Path-Coefficient Analysis of Seed Yield Components in Euphorbia lathyris L.

The interrelationships of seed yield components in Euphorbia lathyris L. have been studied by means of path-coefficient analysis. Two of seven components, ‘Number of flowers of primary inflorescence’ and ‘Number of flowers of secondary inflorescences’ proved to be of major importance through direct effects on ‘Total number of fruits’ as indicator of seed yield. Indirect effects generally arc being canalized via the same variables. Selection for seed yield is made possible through the relation between ‘Number of secondary branches’ and ‘Number of flowers of secondary inflorescences’.     

Sunflower mutant containing high levels of palmitic acid in high oleic background

A new sunflower mutant, CAS-12, was obtained, which has both high palmitic (≈30%) and high oleic acid contents, and also a substantial amount of palmitoleic acid (≈7%). The mutant was selected after X-ray irradiation of dry seeds of the inbred line BSD-2-423, which had normal palmitic (≈3%) and high oleic (≈88%) acid levels. The increase of palmitic and palmitoleic acids occurred at the expense of the oleic acid content, which decreased to around 55% in respect to the original line. Linoleic acid content is always under 5%. Palmitic and palmitoleic acid levels were similar to those of the high palmitic mutant CAS-5 obtained in a previous programme from a low oleic line isogenic to BSD-2-423 using a similar mutagenic treatment. In that previous programme we also selected three high stearic acid mutants using chemical mutagenic treatment on the same sunflower line (RDF-1-532). We attempted to obtain mutants in other lines but were unsuccessful. The isolation of similar mutants in isogenic parental lines illustrates the importance of the genetic background in the development of specific mutants with an altered seed oil fatty acid composition. The oil of this mutant will increase the range of potential uses of sunflower oil. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The domestication and improvement of cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

Summary Physiological and morphological characteristics of the two wild and three domesticated subspecies of cowpeas are compared. The wild accessions are alike in having small, hard seeds borne in dehiscent pods, but differ in other characteristics. We suggest that the wild subsp. dekindtiana, from the seasonally-arid tropics, is more likely to have been the progenitor of modern cowpeas than the other wild subspecies (subsp. mensensis), but that subsp. dekindtiana was first cultivated in the humid tropics where its pods are slow to dehisce. Domestication has been associated with changes in the structure of pod valves and seed coats which reduce pod dehiscence and seed hardness. Pods and seeds have increased in size, mainly by increases in the rate of dry weight accumulation, and their increase has been only partly paralleled by increase in the area of subtending leaves. There has been no increase in the maximum photosynthetic rate of leaves, but the duration of their photosynthetic activity has increased. Domesticates are less sensitive than are wild plants to some environmental controls, such as in the response of germination to temperature, but in their flowering responses to daylength both wild and cultivated forms retain sensitivity under conditions where this is of adaptive value.     

Inflorescence and seed production in festuca pratensis var. apennina (2n\t=28)

Summary Plants of tetraploid Festuca pratensis var. apennina (2n=28) collected from Switserland and Northern Italy produced few inflorescences when grown in the field and under glasshouse conditions. The effects of winter and spring treatments upon reproductive growth were investigated and it was concluded that exposure to low winter temperatures and the control of tiller density in the spring were two important factors controlling the production of inflorescences. A procedure for the production of seed is suggested which will allow breeders to obtain efficient multiplication of collected plant material.     

Inheritance of Eye Pattern and Seed Coat Colour in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.)

The F₂ progenies of crosses between several cowpea (V. unguiculata) lines were investigated for variation of eye pattern and seed coat colour. It was found that three (W, H, O) and five (R, P, B, M, N) major genes control eye pattern and seed coat colour, respectively. The recessive gene (GO) for restricted eye pattern enables the underlying basic white or cream seed coat colour to be observed. A similar effect is obtained with the recessive gene (rr) for colour expression. The expression of mottling (V), possibly a seed coat pattern, may for be observed when it is combined with the genes for certain eye patterns. The significance of these findings in breeding for consumer preference for specific seed coat colour is discussed.     

Selection for Seed Yield in Lolium perenne L.*

Components of seed yield were estimated for each set of 100 plants derived from six varieties of Lolium perenne. Significant differences between the varieties were found for all components of seed yield, but the range was broader within each variety. An indirect selection of seed yield using the character seeds per spike produced a selection response similar to that obtained by direct selection on high seed yield per plant. A direct and indirect selection of characters estimated in small, drilled plots of topcross off-springs (F₁) was less successful than the selection based on the single plants. Spearman rank correlation coefficients between the single plants and their offsprings did not show significant agreement for seed yield. But altogether the results indicated that the increase of seed yield/area was about 6 % when 10 % of the best plants were selected.     

Comparison of some selection procedures and objectives in faba beans (Vicia faba L.). I. direct and index selection for seed yield

Summary Starting with two heterogeneous F₂ populations, each based on 20 cross combinations, different selection procedures were applied for four consecutive selection cycles. Three of the selection procedures involved seed yield per plant (SYP): (i) direct selection for SYP (DSY); (ii) indexselection for SYP (ISY) with plant length, the ratio of the vegetative top to plant length, end of grain filling and duration of the generative stage as auxiliary characters and finally; (iii) independent culling levels selection (ICL) for the index described above and crude protein content. For ICL-selection the attention is focussed on SYP in this paper.For all three selection procedures, predicted and realized responses were calculated and expressed as percentage of a corresponding non-selected population. The intensities of selection differed over selection methods and generations, mostly due to practical constraints.As far as predicted responses are concerned, ISY-selection seemed to be slightly superior to DSY-selection and DSY-selection to ICL-selection. This order may partly be due to differences in selection intensity. However, none of the predictions was very accurate, but the predictions of ICL-selection seemed to be the most accurate. This has been ascribed also to the relative mild selection intensity applied in ICL-selection. It is concluded that a decision in favour of a complicated selection procedure like index selection based on predicted responses only cannot be defended. As far as realized responses are concerned, DSY-selection seems to be slightly superior to the other two selection procedures, as it is the only procedure that resulted in a more or less stable positive response to selection.The auxiliary characters, especially plant length, showed a marked correlated response to all three selection procedures. In case of direct selection for SYP this seemed paradoxical with the inefficiency of index selection, but, it may reflect the differences in the genuine genotypic correlations and the estimated genotypic correlations.     

Comparison of Spring Barley Lines Produced by Single Seed Descent, Pedigree Inbreeding and Doubled Haploidy

Samples of inbred lines of Hordeum vulgare produced by pedigree inbreeding, doubled haploidy and single seed descent have been compared for a range of agronomic characters. Differences between the means of the in bred s produced by single seed descent and pedigree breeding were due to differing levels of inbreeding. The present study confirmed chat recombinant inbred families which out-perform the higher scoring parent may be produced by either method. Caution should, however, be exercised when simply inherited characters controlled by major genes are fixed in early generations. Differences between the doubled haploid and single seed descent samples for the character thousand grain weight were attributable to coupling linkages involving epistatic genes. The production and evaluation of random inbred lines should be considered as an alternative to pedigree methods of barley breeding.     

Effect of selection for pollen grain size on various traits in common bean

Summary Selection among microgametophytes usually exploits variation in pollen grain germination. Studies of variation in pollen grain size in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) suggested that selection for size might lead to changes in sporophytic traits. To determine whether microgametophytic selection based on size would affect pollen grain size in subsequent generations or sporophytic traits that were correlated with pollen grain size, pollen grains from three crosses were separated into two size categories by sieving and then used to pollinate cv. Diacol Calima. Selection resulted in changes in pollen grain diameter for pollen from F₁, F₂ and F₃ plants for all crosses. In vitro germination indicated no differences between vigor of large and small grains, but extraction and sieving reduced germinability. F₁ seed from two of the crosses with size-selected pollen varied in weight according to pollen grain size, but in subsequent generations, the effect disappeared. Both size categories of selected pollen resulted in F₂ progeny with reduced numbers of seeds per pod as compared to controls, suggesting that the size selection process may have resulted in indirect selection for traits reducing seed set. The overall results suggested that genes determining pollen grain size in bean have little or no effect on sporophytic traits such as seed size and seed yield.     

红菜苔种株采收适期的研究

该试验分析了红菜苔（Brassicacampestuisvarpurpurea）种株不同采收期对种子产量和种子质量的影响。种子质量是以种子活力、种子发芽力和种子大小进行评价的。结果显示，红菜苔十月红一号品种在种株最老熟荚果内籽粒变色后13天为最佳采收期。