Relationship between relative water content during reproductive development and winter wheat grain yield

Summary Water is often the most limiting factor to winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the southern Great Plains of the U.S.A., yet the lack of reliable screening criteria has precluded direct selection for drought resistance in breeding programs. Previous work showed that leaf relative water content (RWC) was highly heritable when measured under field-drought conditions, but its adoption as a screening tool for yield improvement requires further investigation of the genetic relationship between grain yield and RWC. Plants representing high and low yield potential under drought stress, and a random group of plants, were selected from an F₂ population having the pedigree, TAM W-101/Sturdy. Two sets of entries, each comprised of the two parents and 24 F₂-derived lines, were evaluated under a rainshelter in the F₃ (1986) and F₄ (1987) generations to determine differences in leaf RWC during reproductive development. One set of entries did not receive any water after the jointing stage, and the other set was grown under well-watered conditions. A positive relationship was observed between grain yield and RWC measured during anthesis and mid-grain fill, as the high-yield selections maintained a significantly higher RWC than the low-yield selections. Grain yield and RWC were also positively associated among random selections segregating for both traits. Subsequent adjustment of genotype means for differences in reproductive development at time of sampling underscored the need to consider differences in maturity when RWC is the selection criterion.     

Evaluation of Near Infra-red Reflectance Spectroscopy for Predicting Grain and Stover Quality Traits in Maize

The prediction of grain and stover quality parameters in maize {Zea mays L.) by near infra-red reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was studied. A total of 110 grain and 135 stover samples originating from different genotypes and environments were assayed. Calibration equations for content of crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), starch (ST), and water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) in grain were obtained by multiple linear regression of known manual values on NIRS data from the odd numbered samples. Calibrations for CP, acid detergent fibre (ADF), in vitro digestible organic matter according to the Tilley & Terry (IVDOM-T & T) and the gas production (IVDOM-Gp) method, respectively, and metabolizable energy (ME) in stover were developed analogously. Equations were validated with the evennumbered .samples and for ME additionally with the 1584 stover samples from an experiment with 66 F₁ hybrids tested in six environments. The coefficients of multiple determination (R²) of the prediction equations ranged from 0.80 for IVDOM-Gp and ME in stover to 0.94 for CP in grain. Standard errors of calibration (SEC) and prediction (SEP) were in most cases not higher than commonly reported for conventional manual assays. With regard to the correct ranking of hybrids, prediction equations for ME applied well to stover samples from other environments with one exception. We concluded that NIRS can evaluate the quality traits investigated to a similar degree to that of conventional methods of analysis. Since NIRS is simple and safe to operate and allows rapid screening of several quality traits simultaneously, it should be particularly attractive for breeding purposes.     

Grain-yield characteristics of oat lines surviving uniform and shuttle selection strategies

Summary Four selection strategies were used on four sets of oat lines to select for grain yield. Two of these used uniform environments whereby sequential selection of the high-yielding lines occurred in continuous high- or continuous low-productivity environments. These are referred to as high and low uniform selection strategies, respectively. The other two selection strategies were conducted by sequential selection of the high-yielding lines in alternating high- and low-productivity environments. They are referred to as high and low shuttle selection strategies, respectively, with high and low designating the productivity of the first environment in the sequence. After three or four cycles of selection, the surviving lines and a random sample from each set were evaluated for mean grain yield, grain yield response to improving environments, and stability of grain yield, in a range of environments typical of oat production on Iowa farms.Grain yield and regression response for all selection strategies, when calculated across all sets of lines, were significantly greater than corresponding values for random samples. Stability was unchanged. The uniform-high and uniform-low strategies gave the greatest and the smallest gains in mean grain yield, respectively, with the shuttle strategies giving intermediate gains. Shuttle selection in predominantly high-productivity environments increased grain yield more than shuttle selection in predominantly low-productivity environments. The uniform-strategy followed by the shuttle-high strategy identified entries with superior performance in high productivity environments. Increased gain in mean grain yield across all environments was associated with increased number of selection cycles conducted in high-productivity environments.Journal Paper No. J-15252 of the Iowa Agric. and Home Econ. Exp. Stn., Ames, Iowa 50011, USA. Project No. 2447.     

Genetic basis of grain filling rate in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Thell.)

Summary Grain filling rate in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Thell.) positively influences grain yield under a wide range of conditions. The effective utilization of this trait in breeding depends on an understanding of its genetic control. A study was, therefore, conducted to determine the genetic basis of grain filling rate in six crosses of wheat. Higher order genic interactions and/or linkage were important in the genetic regulation of grain filling rate (GFR) in the majority of crosses. Additive ([d]) and dominance ([h]) gene effects were important in the control of GFR in main ears (ME) and whole plant ears (WPE). Additive and additive × additive epistatic effects were the most important in the genetic control of GFR in last ears (LE). Location effects on genetic effects for GFR were significant (P < 0.05) in all ear types of some crosses except in ME. Genotype × environment interaction effects were important (P < 0.001) in LE and WPE.It was concluded that the inheritance of GFR is complex and is dependent on ear type. Breeding procedures that facilitate the exploitation of non-additive and additive gene effects were recommended for the genetic improvement of grain filling rate of wheat.     

Evaluation of landrace topcross hybrids of pearl millet for arid zone environments

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) cultivars for marginal, arid environments need to combine the adaptation to stress conditions of indigenous landraces with an improved yield potential and disease resistance, to allow them to both perform well in farmers fields and to meet the requirements for cultivar release. This paper evaluates landrace-based topcross hybrids (adapted landraces crossed on high-yielding male-sterile lines), as a quick and efficient way of achieving this objective. Topcross hybrids showed a consistent increase in biomass production across all test environments, including the harsh arid zone environments. Depending upon the plant type of the male-sterile used to make the hybrid, this was expressed as increased grain yield only, or increased grain and fodder yields. The downy mildew (Sclerospora graminicola) reaction of the topcross hybrids was determined by the reaction of the male-sterile line used, with the resistant male-sterile producing resistant topcross hybrids and vice-versa. Topcrossing adapted landraces on high-yielding male-sterile lines thus provides an opportunity to improve disease resistance and grain and/or fodder yields, with no apparent loss of adaptation to the marginal environments in which the landraces have evolved.ICRISAT Journal Article no. 1575     

从天冬-玉米的示范种植探讨"粮-药间套"增益模式

采用天冬单作、玉米单作和天冬-玉米套作3种种植模式,考查了整个生产过程中其主要生产资料和劳动力的投入以及产值等关键指标.对不同种植模式的经济效益对比分析结果表明,天冬-玉米套作比天冬单作增收21.8%,比玉米单作增收564.9%.天冬单作虽比玉米单作增收446.0%,但天冬种植三年后才能收获药材,没有短期收益.因此,3种模式中天冬-玉米套作的效果最佳.这一研究结果为种植业提供了一条"粮-药间套"的有效增益模式.     

超甜玉米"粤甜13号"早春地膜覆盖栽培研究

粤甜13号品种优质、耐寒、耐密植,适合广东省早春种植,但缺乏相配套的栽培技术,影响了品种特性的发挥。试验于2006年1月7日在广州市钟落潭镇的广东省农业科学院白云基地进行,试验设盖膜与不盖膜2个处理,3600株/667m2、4000株/667m2、4800株/667m2、5600株/667m2等4个栽培密度,3次重复,随机区组设计,就栽培密度和地膜覆盖两个因素对粤甜13号鲜果穗产量、商品性等的影响进行了分析,结果显示:随着栽培密度增加,鲜果穗产量也显著增加;地膜覆盖栽培能使生育期缩短10d,当栽培密度提高到5600株/667m2时,鲜果穗的商品性仍然维持在很高的水平;非地膜栽培时,穗长和穗粗比盖地膜栽培要高,但随着密度的增加秃顶长明显变长,当密度增加到4800株/667m2时,秃顶长达到2.27cm,严重影响商品外观,因此,在生产上非地膜覆盖栽培的密度应低于4800株/667m2。该研究结果充分显示了粤甜13号耐密植性和适合早春种植特性;同时表明,早春地膜覆盖栽培除了缩短生育期,使产品提早上市以外,还通过增加种植的密度增加产量,使种植的经济效益显著提高。     

西南地区浅圆仓储粮特性研究

通过对西南地区浅圆仓的隔热性能、气密性能、相配套的环流熏蒸系统以及通风系统性能的研究，总结出一些经济而有效的储粮方法，以指导储粮工作。     

Malting quality as affected by barley breeding (1944–1998) in Argentina

Eight malting cultivars of barley released from 1944 to 1998 in Argentina were sown in two growing seasons to evaluate the effect of breeding on malting quality. An adequate grain weight and screening percentage as in the older varieties were maintained in the recent releases. The grain protein concentration decreased in the modern cultivars together with a decreased in C-and an increased in B-hordein. These results were achieved without a clear trend through the time. Malt extract was increased by 0.054% per year in the period analysed and the most important contribution in the quality improvement was the introduction of Beka (known as a high quality cultivar released in Europe) in1966. There was not a clear trend in the breeding process to obtain more stability between years in the quality attributes, at least, in the characteristics analysed in the present study. Conversely, malt extract was less variable and this tendency was observed through the years of release of the cultivars. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Carbon Isotope Discrimination and Productivity in Field-Grown Barley Genotypes

Five barley genotypes of different origins were used to examine the relationships between carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) and grain yield, yield components, dry aerial biomass and harvest index under rainfed and irrigated Mediterranean conditions. High positive correlations were found between Δ and grain yield and harvest index under both water conditions, suggesting that Δ may represent efficiency of dry matter partitioning to the grain. This hypothesis was also supported by the positive correlation found between Δ and thousand-grain weight when all the data were considered. The two drought-tolerant genotypes LM2887 and Tadmor presented the smallest difference between the two treatments for traits related to productivity as well as the highest Δ values. These results highlight the potential of Δ as a selection criterion in barley breeding in Mediterranean regions. They also encourage the study of the genetics of Δ and the identification of molecular markers linked to its variation in available progenies derived from crosses between the genotypes used in the present paper.