Inheritance of berry volatile compounds in two half-sib grape (Vitis vinifera) populations

Inheritance of grape berry volatile compounds was studied in the half-sib populations of ‘Jingxiu’ × ‘Muscat of Alexandria’ and ‘Jingxiu’ × ‘Xiangfei’ during two successive years. Twenty-two volatile compounds were identified via GC–MS. Monoterpenes were detected in the paternal parents ‘Muscat of Alexandria’ and ‘Xiangfei’, which were Muscat grapes, but not in the non-Muscat maternal parent ‘Jingxiu’. Four C6 compounds, five carbonyls and one ester (ethyl acetate) were found in all the parents, 2-ethylhexanol (alcohol) in ‘Jingxiu’ and ‘Muscat of Alexandria’, and hexyl acetate (ester) in ‘Jingxiu’. The paternal effect varied with year, while the inheritance patterns of volatile compounds, except for (Z)-linalool oxide, were stable between years and between populations. Four C6 compounds, five carbonyls, two esters and one alcohol were typical quantitative traits in both half-sib populations in 2 years. Most monoterpenes, including geraniol, α-terpineol and linalool, exhibited continuous variation in the half-sib progenies, but some other monoterpenes, such as (Z)-rose oxide, nerol oxide, nerol, neral, geranial and geranic acid, appeared to segregate into presence or absence in the progenies (1:1). However, (Z)-linalool oxide, behaved as a quantitative trait in the ‘Jingxiu’ × ‘Muscat of Alexandria’ population, but segregated into presence or absence (1:1) in the ‘Jingxiu’ × ‘Xiangfei’ population for both years.     

Advanced cycle pedigree breeding in sunflower. I: Genetic variability and testcross hybrid performance for seed yield and other agronomic traits

As a plant breeding programme matures there is a general tendency to recycle elite inbred parents, a strategy known as advanced cycle pedigree breeding. The challenge with this approach is not only to maintain genetic variability in the base breeding populations but also their usefulness for further genetic advancement in developing experimental hybrids with better performance than the commercial hybrids on the market. To assess the genetic variability and usefulness of breeding populations in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), 109 new inbred lines across four breeding populations Pop1, Pop2, Pop3 and Pop4 in advanced cycle pedigree breeding scheme were testcrossed to two testers to form testcross hybrid (TCH) groups: Pop1_TC, Pop2_TC, Pop3_TC and Pop4_TC. Moderate to high genetic variability along with high heritability were obtained for seed yield and oil yield within and across all TCH groups. Heritability for oil content was low to high ranging from 0.36 (Pop2_TC) to 0.81 (Pop1_TC). Genetic advance (GA%) with a 10 % selection intensity ranged from 36 % (Pop2_TC) to 42 % (Pop1_TC) for seed yield; 38 % (Pop3_TC) to 43 % (Pop1_TC) for oil yield; and 1.3 % (Pop2_TC) to 5.1 % (Pop1_TC) for oil content. To quantify the commercial potential of experimental TCHs, founder parent heterosis (FPH), mid-standard heterosis (MSH) and high standard heterosis (HSH) were calculated. Out of a total of 218 experimental TCHs evaluated, 28 had positive FPH, MPH and HSH values for oil yield representing a 13 % selection intensity as is usually applied in early generation testing.     

Experimental modification of reciprocal recurrent selection in oil palm breeding in Cameroon

Reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS) exploits the genetic complementarity of dura populations of palms with a small number of large bunches and tenera/pisifera group of palms with large number of small bunches. An extra phase was introduced to RRS just after the second cycle of selection where outstanding dura derived from (DA3D × DA5D) combinations of the second cycle were self-pollinated for seed production. Best palms based on the phenotype were selected and crossed with pisifera of second cycle offspring of LM2T. [(DA3D × DA5D) self-pollinated × LM2T self-pollinated] progenies were field tested at La Dibamba (Cameroun) from 1987 to 1997. They were precocious with regard to the three-first years’ bunch yields (13.16–15.77 t/ha). Homogeneity for all bunch yield components and homogeneity for vertical growth were illustrated by low values of the variation coefficient (5.75–7.75%). The oil yield was 107% of the control against 115% from [(DA3D × DA5D) × LM2T self-pollinated] progenies of the second cycle of RRS, mostly due to poor mesocarp to fruit and poor oil to mesocarp ratios which led to a low oil extraction rate. The extra selection phase led mainly to homogenisation of progenies but also reduced the fruit quality. However, three progenies whose average oil yield represented 115% of the control (4.87 t/ha) in addition to their precocity can be released to oil palm growers. The extension of RRS did not fully meet expectations and poses the problem of its reliability.     

The breeding possibilities and genetic parameters of maize resistance to foliar diseases

The combining ability and genetic parameters of maize grown in two different environments of diseases pressure were estimated for partial resistance to northern leaf blight (Exserohilum turcium, NLB) and gray leaf spot (Cercospora spp., GLS). Nine inbred lines were crossed in a complete diallel mating scheme including reciprocals. Two experiments were carried out to test the hybrids using randomised complete blocks design with three replications during the growing season 2008/2009. The severities of NLB and GLS were assessed under natural infestation conditions. The first experiment was the lowest NLB and GLS pressure environment, whereas the second was the highest. Data was evaluated using individual and joint Griffing’s diallel analyses. General and specific combining abilities were significant (P < 0.10) for NLB and GLS resistance under both pressures. Although additive and nonadditive gene effects were significant, the additive gene effects were more important for resistance to the diseases. The lines 1 (P₈₃), 6 (P_30F) and 7 (P_st) had the most outstanding general combining ability for NLB resistance, and the line 3 (P₈₀) was outstanding for resistance to GLS. Based on both diseases resistance and grain yield, the synthetic composites 6 × 7 × 3 and (6 × 7) × 3 were recommended for intrapopulational breeding using recurrent selection. Three promising hybrid combinations (the 3 × 6, and 5 × 7 for resistance to NLB, and 3 × 9 for resistance to GLS) were recommended for interpopulational breeding. Resistance levels to NLB and GLS resistance were better discriminated under HP than LP conditions; however, promising lines were detected under both pressures.     

Recurrent selection as a breeding procedure for rye and other cross-fertilized plants

Summary The inadequacy of the established breeding methods (mass selection, family selection) and the fact that a breeding procedure based on heterosis is not feasible for all crops, have given the incentive to search for more effective breeding methods, in particular for cross-fertilized plants.On the basis of experiments with rye, the writer comes to the conclusion that a breeding system founded on the polycross test is somewhat unsatisfactory, because it leads too soon to a narrowing of the material, so that the degeneration caused by inbreeding cannot be avoided.Better possibilities are offered by the methods of recurrent selection developed for maize, particularly by those schemes initiating from two entirely unrelated populations (reciprocal recurrent selection). The two populations are subjected to a test cross system whereby individuals from one population are outcrossed on representative groups of individuals from the other one, and conversely. Tests of the progenies obtained in this way reveal which individuals from the population K combine well with population L, and vice versa. By following the line described in the article, a narrowed population K (indicated as K₁) and a narrowed population L (indicated as L₁) are obtained which more or less complement each other. This complementary character is enhanced by repeating the selection process. Crossing in mass of these two narrowed populations may result in a valuable hybrid which is best referred to as a varietal hybrid. It seems that here the danger of inbreeding is reduced to a minimum.This method has already yielded favourable results at the Plant Breeding Station of the Central Bureau at Hoofddorp c.f. Koopman (7). From the current experiments at the Institute of Agricultural Plant Breeding at Wageningen it also appears that by the breeding system described in this paper many fallacies of the old procedures are eliminated.     

Inheritance of resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 1 in bananas

Fusarium wilt of bananas (also known as Panama disease), caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cubense (Foc), is a serious problem to banana production worldwide. Genetic resistance offers the most promising means to the control of Fusarium wilt of bananas. In this study, the inheritance of resistance in Musa to Foc race 1 was investigated in three F₂ populations derived from a cross between ‘Sukali Ndizi’ and ‘TMB2X8075-7’. A total of 163 F₂ progenies were evaluated for their response to Fusarium wilt in a screen house experiment. One hundred and fifteen progenies were susceptible and 48 were resistant. Mendelian segregation analysis for susceptible versus resistant progenies fits the segregation ratio of 3:1 (χ² = 1.72, P = 0.81), suggesting that resistance to Fusarium wilt in Musa is conditioned by a single recessive gene. We propose panama disease 1 to be the name of the recessive gene conditioning resistance to Fusarium wilt in the diploid banana ‘TMB2X8075-7’.     

Phenotypic variations and heritability of bearded iris breeding

Bearded iris (Iris × hybrida Hort.) refers to the large population of iris hybrids, which is identified by thick, bushy ‘beards’ on each falls (lower petals) of the blossoms. However, the selection of iris is extremely limited due to the lack of information about genotype and phenotype. According to North Carolina Design II (NC II), a statistical method to estimate the combining ability, genetic variance components and heritability, seven male parents and two female parents were hybridized to generate 14 populations of first filial generation (F₁). Each F₁ family was generated through artificial pollination in 3 years and included 60 individuals. 11 key ornamental characters, including plant height (PH), length of leaf (LL), number of flower per scape (NFS), height of individual flower (HF), diameter of flower (DF), length of fall (LF) and width of fall (WF), were measured, and some genetic parameters (heterosis, heterobeltiosis, combining ability, heritability as well as genetic correlations) were evaluated. The results showed that HF and LW had the largest number of F₁ populations gaining heterosis, thus more likely to generate taller progenies with larger blossoms. The estimates of combing ability revealed that I. ‘White and Blue’(M1) and I. ‘Sugar Blues’(M5) appeared to be ideal pollen donators. The combination of I. ‘India Chief’ × I. ‘Champagne Elegance’ (FM1 × M6) exhibited positive special combining ability (SCA) on all the tested characters, becoming the most potential populations of all. WF and NFS had the highest broad-sense heritability (91.47%) and strict-sense heritability (53.96%), respectively. Correlation analysis showed that PH was closely associated with NBS and NFS, while LL had significant correlations with HF and LF, making it possible to select taller individuals in the vegetative stage to obtain those with abundant flowers.     

Molecular changes during intra and inter recurrent selection of two populations of maize: one adapted and one non adapted to the selection environment

In several reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS) programs heterosis and favorable characteristics are achieved by means of one adapted and one non adapted population. We evaluated with molecular markers, an intrapopulation selection followed by RRS of one Spanish population adapted to Mediterranean Spain and one US Corn Belt population non adapted to Spanish conditions. Results from other authors suggest that during recurrent selection, non adapted populations have higher loss of variability, genetic differentiation and lower effective population size than expected according to the number of families selected each generation. This could be due to natural selection which is not under the breeder’s control and is expected to mainly act on non adapted populations. The number of markers with convergent allelic change was similar to the number of markers with divergent allelic change which explains the lack of genetic differentiation and the failure to increase heterosis during RRS because the effects of both types of changes compensate. It seems that the predominant mode of gene action depends on the particular germplasm involved in the RRS. By evaluating the allelic changes during selection, we identified four regions (2.04, 4.06, 6.03, 9.02) that significantly changed during selection in our selection experiment and that have been associated to selection in other selection experiments and to multiple traits in QTL experiments.     

Morphological variation of starch granules in S<Subscript>1</Subscript> cassava progenies

The need to develop new cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) varieties with different starch characteristics has greatly motivated new research. The aim of this study was to evaluate morphological alterations in starch granules as well as genetic gains in segregating S₁ cassava populations. Starch from accessions (S₀): BGM0222, BGM1378 and BGM1662 and from their self-fertilized progenies (S₁): F0222, F1378 and F1662, with 78, 80 and 76 individuals, respectively, were evaluated for the following traits: area (ArStGr, µm²), perimeter (PrStGr, µm), length (LeStGr, µm) and number of starch granules (NuStGr). Moreover, some agronomic traits of the S₁ progenies were evaluated at harvest such as: plant height (PlaHei), shoot yield (ShoYi), root yield (RoYi), starch yield (StYi), and root dry matter content (DMC). With the selection of transgressive individuals in S₁ progenies, it is possible to obtain selection gains for values higher and lower than the average of the S₀ genitors, whereas selection gains can reach up to 16.58, 8.39, 7.87 and 34.18% for ArStGr, LeStGr, PrStGr, and NuStGr, respectively. Average size of the starch granule varied from 9.8 to 12.37 µm among individuals in an S₁ progeny. Positive and high correlations between the individuals were found for some morphological characteristics of the cassava starch granule but not strongly correlated with agronomic traits. Therefore, it is possible to select S₁ cassava individuals for agronomic characteristics without losing other important starch traits. Cassava-segregating populations allow the obtainment of individuals with different morphological characteristics as for starch granules, enabling obtainment of genetic gains with the selection.     

Diallel analysis among 16 maize populations adapted to the northern U.S. Corn Belt for grain yield and grain quality traits

Genetically diverse germplasm is needed to increase frequency of favorable alleles of economically important traits in maize improvement. The objectives of this study were to determine the genetic components involved in grain yield and grain quality traits, and provide preliminary assessment of useful heterotic groups and patterns from a large sample of maize populations adapted to the northern U.S. Corn Belt. Sixteen populations were used in the diallel mating design following Gardner–Eberhart Analysis II to estimate variety (v _i ) and heterosis (h _ij ) genetic effects for grain yield and grain quality traits. Specific heterosis (s _ij ) and predicted means of population crosses for grain yield were used to evaluate the heterotic relationships among the populations. Data for grain yield and grain quality traits were generated in partially balanced single lattice experiments across North Dakota (ND) locations in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Analyses of variance showed significant differences among genotypes. Heterosis effects explained most of the differences among diallel entries for grain yield, while v _i effects had greater influence on grain quality traits. NDL, EARLYGEM 21c, NDSCD(FS-CS)C2, NDSS, and NDSM(M-FS)C9 were identified as elite populations for grain quality improvement. NDSS × NDBS22(R-T1)C9 and NDBS1011 × EARLYGEM 21c showed high s _ij effects for grain yield with good grain quality. NDSS and EARLYGEM 21c represent stiff stalk synthetic (SSS) group, and NDBS1011 fall under non-SSS group. Further studies need to validate the heterotic group of NDBS22(R-T1)C9. Recurrent and pedigree selection programs will be established for selected populations and population crosses to integrate pre-breeding with cultivar development.     

Relationship between hybrid performance and genetic variation in self-fertile and self-sterile sugar beet pollinators as estimated by SSR markers

Sugar beet hybrid varieties are produced through the crosses between male sterile lines and the multigerm pollinators. The uniformity of pollinators used for hybrid crosses depends on the presence of self-sterility (S ^s ) and self-fertility (S ^f ) genes. The aim of the study was to analyze correlation between hybrid performance and genetic distance or heterozygosity of the sugar beet pollinators. Twelve diploid pollinators classified as self-sterile (S ^s ) or self-fertile (S ^f ) and two cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines were crossed in line × tester scheme, producing 24 F₁ hybrids. The parents and the hybrids were evaluated for root yield and quality traits, from which F₁ performance, combining abilities, mid-parent and high-parent heterosis were calculated. Parental genetic distance and diversity of the pollinators were estimated by SSR markers and, together with GCA and F₁ performance, correlated with the heterosis effects. The S ^f hybrids had better GCA and higher values of root yield, root weight, and root circumference than the S ^s hybrids. Heterosis was recorded in more combinations with the S ^f than with the S ^s pollinators. Parameters of genetic diversity were higher in the S ^s (Na = 3.125; Ne = 2.341; He = 0.555) than in the S ^f pollinators (Na = 3.000; Ne = 2.188; He = 0.510). Genetic distance between the tested pollinators and the CMS lines was low (0.072–0.224) indicating that the genetic base of the investigated germplasm was narrow. Correlation of the heterosis effects with GD and heterozygosity was detected only for the root yield traits.     

Evaluation of three cycles of full-sib reciprocal recurrent selection in two maize populations from the Northeast of Spain

In Europe a heterotic pattern commonly used in maize breeding is “American Dent × European Flint”. Maize breeding programs generally use only a small portion of the useful genetic variability present in the local open-pollinated varieties which, otherwise, have a poor performance that hampers their use. Two maize composites, EZS33 formed by open-pollinated flint varieties from dry or Mediterranean Spain, and EZS34 from USA dent populations, were developed in Zaragoza (Spain). Both were subjected to three cycles of full-sib reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS) for yield. The objective of our study was to evaluate after three cycles of selection the effect of RRS. The selection significantly increased yield in the population crosses (3.0 % per cycle) and in the crosses of the populations with testers of different origin. The correlated responses for the population crosses in other agronomic traits like flowering and early vigor were in the desired direction, but plant height was reduced. We propose that stover yield or related traits could be included in selection programs as selection criteria to prevent their decline. The adapted population increased the frequency of favorable alleles for yield, but the inbreeding depression counteracted their effect on the mean. RRS had a positive effect on other traits. According to our data, RRS can be useful to develop improved populations from which it would be possible to develop lines with improved both specific and general combining ability with different heterotic groups. We conclude that the heterotic pattern “Mediterranean Spain × US Dent” is potentially very useful for maize breeding for adaptation to Mediterranean conditions and an interesting source of cultivars for low-input agriculture.     

Effectiveness of early-generation testing applied to upland rice breeding

A plant breeding program is a long-term investment. Therefore, periodic assessment of the effectiveness of a breeding strategy is essential to maximize genetic gains per unit of time and resource invested. In this work, we assessed the effectiveness of the early-generation testing (EGT) approach used in the upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) breeding program at Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation), Brazil, estimating the genetic progress achieved for three traits in two distinct phases, spanning 15 years. In the first phase (from 2003 to 2010), it was used the bulk method within F₃ progenies with prior testing of F₂ crosses, while in the second phase (from 2010 to 2017), it was used the bulk method within F₂ progenies. The dataset comprised 70 yield trials, involving 1884 F_3:5 progenies (phase I) and 925 F_2:4 progenies (phase II) from an elite population, and 10 check cultivars, evaluated for grain yield (GY), plant height (PH) and days to flowering (DTF). For estimating the genetic gain, we adapted a generalized linear regression method to compute bi-segmented linear regression coefficients. Desirable genetic gains were achieved only for GY in both phases of the breeding program, with 78.75 kg ha^?1 year^?1 (2.68%) in the first phase, and 53.78 kg ha^?1 year^?1 (1.54%) in the second phase. These results show the effectiveness of EGT, especially via bulk method within F₃ progenies with prior testing of F₂ crosses, applied to upland rice breeding. Some refinements are discussed in the method to make it more cost-effective and more efficient in achieving genetic gains.     

Overcoming obstacles to interspecific hybridization between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">G. turneri</Emphasis>

Gossypium turneri, a wild cotton species (2n = 2X = 26, D₁₀D₁₀) originating from Mexico, possesses invaluable characteristics unavailable in the cultivated tetraploid cotton gene pool, such as caducous involucels at anthesis, resistance to insects and tolerance to abiotic stresses. However, transferring desired characteristics from wild species into cultivated cotton is often fraught with diverse obstacles. Here, Gossypium hirsutum (as the maternal parent) and G. turneri were crossed in the Hainan Province of China, and the obtained hybrid seeds (2n = 3X = 39, ADD₁₀) were treated with 0.075% colchicine solution for 48 h to double the chromosome complement in order to overcome triploid F₁ sterility and to generate a fertile hexaploid. Chromosome doubling was successful in four individuals. However, the new synthetic hexaploids derived from these individuals were still highly sterile, and no seeds were generated by selfing or crossing. Therefore, an embryo rescue technique was employed in an attempt to produce progenies from the new synthetic hexaploids. Consequently, a total of six large embryos were obtained on MSB2K medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l^?1 KIN and 250 mg l^?1 CH using ovules from backcrossing that were 3 days post-anthesis. Four grafted surviving seedlings were confirmed to be the progenies (pentaploids) of the new synthetic hexaploids using cytological observations and molecular markers. Eight putative fertile individuals derived from backcrossing the above pentaploids were confirmed using SSR markers and generated an abundance of normal seeds. This research lays a foundation for transferring desirable characteristics from G. turneri into upland cotton.     

Recurrent selection for downy-mildew resistance in pearl millet

One population of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) highly susceptible to downy mildew (Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc.) Schroet.) was subjected to two cycles of recurrent selection for downy mildew resistance using a modified greenhouse screening method. The response to selection was evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions using 50 random S₁ progenies and 50 random full-sib progenies from each cycle bulk. Significant progress over cycles of selection was observed in all evaluation trials. These results demonstrated that, in a susceptible population, recurrent selection effectively increased the level of resistance to downy mildew. The modified greenhouse method for assessing resistance to downy mildew effectively differentiated genotypes and had the advantages of greater rapidity and suitability for use throughout the year, independent of season. A rapid decline of genotypic variance was observed in advanced cycles of selection, indicating that a small number of genes controls downy-mildew resistance in this population. The comparison of genotypic and error variance components from S₁ progenies and full-sib progenies suggested that full-sib progenies can be used successfully in recurrent selection for increased downy-mildew resistance.     

Selection for Increased Seed Nitrogen Accumulation in Common Bean: Implications for Improving Dinitrogen Fixation and Seed Yield

Estimates of N₂ fixation in segregating populations of bean plants based on ¹⁵N-isotope methods are technically demanding and expensive; therefore, indirect measures based on related traits including total seed N were used to select for improved N₂ fixation and yield. In 1985, six populations of F₂-derived F₃ families resulting from six parental lines crossed to a common tester were grown in field trials on a low-N soil. In 1986, 25 selected half-sib families and two populations of full-sib F₄ families were grown under similar conditions. Parents and a non-nodulating soybean line were included both years. Narrow sense (H_NS) heritability estimates based on parent-offspring regressions ranged from 0.57 for total seed N to 0.39 for shoot biomass in one population, but were near zero for all measured traits in a second population. Among the criteria used to identify parental lines with superior potential for producing progenies with high total seed N, testcross population means combined with estimates of realized heritability were the most reliable. Selection of the best F₃ families for total seed N resulted in F₄ families with increased total seed N and higher seed yields, while seed protein percentage was unchanged. When plants are grown on low-N soils, selection for total seed N offers a useful alternative to selection for increased N₂ fixation based on ¹⁵N-isotopic or total-N-difference method.     

Improvement of maize populations for resistance to downy mildew

Upgrading levels of disease resistance are a primary objective of maize breeding programmes. Efficacy of S₁ recurrent selection in improving levels of resistance to downy mildew (DM) infection was assessed in Nigeria from 1997 to 2000 in six maize populations. Improvement procedures consisted of evaluating S₁ progenies under artificial infection with DM spores and in disease‐free environments and using a selection index to combine selection for reduced DM infection with appropriate agronomic characters from more than one environment. Three to four cycles of selection were completed in each of the populations. Products from the different cycles of selection were evaluated and data collected on DM infection parameters and agronomic traits. Result obtained showed 3–4 cycles of selection were adequate to reduce DM infection levels significantly and increase grain yield. Downy mildew infection decreased by between 58 and 100% while grain yield increases ranged from 10 to 98% for the 2‐4 cycles of selection relative to the C0 (original). Selection increased grain yield with acceptable changes in plant height while maintaining maturity in disease‐free environments.     

MS1与MS1-HS两种选择方法的比较研究Ⅱ.遗传方差、配合力及杂种优势

对ZZ4完成了4轮MS1-HS和MS1选择.结果表明,经4轮选择的群体,两种方法均有效地保留了各主要性状的遗传方差.MS1-HS选择的群体遗传方差下降速率更慢,C4群体的单株籽粒产量的遗传方差仅减少3.7%.穗长、穗粗、粒行数、行粒数、出籽率、百粒重的遗传方差的变化与单株籽粒产量一致,MS1C4的遗传方差减少了8%～15%,MS1-HSC4的遗传方差仅减少了4%～15%.株高、穗位高、抽丝期、植株保绿度、抗倒性等相关选择性状的遗传方差的变化与产量性状基本一致.MS1-HS法对改良玉米群体籽粒产量与测验种间的特殊配合力十分有效,呈逐轮上升的趋势;改良群体与测验种综系140间的杂交后代产量平均每轮提高6%,杂种优势平均每轮提高6.9%.两种方法在改良群体产量性状一般配合力方面,均得到了良好的效果.同时,穗部性状及株高、穗位、抽丝期、散粉期、抗性等田间农艺性状的一般配合力也获得了同步改良.通过ZZ4改良群体与6个测验种间杂交组合产量及杂种优势的比较研究,得出ZZ4与黄早四类种质为杂种优势模式对.     

Rubber tree early selection for yield stability in time and among locations

Rubber production in the rubber tree [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Muell. Arg.] can be expressed differently in different environments. Thus the objective of the present study was to select productive progenies, stable and responsive in time and among locations. Thirty progenies were assessed by early yield tests at three ages and in three locations. A randomized block design was used with three replications and ten plants per plot, in 3 × 3 m spacing. The procedure of the mixed linear Reml/Blup model—restricted maximum likelihood/best non-biased linear prediction was used in the genetic statistical analyses. In all the individual analyses, the values observed for the progeny average heritability ( $ \hat{h}_{pa}^{2} $ ) were greater than those of the additive effect based on single individuals ( $ \hat{h}_{a}^{2} $ ) and within plot additive ( $ \hat{h}_{ad}^{2} $ ). In the joint analyses in time, there was genotype × test interaction in the three locations. When 20 % of the best progenies were selected the predicted genetic gains were: Colina G_G = 24.63 %, Selvíria G_G = 13.63 %, and Votuporanga G_G = 25.39 %. Two progenies were among the best in the analyses in the time and between locations. In the joint analysis among locations there was only genotype × location interaction in the first early test. In this test, selecting 20 %, the general predicted genetic gain was G_G = 25.10 %. Identifying progenies with high and stable yield over time and among locations contributes to the efficiency of the genetic breeding program. The relative performance of the progenies varies depending of the age of early selection test.     

Selection in early generations and the occurrence of heterosis for the character root distribution

Crops of bean are sensible to climate changes, especially water stress. One way to minimize this instability is through genetic breeding of root system character. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify genotypes with superior root system in the first segregating generation at three depths in the soil profile and also verify the occurrence of heterosis for the root system character. Evaluations were performed using the method of Bohm (Methods studying root systems. Springer, Berlin 1979) at three different depths (0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm), in the experimental area of the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Breeding, at the State University of Santa Catarina UDESC Lages-SC. Twelve segregating populations and four parents (BAF 09, BAF 07, BAF 50 and IPR Uirapuru) were assessed by comparison. The favorable genotypes to the progress of generations are: two, seven and three for depths up to 20 cm and three for depths up to 30 cm. The cross between the parents BAF 07 (black group) and BAF 50 (carioca group) presented wide genetic divergence, providing significant increase in the root system revealed by the analysis of their progenies. The selection of superior genotypes in the layer of 20–30 cm was limited because most genotypes have similar and poorly distribution. Due to the strong effect of the dominance component, heterosis occurred for root distribution in early generation. This fact may interfere in the selection of autogamous species of bean related to this genetic character.