Effect of gametic disequilibrium on selection in an autotetraploid population

Summary The effects of a gametic disequilibrium (DSE) in an autotetraploid population on response to selection as measured by the covariance of selection were investigated. The theoretical responses were calculated for mass selection [Mass (1)] and half-sib progeny test selection (HSPT) in a two-allele (B and b), single locus, autotetraploid population. The complexity of calculations precluded analytical expressions for the covariances so numerical analysis was used assuming the following genetic models: monoplex dominance, partial monoplex dominance, duplex dominance, partial duplex dominance, and additive gene action.The results indicated the DSE could greatly affect the covariance of selection. For a constant allele frequency the DSE might double the covariance expected with selection in a population at random mating equilibrium (RME) of gametes, but in other instances approach zero. For all genetic models and the two breeding methods investigated the covariance of selection was always increased when the frequency of BB gamete exceeded p² (where p is frequency of allele B) and decreased when the frequency of BB gamete was less than p². The possible incorporation of this information into a long term breeding program and some other ramifications were briefly discussed.With the DSE the covariances of selection with HSPT and Mass (1) had a proportionality of 1:2, respectively, with the additive genetic model, but this relationship rarely occurred for other genetic models. The deviations from this ratio were not large in comparison to differences between selection in populations in DSE and RME.Cooperative investigations of the Alfalfa Production Research Unit, United State Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, and the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Reno, Nevada. Paper No. 512. Scientific Journal Series, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station     

Effects of random and non-random errors on phenotypic selection in autotetraploids

Summary A theoretical investigation was made to ascertain the effects of random and non-random deviations, called errors, of phenotypic from genotypic values on population means and on the response to phenotypic recurrent selection. The study was motivated as a selection experiment for disease resistance where there was either variability in the inoculation or environment (the random errors) or where the inoculation was above or below the the optimum rate where genetic differences in resistance are maximized (the non-random errors). The study was limited to the genetics at a diallelic locus (alleles B and b) in an autotetraploid population in random mating equilibrium. The response to selection was measured as the covariance of selection and compared to the exact covariance which was the covariance of selection without errors in phenotype. The random errors were modeled by assuming that a given percentage () of the population was uniformly distributed among the five possible genotype classes independent of their true genotypes. This model was analyzed numerically for a theoretical population with the frequency of the B allele (p) ranging from 0.0 to 1.0 and assumed errors of=0.1 and 0.5 for the following six types of genic action of the B allele: additive, monoplex dominance, partial monoplex dominance, duplex dominance, partial duplex dominance, and recessive. The effect of random error was to consistently reduce the response to selection by a percentage independent of the type of genic action at the locus. The effect on the population mean was an upward bias when p was low and a downward bias when p approached unity. In the non-random error model below optimum inoculations altered the phenotypes by systematically including percentage of susceptible genotypes into one or more other genotype classes with more genetic resistance (a positive shift). With above optimum inoculations, some resistant genotypes are classed with the non-resistant genotypes (a negative shift). The effects on the covariance of selection were found by numerical analysis for the same types of genic action and's as investigated for random error. With a negative shift and a low p, the covariance of selection was always reduced, but for an increasing p the covariance approached and exceeded the exact covariance for all types of genic action except additive. With a positive shift and a low p, response to selection was greatly improved for three types of genic action: duplex dominance, partial duplex dominance, and recessive. The effect of a non-random error on population means was to greatly bias the means upwards for a low p and positive shift, but with increasing p the bias decreased. A relatively slight decrease in the mean occurred with a negative shift. This study indicated check varieties commonly used to monitor selection pressures in screening programs are very responsive to positive non-random shifts, but are relatively unresponsive to negative shifts. The interaction of selection pressure, types of genic action, and genotypes in the class shift models was suggested as a partial explanation for the lack of response to increasing selection pressures observed in some breeding programs.Cooperative investigations of the Alfalfa Production Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, and the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Reno, Nevada. Paper No. 404 Scientific Journal Series. Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station     

Theoretical value of estimates of general combining ability in the autotetraploid crop

Summary The means of half-sib progenies have been indicated as selection criteria for intra-population improvement while the average of the means of full-sib progenies in diallel analyses have been proposed as predictors, in part, of the means of untested synthetic varieties. When these measures based on progeny means are expressed as deviations from a defined greater population of crosses, they are often termed the general combining ability (GCA). In this study the GCA estimates or a facsimile were theoretically investigated for the one locus, digene, autotetraploid model to verify the genetic basis and its value for selection and prediction in the presence of a naturally occurring phenomena of autopolyploids called gametic disequilibrium with three types of non-additive inheritance. Two breeding objectives were envisioned, the selection of best parents with recurrent selection based on GCA in the continued development of elite populations and the prediction of advanced generation synthetic variety performance. The first generation means of progenies with a potential bias due to gametic disequilibrium were compared to GCA estimation of same progenies in the absence of gametic disequilibrium. The results indicated that testcrossing plants to a population without gametic disequilibrium could be used for selection of best parents. The gametic disequilibrium in the cross may increase or depress selection response dependent on the array of genotypes which happen to be evaluated, on the type of genic action at the locus, and on the frequency of the desirable allele in the testor population. The GCA estimates for prediction of synthetic performance were potentially biased by gametic disequilibrium. An assumption of pollination by the same array of gametes was made for all plants, but obviously was unrealistic for GCA estimation with partial diallels, or with no selfing, and in other situations. The GCA estimate was shown to be an unreliable predictor of synthetic variety performance. When it was assumed that different plants were pollinated by different arrays of gametes, a more realistic situation, no genetic interpretation of GCA values was possible even with purely additive gene action at the locus.Cooperative investigation of the Alfalfa Production Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, and the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Reno, Nevada     

Genetic relatedness in different Medicago sativa lines based on polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA specific sequences

Two synthetic populations (Syn-5 and Syn-7), four inbred lines and four landraces of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) were studied for genetic relatedness. These forms were characterized by different amount of seeds set and green mass yield. Two primer pairs of specific nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial DNA isolated from soybean were used. The mtDNA revealed the existence of significant polymorphism among the investigated forms of alfalfa. The genetic similarity (Dice coefficient) among studied forms of alfalfa ranged from 20.1 to 96.1. The greatest resemblances were noticed between D₅ inbred line and the population of Syn-5. The lowest resemblances were noticed between Syn-7 and E_1/2. The UPGMA dendrogram split investigated forms of alfalfa into two groups: first group include three landraces, the second consist of the rest analyzed forms. There are two landraces distinct with the highest seed set and yield of green mass: one in the first group, another one in the second group.     

The extent of parental genotypic divergence determines maximal heterosis by increasing fertility in inter-subspecific hybrids of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The magnitude of heterosis in F₁ hybrids is related not only to the performance of parents per se but also to the genetic diversity between two parents. The extent of genotypic divergence between hybrid rice parents was investigated at the molecular level, using two subsets of rice materials: a subset of doubled haploid (DH) lines derived from an Indica × Japonica cross (Gui630/02428) and another subset of Indica or Japonica lines representative of a broad spectrum of the Asian cultivated rice gene pool, including landraces, primitive cultivars, historically important cultivars, modern elite cultivars, super rice and parents of superior hybrids. 57 entries deliberately selected from the 81-DH lines (in total) were testcrossed to two widely used rice lines in China, photoperiod-sensitive genic male sterile (PGMS) N422s and thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (TGMS) Peiai64s. Results of the two sets of test-cross F₁ populations showed congruently that parental genotypic divergence has a relatively low impact on heterosis for the two yield components, i.e., panicle number and 1000-grain weight, but it has a great bearing on fertility parameters, i.e., filled grains per plant and seedset. Heterosis for grain yield in the two test-cross populations exhibited a sharp maximum when the proportion of Japonica alleles in the male parent was between 50 and 60%, so was the heterosis for fertility parameters correspondingly. Thus fertility parameters were the most sensitive and important factors which were influenced by the extent of parental genotypic divergence. Moreover, our results showed that parents with moderate extent of genotypic divergence played an important role in the use of inter-subspecific rice heterosis.     

Refinements to the partitioning of the inbred genotypic variance

Natural gene flow is often localised because of gamete dispersal limitations, and the quantity and structure of the genotypic variance in such populations is a key to predicting the advance from selection, in both evolution and artificial breeding programmes. Earlier derivations of this variance have shown that the total dominance variance may increase with inbreeding despite the fact that heterozygosity is decreasing. This anomaly has been corrected following the de novo biometrical derivation presented in this paper. The whole population also subdivides into descendant lineages that differ in allele frequencies and means because of the dispersion caused by genetic drift and continuing localisation of gamodemes. The paper defines for the first time the among-line and within-line partitions of the dominance variance; and corrects anomalies in the total genic (additive genetic) variance, and its underlying inbred average alle-substitution effect. The revisions also clarify the connections between the Fisher-Falconer, Mather-Hayman, and Wright approaches to defining the inbred genotypic variance. Relationships are discussed between the population dispersion structure and genetic efficiency in selection.     

Studies of four thelytokous puerto rican isolates ofMuscidifurax uniraptor [Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae]

Field collections in Puerto Rico revealed 4 behaviorally distinct isolates ofMuscidifurax uniraptor Kogan & Legner that differed initially in diapause and nondiapause emergence, and the age when ♀ progeny were produced. Subsequent F₁ and F₂ progeny differed in sex ratio and total progeny production. Mating F₂ ♀ ♀ from nondiapause isolates to naturally emerging ♂ ♂ from thelytokous populations significantly reduced total progeny and the proportion of ♀ ♀ toca. 20 %. These mated ♀ ♀ at first resembled in behavior those which originated from diapausing parents. Random mating within all isolates beginning in the F₃, resulted in a general lower survival and progeny production but was accompanied by a rise in sex ratio toca. 50% ♀ ♀ by the F₆ generation. The interinvolvement of extranuclear and genic factors is considered.      

A 9 × 9 diallel analysis in peanuts (A. hypogaea L.): Flowering time,tops' weight,pod yield per plant and pod weight

Summary Four quantitative traits were studied by analysing F₂ data derived from a 9 × 9 diallel cross utilizing widely divergent, inbred, erect cultivars of peanuts, A. hypogaea. Bidirectional dominance was found in the traits total pod yield per plant and number of days from planting to first flower; in pod size, the alleles giving small pods were consistently dominant and for high tops' weight, dominance and overdominance were found. The high heritability of pod yield/plant (0.79) indicates that breeding for higher yield/plant can succeed if large F₂ populations are grown and rigorous visual selection combined with progeny testing are employed. The genetic correlations of pod yield/plant with other traits were low. Breeding for plants with large (jumbo) pods can be aided by the fact that they are homozygous recessive, or nearly so. Simultaneous breeding for high yields and large pods is possible: there was a positive (but low) genetic correlation between the two (0.16). A modification by which less biased estimates of the number of effective factors can be obtained and a possible relationship between bidirectional dominance and genic interaction were proposed.     

Restriction fragments homologous to mitochondrial plasmid-like DNAs are located within limited chromosomal regions on the rice nuclear genome

Summary The shifted multiplicative model (SHMM) is used with a cluster method to identify subsets of sites in an international maize (Zea mays L.) trial without genotypic rank-change. For cluster analysis, distance between two sites is defined as the residual sum of squares after fitting SHMM with one multiplicative term (SHMM₁) if SHMM₁ does not show genotypic rank-change. However, if SHMM₁ does show genotypic rank-change, the distance between two sites is defined as the smaller of the sums of squares owing to genotypes within each of the two sites. Calculation of distance between two sites is facilitated by using the site regression model with one multiplicative term (SREG₁), which can be reparameterized as SHMM₁ when only two sites are considered. The dichotomous splitting procedure, used on the dendrogram obtained from cluster analysis, will first perform SHMM analyses on each of the last two cluster groups to join (end of the dendrogram). If SHMM₁ does not give an adequate fit, the next step is to move down the branches of the tree until groups of sites (clusters) are found to which SHMM₁ provides an adequate fit and primary effects of sites are all of the same sign. Five final groups of sites to which SHMM₁ provides an adequate fit and primary effects of sites are all of the same sign were obtained. The procedure appears to be useful in identifying subsets of sites in which genotypic rank-change interactions are negligible.Research reported in this paper (Journal article no. 91-3-218) is part of a project of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station, published with the approval of the Director     

Genotypic effects of the maternal tissues of wheat on its grain weight

Summary Reciprocal crosses were made between semi dwarf spring wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) differing in grain weight. The weights of the F₁ grains (on maternal spikes), from intact as well as from defoliated plants, and those of the F₂ grains (on f₁ spikes), were examined. Grain weight was controlled primarily by the genotype of the maternal tissues (pericarp, testa or other floret or spikelet organs, including the vascular system), with complete dominance of heaviness. No indications suggesting maternal inheritance were obtained. The frequency distribution of the weights of the F₂ grains indicated the presence of genotypic effects exerted by the endosperm or embryo. The embryo or endosperm factors for heaviness also seemed to be dominant.This study is based on data obtained by the senior author in his Ph. D. research at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The research was financed in part by The Fund for the Encouragement of Research — Histadrut — The General Federation of Labor in Israel. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan, Israel. No. 173-E, 1980 series     

Genetic correlation and response to selection in simulated populations

Summary One of two quantitative traits was selected and correlated response in the other trait was measured in each of 30 generations for models of additive genes and of complete dominance. Each trait was controlled by 48 loci with equal effects, segregating independently from frequencies of 0.5 in the initial generation. Intensity of selection regulated the number of offspring from randomly mating 24 males and 24 females each generation. Three each of genetic correlations between traits, intensities of selection, and amounts of environmental variation were simulated.In the additive model correlated responses of the unselected trait to selection of the primary trait agreed closely with responses expected from theoretical considerations. In the model of complete dominance, responses of genotypic means of the unselected trait to selection of the primary trait in opposite directions were quite symmetrical for the first few generations but became distinctly asymmetrical in later generations. With little selection, response was fairly linear but became distinctly curvilinear as intensity of selection increased and environmental variance decreased. Between 15th and 30th generations some gains in the correlated trait to the 15th generation were lost.Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Article 4847. Part of North Central Regional Project NC-2.     

Inheritance of photoperiod-induced flowering in three photoperiodic lines of Aeschynomene americana L.

Summary Induction of flowering by photoperiod was studied in the parental, F₁, F₂, and reciprocal backcross generations of crosses between three photoperiod-responsive Aeschynomene americana L. lines. Generation means appeared additive. Analysis with Mather and Jinks' scaling tests showed little or no epistasis and indicated that an additive-dominance model was adequate. Partitioning components of variation revealed that nearly all variation was additive genetic with dominance and environmental variation negligible. An additive genetic model with two loci, each with two alleles and all alleles having equal net effect, was tested using Power's partitioning method. Results demonstrated that the model fit the data and that there is a major additive genetic system controlling flowering in these crosses, with minor genetic and environmental influences present. Selection for flowering at a desired day length should be feasible.Accepted by A.R. HallauerFlorida Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No. 9251     

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Biphosphate (PIP2) Modulates Interaction of Syntaxin-1A with Sulfonylurea Receptor 1 to Regulate Pancreatic β-Cell ATP-sensitive Potassium Channels

In β-cells, syntaxin (Syn)-1A interacts with SUR1 to inhibit ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K_ATP channels). PIP₂ binds the Kir6.2 subunit to open K_ATP channels. PIP₂ also modifies Syn-1A clustering in plasma membrane (PM) that may alter Syn-1A actions on PM proteins like SUR1. Here, we assessed whether the actions of PIP₂ on activating K_ATP channels is contributed by sequestering Syn-1A from binding SUR1. In vitro binding showed that PIP₂ dose-dependently disrupted Syn-1A·SUR1 complexes, corroborated by an in vivo Forster resonance energy transfer assay showing disruption of SUR1(-EGFP)/Syn-1A(-mCherry) interaction along with increased Syn-1A cluster formation. Electrophysiological studies of rat β-cells, INS-1, and SUR1/Kir6.2-expressing HEK293 cells showed that PIP₂ dose-dependent activation of K_ATP currents was uniformly reduced by Syn-1A. To unequivocally distinguish between PIP₂ actions on Syn-1A and Kir6.2, we employed several strategies. First, we showed that PIP₂-insensitive Syn-1A-5RK/A mutant complex with SUR1 could not be disrupted by PIP₂, consequently reducing PIP₂ activation of K_ATP channels. Next, Syn-1A·SUR1 complex modulation of K_ATP channels could be observed at a physiologically low PIP₂ concentration that did not disrupt the Syn-1A·SUR1 complex, compared with higher PIP₂ concentrations acting directly on Kir6.2. These effects were specific to PIP₂ and not observed with physiologic concentrations of other phospholipids. Finally, depleting endogenous PIP₂ with polyphosphoinositide phosphatase synaptojanin-1, known to disperse Syn-1A clusters, freed Syn-1A from Syn-1A clusters to bind SUR1, causing inhibition of K_ATP channels that could no longer be further inhibited by exogenous Syn-1A. These results taken together indicate that PIP₂ affects islet β-cell K_ATP channels not only by its actions on Kir6.2 but also by sequestering Syn-1A to modulate Syn-1A availability and its interactions with SUR1 on PM.     

人工合成甘蓝型油菜早期世代及其亲本对盐胁迫的生理响应

以白菜‘矮抗青’(基因组AA)和‘中花芥蓝’(基因组CC)及其人工合成异源四倍体甘蓝型油菜(AACC)的早期世代(F1~F4)为实验材料,采用水培方法分别比较它们在100、200mmol/L NaCl处理下的生理指标差异。结果表明:(1)在盐胁迫条件下,‘中花芥蓝’植株的生物量、脯氨酸和叶绿素含量、抗氧化酶(SOD、POD、CAT)活性均最低,而相对电导率、MDA含量则最高。在100mmol/L NaCl处理下,F2代植株的生物量、叶绿素含量、SOD活性最大,MDA含量最低;在200mmol/L NaCl处理下,F4代的生物量、叶绿素含量、POD活性最大,MDA含量最低。研究发现,亲本‘矮抗青’的耐盐特性高于亲本‘中花芥蓝’,它们的杂种后代(异源四倍体)遗传了AA基因组的耐盐特性,从而比二倍体亲本具有更强的抵御盐胁迫的能力。     

Epistasis in maize (Zea mays L.)

Summary Three flint and three dent maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines, their possible F₁ crosses, F₂ and backcross progenies, and all possible three-way crosses were evaluated in a three-year experiment for yield, ear moisture, and plant height. The purpose was to estimate genetic parameters in European breeding materials from (i) generation means analysis, (ii) diallel analysis of generation means, and (iii) analysis of F₁ and three-way cross hybrids. Method (i) was based on the F-metric model and methods (ii) and (iii) on the Eberhart-Gardner (1966) genetic model; both models extended for heterotic maternal effects.Differences among generation means for yield and plant height were mainly attributable to dominance effects. Epistatic effects were significantly different from zero in a few crosses and considerably reduced heterosis in both traits. Additive x additive and domiance x dominance effects for yield were consistently positive and negative, respectively. Significant maternal effects were established to the advantage of generations with a heterozygous seed parent. In the diallel analysis, mean squares for dominance effects were greater than for additive effects for yield and plant height but smaller for ear moisture. Though significant for yield and plant height, epistatic variation was small compared to additive and dominance variation. Estimates of additive x additive epistasis for yield were significantly negative in 11 of 15 crosses, suggesting that advantageous gene combinations in the lines had been disrupted by recombination in the segregating generations. The analysis of hybrids supported the above findings regarding the analysis of variance. However, the estimates of additive x additive epistasis for yield were considerably smaller and only minimally correlated with those from the diallel analysis. Use of noninbred materials as opposed to materials with different levels of inbreeding is considered the main reason for the discrepancies in the results.     

Gene-associated single nucleotide polymorphism discovery in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Molecular genetic marker development in perennial ryegrass has largely been dependent on anonymous sequence variation. The availability of a large-scale EST resource permits the development of functionally-associated genetic markers based on SNP variation in candidate genes. Genic SNP loci and associated haplotypes are suitable for implementation in molecular breeding of outbreeding forage species. Strategies for in vitro SNP discovery through amplicon cloning and sequencing have been designed and implemented. Putative SNPs were identified within and between the parents of the F₁(NA₆ × AU₆) genetic mapping family and were validated among progeny individuals. Proof-of-concept for the process was obtained using the drought tolerance-associated LpASRa2 gene. SNP haplotype structures were determined and correlated with predicted amino acid changes. Gene-length LD was evaluated across diverse germplasm collections. A survey of SNP variation across 100 candidate genes revealed a high frequency of SNP incidence (c. 1 per 54 bp), with similar proportions in exons and introns. A proportion (c. 50%) of the validated genic SNPs were assigned to the F₁(NA₆ × AU₆) genetic map, showing high levels of coincidence with previously mapped RFLP loci. The perennial ryegrass SNP resource will enable genetic map integration, detailed LD studies and selection of superior allele content during varietal development.     

A comparison of performance of tetraploid progenies produced by diploid and their vegetatively doubled (tetraploid) counterpart parents

 Two diploid potato parents, W5295.7 and W5337.3, and their colchicine-doubled tetraploids were used as male to cross with three cultivars: ‘Raritan’, ‘Shepody’ and ‘Superior’. Both diploids produced 2n gametes via first division restitution (FDR) during meiosis. Field experiments were carried out on seedlings of the 12 hybrid progenies in 1991 and 1992. Six of the progenies represented the tetraploid-diploid (4x-2x) hybrids and the other six tetraploid-tetraploid (4x-4x) progenies. The genetic consequence of FDR gametes was examined by comparing the mean and genotypic variance of six tuber traits of 4x-2x and 4x-4x progenies. Tuber appearance, eye depth, specific gravity and tuber size showed significant differences between the means of 4x-2x and 4x-4x progenies from either both or one of the diploid parents. The genotypic variances of these traits in 4x-2x progenies were reduced in various degrees from those observed in 4x-4x progenies. Major genes responsible for the inheritance of these traits are probably located close to the centromere. The two diploid parents may also carry alleles of different size and direction of non-additive genic effects in their 2n gametes. The 4x-2x progenies also outperformed the 4x-4x progenies with respect to the means of total and marketable yield. There were thus heterotic gene loci for high yield located close to the centromere. No marked reduction of genotypic variance, however, was observed. The results suggest that genes for yield would be scattered between the centromere and the site for maximum recombination. Received: 24 April 1996 / Accepted: 26 July 1996     

Quantitative genetics of speciation: additive and non-additive genetic differentiation between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila madeirensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila subobscura</Emphasis>

The role of dominance and epistasis in population divergence has been an issue of much debate ever since the neoDarwinian synthesis. One of the best ways to dissect the several genetic components affecting the genetic architecture of populations is line cross analysis. Here we present a study comparing generation means of several life history-traits in two closely related Drosophila species: Drosophila subobscura, D. madeirensis as well as their F ₁ and F ₂ hybrids. This study aims to determine the relative contributions of additive and non-additive genetic parameters to the differentiation of life-history traits between these two species. The results indicate that both negative dominance and epistatic effects are very important in the differentiation of most traits. We end with considerations about the relevance of these findings for the understanding of the role of non-additive effects in speciation.     

The effect of parental divergence on F2 heterosis in winter wheat crosses

Summary In winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), the development of a methodology to estimate genetic divergence between parental lines, when combined with knowledge of parental performance, could be beneficial in the prediction of bulk progeny performance. The objective of this study was to relate F₂ heterosis for grain yield and its components in 116 crosses to two independent estimates of genetic divergence among 28 parental genotypes of diverse origins. Genetic divergence between parents was estimated from (a) pedigree relationships (coefficients of kinship) determined without experimentation, and (b) quantitative traits measured in two years of field experimentation in Kansas and North Carolina, USA. These distances, designated (1 -r) and G, respectively, provided ample differentiation among the parents. The 116 F₂ bulks were evaluated at four locations in Kansas and North Carolina in one year. Significant rank correlations of 0.46 (P = 0.01) and 0.44 (P = 0.01) were observed between G and grain yield and kernel number heterosis, respectively. Although (1 -r) was poorly associated with grain yield heterosis, G and midparent performance combined to account for 50% of the variation in F₂ yields among crosses when (1 -r) was above the median value, whereas they accounted for only 9% of the variation among crosses when (1-r) was below the median. Midparent and (1 -r) had equal effects on F₂ grain yield (R ²= 0.40) when G was greater than the median value. A breeding strategy is proposed whereby parents are first selected on the basis of performance per se and, subsequently, crosses are made between genetically divergent parents that have both large quantitative (G) and pedigree divergence (1 -r).Paper No. 12162 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, NC 27695-7643, and Contribution No. 89-396-J of the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan, KS 66506     

Inheritance of resistance in maize silks to the corn earworm

The corn earworm,Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), is a perennial economic pest of field crops in the United States. Maize,Zea mays L., is the major host crop promoting the build-up of devastating corn earworm populations that limit full production of cotton, soybean, peanut, and grain sorghum. Resistance to the corn earworm in maize and in particular sweet maize, would provide an environmentally safe, economical method of control for this pest insect. Antibiotic effects of corn silks on this insect are: small larvae, extended developmental period, and reduced fecundity. Silks from individual maize plants of resistant and susceptible lines and progeny in six generations consisting of parents (P₁, P₂), F₁, F₂, and backcrosses BC_1.1 (F₁ × P₁) and BC_1.2 (F₁ × P₂) from each of four crosses were used to determine the genetic basis of the antibiotic resistance of silks to the corn earworm. In the cross of Zapalote Chico × PI340856, genes controlling resistance in the silks to the corn earworm larvae are dominant in PI340856 to those in Zapalote Chico. The cross of Zapalote Chico × GT114 involves parents differing in degree of resistance, and possibly differing for the genetic mechanism by which the resistance is inherited. The inheritance of resistance may involve non-additive (dominance and epistasis) genetic variance. A digenic 6-parameter model indicated (1) the resistance in this cross is controlled by more than one pair of genes and (2) some or all of the genes interact to cause non-allelic interaction. Thus, the resistance in this cross may be controlled by both dominant and recessive genes. The resistance of Zapalote Chico × CI64, an intermediate inbred, is influenced by additive gene effects. The digenic model adequately predicts all generation means of the cross of GT3 × PI340856 except for the F1. Thus, it appears that the additive-dominance model is not satisfactory for this cross involving susceptible and resistant parents. Generation mean analysis indicates that resistance to silk-feeding by corn earworm larvae is under genetic control, but gene action differs from one type of cross to another.