Host plant resistance of different chickpea genotypes against Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Lab. under tunnel conditions

Host plant resistance is the most efficient and easy way to manage chickpea blight caused by Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Lab. For this purpose, 374 chickpea lines/varieties from various research organisations were evaluated in plastic tunnels. None of the line showed immune response against the blight; however, one line (K-01005) was found to be highly resistant. Moreover, 15 entries were resistant, 136 exhibited moderate resistant reaction, 150 were susceptible and 72 showed highly susceptible response. The genotypes found that resistance against blight can serve as a source of resistance for breeding programmes, and they could be released for commercial production directly.     

Prevention of preharvest aflatoxin contamination through genetic engineering of crops

Current practices on prevention of aflatoxin contamination of crop species include time consuming, expensive agronomic practices. Of all the methods available to-date, conventional breeding and/or genetic engineering to develop host plant-based resistance to aflatoxin-producing fungi appear to be valuable for several reasons. However, breeding for disease-resistant crops is very time consuming, especially in tree crops, and does not lend itself ready to combat the evolution of new virulent fungal races. Moreover, availability of known genotypes with natural resistance to mycotoxin-producing fungi is a prerequisite for the successful breeding program. While it is possible to identify a few genotypes of corn or peanuts that are naturally resistant toAspergillus we do not know whether these antifungal factors are specific toA. flavus. In crops like cotton, there are no known naturally resistant varieties toAspergillus. Availability of transgenic varieties with antifungal traits is extremely valuable as a breeding tool. Several antifungal proteins and peptides are available for genetic engineering of susceptible crop species, thanks to the availability of efficient modern tools to understand and evaluate protein interactions by proteomics of host, and genomics and field ecology of the fungus. Transgenic approaches are being undertaken in several industry and academic laboratories to prevent invasion byAspergillus fungi or to prevent biosynthesis of aflatoxin. Recent trends in reducing aflatoxin contamination through genetic engineering of cultivated crop species with antifungal proteins are summarized in this report. Presented at the EU-USA Bilateral Workshop on Toxigenic Fungi & Mycotoxins, New Orleans, USA, July 5–7, 2005     

Assessing high-yielding cowpea varieties for bacterial blight resistance in Bangladesh: A step towards an environment-friendly and sustainable solution

Cowpea is well-known worldwide for its high protein content, versatile use, and adaptability. However, it is devastatingly affected by bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vignicola (Xav). The present study was designed to assess ten high-yielding cowpea varieties for bacterial blight resistance in two contrasting cropping seasons in Bangladesh. The varieties were evaluated using seed and stem inoculation with Xav bacteria, followed by phenotypic and molecular characterisation. The varieties were morphologically assessed using nine disease-related qualitative and quantitative traits, and genetic variations were investigated through nine SSR markers. Disease development varied significantly (P = 0.05) among the varieties. Substantially higher disease incidence was observed in the Kharif season compared to the Rabi season. Felon local, Dark Green-28, and Dark Green-1028 varieties were resistant in both seasons. On the other hand, BARI Felon-1 was highly susceptible to susceptible in both seasons as infections were over 50%. Moreover, plant height, leaf area, branch number, and leaf number significantly differed among the varieties. Besides, in the molecular study, polymorphism information content and Nei’s gene diversity were detected as 0.3658 and 0.4089, respectively. Kegornatki showed the highest genetic variation vs Dark Green-1028. The UPGMA dendrogram segregated the ten cowpea varieties into two main clusters. This study revealed that three high-yielding varieties, viz., Dark Green-28, Dark green 1028, and Felon local, were resistant to bacterial blight and showed better performance in morpho-molecular characterisation. Therefore, these varieties can be integrated into future cowpea breeding programmes to develop cultivars that can control the high pressures of Xav.     

Current status of genetic engineering in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L): an assessment

Abstract

Cotton is considered as the foremost commercially important fiber crop and is deemed as the backbone of the textile industry. The productivity of cotton crop, worldwide, is severely hampered by the occurrence of pests, weeds, pathogens apart from various environmental factors. Several beneficial agronomic traits, viz., early maturity, improved fiber quality, heat tolerance, etc. have been successfully incorporated into cotton varieties employing conventional hybridization and mutation breeding. Crop losses, due to biotic factors, are substantial and may be reduced through certain crop protection strategies. In recent years, pioneering success has been achieved through the adoption of modern biotechnological approaches. Genetically engineered cotton varieties, expressing Bacillus thuringiensis cry genes, proved to be highly successful in controlling the bollworm complex. Various other candidate genes responsible for resistance to insect pests and pathogens, tolerance to major abiotic stress factors such as temperature, drought and salinity, have been introduced into cotton via genetic engineering methods to enhance the agronomic performance of cotton cultivars. Furthermore, genes for improving the seed oil quality and fiber characteristics have been identified and introduced into cotton cultivars. This review provides a brief overview of the various advancements made in cotton through genetic engineering approaches.     

水稻抗性基因定位及相关分子标记研究进展

水稻是一种重要的粮食作物。而选育高抗性良种是有效防治病虫的危害,增加水稻单位面积产量的一项关键措施。了解水稻本身抗性的遗传信息是进行抗性育种的基础。现代生物技术的发展为抗性育种提供了新途径。本文较系统地概述了水稻对稻瘟病、白叶枯病、稻飞虱、稻叶蝉抗性基因定位及相关分子标记研究的最新发展,为利用分子标记进行水稻抗性育种及抗性基因克隆提供参考文献。     

用PCR技术诊断水稻的白叶枯病抗性

植物育种中应用分子标记辅助选择要求分子标记与目的基因紧密连锁,而且分析手段经济简便、重复性好。Ｘａ２１是最近发现的一个具有广谱抗性的水稻白叶枯病抗性基因,利用一个含Ｘａ２１基因的品系ＩＲＢＢ２１分别与２个感病品种杂交获得２个Ｆ_２群体。用４对引物分别对３个亲本进行ＰＣＲ分析,其中一对引物（ＰＢ７８）的ＰＣＲ产物在抗、感病品种间可揭示多态性。对２个Ｆ_２群体进一步的遗传分析表明,ＰＣＲ标记和Ｘａ２１的白叶枯病抗性紧密连锁,其重组率仅为２．４８％。根据该标记选择基因型纯合的抗性植株,其准确率可达１００％。本文还就植物育种中分子标记的检测途径进行了评价。     

Gene silencing using the recessive rice bacterial blight resistance gene xa13 as a new paradigm in plant breeding

Resistant germplasm resources are valuable for developing resistant varieties in agricultural production. However, recessive resistance genes are usually overlooked in hybrid breeding. Compared with dominant traits, however, they may confer resistance to different pathogenic races or pest biotypes with different mechanisms of action. The recessive rice bacterial blight resistance gene xa13, also involved in pollen development, has been cloned and its resistance mechanism has been recently characterized. This report describes the conversion of bacterial blight resistance mediated by the recessive xa13 gene into a dominant trait to facilitate its use in a breeding program. This was achieved by knockdown of the corresponding dominant allele Xa13 in transgenic rice using recently developed artificial microRNA technology. Tissue-specific promoters were used to exclude most of the expression of artificial microRNA in the anther to ensure that Xa13 functioned normally during pollen development. A battery of highly bacterial blight resistant transgenic plants with normal seed setting rates were acquired, indicating that highly specific gene silencing had been achieved. Our success with xa13 provides a paradigm that can be adapted to other recessive resistance genes.     

中国食用向日葵育种国产化历程及研究进展

中国食用向日葵育种近40年来取得了巨大成就,实现了从自留农家种、选育常规品种、引进国外杂交种以及培育国产杂交种4 次品种更新。中国向日葵种植面积基本保持在59万hm²左右,种植区主要集中在北方10个省区,其中内蒙古自治区种植面积约占全国总面积的四分之三,其次是新疆。中国以食用向日葵种植为主,约占总面积的95%以上,是世界上食用向日葵主要生产国。食用向日葵主要用于休闲嗑食,除高产外,商品外观品质(粒型、色泽、口感等)仍将是当今主要育种目标。另外,向日葵生产区因长期连作种植,病原菌、列当等生物逆境因素与向日葵发生协同进化,加之食用向日葵遗传背景狭窄,病虫草害日趋严重。该文通过对中国食用向日葵育种历程进行回顾,尤其对国内外有关向日葵抗病育种研究进展进行综述,为解析食用向日葵抗性育种机制以及前瞻性抗性品种储备提供重要的理论与技术支持,以推动食用向日葵产业的高效优质发展。     

国际水稻所水稻新株系的抗性评价

为了进一步扩大我国稻种资源,丰富水稻育种材料,引进了165份国际水稻研究所在非洲进行穿梭育种的水稻新株系,于2011年和2012年在湖北生态条件下进行稻瘟病抗性、白叶枯病抗性和褐飞虱抗性的评价。评价结果表明,在165份新株系中有14份株系在宜昌和恩施2个稻瘟病病圃鉴定均表现抗或中抗稻瘟病,有40份株系同时高抗或抗白叶枯病菌株ZHE173和GD1358,有19份株系抗或中抗褐飞虱,有7份株系同时抗白叶枯病和稻瘟病,有8份株系同时抗白叶枯病和褐飞虱,有1份株系同时中抗稻瘟病、褐飞虱和白叶枯病。部分材料正在作为中间材料用于水稻育种。     

Genetic diversity of the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii in the unstable environment of a cotton growing area

1 Spatial and temporal habitat heterogeneity represented by annual crops is a major factor influencing population dynamics of phytophagous insect pests such as the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover. We studied the effects of instability of the cotton agroecosystem resulting from the temporary availability of the plant resource and the repeated use of insecticides on the genetic variability of the cotton aphids.
2 Samples of A. gossypii were collected in cotton plots, treated or not with insecticides and from vegetable crops (Malvaceae, Cucurbitaceae and Solanaceae) within the cotton growing area of northern Cameroon. The genetic structure of the samples was assessed using eight microsatellite markers. Insecticide resistance was estimated through the detection of two mutations in the ace -1 gene that are associated with insensitivity of acetylcholinesterase to carbamate and organophosphate insecticides.
3 The results obtained show that both host plants and insecticides act in genetic structuring of A. gossypii . Ninety-three percent of aphids collected on cotton were characterized by the same microsatellite multilocus genotype, Burk1 , which also displays the insecticide resistant alleles.
4 During the dry season, the cotton crop season after, the genotype Burk1 was principally found on two other malvaceous cultivated plants, rosella and okra, acting as suitable reservoir plants. The ability of the cotton aphid to move among asynchronous suitable habitats in response to changes in resource availability enables the pest to exploit unstable cropping systems. An understanding of the cotton aphid life system may aid to improve strategies for integrated resistance management.     

Genetic diversity analysis of Bt cotton genotypes in Pakistan using simple sequence repeat markers

The popularity of genetically modified insect resistant (Bt) cotton has promoted large scale monocultures, which is thought to worsen the problem of crop genetic homogeneity. Information on genetic diversity among Bt cotton varieties is lacking. We evaluated genetic divergence among 19 Bt cotton genotypes using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Thirty-seven of 104 surveyed primers were found informative. Fifty-two primers selected on the basis of reported intra-hirsutum polymorphism in a cotton marker database showed a high degree of polymorphism, 56% compared to 13% for randomly selected primers. A total of 177 loci were amplified, with an average of 1.57 loci per primer, generating 38 markers. The amplicons ranged in size from 98 to 256 bp. The genetic similarities among the 19 genotypes ranged from 0.902 to 0.982, with an average of 0.947, revealing a lack of diversity. Similarities among genotypes from public sector organizations were higher than genotypes developed by private companies. Hybrids were found to be more distant compared to commercial cultivars and advanced breeding lines. Cluster analysis grouped the 19 Bt cotton genotypes into three major clusters and two independent entries. Cultivars IR-3701, Ali Akbar-802 and advanced breeding line VH-259 grouped in subcluster B2, with very narrow genetic distances despite dissimilar parentage. We found a very high level of similarity among Pakistani-bred Bt cotton varieties, which means that genetically diverse recurrent parents should be included to enhance genetic diversity. The intra-hirsutum polymorphic SSRs were found to be highly informative for molecular genetic diversity studies in these cotton varieties.     

Assessment of resurgence of bacterial blight and its effect on cotton yield in northern Nigeria

Abstract

Cotton production in Nigeria causes fluctuating socio-economic and biotic factors. Bacterial blight induced by Xanthomonas campestris pv malvacearum causes the greatest yield loss annually. A study was therefore carried out to investigate the resurgence of the disease on 10 different cotton genotypes in Dowaya, Kem and Ngurore which are the major cotton areas of Adamawa state of Nigeria under field conditions. Other objectives were to determine the relationship between the different manifestations of bacterial blight and the yield of seed cotton and to identify resistance in the selected genotypes to the disease manifestations. Results revealed the presence of angular leaf spot, vein and boll rot manifestations of the disease in the study areas. The absence of vein blight symptoms in the Kem location did not result in higher yield because the severity of the leaf spot for this location was relatively higher than for the other two locations. Results also revealed that despite the high severity of angular leaf spot, high boll rot and vein blight incidences observed particularly on SAMCOT-11, SAMCOT-13 and ex-Benin in these locations with a high yield of seed cotton was recorded. The three multi-adversity resistant genotypes (MAR), TX-CDP37HH-1-83, TAMCOT SP-21S and TAMCOT CAMD-E recorded relatively lower severity and incidences in both cases. There was, however, a significantly negative correlation between angular leaf spot severity, boll rot incidence and yield at Kem location, significant negative correlation between angular leaf spot severity, boll rot incidence, vein blight and yield at Dowaya location, as well as significant negative correlation between angular leaf spot severity, vein blight and yield at Ngurore location. The tolerant and high yielding SAMCOT-11, SAMCOT-13 and ex-Benin should through breeding work be improved to be used for production in this area and its surroundings.     

外源基因转化棉花育种研究的进展与应用

棉花作为重要的经济作物,新品种的选育和应用对于促进棉花生产至关重要。通过转基因技术将外源基因转化棉花,是棉花育种的新手段。尤其是抗逆、抗除草剂、抗虫、抗病和提高棉花品质的转基因技术研究,有助于加速棉花新品种的培育。棉花的转基因技术主要包括农杆菌介导法、基因枪轰击法和花粉管通道法。利用不同的转基因技术在棉花外源基因遗传转化的育种研究中取得了明显成效,探讨外源基因转化棉花育种研究的进展与应用,为新疆陆地棉的转基因育种研究提供重要参考。     

Molecular approaches for genetic improvement of seed quality and characterization of genetic diversity in soybean: a critical review

Soybean is an economically important leguminous crop. Genetic improvements of soybeans have focused on enhancement of seed and oil yield, development of varieties suited to different cropping systems, and breeding resistant/tolerant varieties for various biotic and abiotic stresses. Plant breeders have used conventional breeding techniques for the improvement of these traits in soybean. The conventional breeding process can be greatly accelerated through the application of molecular and genomic approaches. Molecular markers have proved to be a new tool in soybean breeding by enhancing selection efficiency in a rapid and time-bound manner. An overview of molecular approaches for the genetic improvement of soybean seed quality parameters, considering recent applications of marker-assisted selection and ‘omics’ research, is provided in this article.     

Sources of Resistance to Cowpea Bacterial Blight Disease in Nigeria

The development of resistant crop varieties depends on the reliability of the method of screening for resistance. One of the techniques widely used in evaluating field resistance is the field screening method. However, most cowpea varieties regarded as having field resistance are often found to be susceptible in farmers’ fields, where the inoculum density can be higher. This study rescreened 96 cowpea varieties, evaluated earlier in breeders’ fields as resistant to Xanthomonas campestris pv. vignicola, in field and greenhouse under high inoculum pressure. There were significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in the reactions of cowpea varieties to bacterial blight in terms of disease incidence and severity. Results from the field screening showed that there were 69 susceptible, 25 moderately susceptible, and 2 resistant varieties. In artificial inoculation in the greenhouse IT81D‐1228‐14, IT82E‐16, IT93K‐2271‐2‐2, TVu 1235, and TVu 4630, which were moderately susceptible in the field showed a susceptible reaction. Tvu 12349 and Tvu 15549 gave consistent reactions in the field and in the greenhouse and are therefore good sources of stable resistance to bacterial blight pathogen. Stem canker incidence also varied significantly (P ≤ 0.05) among the cowpea varieties. Seventeen varieties did not manifest canker symptoms.     

Phenotypic and Molecular Assessment of Wheat Genotypes Tolerant to Leaf Blight,Rust and Blast Diseases

Globally among biotic stresses, diseases like blight, rust and blast constitute prime constraints for reducing wheat productivity especially in Bangladesh. For sustainable productivity, the development of disease-resistant lines and high yielding varieties is vital and necessary. This study was conducted using 122 advanced breeding lines of wheat including 21 varieties developed by Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BAMRI) with aims to identify genotypes having high yield potential and resistance to leaf blight, leaf rust and blast diseases. These genotypes were evaluated for resistance against leaf blight and leaf rust at Dinajpur and wheat blast at Jashore under field condition. Out of 122 genotypes tested, 20 lines were selected as resistant to leaf blight based on the area under the diseases progress curve (AUDPC) under both irrigated timely sown (ITS) and irrigated late sown (ILS) conditions. Forty-two genotypes were found completely free from leaf rust infection, 59 genotypes were identified as resistant, and 13 genotypes were identified as moderately resistant to leaf rust. Eighteen genotypes were immune against wheat blast, 42 genotypes were categorized as resistant, and 26 genotypes were identified as moderately resistant to wheat blast. Molecular data revealed that the 16 genotypes showed a positive 2NS segment among the 18 immune genotypes selected against wheat blast under field conditions. The genotypes BAW 1322, BAW 1295, and BAW 1203 can be used as earlier maturing genotypes and the genotypes BAW 1372, BAW 1373, BAW 1297 and BAW 1364 can be used for lodging tolerant due to short plant height. The genotypes WMRI Gom 1, BAW 1349 and BAW 1350 can be selected for bold grain and the genotypes WMRI Gom 1, BAW 1297, BAW 1377 can be used as high yielder for optimum seeding condition but genotypes BAW 1377 and BAW 1366 can be used for late sown condition. The selected resistant genotypes against specific diseases can be used in the further breeding program to develop wheat varieties having higher disease resistance and yield potential.     

AFLP based alternatives for the assessment of Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability of sugar beet varieties

Three approaches for addressing criteria for Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) assessment by means of AFLP data are presented. AFLP data were obtained for three consecutive seed deliveries of 15 sugar beet varieties that were under investigation for the official Belgian list (’93, ’94 and ’95). In total, 696 AFLP markers were scored on 1350 plants. As a first approach, a cluster analysis based on Nei’s standard genetic distances between varieties and/or seed deliveries was made. Three major groups put together varieties belonging to corresponding breeding programmes. Statistical procedures, involving bootstrapping and random sampling of subsets of markers, were applied to test the reproducibility of the ordinations and the redundancy present in the data set. In a second approach, the genetic structure inferred by varieties and seed deliveries was submitted to an Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA). Major genetic variation was attributed to individual plant differences within seed deliveries. Differences among seed deliveries seemed to be as important as differences among varieties or breeding programmes. Individual plant data were used for assignment tests. The computation of the assignment was based on the ranking of individual genotypes to one other (based on Jaccard similarity coefficients). The distribution over the accessions for each variety or seed delivery was used to check what group of plants each individual is genetically most similar to. Varieties were classified according to the degree to which the distribution over the different accessions was mainly allocated to their appropriate seed deliveries (from the same variety) or cross- allocated to other varieties. Criteria for DUS-evaluation could be set by each of the approaches; it is discussed in what way the result obtained differs and agrees. Received: 26 June 2000 / Accepted: 13 March 2001     

我国“十三五”育成小麦新品种（系）抗赤霉病进展分析与展望

小麦赤霉病严重威胁我国粮食和食品安全,培育抗赤霉病小麦品种是解决该病害最经济有效的途径。20世纪90年代后,以扬麦158为代表的扬麦、宁麦系列中抗赤霉病品种的育成和大面积推广有效抵御了长江中下游麦区的赤霉病危害,使我国抗赤霉病育种处于国际领先水平。尽管全球明确了7个抗赤霉病基因,为开展抗赤霉病育种提供了重要支撑,但由于赤霉病抗性机制复杂,实现高抗与高产的协调仍极其困难,抗赤霉病仍是当前及未来我国小麦育种的主要目标。对“十三五”期间我国小麦新品系和审定品种的抗性情况以及我国抗赤霉病育种方面取得的进展进行了综述,并提出了重视挖掘和利用扬麦等推广品种中优异抗性基因、将Fhb1导入扬麦等主栽品种的育种技术路线和重视表型精准鉴定等建议,以期为实现我国抗赤霉病育种突破提供借鉴。     

陆地棉品种和骨干品系黄萎病抗性鉴定

选育和推广抗病品种是防治陆地棉黄萎病的主要措施,为了早日实现多类型、多区域大面积抗病品种的应用,本研究选取107份遗传背景差异较大的种质,利用河北省农林科学院棉花研究所小安舍试验站黄萎病病圃进行了3年黄萎病抗性重复鉴定。鉴定得到抗病品系8个,占7.5%;耐病品种(系)20个,占18.7%。本研究表明,当前被作为育种亲本的抗病品系还太少,需要深入开展抗病遗传机制,以及与其他经济性状协同改良的关系,为陆地棉抗病育种提供理论指导;达到抗病或接近抗病水平的大部分品种(系)来自于海陆野远缘后代,具有外源基因血统,证明了远缘杂交是陆地棉黄萎病抗性改良的有效手段。     

植物细胞工程在小麦抗赤霉病育种中的应用

小麦赤霉病是全球性小麦病害,严重影响小麦产量和品质,赤霉菌产生的毒素进一步威胁人畜安全,培育抗病品种是控制小麦赤霉病危害的根本途径。植物细胞工程技术可创造新的遗传变异、加快育种进程,已经广泛应用于小麦抗赤霉病育种。概述了体细胞无性系变异诱导、花药培养、小麦与玉米杂交培育加倍单倍体以及幼胚培养一年多代快速成苗等植物细胞工程技术研究进展,着重介绍了其在抗小麦赤霉病育种中的应用。最后对未来发展趋势做了展望,植物细胞工程结合分子育种技术将在小麦抗赤霉病品种培育中发挥更重要的作用。