Identification of a major blast resistance gene in the rice cultivar 'Tetep'

Analysis of near‐isogenic lines (NILs) indicated the presence of a novel resistance gene in the indica rice cultivar ‘Tetep’ which was highly resistant to the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea.‘Tetep’ was crossed to the widely used susceptible cultivar ‘CO39’ to generate the mapping population. A Mendelian segregation ratio of 3 : 1 for resistant to susceptible F₂ plants further confirmed the presence of a major dominant locus, in ‘Tetep’, conferring resistance to the blast fungal isolate B157, corresponding to the international race IC9. Simple sequence length polymorphism (SSLP) was used for molecular genetic analysis. The analysis revealed that the SSLP marker RM 246 was linked to a novel blast resistance gene designated Pi‐tp(t) in ‘Tetep’.     

Production and characterization of Raphanus sativus-Brassica rapa monosomic chromosome addition lines

Breeding of Raphanus sativus‐Brassica rapa monosomic chromosome addition lines (MALs, 2n = 19) was carried out by backcrossing the synthesized amphidiploid line, Raphanobrassica (R. sativus×B. rapa, 2n = 38, RRAA, line RA89) with R. sativus cv. ‘Shogoin’ (2n = 18, RR). In the first cross of Raphanobrassica× radish, four sesquidiploidal BC₁ plants (2n = 28, RRA, RA89‐36‐1, RA89‐31‐1, RA89‐31‐2, RA89‐31‐3) were successfully developed. In these plants, the chromosome configurations of 9II + 10I and 10II + 8I were observed frequently at first metaphase (MI) of meiosis in pollen mother cells (PMCs). The RA 89‐36‐1 plant produced many seeds in the reciprocal backcrosses with radish. About 50% of the BC₂ plants obtained from the cross of RA89‐36‐1 plant × radish were 2n = 19 plants, followed by 2n = 18 plants (24%) and 2n = 20 plants (19%). In the reciprocal cross, 2n = 19 plants were also developed at the rate of 40%. From analysis of specific morphological traits, 2n = 19 plants were classified into eight types (a‐h). When 25 selected primers were used in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers derived from B. rapa for each type of MAL were detected in numbers between three for e‐type and 16 for b‐type. RAPD markers specific for each type alone were from one (OPE 05‐344) for h‐type to nine for b‐type. In the g‐type, no marker specific to this type alone was observed. However, 19 bands were common between at least two types. These MAL plants exhibited predominantly the chromosome configuration of 9II + 1I at MI of PMCs, pollen and seed fertility being the same level as the radish cv. ‘Shogoin’. From the morphological traits and DNA markers, eight different MAL types among 10 expected were identified.     

Effectiveness of Twenty-Four Barley Resistance Genes Against Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe graminis DC f. sp. hordei Em. Marchal) in Spain

Twenty-four near-isogenic barley lines, with a cv.‘Pallas’ background, carrying different mildew resistance genes were subjected in 1987, 1989 and 1990 to natural infection by the pathogen at several different and contrasting Spanish sites in order to study its virulence. The virulence genes proved to be geographically grouped into three regions: western (Valladolid), southern (Sevilla) and northern and northeastern (Navarra, Lleida and Girona). The mildew population of Lleida was more variable when compared with Navarra and Valladolid. Overall, the most effective resistance genes were: Ml-a13 + Ml-(Ru3), mlo and Ml-(1402).     

Genetical Studies on the Mode of Inheritance and Localization of the amo1 (High Amylose) Gene in Barley

In the high amylose starch mutant ‘Glacier AC38’, a single recessive gene designated amo1 is responsible for an amylose content of up to 45%. A rapid technique was established in order to evaluate the amylose/amylopectin ratio in half kernels. To localize this gene, crosses with multiple marker lines and trisormes were conducted. In addition, RFLP markers were used to determine their mapping distance to amo1. Two markers are located 2 cM and 7 cM, respectively, from amo1 on chromosome 5S (1HS). The relationship between the wx and amo1 genes was also examined and the role of the amo1 gene in starch synthesis is discussed.     

Utilization of deletions to localize a gene for resistance to the cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera avenue, on an Aegilops ventricosa chromosome

A previous RFLP analysis showed that the Aegilops ventricosa chromosome 6M^V which compensates for the absence of 6D in 6M^V (6D) wheat substitution lines was a 2/6 translocated chromosome, either 2S–6S.6L or 2S–6L.6S. The distal part of its long arm consists of a translocated segment belonging to homoeologous group 2. Chromosome 6M^V carries a gene(s) for resistance to cereal cyst nematode. In order to define the part of 6M^V (2S or 6S or 6L) involved in this resistance, addition lines with a 6M^V deleted either for its short arm or for the distal part of its long arm were evaluated. It was shown that the gene(s) is carried by the group 2 translocated segment. The hypothesis that the gene(s) could be allelic to Cre2, another gene conferring resistance to the nematode introduced into the wheat complement from Ae. ventricosa is discussed.     

Potential use of doubled haploid lines for the screening of resistance to yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis) in hexaploid wheat

Doubled haploid lines derived from anther culture of two Iranian spring wheat genotypes‘Ghods’susceptible and‘9106’resistant to yellow rust in Iranian field conditions, and their F₁ hybrids were used in this study. Seedlings of 36 doubled haploid lines, selected out of 96 according to their agronomic traits and the two parental genotypes were inoculated with eight races of yellow rust. The parental genotypes (‘Ghods’and‘9106’) were segregating for some of the races but their doubled haploid lines were either resistant or susceptible to them.‘Ghods’was susceptible to three of the races studied but three doubled haploid lines derived from it were resistant to them. Five selected doubled haploids from the‘9106’genotype and six from F₁ hybrid plants were resistant to all eight races tested. After further investigations in Iranian field conditions it was found that some of these lines can be used as donor genotypes for resistance to yellow rust in wheat breeding programmes. Use of these genotypes should be possible if the French yellow rust races used for selection also represent the dominant races in Iran. It can be concluded that anther culture provides an efficient method for fixing genes of resistance to yellow rust and desirable doubled haploids from F₁ plants can be derived.     

Effects of homoeologous group 1 and 6 chromosomes of the Cappelle-Desprez (Bezostaya 1) substitution lines on aspects of bread-making quality of wheat

Summary The group 1 and 6 inter-varietal chromosome substitution lines of Cappelle-Desprez (Bezostaya 1) were intercrossed along with the donor and recipient varieties, Cappelle-Desprez and Bezostaya 1, to give 36 genetically different families. The analysis of the means of these families showed that variation in SDS-sedimentation volume fitted a predominantly additive model. There were no significant within or between chromosome interactions among the group 1 and 6 chromosomes. Nor was there any evidence for interactions between these chromosomes and those of the background. Significant dominance/within chromosome interactions amongst the background chromosomes were however detected. Some of the positive effects on SDS-sedimentation were associated with increased grain hardness. Chromosome effects on % grain protein were not correlated with SDS-sedimentation.     

Analysis of Competitive Ability among Clones of the Palisade Grass, Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. Ex. A. Rich.) Stapf.

Four clones of palisade grass, Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. Ex. A. Rich.) Stapf., were studied in a diallel competition trial to investigate their competitive relationship in clonal mixtures. Clone X associate interactions were observed for plant height, number of tillers per plant and dry matter yield per plant. Both general and specific competitive abilities were observed for tiller number and dry matter yield. Clone X associate interaction for plant height was mainly due to the specific competitive ability of individual combinations. The most competitive clone observed was CIAT 6387. Competitive abilities of local clones were low compared to the imported clones. Local clones (RU 127 and RU 139) yielded more than imported clones (CIAT 6387 and PI 292185) under low competitive stresses. General and specific competitive abilities should be taken into consideration when mixing clones of palisade grass.     

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.     

Doubled-haploid versus single-seed descent and S1-family variation for testcross performance in a maize population

Progress made in the in situ gynogenesis technique since 1990 now allows production of a high number of maize (Zea mays L.) doubled-haploid (DH) lines. The aim of the study was to compare DH lines versus selfing lines for testcross performance. DH and single-seed descent (SSD) lines were produced from random S₁ progenies of a broad-base population. For grain yield, kernel moisture, plant height, ear height and leaf length, the three population means were similar. Except for kernel moisture, the genetic variance of DH lines was nearly twice as high as the genetic variance of S₁ families, as expected. On the other hand, genetic variance among SSD lines was only 1.5 times higher than the genetic variance of S₁ families. This lower variance could be due to a selection bias in the method of production of SSD lines. However, for all traits, heritability of SSD or DH lines was higher than heritability of S₁ families. Epistasis effects in DH progenies were not significant. The consequence was a high correlation between S₁ testcross progenies and DH or SSD testcross progenies, meaning that the S₁ testcross value can be used to select the best families from which DH lines will be extracted. As a whole, the observed variation in DH lines appeared to be more in accordance with the observed variation among S₁ families than with the observed variation among SSD lines.