Selection for resistance to Septoria nodorum in wheat

Summary A population of 572 F₂ derived F₃ lines from six crosses were used to estimate parameters relevant to selection for resistance to Septoria nodorum of wheat. Lines were grown in disease free (fungicide sprayed) and inoculated microplots in 2 replications of a split-plot design in a single environment in 1977. Average yield reduction due to disease was approximately 50%; this was associated with an average septoria score of 50% on the flag leaf, an average septoria score of 42% on the head, and a reduction of 37% in seed weight. Low S. nodorum scores were correlated with late heading date, tall plant height, high grain yield, and high seed weight in diseased plots, and high seed weight % (seed weight in diseased plots expressed as a percentage of seed weight in fungicide sprayed plots).Restricted selection indexes were used to study the relative contributions of disease escape, true resistance, and tolerance to variability in grain yield in diseased plots, seed weight in diseased plots, and seed weight %. True resistance appeared to be the most important factor causing variation in grain yield in diseased plots and seed weight %. Tolerance and escape seemed to be more important for seed weight in diseased plots.Heritabilities of S. nodorum scores on the flag leaf and head were 63% and 52%, respectively. Leaf and head scores could be used most effectively as selection criteria to upgrade resistance in a population before harvest.Selection for high seed weight % slightly reduced yields in disease free plots, although yield in diseased plots and seed weight in diseased plots were increased. However, selection for increased yield or increased seed weight in diseased plots improved yield in disease free plots. It is suggested that direct selection for yield or seed weight in diseased plots is likely to achieve more desirable goals than selection for seed weight %.     

Photoperiod sensitivity gene controlling heading date in rice cultivars in the northernmost region of Japan

Rice is grown in diverse environments at latitudes ranging from 53^°N to 40^°S. In Japan, Hokkaido is the northernmost rice cultivation region(42–45^°N latitude). Only extremely early maturing (heading) varieties that have extremely low photoperiod sensitivity are adapted to this area. Heading date is the most important trait in adaptation to this particular environment. Also, the efficient manipulation of heading date is a crucial component of rice improvement. To determine the genetic basis for heading date among cultivars grown in Hokkaido, the heading behaviour was analyzed. Clear segregations were observed. To estimate the photoperiod sensitivity of the genes involved, the cultivars and F₁ plants from crosses between the cultivars were grown under different daylength conditions. The results indicated that the genes controlling heading date are photoperiod sensitive, suggesting they play important roles in the northernmost rice cultivation regions in Japan, to which only cultivars with extremely low photoperiod sensitivity are adapted. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phyllochron Dynamics Under Controlled Environments in Rice (Oryza Sativa L.)

Previously, we reported that phyllochron of rice greatly fluctuated in the course of development under natural conditions. The present study was carried out to examine the phyllochron dynamics using the five near-isogenic lines (NILs) for heading time and the recurrent parent. The change of phyllochron was investigated under four different controlled conditions regarding daylength and temperature. Growth duration (days to heading) showed a large variation among different growth regimes as well as genotypes. Changes of phyllochron were evaluated in the genotypes by using a quartic polynomial regression that was well fitted to the change of phyllochron in the present controlled environments as previously observed under natural conditions. Phyllochron began to drastically increase after around the 5th phytomer order and decreased with the progress of reproductive development in similar manners under different environments. The pattern of phyllochron change varied from a flat to non-flat shape. The shape of the equation was affected by genotypes as well as daylengths and temperatures. In addition, the shape was closely related to the growth duration (days to heading) of the genotype, suggesting that the phyllochron might internally increase depending on the genotype controlling the heading date. Therefore, the present results showed that the sufficient examination of phyllochron dynamics is necessary for understanding a variation in the heading date of rice.     

Increasing mutagenic efficiency of gamma-radiation in rice by irradiation of seeds at extremely low temperature

Summary Dry seeds of rice, Oryza sativa L., containing about 13 percent moisture, were exposed to ⁶⁰Co gamma raysat extremely low temperature (–196°C). M₁ damage on survival rate, seedling height and seed set were found to become much smaller in the cooling treatment than in the not-cooled control. Chlorophyll and heading date mutation frequencies in the M₂ generation were not affected by the decreased M₁ damage caused by the cooling treatment, and the mutation frequencies could be significantly increased by applying higher doses combined with the cooling treatment. Frequency of sterile or semi-sterile mutants in the M₂ generation was found to be significantly lower in the cooling treatment than in the not-cooled control.It is assumed from the experimental results that extremely low temperatures during irradiation could reduce the amount of physiological damage and gross chromosome aberrations. This results in an increased efficiency of producing minute deletions and/or point mutations.     

Seed Yield Stability of Okra as Influenced by Planting Date

Fifteen selected okra varieties consisting of ten newly-developed lines and five established varieties were evaluated for stability of seed yields in eight different environments i.e. several monthly plantings for three consecutive years. Seed yield data were analyzed to determine the effectiveness of using different planting dates in seed yield trials of new okra varieties. The wide ranges of environmental indices (- 10.8 to 24.4) and seed yield (2.7 to 38.0 g plant ^-1) indicated significant variation between the environments even though the trials were conducted at the same location. A regression method of stability analysis showed that the mean differences between environments, the varieties and their interactions were highly significant. These results suggest that where limited resources prevent the use of several locations, different dates of planting for two or more years could be used to evaluate okra varieties for seed yield without losing much information on their relative ranking.     

播期密度及氮肥运筹方式对冬小麦籽粒产量的影响

通过不同播期、播种密度和氮肥运筹方式对不同冬小麦品种籽粒产量及构成因子影响的研究，探讨了通过调控播期、密度及氮肥运筹方式实现不同品种丰产高效的可能性。试验结果表明，播期、播种密度和氮肥运筹方式均显著影响小麦产量及产量构成因子，播期以10/15~10/22最为适宜，播种密度以120万/km2~240万/km2为宜，氮肥运筹方式以N210(3:5:2)最好，其次为N210(5:5)。保证供试小麦品种实现9000kg/hm2产量的高产途径为主茎和分蘖并重，适宜的产量结构为：4:4:4，即亩有效穗数39.4~44.4万，穗粒数35.3~40.0，千粒重40.2~45.8g。     

水稻抽穗期控制候选基因的SNP/InDel多态性分析

抽穗期是水稻的一种重要农艺性状，但其遗传控制机理还不清楚。本文利用数据库搜索的方法，搜索并分析了30个与拟南芥光周期调控途径花期控制基因同源的水稻基因。利用水稻多态性数据库，得到了发生在这些基因以及Hd6、Ehd1、OsSOCl上的820个SNP及191个InDel位点。分析表明，这些位点不是平均分布到每个基因上。SNP／InDel含量较高的基因存在SNP／InDel的热点片段。14．1％的SNP位点，及7％的InDel位点分布在基因的编码区。本文也分析了侯选基因侧翼5Kb范围内的SNP／InDel多态性位点。按照侧翼多态性位点数目的分布可以将侯选基因分成4种类型，即两侧保守型、两侧热点型、单侧热点型、一侧热点一侧保守型。     

棉花不同种植方式和新技术应用对气候条件的要求及播栽期的确定

为促进麦棉双增双扩，本文就当前棉花生产中几种栽植方式、新技术，分析其对气候条件的要求，按当地气候资源来确定播（栽）期。     

向环境采集能量的WSN中的自适应周期机会路由算法

如何让可以采集能量的节点充分利用环境能量,从而提高整个网络持续高效工作的能力是在能量采集无线传感网中的关键问题。目前的研究主要集中在如何均衡分配可进行能量采集的节点的能量,从而在提高节点寿命的基础上,实现网络寿命延长,但是仍然存在环境能量变化的不确定性导致的风险。笔者提出了自适应周期机会路由算法,首先对节点进行地理分区,再分配优先级,最后进行优化后路由处理。仿真结果表明,该算法能实现对环境能量更加高效的利用,并能有效提升网络的吞吐量和网络效率。     

Population means and correlation analyses of growth parameters in lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum Shinn.)

Summary The variation in growth characteristics among lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum Shinn.) genotypes was investigated. The genetic control of several growth parameters was studied by analysing parental, F1, BC1 and F2 populations. The parameters analysed were stem elongation rate (SE), stem diameter (SD), leaf width (LW), number of nodes (NN), node length (NL) and days to flowering (DF). The genotypes tested exhibited great variation for all parameters. A particularly wide variation was noted for SE, ranging from 3 to 56 mm/week. This variation was partially attributed to a differential sensitivity to rosette formation. There was a marked positive heterosis for SE, SD, LW and NN; these parameters proved to be genetically correlated within segregating populations. DF was slightly negatively correlated with SE, NN and NL. It was concluded that SE and DF were independently controlled.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. No. 1196-E, 1993 series.