Unequal deployment of clones to seed orchards by considering genetic gain, relatedness and gene diversity

Related clones in seed orchards lead to inbreeding depressionand reduced genetic value of the seeds. This study aims to developthe methodology for deployment of related clones to seed orchardswhen the breeding value and the pedigree are available for eachcandidate. The following goals were considered: high geneticgain, high genetic gain adjusted for predicted inbreeding depression(net gain), high gene diversity, and high effective clone number.The selection strategies included truncation selection withor without relatedness restrictions, maximizing genetic gain(linear deployment) with or without restrictions on relatednessand maximizing net gain. The selection strategies were appliedto Norway spruce seed orchard candidates evaluated in clonaltests. The material comprised full-sib and half-sib relationships.Comparisons were made both at the same gene diversity and atthe effective clone number. Maximizing net gain by unequal rametnumber deployment resulted in considerable higher net gain anda considerable reduction of related ramets in many comparisons.Linear deployment restricted against related clones comparedat the same status number resulted in almost as high net gain.Reduction in gene diversity may be a more important reason toavoid relatives in seed orchards than the subsequent inbreedingfor achieving a high net gain.     

Effect of Storage and Pre-sprouting Regimes on Seed Potato Performance in Norway

Physiological quality affects vigour and yield potential of potato seed tubers. Under short-season conditions, a seed tuber should preferably produce a short cycle and mature crop. The aim of the current studies was to assess how various storing and pre-sprouting treatments affect growth vigour and yield formation. Results showed that different low-temperature storage regimes before pre-sprouting treatments had no clear effects although some minor differences between treatments occurred. For pre-sprouted (‘green’-sprouted) seed tubers, results from field trials in southern Norway (2007–2008) showed that emergence of cvs Asterix and Saturna improved significantly compared to unsprouted seed. Total yields increased significantly for both cultivars in 1 out of 2?years. For Saturna, a major increase in number of tubers per plant resulted in larger proportions of smaller-size grades and thus lower marketable yields. In other trials (northern Norway, 2006–2007), varying duration of pre-sprouting did not affect growth vigour and yield. For number of tubers and size grades, the results varied significantly between pre-sprouting durations, but differently among trials, so no clear conclusions can be drawn. In one of the two trials, increased duration of pre-sprouting resulted in higher proportions of the smaller sizes at the expense of large tubers. Different levels of temperature sums during pre-sprouting (ca. 200 or 400?day-degrees >4?°C) did not affect seed performance. In conclusion, our studies showed that pre-sprouting may improve growth vigour and increase the proportion of smaller grade sizes.     

Development and variation of wood density, kraft pulp yield and fibre dimensions in young Norway spruce (Picea abies)

Important wood, pulp and fibre properties were investigated on small wood samples from two Rumanian, one German and one Norwegian provenance of Norway spruce (Picea abies) grown in Sørkedalen, Norway. Several samples were collected from inside each single tree, both in radial and transversal direction in the stem. Data were collected from a total of 59 trees, each 28 years of age. All investigated properties showed close relationship to ring number (RN) (cambium age). For basic density and fibre wall thickness (FWT), a fast decline was first observed when moving from pith to bark and a minimum value was found around RN 5–8. The declining trend was then followed by an increase. Kraft pulp yield, fibre length and fibre width (FW) also increased with RN, but the increase was most pronounced close to the pith. The pulp yield (PY) more or less stabilised outside of RN 5–6. FW showed a decrease outside of RN 10–12, but this was probably due to the remarkable simultaneous drop in ring width for the investigated trees. FW decreased, while basic density and fibre length increased with increasing height in the tree. PY and FWT were not affected by height in tree. Diameter at breast height (DBH) was the most important variable indicating differences between trees in the investigated material. Basic density, fibre length and FWT decreased, while FW increased with increasing DBH. Height to crown had a positive effect on basic density, but had no influence on any of the remaining properties. Differences between provenances were found for basic density, fibre length and FW. The analyses showed that it is possible to describe the variation inside and between trees satisfactorily for a range of important wood and fibre properties.     

Characterization of phenolic compounds in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) fruits by different HPLC detectors and contribution of individual compounds to total antioxidant capacity

Phenolic compounds in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) fruits were identified and characterized by using the complementary information from different high-performance liquid chromatography detectors: diode array, mass spectrometer in positive and negative mode, and coulometric array. Electrochemical profiles obtained from the coulometric array detector contributed to the structural elucidation suggested from the UV-vis and mass spectra. About 40 phenolic compounds including glycosides of quercetin, kaempferol, cyanidin, pelargonidin, and ellagic acid, together with flavanols, derivatives of p-coumaric acid, and ellagitannins, were described, providing a more complete identification of phenolic compounds in strawberry fruits. Quercetin-3-malonylhexoside and a deoxyhexoside of ellagic acid were reported for the first time. Antioxidative properties of individual components in strawberries were estimated by their electrochemical responses. Ascorbic acid was the single most important contributor to electrochemical response in strawberries (24%), whereas the ellagitannins and the anthocyanins were the groups of polyphenols with the highest contributions, 19 and 13% at 400 mV, respectively.     

Interrelationships of Protein Composition, Protein Level, Baking Process and the Characteristics of Hearth Bread and Pan Bread

Baking performance of hearth bread and pan bread were investigated using 10 wheat varieties with variable protein quality. For most varieties, samples were selected at two protein levels, approximately 11 and 13% (d.m.). The effects of flour quality on loaf characteristics were different for hearth bread compared to pan bread, where both protein quality and protein content affect loaf volume positively in an optimised baking test. Hearth bread is more complex as both the form ratio and loaf volume are critical external characteristics. When using fixed proving time, the form ratio was positively affected by dough resistance and mixing peak time at high speed mixing, and negatively affected by dough extensibility. Dough resistance and mixing peak time correlated strongly to the HMW glutenin composition, whereas dough extensibility was related to protein content. In contrast to the form ratio, loaf volume was positively affected by dough extensibility, whereas protein quality had no significant effect. This was seen both for doughs produced at optimal mixing time at high speed mixing (126 rev/min) and for doughs produced at fixed mixing times at low speed mixing (63 rev/min). When proving time was optimised to achieve a defined form ratio, flours of strong protein quality should be proved longer than flours of week protein quality, resulting in higher loaf volume for flours of the strongest protein quality. With respect to protein content, the positive effect of protein content on loaf volume was counteracted due to reduced proving time when aiming for a defined form ratio.     

Honey bee dispersal of the biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum T39: effectiveness in suppressing Botrytis cinerea on strawberry under field conditions

Botrytis cinerea, which causes grey mould, is a major pathogen of many crops. On strawberry, isolates of Trichoderma spp. can effectively control B. cinerea, but frequent application is necessary. Bees can be used to disseminate biological control agents to the target crop. We tested the ability of honey bees to disseminate Trichoderma harzianum T39 to control B. cinerea in strawberry in the field during the winter in Israel over two consecutive seasons. We used the recently developed ‘Triwaks’ dispenser for loading the bees with the T. harzianum inoculum. During both years, grey mould developed in late January in untreated control plots; at low to medium disease levels it was partially controlled by fungicide treatment, and was best controlled in bee-visited plots. At high disease levels neither chemical nor biological control was effective. To assess the spatial distribution of inoculum by bees, we sampled flowers up to 200 m from the hives and found effective levels of T. harzianum even at 200 m. The approach used in this study provides an effective control of grey mould in strawberry in conditions of low to medium grey mould incidence.     

Whole-tree water balance and indicators for short-term drought stress in non-bearing ‘Barnea’ olives

Drainage-weighing lysimeters allowed monitoring of water balance components of non-bearing olive (Olea europaea cv Barnea) trees over a 3-month period including short-term events of controlled but severe water stress. The objective of the study was to evaluate a variety of soil and plant-based water status and drought stress monitoring methods on the basis of tree-scale evapotranspiration (ET). As the trees entered into and recovered from water stress, meteorological data, actual ET (ET_a), soil water content and changes in leaf turgor pressure were continuously monitored. Additionally, midday measurements of stem water potential, stomatal conductance, canopy temperature, and quantum yield of PSII photochemistry were conducted. Diurnal (dawn to dusk) measurements of all the above were made hourly on days of maximum stress. Shoot elongation rate was measured for periods of stress and recovery. Quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, stomatal conductance, and stem water potential all successfully indicated reductions in whole-tree water consumption beginning at moderate stress levels. These measured parameters fully recovered to the levels of non-stressed trees soon after water application was renewed. Shoot elongation was reduced 25-30% for the 10-day period during and following drought and recovered thereafter to levels of non-stressed trees. Whole-tree ET_a was reduced by as much as 20% even following full recovery of the leaf level parameters, suggesting reduced canopy size and growth due to the stress period. Non-destructive, continuous (turgor pressure) and remotely sensed (canopy temperature) methods showed promising potential for monitoring effects of water stress, in spite of technological and data interpretation challenges requiring further attention.     

The Norwegian Healthier Goats programme – A financial cost–benefit analysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the profitability to dairy goat farmers of participating in the Healthier Goats disease control and eradication programme (HG), which was initiated in 2001 and is still running. HG includes the control and eradication of caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE), caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) and paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) in Norwegian goat herds.     

Variation in Oat Groats Due to Variety, Storage and Heat Treatment. I: Phenolic Compounds

Low molecular weight phenolic compounds present in heat processed oats (Avena sativaL) were analysed. The oat grains were of three varieties (Kapp, Mustang and Svea), stored at different relative humidities (30, 55 or 80%) and periods (3·5 or 15·5 months) and processed with or without hulls. Eleven UV-absorbing compounds detected by High Performance Liquid Chromatography were subjected to univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. The selected compounds included caffeic acid,p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, vanillic acid,p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillin, coniferyl alcohol, three avenanthramides and one unidentified substance. The levels of vanillic acid, vanillin and, especially,p-coumaric acid,p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and coniferyl alcohol increased significantly in samples processed with hulls, but not in samples processed without hulls. Ferulic acid increased in both processes, while caffeic acid and the avenanthramides were found to decrease during processing. Storage of unprocessed samples for 1 year generally increased the levels of phenolic acids and aldehydes. For the phenolic acids (except ferulic acid), this increase was most pronounced after storage at high relative humidity (80%). The avenanthramides were present at their highest levels in Mustang, caffeic acid in Svea and Mustang, the unidentified compound in Svea, while all the other compounds studied were present predominantly in the variety Kapp.     

Variation in cone and seed characters in clonal seed orchards of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis>

Cone and seed characters were observed on top, middle and bottom portions of tree crown in 3 ramets/clone in three Turkish Pinus sylvestris seed orchards. Broad sense heritability (clonal repeatability), and correlations among characters were estimated. Around one quarter of the seed production occurred in the top portion, half in the middle and one quarter in the bottom portion of the crown for all orchards. The percentage of filled seeds varied little with the crown position, indicating more or less similar levels of selfing in the bottom of the crown as in the top. The seed weight was typically 11 mg. Differences were found for studied cone and seed characters among orchards and crown positions. Variation among grafts within clone was higher than among clones for most characters. The heritability was on average below 0.5 (e.g., cone diameter, number of filled seed per cone) and rarely rose above that (e.g., cone form, length/diameter; percentage of filled seed) for any individual characters. The coefficient of variation within clones was often higher than among clones. Thus, non-genetic factors seem often more important for the variation in performance of grafts than their genetic constitution. Cone form (length/diameter) was the character where the clone influence was the strongest. Cone number and cone dry weight showed significant correlations with seed characters (numbers of total and filled seed, percentage and weight of filled seeds). Significant correlation was found between seed characters.