FRACTAL DIMENSION AND DAYLIGHT INVESTIGATION

In this paper,we analyse the alylight with chaos method, and calculate the day-light illuminance fractal dimension in many kinds of sky, it proves the optical air is a chaos, and shows us the new way to study the sky Iuminance distributions.     

Inheritance of angular leaf spot resistance in common bean line BAT 332 and identification of RAPD markers linked to the resistance gene

The existence of genetic variability for angular leaf spot (ALS) resistance in the common bean germplasm allows the development of breeding lines resistant to this disease. The BAT 332 line is an important resistance source to common bean ALS. In this work we determined the inheritance pattern and identified RAPD markers linked to a resistance gene present in BAT 332. Populations F₁, F₂,BCs and BCr derived from crosses between BAT 332 and cultivar Rudá were used. Rudá is a commercial cultivar with carioca type grains and susceptible to ALS. The resistance of BAT 332 to race 61.41 of the pathogen was confirmed. Segregation analysis of the plants indicated that a single dominant gene confers resistance. For identification of RAPD markers linked to the resistance gene, bulk segregant analysis (BSA) was used. Two RAPD markers,OPAA07₉₅₀ and OPAO12₉₅₀, linked in coupling phase at 5.10 and 5.83 cM of this gene, respectively, were identified. These molecular markers are important for common bean breeders and geneticists as source of genetic information and for marker assisted selection in breeding programs. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Assessment of genetic relatedness of the genera Ananas and Pseudananas confirmed by RAPD markers

Genetic relationships among 18 accessions, including 16 of Ananas and two of Pseudananas, were investigated using RAPD molecular markers. The procedure for DNA extraction was adapted from the method of Dellaporta et al. (1983) where an incubation in proteinase K and a purification step were included. From the total of 148 markers scored,132 (89.2%) were polymorphic. The similarity matrix was used for cluster analysis. The phenogram developed from the RAPD bands showed that for most of the cases, the accessions within a species grouped together. Nevertheless, a moderate infraspecific genetic variation was observed. For example, DNA data grouped all A. comosus accessions with a mean similarity coefficient of 0.85. Comparable results were obtained with all other species investigated. The highest genetic divergence was found withinA. lucidus where the mean similarity coefficient among accessions was0.75. A similar level of genetic polymorphism was observed among species,therefore, a definition about which species were involved in the constitution of A. comosus genotypes was not possible. These results agree with the breeders standpoint suggesting that all Ananas species belong to the primary gene pool of pineapple. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Assessment of yocoboue wild oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) from Côte d'Ivoire

Following a survey involving wild oil palm groves in Côte d’Ivoire as a whole in 1968, 17 parents were chosen at Yocoboué (southernCôte d’Ivoire). Agronomic performance of the 17 parents was assessed through Deli × Yocoboué hybrids in 3 trials grown at La Mé (Côte d’Ivoire), Mondoni and La Dibamba (Cameroon).When compared to the Deli × La Mé progenies used as controls, the Deli × Yocoboué hybrids produced 91% for total bunch weight and86% for oil yields. However, the genetic variability within the Deli × Yocoboué progenies allows to select individual progenies as productive as the Deli × La Mé controls, for breeding purposes. A study of major agronomic traits led to the choice of parent YO 11 T , which combines the largest number of favourable traits. On average, Deli × Yocobouéprogenies have slower vertical growth and are susceptible to Fusarium wilt, except 2 parents (YO 3 T and YO 9 T), which seem to be resistant.     

A xenia effect on number and volume of cotyledon cells and on seed weight in faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

The female line 1709, carrying the recessivecharacter green cotyledon, marker of the embryogenotype, was cross-pollinated by bees in the presenceof either male line HG115 or male line Dial63. In thecomparison of seeds which resulted either fromintercrossing or from selfing, a xenia effect wasobserved on volume and number of cotyledon cells andon individual seed weight which was dependent on themale line. The increase of hybrid seed weight inducedby the small-seeded male line Dial63 was larger thanthe one induced by the large-seeded male line HG115.The xenia effect on seed weight was correlated withthe level of heterosis in the F1 plant's growth.     

Effect of Ogura male-sterile cytoplasm on the performance of cabbage hybrid variety. II. Commercial characteristics

Summary The main constraint of using Ogura male-sterile cytoplasm in Brassica is the induction of leaf yellowing at low temperature and the low seed set. But whether or not the cytoplasm can disturb the general commerical performance of the plants is not well-known. Therefore, this work was carried out with the purpose of evaluating Ogura cytoplasmic male-sterile cabbage hybrids and compare them to genomic similar male-fertile ones and to the most popular cabbage hybrid cultivated in Brazil. Harvest data showed an effect of the cytoplasm on reducing plant and head weight, core length and head length and width, although not altering heading index, shape and core indexes, nor head compactness. On the other hand, it was observed also that a careful selection of the parental lineages can produce male-sterile hybrids as good as their male-fertile analogues. All the evaluated hybrids were similar or better than the check for the characteristics under study.Abbreviations dat - days after transplanting - CNPH - National Center for Vegetable Crops Research     

Gene flow in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

This study was conducted in Brazil in order to assess the potential risk posed by gene escape from transgenic into non-transgenic plants and wild populations. A new methodology was applied to evaluate the gene flow between common bean cultivars, by means of a specially delineated experiment in two stages. The first stage consisted of the planting of one cultivar with violet flowers (BB) as pollen source (‘Diamante Negro’), and a receiver (‘Talismã’) with white flowers (bb), at different distances. The source was sown in the center of the area. The pollen receiver cultivar was sown, in concentrical squares around it. At maturity, the rows were sampled at varied distances from the source in the four cardinal directions. In the second stage, the sampled seeds of the previous stage were sown, and the percentage of outcrossing was evaluated during flowering through the presence of violet flowers (Bb). The highest frequency of natural hybrids, 0.136%, occurred at a distance of 0.5 m between the cultivars. The natural outcrossing rate was practically zero beyond a distance of 3.25 m.     

Factorial regression analysis of genotype by environment interaction in ryegrass populations, using both isozyme and climatic data as covariates

A sample of 58 natural ryegrass populations (Lolium perenne L.) from the French and Spanish oceanic coast was evaluated for three seasonal growth traits (i.e. spring, autumn and winter vigour traits) in 5 evaluation sites (three in France and two in Spain). This sample showed a high level of genotype (population) × environment (evaluation sites) interactions for the three agronomic traits. A factor regression analysis, using both isozyme frequencies of populations and climatic factors of evaluation sites as covariates, was carried out on a sub-sample of 30 populations in order to explain these interactions. This method succeeded in explaining most population × location interactions by the product of two covariates. For instance, for spring vigour trait, 72.8% of the interaction term could be explained by the use of two covariates: the PGI2-20 allelic frequency of populations and the minimum temperature of the coldest month of evaluation sites. This study shows the advantage of such a method for plant breeders who need to identify promising ryegrass populations for their breeding objectives. A number of genetic and evolutionary hypotheses are also discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.