A partial diallel study of powdery mildew resistance in six apple cultivars under three growing conditions with different disease pressures

Summary The suitability of large-fruited apple cultivars as alternative donors of powdery mildew resistance to the crabapples carrying major gene resistances was assessed. Five accessions with varying levels of mildew resistance (‘Dülmener Rosen', ‘Liberty', ‘Sciros', ‘Prima' and ‘Red Delicious') and one susceptible cultivar (‘Cox's Orange Pippin') were mated in a partial diallel design, and sub-sets of each seedling family were evaluated for three years at three New Zealand sites (Havelock North, Riwaka and Clyde) with different climatic conditions. There was a high correlation among the powdery mildew susceptibility scores of the individual seedlings over the three years, but disease levels varied among sites, with those at Clyde being the highest. All accessions with some resistance were found to confer additive resistance to their progenies to varying degrees depending on the climatic conditions of the sites, but findings suggest that progeny selection at Clyde will be sufficient for breeding purposes. The performance of the cultivar itself was not necessarily a good predictor of the level of resistance conferred to its progenies. The mostly negative genetic correlations between powdery mildew scores and fruit quality attributes suggest that selecting for powdery mildew resistance and desirable fruit quality traits may not be difficult. However, a larger number of families may be needed for more precise estimates of the genetic correlations to strengthen confidence in this conclusion.     

谷子杂种优势利用的研究

本文利用61个杂种 F_1代及其亲本材料,分析了谷子主要性状的杂种优势、亲子相关及优势值间的相关。研究结果表明:①杂种一代优势是普遍存在的,以单株产量优势最高,其次是穗粒数、穗长、码效、千粒重和株高。②产量优势的提高主要是穗粒数优势的增加,因此,育种中应重视提高亲本的穗粒效和提高穗粒数的杂种优势,从而提高杂交种产量。③杂种一代性状表现与亲本关系密切,应注重高值亲本的选择,特别是产量性状更应注意选择大穗多粒亲本,以便配出高产杂交种。     

不同阶段体重与产蛋性状遗传相关分析

对白来航蛋鸡各阶段体得发育与主要产蛋性状的遗传相关分析表明，６周体重与３００天平均蛋重的跗个关为０．８４１（Ｐ〈０．０１）、与７２周入舍鸡产蛋数的遗传相关为０．６２７（Ｐ〈０．０１）。６周龄前后是培育壮体格、发达内脏的后备母鸡的重要时期。     

Trace elements in tropical Asian paddy soils

Attempts were made to evaluate correlations of total trace elements with various soil characters in the hope that such correlations would allow prediction of the trace element status of paddy soils in Tropical Asia.

Among the 11 trace elements studied, Ni and Cr showed by far the highest correlation, followed by the pairs of V and Zn, Ni and Zn, and Cr and Zn.

High positive correlations of trace elements with soil characters were found for the following pairs: total Fe₂O³, and V and Zn, total K₂0 and Rb, total CaO and Sr, total TiO₂, and V, total Al₂0³ and Zn, 10 Å clay content and Rb, clay and V, and sand and Zr. Among the negative correlations, the highest was between total SiO₂ and V, followed by those between total SiO₂ and Zn and sand and Zn.

Soil material classes and inherent potentiality ratings previously established were found to have some value for the prediction of the status of certain trace elements in soil.     

Harvest index in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

Summary Correlation and path coefficient analyses were conducted to find out the characters associated with grain yield and dry matter production and the ways to improve harvest index in lentil.Correlation studies revealed positive association of harvest index with grain yield but no association with plant dry matter. Grain yield and plant dry matter showed positive correlation with pod number, plant height, and number of primary and secondary branches but negative correlation with 100-seed weight. Generally, the genotypic correlations were in agreement with phenotypic correlations, though the magnitude of the values was higher in the former case. In path analysis, plant height and pod number showed the highest direct effect and, therefore, seem to be the main characters influencing grain yield and plant dry matter. Number of primary and secondary branches, on the other hand, showed negative direct effect on grain yield and plant dry matter. Use of phenotypic or genotypic correlations in path analysis resulted in similar conclusions. It is, therefore, suggested that either phenotypic or genotypic correlations may be used in path analysis with equal efficiency. Based on this study it is suggested to develop tall varieties with good pod bearing but with low number of branches.     

小麦籽粒蛋白质产量与植株性状相关因素的统计分析

对73个小麦品种的36个性状进行了统计分析。从中筛选出对蛋白质百分含量(GPC)、单粒蛋白质产量(GPY)、单株籽粒蛋白质产量(PPY)有显著影响的性状各5个,并计算出这些性状的标准影响力;考察了蛋白质性状(GPC GPY PPY)与必需氨基酸、非必需氨基酸、产量因素、形态性状和生育期性状之间的典范相关,得出了在蛋白质性状的综合改良中最重要的8个性状;还对蛋白质产量作为评价育种材料和改善蛋白质生产力的指标问题进行了讨论。     

Selection in a provenance trial of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) produced a land race with desirable properties

Selections were made within East European Norway spruce provenances in a provenance trial in northern Sweden and the selected clones were grafted in a Norwegian seed orchard mixed with plus trees of local origin. Full-sib families were generated by controlled crosses, producing sets of both inter- and intraprovenance families, which were planted in two short-term and in long-term trials. Measurements were made of frost damage, tree height, annual shoot growth rhythm and lammas shoots, and genetic parameters were estimated. The intraprovenance families from selected trees of East European origin showed the least variation in all traits and had the lowest heritability values. The variation among the intraprovenance families of local origin was large and with the highest estimates of heritability. The means of the provenance hybrid families were intermediate between those of the intraprovenance families. Strong genetic correlations were present between the growth rhythm traits measured, and in the family group of local origin also between these traits and frost damage, as well as for lammas shoots and height. The progenies of the selected parents of East European origin seem to be a desirable land race with less damage, lower percentage of lammas shoots and less variability in growth capacity.     

Stability of soil plant analytical development (SPAD) chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR) and specific leaf area (SLA) and their association across varying soil moisture stress conditions in groundnut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arachis hypogaea</Emphasis> L.)

The complex nature of physiological traits associated with drought tolerance and the difficulties associated with their measurements in segregating populations and large number of genotypes inhibited their use in the past in developing water-use efficient genotypes in breeding programmes. With new knowledge of easily measurable surrogates of transpiration efficiency (TE), a trait associated with drought tolerance—specific leaf area (SLA) and soil plant analytical development (SPAD) chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR), it is now possible to integrate TE through the surrogates in breeding and selection schemes in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). As a noninvasive surrogate of TE, SCMR is easy to operate, reliable, fairly stable and low cost. However, in a large-scale breeding program, it is difficult to complete SCMR observations within a specified time. The present study addressed the issue as to what extent the SCMR measurements can be spread over time by evaluating 18 diverse groundnut genotypes for two physiological traits, SCMR and SLA in two postrainy (Nov–Apr) seasons (2002/2003 and 2003/2004) in India. Observations were recorded at different times during and after the release of moisture deficit stress. There was general agreement in genotype and trait performance in both the seasons. Interaction between SCMR and time of observation was significant in only one season (2002/2003) but its variance relative to genotypes and time of observation was very small. ICGV 99029 and ICR 48, which recorded higher SCMR and lower SLA values in both the seasons, will make good parents for water-use efficiency trait in breeding programmes. Other good parents include ICGS 76, TCGS 647 and TCGP 6. SCMR recorded at three different times under differing soil moisture deficit in each season showed highly significant correlation with each other. Similarly, SLA at different times also correlated significantly with each other. SCMR and SLA were significantly negatively correlated with each other and the relationship was insensitive to time of observation. The results of the present study indicated that SCMR/SLA observations can be recorded at any time after 60 days of crop growth, preferably under moisture deficit conditions. This gives groundnut breeders a large flexibility to record these observations in a large number of segregating populations and breeding lines in the field. Thus, making it easy to incorporate these physiological traits associated with drought tolerance in breeding and selection scheme in groundnut.     

Plant character correlations and path analysis of pod yield in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

Summary Genotypic, phenotypic and environmental correlation coefficients were calculated for fifteen characters during two growing seasons. Correlation coefficients varie between seasons. Edible pod weight, edible pod length, edible pod width, number of seeds per plant, weight of 100 seeds, length of mature pods and number of branches per plant showed significant genotypic correlation with pod yield per plant; only number of branches per plant, edible pod length and weight of 100 seeds were phenotypically correlated with pod yield. Environmental correlation coefficients were generally low but edible pod length, final plant height and edible pod weight showed significant environmental correlation with pod yield during the two seasons.The genotypic correlation coefficients of selected eight characters with pod yield were partitioned into direct and indirect causes. In the early seasons, edible pod weight had the largest positive direct effect on pod yield with its largest indirect effect through reduction in edible pod width. Edible pod width which was highly correlated with pod yield had a negative direct effect on pod yield. In the late season, edible pod weight had the largest direct effect on pod yield, with large indirect effects through reduction in number of days to flowering and number of pods per plant. Number of days to flowering had a large direct effect on pod yield with its largest indirect effect through reduction in edible pod weight. The residual factors during the two seasons were negative. The study indicated that only number of branches per plant, edible pod length and weight of 100 seeds would be useful for indirect selection for pod yield. The path analysis indicated that edible pod weight was the most reliable and effective character to select for when high yield is the objective.     

白三叶种质资源主要数量性状的变异与相关性研究

为了探讨白三叶(Trifolium repens L.)种质资源农艺性状变异和相关性,揭示各种质材料的特征特性和种质资源群间的遗传关系,本研究对78份白三叶种质的12个主要数量性状的变异和相关性进行了分析。结果表明：这些种质材料存在着丰富的遗传多样性,各个数量性状间均呈正相关,植株高度与小叶长度、小叶宽度、小叶大小、叶柄长度呈显著正相关;小叶长度与小叶宽度、小叶大小呈极显著正相关,与叶柄长度、叶柄直径呈显著正相关;小叶宽度与小叶大小呈极显著正相关,与叶柄长度、花柄直径呈显著正相关;小叶大小与叶柄长度、叶柄直径、花柄直径呈显著正相关。该批种质材料能为各类白三叶育种和遗传研究提供较为丰富的亲本材料。