from pea–cereal mixtures.     

Quantitative trait loci mapping of forage stover quality traits in six mapping populations derived from European elite maize germplasm

Four forage maize stover quality traits were analysed including in vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVDOM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and digestibility of NDF (DNDF). We mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) in three DH (doubled haploid) populations (totally 250–720 DH lines): one RIL population (358 lines) and two testcross (TC) populations, based on field phenotyping at multiple locations and years for each. High phenotypic and genotypic correlations were found for all traits and significant (p < .01) at two locations, and NDF was negatively correlated with the other traits. QTL analyses were conducted by composite interval mapping. A total of 33, 23, 32 and 25 QTL were identified for IVDOM, NDF, WSC and DNDF, respectively, with three, four, five and two major QTL for each. Few consistent QTL for IVDOM, WSC and DNDF were detected in more than two populations. This study contributed to the identification of key QTL associated with forage maize digestibility traits and is beneficial for marker‐assisted breeding and fine mapping of candidate genes associated with forage maize quality.     

Breeding for yield and nutritive value in forage maize: An easy criterion for stover quality,and genetic analysis of Lancaster variety

Summary The maize populations BS13 (S2) C4 and Lancaster are compared with respect to their potential as forage maize. In light of the preliminary results, the Lancaster population was chosen for a more thorough study.The determination of NDF gave a sufficiently precise estimate of the stover digestibility within our experimental conditions. The heritability of stover and grain production was 0.59 and 0.30, respectively, whilst that of the stover NDF was 0.32.The additive genetic correlation between NDF and stover production, possibly attributable to the architecture of the plant, favours the selection of genotypes that produce more and better forage.     

高丹草重组自交系群体的遗传变异与高产种质的创新

高丹草是一年生禾本科新型饲用牧草,提高其饲草产量是高丹草育种的重要目标.以高粱314A×棕壳苏丹草的F2:3遗传作图群体的后代材料建立的重组自交系(Recombinant inbred line,RIL)群体为材料, 对后代进行遗传变异和DNA多样性分析.结果表明:通过采用两种方法(性状和分子标记)进行同时选择,获得了9个高产的超亲重组后代.通过SSR标记分析RIL群体的DNA多样性,可知家系间存在较大的遗传变异,杂交重组产生的超亲高产种质分布在不同类群中.鉴定获得了2组SSR遗传距离接近0而且在主要农艺性状和产量等方面相似,只在抗性方面有差异的不同家系.农艺性状和抗性等鉴定试验筛选了4份性状优良的高丹草新种质并已有2份进入区域试验.     

Evaluation of Self and Polycross Progeny Testing in Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) for Forage and Seed Yield

Self and cross fertility, forage and seed yield of parents, self (Sl), and polycross (PX) progenies were measured in a selected and an unselected population of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), Self fertility was significantly less than cross fertility in both populations. In a field planting S1 progenies had lower forage yield in 1979 and 1980 and seed yield (relative to the parents) was less in the selected population than the unselected in 1979. All correlation coefficients between years and progenies were non-significant for forage yield bur the parents-poly cross progeny correlation was significant for seed yield in the selected population. Percentage survival of plants after cutting in 1980 was higher in the selected population, and the parents and PX progenies survived better than S1 progenies in both populations. The better performance of the selected population may be due, in pan, to higher frequency of favorable genes resulting from four cycles of recurrent selection, S1 progeny testing does not appear to be worth while in birdsfoot trefoil because of low self fertility and the reduced vigour of the progeny.     

Condensed tannins in birdsfoot trefoil: Genetic relationships with forage yield and quality in NC-83 germplasm

Summary Genetic relationships of condensed tannins (CT) with other forage quality parameters have not been adequately studied in birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.). The objectives were to bidirectionally select for CT concentration in birdsfoot trefoil to determine selection response and to create populations for examination of genetic relationships of CT with forage quality parameters, principally lignin. High-and low-tannin parental clones were selected from NC-83 birdsfoot trefoil germplasm and intercrossed to produce Syn₁ populations. Herbage samples, harvested for two years at two locations, were analyzed from high-tannin, low-tannin, and parental populations for CT concentration, herbage yield, and forage quality parameters. The mean condensed tannin concentrations in the high-and low-tannin populations were 69.3±0.8 and 21.1±0.8 g catechin equivalent (CE) kg^-1 dry matter (DM) compared with 36.4±0.8 g CE kg^-1 DM in the parental population. The selection response exhibited a quadratic relationship, with selection for increased CT concentration more effective than for reduced CT concentration. Compared with the parental population, acid detergent lignin (ADL) was higher, and crude protein (CP) and in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) concentrations were lower for the high-tannin population and the converse was true for the low-tannin population. Lignin concentration was positively correlated with CT concentration (r_g=0.66 P0.01).Abbreviations ADF acid detergent fiber - ADL acid detergent lignin - CP crude protein - CT condensed tannins - IVDDM in vitro digestible dry matter - NDF neutral detergent fiber - NIRS near infrared reflectance spectroscopy     

Selection for increased forage yield in alfalfa at different NaCl levels

Summary Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) forage yield may be reduced by moderate levels of salinity. Increasing forage yield in saline environments through plant breeding could partially ameliorate this problem. However, prior indirect selection either in cell culture, at germination, or during seedling growth has not resulted in agronomically relevant levels of salt tolerance. This study was conducted to determine whether mean forage yield of alfalfa grown in saline environments could be increased. To reduce the number of possible selection schemes, forage yield data for five harvests from Sonora and its parental cultivar African grown in a greenhouse and irrigated with 0, 30, 60, or 80 mM NaCl were used to simulate one cycle of selection at each NaCl environment. Greatest gains in forage yield were expected under non-saline conditions with decreased gains under saline conditions. Selection based on yield in regrowth harvests was also predicted to be more efficient than that based on seedling harvest. Experimental populations were developed from Sonora and African at each NaCl level using phenotypic selection for increased mean forage yield for harvests 3 to 5. After each of two cycles of selection, forage yield from selected, control (plants selected randomly under non-saline conditions), and parental populations was evaluated at 0, 30, 60, and 80 mM NaCl. Gains in forage yield were observed in African when the selection and evaluation environments were the same, but in Sonora this was observed only at 0 NaCl. Selection at 0 NaCl did not increase forage yield at 60 or 80 mM NaCl in either germplasm source. This suggests that selection for increased forage yield may be successful at low to moderate NaCl levels in germplasm with ample variation for yield when grown in saline environments, while selection for increased forage yield in non-saline conditions may be ineffective.     

Relationships between coleoptile length and forage production and grain yield in rye,Secale cereale L.

Summary The relationship between early postgermination growth and the amount of hybrid vigor expressed later in the life cycle was examined in rye. The coleoptile length, forage production at monthly intervals, and grain yield of a number of individuals from three diverse populations were measured in each of two years, 1968–69 and 1969–70. Substantial variation for coleoptile length was found within each population with coefficient of variation percentages ranging from 23 to 44. Correlated selection response values were used to relate coleoptile length to forage production and grain yield. In some combinations of populations, years and selection levels, selection on the basis of coleoptile length would be effective in altering forage production at monthly intervals and grain yield. However, the results were very inconsistent and erratic possibly because of the extreme heterozygosity and heterogeneity present within the polulations and the quantitative genetic nature of all characters measured. Apparently in rye, early postgermination growth as measured by coleoptile length is not closely associated with vigor expressed later in the life cycle.Journal Series No. 4826, Florida Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Usefulness of the grid system in phenotypic selection for smooth bromegrass fiber concentration

Summary Grid selection was investigated as a means of reducing environmental variation prior to selection for low neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration in smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.). Eleven populations of 350 plants each were arranged into 10 grids of 35 plants each. Adjustment of NDF concentration by block means and standard deviations reduced the phenotypic variation to 50 to 94% of the original variance. Adjustment also reduced or eliminated spatial patterns of phenotypic variation in five of eight populations with significant patterns to original NDF values. Selection for low NDF tended to identify plants from blocks with a low mean NDF in some populations. When selection was based on t-scores, the number of plants representing each block was a random variable in each population. Use of grid selection with a t-score adjustment should increase the efficiency of phenotypic recurrent selection for low NDF concentration.     

Variations in Sugar Content and Dry Matter Distribution in Roots and their Associations with Frost Tolerance in Certain Forage Legume Species

Enhancement of cold tolerance is an important aspect in breeding forage legumes in view of increasing interest in extending the cultivation of these crops. Three classes of characters — morphological, morpho-physiological and biochemical — were considered in selection for cold-tolerance between and within forage legume species under contrasting growing conditions in the field and a plastic house.
Significant correlation was found between cold damage and concentration of sugars m roots of various forage legume species which were grown under field conditions and subjected to natural frost. Both morphological as well as morpho-physiological characters were related to cold tolerance in Lathyrus ochrus (L.) DC. This indicated that chemical constituents cannot be used as a sole criterion to select for winter-hardy strains of this species. Root-shoot ratio showed a consistent relationship with tolerance to cold irrespective of the growing conditions and season. Hence, sugar concentration and root-shoot ratio are useful characters in testing species found cold tolerant by other methods. The root-shoot ratio could be used for testing cold tolerance under controlled conditions. The number of primary branches per plant, root weight and shoot weight may be used as morphological characters in selection for cold tolerance in L. ochrus under field conditions.     

甘薯实生系与其无性系性状相关关系及早期选择利用研究

甘暮实生系是分离世代,其性状的变异与资源品种表现同一趋势,与其无性系在诸多性状上呈强弱不同的正相关关系,这是对实生系进行早期选择利用的基础.根据结薯性可将实生系分为成薯、膨大和直根3个类型,成薯系%因组合而异,受环境影响不明显.5年的研究结果证明:无性系类型间的产量性状有明显差异,从成薯类型选育高产新品系的入选率高.在此问题上和美国Granberry.M.等的认识不同.建议把我国甘薯育种的初选期提早到实生系时期,以缩短育种周期,提高育种效率.笔者认为把甘薯杂交种子培育的株系,定名为实生系,比较确切.     

Genetic variability in herbage and seed yield in selected half-sib families of berseem clover, Trifolium alexandrinum L.

Berseem clover Trifolium alexandrinum L. is an annual forage legume commonly grown in pure stands and in grass mixtures in the Medi-terranean basin. Six populations were naturally cross-pollinated in 1990 and 1991 by a half-sib breeding method. In 1992 and 1993. 54 half-sib maternal plants, six original populations, and six advanced populations were field evaluated for forage (short cycle, harvest made at seven or eight inlernodes: long cycle, harvested at flowering) and seed yield (no forage harvest) in experiments at the Forage Crop Institute at Foggia, Italy (typical Mediterranean location). Genetic variability, narrow-sense herilability, genetic and phenotypic correlations among forage and seed yield component trails were investigated. The genetic variance in dry matter among maternal half-sib populations in short cycle was 51% greater than in long cycle. Narrow-sense heritabilily was 35% higher in short cycle than long cycle for dry matter and 26% higher for seed weight than seed yield. The magnitude of the genetic variance components and genetic correlations suggested that selection among plants of maternal half-sib populations would be more effective for improving dry matter in short than in long cycle harvests. The selection applied in the study was not effective for increasing seed yield per se however, the trait may be increased by selecting indirectly for seed weight.     

Genetic variation, heritability and genetic correlations for forage quality and yield traits of Mediterranean tall fescue germplasm

Higher ruminant intake potential and in vivo digestibility as indicated by lower neutral and acid detergent fibre (NDF and ADF), respectively, and higher crude protein (CP), may be valuable targets in tall fescue breeding. Some 105 full‐sib families from a diallel cross of Mediterranean parent germplasm were grown in a heated greenhouse simulating the temperature pattern of a Mediterranean environment, to estimate genetic parameters for NDF, ADF, CP and dry matter (DM) yield in one autumn and one winter harvest. Family x harvest interaction was large for NDF and ADF, moderate for CP and absent for DM yield. Additive genetic variance was mostly larger than specific genetic variance, and tended to be small for quality traits and large for DM yield. Narrow‐sense heritability was low for CP and ADF in autumn and moderate to fairly high in the remaining cases. Predicted gains per selection cycle never exceeded 5% for quality traits while being greater than 10% for DM yield. An inverse genetic correlation between DM yield and any quality trait emerged in the presence of sizeable genetic variation.     

Screening for Fusarium resistance in seedling populations of Asiatic hybrid lily

A test to select Fusarium resistant seedlings of the Asiatic hybrid lily is described. Young seedlings of 28 populations, obtained from an incomplete diallel between eight parents with different levels of Fusarium resistance, were tested for resistance. Significant differences in Fusarium resistance between and within populations were detected. The average percentage of selected seedlings ranged from 34% in resistant × resistant crosses to 2% in susceptible × susceptible crosses. Although resistant descendants were obtained in susceptible × susceptible crosses, using at least one resistant parent produced higher percentages of resistant seedlings. The resistance level of the parents correlated highly with the general combining ability for Fusarium resistance based on the seedling test. For eight populations, seedlings selected for Fusarium resistance and non-tested (control) seedlings of the same cross were compared, after propagation, in a clonal test. Variation between and within populations, found at seedling level, was confirmed at clonal level. A positive selection response was found for all eight populations. In the seedling test, approximately 18% of the seedlings were selected as resistant of which 15% (2.7% of seedlings tested) appeared to be susceptible escapes. Comparison between selection at seedling level and at clonal level indicated that approximately 25% of the seedlings tested were missed (rejected resistant plants) in the seedling test. The practical use of a seedling test for Fusarium resistance in lily breeding programs is discussed.     

The possibilities of early selection for forcing ability and productivity in tulips

Summary The long breeding cycle and the slow vegetative reproduction of tulips (Tulipa sspp.) seriously restrict the activities of private breeders. The research programme of the Institute is aimed at the development of methods of early selection on such characteristics as productivity, forcing ability and disease susceptibility, which would enable breeders to work more efficiently.Observations in seedling populations and comparisons between very small bulblets of commercial clones and mature, flowering bulbs of the same clones led to some provisional criteria for selection.Time of germination was found to be maternally determined and as such unsuitable for selection purposes. On the other hand sprout development appeared to be a useful criterion for selection on forcing ability while the degree and mode of reproduction of the bulblets showed some promise as a criterion for productivity. These criteria are being tested in a few large seedling populations.     

Manova and discriminant analyses of phenotypic data as a guide for parent selection in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) breeding

Evaluation of seedling populations assists in identifying those plants most desirable as parents for a breeding programme. A multivariate analysis of variance (Manova) showed that the seedling populations from 6 kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) crosses differed in their overall merit. Discriminant functions were then used to identify the characters most powerful in distinguishing between populations. The populations were placed in order of their function scores which represent overall merit, and the superior populations were determined. The results showed that `Bruno' was a superior female parent for the production of seedlings with high discriminant function scores for floriferousness (male offspring)and productivity and high vitamin C content (female offspring). One male parent D-1-20 was consistently superior to D-1-6 the other male parent. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The effect of seed weight and coleoptile tiller development on seedling vigour in tall fescue,Festuca arundinaceaSchreb.

Summary Two characters, previously shown to influence the rate of seedling growth in tall fescue, were studied in detail in three distinct populations as part of a programme to improve seedling vigour in the species. The effect of seed weight was found to be confined to the very early stages of growth and was apparent in seedling dry matter yield but not in tiller number. The development of a tiller in the axil of the coleoptile, which varied significantly between populations, had a far greater and more permanent effect both in terms of dry matter yield and tiller number. The increase in tiller number attributable to the coleoptile tiller and its derivatives increased geometrically in step with the total tiller number, so that the intitial difference of 28% in the first harvest remained practically unchanged in the subsequent three harvests. Similarly, the percentage difference in dry matter yield between plants with and without a coleoptile tiller remained more or less constant at about 22% from the second harvest onwards.It is concluded that the development of a coleoptile tiller may prove to be a useful selection criterion in the breeding of this species.     

Effect of Genotypes and Plant Maturity on Forage Quality of Certain Forage Legume Species Under Rainfed Conditions

Evaluation of plant species for animal feed requires the quantitative and qualitative comparison of different genotypes. Promising lines of annual legumes comprising seven genotypes of vetche ( Vicia spp.) and chicklings ( Lathyrus spp.) were compared for herbage quality. The content of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in herbage and pods were measured at different stages of plant maturity. The proportion of the leaves to shoots (leafiness) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were also determined. As plants matured IVDMD, CP and leafiness decreased and NDF and ADF increased. For all the genotypes maximum digestible dry matter (DDM) and CP yields were more or less attained at 50–100 % podding. Narbon vetch had the highest DDM. The possible uses of the different genotypes as animal feed are discussed based on the partitioning of the DDM and CP yield as plants matured.