Analysis of a site x year experiment with timothy polycross progeny

Summary Results from a cooperative breeding programme with timothy for the northern areas of Scandinavia are presented. The main aim of the programme was to identify genotypes for synthetic populations that are high yielding, adapted over the whole area and stable over years. A polycross comprising 12 genotypes from each of five sites within the region was formed. The subsequent 60 half-sib families and four reference varieties were then compared under sward conditions at the same sites. The trials lasted for three years and results for total dry matter yields are presented.Significant differences in yield between lines were found. There were also significant two and three factor interactions between lines, sites and years. A new two-step procedure is presented to select the genotypes to make up a synthetic variety. Firstly, a superiority measure (Q-value) is used to select a group of genotypes that are high yielding and stable over sites and years. Secondly, the GxE part of the Q-value is split into two terms. One measures adaptation to predictable environmental conditions. The other one measures stability to unpredictable changes in the environment. A plot of these two measures provides a tool for discarding unstable or poorly adapted genotypes. The statistical properties of the selection parameters are discussed.     

Some remarks on carrot breeding (Daucus carota sativus Hoffm.)

Carrot breeding in the past 150 years has resulted in varieties with high yield, a short growing period, and excellent root colour. Recently, hybrid varieties have demonstrated good uniformity of roots, a quality accepted by most consumers. By contrast, only a few resistant varieties (mainly open-pollinated varieties) are offered by seed companies, most being resistant to Alternaria. Hybrid breeding offers a chance of combining good uniformity and different sources of resistance. Efforts in future breeding should concentrate on the improvement of health and the development of genotypes suitable for cultivation in suboptimal climates and regions, as well as for special applications.     

Genetics of self-compatibility in dihaploids of Solanum tuberosum L. 5. The S-genotype of tetraploid potato cultivar gineke

Summary Investigations of the genetics of self-compatibility and self-incompatibility in dihaploids and diploid derivatives from cv. Gineke revealed the presence of S ₁, S₂ and S ₃ at the S-locus of Gineke and in addition an S ₁-allele on a translocation. By means of a complete tester set involving the S-alleles S ₁, S₂ and S ₃ (all from Gineke) and S ₄ (from Black 4495) it was demonstrated that some Gineke dihaploids were compatible with all six testers. This indicated a fourth S-allele in Gineke, which differs from those in the tester series and was therefore assigned S ₅. Additional evidence was obtained from an analysis of F₁'s from crosses of two S ₅-bearing dihaploids and one of the testers. So the S-genotype of cv. Gineke was identified as S ₁S₂S₃S₅/S₁, the second S ₁ being the S-allele on a translocated fragment.     

Towards a more efficient utilization of genic male sterility in breeding hybrid barley and wheat

The author suggests that in nature cytoplasms may occur which can restore fertility in male sterile lines in which male sterility is based on one recessive gene ms. If indeed such a fertilizing cytoplasm should be found a male sterile (S) ms ms-line could be increased using the male fertile counterpart (F) ms ms as a male. Thus the female rows in hybrid seed production fields consist of male sterile plants only. A method is outlined to trace a fertility restoring cytoplasm and to introduce it into a male sterile line.     

Analysis of parental effects on mean vine maturity and chip colour of 4x.2x potato progenies

Summary The parental effects on progenies from potato 4x.2x(FDR) crosses were analyzed to determine anether and to what extent selection criteria used for selecting tetraploid breeding lines have to be adjusted when selecting diploid breeding lines. For vine maturity and chip colour multiple regression analysis of progeny means on means of diploid and tetraploid parents revealed high coefficients of determination (R²) for both characters, indicating good predicting power of the performance of both diploid and tetraploid parents on the performance of their 4x.2x progenies. For vine maturity the multiple regression slope for the tetraploid perents was significantly larger than for the diploid parents, and progeny means were towards the tetraploid parents. This indicates that selection criteria for vine maturity may be less stringent at the diploid level. However, diploids may be earlier maturing than tetraploids and therefore selection criteria can better be similar at both ploidy levels. For chip colour, multiple regression slopes for diploid and tetraploid parents were similar and progeny means were towards the darkest coloured parent irrespective of its ploidy level. This indicates that selection of breeding lines for chip colour can be conducted similarly at both ploidy levels.     

Comparative performance of diploid and tetraploid progenies from 2x.2x crosses in potato

Summary Selection criteria for agronomic characters in a potato breeding program at the diploid (2x) level may differ from selection criteria used when selecting breeding lines at the tetraploid (4x) level. Differences between selection criteria are expected, (1) when expression of the characters is different at both ploidy levels and/or (2) when the effect of diploid breeding lines on agronomic characters of tetraploid progenies is different from the effect of tetraploid breeding lines. In this investigation sets of diploid and tetraploid progenies, each set derived from the same 2x.2x cross, were compared as to the expression of six agronomic characters. Diploid progenies had significantly lower yields (due to smaller tubers) and significantly higher under water weights than tetraploid progenies. Vine maturity and chip colour were similarly expressed at both ploidy levels. Correlations between yield and yield components, and between under water weight and chip colour were similar at both ploidy levels. The lower yields and higher under water weights found in diploids point to the need of different selection criteria for selecting diploid and tetraploid breeding lines.     

Natural variation within the genus Beta and its possible use for breeding sugar beet: A review

Summary Sugar beet is a relatively young crop, which supposedly has a narrow genetic base. Natural variation occurring in primitive beet varieties and in wild Beta species has been used for breeding sugar beet. This paper reviews information on desirable characteristics in Beta germplasm and the attempts made for the introgression of such characters into commercial breeding material. After an introduction on the availability of germplasm and the possibilities of hybridisation, attention is focussed on the mating system (especially male sterility), on morphological and physiological characteristics, including yield and sugar content, and on resistances to diseases and pests.     

Analysis of dihaploid induction and production ability and seed parent x pollinator interaction in potato

Summary The production of dihaploids is the first step in a potato breeding program at the diploid level. Dihaploid induction ability, dihaploid production ability and seed parent x pollinator interaction were analyzed for 28 × 3, seed parent x pollinator combinations. This is the first report on significant interaction between seed parents and pollinators. Despite this interaction, IVP 101 had a significantly higher dihaploid induction ability than the widely used pollinators IVP 35 and IVP 48. Previous findings on significant differences in dihaploid production ability between seed parents were clearly confirmed.     

Pressure-induced unfolding and aggregation of the proteins in whey protein concentrate solutions

Whey protein concentrate solutions (12% w/v, pH 6.65 +/- 0.05) were pressure treated at 800 MPa for 20-120 min and then examined using size exclusion chromatography (SEC), small deformation rheology, transmission electron microscopy, and various types of one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The pressure-treated samples showed a time-dependent loss of native whey proteins by SEC and 1D PAGE and a corresponding increase in non-native proteins and protein aggregates of different sizes. These aggregates altered the viscosity and opacity of the samples and were shown to be cross-linked by intermolecular disulfide bonds and by noncovalent interactions using 1D PAGE [alkaline (or native), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and SDS of reduced samples (SDS(R))] and 2D PAGE (native:SDS and SDS:SDS(R)). The sensitivity of the major whey proteins to pressure was in the order beta-lactoglobulin B (beta-LG B) > beta-LG A > bovine serum albumin (BSA) > alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA), and the large internal hydrophobic cavity of beta-LG may have been partially responsible for its sensitivity to high-pressure treatments. It seemed likely that, at 800 MPa, the formation of a beta-LG disulfide-bonded network preceded the formation of disulfide bonds between alpha-LA or BSA and beta-LG to form multiprotein aggregates, possibly because the disulfide bonds of alpha-LA and BSA are less exposed than those of beta-LG either during or after pressure treatment. It may be possible that intermolecular disulfide bond formation occurred at high pressure and that hydrophobic association became important after the high-pressure treatment.