Variation and heritability of morphological and physiological traits among Leymus chinensis genotypes under different environmental conditions

Intraspecific trait variation and heritability in different environmental conditions not only suggest a potential for an evolutionary response but also have important ecological consequences at the population, community, and ecosystem levels. However, the contribution of quantitative trait variation within a grassland species to evolutionary responses or ecological consequences is seldom documented. Leymus chinensis is an important dominant species in semi-arid grasslands of China, which has seriously suffered from drought and high temperature stresses in recent decades. In the present study, we measured variation and heritability of 10 quantitative traits, namely the number of tillers, maximum shoot height, number of rhizomes, maximum rhizome length, rhizome mass, aboveground mass, root mass, maximum net photosynthetic rate(Pmax), specific leaf area(SLA), and leaf length to leaf width ratio(LL/LW), for 10 genotypes of L. chinensis under one non-stress(Ck) condition and three environmental stress conditions(i.e., drought(Dr), high temperature(Ht), and both drought and high temperature(DrHt)). Result indicated that(1) the interaction of genotype and environmental condition(G×E) was significant for 6 traits but not significant for the other 4 traits as shown by two-way analysis of variance(ANOVA), suggesting that different selection forces were placed for different traits on the factors dominating phenotypic responses to different environmental conditions. Moreover, these significant G×E effects on traits indicated significantly different phenotypic adaptive responses among L. chinensis genotypes to different environmental conditions. Additionally, individuals could be grouped according to environmental condition rather than genotype as shown by canonical discriminant analysis, indicating that environmental condition played a more important role in affecting phenotypic variation than genotype;(2) by one-way ANOVA, significant differences among L. chinensis genotypes were found in all 10 traits under Ck and Dr conditions, in 8 traits under Dr Ht condition and only in 4 traits under Ht condition; and(3) all 10 traits showed relatively low or non-measurable broad-sense heritability(H_2) under stress conditions. However, the lowest H_2 value for most traits did not occur under DrHt condition, which supported the hypothesis of 'unfavorable conditions have unpredictable effects' rather than 'unfavorable conditions decrease heritability'. Results from our experiment might aid to improve predictions on the potential impacts of climate changes on L. chinensis and eventually species conservation and ecosystem restoration.     

多花黄精不同种源种实形态性状遗传变异研究

旨在阐明多花黄精种实形态性状在种源水平上的遗传变异规律,为多花黄精优良种源选择提供理论依据。以栽植在同质栽培园的18个多花黄精种源为材料,比较了不同种源多花黄精浆果、种子的纵径、横径、侧径等形态性状,以及单果重和种子千粒重等性状的差异。多花黄精种实形态性状及其单果鲜重和种子千粒重在不同种源间均存在着极显著差异;多花黄精浆果形态性状两两之间存在极显著正相关关系,种子形态性状两两之间也存在显著或极显著正相关关系,但绝大多数浆果形态性状与种子形态性状之间的相关性不显著;多花黄精种实形态性状在种源水平上不存在明显的地理变异模式;多花黄精种子形态性状在种源水平上的广义遗传力达到强度遗传范围,能比较稳定地遗传。可以考虑利用种子千粒重这一指标作为多花黄精优良种源选择的间接指标。     

The mechanical roles of the clasping leaf sheath in cereals: Two case studies from oat and wheat plants

Stem lodging is a common problem in cereal crop production and a main constraint for grain yield improvement. The leaf sheath that surrounds and protects the hollow internodes of stem could provide the plants with a great physical support. However, this biomechanical function has been ignored for several decades in cereal crops. This study aimed to examine the biomechanical properties of basal stem internodes and lodging susceptibility of the whole plants with or without the clasping leaf sheath in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) among different genotypes and agronomic practices (including planting densities and nitrogen application rates). The main objective was to quantify the mechanical role of the leaf sheath in oat and wheat crops by a “safety factor” method. On average, the leaf sheath contributed 40%, 68% and 38% of the overall stem bending strength, flexural rigidity and safety factor, in oat, while it accounted for 11%, 24% and 10%, respectively, in wheat plants. The significant contribution of the leaf sheath is due to its vital role in enlarging the peripheral position (i.e., second moment of area) and stiffness (i.e., Young's modulus). The contribution ratios (%) were found to be higher in oat than in wheat plants, due to the greater mass density of leaf sheath and more proficient/prevailing stay-green capability in oat genotypes. This study emphasizes the important mechanical role of clasping leaf sheath on stem internodes of cereals and indicates that the stay-green trait of the leaf sheath can be exploited to design appropriate varieties with improved lodging resistance and great yield potential.     

QTL Mapping of Chlorophyll Content in Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense Backcross Inbred Lines

[Objective] The purpose of this study was to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to chlorophyll content based on Soil and Plant Analyzer Development (SPAD) readings in cotton. [Method] The 195 BILs (Backcross Inbred Lines) were produced by a cross between Gossypium barbadense Hai 7124 and G. hirsutum CRI 36, using CRI 36 as the recurrent parent for backcrossing with F1 to produce BC1F1, followed by seven generations of selfing. The genetic linkage map was constructed in a previous study. QTLs of chlorophyll SPAD value in the first flowering and boll development stages were identified with inclusive composite interval mapping (ICIM) method of the BIP and MET models in IciMapping 4.1 software, respectively. [Result] In total, nine chlorophyll SPAD reading QTLs were identified on 6 chromosomes. The q-SPAD-A11-1 detected at the first flowering stage overlapped with q-SPAD-A11-2 detected at the boll development stage, contributing 5.08% and 5.75% of the phenotypic variation, respectively. The q-SPAD-D08-2 physical position ranged from 48.71 to 53.65 Mb on chromosome D08, which overlapped with a chlorophyll content QTL detected in a previous study. [Conclusion] The novel stable QTLs, q-SPAD-A11-1 and q-SPAD-A11-2 detected in this study provide an important piece of information for fine mapping chlorophyll content in cotton.     

全基因组关联定位籼稻种质资源外观和加工品质QTL

以400份籼稻变异丰富的种质资源材料在2个环境下考察外观与加工品质性状表型,利用404K高密度SNP基因型进行全基因组关联分析,挖掘影响外观与加工品质性状的重要位点。结果表明,粒型和籼米的外观和加工品质密切相关,垩白性状降低稻米的精米率和整精米率,除粒型外,籼稻的外观和加工品质明显受到环境影响。全基因组关联分析共鉴定到39个QTL,其中17个为新位点,6个新位点(qMRR9、qGL2、qGL10、qGW1、qGLWR1和qGLWR2.1)在2个环境下均被检测到,暗示这6个位点在水稻外观与加工品质上可能是不依赖于环境稳定表达的QTL。此外,21个控制稻米外观品质的位点很可能具一因多效。结合前人研究结果,我们推论qSW5、GSE5和GS3在籼稻外观和加工品质性状上扮演着关键性角色。研究结果为克隆新的外观与加工品质基因以及通过分子手段加速培育优质高产籼稻新品种提供了指导信息。     

Quantitative trait loci associated with lodging tolerance in soybean cultivar ‘Toyoharuka’

Lodging tolerance (LT) is an important trait for high yield and combine-harvesting efficiency in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Many previous studies have investigated quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for lodging score (LS) in soybean. Most of the investigated QTLs were located in the proximal region of maturity or growth habit loci. The aim of this study was to identify genetic factors for LT not associated with maturity or growth habit. QTL analysis was performed using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between ‘Toyoharuka’ (TH), a lodging-tolerant cultivar, and ‘Toyomusume’ (TM). The genotypes of TH and TM were estimated as both e1e2E3E4 and dt1. The average LS over 4 years was used for QTL analysis, identifying a major and stable QTL, qLS19-1, on chromosome 19. The LS of the near-isogenic line (NIL) with the TH allele at Sat_099, the nearest marker to qLS19-1, was significantly lower than the NIL with the TM allele at that position. The TH allele at Sat_099 rarely had a negative influence on seed yield or other agronomic traits in both NILs and the TM-backcrossed lines. Our results suggest that marker-assisted selection for qLS19-1 is effective for improving LT in breeding programs.     

Mapping of quantitative trait loci conferring resistance to bacterial wilt in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Tobacco bacterial wilt (TBW) is one of the most serious tobacco diseases in the world. Studies have shown that tobacco resistance to TBW is quantitatively inherited. This study aimed to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring TBW resistance. An F_2 : 3 population containing 237 lines was developed from a cross between two flue‐cured tobacco cultivars, ‘Yanyan 97’ (YY97; moderately resistant to TBW) and ‘Honghua Dajinyuan’ (HD; highly susceptible to TBW), and a linkage map consisting of 201 simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers and spanning a total length of 2326.7 cM was constructed based on the population. Field experiments were conducted 2011 and 2012, and disease symptoms were investigated three times in each year. The phenotypic data were analysed either separately or jointly for QTL mapping using the software QTLNetwork 2.1. Eight QTL with significant main effects were mapped on chromosomes 2, 6, 12, 17 and 24. A major QTL (qBWR17a) was detected on chromosome 17, which explained up to 30% of the phenotypic variation. The results can facilitate marker‐assisted selection (MAS) in TBW resistance breeding programme.     

Identification of molecular markers associated with sugar-related traits in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharum</Emphasis> interspecific cross

The cultivated sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids, 2n = 100–130) is one crop for which interspecific hybridization involving wild germplasm has provided a major breakthrough in its improvement. Few clones were used in the initial hybridization event leading to a narrow genetic base for continued cultivar development. Molecular breeding would facilitate the identification and introgression of novel alleles/genes from the wild germplasm into cultivated sugarcane. We report the identification of molecular markers associated with sugar-related traits using an F₁ population derived from a cross between S. officinarum ‘Louisiana Striped’ × S. spontaneum ‘SES 147B’, the two major progenitor species of cultivated sugarcane. Genetic linkage maps of the S. officinarum and S. spontaneum parents were produced using the AFLP, SRAP and TRAP molecular marker techniques. The mapping population was evaluated for sugar-related traits namely, Brix (B) and pol (P) at the early (E) and late (L) plant growing season in the plant cane (04) and first ratoon (05) crops (04EB, 04LB, 04LP, 05EB and 05EP). For S. officinarum, combined across all the traits, a total of 30 putative QTLs was observed with LOD scores ranging from 2.51 to 7.48. The phenotypic variation (adj. R²) explained by all QTLs per trait ranged from 22.1% (04LP) to 48.4% (04EB). For S. spontaneum, a total of 11 putative QTLs was observed with LOD scores ranging from 2.62 to 4.70 and adj. R² ranging from 9.3% (04LP) to 43.0% (04LB). Nine digenic interactions (iQTL) were observed in S. officinarum whereas only three were observed in S. spontaneum. About half of the QTLs contributed by both progenitor species were associated with effects on the trait that was contrary to expectations based on the phenotype of the parent contributing the allele. Quantitative trait loci and their associated effects were consistent across crop-years and growing seasons with very few QTLs being unique to the early season. When the data were reanalyzed using the non-parametric discriminant analysis (DA) approach, significant marker-trait associations were detected for markers that were either identical to or in the vicinity of markers previously identified using the traditional QTL approach. Discriminant analysis also pointed to previously unidentified markers some of which remained unlinked on the map. These preliminary results suggest that DA could be used as a complementary approach to traditional QTL analysis in a crop like sugarcane for which saturated linkage maps are unavailable or difficult to obtain.     

豫州褐壳蛋鸡各品系主要经济性状间的相关分析

本文用多变量相关分析和通径分析方法，对豫州褐壳蛋鸡５个品系产蛋性能方面的性状进行相关分析，结果表明，将开产日龄，４０周龄平均蛋重和４０周龄产蛋数，作为蛋鸡早期选种指标是适宜的。     

T1 locus in cotton is the candidate gene affecting lint percentage, fiber quality and spiny bollworm (Earias spp.) resistance

A genetic linkage map of chromosome 6 was constructed by using 270 recombinant inbred lines originated from an upland cotton cross (Yumian 1 × T586) F₂ population. The genetic map included one morphological (T₁) and 18 SSR loci, covering 96.2 cM with an average distance of 5.34 cM between two markers. Based on composite interval mapping (CIM), QTL(s) affecting lint percentage, fiber length, fiber length uniformity, fiber strength and spiny bollworm resistance (Earias spp.) were identified in the t₁ locus region on chromosome 6. The allele(s) originating from T586 of QTLs controlling lint percentage increased the trait phenotypic value while the alleles originating from Yumian 1 of QTLs affecting fiber length, fiber length uniformity, fiber strength and spiny bollworm resistance increased the trait phenotypic value.