Isozyme diversity within African Manihot germplasm

Summary Isozyme diversity is described among a collection of 365 Manihot esculenta cultivars plus 109 accessions from wild relatives (M. glaziovii and spontaneous hybrids) from Africa. The study is based on 17 polymorphic loci. A natural hybrid swarm is detected between the two species. Although they were recently introduced, M. esculenta and M. glaziovii show high levels of polymorphism: heterozygosity estimates are 0.225 and 0.252 respectively. For the wild species, diversity is structured at the unilocus level, and the multilocus approach reveals a geographical pattern. The organization of the diversity is not so clear for the cultivated cassava, but a multilocus approach, based on both common and rare alleles, led us to identify different groups of clones with many intermediate genotypes between them. Elements of the secondary diversification process of Manihot in Ivory Coast are discussed.     

Combining Ability of Doubled Haploids in Coffea canephora P.

Fifty-five doubled haploids (DH) of Coffea canephora were crossed with either heterozygous genotypes or DH in order to study their combining ability. Three agronomic trials were established. Marked hybrid vigour was observed for all characters analyzed including yield. Large differences were evident among top-crosses involving different DH produced from the same parental clone reflecting the high level of heterozygosity of clones. Factorial mating design analysis indicated that all genetic variance was attributable to additive effects in estimates of yield as well as plant height and leaf characteristics. The general combining ability variance component was also predominant for stem girth and susceptibility to leaf rust, although effects due to interaction were detected. Some hybrid combinations had yield comparable to standard clonal varieties. The implications of such results for breeding of Coffea canephora are discussed. Particularly, the development of F₁ hybrid varieties is envisaged.     

Evaluation of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) germplasm collections using RAPD markers

Summary Deterioration of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., seed can adversely affect stands, seedling vigor, and subsequent performance of plants, but deterioration can be lessened by improved genetic resistance. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship of physical and germination characteristics of cotton seed and to determine the inheritance of resistance to seed deterioration. Physical (weight, volume, density, and imbibition rate) and germination (germination of non-deteriorated seed and deteriorated seed) characteristics were determined for eight cotton genotypes. In addition, imbibition rate and the germination characteristics were determined for all possible F₁, including reciprocals, combinations of the eight genotypes. Variation among the parents for germination of deteriorated seed and imbibition rate were significantly, highly correlated (r=–0.97) and intrinsically related. Resistance to seed deterioration tended to increase as seed weight and volume decreased. Significant genetic effects were found for imbibition rate and germination of both non-deteriorated and deteriorated seed. However, general combining ability (GCA) accounted for only 21% of the variation in crosses sums of squares for germination of non-deteriorated seed. In contrast, GCA accounted for 90% of the variation for germination of deteriorated seed and imbibition rate. A breeding approach involving selection of early generation seed for ability to survive hot water treatment, then evaluating later generations for imbibition rate is suggested as a means to improve resistance to seed deterioration in cotton.     

Effect of ultrasound emulsification on cheese aroma encapsulation by carbohydrates

The encapsulation of liquid cheese aroma (20%) in different carbohydrate matrices by spray-drying was investigated. Carbohydrate stabilized emulsions have been prepared by two emulsifying methods, ultrasonic or Ultra-Turrax treatments, and have been compared in terms of emulsion stability and encapsulation efficiency. The use of ultrasound is particularly effective to obtain a stable emulsion with maltodextrin as support, which is known for poor emulsification properties. In the same way, the spray-dried maltodextrin microcapsules were more effective for retaining cheese aroma when ultrasound (12.7 g/100 g of dry powder) was used for the emulsification step rather than Ultra-Turrax (10.7 g/100 g of dry powder). In terms of encapsulation efficiency, the best system of cheese aroma encapsulation is obtained using ultrasound for the emulsification step and modified starch as support (94.3%). With this support, the positive effect of ultrasound resulted in a lower microcaspsule size and in a higher aroma retention than when Ultra-Turrax was used (83.3%). Studies on the aroma profiles showed changes after encapsulation that depend not only on the nature of the support and the emulsification method but also on the interactions between the aroma compound and the matrix. In terms of flavor quality, the best system of cheese aroma encapsulation is obtained using ultrasound and maltodextrin as support.     

Evaluation of decay resistance of wood products made from borax-impregnated wood and bonded with a formaldehyde-free cornstarch and tannin adhesive

? At present, the production of wood composites mainly relies on the petrochemical-based and formaldehyde-based adhesives such as phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins and urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins, which are non-renewable and therefore ultimately limited in supply.

? This paper concerns the decay resistance of wood products bonded with a new, environment-friendly adhesive derived from abundant and renewable cornstarch and tannin. To improve the total resistance of the composite against both Coriolus versicolor and Coniophora puteana rot fungi, borax (di-sodium tetraborate) was added in proportions of 0.5%, 1% and 2% (w/w) to the cornstarch-tannin adhesives.

? The results show that increasing the concentration of borax in the adhesive decreased the mechanical properties of the composite. The best way to avoid this problem was to use wood impregnated with borax.

? Biodegradation studies were conducted on new composites, first without any treatment, followed by borax at 0.5% aqueous solution treatment. The results show that wood impregnated with borax, in the presence of tannin and sodium hydroxide in the adhesive improves the total resistance of the wood composite against both Coriolus versicolor and Coniophora puteana rot fungi.

     

Heterozygous genotypes are efficient testers for assessing between-population combining ability in the reciprocal recurrent selection of Coffea canephora

Coffea canephora Pierre breeding in Côte d’Ivoire is based on indirect reciprocal recurrent selection (RRSi) using the Congolese and Guinean populations. In practice, the genotypes of each population (78 Congolese genotypes and 100 Guinean genotypes) are tested with several testers from the reciprocal population: two Guinean and three Congolese testers. These testers are heterozygous as C. canephora is a strictly outcrossing species. After a first cycle of RRSi, we judged the efficiency of these testers for yield, susceptibility to coffee leaf rust (SCLR) and hundred bean weight (HBW). All the testers discriminated the tested genotypes highly significantly (P < 0.01), even though differences were found in the degrees of discrimination. For yield and SCLR, no interaction between tested genotypes and testers was observed and correlations between test values obtained from different testers were significant or highly significant. Furthermore, test values of tested genotypes could be used to predict the yield and SCLR of between-population (BP) hybrids. Prediction was always more accurate with the best tester than with the mean of several testers. As opposed to yield and SCLR, HBW showed significant interactions between tested genotypes and testers and HBW of hybrids could not be predicted from the test value of the genotypes. We conclude that only one reciprocal tester can be used in the next cycles of RRSi applied to C. canephora. This will allow either a reduced cost of selection or increased selection intensity.     

Interaction between cultivar and crop management effects on winter wheat diseases, lodging, and yield

The breeding of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for resistance to major fungal diseases has been a priority over the last 15 years in France. During this period, integrated low-input strategies have been developed for winter wheat, to cope with falling grain prices and growing environmental concerns. We investigated the interactions between genotype and management for disease and lodging intensities, and analysed their effects on yield within an integrated crop management (CM) context.

A multi-environment experimental network (13 locations, studied in three seasons, between 1999–2000 and 2001–2002) comprising several combinations of cultivars and CM systems was carried out. Four rule-based CM plans were defined, with a decrease in input level from CM1 (a high-input CM plan designed to maximise the yield of a given cultivar) to CM4 (a low-input system with no fungicide protection, no plant growth regulator applications, a sowing density 40% lower than for CM1, and 90 kg ha⁻¹ less N fertiliser than for CM1). Cultivars were clustered into three groups (cultivar type (CT) CT1–CT3), according to their scores for resistance to diseases, for the analysis of yield, whereas the resistance cultivar rating (CR) for each disease and for lodging was considered for the analysis of disease and lodging intensities.

For all diseases, CM had a significant effect (P<0.0001), with disease intensity increasing from CM1 to CM4, whereas CR had a negative effect (P<0.005). An interaction between CR and CM was also detected for all diseases (P<0.005) except eyespot. Lodging intensity decreased significantly from CM1 to CM4 (P<0.0001), and significant increases in lodging resistance score (P<0.0001) were not associated with a genotype by management interaction.

Lastly, yield was significantly affected by CM (P<0.0001), CT (P<0.0003), and CM by CT interaction (P=0.0023). Cultivar ranking differed as a function of CM for yield, demonstrating that breeding programs focusing on cultivar evaluation in high-input environments do not result in the selection of cultivars suited to low-input environments.     

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among the annual Cicer species as revealed by isozyme polymorphism

Summary There are few estimates of genetic variability within and among populations of the nine annual Cicer species and for the wild species this information is based on few accessions. The present study was undertaken to examine genetic variation within and between annual Cicer species. One hundred and thirty-nine accessions of nine annual Cicer species were used for electrophoretic analysis at ICARDA. High levels of polymorphism in all eight wild annual Cicer species was found. This is in contrast to earlier research which had shown high polymorphism only in C. reticulatum. Cicer reticulatum had the highest proportion of polymorphic loci. However, for the cultigen, among 14 loci assayed, only two were polymorphic, ADH and PGD2. The nine species formed four phylogenetic groups based on the neighbor-joining method. The first group comprised C. arietinum, C. Reticulatum and C. echinospermum, the second C. bijugum, C. judaicum and C. pinnatifidum, the third C. chorassanicum and C. yamashitae; and the fourth group consisted of one species, C. cuneatum. The phylogenetic tree developed from the neighbor-joining technique illustrated that C. reticulatum is the probable progenitor of C. arietinum and that C. echinospermum split off from a common ancestor at an earlier stage in the evolutionary history of Cicer. Genetic diversity data showed that the greatest diversity was within C. reticulatum and the lowest with the cultigen, C. arientinum. With the exception of C. reticulatum, genetic diversity increased with genetic distance from the cultigen. Little geographic variation in genetic diversity was found.     

Genetic diversity for RAPD markers between cultivated and wild accessions of Coffea arabica

Summary Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers have been successfully employed to analyse the genetic diversity among cultivated and subspontaneous accessions of Coffea arabica. The narrow genetic base of commercial cultivars was confirmed. On the other hand, a relatively large genetic diversity was observed within the germplasm collection demonstrating the importance of collecting missions. Results suggested an East-West differentiation in Ethiopia, the primary centre of diversification of C. arabica. The large heterosis effect reported in intergroup hybrids could be related to such genetic differentiation. RAPD method appeared to be effective in resolving genetic variations and in grouping germplasm in C. arabica.     

Selection for bean and liquor qualities within related hybrids of Arabica coffee in multilocal field trials

The success of a new variety of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) depends to an important extent on its liquor and bean qualities. Selection for these traits is however constrained by the prevalence of large genotype-by-environment (G×E)interactions in conjunction with the low genetic variability characteristic of this species. The aim of this study was to assess the extent to which key bean and liquor traits are affected by the environments and could be combined in order to improve the efficiency of selection for coffee quality in a narrow genetic basis set of hybrids obtained from a set of related lines and collectively representing the Ruiru 11 cultivar. Twenty-one full-sib families representative of this hybrid cultivar grown in Kenya in five sites exhibiting strong edaphic and climatic differences were used for the study. Rainfall amounts during various phases of berry development were used to explain the differences observed in the discriminating abilities of the locations for bean and liquor traits. The results showed that these families were best differentiated for bean sizes in the site where moisture supply was optimal throughout berry expansion and filling stages, whereas discrimination on the basis of liquor traits were best observed in the site where moderate moisture stress occurred during bean filling stage. The overall precision in prediction of family values was low for liquor qualities; but a much more efficient selection for large bold beans, optimally based on the AA grade was shown to be possible. Selection indices for family selection were computed to realize a trade-off between genetic gains in bean size and liquor flavour. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.