水稻OsUBA基因的表达及其在促进种子萌发和开花中的功能

自噬是将功能异常或不需要的胞内组分降解的细胞学过程,广泛参与真核生物的生长发育过程、对营养缺乏的响应及生物/非生物胁迫反应。NBR1 (Next to BRCA1 gene 1, NBR1)是在植物中发现的最重要的自噬受体,但有关植物NBR1类自噬受体的研究较少,水稻中此类蛋白的研究还是空白。本文通过RT-PCR方法,从水稻日本晴幼苗的cDNA中克隆到一个含有泛素相关结构域(Ubiquitinassociated,UBA)的基因,将其命名为OsUBA。OsUBA的开放阅读框长2538 bp,编码845个氨基酸残基。OsUBA属于水稻中的NBR1类蛋白。OsUBA的启动子区有多个与光、逆境胁迫及激素反应相关的元件; OsUBA基因在水稻花药、正在萌发的种子以及根中的表达量较高,在茎和叶中也有表达; 200μmol L~(–1) ABA处理显著抑制OsUBA的表达,100μmol L~(–1) GA处理后OsUBA的表达略有升高。对OsUBA过表达水稻株系的研究表明,转基因水稻种子的萌发比野生型更快, ABA (3μmol L~(–1))处理显著抑制OsUBA过表达水稻株系种子的萌发, GA (100μmol L~(–1))处理对OsUBA过表达水稻株系种子的萌发略有促进;OsUBA过表达水稻株系的开花时间较野生型明显提前。这些结果表明,水稻NBR1蛋白基因OsUBA的表达和功能可能与对开花时间和种子萌发的调控以及生物/非生物胁迫反应有关。     

Absence of a genetic relationship between salt tolerance during seed germination and vegetative growth in tomato

Two approaches were used to determine the relationship between salt tolerance during seed germination and vegetative growth in tomato. First, F₄ progeny families of a cross between a breeding line, ‘UCT5’ (salt sensitive at all developmental stages), and a primitive cultivar, ‘PI 174263’ (salt tolerant during germination and vegetative growth), were evaluated in separate experiments for salt tolerance during germination and vegetative growth. There were significant differences among the F₄ families in both the rate of seed germination and the plant growth (dry matter production) under salt stress. There was, however, no significant correlation between the ability of seeds to germinate rapidly and the ability of plants to grow under salt stress. In the second approach, selection was made for rapid germination under salt stress in an F₂ population of the same cross and the selected progeny was evaluated for salt tolerance during both germination and vegetative growth. The results indicated that selection for salt tolerance during germination significantly improved germination performance under salt stress; a realized heritability estimate of 0.73 was obtained. Selection for salt tolerance during germination, however, did not affect plant salt tolerance during vegetative growth; there was no significant difference between the selected and unselected progeny based on either absolute or relative growth under salt stress. Obviously, in these genetic materials, salt tolerance during germination and vegetative growth are controlled by different mechanisms. Thus, to develop tomato cultivars with improved salt tolerance, selection protocols that include all critical developmental stages would be desirable.     

Cell selection as a possible reason for the specificity of somaclonal variation in pea

A study of regenerants obtained from long-term callus cultures of different pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes revealed specificity of in vitro mutagenesis. The specificity was displayed in the preferential generation of the somaclonal variations affecting quantitative and developmental characters. About 60% of regenerated lines obtained from the cultivar Ranny Zeleny carried mutations in the Lf and Sn loci, which control initiation of flowering. An in vitro study of isogenic lines differing at the Lf and Sn loci illustrates the growth advantages of mutant genotypes in tissue culture. These experiments suggest that mutations affecting developmental characters (e.g. mutations in loci which control flowering behaviour) may be expressed in tissue culture and may cause increased adaptation in mutant cells to the in vitro conditions. Rapid propagation of mutant cells during in vitro culture may lead to a higher proportion of quantitative mutations among the regenerated plants.     

The genetic relations between length of time to germination and seed dormancy in lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum)

Summary The inheritance of speed of germination and its genetic relations with seed dormancy was investigated in lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum). The study was based on data from parental, F1, BC1F1 and F2 generations of a cross between a normally germinating genotype (P1) and a chill-requiring genotype (P2). The mean post-chilling germination speed of P2 was considerably lower than that of P1. Germination speed was found to be under nuclear embryonic control. Analysis of generation means for prechilled seeds revealed an additive gene action with complete dominance of the alleles conferring higher germination speed, since the means of the F1 and the BC1 (P1) were indentical to that of P1. Such dominance was not found for unchilled seeds, in which the mean germination speed of the F1 and the BC1 (P1) was lower than that of P1. It was hypothesized that slow germination speed was induced by pleiotropic effects of seed dormancy alleles. Seed prechilling seemed to eliminate these effects in progeny heterozygous for dormancy alleles, but not in progeny homozygous for dormancy alleles.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, No 1292-E, 1993 series.     

The relations of broad nematode resistance to quality characteristics as a consequence of marker-assisted selection in potato breeding programs

Cultivating resistant varieties of potato is the most effective and environmentally sound method of protecting potato crops against pests and diseases. Potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are major nematode pests causing severe constraints in potato production worldwide. There are five pathotypes of Globodrea rostochiensis (Ro1–Ro5) and three of G. pallida Pa1–Pa3. Cultivation of potato varieties with broad nematode resistance may influence the growth of the wide spectrum of PCN pathotypes, but there is limited availability of such varieties on the market. The use of molecular markers allows for the effective selection of resistant genotypes at early stages of breeding. However, the impact of early selection for nematode resistance on the agronomic value of the final selected clones is a cause of concern for potato breeders. This study investigates the relationships between the presence of the combined resistance genes H1, Gro1-4 and GpaV_vrn, which confer resistance to the nematodes, and certain agricultural traits. Clones with broad nematode resistance conferred by the genes H1, Gro1-4 and GpaV_vrn presented yields and tuber morphology traits similar to those of the clones without identified resistance genes.     

Inter-and intraracial hybridization and selection for seed yield in early generations of common bean,Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Summary Five parents from each of four race groups of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were hybridized to produce five crosses within each group. Also, five crosses were made for each of the six possible combinations among four groups. Parents, F₁ and F₂, and parents, F₂ and F₃ were evaluated for seed yield in 1990 and 1991, respecitively, at two locations in Colombia.Yield of parents belonging to Middle American races and crosses among them was higher than that of races of Andean origin. Positive correlations were found among the mid-parent value, F₁, F₂ and F₃. Also, the mid-parent value predicted the mean seed yield of all possible lines that could be derived from the F-generation in 42 out of 47 crosses. Four crosses, all between common bean races of Andean and Middle American origin, indicated a possible loss of favorable epistatic parental alleles. On average, mean yield of interracial F₁ hybrids was higher than that of intraracial ones.Positive heteroris (26.4%–123.8%) over the mid-parent in 31 crosses, and F₁s yielding higher (23.7%–91.8%) than the high parent in 20 crosses and yielding higher (22.1%–53.2%) than the highest control among all parents (MAM 13) in 12 crosses, were found. Heritability, estimated by the parent-offspring regression, ranged from 0.42± 0.07 to 0.49±0.04. Expected and realized gains from selection (at 20% selection pressure) ranged from 10.3% to 21.0% over the mean of F₁ hybrids and F₂ and F₃ population bulks.     

Correlations within and between characters between and within generations as a measure for the early generation selection in potato breeding

Summary The main objective was to determine the reliability of selection in early generations of a potato breeding programme. To that end data were recorded in the seedling generation, an early and a late harvested experiment of the first clonal generation and the late harvested second clonal generation on up to 30 genotypes of 55 populations from crosses of three Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum cultivars and seven selected S. tuberosum ssp. andigena clones, adapted to the northern temperate zone. Phenotypic correlations were computed per population in almost all possible combinations within and between characters between and within generations. The mean across 55 comparable correlation coefficients was considered to be the best estimate of the relationship concerned.In all four experiments data were collected on number of tubers, tuber yield and mean tuber weight; in the three experiments of the two clonal generations in addition on date of emergence, number of stems, plant height, haulm type, and general impression of the underground plant parts and in the two late harvested clonal generations on date of maturity and under water weight.The results confirmed that general impression which is largely decisive for the selection in early generations, is a little reliable measure. However, from the magnitude of the mean correlations between experiments within characters it must be concluded that selection for most of these separate characters is hardly more reliable. An exception was date of maturity for which a mean correlation was determined of r=0.78 between the two clonal generations. The second strongest mean correlations, perhaps surprisingly, were for tuber yield, viz. r=0.52 between the seedling generation and the late harvested first as well as the second clonal generation and r=0.63 between the late harvested clonal generations. From the correlations between characters it appeared that for a high tuber yield, besides its components, in particular an early emergence, a large plant height, an attractive haulm type and a late maturity are of importance.The main conclusion is that, as long as not enough seed tubers are available for the layout of statistically sound experiments, a negative instead of a positive selection should be applied to avoid the rejection of most of the valuable genotypes in an early stage. On the basis of the results directives for the application of such a negative selection are given.     

The effectiveness of early generation (F3) yield testing and the single seed descent procedures in two cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) crosses

Summary Two breeding procedures were compared in two cowpea crosses. Both procedures were started from the same selected F₂ plants in each cross. For the early generation yield testing, the F₃ lines were yield tested and a pedigree and bulk methods followed in F₄ and F₅. Each F₅ line was bulked to provide seed for a yield test in F₆. In the Single Seed Descent (SSD) procedure, a single seed was taken from each F₂ plant to produce the F₃ generation. The procedure was repeated for the F₄ and F₅. The F₆ SSD lines and the F₆ yield testing lines were compared in yield tests.The results showed that differences in yielding ability of F₃ lines persisted over generations indicating that selection was effective. This was confirmed by the high significant correlations between F₃ yields and those of later generations which ranged from r=0.51^* to 0.85^**.The grain yields of lines derived by the single seed descent procedure were as good as those derived from early generation yield testing.Significant linear correlation between visual rating of F₃ and F₆ yields with actual yields revealed that it is possible to identify promising lines of cowpea visually.     

The presence or absence of the soybean Kunitz trypsin inhibitor as a quantitative trait locus for seed protein content

Numerous quantitative trait loci (QTL) for various characters have recently been reported in different crop plants. However, information is limited about the molecular mechanisms behind QTL, because most of them have only been detected at a statistical level. Therefore, progeny from a cross between two soybean genotypes segregating for the presence vs. absence of the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor, a 21.5 kDa protein, have been analysed for possible effects of that protein on agronomic and seed quality characters. Protein content was reduced by, on average, 4.5 g/kg in segregants lacking the Kunitz protein, whereas oil content and other characters remained unaffected. This finding can be interpreted as a ‘model QTL’ for variation in seed protein content, because the molecular and genetic backgrounds of the soybean Kunitz trypsin inhibitor are well understood.     

The effect of seed tuber weight on characters in the first and the second clonal generation of potato populations

Summary Fifty-five populations from crosses of three Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum cultivars and seven selected S. tuberosum ssp. andigena clones adapted to the northern temperate zone have been studied in the seedling and the first and second clonal generation. This paper only deals with the effect of seed tuber weight on various important agronomic characters which are selected for in early clonal generations, independently of the type of crosses.The results showed that a distinction has to be made between the effects of differences in seed tuber weight within and between seedlings, i.e. genotypes. The effects on the first clonal generation of differences in weight of the tubers within seedlings and those of the first heaviest tubers between seedlings were similar and comparable to seed tuber weight effects within cultivars. In contrast to the within seedlings effects the between seedlings effects proved to be heritable. This is concluded from the fact that, on average, independent of seed tuber weight seedlings with larger first heaviest tubers performed better in the second clonal generation than those with smaller ones. Notably plant height, general impression, date of maturity and particularly tuber yield and mean tuber weight in the second clonal generation were related to the weight of the first heaviest tubers of the seedlings. The potentialities of these findings for an early generation selection are discussed.