Epigenetic Variation Induced in Triticum aestivum L. by Nicotinic Acid

The effect of nicotinic acid (NA) on hereditary traits of spring common wheat cultivar Kazakhstanskaya 126 (K.126) were studied under the laboratory and field conditions. Treatment of seeds and vegetating plants with 0.01–0.1% NA (aqueous solution) induced heritable epigenetic changes in wheat. As a result, strong tall plants with the long productive spike, large seeds, and several quantitative and qualitative characters other than in the original cultivar were obtained in the second and further generations after treatment. Crosses of changed plants with each other did not result in segregation with respect to leaf downiness or anthocyan stem color in F₂–F₄, suggesting the same epigenetic state of genes responsible for changed characters. In crosses with the original cultivar, characters of the changed plants always dominated in F₁. Basing on the current views, the changes were attributed to a transition of thehl ₁ and pc recessive marker genes into new, dominant epiallelic states Hl ₁ and Pc, which respectively determine downy leaves and the colored stem. The NA effect was specific, since only one type of the variation was observed. The changed characters were stable, and no reversion to the original phenotype was detected in 57 generations.     

Marker traits of variability induced in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L. by nicotinic acid

A search for markers of epigenetic variability in spring common wheat form Genotroph-1, obtained after the treatment of seeds and growing plants of spring common wheat cultivar Kazakhstanskaya-126 with nicotinic acid of innate origin (0.1–0.01% water solutions), and in a winter wheat line Gostianum-88 along with a common wheat cultivar Alem obtained on the basis of Genotroph-1 was conducted under laboratory conditions. The possibility of using isoenzymes as markers for studying variability induced by natural nicotinic acid with high frequency was demonstrated. The marker enzyme glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase-2, by which modified plants and lines obtained on the basis of these plants differ from the original cultivar, was identified.     

The absense of a definite gene-specific effect in wheat after seed treatment with exogenous DNA

Summary To reveal gene-specific genetic transformation in wheat experiments have been performed with two inheritable marker characters, namely, the complementing genes of necrosis, ne ₁ and ne ₂, and genes of awness. The awned spikes were found after treatment of seeds of awnless wheat with the DNA isolated from both awned wheat and from awnless wheat. The awned plants conserved their changed character in subsequent generations. In the experiments with necrosis genes no single example of interaction of the ne ₁ and ne ₂ genes was found, although some non specific effects (the decrease in number of germinating plants, the increase in height of plants and the length of spikes, etc) were observed.     

Triton X-100 induces heritable changes of morphological traits in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.

The effect of the nonionic detergent polyethylene glycol octylphenyl ester, Triton X-100 (TX-100) on the spring common wheat cultivar Alem was studied under laboratory and field conditions. Treatment of seeds and vegetating plants with 0.1 and 0.01% TX-100 (aqueous solution) changed the spike morphology in all plants of the first posttreatment generation. The changes were inherited by the second generation without additional treatment with TX-100. Square-headed dense spikes with doubled spikelets of the duospiculum type (an additional spikelet at the top of the main one), elongate dense and lax spikes, mid-dense spikes, and fusiform spikes were observed. An epigenetic nature was assumed for the observed changes.     

Inheritance of seed dormancy in Tibetan semi-wild wheat accession Q1028

Tibetan semi-wild wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. tibetanum Shao) is one of the Chinese endemic hexaploid wheat genetic resources, distributed only in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau of China. It has special characters, such as a hulled glume and spike disarticulation. However, seed dormancy, another important character for wheat resistance to pre-harvest sprouting, was rarely reported. Seed dormancy of more than 10 Tibetan semi-wild wheat accessions was evaluated, and their germinations were 0% or near 0% with both treatments of threshed seeds and intact spikes at hard dough stage. Tibetan semi-wild wheat accession Q1028 was investigated for its seed dormant characters by testing the seed germination percentages of intact spikes, seeds with bract powder, normal seeds, seeds with pierced coat, and sectioned embryos. It was observed that embryo dormancy of Q1028 accounted for its seed dormancy. Using threshed seeds and intact spikes at hard dough stage, the inheritance of seed dormancy was carried out using the F1, F2, F3 and F2BC1 populations of the cross between Q1028 and a wheat line 88-1643, susceptible to preharvest sprouting. The germinations of seeds and intact spikes in F1 plants were 1.0% and 0.9%, respectively. It indicated that seed dormancy of Q1028 was inherited as a dominant trait. From the genetic analysis of the F2, F3 and F2BC1 populations it was found that the strong seed dormancy of Q1028 was controlled by two dominant genes.     

Genetics of qualitative traits in domesticated chia (Salvia hispanica L.)

In Salvia hispanica L., several changes in qualitative characters, including seed coat color, stem pigmentation, and shattering, have evolved with cultivation and domestication. Three F(2) segregating generations from crosses between wild and domesticated parents were scored for three qualitative traits. A single recessive gene, designated scc, was found to govern the white seed characteristic. A single dominant gene, designated SSP, was found to control striated stem pigmentation. A complete dominance of open calyx over closed calyx was observed in F(1) generations and small numbers of plants with closed calyxes were observed in F(2) generations, not conforming to Mendelian ratios. For this non-shattering trait, a complementation test was conducted between two lines representative of geographically and morphologically divergent domesticated varieties. Complementary gene action was not observed in any F(1) plants, and all F(2) plants were homogeneous with respect to the trait, suggesting the same genetic control for non-shattering among domesticated varieties. An analysis of limited data for linkage of SSP and scc indicated that the two loci segregate independently.     

小麦雌性育性的主基因+多基因混合遗传分析

选用普通小麦中3种不同生态型育性正常品种与雌性不育系XND126杂交构建3个F2组合, 连续两年对3组合P₁、P₂、F₁和F₂雌性育性进行调查, 利用植物数量性状主基因+多基因混合遗传模型的4世代联合分析方法分析了小麦雌性育性的遗传。结果表明: 小麦雌性育性受两对主效基因+多基因联合控制, 两对主效基因之间存在互作效应。     

Genetics of durable resistance to leaf rust and stripe rust of an Indian wheat cultivar HD2009

The Indian bread wheat cultivar HD2009 has maintained its partial resistance to leaf rust and stripe rust in India since its release in 1976. To examine the nature, number and mode of inheritance of its genes for partial leaf rust and stripe rust resistance, this cultivar was crossed with cultivar WL711, which is susceptible to leaf rust and stripe rust. The F1, F2, F3 and F5 generations from this cross were assessed separately for adult plant disease severity under artificial epidemic of race 77-5 of leaf rust and race 46S119 of stripe rust. Segregation for rust reaction in the F2, F3 and F5 generations indicated that resistance to each of these rust diseases is based on 2 genes, each with additive effects. Although the leaf rust resistance of HD2009 is similar in expression to that conferred by the gene Lr34, but unlike the wheats carrying this gene, cultivar HD2009 did not show leaf tip necrosis, a morphological marker believed to be tightly linked to the leaf rust resistance gene Lr34. Thus, the non-hypersensitive resistance of HD2009 was ascribed to genes other than Lr34.     

Introgression of the reduced height gene Rht10 from the wheat cultivar Ai-bian 1 into the triticale genotype

A gene determining reduced height, Rht10, from the wheat cultivar Ai-Bian 1 was introgressed into the triticale genotype. Initially, Ai-Bian 1 was crossed with the wheat cultivar Chinese Spring (CS), a carrier of Kr genes, to overcome the uncrossability of this cultivar with rye. Amphidiploids were produced by hybridizing the F2 (CS x Ai-Bian 1) plants displaying reduced height (at the level of Ai-Bian 1) with rye. Free pollination of F1 (F2 of CS x Ai-Bian 1) x Saratovskaya 7 with triticale pollen gave fertile viable hybrids; the majority of hybrids were phenotypically closer to octoploid triticale; however, the variants intermediate between octo- and hexaploids were also present. The height of amphidiploids varied from 40 to 90 cm, and the grain yield per spike amounted on the average to 11.7--24.7 grains, which exceeded essentially this value in F1 plants.     

Hybrids between cultivated and wild carrots in natural populations in Denmark

Many cultivated plant species are able to hybridize with related wild plants. However, it is not clear whether their hybrids are able to survive and reproduce outside managed fields, and if cultivar genes introgress into wild populations. In areas where wild carrots co-occur with carrot root-crops, pollen and seeds may flow from two different sources in the fields to the surrounding wild populations: from pure cultivar plants that occasionally flower, and from flowering 'bolters' that originate from hybridizations between wild (male) and cultivated carrots (female) in seed production fields in warmer regions of the world. To test whether hybrids are formed and survive in wild Danish populations, and whether prolonged hybridization has led to introgression of cultivar genes, we collected leaf material from adult individuals growing close to carrot fields and analysed their genotypic composition by AFLP. Four hybrids were identified among the 71 plants analysed, and these were most likely F(2) or backcross individuals, sired by pollen from hybrid bolters. Wild populations close to fields were genetically somewhat more similar to cultivars than wild populations far from fields, suggesting that neutral or beneficial cultivar alleles can introgress into the wild gene pool. Despite generations of improvement and adaptation of cultivar carrots to highly managed field conditions, hybrids can thus sometimes survive in wild populations close to carrot fields, and their genes transfer to wild populations by introgression.     

Enhanced levels of nicotianamine promote iron accumulation and tolerance to calcareous soil in soybean

Iron (Fe) is an essential nutrient in both plants and humans. Fe deficiency on calcareous soil with low Fe availability is a major agricultural problem. Nicotianamine (NA) is one of the Fe chelator in plants, which is involved in metal translocation into seeds, and serves as an antihypertensive substance in humans. In this study, soybean plants overexpressing the barley NA synthase 1 (HvNAS1) gene driven by the constitutive CaMV 35S promoter were produced using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The transgenic soybean showed no growth defect and grew normally. The NA content of transgenic soybean seeds was up to four-fold greater than that of non-transgenic (NT) soybean seeds. The level of HvNAS1 expression was positively correlated with the amount of NA, and a high concentration of NA was maintained in the seeds in succeeding generations. The Fe concentration was approximately two-fold greater in transgenic soybean seeds than in NT soybean seeds. Furthermore, the transgenic soybeans showed tolerance to low Fe availability in calcareous soil. Our results suggested that increasing the NA content in soybean seeds by the overexpression of HvNAS1 offers potential benefits for both human health and agricultural productivity.     

大麦DNA导入小麦产生抗白粉病变异的遗传研究

本研究将抗白粉病的大麦DNA通过花粉管途径直接导入感病的小麦品种花76中,后代出现13株抗白粉病变异株。其中5株在以后的世代中抗性稳定,另8株则继续分离。第2带分离株系的抗病株形成的第3代株系（或株行）中,抗性有分离的株行与无分离的株行比例为1.9:1,而分离株行内抗病株与不抗病株之比为3.35:1。抗性稳定株系与感病亲本杂交,F1表现高抗病,再与感病亲本回交,后代抗感病株比例为1:1,自交F2的比例为2.8:1。说明所获得的抗白粉病性受一对完全显性基因控制,抗病为显性。与已知抗白粉病基因的比较表明,这个抗病基因可能是来自大麦的一个新基因。13 Variant plants with immunity and high-resistance to powdery mildew were found in D1 generation from introducing resistant barley DNA into susceptible wheat cultivar, through pollen tube pathway after self pollination.Of the variants, 5 plants for the resistance had been stable and the other 8 plants segregated insuccessive generation.The ratio of segregating and stable plant-rows was 1.9:1 in D3 plant-rows derived from resistant plants of segregating D2-lines,and the ratio of resistant plants and susceptible plants was 3.35:1 among the segregating D3 plant-rows.The F1 -plants from crosses between stable resistant variants and susceptible parents were higgh resistant to powdery mildew.The ratio of resistant and susceptible plants was 1:1 in progenies of backcross of the F1 and susceptible parents, and this ratio was 2.8:1 in the F2 generation from the F1 selfing. Thus it can be seen that the resistance obtained is camtrolled by a pair of genes, the resistance is dominant. The results in comparison with known powdery mildew resistance genes in wheat indicated that the resistant gene obtained would be a new one from barley.     

Characteristics of genetic variation in the progenies of protoplast-derived plants of rice, Oryza sativa cv Nipponbare

Genetic variation in protoplast-derived rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants was characterized using first and second generation selfed progenies. A total of 133 regenerated plants were obtained from ten protoplasts of the japonica rice cultivar Nipponbare. Sixty two regenerated plants which set enough seeds for the subsequent field tests at the next generation and were derived from five protoplasts were selected, and their selfed seeds were used as the first selfed-seed progeny generation). Fifteen plants were selected from each of the 15 lines, and their selfed seeds were used for tests at the generation. Thirty seven lines (60%) segregated plants with detrimental mutant characters of yellow-green phenotype, dwarf stature, dense and short panicle, or low seed fertility. According to the segregation patterns in the lines having mutated plants among those originated from the same protoplasts, the stages of mutation induction were estimated. Additionally, five quantitative traits were changed in almost all and lines. Varied quantitative traits of heading date, number of spikelets per panicle, and seed fertility, were in a heterozygous state. However, culm and panicle lengths showed high uniformity, whereas reduced culm and panicle lengths were caused by mutational changes in polygenes and/or multiple genes. Received: 20 March 1996 / Accepted: 21 June 1996     

4个春性基因型小麦品种与‘京841’杂交F_1代的表型分析

选用4个具有不同显性春化基因型的小麦品种与冬性小麦品种‘京841’进行杂交实验,通过显性春化基因特异性PCR分析技术鉴定杂交F1代植株,并分析4个杂交组合的正反交F1代植株表型特性。结果显示,各显性春化基因已经导入到各杂交F1代植株中,且其苗穗期受显性春化基因的控制而有效缩短;3个杂交组合的F1代穗粒数在正反交之间存在显著差异,推测穗粒数受细胞质遗传因素的影响较大,其中以‘新春2号’和‘豫麦18’分别为母本和父本与‘京841’杂交后F1代的穗粒数表现出较强的杂种优势,4个杂交组合的F1代千粒重均表现出较强的杂种优势。     

Creating Wheat Germplasm for High Quality Breeding by Monosomic Backcrossing

By crossing bread wheat cultlvar GC8901 with the 1D monosonlc line of Xiaoyan No. 6 and backcrosslng the offsprlng with the Xlaoyan No. 6 1D monosonlc llne for 5 years, high-molecular-welght glutenin subunlts 1Dx5＋1Dy10 from GC8901 have been transferred Into wheat cultivar Xiaoyan No. 6. The BC5F1 offspring lines had been detected by using methods of cytology, marker, molecular marker and six elite single plants with high molecular-welght glutenin subunlts： lAx1, 1Bx14＋1 By15, 1Dx5＋1 Dy10 were Identified. Those lines have high-yleld potential with better agronomic characters and have been used In high quality wheat breeding processes as well.     

A Monogenic Dominant Resistance of Tomato to Bacterial Wilt in Hawaii 7996 is Associated with Plant Colonization by Pseudomonas solanacearum

Hawaii 7996, a tomato cultivar resistant to bacterial wilt caused by P. solanacearum was crossed with Floradel, a susceptible cultivar and the F1 and F2 seeds were obtained. Inoculated plants were tested in the field for bacterial wilt resistance and colonization by P. solanacearum. The F1 did not wilt and a significant 3:1 segregation for non wilting: wilting was observed in the F2, indicating a monogenic dominant resistance in Hawaii 7996. In the F2 and in Hawaii 7996, resistance was, associated to the limitation of bacterial spread in the stem. The degree of resistance of Floradel, the F2 and Hawaï 7996 was correlated to colonization at midstem. The usefulness of plant colonization criteria for breeding programs is discussed.     

Diversity of diploid androgenic Brussels sprout plants of R0 and R1 generations

Androgenic Brussels sprout plants were produced by the use of anther culture from the donor cultivar 'Philemon F1'. A total of 96 plants obtained from 20 androgenic R0 genotypes assigned as diploids were evaluated both in the generative and vegetative stage, in respect of their morphological characters: mean plant height; leaf size, colour and waxiness; leaf blade shape, blistering and attitude; number of sprouts; as well as their self-incompatibility and fertility. Androgenic R0 plants derived from each of the 20 embryos were highly diversified and differed from the donor in one or more morphological traits in the vegetative stage. Evaluated populations also varied in fertility and self-incompatibility. Six androgenic genotypes that set a sufficient amount of seeds of the R1 generation and 'Philemon F1' were evaluated in the field in respect of plant height, total and marketable yield per plot, shape of stem with sprouts, shape and density of sprouts, and spacing between sprouts. Only four diploid R0 and R1 populations may have some value for further breeding, as they are characterised by good vigour, high or medium ability for sprout generation, and sufficient fertility.