Pigeonpea improvement: An amalgam of breeding and genomic research

In the past five decades, constant research has been directed towards yield improvement in pigeonpea resulting in the deployment of several commercially acceptable cultivars in India. Though, the genesis of hybrid technology, the biggest breakthrough, enigma of stagnant productivity still remains unsolved. To sort this productivity disparity, genomic research along with conventional breeding was successfully initiated at ICRISAT. It endowed ample genomic resource providing insight in the pigeonpea genome combating production constraints in a precise and speedy manner. The availability of the draft genome sequence with a large‐scale marker resource, oriented the research towards trait mapping for flowering time, determinacy, fertility restoration, yield attributing traits and photo‐insensitivity. Defined core and mini‐core collection, still eased the pigeonpea breeding being accessible for existing genetic diversity and developing stress resistance. Modern genomic tools like next‐generation sequencing, genome‐wide selection helping in the appraisal of selection efficiency is leading towards next‐generation breeding, an awaited milestone in pigeonpea genetic enhancement. This paper emphasizes the ongoing genetic improvement in pigeonpea with an amalgam of conventional breeding as well as genomic research.     

A genetic linkage map in southern‐by‐spring oat identifies multiple quantitative trait loci for adaptation and rust resistance

We developed 178 recombinant inbred lines from a southern‐by‐spring oat population designated as “TxH.” These lines were genotyped to generate a high‐quality linkage map that resolved 6,902 markers into 21 linkage groups that matched closely with the latest hexaploid oat consensus map. Three major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting heading date were found in locations that are consistent with known QTLs and candidate genes, and two other QTLs affecting heading date were found in novel locations. Five QTLs affecting plant height were found. Both sets of QTLs are responsible for transgressive segregation observed for these two traits. Four QTLs affecting resistance to crown rust, caused by the pathogen Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae, were identified. Two of these QTLs are consistent with known clusters of rust resistance genes, while two may represent new locations of novel rust resistance genes. A complete set of SNP sequences suitable for generating markers for molecular selection is provided.     

Bulk pollen pollination in maize for efficient construction of introgression populations with high genome coverage

Introgression populations consist of a set of introgression lines or families, constructed by continuous backcrossing to the recurrent parent, while carrying a limited number of chromosome segments from a donor parent in their genomes. Increasing the genome coverage is an important aim when constructing introgression population. In this study, we proposed bulk pollen pollination (BPP) method and used it to increase the genome coverage of a maize introgression population. The results showed that the genome coverage of the introgression population constructed using BPP method reached 100% at BC₃ generation, which accorded with the simulation result. The BPP‐based BC₃F_1:2 population could identify most quantitative trait loci (QTL) detected using the F_2:3 population, especially major QTL. Simulation analysis showed that the genome coverage of introgression population increased with the increase of population size and the number of bulked plants, and decreased with the increase of backcross generation. Our results proved the reliability of the BPP‐based introgression population in increasing genome coverage and detecting QTL, and provided references for constructing high‐coverage introgression populations.     

Identification and verification of quantitative trait loci for eating and cooking quality of rice (Oryza sativa)

This study was conducted to identify new quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that have stable effects for eating and cooking quality (ECQ) of rice. Three recombinant inbred line populations of indica rice were each planted in two years. Three traits for ECQ, amylose content (AC), gel consistency (GC) and alkali spreading value (ASV), were measured for QTL analysis. A total of 13 QTLs were detected, including four for AC, six for ASV and three for GC. Two QTLs, qGC4 in the interval RM16252–RM335 on the short arm of chromosome 4 and qGC6.2 in the Alk region, were validated in a population derived from a residual heterozygote that was homozygous at the major locus Wx. In the absence of segregation at the Wx locus, qGC4 and qGC6.2 had additive effects of 2.46 and 8.18 mm, respectively, offering a potential for improving GC property of rice varieties. Comparison between qGC4 and previous results suggests that qGC4 is likely a new QTL for GC, providing a candidate for gene cloning and functional characterization.     

普通小麦主要农艺性状的全基因组关联分析

为解析小麦复杂农艺性状的遗传机制,本研究以150份小麦品种(系)为自然群体,在4个环境条件下测定了9个主要农艺性状,利用小麦35K SNP芯片,结合5种关联模型(Q、PCA、K、PCA+K、Q+K),进行全基因组关联分析。结果表明,全基因组多态性信息量PIC的范围为0.0950～0.5000,最小等位基因频率MAF值为0.0500～0.5000;群体结构分析和PCA分析均表明参试材料可分为两个亚群;连锁不平衡分析发现A基因组、B基因组、D基因组和全基因组的LD衰减距离分别为4.7、8、11和6 Mb。9个性状共检测到652个显著的关联位点(P≤0.001),其中21个SNP在2个或2个以上的环境中被重复检测到,分布在1A(1)、1B(4)、2A(3)、2D(2)、3A(1)、5A(1)、5B(5)、6A(1)、6B(2)和7D(3)染色体上; 1个SNP标记的物理位置未知, 3个SNP标记同时与2个性状显著关联;单个SNP的表型贡献率为7.67%～18.79%。8个优势等位变异在供试群体中所占比例较低,筛选出14个可能与小麦农艺性状相关的候选基因,其中TraesCS5B02G237200、TraesCS7D02G129700和TraesCS1B02G426300可能在植物抵御生物与非生物胁迫中起作用,TraesCS5B02G010800和TraesCS7D02G436800可能与植物激素的合成和响应有关,TraesCS2A02G092200可能与植物细胞壁的增强有关, TraesCS5A02G438800可能参与叶绿体发育,另外7个候选基因的功能未知。     

基于RIL群体鉴定棉花抗黄萎病相关QTLs

【目的】鉴定出能够稳定表达的棉花抗黄萎病相关数量性状位点(Quantitative trait loci,QTLs)。【方法】以抗落叶型黄萎病棉花品种常抗棉和感黄萎病品种TM-1为亲本配制的111个重组自交系家系为作图群体,筛选出多态性简单序列重复(Simple sequence repeat,SSR)标记,并用于构建遗传图谱。用完备复合区间作图法对该群体在安阳大田、新疆重病地及病圃等多个环境下的黄萎病病情指数进行QTLs检测。【结果】构建了1张含有12个连锁群、40个标记、总长212.5 cM(厘摩)的遗传图谱。获得了6个与抗黄萎病基因相关的QTLs,对数优势比(Logarithm of the odd score,LOD)分布在2.51～5.55,贡献率最大为20.34%,最小为6.93%。其中,qVR-D05-1能够在安阳大田2015年7月15日和新疆南疆重病地2016年7月9日2个环境中检测到,贡献率分别为12.96%和20.34%。【结论】本研究得到的qVR-D05-1能够为定位出稳定的棉花抗黄萎病相关QTLs提供参考。     

不同供磷水平对辣椒根系形态和根际特征的影响

以辣椒品种线椒王为试验材料,采用盆栽方式,通过分析不同施磷水平下辣椒根系形态和根系生理的变化,探究辣 椒磷高效利用的主要根系及根际过程。结果表明,辣椒地上部和根系生物量随供磷水平的增加呈现先增加后下降的趋势,整 株磷浓度以及整株磷累积量呈增加趋势。随供磷水平增加,根系总根长呈先增加后下降趋势,根系平均直径、根冠比呈逐渐 降低趋势;辣椒根系菌根侵染率和土壤酸性磷酸酶活性呈现先增加后下降的趋势。相关分析结果表明,土壤有效磷浓度和整 株磷浓度与根系平均直径、菌根侵染率呈极显著负相关,与总根长可用一元二次方程拟合,表明辣椒根系适应低磷的根际特 征可能是通过增加根系生物量及总根长,同时降低根系平均直径来实现的。     

烟属野生种主要植物学性状及黑胫病抗性评价

鉴定了烟属植物野生种生育期等植物学性状特性,评价了供试材料对黑胫病(0号及1号生理小种)的抗性,为开展远缘杂交花期相遇及亲本选配提供了基础数据。在玻璃温室内,本研究针对66份烟属植物野生种的生育期等7个植物学性状的调查,检测了烟碱及钾含量,并对黑胫病(0号及1号生理小种)抗性进行了评价。结果表明:供试材料播种到开花时间(DF)为35.00~357.00 d,平均121.67 d;种子千粒重(TSW)为0.02~0.20 g,平均0.09 g;株高(PH)为11.20~292.75 cm,平均119.19 cm;花冠长度(CL)为1.22~11.50 cm,平均3.98 cm;花冠直径(CD)0.67~7.80 cm,平均2.37 cm;最大叶长(MLL)为6.79~61.15 cm,平均25.17 cm;最大叶宽(MLW)为0.65~35.51 cm,平均11.84 cm。烟碱含量为0.03%~1.81%,平均0.34%;钾含量为0.32%~7.11%,平均3.56%。筛选到N.alata PI42334等11份资源同时抗黑胫病0及1号生理小种。     

Breeding for increased grain protein and micronutrient content in wheat: Ten years of the GPC-B1 gene

To provide food and nutrition security for a growing world population, continued improvements in the yield and nutritional quality of agricultural crops will be required. Wheat is an important source of calories, protein and micronutrients and is thus a priority to breed for improvements in these traits. The GRAIN PROTEIN CONTENT-B1 (GPC-B1) gene is a positive regulator of nutrient translocation which increases protein, iron and zinc concentration in the wheat grain. In the ten years since it was cloned, the impacts of GPC-B1 allelic variation on quality and yield traits have been extensively analyzed in diverse genetic backgrounds in field studies spanning forty environments and seven countries. In this review, we compile data from twenty-five studies to summarize the impact of GPC-B1 allelic variation on fifty different traits. Taken together, the results demonstrate that the functional copy of the GPC-B1 gene is associated with consistent positive effects on grain protein, Fe and Zn content with only marginally negative impacts on yield. We conclude that the GPC-B1 gene has the potential to increase nutritional and end use quality in a wide range of modern cultivars and environments and discuss the possibilities for its application in wheat breeding.