Interplot interference and the assessment of barley cultivars for partial resistance to leaf rust,Puccinia hordei

Summary The barley cultivars Akka, highly susceptible, and Vada, partially resistant to barley leaf rust, Puccinia hordei, were evaluated for the amount of leaf rust in five experimental field plot situations over three successive years. The field plot situations were: A) plots well isolated from each other by distance and non-leaf rust contributing host plants; B) adjacent plots of 4×41/2 m (18 rows); C) adjacent plots of 4×11/2 m (6 rows); D) adjacent plots of 4×1/4 m (1 row); E) adjacent plots of only one plant (cultivar mixtures).The sporulating leaf area of each plot was measured from samples of 20 tillers taken at random from each plot. In each year the difference in sporulating area between Akka and Vada was large to very large in the absence of interplot interference in the isolated plots, ranging from 150 to 2100 times. In the adjacent plots the partial resistance of Vada was greatly underestimated, 5 to 16 times in the situation B, 14 to 30 times in C, and 75 to 130 times in D and E.Testing lines or cultivars in adjacent plots is the standard procedure in use in breeding programs and in tests of cultivars for their agricultural value. To avoid such under estimation the following procedure is suggested. A few cultivars representing the known range of partial resistance and whose level of partial resistance is well known are evaluated together with the lines and cultivars whose partial resistance has to be assessed. This is demonstrated with a number of cultivars of which resistance values are know from the recommended variety lists for England and Wales. Cultivars have been assessed in Wageningen over four years together with the check cultivars Akka, Sultan, Julia and Vada representing the range of partial resistance with values (on a 1 to 10 scale) of 1, 3–4, 7 and 8 respectively, based on isolated plots experiments.     

Inheritance of zucchini yellow mosaic virus resistance in Cucumis melo L.

Summary Resistance to zucchini yellow mosaic virus has been found in the muskmelon line PI 414723 from India. This resistance is effective against the ZYMV strains E15 and 1318 belonging respectively to the NF and F pathotypes. Resistance to E15 (no vein clearing and yellowing symptoms) is governed by one dominant gene (symbol Zym) according to segregations observed in F₁, F₂ and BC₁ progenies. This gene is epistatic dominant over Fn, which induces wilting and necrosis after inoculation with F pathotype. Linkage studies suggest that Zym inherits independently from Fom-1, Fom-2, Vat, Wmv and Fn but is linked with a (13.1 ±2.4 units).     

水杨酸提高甘草种子萌发和幼苗生长对盐胁迫耐性的效应

The present study investigated the effects of salicylic acid treatments on morphology, physiological and biochemical parameters and their relationship to salt stress of G. uralensis Fisch seeds and seedlings. Under the salt stress of 200 mmol L^-1 NaCl, the application of 0.5 mmol L^-1 salicylic acid on G. uralensis Fisch seeds could significantly promote the elongation of radicle, increase fresh weight of seedlings, reduce the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline in the radicle, and improve the activity of peroxidase (POD). Under the salt stress (i.e. 100 mmol L ^-1 and 200 mmol L^-1 NaCl), the application of 0.5 mmol L^-1 salicylic acid on G. uralensis Fisch seedling could reduce MDA and proline content, and increase the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) in different degrees. Under salt stress condition, the application of salicylic acid could increase the root glycyrrhizinic acid content. In summary, the application of salicylic acid could improve the tolerance to salt stress by alleviating the inhibition of salt stress on the germination of seeds, increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and reducing the degree of membrane lipid peroxidation.     

棉花GbSTK基因调控开花和黄萎病抗性的功能研究

Cotton is an important cash crop, and achieving disease resistance as well as early maturity is an important breeding goal. However, the molecular relationship between disease resistance and early maturity of cotton is still a research gap. In previous study, we identified a GbSTK gene response to V. dahliae that could enhance Verticillium wilt resistance in transgenic Arabidopsis. In this study, we found that GbSTK was more highly expressed in resistance and/or tolerant varieties than in susceptible varieties. Knocking down of GbSTK expression in Nongda 601 showed that the silenced plants displayed serious disease symptoms, with disease index from 27.5 (tolerant) to 63.2 (susceptible), suggesting that GbSTK positively regulates cotton Verticillium wilt resistance. More interesting, we found that GbSTK could promote the development of Arabidopsis. At the flowering time point, the average number of rosette leaves in transgenic lines was 7.5, significantly less than the mock plants, and the transgenic plants bloomed five to seven days earlier than the control. The FT and SOC1 gene, regarded as marker genes in Arabidopsis flowering signaling pathway, maintained higher expression level in transgenic lines than in the mock, indicating that GbSTK could accelerate flowering via regulating FT and SOC1 gene expression. We also obtained 30 candidate proteins that could interacted with GbSTK via yeast double hybrid test, which helped to further revealing the molecular regulatory network of GbSTK. Taken together, we first identified a functional gene that could improve disease resistance and early flowering, which would provide a reference for genetic improvement of cotton disease resistant and early maturity.     

甘蔗新品种及主栽品种对褐锈病抗性与Bru1基因分子检测

The aim of this study was to assess brown rust resistance of new sugarcane varieties bred in China and main cultivated varieties in sugarcane planting area, and screen the elite new brown rust resistant varieties for popularization and application in production. In total, 60 new varieties in the national regional test of new sugarcane varieties were tested in Kaiyuan and Lincang, and 34 main cultivated varieties were studied in Lincang, Puer, and Yuxi, Yunnan province, and Yizhou, Guangxi province, China, where the incidence of brown rust was particularly high. The resistance of these sugarcane varieties to brown rust was investigated under natural inoculation and molecular marker-assisted identification was used to detect the brown rust resistance gene Bru1. The results of field survey showed that 66 (70.21%) of the 94 new and main cultivated varieties were highly resistant to moderately resistant, and 28 (29.79%) were susceptible to highly susceptible. Molecular detection indicated that Bru1 gene was found among 54 (57.45%) of the 94 new and main cultivated varieties. Some main cultivated varieties that were currently planted across large areas such as Guitang 29, Guitang 44, Dezhe 03-83, Liucheng 03-1137, Yuetang 60, and Guitang 46 were highly susceptible to brown rust, and 31 new varieties such as Yuegan 48, Funong 09-2201, Guitang 08-120, Liucheng 09-15, Zhongzhe 1, Yunzhe 08-1609, Yunrui 10-187, and Zhongtang 1201 were resistant. Therefore, in the sugarcane planting areas with high incidence of brown rust and wet and rainy climates, more effort should be eliminated the main susceptible varieties and promoted the application of new resistant varieties. This will help to achieve a reasonable distribution of varieties, fundamentally control the outbreak of disease in sugarcane planting areas, and provide security for the high-quality development of sugarcane industry in China in the future.     

Resistance to barley yellow-dwarf-virus disease in derivatives of crosses between hexaploid wheat and species of Lophopyrum (Triticeae; Poaceae)

Among the wheatgrasses that are possible sources of genetic resistance for wheat to barley yellow-dwarf-virus disease (BYD) are those that have been commonly subsumed under the name Agropyron elongatum (Host) P. Beauv. Two of these wheatgrass species are the diploid Lophopymm elongatum (Host) Á. Löve (2n = 2x = 14) and the decaploid L. ponticum (Podp.) Á. Löve (2n = 10x = 70). These two species, the addition and substitution lines of L. elongatum chromosomes in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and derivatives of hybrids between hexaploid wheat and L. ponticum, were screened for resistance to BYD, as defined by visual symptoms in field-grown plants. The two species, an amphiploid derived from L. elongatumבChinese Spring’ wheat, and the derivatives involving L. ponticum chromosomes were all highly resistant. The substitution and addition lines of L. elongatum chromosomes in ‘Chinese Spring’ revealed that the genetic control of resistance in L. elongatum must be complex, with more than one critical locus involved. Chromosomes 2E and 5E are involved and there are lesser contributions to resistance from the remaining wheatgrass chromosomes. One highly resistant derivative was determined to have only three pairs of L. ponticum chromosomes. It has a wheat-like morphology and shows promise for further characterization.     

Types and components of resistance to Fusarium head blight of wheat

Resistance of wheat to Fusarium head blight caused by Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum was identified in natural epidemics in 1985 and 1987 as well after artificial inoculations (1983–1988 and 1984–1987). Out of 25 genotypes tested, five were identified with no significant difference in head blight scores, but differing significantly in yield after artificial inoculation, i.e. tolerance differences were detected at different resistance levels. Some genotypes that were similar in yield or head blight scores differed in seed infection severity. Genotypes with awns were more susceptible to head blight when tested under natural epidemic condition in the field; but this trait did not influence head blight severity in artificial inoculations. Dwarf genotypes were more severely infected by head blight than tall genotypes under natural conditions, but genotypes of different plant height classes were similarly susceptible after artificial inoculations. In the early generations of a breeding programme resistance measured by visual evaluation of artificial inoculation is the most important way to screen. If selection of dwarf and awned genotypes cannot be avoided, the higher susceptibility caused by awns and dwarfness under natural epidemic conditions can be decreased by a higher level of physiological resistance, as variability in physiological resistance is available. In later generations, traits like percentage of seed infection or tolerance can be identified by additionally measuring yield reduction. Stability of disease reaction appears to be connected with resistance level, the most resistant genotypes are the most stable, and the most susceptible ones tend to have more unstable reactions in different epidemic conditions.     

杂交稻对白叶枯病菌主基因抗性的配合力分析

以８种不同胞质类型的不育系及其保持系与９个恢复系配制的７２个不育系杂种及保持系杂种为材料,研究了杂交稻对白叶枯病菌主基因抗性的配合力。结果表明,杂交稻的抗性以主基因抗性为主,但同时也受双亲中与抗性有关的其他加性、显性及上位性基因效应的影响。说明杂交稻的抗性强弱取决于双亲抗性基因互补和累加程度高低。     

陆地棉抗病虫性和一些重要经济性状之间的相互影响

1996～1998年,分别在自然病圃、人工病圃、网室和温室对19份陆地棉品系的抗病虫性和经济性状进行了全面鉴定。结果表明,这些陆地棉品系对不同病虫害的抗性相互之间存在高度正相关。其抗性、产量和品质主要指标之间也存在密切的正向或负向相关关系。在育种中如能协调好这些重要性状的相互关系,就能培育出高产、优质和兼抗病虫的棉花新品种。     

CIMMYT's approach to breeding for wide adaptation

Summary The wheat area in developing countries, including China, is around 100 million ha. To address the needs of these very diverse wheat growing areas, CIMMYT has defined 12 wheat mega-environments (ME). A ME is defined as broad, not necessarily continuous often transcontinental area with similar biotic and abiotic stresses, cropping systems and consumer preferences. The factors describing each ME are presented.CIMMYT's breeding methodology is centered around the development of widely adapted germplasm with high and stable yield across a wide range of environments. Segregating populations are alternating screened in two diverse environments in Mexico. One key requirement is that all germplasm is tested under near optimum conditions for its yield potential. The second one is multi-locational testing of advanced lines at sites that represent a given ME (key locations) and careful screening of germplasm for tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses specific to that environment. This methodology has permitted the pyramiding of a large number of multiple resistance genes for use against a wide spectrum of diseases and tolerance to abiotic stresses within each ME. In addition, the widespread testing of lines allows the identification of traits which are beneficial in several environments. Data from international nurseries are used to further delineate environments within an ME. This approach has proven to be successful since around 70% of the spring wheat area in developing countries (excluding China) is planted to varieties derived directly or indirectly from CIMMYT germplasm. The performance of the bread wheat cultivar Pastor in international trials is given as an example for a wide adaptation.