Structural development and stability of rice Oryza sativa L. var. Nerica 1

The structural development of glasshouse-grown rice Oryza sativa L. var. Nerica 1 was studied in relation to its stability against lodging. The morphology and mechanical properties of both the stem and roots were examined from tillering, 4 weeks after transplantation up to maturity, together with plant weight distribution and anchorage strength. The "factors of safety" against root and stem failure were subsequently calculated throughout development. Rice plants showed similar morphology to wheat, although they possessed around twice as many tillers per plant and 10 times as many coronal roots. The mechanics of anchorage were also similar. The strength and rigidity of individual tillers increased throughout development as the plants grew taller and heavier and were around 15 times greater than in wheat. By contrast, individual root bending strength, the number of roots, and the anchorage strength levelled off earlier, and anchorage strength was only around twice that in wheat. Consequently, while the self-weight safety factor against stem failure was much higher than in wheat, increasing until late on in development from around 30 to 150, the self-weight safety factor against root anchorage failure was similar to wheat, decreasing from around 15 to 5. Consequently, plants subjected to anchorage tests always failed in their root system rather than their shoot system. The results suggest that, in the field, rice plants would be more likely to undergo root lodging than stem lodging, and that breeding efforts to reduce the incidence of lodging should act to strengthen the rather weak coronal roots.     

Mechanical Differences Between Free-standing and Supported Wheat Plants, Triticum aestivum L.

The effect of wind sway on the mechanical characteristics ofthe anchorage roots and the stem was investigated in maturewinter wheat (Triticum aestivumL., cv. Hereward). Wheat plantswere field-grown, either supported by a frame, which preventedwind sway, or unsupported (free-standing) and the morphologyand mechanical properties of the stems and the anchorage, ‘coronal’, roots were measured. Wind sway had little influence on either the stem height orear weight of the plants but did affect the mechanical propertiesof the stem. Stems of supported plants were weaker and moreflexible than the stems of free-standing plants. There werealso differences in the anchorage systems between the treatments:supported plants had just under half as many ‘coronal’ anchorage roots as the free-standing plants. This reducedthe anchorage strength of supported plants by a third. These differences in mechanical structure meant that the free-standingplants were more resistant to stem buckling and more resistantto anchorage failure. However, considering the difference inthe need for mechanical strength in plants from the two regimes,these differences were small. This suggests that wheat has inherentmechanical integrity and, as a monocotyledon with no secondarythickening, it differs little structurally between environments. Triticum aestivumL.; thigmomorphogenesis; anchorage; safety factor; mechanical stimulation     

小麦体细胞无性系矮秆变异体AS34株高构成和育种潜力探讨

创制和利用矮秆资源对于小麦品种改良具有重要意义。到目前为止,在小麦属中虽然已鉴定了多个矮秆资源,但多数矮秆资源在小麦中的利用价值有限。本研究对利用无性系变异途径获得的小麦矮秆材料AS34及其与模式小麦品种中国春杂交F1、F2材料进行了株高构成和主要农艺性状分析。结果发现,AS34共有4个节间,比其野生型豫麦66少了1个节间,各个节间长度按相似比例缩短,穗下节长度短于第2节长度;F1株高、节间长度指数介于2个亲本之间,节数与AS34相同,穗长、小穗数、穗粒数超过2个亲本;F2株高、穗长、穗粒数、小穗数变异范围广泛,约70%植株株高为60~89 cm,穗长6.0~9.9 cm、穗粒数50~79粒、小穗数20~24个。结果表明,AS34的矮秆变异由多基因控制,表现为数量性状,其矮秆性状对杂交后代穗长、小穗数、穗粒数等主要农艺性状有正向遗传效应,F2选择穗大、粒多、株高适中优良单株的机率较大,具有很好的育种利用价值。     

Structural development of the shoot and root systems of two winter wheat cultivars, Triticum aestivum L.

The structural development of the stems and basal anchorageroots of Galahad and Hereward winter wheat cultivars (Triticumaestivum L.) were investigated and related to their mechanicalfunction. Stem and root morphology, anatomy and mechanical propertieswere examined from tillering (March) up to maturity (August),together with plant weight distribution. This allowed us tocalculate a ‘factor of safety’ against root andstem failure throughout development. As the plants grew taller the stem and the anchorage ‘coronalroots’ increased in bending strength countering the increasingmechanical demands. The bending strength, in turn, was correlatedwith the amount of lignified material around the stem and rootperimeter. Structural development ceased by ear emergence, whenthe plant was at its tallest, but because the ear weight continuedto rise the ‘self-weight’ moment pushing the plantover continued to increase. This meant that the ‘safetyfactors’ of both cultivars against both root and stemmechanical failure decreased throughout development. In bothcultivars the safety factors against root failure were lowerthan for stem failure, and Galahad had lower factors of safetythan Hereward. All these findings were consistent with resultsof field trials; failure tends to occur late in development,during grain filling, and is localized to the root system, whilstGalahad is more prone to lodging than Hereward. The pattern of mechanical development of winter wheat seemsto be one which would maximize its reproductive success, maintainingits structural integrity especially early in development whileinvesting in a minimum of structural material. Key words: Safety factor, anchorage, lodging, biomechan-ics, structural development     

矮秆基因对小麦部分农艺性状的效应

以中国主要麦区的124份小麦品种为材料,利用分子标记和系谱分析相结合,对其按照所含的矮秆基因Rht-B1b、Rht-D1b和Rht8进行分类,结合田间株高、旗叶长、小穗数和穗粒数以及室内苗期根系长度等农艺形状的调查,分析不同矮秆基因对小麦农艺性状的效应.结果显示:(1)参试的124份小麦品种(系)中23份含有Rht-B1b,7份含有Rht-D1b,22份含有Rht8基因,34份同时含有Rht-B1b和Rht8,16份同时含有Rht-D1b和Rht8,可分为6组.(2)Rht-B1b和Rht-D1b在降低株高的同时也缩短了旗叶的长度和苗期叶长,Rht8对株高的影响较弱,对旗叶和苗期叶长的影响也较小;3个矮秆基因对苗期根系长度、小穗数没有显著影响;Rht-D1b和Rht8显著增加穗粒数.研究表明,矮秆基因Rht8对小麦株高以及其他农艺性状的影响均较小,但能够显著增加穗粒数,是小麦矮化育种中比较理想的矮秆基因.     

Competing effects of buckling and anchorage strength on optimal wheat stalk geometry

We seek the ideal wheat stalk, which minimizes the structural mass required to support a fixed grain load in the presence of gravity and wind. The optimization search is restricted to stepped cylindrical stems of known moduli and density but unknown dimension. Stem buckling and root anchorage strength are assumed to place restrictions on the permissible stalk resonant frequency in the presence of a specified wind forcing frequency. These effects are described mathematically, and the penalty parameter method is used to find stem mass minima for various stalk heights. In general, there are two alternative solution branches. The lower solution is the global minimum but it is probably impractical for field crops exposed to natural wind. The upper minimum is more conservative and therefore requires more stem mass. Due to the competing requirements of buckling versus anchorage strength, the parameter study shows that optimal wheat stem geometry has a nonlinear dependence on the intensity of gravity and the frequency spectra of the wind.     

Wood mechanics, allometry, and life-history variation in a tropical rain forest tree community

Wood density plays a central role in the life-history variation of trees, and has important consequences for mechanical properties of wood, stem and branches, and tree architecture. Wood density, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and safety factors for buckling and bending were determined for saplings of 30 Bolivian rain forest tree species, and related to two important life-history axes: juvenile light demand and maximum adult stature. Wood density was strongly positively related to wood strength and stiffness. Species safety factor for buckling was positively related to wood density and stiffness, but tree architecture (height : diameter ratio) was the strongest determinant of mechanical safety. Shade-tolerant species had dense and tough wood to enhance survival in the understorey, whereas pioneer species had low-density wood and low safety margins to enhance growth in gaps. Pioneer and shade-tolerant species showed opposite relationships between species traits and adult stature. Light demand and adult stature affect wood properties, tree architecture and plant performance in different ways, contributing to the coexistence of rain forest species.     

Identification, fine mapping and characterization of Rht-dp, a recessive wheat dwarfing (reduced height) gene derived from Triticum polonicum

Semi-dwarfism is an agronomically important trait in breeding for resistance to damage by wind and rain (lodging resistance) and for stable high yields. Dwarf Polish wheat (Triticum polonicum L., 2n = 4x = 28, AABB AS304) is a potential donor of dwarfing and other traits for common wheat improvement. A genetic analysis using an F₂ population derived from a cross of AS304 and tall cultivar AS302 and derived F_2:3 lines indicated that AS304 carries a recessive dwarfing gene, temporarily designated Rht-dp. Molecular markers and bulked segregant analysis were used to characterize and map the gene. Eight polymorphic SSR markers (Xwmc511, Xgwm495, Xgwm 113, Xgwm192, Xgpw7026, Xgpw3017, Xgpw1108 and Xgpw7521) on chromosome arm 4BS and two AFLP markers (M ₈ /E ₅ and M ₄ /E ₃ ) were mapped relative to the dwarfing locus. The closest linked markers, Xgpw3017 and M ₈ /E ₅ at 0.5 and 3.5 cM, respectively, from Rht-dp will enable its marker assisted transfer to wheat breeding populations. Allelic tests indicated that Rht-dp was allelic to Rht-B1b; hence it may be an alternative allele at the Rht-B1 locus.     

Identification, mapping, and application of polymorphic DNA associated with resistance gene Pm21 of wheat.

A new powdery mildew resistance gene designated Pm21, from Haynaldia villosa, a relative of wheat, has been identified and incorporated into wheat through an alien translocation line. Cytogenetic and biochemical analyses showed that chromosome arms 6VS and 6AL were involved in this translocation. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was performed on recipient wheat cultivar Yangmai 5, the translocation line, and H. villosa with 180 random primers. Eight of the 180 primers amplified polymorphic DNA in the translocation line, and the same results were obtained in four replications. Furthermore, RAPD analysis was reported for substitution line 6V, seven addition lines (1V-7V), and the F1, as well as F2 plants of (translocation line x 'Yangmai 5'), using two of the eight random primers. One RAPD marker, specific to chromosome arm 6VS, OPH17-1900, could be used as a molecular marker for the detection of gene Pm21 in breeding materials with powdery mildew resistance introduced from H. villosa. Key words : RAPD analysis, 6VS-specific marker, Pm21, Erysiphe graminis f.sp. tritici, Triticum aestivum - Haynaldia villosa translocation.     

Characterization of a Putative New Semi-Dominant Reduced Height Gene,Rht_NM9, in Wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)

Plant height is an important agronomic trait in cereal crops, and can affect both plant architecture and grain yield. New dwarfing genes are required for improving the genetic diversity of wheat. In this study, a novel dwarf mutant, NM9, was created by treating seeds of the wheat variety NAU9918 with ethyl methanesulfonate(EMS). NM9 showed obvious phenotypic changes, which were distinct from those caused by other dwarfing genes, especially the reduced plant height, increased effective tiller number, and elongated spike and grain length. The reduced plant height in NM9 was attributable to a semi-dominant dwarfing gene Rht_NM9, which was flanked by two closely linked SNP markers, SNP34 and SNP41, covering an 8.86-Mb region on the chromosome arm 2AS. The results of gibberellic acid(GA) sensitivity evaluation, comparative genomics analysis and allelism test indicated that Rht_NM9 was neither allelic to Rht7 and Rht21 nor homoeoallelic to Rht8, so Rht_NM9 was proposed to be a new dwarfing locus on the homoeologous group 2 chromosomes of wheat. Rht_NM9has a negative effect on plant height and positive effects on effective tiller number and grain size, thus, Rht_NM9 could be used for elucidating the mechanisms underlying plant architecture and grain development.     

Molecular cloning of a new receptor-like kinase gene encoded at the Lr10 disease resistance locus of wheat

More than 100 resistance genes against wheat rust pathogens have been described in wheat and its relatives. Although many of them have been extensively used in wheat resistance breeding, none of these resistance loci has yet been analyzed at the molecular level. By screening a set of near-isogenic lines carrying different leaf rust resistance genes with a wheat probe encoding a serine/threonine protein kinase, we detected a polymorphic DNA fragment in the line with the Lr10 resistance gene. This fragment mapped to the Lr10 disease resistance locus and encodes a receptor-like protein kinase which we called LRK10. LRK10 contains a new type of extracellular domain not found in known plant or animal receptor kinases. Several conserved amino acids in S-domain glycoproteins and receptor-like kinases were also found in LRK10, suggesting that LRK10 and S-domain proteins belong to the same superfamily of specific recognition molecules in plants. Lrk10 was expressed at low levels in young seedlings and belongs to a gene family. Analysis of wheat lines with and without the Lr10 gene demonstrated that Lrk10 and Lr10 belong to the same genetic locus. We conclude that gene isolation based on protein kinase homology can identify new receptor domains and provide candidates for disease resistance genes in the complex wheat genome.     

Molecular cytogenetic identification of a novel dwarf wheat line with introgressed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thinopyrum ponticum</Emphasis> chromatin

Novel dwarfing germplasms and dwarfing genes are valuable for the wheat breeding. A novel semi-dwarf line, 31505-1, with reduced height compared with its common wheat parent, was derived from a cross between common wheat and Thinopyrum ponticum. Cytological studies demonstrated that 31505-1 contained 42 chromosomes and formed 21 bivalents at meiotic metaphase I. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) analysis showed that 31505-1 had no large Th. ponticum chromosome fragments. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results revealed the absence of a pAs1 hybridization band on 2DL chromosome of 31505-1. Two SSR markers (Xwmc41 and Xcfd168) and two STS markers (Xmag4059 and Xmag3596), which were located on 2D chromosome, amplified unique bands of Th. Ponticum in 31505-1. These revealed presence of an introgressed Th. ponticum segment in 2DL chromosome of dwarf line 31505-1, although the alien segment could not be detected by GISH.     

Anther extrusion and plant height are associated with Type I resistance to Fusarium head blight in bread wheat line ‘Shanghai-3/Catbird’

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a destructive wheat disease of global importance. Resistance breeding depends heavily on the Fhb1 gene. The CIMMYT line Shanghai-3/Catbird (SHA3/CBRD) is a promising source without this gene. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population from the cross of SHA3/CBRD with the German spring wheat cv. Naxos was evaluated for FHB resistance and related traits in field trials using spray and spawn inoculation in Norway and point inoculation in China. After spray and spawn inoculation, FHB severities were negatively correlated with both anther extrusion (AE) and plant height (PH). The QTL analysis showed that the Rht-B1b dwarfing allele co-localized with a QTL for low AE and increased susceptibility after spawn and spray inoculation. In general, SHA3/CBRD contributed most of the favorable alleles for resistance to severity after spray and spawn inoculation, while Naxos contributed more favorable alleles for reduction in FDK and DON content and resistance to severity after point inoculation. SHA3/CBRD contributed a major resistance QTL close to the centromere on 2DLc affecting FHB severity and DON after all inoculation methods. This QTL was also associated with AE and PH, with high AE and tall alleles contributed by SHA3/CBRD. Several QTL for AE and PH were detected, and low AE or reduced PH was always associated with increased susceptibility after spawn and spray inoculation. Most of the other minor FHB resistance QTL from SHA3/CBRD were associated with AE or PH, while the QTL from Naxos were mostly not. After point inoculation, no other QTL for FHB traits was associated with AE or PH, except the 2DLc QTL which was common across all inoculation methods. Marker-assisted selection based on the 2DLc QTL from SHA3/CBRD combined with phenotypic selection for AE is recommended for resistance breeding based on this valuable source of resistance.     

免耕覆盖及有机肥施用对土壤真菌群落组成及多样性的影响

为揭示土壤真菌群落对免耕、覆盖及有机肥施用的响应机制,在宁夏南部山区冬小麦农田连续3年采用免耕覆盖+施有机肥(NF)、免耕覆盖+不施有机肥(NC)、传统耕作不覆盖+施有机肥(TF)和传统耕作不覆盖+不施有机肥(TC)4个处理,依托Illumina MiSeq 高通量测序平台,研究了土壤真菌群落组成、多样性及其与土壤环境因子间的关系。结果表明: 4个处理共获得3490个可操作分类单元(OTUs),其中含有一些未知真菌。在已知的真菌群落中,子囊菌门和担子菌门为优势菌门,其相对丰度占总丰度的82.1%～94.2%,且TF处理下子囊菌门座囊菌纲的相对丰度最高,NF处理下担子菌门银耳菌纲的相对丰度最高。4个处理真菌群落多样性指数(Shannon和Simpson指数)依次为NC>TC>NF>TF。多元分析结果表明,微生物生物量碳是影响担子菌门和接合菌门相对丰度的主要因素,而土壤全磷、速效钾和速效磷含量高低是驱动子囊菌门真菌相对丰度变化的关键因素。在宁夏南部山区推广以免耕覆盖并施用有机肥的保护性耕作措施有利于提高土壤真菌群落多样性。     

植物矮化相关基因研究进展

矮化植株株型紧凑,冠幅小,抗倒伏,且生产管理方便,丰产性能好,矮化育种是植物育种的发展趋势。国内外学者对植物矮化的机理、矮化基因、矮化育种等进行了比较深入的研究。我们对植物矮化的遗传特点、分子标记在矮化基因研究上的应用、矮化基因的定位、矮化基因的分离与克隆、矮化转基因等方面的研究进展进行了概述。     

The effect of nitrogen and growth regulators on stem and root characteristics associated with lodging in two cultivars of winter wheat

The effects of nitrogen and plant growth regulators (stem shorteners)on root and shoot characteristics associated with lodging resistancewere investigated in two winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)cultivars of contrasting lodging resistance: the susceptibleGalahad and the resistant Hereward. The morphology and mechanicalstrength of the stems and anchorage systems grown at two levelsof nitrogen and with or without growth regulators were measuredand related to the incidence of lodging recorded in a fieldtrial. In both cultivars high levels of nitrogen increased theheight of the stem, thereby increasing the ‘self-weight’moment transmitted into the ground and weakened both the stemsand the anchorage coronal roots. As a result, the anchoragestrength was also reduced, plants failing in the root systemin simulated lodging tests. Growth regulators, in contrast,had little effect on the bending strength of the shoots androot systems, but reduced plant height so that the over turningmoments generated by the weight of the shoot were less. Therewere also differences between cultivars: Galahad plants hadweaker anchorage due to the smaller number and lower strengthof the coronal roots. The morphological and mechanical measureswere used to calculate a safety factor against both stem androot lodging. Five factors were found to influence the safetyfactors, these were: cultivar type, the type of lodging, therate of nitrogen and growth regulator application, and time,being lowest in Galahad plants at high levels of nitrogen andwithout growth regulators and at grain filling when the earswere heaviest. This was consistent with the observed patternof lodging: root lodging occurred at grain filling and onlyin Galahad which had been treated with high nitrogen rates,most strongly in plants without growth regulators. Key words: Lodging, safety factors, anchorage, ‘self-weight’ moment     

Identification and genetic mapping for <Emphasis Type="Italic">rht-DM</Emphasis>, a dominant dwarfing gene in mutant semi-dwarf maize using QTL-seq approach

Semi-dwarfism is an agronomically important trait in breeding for stable high yields and for resistance to damage by wind and rain (lodging resistance). Many QTLs and genes causing dwarf phenotype have been found in maize. However, because of the yield loss associated with these QTLs and genes, they have been difficult to use in breeding for dwarf stature in maize. Therefore, it is important to find the new dwarfing genes or materials without undesirable characters. The objectives of this study were: (1) to figure out the inheritance of semi-dwarfism in mutants; (2) mapping dwarfing gene or QTL. Maize inbred lines ‘18599’ and ‘DM173’, which is the dwarf mutant derived from the maize inbred line ‘173’ through ⁶⁰Co-γ ray irradiation. F₂ and BC₁F₁ population were used for genetic analysis. Whole genome resequencing-based technology (QTL-seq) were performed to map dwarfing gene and figured out the SNP markers in predicted region using dwarf bulk and tall bulk from F₂ population. Based on the polymorphic SNP markers from QTL-seq, we were fine-mapping the dwarfing gene using F₂ population. In F₂ population, 398 were dwarf plants and 135 were tall plants. Results of χ² tests indicated that the ratio of dwarf plants to tall plants was fitted to 3:1 ratio. Furthermore, the χ² tests of BC₁F₁ population showed that the ratio was fitted to 1:1 ratio. Based on QTL-seq, the dwarfing gene was located at the region from 111.07 to 124.56 Mb of chromosome 9, and we named it rht-DM. Using traditional QTL mapping with SNP markers, the rht-DM was narrowed down to 400 kb region between SNP-21 and SNP-24. The two SNPs were located at 0.43 and 0.11 cM. Segregation analysis of F₂ and BC₁F₁ indicated that the dwarfing gene was likely a dominant gene. This dwarfing gene was located in the region between 115.02 and 115.42 Mb on chromosome 9.     

Distribution of alleles of the WMS261 locus, marking the gene for the dwarf gene Rht8, in common wheat cultivars in southern Ukraine

The use of codominant microsatellite molecular markers allows one to study the inheritance and distribution of alleles linked to important agronomic characters. A microsatellite locus WMS261 tightly linked to a dwarfing gene Rht8 was analyzed in wheat cultivars and selection material of the Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetics. PCR screening of common wheat cultivars produced in the southern Ukraine showed the prevalence of a 192-bp allele at locus WMS261 that indicates adaptive significance of a corresponding allele of the Rht8 gene in the southern regions.     

Shaping polyploid wheat for success: Origins,domestication, and the genetic improvement of agronomic traits

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L., AABBDD, 2n = 6x = 42), which accounts for most of the cultivated wheat crop worldwide, is a typical allohexaploid with a genome derived from three diploid wild ancestors. Bread wheat arose and evolved via two sequential allopolyploidization events and was further polished through multiple steps of domestication. Today, cultivated allohexaploid bread wheat has numerous advantageous traits, including adaptive plasticity, favorable yield traits, and extended end-use quality, which have enabled its cultivation well beyond the ranges of its tetraploid and diploid progenitors to become a global staple food crop. In the past decade, rapid advances in wheat genomic research have considerably accelerated our understanding of the bases for the shaping of complex agronomic traits in this polyploid crop. Here, we summarize recent advances in characterizing major genetic factors underlying the origin, evolution, and improvement of polyploid wheats. We end with a brief discussion of the future prospects for the design of gene cloning strategies and modern wheat breeding.