Competition effects in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) hybrid trials

A method developed in coffee tree breeding to assess family competitioneffects (partner effects) in comparative variety trials was applied to thecocoa tree (Theobroma cacao L.). The study was conducted in ahybrid comparative trial planted in French Guiana, involving twelve familiesof 50 trees in a totally randomized single-tree plot design, at a density of1,667 trees per hectare. The trial was thinned at 10 years, at a rate of twoout of four rows. Competition was studied with reference to juvenile andadult vegetative vigour, and to periodic and cumulative yields (number ofpods, potential weight, average weight of one pod, and the production:vigour ratio). At the end of the trial, after thirteen years of monitoring,competition effects were revealed which explained 8 to 10% of theresidual variance after removal of the hybrid and micro-environment effects.These effects, which were detected as early as 18 months, occurred earlierthan generally acknowledged. Under the trial conditions, the families couldbe classed as aggressive, stimulating or passive for their neighbours.Vegetative vigour (trunk cross-section) explained 34% of the competitioneffects (partner effects), which, with hindsight, vindicated the use of theproduction : vigour ratio as the main selection criterion in cocoa breeding.The partner effects noted on the production variables were never explainedby any production variable, hence non-aggressive high-yielding families canbe selected.     

On genetically remodeling the almond tree

Summary Dwarf peach trees require only 1/4th the space of standard trees and thus reduce the cost of experiments in which the tree is the experimental unit, by 75%. Or, put another way, they facilitate estimates of tree performance, in experiments of the same size, that are 50% more precise than those obtainable from standard trees. The objective of this study was to determine if the almond tree could be genetically compressed (dwarfed) to facilitate discrimination of genetic and cultural manipulation on its productivity, to facilitate genetic manipulation, and to increase its productive efficiency.The results obtained indicate the almond tree can be dwarfed (compressed), by the dw gene of peach. interspecific crosses of dwarf (dw/dw) peach, P. persica, with almond, P. amygdalus, followed by backcrosses to almond revealed: 1. Plant stature and node density vary widely among the dwarf (dw/dw) inter species hybrids. The heritabilities of these traits are high. 2. Spur density also varies widely. Its mean is high and its heritability is very high. 3. The dwarf inter species hybrids produce flowers copiously. However, at 22 months of age the flowers of most seedlings are sterile, apparently due to abnormal pistils. Consequently, average productivity is very low. However, some of these dwarf P. persica × P. amygdalus hybrids do express moderate to high productivity. Further, the heritability of productivity, among the seedlings expressing some degree of fertility, is very high. Consequently, further backcrosses to almond are expected to rapidly restore fertility and productivity. The yield potential of dw/dw dwarf almonds will remain unknown until fertility is restored.     

Components of Seed and Straw Yield in Common Vetch (Vicia sativa L.)

178 common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) strains were tested for 2 years under dryland conditions in Bursa, Turkey. Broad-sense heritability of the traits was calculated for each trait. Phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficients between seed and straw yield, with several morphological and reproductive traits, were obtained. Broad-sense heritability estimates were high for 1000-seed weight and number of seeds per pod. Heritability values for both seed and straw yield were small and insignificant. Harvest index, 1000-seed weight and spring vigour showed significant positive correlations with seed yield, but days to flower correlated negatively with seed yield. Spring vigour, plant height and number of leaflets per leaf correlated positively, while harvest index, seeds per pod and seeds per plant correlated negatively with straw yield. Correlations between seed and straw yield were both positive and significant.     

小豆种质资源子粒品质性状的遗传变异

对来源于我国主产区小豆种质资源子粒百粒重、种皮色泽、出沙率、淀粉含量及淀粉粒大小等品质性状进行了鉴定评价。小豆子粒百粒重平均为11.63 g,变幅5.28～24.47 g;小豆淀粉粒几何平均值为57.71 μm,变幅46.21～83.46 μm;红小豆粒色红度值（a*）平均为19.71,变幅13.0～26.0;黄度值（b*）平均为9.58,变幅5.2～16.8;亮度值（L*）平均为26.47,变幅18.1～34.0;出沙率平均为68.08%,变幅61.90%～75.98%;总淀粉含量平均为57.06%,变幅44.79%～67.44%;支链淀粉相对含量平均为82.24%,变幅62.61%～98.94%;以上8个子粒品质性状品种间都存在显著差异。小豆子粒百粒重、a*、b*、L*、总淀粉含量和支链淀粉相对含量6个性状的遗传力值较高,淀粉粒几何平均值和出沙率2个性状的遗传力值相对较低;8个品质性状均有较高的选择潜力。筛选出一批优异种质资源可应用于小豆品质育种。     

Reciprocal recurrent selection applied to Coffea canephora Pierre. III. Genetic gains and results of first cycle intergroup crosses

Breeding of the allogamous Coffea canephora species in Côte d'Ivoire is based, from 1984 onward, on a reciprocal recurrent selection scheme exploiting the good performance of crosses between two genetically distinct populations (‘Guinean’ and ‘Congolese’). Results are presented here on intergroup cross progenies evaluated on individual plant basis over a six year period in three fully randomized trials planted in 1985 and 1986. Yields of the bi-parental crosses varied from 16 to 1407% of the mean of the two commercial clonal cultivars and the most productive crosses were also the most vigourous. Selection of individual trees and cross progenies, based on a combined individual-family index, was carried out for high yield, good vigour of young plants and moderate canopy diameter of adult trees. Expected genetic gains, as estimated in relation to the mean of all crosses, for selection of 5% of the best trees, were high for yield (over 60%), moderate for young plant vigour (14 to 18%), and, as intended, low for canopy diameter. In addition, selection by independent culling for leaf rust resistance and bean weight was carried out. As a result, 6 promising crosses with yield similar or higher than those of the control cultivars, were selected as candidates for commercial use, as well as 65 individual trees, within 19 different crosses. Expected genetic gain for yield for these selected trees is about 60% compared to the average yield of the most productive control clone. Continuation of the programme is discussed, with specific attention to further progress expected for quality traits.     

Heritability of inflorescence and floret traits in gerbera

Summary Heritability, repeatability, and components of variance were estimated for 68 morphological characters describing the inflorescence, scape, and florets of Gerbera hybrida. The heritability estimates were generally moderate to high for simple dimension characters and characters which were the mean of several measurements, low to moderate for ratio and composite characters, and low for enumeration characters and characters describing the intraplant variation of traits. The repeatability estimates were generally low for intraplant variation characters, moderate for simple ratio characters, and largest for composite and mean characters. For most of the characters, the variance among inflorescences from the same plant was the largest portion of the total phenotypic variance.     

Indices of Drought Tolerance in Wheat Genotypes at Early Stages of Plant Growth

Thirty diverse genotypes of bread wheat were evaluated for seed vigour index, germination percentage, root length, shoot length, root‐to‐shoot length ratio, coleoptile length and osmotic membrane stability under laboratory conditions. Considerable variation was observed for all the characters. Discrimination among the genotypes on the basis of mean values was better under normal than under moisture stress conditions, indicating suppression of variability under moisture stress conditions. Comparison of mean performance under normal and osmotic stress conditions indicated that the seed vigour index was the most sensitive trait, followed by shoot length, germination percentage and root length. The root‐to‐shoot length ratio, however, increased under osmotic stress. The magnitude of genetic components of variance and heritability were, in general, lower under osmotic stress than under normal conditions. All the characters except germination percentage, shoot length and coleoptile length showed considerable genetic variability. Heritability in the broad sense was also moderate to high for all the characters under both environments. Due to high heritability and genetic advance great benefit from selection can be expected for the osmotic membrane stability of leaf segments and root‐to‐shoot length ratio. Moderate progress can be expected from root length and seed vigour index. Correlation studies indicated that the osmotic membrane stability of the leaf segment was the most important trait, followed by root‐to‐shoot ratio and root length on the basis of their relationships with other traits.     

Response of a new IR50/Moroberekan recombinant inbred population of rice (Oryza sativa L.) from an indica × japonica cross for growth and yield traits under aerobic conditions

Genetic variability, correlation, path coefficient analysis and test of normality was conducted in an F₈ recombinant inbred aerobic rice population developed by single seed descent method to evaluate its potential as a mapping population. Estimates of genotypic variance, phenotypic variance, genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV), phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV), heritability in the broad sense (H) and expected genetic advance at 5% selection index (GA) for grain yield and other attributing characters were computed. In all the cases, PCV was higher than GCV indicating the influence of environment on the characters. High heritability coupled with high GA was observed for several plant traits; number of tillers, plant height, total number of spikelets panicle⁻¹, biomass plant⁻¹, straw weight, harvest index and grain yield plant⁻¹ and hence offered good scope for selection. Grain yield plant⁻¹ was found to be positively correlated with plant height, number of tillers, panicle length, panicle exsertion, number of panicles plant⁻¹, single panicle weight, test weight, number of fertile spikelets panicle⁻¹, straw weight, biomass plant⁻¹, harvest index and grain breadth both at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Harvest index exerted maximum positive direct effect, followed by biomass plant⁻¹ and straw weight on grain yield plant⁻¹ at phenotypic level. Shapiro-Wilks “W test of normality” indicated that the population was skewed towards female parent IR50 for some traits and for some others towards Moroberekan, the male parent. Most of the characters that showed skewness were platykurtic with a kurtosis value of less than 3.     

Yield Performance of New European Spring Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) Cultivars Under Winter Season Cultivation in Egypt

The present investigation was undertaken on four W. German (AD201, Belinda, Korina and Elvira) and five French (Cresor, Brutor, BRO, BRIO and Orpal) spring rapeseed varieties, for evaluation and to study their performance and productivity under Fayoum (Egypt) conditions during two successive winter seasons (1982/1983 and 1983/1984). In order to make clear identification for different plant characters, some genetical parameters were estimated.
In the first season, the nine varieties were arranged into a randomized complete block field experiment with four replications. In the second one, the experiment (with the same design and replication) included only six cultivars, after elimination of three winter-type (Belinda, Korina and Elvira) that failed to reach flowering because of unique cold temperature requirements. Therefore, the present study was restricted with the remainder six varieties.
The varieties exhibited considerable differences in all the characters studied. AD201 was earlier, higher seed- and oil-yielding variety than other tested ones. Its superiority could be attributed to increased number of pods/plant, seeds/pod and seed yield/plant. The second yielding variety was BR1O followed by Cresor, BRO and Brutor. While Orpal was inferior in all characters except for seed index. Data showed that fruiting zone length reached nearly half the mature height for each genotype.
Remarkable amount of genotypic variation and high heritability estimates were recorded for all studied characters. Quantitative analysis indicated that number of seeds/pod, early flowering, seed weight/plant, possessed high heritability values combined with high genetic gains and wide genetic variations. By these characters, discernible improvement could be easily achieved through phenotypic selection in relatively very short time.     

Genetic variation for bacterial wilt resistance in a population of tetraploid potato

Summary Genetic variance components and heritability were estimated for resistance to bacterial wilt in a population of tetraploid potato with resistance derived from several specific sources. Both additive and non-additive variance components were significant. Their relative magnitudes indicated the importance of non-additive gene action in the genetic control of the resistance. Narrow-sense heritability was relatively low for both disease index and % survival indicating that progress in population development would be slow. Broad-sense heritability was, however, relatively high which promises success of clonal selection in developing clonal resistant cultivars.     

Plant breeding interpretations of the effects of bulk breeding on four populations of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary The effect of bulk breeding on yield and its components was studied in two high-yielding and two low-yielding bean crosses until the F₆ generation. It was found that bulk breeding on the whole did not alter the mean values in the high-yielding crosses, but that there was a steady increase in the mean values of the low-yielding crosses with generation. As well as mean values the use of variance as a determinant of cross potential was also studied. It was found for characters markedly influenced in their expression by the environment, of which grain yield is the prime example, that progeny variance did not differ significantly from parental variance. It was concluded that interplant competition was the factor of the environment responsible for this effect.     

Resistance to Pseudomonas solanacearum in the potato: II. Aspects of host-pathogen-environment interaction

Summary White clover genotypes were selected for high and low values of leaf size, taproot diamater, number of taproots, proportion of total root and taproot dry weight. Crosses within selected groups of genotypes resulted in 14 seed lines, which were compared with parent genotypes in field tiles. Selections for taproot diameter and proportion taproot were more successful than those for taproot number and proportion root.Narrow sense heritability of characters calculated by regression of progeny on mid-parent values were well correlated with broad sense heritabilities derived from replicated clonal comparisons (r=0.73^*), indicating that the genetic variation is controlled predominantly by additive gene effects.     

Heritability and genetic advance in recombinant inbred lines of tef (Eragrostis tef)

Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of the tef cross Kaye Murri × Fesho were evaluated for nine quantitative traits at three locations in the central highlands of Ethiopia during the 1998/99 main season in order to estimate the genetic coefficient of variation (GCV), heritability and genetic advance expected from selection. Highly significant differences were obtained among the RILs for all traits studied. Grain yield, panicle weight and yield per panicle showed a relatively high GCV (12–16%). A comparatively high heritability was obtained from days to heading (31%) followed by panicle length (25%) and grain yield (23%). Moderate amounts of heritability values were obtained for panicle weight and yield per panicle. High genetic advance as percent of the mean were obtained from grain yield (16%), yield per panicle (12%) and panicle weight (10%) at5% selection intensity, which indicated the possibility of improving these traits. Several RILs were identified that have exceeded the better yielding parent at all locations. Grain yield showed a strong positive association (r = 0.26–0.70) with shoot biomass, lodging index, panicle length, plant height, panicle weight and yield per panicle. Overall, the present results showed a) the availability of genetic variance for some useful traits in the RILs for exploitation through selection, b) the existence of significant genotype × location interaction that indicated the need to test inbred populations in more environments, and c)the availability of superior inbred lines for further breeding work. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic parameters for yield in macadamia

Broad-sense heritability, and genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated for yield (nut-in-shell; kernel yield; and net present value of crop) per tree in macadamia to 10 years after planting from a trial of 40 cultivars replicated over 4locations. In addition, canopy width at 10years of age was measured and used to calculate yield efficiency as yield per square metre of projected canopy area. Stem girth above the graft union was also measured. There was a low broad-sense heritability (0.06 < H <0.22) and correlation of cultivars across locations (r _gloc = 0.14–0.52) for yield per tree. However, the genetic correlation of cumulative yield was high among 3 of the 4locations (g ≥ 0.75), suggesting the higher genetic variance at Rockhampton was the main cause of the genotype by environmental interaction. Heritability was higher for canopy width (H = 0.28) and yield efficiency (H ≈ 0.47) and cultivar performance was highly correlated across locations (r _gloc ≈ 0.70) for these traits. There was a strong genetic correlation (r _g ≥ 0.90) between cumulative yield per tree of cultivars to 7 years and cumulative yield per tree to 10 years. Genetic correlation among all measures of yield per tree were high (r _g ≥ 0.73), but there was no genetic correlation with canopy width. On the other hand, small cultivars tended to have higher yield efficiency (r _g <–0.62). There was also a slight negative correlation between nut-in-shell yield per tree and kernel recovery (r _g = –0.37). These results suggest the use of family information and index selection may improve the efficiency of selection and breeding programs in macadamia. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phenotypic recurrent selection in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) based on performance of S2 progenies

Summary The effect of a recurrent selection procedure for improving seed yield per plant was evaluated in common bean. Progress was registered after three cycles of recurrent selection with S2 progeny evaluation performed on the grain yield/plant. Gain from selection was estimated by field testing 45 random S2 lines from each of the C0, C1 and C2 populations. Response to selection for seed yield/plant was 6 g from C0 to C1 and 4.4 g from C1 to C2. The seed yield improvement was due principally to an increase in pods/plant; little contribution was provided by the 1000-seed weight and seeds/pod traits. Broad-sense heritability and genotypic variance for grain yield remained high in all cycles which suggests further gain from additional selection cycles. Grain yield/plant is significantly correlated to pods/plant and seeds/pod traits in all cycles, indicating that plants with favourable combinations of these traits could be identified. The proposed recurrent selection procedure appears to be effective in improving the population and extracting superior genotypes for varietal development.     

唐山红小豆地方品种资源数量性状的遗传变异分析

以71份唐山红小豆地方品种资源为研究对像,对资源各数量性状的平均表现、遗传变异、遗传力及预期遗传进度进行了分析。结果表明,唐山红小豆地方品种资源生育期类型单一、株型高大、产量性状较好,子粒大小中等;主茎分枝、单株荚数、单株生产力、小区产量、生育前期、百粒重、单荚粒数具有中等以上的遗传变异系数和遗传进度,对其选择有一定的效果;在选择效果明显的性状中,生育期、百粒重、主茎分枝遗传力较高,可在早代选择;小区产量遗传力中等,可在遗传基础相对稳定的较高世代选择;而株高、单株荚数、单荚粒数、单株生产力的遗传力较低,应在遗传基础纯合稳定的高世代选择。     

Growth characters and number of strobili in clonal seed orchards of Pinus sylvestris

Observations were made on six grafts for each of 25 clones in three Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seed orchards in Turkey. The characters studied were number of female and male strobili, height below and above the longest branch, total height; diameter at base and breast height, crown diameter, and number of branches. Variation, broad-sense heritability (H ²) and correlations between characters were estimated. Variation among clones was lower than among grafts within clone for all characters. The genetic variation for number of strobili varied between 0 and 17% of total variation, while that for growth characters values varied between 2 and 13%. The number of female strobili appeared more variable among trees than the number of male strobili. H ² was not consistently high for any character or seed orchard. The number of strobili increased with the size of the tree, but not dramatically. Correlations between measures of tree size (both on clone level and individual graft level) and the number of strobili were in the magnitude r ≈ 0.3. Diameter at breast height seems a reasonable predictor for number of strobili.     

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.     

Inheritance of conditional dormancy in over-summering buds of Phalaris aquatica L.

Summary The relative ability of the underground buds of a Mediterranean perennial grass species to break dormancy in response to summer rain was compared between individual plants and between half-sib families in two experiments with broadly-based breeding populations under different environmental conditions. Significant genetic variation was found in summer regrowth activity in both experiments. The narrow-sense heritability of the ratio of new to old, dead tillers after summer rain under spaced plant conditions at a relatively cool site was 0.40±0.16. Under sward conditions at a warm site, the narrow-sense heritability of an index of summer regrowth potential on a half-sib family mean basis was 0.36±0.08. Summer regrowth activity was negatively but weakly correlated with flowering time (r_g=–0.22), and strongly positively correlated with early autumn herbage yield (r_g=0.79). Summer regrowth activity was not genetically correlated with seedling size or herbage yield in the second or third growing seasons. These correlations are different in sign or magnitude from those observed in collections of Mediterranean ecotypes from which the breeding populations were derived by crossing to Australian cultivars and recurrent selection for vigour and persistence. The correlations in Mediterranean populations therefore are not due to pleiotropic effects; they can be altered by recombination. Phenotypic variance relative to the population mean was considerable in both experiments, and hence the level of the responsiveness of dormant buds to summer rainfall should be manipulable readily by selection. The possible effects of altered responsiveness on long term survival and productivity in several different environments are discussed.     

Genetic variation and interrelationships of agronomic characters in landraces of bread wheat from southeastern Iran

There is renewed interest in wheat landraces as important sources of genetic variation for agronomic characters. Fifty-three pure lines of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) derived from seven landraces collected from southeastern Iran were used to estimate genetic variation and heritability for 13 developmental and quantitative characters. Path-analysis was used to partition the genetic correlations between grain yield and six grain yield-related traits. Mean values of landraces were also compared with three improved cultivars from California and Iran. Genotypic differences among the landraces and among the pure lines collected from the landraces were highly significant for all characters considered. Compared with the modern cultivars, the landrace genotypes were, on average, later in days to heading and taller than the cultivars but had lower values for number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield and harvest index. Some landrace genotypes were similar to the modern cultivars for grain yield. Moderate to high genetic variation was displayed by number of grains per spike, number of spikes per plant, 1000-grain weight, and harvest index. The heritability estimates ranged from 59% for grain yield to 99% for days to anthesis. Expected genetic advance (as % of the mean) was ≈34% for number of spikes per plant, number of grains per spike, and 1000-grain weight. Days to heading and to anthesis correlated positively with number of spikes per plant, shoot biomass, and straw biomass but negatively with number of grains per spike and harvest index. The strong direct effect of number of spikes per plant on grain yield was completely counterbalanced by its indirect negative effects via number of grains per spike and 1000-grain weight. Number of grains per spike and 1000-grain weight were positively correlated with grain yield, and they had large direct effects. These two characters, however, were negatively correlated and exhibited a substantial counterbalance effect via one another and via number of spikes per plant. The landraces could be improved by intercrossing the promising genotypes identified in this study, with simultaneous selection for earliness, fewer number of spikes per plant, greater number of grains per spike and heavier grains. For further improvement, crossing programs between the landraces and introduced germplasm may be necessary. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.