Adaptation and stability analysis of sweet potato varieties for low-input systems in Uganda

Sixteen sweet potato varieties were evaluated for fresh storage root yield in 20 trials during 2000–2001 for three seasons in four locations in Uganda. Of the 16 varieties, 11 were developed by farmers and five by a central breeding programme. The behaviour of the varieties was quantified in terms of wide adaptation (genotypic mean across trials), specific adaptation (genotypic predictions for specific locations) and stability (Shukla stability variance). With respect to all three aspects of yield behaviour, farmer varieties performed on average better than the official varieties. The results illustrate the potential that farmer varieties can have in the improvement of sweet potato in Uganda and other regions where high diversity of sweet potato landraces exists.     

Combining ability analysis of resistance to head blight caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium graminearum</Emphasis> in spring wheat

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium spp. is one of the most important fungal diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in regions with wet climatic conditions. Improvement of the FHB resistance by developing new varieties requires sound knowledge on the inheritance of resistance. An 8 × 8 diallel analysis was performed to estimate general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability of resistance to FHB. The F₁s and parental lines were evaluated under artificial inoculation at the experimental field of IFA-Tulln, Austria during 2001 and 2002. Disease severity was evaluated by repeated scoring of the percentage of infected spikelets and calculating an area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). The analysis of combining ability across two years showed highly significant GCA and non-significant SCA effects indicating the importance of additive genetic components in controlling FHB resistance. The significant GCA-by-year interaction presented the role of environmental factors in influencing the FHB reaction of wheat lines. The comparison of the crosses with low FHB infection and GCA effects of their parents showed that such crosses involved at least one parent with high or average negative GCA effect. The results revealed that it is feasible to use highly or moderately resistant genotypes and conventional breeding methods to achieve genetic improvement of FHB resistance in spring wheat.     

Variance component estimations and allocation of resources for breeding sweetpotato under East African conditions

In Africa, average sweetpotato storage root yields are low and breeding is considered to be an important factor in increasing production. The objectives of this study were to obtain variance component estimations for sweetpotato in this region of the world and then use these to determine the efficiency of variety trials and breeding systems. From an incomplete series of variety trials in Kenya and Uganda (comprising 15 genotypes, three locations, two crop durations and three seasons) variance components were estimated ‐ using the REML method ‐ for the following traits: storage root yield, biomass production, harvest index, storage root dry matter and the Elston index which was used to aggregate all four traits. The storage root yield of clones across all 12 environments ranged from 15.2 to 33.0 t/ha. The variance components were significant for all traits, except the genotype by season interactions for storage root dry matter. The efficiency of selection systems was determined for total test capacities of 450 and 900 plots and using not more than five locations. Two‐stage selection was 17‐81% more efficient than one‐stage selection after two seasons of testing. Two‐stage selection was optimized under the restriction of using at least two locations at step 1. Trials with two locations and one replication at step 1 and five locations and two replications at step 2 were appropriate both for selecting for storage root yield and for simultaneously selecting for storage root yield, biomass production, harvest index and storage root dry matter content by using the Elston index. There are indications that such an allocation of resources for breeding sweetpotato is also appropriate for other regions in Sub‐Saharan Africa.     

Cereal breeding in Austria

This article gives a report on the breeding, the distribution, the productivity and the seed sale of the most important varieties of wheat, rye, barley and oats grown in Austria. The history of cereal breeding in Austria demonstrates the importance of the extensive use of local varieties (Landsorten) and of modern breeding methods, including polyploidisation and X-ray mutation, for the progress in developing adapted varieties. The history and the contents of the Governmental Rules for the Registration of Varieties (Österreichisches Zuchtbuchgesetz) are outlined. The widely varying climatic conditions (four climate zones) and the differing types of soil require a relatively large range of varieties of specific adaptibility. The breeding objectives are first of all yield and quality, then resistance to frost and drought combined with earliness in the more continental climate zone and resistance to stem rust, loose smut and mildew in the three zones with higher precipitation. The seed sales of wheat varieties with a genotypical high baking quality is supported by a governmental allowance, which helps to increase the acreage occupied by these varieties. Apparently the stress laid on high baking quality in wheat and on a specific brewing quality in barley makes the progress toward high yielding varieties in Austria more difficult than in other countries, especially since cereal breeding is almost exclusively done by private and cooperative establishments.

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Dr., Lecturer in Plant Breeding at the University of Agriculture at Vienna, Austria; Geneticist and Cereal Breeder at the Probstdorfer Saatzucht Station, N.Ö.     

Wirkung der Phosphatdüngung in einem 40jährigen Dauerversuch auf einer Sandlöß-Braunschwarzerde in Halle

Effect of differential P fertilizer application over a period of 40 years in a long-term field experiment on a Phaeozem near Halle, Germany P fertilizer in three forms was applied at 0 (P₀), 15 (P₁) and 45 (P³) kg ha^?1 P per annum to a relation lucerne — lucerne — potatoes — winter rye — sugar beet — spring barley. The experiment was laid down in 1949 near Halle on Phaeozem soil containing 57 mg total P and 8.5 mg DL-P per 100 g soil (0–20 cm) and with pH 6.0 (0.1 M KCl). Small differences between treatments were first observed only after 20 years. Since then the effects of treatment increased but even after the 7th cycle (1982–1987) the maximum effect was <8 cereal units (CU) per ha. The crops most responsive to P were: lucerne (in the year of sowing), potatoes and sugar beet. Over the period 1977–1988, annual P removal exceeded P input by 23 and 9 kg ha^?1 P for treatments P₀ and P₁ respectively; on treatment P³, P input exceeded removal by 19 kg ha^?1 per annum. DL-P on treatment P₀ in 1979 was 3.5–4.0 mg per 100 g, insufficient to support high yields. A level of 5–6 mg DL-P per 100 g soil, as found in treatment P₁ is required for sustainable high yield. Change in total soil P content corresponded with the P balance (input — withdrawal) only on treatment P³. The lack of correspondence on treatments P₀ and P₁ suggests that crops obtained much of their P requirement from subsoil.     

Adsorption of Orthophosphate to Humic-Fe-Complexes and to Amorphous Fe-Oxide

The adsorption of orthophosphate to humic surfaces was studied in a model experiment. The adsorption maximum of humic substances greatly increased with higher concentrations of organically complexed Fe (III), indicating that orthophosphate was bound to humic surfaces via metal bridges. The molar ratio P_adsorbed/Fe was nearly 1 for Fe freshly complexed to humic substances, whereas the ratio for amorphous Fe-oxide was a tenfold lower. An increase in pH from 5.2 to 6.2 lead to an increase of P-adsorption of about 30% in the case of humic-Fe-surfaces, which could be explained by an increased accessibility of adsorption sites at pH 6.2. The addition of a 0.01 M CaCl₂-matrix increased orthophosphate adsorption at pH 6.2 but not at pH 5.2. This could be explained by electrostatic interactions caused by the Ca⁺⁺ ion.     

Complexation of iron (III) to humic substances of a humic podzol at pH 2.5 - 6.4 - quantification of the organically complexed iron by pyrophosphate extraction

Bonding of Fe(III)-ions to humic substances of a humic podzol are reported with regard to pH (range 2.5 - 6.4). A separation technique is used involving a pyrophosphate extraction, whereby dissolved, precipitated, and organically bound iron can be separated. The necessity of iron speciation results from the fact that the amount of Fe bound to organic matter is overestimated if conventional methods are used. The estimation of formation constants for iron actually bound to organic matter leads to a corrected maximum value of log K'_f(org) = 1.64, whereas for the total eliminated Fe this maximum value is 2 units higher (log K'_f= 3.70).