Search

A rye–wheat centric chromosome translocation 1RS.1BL has been widely used in wheat breeding programs around the world. Increased yield of translocation lines was probably a consequence of increased root biomass. In an effort to map loci-controlling root characteristics, homoeologous recombinants of 1RS with 1BS were used to generate a consensus genetic map comprised of 20 phenotypic and molecular markers, with an average spacing of 2.5 cM. Physically, all recombination events were located in the distal 40% of the arms. A total of 68 recombinants was used and recombination breakpoints were aligned and ordered over map intervals with all the markers, integrated together in a genetic map. This approach enabled dissection of genetic components of quantitative traits, such as root traits, present on 1S. To validate our hypothesis, phenotyping of 45-day-old wheat roots was performed in five lines including three recombinants representative of the entire short arm along with bread wheat parents ‘Pavon 76’ and Pavon 1RS.1BL. Individual root characteristics were ranked and the genotypic rank sums were subjected to Quade analysis to compare the overall rooting ability of the genotypes. It appears that the terminal 15% of the rye 1RS arm carries gene(s) for greater rooting ability in wheat.

To assess genetic and environmental variation for outcrossing in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), a bulk of nine purple-hypocotyled (dominant), black-seeded, common bean lines (pollen parents) and six green-hypocotyled (recessive), white-seeded, common bean lines (seed parents) representing Mexican germplasm were used to estimate outcrossing rate. The experiment was conducted at Irvine and Riverside, CA, in mid-May and mid-July of 1989 and 1991. Outcrossing estimates were based on the proportion of purple-hypocotyled progeny from green-hypocotyled parents. Approximately 1400 single-plant families were progeny tested in which 120 278 seedlings were scored for the presence of anthocyanin in the hypocotyl. Of these, 113 246 were classified as selfed progeny and 7031 as hybrid progeny, giving rise to a weighted mean outcrossing rate of 6.9%. Entire progenies from each maternal line were grown and scored, and the minimum and maximum rates of outcrossing observed ranged between 0.0 and 78.0%. Mean outcrossing rate for the six white-seeded lines ranged from 4.41 to 10. 16%. However, differences in outcrossing rate among these lines were not significant, nor were differences between dates of planting, locations, or years. The combined analysis of variance showed significant location x planting date x line interaction and year x location X line interaction, indicating that environmental factors had a strong effect on rate of outcrossing in the lines examined., Knowledge about the breeding system of a crop is important to design effective breeding schemes to improve that crop. Common bean was listed as a predominantly self pollinating species by [...]

Phenotyping root traits and understanding their inheritance are critical for crop improvement, as the root system plays an important role in crop performance under well-watered and drought conditions. A set of 118 F8recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of bread wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)derived from the cross Iran #49 (a landrace) × Yecora Rojo (a standard variety) plus the two parents was used to phenotype root traits at mid-tillering stage and at physiological maturity in sand-tube experiments under well-watered conditions. Iran #49 and Yecora Rojo were different for grain yield per plant (20.4 vs.13.8), shallow-root weight per plant (5.3 vs. 1.3 g, roots developed between 0 and 30 cm), deep-root weight per plant (4.5 vs. 0.5 g, roots developed below 30 cm), and root biomass per plant (9.8 vs. 1.8 g). Although there were significant differences among the RILs for number of roots longer than 30 cm, total length of roots longer than 30 cm, longest root, shallow-root weight, deep-root weight, and root biomass, the estimate of narrow-sense heritability was relatively low for shallow-root weight (26%), deep-root weight (14%), and root biomass (22%) at mid-tillering stage. At maturity, the estimate of heritability for these root traits was 81%, 79%, and 83%, respectively. Additive × additive epistasis was detected for deep-root weight at maturity. Genotypic differences in root traits among the RILs were highest at maturity. The root traits measured at mid-tillering and at maturity showed significant, but weak correlation coefficients ranging from 0.20 to 0.40. Grain yield per plant showed significant genotypic correlation with root traits at maturity. Harvest index showed strong negative correlation with root traits ranging from −0.69 to −0.78. Our studies indicated that the appropriate time for phenotyping root traits in wheat is at maturity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A rye-wheat centric chromosome translocation 1RS.1BL has been widely used in wheat breeding programs around the world. Increased yield of translocation lines was probably a consequence of increased root biomass. In an effort to map loci-controlling root characteristics, homoeologous recombinants of 1RS with 1BS were used to generate a consensus genetic map comprised of 20 phenotypic and molecular markers, with an average spacing of 2.5 cM. Physically, all recombination events were located in the distal 40% of the arms. A total of 68 recombinants was used and recombination breakpoints were aligned and ordered over map intervals with all the markers, integrated together in a genetic map. This approach enabled dissection of genetic components of quantitative traits, such as root traits, present on 1S. To validate our hypothesis, phenotyping of 45-day-old wheat roots was performed in five lines including three recombinants representative of the entire short arm along with bread wheat parents 'Pavon 76' and Pavon 1RS.1BL. Individual root characteristics were ranked and the genotypic rank sums were subjected to Quade analysis to compare the overall rooting ability of the genotypes. It appears that the terminal 15% of the rye 1RS arm carries gene(s) for greater rooting ability in wheat.