Additive gene action for resistance to Puccinia striiformis F.SP. Tritici in Triticum dicoccoides

Summary Seven single-plant selections of wild emmer, with temperature-sensitive minor-effect genes for stripe rust resistance, were intercrossed in eight combinations. The resulting progenies were studied for a possible additive gene action.The transgressive segregation towards resistance in F₂ observed in all the combinations indicates that additive gene action for resistance indeed occurs in wild emmer. The common occurrence of this phenomenon in random combinations suggests further that several minor-effect genes are involved.Following selection of the most resistant plants in F₂, a marked shift towards resistance was noted in F₃, which demonstrates a positive response to selection. In some instances, additive resistance selected for (in F₂) at the high temperature-profile was expressed (in F₃) also at the low temperature-profile. This kind of resistance, when utilized in breeding programmes, promises therefore to be effective over a range of temperatures.     

Competition between 2x and x pollen in styles of Solanum tuberosum determined by a quick in vivo method

Summary Pollen competition in vivo was studied by placing two pollen samples on one stigma and comparing the length of the tubes under a U.V. microscope. Comparisons involving pollen of Solanum tuberosum and S. phureja showed that 2x pollen grew faster than x pollen, both in 2x and x styles. Consequences for induction of dihaploids in S. tuberosum are discussed.     

Strawberry breeding for red core resistance in the Netherlands

Summary The appearance, a few years ago, of red core disease (Phytophthora fragariae Hickman) in strawberry crops in the Netherlands, has made it desirable to grow resistant varieties and to include red core resistance in our breeding programme.An account is given of the results of some field trials in 1968–1970 on a very wet, sandy soil, infected with P. fragariae, involving varieties, selections and seedling progenies.In both years distinct differences in resistance and susceptibility occurred between varieties and selections. The seedling progenies gave significant differences in percentages of surviving, healthy plants.Samenvatting Het optreden van rood wortelrot (Phytophthora fragariae Hickman) enkele jaren geleden in de aardbeiteelt in Nederland, heeft het gewenst gemaakt resistente rassen te telen en resistentie in ons veredelingsprogramma op te nemen.In dit artikel worden de resultaten vermeld van enkele veldproeven met rassen, selecties en zaailingpopulaties in de jaren 1968–69 en 1969–70 op een zeer natte, met P. fragariae besmette zandgrond.In beide jaren traden duidelijke verschillen in vatbaarheid op tussen de rassen en selecties. De zaailingpopulaties vertoonden eveneens duidelijke verschillen in de percentages overlevende, gezonde planten.     

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.     

Quantitative trait loci for phytate in rice grain and their relationship with grain micronutrient content

Phytate (inositol-hexa-phosphate) has an important role in plants but it also may have anti-nutritional properties in animals and humans. While there is debate within the plant breeding and nutrition communities regarding an optimum level in grain, there appears to be little information at the molecular level for the genetics of this trait, and its association with important trace elements, in particular, Fe and Zn. In this preliminary study, quantitative trait loci (QTL) for grain phytates, Zn and Fe in glasshouse-grown rice lines from an IR64 × Azucena doubled haploid population were identified. Correlations between phytate and essential nutrients were also studied. Transgressive segregation was found for most traits. Phytate and total P concentrations had one QTL in common located on chromosome five with the (high concentration) allele contributed from Azucena. There were significant positive correlations between phytate and inorganic phosphorus (P), total P, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn concentrations for both grain concentration and content. However, the QTLs of phytate were not located on the same chromosomal regions as those found for Fe, Zn and Mn, suggesting that they were genetically different and thus using molecular markers in breeding and selection would modify the phytate level without affecting grain micronutrient density.     

波兰花卉业稳中求突破

专家预测,波兰50%的切花和盆栽植物种植在温室或者由聚乙烯塑料覆盖的简易大棚中。波兰有各种各样的这类设施,包括从几十年前建造的又小又破的简易温室,到近几年建造的效率非常高、非常艺术的高级温室,大约33%的切花和盆栽植物在玻璃温室中种植。1989年之前,波兰的温室园艺在中     

Isozyme polymorphism in three gene pools of cultivated chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)

Summary Polymorphism of ten enzymes, acid phosphatase (APH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), phosphorylase (PP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malic enzyme (ME), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase 1 and 2 (GOT-1, GOT-2) and phosphoglucomutase 1 and 2 (PGM-1 and PGM-2), was investigated in three gene pools of cultivated chicory, including six cultivated wild chccory, eight industrial chicory and eight Brussels chicory varieties. LAP, APH, PP and PGM-2 showed high phenotypic polymorphism whilst GOT-1 and ME had poor polymorphism. For three enzyme coding loci Lap, Pgm-1 and Got-2, allele frequencies were determined. Isozyme composition in the three chicory gene pools was significantly different, showing, respectively, high, intermediate and poor average amount of phenotypic polymorphism in cultivated wild chicory, industrial chicory and Brussels chicory. Isozyme variation within and between varieties of the three gene pools is discussed in relation to breeding practices.     

Gummy stem blight resistance of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.)

Summary A start was made with breeding for resistance to gummy stem blight in cucumber. A method has been development for screening plants in a young stage. Using this method a distinct level of resistance was found in plants of Leningradsky, Wjarnikovsky,a P.I. entry from Birma, Rheinische Vorgebirge and a P.I.entry from Turkey. Lines developed from this material show a higher level of resistance than Dutch slicing and pickling cucumber varieties.     

Relation in the inheritance of resistance to Pseudoperonospora cubensis rost and Sphaerotheca fuliginea poll. in cucumber (Cucumis sativusl. L.)

Summary Among the genes for resistance against Sphaerotheca fuliginea, the gene s for resistance of the hypocotyl is linked to or identical with gene p for resistance to Pseudoperonospora cubensis. This gene s is present in the cultivars Ashley, Poinsett, Natsufushinari, Pixie, Taipei and in accessions PI 179676. PI 212233 and PI 234517.Although gene s initially brings about some resistance of the true leaf, it appears that when s is present. other genes are necessary for complete resistance to S. fuliginea.     

Effect of temperature on the occurrence of male sterility in onion (Allium cepa L.)

Summary Experiments were made to ascertain whether sex expression in the onion depends on temperature.Some populations were found to be largely male sterile at about 14°C and much less so at 20°–23°C. In other populations this phenomenon did not occur. Besides all the fertile populations produced less and worse pollen at 14°C.The first-mentioned temperature influence may be an essential factor in searching for an explanation for the partially male sterile plants found by various research workers, and for the unexpected segregations for male sterility when A-, B- and C-lines are propagated.