Performance of pearl millet isonuclear hybrids involving different cytoplasmic male-sterility systems

The performance of pearl millet hybrids involving four sources of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), including the most-exploited A₁ source, was compared to evaluate the effects of cytoplasm on grain yield. The mean grain yield of hybrids possessing A₂, A₃ and A₄ cytoplasms was either similar to or significantly higher than that of their counterpart hybrids with A₁ cytoplasm. Hybrids based on A₃ and A₄ cytoplasms produced, on average, 8% more grain compared with those based on A₁ cytoplasm. This suggested that these CMS sources could be used as alternatives to A₁ cytoplasm to widen the cytoplasmic base of hybrids. The results indicated that most of the variation in hybrids was accounted for by pollinator and cytoplasm × pollinator interactions, suggesting the use of genetically diverse pollinators in pearl millet hybrid breeding.     

Field performance of natural narrow-leafed lupin from the northwestern Spain

Summary Narrow-leafed lupin or lupine (Lupinus angustifolius L.) is one of the three species of the genus Lupinus that grows naturally in Galicia (northwestern Spain). In this region, with more than one million of cattle heads, almost 20% of Spanish total, there is no cultivation of any protein legume for feed. Lupins are widely used as a source of protein and energy in livestock feed and would contribute to the supply of vegetable protein at low cost. A 2-year study of natural narrow-leafed lupin germplasm was conducted under winter Mediterranean conditions in northwestern Spain. Fifty-nine wild populations and two cultivars developed in Poland were evaluated for major morphological, phenological, and agronomical characteristics. The objectives were to assess the agronomic potential of this germplasm for the future production and breeding, and to know the relationships among populations studied. Lupin populations showed significant differences for most of the traits studied. Genotype × environment interaction was significant for plant height, green and dry mass, pod length, seeds per pod, seed length and width, and water permeability of seed coat, indicating that some genotypes were better fitted to a specific environment than others. Three narrow-leafed lupin populations (LUP-0098, LUP-0138 and LUP-0200) were identified with suitable agronomical characteristics for their possible future cultivation in the region and breeding purposes. The accession LUP-0138 presented the best behaviour for seed production. These results open the way for the winter narrow-leafed lupin to become a promising crop in the future for the northwestern Spain.     

The effect of introgressions of wheat D-genome chromosomes into 'Presto' triticale

Hexaploid triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) (2n= 6x= 42, AABBRR) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (2n= 6x= 42, AABBDD) differ in their R and D-genomes. This produces differences in both agronomic and end-use quality characteristics. Our objective was to determine how introgressions of individual chromosomes from the D-genome of wheat affect these characteristics of a winter triticale 'Presto'. We studied the effects of 18 D-genome chromosome substitution lines, 15 sib-lines as controls, and five check cultivars at Lincoln, NE in 1996, using a randomized complete block design with two replications. The experiment was repeated at Lincoln and Mead, NE in 1997 and 1998 with 15 substitution lines that survived the first winter in Lincoln, along with their 12 control sibs and five check cultivars. Few D-genome chromosomes had positive effects. Chromosomes 2D, 4D, and 6D significantly reduced plant height when substituted for 2R, 4B, and 6R, respectively. No grain yield increases were associated with any of the D-genome chromosomes tested, but three substitutions decreased the grain yield. Depending on the allele of the hardness gene present, chromosome 5D increased or decreased kernel hardness when substituted for 5R or 5A, respectively. Introgressions of chromosomes 1D and 6D improved end-use quality characteristics of Presto. These results suggest that apart from beneficial effects of individual loci located on the D-genome chromosomes, no major benefit can be expected from D-genome chromosome substitutions.     

Genetic resources of wild cereals in Israel and vicinity. I. Phenotypic variation within and between populations of wild wheat,Triticum dicoccoides

Summary Populations of wild emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccoides, in Israel, originating from diverse habitats, and tested earlier for allozyme (Nevo et al., 1982) and disease resistance polymorphisms (Moseman et al., 1983a, 1983b; Nevo et al., 1984a, 1984b), were compared and contrasted for performance in agronomically important phenotypic traits. The traits compared involved 10 variables comparing germination, earliness, biomass and yield variables. The field experiments were conducted in 1980, 1981 and 1982 in two relatively standardized and contrasting environments: mesic (Mount Carmel, Haifa) and xeric (Acedat Farm, and Sede Boqer, in the northern Negev desert). The experimental design involved 12 population quadrangles at Avedat Farm in 1980, and rows of randomized genotypes of five populations in both Haifa and Sede Boqer in 1981 and 1982.The results indicate that the characters studied are partly genetically determined. Striking genetic variation was found between and, at least in some characters, also within populations in each site, whereas remarkable environmental variation including genetic-environmental interaction was found between the mesic and the xeric sites. We conclude that natural populations of wild emmer wheat in Israel vary not only in genetic polymorphisms of allozymes and disease resistance, but also in quantitative traits of agronomic importance. These traits are economically significant and should be conserved and utilized in wheat crop improvement.     

Fertility restoration of new CMS sources in sunflower (Helianthus annum L.)

The development of commercial sunflower hybrids based on new CMS sources is of special interest for reducing the potential risk of vulnerability to pathogens and for increasing genetic diversity. From 263 test crosses involving nine new CMS sources, i.e. ANL1, ANL2, MAX1, PEF1, PET2, ANN1, ANN2, ANNS and ANN4, five lines were selected as potential restorers for PEF1, PET2 and ANN4. In test crosses between all nine CMS sources and these five restorer lines evaluated in 2 years, seven fully restored hybrids could be identified. These hybrids, based on ANL1, ANL2, MAX1, PEF1, PET2, and ANN4, showed good agronomic performance for plant height, days to flowering, maturity and oil content. Segregation analyses of the F2 populations indicate that a single dominant restorer gene was sufficient to restore pollen production of hybrids based on ANL2, PEF1 and PET2. For restoration of ANN4, two dominant complementary genes are required. In restoration of fertility in the crosses of ANL1 and MAX1 investigated, two dominant genes are involved each of which on its own allows the production of fertile plants.     

水稻压致变异后代主要农艺性状的研究

用高压诱变法处理高收获指数型水稻品种粤香占 ,培育出变异材料粤压 1号、2号和 3号。通过对其主要农艺性状比较研究发现 ,3个变异材料与粤香占在生育期、株高、分蘖数、有效穗数、穗部性状、外观米质、抗病性和抗寒性等方面存在明显差异 ,表明高压诱变可能成为一种新的育种方法。     

农作物的红边特征与农学参数的关系

The hyperspectral reflectance of the canopy and the leaves on the main stem for six varieties, two each of rice, corn, and cotton crops, were measured at different growth stages with an ASD FieldSpec Pro FR^TM to analyze red edge characteristics for leaf area indices (LAI), aboveground biomass, as well as the chlorophyll, carotenoid, and nitrogen content, emphasizing comparative differences on the red edge parameters. The results showed a ‘double peak' phenomenon for the red edge of the canopy spectra but not for the leaves. There were ‘increase' and ‘decrease' change rules for the red edge position, λ_r, the red edge slope, Dλ_r, and the red edge area, S_r, of the canopy spectra for all 3 crops with a ‘blue shift' for λ_r of the leaf spectra for all 3 crops as the development stages progressed. For rice, corn, and cotton the LAI and fresh leaf mass had highly significant correlations (P < 0.01) so the red edge parameters λ_r, Dλ_r, and S_r of their canopy spectra. Additionally, for all crops the chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid content of the leaves all had highly significant (P < 0.01) correlations to their λ_r. For rice, the nitrogen content of the leaves in g kg^-1 and phytomass for a unit area of land in g m^-2 also had a highly significant (P < 0.01) correlation to λ_r, Dλ_r, and S_r of the canopy spectra.     

小麦主要性状遗传在南北两地的比较研究

本文对14个冬、春性小麦品种的主要性状在南北两地的遗传表现进行了比较研究。结果表明:两种环境条件下小麦主要性状对单株粒重的作用趋于吻合,南北两地小麦育种在性状遗传、相关和选择方向上具有一定的共性。通过聚美分析把供试材料分为不同的生态类群,分类结果与育种实践相一致。     

印度南瓜主要农艺性状与产量的通径分析

以印度南瓜品种为材料，对其主要农艺性状进行相关性和通径分析，结果表明，影响印度南瓜产量的主要决定因素是单瓜量和单株结瓜数。因此，在南瓜丰产育种中，应以单瓜重和单株结瓜数作为主要选择指标，同时，还应注意两者之间的相互协调。     

不同施钾水平对烤烟生长和品质的影响

在大田施氮、磷水平相等的条件下，研究了施K2O分别为0，45，90，135，180，225，270kg／hm^2对烤烟品种K326农艺性状、经济性状、化学成分、缺钾症状和气候斑病发生程度的影响．结果表明，在烟株生长前中期，当施钾量达到180kg／hm^2以上时，株高增长显著变慢，而定型株高则显著增高；茎围和最大叶的面积在施用135kg／hm^2以上的处理与CK之间的差异性达到极显著水平，叶面积指数也存在显著差异；单位面积产量和产值以施用180kg／hm^2的处理居首位，中上等烟比例和均价以施用225kg／hm^2的处理最高，这两种处理的以上4个经济性状与CK之间存在极显著性差异；烟叶中的总糖和K2O含量随施钾量的增加而上升，烟碱、总氮、蛋白质和Cl^-含量则下降；缺钾症状随施钾量增加而减轻，至施用180kg／hm^2时已无缺钾症状；烟叶气候斑的发生程度也随施钾水平的提高而减轻。