Effect of in vitro propagation methods on field performance of two strawberry cultivars

Summary Strawberry cultivars, Redcoat and Veestar, propagated by meristem culture (MC), callus culture (CC) and direct shoot regeneration (DR) from leaf disks were compared for their vegetative and reproductive characters with standard runner (SR) propagated plants under field conditions. In the planting year, in vitro propagated plants of both cultivars had the same number of leaves as SR plants, but in vitro propagated Redcoat produced fewer stolons per plant than SR plants. However, in the following year, in vitro propagated mother plants of both cultivars had more leaves and higher runner production than SR mother plants. Flowering and fruiting behaviour of Veestar was not appreciably influenced by in vitro propagation methods. However, in vitro propagated plants of Redcoat flowered earlier and produced more flowers and fruits than SR plants, but still maintained normal berry weight. Among in vitro propagated plants, DR plants of Redcoat were the earliest to flower, whereas MC plants produced more flowers and fruits. The field performance of the first daughter plants derived from the in vitro propagated plants was consistent with their respective mother plants. Leaf shape of both cultivars was not altered by in vitro propagation. Phenotypic abnormalities were mainly confined to occurrence of yellow leaf variants in MC and CC plants and occasional appearance of plants with irregular flowering and growth habit among CC plants.NRCC No. 38004     

Progress in mapping agronomic genes in apple (The European Apple Genome Mapping Project)

Summary The progress of the European Apple Genome Mapping Project is described. Populations segregating for a range of agronomic genes have been established in six European countries. The need for robust methods of analysis has been identified, especially with regard to the development of molecular markers. Isozyme systems, RAPDs, RFLPs and amplified genes are being used to construct a reference genetic linkage map. Standardisation and precise definition of both genotypic and phenotypic measurements has been recognised as being essential for future exploitation of genetic markers in apple breeding. Phenotypic measurements are being replicated in different geographical locations over several years. Statistical and genetic analyses are aimed at defining components of genetic variation which account for ‘genes’, as defined by apple breeders. A relational database is being constructed which will combine disparate sources of data relating to the genetics of apple. Comparative mapping has been identified as an efficient means of expanding genetic knowledge within and between Rosaceae genomes.     

Molecular genetic mapping of peach

Summary A project to develop a linkage map of the peach (Prunus persica) genome is underway using an F2 population segregating for several morphological characters and pest resistance e.g., nectarine (g), weeping shape (pl) and aphid resistance (Rml). The RAPID technique was used to analyse 270 plants. Linkage analysis of the F2 population was performed using the MAPMAKER software. Eight linkage groups were established and RAPID markers flanking thepl gene were found.     

Comparative Field Performance of Tissue Culture-Derived Lines and Breeder Lines of HY320 Spring Wheat

This study examines the performance of somaclonal spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lines developed through culture of somatic embryos. Twenty-nine breeder lines of the spring wheat cv. ‘HY320’ were compared to 51 somaclonal lines of the same cultivar. Somaclonal lines were derived from 27 individual embryos (with up to four lines in each “family”). Somaclonal and breeder lines were evaluated in five field experiments in western Canada. Somaclonal lines were more variable than breeder lines for most agronomic, yield component and quality characters, suggesting that variability among somaclonal lines resulted partly from the tissue culture process. Somaclonal lines yielded, on average, 11 % less than breeder lines. Somaclonal lines had 3.8 % fewer spikelets per spike, 6.5 % fewer kernels per spike and kernels which were 2.7 % lighter. Somaclonal lines had greater test weight, protein concentration, and sedimentation values, and harder kernels.     

Growth Responses of Twelve Wheat Cultivars and their Phosphorus Utilization from Rock Phosphate

Growth responses of 12 wheat cultivars and their phosphorus utilization were studied in a greenhouse. They were grown for 18 days in a solution containing rock phosphate as the phosphorus (p) source. Biomass of 26 day old plants of all the cultivars varied significantly whereas their shoot to root ratio stayed constant. The dry matter yield of all the 12 cultivars was significantly correlated with the p uptake (r = 0.74). Whereas the higher p uptake by all the cultivars was significantly (P < 0.01) related to the drop in the root medium pH, which was presumably owing to the H⁺ efflux from their roots. The wheat cultivar Blue Silver proved to be the most efficient p user and therefore seems to have the highest potential of making best growth in soils with poor p availability among the 12 wheat cultivars under investigation.     

土壤水溶性有机物的紫外光谱特征及地域分异

测定了中国中东部地区 1 7种土类 45个样点近表层 1 0cm土样中水溶性有机物的紫外光谱和分子量分布特征 ,同时测定部分样品富里酸的相应特征。在此基础上比较和分析水溶性有机物与富里酸紫外光谱特征的差异、紫外光谱特征与样品平均分子量分布的关系及其地域分异规律。结果表明土壤水溶性有机物和富啡酸具有相似的紫外光谱特征 ;WSOC样品紫外 /可见光比值与其平均分子量负相关 ,而WSOC单位浓度的紫外吸收值则与平均分子量正相关。研究区水溶性有机物的单位浓度紫外吸收值具有明显的自北向南和自东向西递降的趋势 ,从根本上受制于水热条件的WSOC分子量分布可能是影响样品紫外特征地域分异的主要因素。     

Differences in chemical composition of soil organic matter in natural ecosystems from different climatic regions - A pyrolysis-GC/MS study

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a key factor in ecosystem dynamics. A better understanding of the global relationship between environmental characteristics, ecosystems and SOM chemistry is vital in order to assess its specific influence on carbon cycles. This study compared the composition of extracted SOM in 18 topsoil samples taken under tundra, taiga, steppe, temperate forest and tropical forest using pyrolysis-GC/MS. Results indicate that SOM from cold climates (tundra, taiga) still resembles the composition of litter, evidenced by high quantities of levosugars and long alkanes relative to N-compounds and a clear odd-over-even dominance of the longer alkanes. Under temperate conditions, increased microbial degradation generally results in a more altered SOM chemistry. SOM formed under temperate coniferous forests shows an accumulation of aromatic and aliphatic moieties, probably induced by substrate limitations. Tropical SOM was characterized by an SOM composition rich in N-compounds and low in lignins, without any accumulation of recalcitrant fractions (i.e. aliphatic and aromatic compounds). Lignin composition moreover varies according to vegetation type. Results were validated against 13 new samples. The humic signature of topsoil organic matter formed under different biomes indicates a dominating effect of (i) SOM input composition related to vegetation, and (ii) SOM breakdown reflecting both climate and input quality. No evidence was found for a chemically stabilized SOM fraction under favorable decomposition conditions (temperate or warm climate with broadleaved vegetation).     

松嫩高平原黑土区耕地资源安全的驱动机制分析

为了深入剖析影响区域耕地资源安全驱动因子的作用机理,研究区域耕地资源安全驱动机制。该文以松嫩高平原黑土区巴彦县为例,运用Matlab编程,采用遗传算法对神经网络模型进行改进,结合相关分析法,识别影响耕地资源安全的关键性因子及其与之相关的因子,应用多元回归分析和完全二次回归分析方法,阐明影响因子间的协同作用关系,进而揭示其对耕地资源安全影响的作用机理和驱动机制。结果表明：1）影响研究区耕地资源安全的协同作用关系中,不同影响因子间的协同作用正向和负向交互进行,且不同因子间协同作用大小也不尽相同;2）影响研究区耕地资源安全的自然因素、社会经济因素、生态因素中,自然因素对研究区耕地资源安全起促进作用,社会经济因素和生态因素起抑制作用,且社会经济因素对研究区耕地资源安全的抑制作用最强,生态因素的抑制作用次之;3）在主要影响因子中,土壤质地对耕地资源安全的促进作用最强,pH 值次之,黑土层厚度的促进作用最弱,而高程对耕地资源安全抑制作用最强,水土流失量仅次之,氟的抑制作用最弱。该研究成果可为黑土区耕地资源保护及耕地资源的合理利用提供参考。     

利用InDel标记鉴定水稻育种材料的籼粳属性

准确高效鉴定水稻材料的籼粳属性对于开展水稻籼粳亚种间杂种优势利用有着重要意义.利用19对基于籼稻(9311)和粳稻(日本晴)全基因组DNA序列比对获得的差异片段而设计的特异插入/缺失(Insertion/Deletion,InDel)引物,对48份育种上常用的籼稻、粳稻和中间型材料(品种)进行了InDel 标记的籼粳属性分析,利用DNA样品在这19对InDel位点上的籼型或粳型基因频率,结合聚类分析和主成分分析,确定了这些材料的籼粳属性,通过比对程氏指数法的籼粳鉴定结果检验了InDel分子标记法在水稻籼粳属性鉴定上的有效性.结果表明,InDel分子标记法与传统的程氏指数法的总体吻合率为89.58％,在典型籼稻或典型粳稻材料上两者的吻合率为100％;在具有复杂遗传背景的中间型材料上,InDel分子标记法比程氏指数法具有更高的准确性.因此,InDel分子标记法是真正鉴定籼粳的特异方法,比传统方法具有更高的灵敏性和准确度,可以用于籼粳属性鉴定及遗传分化研究.     

Spatial distribution pattern changes of oasis soil types in Manasi River Basin,arid northwestern China

Soil distribution pattern play a significant role in the stability conservation and economic development of oasis in arid regions. Hence, ecologists and agrology scientists have a central interest in understanding the spatial distribution changes of soil types. The aim of this study was to analyze the main processes of soil distribution pattern changes from 1987 to 2006 through the landscape indexes. Soil types and soil distribution pattern changes were assessed and compared by using two soil maps made in 1987 and 2006. 14 soil types were classified and analyzed in the study area. Results indicated many differences among the changes of different soil types. During the period from 1987 to 2006, there were widespread changes in spatial distribution of soil types in Manasi River Basin at class-level. The area of Petrocambids decreased, whereas Aquicambids increased. The small patches began to coalesce into large ones and the patch numbers decreased during the past 20 years, which brought about the fragmentation decrease in Manasi River Basin. In contrast to the decrease of the patch density, the average patch area of 12 soil types increased. With the increasing man-made disturbance, more soil type patches, especially the agricultural soil patches were close to square in shape. During the recent 20 years, the decreased patch shape indexes occupied about 57% of all while the increased patch shape indexes were over 40%. The split index of most soil types has also declined during the same period. The landscape-level indexes also reflected the spatial distribution changes of oasis soil types. The landscape diversity index and landscape evenness index have increased while the landscape dominance index has decreased in the recent 20 years, which showed that more equirotal soil patches were formed and various soil types dominated the soil landscape in Manasi River Basin. Changes of different soil types are one of major indictors to show environment changes and impacts of human activities. Therefore, it is necessary to emphasize the study of soil type changes in the arid and semiarid region.