Comparative performance of juvenile sea trout families in high and low feeding environments

Groups of eight full-sibling wild sea trout Salmo trutta L. families, communally reared, exhibited highly significant differences in family representation in the largest 25 percentile within each tank at the end of the observation period (referred to as family performance). Despite these large differences in family performance within tanks, there were no significant differences in performances of families relative to each other between high and low feeding levels. These results are discussed in the context of domestication selection.     

Salt tolerance in Lycopersicon species. IV. Efficiency of marker-assisted selection for salt tolerance improvement

The usefulness of marker-assisted selection (MAS) to develop salt-tolerant breeding lines from a F₂ derived from L. esculentum x L. pimpinellifolium has been studied. Interval mapping methodology of quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was used to locate more precisely previously detected salt tolerance QTLs. A new QTL for total fruit weight under salinity (TW) near TG24 was detected. Most of the detected QTLs [3 for TW, 5 for fruit number, (FN) and 4 for fruit weight (FW)] had low R ² values, except the FW QTL in the TG180-TG48 interval, which explains 36.6% of the total variance. Dominant and overdominant effects were detected at the QTLs for TW, whereas gene effects at the QTLs for FJV and FW ranged from additive to partial dominance. Phenotypic selection of F₂ familes and marker-assisted selection of F₃ families were carried out. Yield under salinity decreased in the F₂ generation. F₃ means were similar to those of the F₁ as a consequence of phentoypic selection. The most important selection response for every trait was obtained from the F₃ to F₄ where MAS was applied. While F₃ variation was mainly due to the within-family component, in the F₄ the FN and FW between-family component was larger than the within-family one, indicating an efficient compartmentalization and fixation of QTLs into the F₄ families. Comparison of the yield of these families under control versus saline conditions showed that fruit weight is a key trait to success in tomato salt-tolerance improvement using wild Lycopersicon germplasm. The QTLs we have detected under salinity seem to be also working under control conditions, although the interaction family x treatment was significant for TW, thereby explaining the fact that the selected families responded differently to salinity.     

Genetic variation in Sanguisorba minor after 6 years in situ selection under elevated CO2

Genetic variation within plant species in their response to elevated CO₂ could be important for long‐term changes in plant community composition because it allows for selection of responsive genotypes. Six years of in situ CO₂ enrichment in a temperate grassland offered a unique opportunity to investigate such microevolutionary changes in a common herb of that plant community, Sanguisorba minor. Plants were grown from seeds collected at the end of a 6‐year treatment in either ambient or elevated CO₂. The resulting seedlings were grown under ambient or elevated CO₂ and with or without interspecific competition by Bromus erectus in the greenhouse for two seasons. The effect of competition was included because we expected selection under elevated CO₂ to favour increased competitive ability. Elevated CO₂ in the greenhouse and competition both caused a significant reduction of the total dry mass in S. minor, by 12% and 40%, respectively, with no interaction between CO₂ and competition. Genetic variation in all traits was substantial. Seed families responded differently to competition, but the family × greenhouse CO₂ interaction was rather weak. There was no main effect of the field CO₂ treatment on any parameter analysed in the greenhouse. However, the field CO₂ treatment did significantly interact with the greenhouse CO₂ treatment for the cumulative number of leaves, suggesting microevolutionary change in this plant trait. Families from ambient field CO₂ produced fewer leaves under elevated greenhouse CO₂, whereas families from elevated field CO₂ retained constant number of leaves in either greenhouse CO₂ treatment. Since this resulted in increased litter production of the families from elevated field CO₂ under elevated greenhouse CO₂, the microevolutionary response should, in turn, affect ecosystem functions through dry matter recycling.     

Efficiency of including first-generation information in second-generation ranking and selection: results of computer simulation

Using computer simulation, we evaluated the impact of using first-generation information to increase selection efficiency in a second-generation breeding program. Selection efficiency was compared in terms of increase in rank correlation between estimated and true breeding values (i.e., ranking accuracy), reduction in coefficient of variation of correlation coefficients (i.e., ranking reliability), and increase in realized gain, with best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP). The test populations were generated with varying parameters: selection strategy (forward vs backward selection of parents); number of parents (24∼96); number of crosses per parent (1∼8); heritability (0.05∼0.35); ratio of dominance to additive variance (0∼3); ratio of additive-by-site to additive variance (0∼3); and ratio of dominance-by-site to additive variance (0∼3). The two selection strategies gave distinct results. When parents of the second-generation crosses had been selected via backward selection, adding first-generation information markedly increased selection efficiency. Conversely, when parents had been selected via forward selection, first-generation information provided little increase in efficiency. The amount of increase depended more on heritabilities in both generations and less on dominance and genotype–by–environment effects. Including first-generation information helped more when there were many parents and few crosses per parent in the second generation. Only in the case of extremely low first-generation heritabilities was there no benefit to adding first-generation information in terms of improved ranking reliability and accuracy.     

Evaluation of parents and selection for heat tolerance in the early generations of a potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) breeding program

Summary Potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.) were evaluated for their capacity to form tubers under high temperature conditions (heat tolerance). In an experiment conducted in the hot summer season in the field and in experiments conducted under controlled environments in glasshouses, differences in tolerance to heat were noted among the various genotypes. Although heat tolerance tended to be associated with earliness in maturation, differences in the response to high temperatures were observed in genotypes of the same maturity class. Progeny of the cultivars Desiree and Cara, and hybrid progeny of Cara x Desiree and of Blanka x Cara were screened for heat tolerance in controlled environments in glasshouses. Long photoperiod delayed tuberization but high temperatures strongly inhibited tuber formation, which was 4% in the progeny of Desiree, <2% in the progeny of Cara and of Cara x Desiree, and ca. 16% in progeny of Blanka x Cara. For seedlings that did not form tubers in the hot glasshouse but were subsequently transferred to the cool glasshouse, tuberization was much enhanced and clones selected through this dual procedure exhibited tolerance to heat in the first conal year. The results of this study indicate that: (a) tolerance to heat is associated with earliness; however, differences in the response to heat exist among late-maturing cultivars; (b) tolerance to heat, as assessed by the capacity to form tubers under high temperatures, is genetically controlled, and the timing of tuberization might be independent of the rate of tuberization in hybrid progeny; (c) the incidence of heat tolerance in progeny population is correlated with the relative tolerance of the parents; and (d) the dual selection procedure is an efficient approach for the selection of heat-tolerant clones.     

Challenges in pea breeding for tolerance to drought: Status and prospects

Drought is increasingly frequent in the context of climate change and is considered a major constraint for crop yield. Water scarcity can impair growth, disturb plant water relations and reduce water use efficiency. Pea (Pisum sativum) is a temperate grain legume rich in protein, fibre, micronutrients and bioactive compounds that can benefit human health. In reducing pea yield because of drought, the intensity and duration of stress are critical. This review describes several drought resistance mechanisms in pea based on morphology, physiology and biochemical changes during/after the water deficit period. Drought tolerance of pea can be managed by adopting strategies such as screening, breeding and marker-assisted selection. Therefore, various biotechnological approaches have led to the development of drought-tolerant pea cultivars. Finally, the main objective of the current research is to point out some useful traits for drought tolerance in peas and also, mention the methods that can be useful for future studies and breeding programmes.     

Evaluation of breeding strategies for drought tolerance in potato by means of crop growth simulation

Breeding strategies for drought tolerance in potato were evaluated by means of a crop growth model, in which seasonal courses of crop dry matter accumulation and soil moisture availability were simulated in dependence of plant characteristics and weather and soil data.Several plant characteristics substantially influenced the simulated instantaneous water consumption of the genotype. However, effects of genotypic differences on final tuber yield were much smaller because of the close relationship between transpiration and growth. Hence, a lower water consumption not only saved water for later use, but was also at the expense of the actual growth rate. Selection for low-transpiration types, at unchanged water use efficiency, would result in lower yields under optimum conditions.Short periods of drought, in general, reduced tuber yield of late genotypes less than that of early genotypes. Late genotypes had a surplus of leaf area for full light interception giving a lower impact of leaf area reduction. Late drought affected early genotypes less because of escape.The simulation results emphasized the complexity of selection for drought tranrance caused by the many plant processes involved, the contrast between instantaneous and cumulative reactions and the strong genotype × environment interaction for drought tolerance.     

Efficiency of early generation selections for yield and related characters in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

The efficiency of early generation selection for yield and related characters in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) was studied in the F₂, F₃ and F₄ generations. Twenty-five F₂ progenies derived from various crosses were studied. In the F₂ generation, number of capitula per plant (CNSP), number of seeds per capitulum (SPSP), test weight (SWSP), and seed yield (SYSP) were the criteria used for single plant selection. The analysis of variance showed significant differences for all of the characters in the F₂, F₃, and F₄ generations. The analysis of variance in each of the selection classes showed highly significant genotypic differences. A large number of selections in the CNSP and SYSP classes showed greater yield than the check variety. In each class the mean for that particular character showed a positive shift. The observed F₃ and F₄ means for seed yield per plant was higher in SYSP, indicating the effectiveness of single plant selection for yield. Correlated response showed that selection for number of capitula per plant was effective for improvement of yield.     

Genetics of nitrogen metabolism and physiological/biochemical selection for increased grain crop productivity

Summary It is necessary to increase protein productivity of grain crops to meet present and future world protein requirements. Conventional plant breeding methodology has been to select genotypes with enhanced yield or grain protein concentration. In addition to this determination of end product, we suggest measurements of a number of physiological and biochemical processes of nitrogen (N) metabolism which precede plant maturity as selection criteria for enhanced N metabolism and grain crop productivity. The measurement across the growing season of genotypic variation in components of N metabolism would constitute a physiological/biochemical selection program to be incorporated with the determination of harvestable end product. A properly designed physiological/biochemical selection program would integrate the effects of plant genotype, environment, and their interactions allowing identification of the factors limiting productivity of particular genotypes, and would also estimate end product. Our review of literature pertinent to whole plant N metabolism suggests that such a selection program initially include NO ₃ ^- uptake, N₂ fixation, N accumulation, N remobilization, seed protein synthesis, and Nitrogen Harvest Index.Supported by USDA, Nitrogen Fixation and Soybean Genetics Laboratory, Beltsville, Md., and the Agronomy Department, University of Maryland, College Park, Md., under Cooperative Agreement 58-32U4-3-370, Scientific Article No. A-3400, Contribution No. 6473 of the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Agronomy, College Park, MD 20742, USA     

不同西瓜基因型对干旱胁迫的生理响应及其抗旱性评价

以来源于不同地区的12个西瓜基因型为试材,采用盆栽控水的方式进行持续干旱处理,研究干旱胁迫对西瓜幼苗株高、根长、鲜质量及干物质积累等生长状况的影响,比较不同基因型材料对干旱胁迫的生理响应差异,同时依据旱害指数对其抗旱性进行直接评价,并采用隶属函数法进一步验证和综合评价.结果表明: 干旱处理下,12个西瓜基因型对干旱胁迫的耐受能力存在明显差异,各基因型开始出现旱害症状的时间和发生旱害的程度各不相同.干旱胁迫降低了西瓜幼苗的株高、地上、地下鲜质量和地上干物质积累量,普遍提高了根冠比,而对根长和地下干质量存在正向和负向两种不同的影响.干旱处理后,西瓜叶片的相对含水量和叶绿素含量均不同程度降低,丙二醛、过氧化氢和超氧阴离子含量增加,脯氨酸大量积累,而可溶性蛋白含量以及抗氧化酶活性则因基因型的不同而表现出不同的结果.分析认为,3个野生型材料M20、KY-3和Y-2为抗旱性强的西瓜种质,Y34、金美人和04-1-2为敏感种质,而其余基因型为中抗种质.     

Expected utility maximization and selection of stable plant cultivars

Summary In most plant breeding programs, selection of the best commercially suitable cultivars for a target group of environments is based on information obtained from evaluation trials cultivated in a sample of environments. Information on the performance of cultivars collected in a sample of environments can only be approximate and, consequently, selection of the best cultivar involves choosing among cultivars that respond uncertainly in many environments. The agronomic and/or economic value of a cultivar across environments may be considered the general or overall utility of the cultivar. Data from a sample of environments therefore provides only an estimate of any cultivar's overall utility, with the overall goal of selection among all cultivars being the maximization of the expected utility. Within this frame-work, expected utility maximization, an approach to decision making that has been well developed in the disciplines of economics and statistics, can assist the plant breeder in making such decisions. This research was initiated (1) to determine how expected utility maximization might be used to develop indices that are useful for selecting broadly adapted plant cultivars, and (2) to determine how the breeder's preferences might affect choice of the best cultivar. The data used in this research were from USDA Regional Soybean Tests. The results indicated that expected utility maximization, which explicitly incorporates into the selection rule the plant breeder's preferences regarding stability, can be a useful aid in the selection of stable plant cultivars.     

Breeding implications of drought stress under future climate for upland rice in Brazil

Rice is the most important food crop in the developing world. For rice production systems to address the challenges of increasing demand and climate change, potential and on‐farm yield increases must be increased. Breeding is one of the main strategies toward such aim. Here, we hypothesize that climatic and atmospheric changes for the upland rice growing period in central Brazil are likely to alter environment groupings and drought stress patterns by 2050, leading to changing breeding targets during the 21st century. As a result of changes in drought stress frequency and intensity, we found reductions in productivity in the range of 200–600 kg/ha (up to 20%) and reductions in yield stability throughout virtually the entire upland rice growing area (except for the southeast). In the face of these changes, our crop simulation analysis suggests that the current strategy of the breeding program, which aims at achieving wide adaptation, should be adjusted. Based on the results for current and future climates, a weighted selection strategy for the three environmental groups that characterize the region is suggested. For the highly favorable environment (HFE, 36%–41% growing area, depending on RCP), selection should be done under both stress‐free and terminal stress conditions; for the favorable environment (FE, 27%–40%), selection should aim at testing under reproductive and terminal stress, and for the least favorable environment (LFE, 23%–27%), selection should be conducted for response to reproductive stress only and for the joint occurrence of reproductive and terminal stress. Even though there are differences in timing, it is noteworthy that stress levels are similar across environments, with 40%–60% of crop water demand unsatisfied. Efficient crop improvement targeted toward adaptive traits for drought tolerance will enhance upland rice crop system resilience under climate change.     

Needs and benefits of empirical power transformations for production and quality traits in forest tree breeding

Non-normality in the distribution of individual observations of production and quality traits in forest tree breeding may cause inaccurate selection and overestimation of predicted selection gain. The distribution of individual observations of traits such as height, diameter, branch diameter, branch angle and number of branches per whorl is not always normal. We investigated how the observations were distributed and to what degree it is possible to improve normality, homogeneity of error variance and additivity by using empirical power transformations. Computer simulations showed that a seriously skewed distribution impairs selection efficiency and exaggerates selection gain expectations. If the distribution is heavily skewed, transformation might be worthwhile. It does not seem possible to offer any general advice about which varities should be transformed, but in most cases there seems to be no need of any transformation.     

Index selection on seed traits under direct, cytoplasmic and maternal effects in multiple environments

Crop seeds are important sources of protein, oil, and carbohydrates for food, animal feeds, and industrial products. Recently, much attention has been paid to quality and functional properties of crop seeds. However, seed traits possess some distinct genetic characteristics in comparison with plant traits, which increase the difficulty of genetically improving these traits. In this study, diallel analysis for seed models with genotype by environment interaction （GE） effect was applied to estimate the variance-covariance components of seed traits. Mixed linear model approaches were used to estimate the genetic covariances between pair-wise seed and plant traits. The breeding values （BV） were divided into two categories for the seed models. The first category of BV was defined as the combination of direct additive, cytoplasmic, and maternal additive effects, which should be utilized for selecting stable cultivars over multi-environments. The three genetic effects, together with their GE interaction, were included in the second category of BV for selecting special lines to be grown in specific ecosystems. Accordingly, two types of selection indices for seed traits, i.e., general selection index and interaction selection index, were developed and constructed on the first and the second category BV, respectively. These proposed selection indices can be applied to solve the difficult task of simultaneously improving multiple seed traits in various environments. Data of crop seeds with regard to four seed traits and four yield traits based on the modified diallel crosses in Upland cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） were used as an example for demonstrating the proposed methodology.     

Prospects for crop production under drought: research priorities and future directions

The efficient use of water supplies requires a systems approach that encompasses all aspects of making water available and its use within society that must recognise global issues. Increasing the efficiency of water use within agricultural systems is an essential priority in many regions including the Mediterranean. This review examines the research priorities, the prospects for crop and soil management and plant breeding and biotechnology that are needed to achieve high stable yield under drought in the Mediterranean. Research must combine the latest genomics resources including quantitative genetics, genomics and biomathematics with an ecophysiological understanding of the interactions between crop plant genotypes and the growing environment to better inform crop improvement.     

Goals and hurdles for a successful implementation of genomic selection in breeding programme for selected annual and perennial crops

Genomic Selection is an important topic in quantitative genetics and breeding. Not only does it allow the full use of current molecular genetic technologies, it stimulates also the development of new methods and models. Genomic selection, if fully implemented in commercial farming, should have a major impact on the productivity of various agricultural systems. But suggested approaches need to be applicable in commercial breeding populations. Many of the published research studies focus on methodologies. We conclude from the reviewed publications, that a stronger focus on strategies for the implementation of genomic selection in advanced breeding lines, introduction of new varieties, hybrids or multi-line crosses is needed. Efforts to find solutions for a better prediction and integration of environmental influences need to continue within applied breeding schemes. Goals of the implementation of genomic selection into crop breeding should be carefully defined and crop breeders in the private sector will play a substantial part in the decision-making process. However, the lack of published results from studies within, or in collaboration with, private companies diminishes the knowledge on the status of genomic selection within applied breeding programmes. Studies on the implementation of genomic selection in plant breeding need to evaluate models and methods with an enhanced emphasis on population-specific requirements and production environments. Adaptation of methods to breeding schemes or changes to breeding programmes for a better integration of genomic selection strategies are needed across species. More openness with a continuous exchange will contribute to successes.     

Correlated response in plasticity to selection for early flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana

Phenotypic plasticity is an important strategy for coping with changing environments. However, environmental change usually results in strong directional selection, and little is known empirically about how this affects plasticity. If genes affecting a trait value also affect its plasticity, selection on the trait should influence plasticity. Synthetic outbred populations of Arabidopsis thaliana were selected for earlier flowering under simulated spring- and winter-annual conditions to investigate the correlated response of flowering time plasticity and its effect on family-by-environment variance (Vg×e) within each selected line. We found that selection affected plasticity in an environmentally dependent manner: under simulated spring-annual conditions, selection increased the magnitude of plastic response but decreased Vg×e; selection under simulated winter-annual conditions reduced the magnitude of plastic response but did not alter Vg×e significantly. As selection may constrain future response to environmental change, the environment for crop breeding and ex situ conservation programmes should be carefully chosen. Models of species persistence under environmental change should also consider the interaction between selection and plasticity.     

不同抗旱性花生品种的根系形态发育及其对干旱胁迫的响应

为明确不同抗旱性花生品种的根系形态发育特征,探讨其根系形态发育特征对不同土壤水分状况的响应机制,在防雨棚旱池内进行土柱栽培试验,研究抗旱型品种“花育22号”、“唐科8号”和干旱敏感型品种“花育23号”3个不同抗旱性花生品种根系形态发育特征及其对干旱胁迫的响应.结果表明:抗旱型品种根系较发达,具有较大的根系生物量、总根长、总根系表面积.干旱胁迫使抗旱型品种根系总表面积和体积增加,而干旱敏感型品种则相反.干旱胁迫显著增加抗旱型品种“花育22号”20 cm以下土层内根长密度分布比例及根系表面积和体积,但“唐科8号”相应根系性状仅在20-40 cm土层内增加;干旱胁迫使干旱敏感型品种“花育23号”40 cm以下土层内各根系性状升高,但未达显著水平且其深层土壤内各根系性状增加幅度小于“花育22号”.花生根系总长、总表面积及0-20 cm土层内根系性状与产量间呈显著或极显著正相关.土壤水分亏缺条件下,花生主要通过增加深层土壤内根长、根系表面积和体积等形态特性,优化空间分布构型,以调节植株对水分的利用.     

Arguments for the use of physiological criteria for improving the salt tolerance in crops

Efforts to develop new crop varieties with improved salt tolerance have been intensified over the past 15–20 years. Despite the existence of genetic variation for salt tolerance within species, and many methods available for expanding the source of genetic variation, there is only a limited number of varieties that have been developed with improved tolerance. These new varieties have all been based upon selection for agronomic characters such as yield or survival in saline conditions. That is, based upon characters that integrate the various physiological mechanisms responsible for tolerance. Yet over the same time period, knowledge of physiological salt responses has increased substantially.Selection and breeding to increase salt tolerance might be more successful if selection is based directly on the physiological mechanisms or characters conferring tolerance. Basic questions associated with using physiological selection criteria are discussed in the paper. These are centred around the need for genetic variation, the importance of the targeted mechanism, the ease of detection of the physiological mechanism (including the analytical requirements) and the breeding strategy. Many mechanisms, including ion exclusion, ion accumulation, compatible solute production and osmotic adjustment have been associated with genetic variation in salt tolerance. Yet their successful use in improving salt tolerance, via physiological selection criteria, is largely non-existent. Consideration is given to the role of physiological criteria in the short and long term in improving salt tolerance. In several glycophytic species, particularly legumes, physiological selection based on ion exclusion from the shoots shows promise. Recent results for white clover indicate the potential for using a broad physiological selection criterion of restricted Cl accumulation in the shoots, with scope for future refinement based upon the specific physiological characters that combined result in ion exclusion.