Effect of the bs1 gene in plantain-banana hybrids on response to black sigatoka

 Use of resistant host genotypes is an important component of an integrated approach to control black sigatoka, a disease caused by the fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet. The objective of the present research was to determine the role of the major gene for black sigatoka resistance (bs ₁ ) in the host response to this disease. Euploid hybrids with a known genotype for the bs ₁ locus were derived from triploid-diploid crosses of two French plantains and a diploid wild banana, and were assessed for their host response to black sigatoka in plant and ratoon crops in the humid forest zone of Nigeria. Host response was determined at flowering by recording the number of standing leaves, the youngest leaf with symptoms, the youngest leaf spotted, the total leaf area attacked by black sigatoka, and an index of the leaves spotted. An analysis of frequency distribution in each segregating population showed that almost all the traits displayed a normal distribution across ploidy level. This suggests that additive gene action plays an important role in the host-plant response to the fungus. Heritability, repeatibility, and intraclass correlations were calculated. The environment and the genotype-by-environment interaction significantly affected the host response to black sigatoka, which explains the low repeatibility of all traits. The intrafamily variation was larger than the interfamily variation, and most of the genetic variation in each family depended on the individual genotypes, regardless of their ploidy. The additive effect of, and the intralocus interaction at, the bs ₁ locus on host response to black sigatoka were established by a one-way analysis of variance and regression analyses. Intralocus interaction in the bs ₁ locus apparently regulates the appearance of symptoms on the leaf surface, whereas the additive effect and the intralocus interaction of the bs ₁ locus affect disease development in the host plant. Therefore, the gene action(s) at the bs ₁ locus may provide durable resistance to black sigatoka by slowing down disease development in the host plant. Received: 18 September 1996 / Accepted: 4 April 1997     

Transfer of a dominant gene for powdery mildew resistance and DNA from Hordeum bulbosum into cultivated barley (H. vulgare)

Summary In an attempt to transfer traits of agronomic importance from H. bulbosum into H. vulgare we carried out crosses between four diploid barley cultivars and a tetraploid H. bulbosum. Eleven viable triploid F₁ plants were produced by means of embryo rescue techniques. Meiotic pairing between H. vulgare and H. bulbosum chromosomes was evidenced by the formation of trivalents at a mean frequency of 1.3 with a maximum of five per cell. The resulting triploid hybrids were backcrossed to diploid barley, and nine DC₁ plants were obtained. Three of the BC₁ plants exhibited H. bulbosum DNA or disease resistance. A species specific 611-bp DNA probe, pSc119.2, located in telomeres of the H. bulbosum genome, clearly detected five H. bulbosum DNA fragments of about 2.1, 2.4, 3.4, 4.0 and 4.8 kb in size present in one of the BC₁ plants (BC₁-5) in BamHI-digésted genomic Southern blots. Plant BC₁-5 also contained a heterozygous chromosomal interchange involving chromosomes 3 and 4 as identified by N-banding. One of the two translocated chromosomes had the H. bulbosum sequence in the telomeric region as detected using in situ hybridization with pSc119.2. Two other BC₁ plants (BC₁-1 and BC₁-2) were resistant to the powdery mildew isolates to which the barley cultivars were susceptible. Seventy-nine BC₂ plants from plant BC₁-2 segregated 32 mildew resistant to 47 susceptible, which fits a ratio of 11, indicating that the transferred resistance was conditioned by a single dominant gene. Reciprocal crosses showed a tendency towards gametoselection that was relative to the resistance. Mildew resistant plant BC₁-2 also had a 1-kb H. bulbosum DNA fragment identified with a ten-base random primer using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Forty-three BC₁ plants, randomly sampled from the 79 BC₁ plants, also segregated 2320 for the presence versus absence of this 1-kb H. bulbosum DNA fragment, thereby fitting a 11 ratio and indicating that the PCR product originated from a single locus. The 1-kb DNA fragment and disease resistance were independently inherited as detected by PCR analysis of bulked DNA from 17 resistant and 17 susceptible plants as well as by trait segregation in the 43 individual plants. The progenies produced could serve as an important resistant source in plant breeding. This is the first conclusive report of the stable transfer of disease resistance and DNA from H. bulbosum to H. vulgare.     

Biochemical genetics of powdery mildew resistance in pea

Summary A biochemical study on phenolic (total phenols and orthodihydroxy phenols) content and on the activities of phenol oxidizing enzymes (peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase) in pea cultivars resistant and susceptible to powdery mildew infection revealed that the resistant cultivars contained higher levels of phenolics and phenol-oxidizing enzymes than the susceptible ones. A further study of their F₁s, F₂s and backcross progenies suggested a high heritability for all biochemical traits. The correlation coefficients between the biochemical parameters and the disease index were also high. Both additive (d) and dominant () components were found to contribute to the inheritance of these constituents.Associate Professor (Genetics), Department of Basic Sciences     

Banana and plantain production systems in Benin: ethnobotanical investigation,varietal diversity,pests, and implications for better production

Background

The cultivated banana and plantain (Musa spp.) are valuable for nutritional and socio-economic security for millions of people worldwide. In Benin, banana and plantain are among the most produced, consumed, and traded commodities. Its production is mainly for local consumption and remains insufficient to the demand. However, the varietal diversity of banana and plantain cultivated in Benin is not documented. This study aims at characterizing the banana and plantain cropping systems, genetic diversity, and production constraints as a baseline to the full utilization of this resource in crop improvement and to identify the potential production and agronomic qualities.

Methods

A baseline investigation of ethnobotanical attributes of banana cultivars was done in 51 randomly chosen villages in southern Benin. Interviews with randomly selected representative farmers were carried out. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used for global confirmatory investigation of survey data. Socio-demographic data and indigenous knowledge on the farmer uses of banana and plantain diversity, such as cultural practices, origin, and availability of banana and plantain planting materials, and the constraints and criteria of varietal preference cited by farmers were ranked.

Results

Eighty-seven locally recognized cultivars were found: 73 of banana and 14 of plantain groups. The most popular cultivars were Sotoumon (banana) (52.94%), Aloga (plantain) (41.17%), Planta (banana) (33.33%), and Adjangan (plantain) (27.45%). Of the eleven production constraints identified, the main biotic challenges were banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus Germar and banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), while abiotic problems were drought and the wind. Some local varieties like Amandan, Assonwonnou, Coleti, and Ninkouin are extremely rare owing to agronomic and economic preference perceptions.

Conclusion and implications

This study provides a baseline for banana diversity in Benin and the West African region and entry points for biological characterization and production improvement. This would enable the exploitation of this resource for plant breeding towards biotic and abiotic challenges facing banana production.

     

Identification of resistance to Meloidogyne javanica in the Lycopersicon peruvianum complex

Clones of Lycopersicon peruvianum PI 2704352R2, PI 270435-3MH and PI 126443-1MH expressed novel resistance to three Mi-avirulent M. javanica isolates in greenhouse experiments. Clones from PI 126443-1MH were resistant to the three M. javanica isolates at 25°C. The three isolates were able to reproduce on one embryorescue hybrid of PI 126443-1MH, but not on three L. peruvianum-L. esculentum bridge-line hybrids of PI 1264431MH when screened at 25°C (Mi-expressed temperature). Clones of PI 270435-2R2 and all its hybrids with susceptible genotypes were resistant to the three M. javanica isolates at 25°C. The bridge-line hybrid EPP-2xPI 2704352R2 was susceptible to M. javanica isolate 811 at 32°C, whereas PI 270435-2R2 and all other hybrids of PI 27043 5-2R2 crossed with susceptible genotypes were resistant at 32°C. At 32°C, one F₂ progeny of PI 126443-IMHxEPP-1, and three test-cross progenies of PI 1264409MHx[PI 270435-3MHxPI 126443-1MH], and reciprocal test-cross progenies of [PI 270435-3MHxPI 2704352R2]xPI 126440-9MH, each segregated into resistant: susceptible (RS) ratios close to 31. The results from the F₂ progeny indicated that heat-stable resistance to Mi-avirulent M. javanica in PI 126443 -1MH is conferred by a single dominant gene. The results from the test-crosses indicated that this gene in PI 126443-1MH is different from the resistance gene in PI 270435-3MH. The resistance gene in PI 270435-3MH was also shown to differ from the resistance factor in PI 270435-2R2. The expression of differential susceptibility and resistance to M. javanica and M. incognita in individual plants of the bridge-line hybrid, embryo-rescue hybrid, F₂, and test-crosses indicated that at least some genes governing resistance to M. javanica differ from the genes conferring resistance to M. incognita. A new source of heat-stable resistance to M. javanica was identified in Lycopersicon chilense.     

Resistance to potato virus Y in somatic hybrids between Solanum etuberosum and S. tuberosum x S. berthaultii hybrid

Somatic hybrids between a potato virus Y (PVY) resistant Solanum etuberosum clone and a susceptible diploid potato clone derived from a cross between S. tuberosum Gp. Tuberosum haploid US-W 730 and S. berthaultii were evaluated for resistance to PVY. All but one of the tested somatic hybrids were significantly more resistant than cultivars Atlantic and Katahdin. However, none was as resistant as the S. etuberosum parent. One hexaploid somatic hybrid, possibly the product of a triple-cell fusion involving one S. etuberosum protoplast and two haploid x S. berthaultii protoplasts, was as susceptible to PVY infection as the cultivars. Tetraploid progeny of the somatic hybrids, obtained from crosses with Gp. Tuberosum cultivars, were neither as resistant as the maternal somatic hybrid parent, nor as susceptible as the paternal cultivar parent. It appears that the introgression of PVY resistance from (1EBN) S. etuberosum into (4EBN) S. tuberosum (EBN-endosperm balance number) will be successful through the use of somatic hybridization and subsequent crosses of the somatic hybrids back to S. tuberosum.     

Study of Resistance of Musa acuminata to Fusarium oxysporum using RAPD markers

Suckers collected from different populations of Musa acuminata ssp. malaccensis were found to be highly resistant to race 4 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC) suggesting that local wild banana populations co-evolved with the pathogen. Seedlings from these wild banana plants segregated for resistance to the pathogen. The infected seedlings were characterized based on external and internal symptoms and the variable response to FOC was mainly due to the genetic factors. Using the technique of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), 96 major amplification products from 15 primers were identified. Only 10 out of 96 markers were monomorphic and shared among the seed progenies, whereas the remaining 86 were highly polymorphic. Three primers showed banding patterns specific to resistant or susceptible seedlings. These results showed the great potential of the wild Musa acuminata ssp. malaccensis as a source for banana improvement and also for the synthesis of segregating populations for linkage mapping, gene cloning and DNA markers related to FOC resistance.     

Transfer of bacterial blight and blast resistance from the tetraploid wild rice Oryza minuta to cultivated rice,Oryza sativa

Summary Oryza minuta J. S. Presl ex C. B. Presl is a tetraploid wild rice with resistance to several insects and diseases, including blast (caused by Pyricularia grisea) and bacterial blight (caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae). To transfer resistance from the wild species into the genome of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.), backcross progeny (BC₁, BC₂, and BC₃) were produced from interspecific hybrids of O. sativa cv IR31917-45-3-2 (2n=24, AA genome) and O. minuta Acc. 101141 (2n=48, BBCC genomes) by backcrossing to the O. sativa parent followed by embryo rescue. The chromosome numbers ranged from 44 to 47 in the BC₁ progeny and from 24 to 37 in the BC₂ progeny. All F₁ hybrids were resistant to both blast and bacterial blight. One BC₁ plant was moderately susceptible to blast while the rest were resistant. Thirteen of the 16 BC₂ progeny tested were resistant to blast; 1 blast-resistant BC₂, plant 75-1, had 24 chromosomes. A 3 resistant: 1 susceptible segregation ratio, consistent with the action of a major, dominant gene, was observed in the BC₂F₂ and BC₂F₃ generations. Five of the BC₁ plants tested were resistant to bacterial blight. Ten of the 21 BC₂ progeny tested were resistant to Philippine races 2, 3, and 6 of the bacterial blight pathogen. One resistant BC₂, plant 78-1, had 24 chromosomes. The segregation of reactions of the BC₂F₂, BC₂F₃, and BC₂F₄ progenies of plant 78-1 suggested that the same or closely linked gene(s) conferred resistance to races 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the bacterial blight pathogen from the Philippines.     

Inheritance of heat-stable resistance to Meloidogyne incognita in Lycopersicon peruvianum and its relationship to the Mi gene

Summary The inheritance of heat-stable resistance to the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood, was studied in crosses between different accessions and clones of Lycopersicon peruvianum L. F₁, F₂ and BC₁ generations were evaluated for their index of resistance based on numbers of eggs and infective second-stage juveniles (J₂) per gram of root, and the segregation ratios were determined in experiments carried out at constant soil temperatures of 25 °C and 30 °C. L. peruvianum P.I. 270435 clones 3 MH and 2R2 and P.I. 126443 clone 1 MH, all heatstable resistant, were crossed with L. peruvianum P.I. 126440 clone 9 MH, which is susceptible at both 25 °C and 30 °C. All F₁ progeny were resistant at 25 °C and 30 °C; F₂ and BC₁ generations at 25 °C gave resistant: susceptible (RS) ratios of 151 and 31, respectively, which suggests that resistance is conditioned by two independently assorting genes. However, at 30 °C, RS ratios of 31 and 11 were observed for the F₂ and BC₁ generations, respectively. These results indicate that heat-stable resistance is conferred by a single dominant gene expressed at 30 °C, while the second resistance gene is heat unstable and not expressed at 30 °C. P.I. 270435 clones 2R2 and 3 MH and P.I. 126443 clone 1 MH were crossed with P.I. 128657 clone 3 R4 (source of gene Mi), which is resistant at 25 °C but susceptible at 30 °C. All of the F₁ progeny were resistant at 25 °C and 30 °C.TC₁ progeny of 270435-2 R2 x 128657-3 R4, 270435-3 MH x 128657-3 R4 and 126443-1 MH x 128657-3 R4 crossed with susceptible 126440-9 MH were all resistant at 25 °C and segregated in a 11 ratio at 30 °C. These results also suggest that the heat-stable resistance is monogenic and that it is non-allelic to gene Mi. The non-segregation of TC₁ progenies at 25 °C, suggests that the heat-unstable resistance factor in L. peruvianum P.I. 270435 clones 2 R2 and 3 MH and in P.I. 126443 clone 1 MH is allelic to or the same as gene Mi. We propose the symbol Mi-2 for the gene in P.I. 270435 that confers heat-stable resistance to M. incognita.     

Inheritance of resistance to the cowpea aphid in cowpea

Summary Inheritance of resistance to cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch, in three resistant cultivars of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp, was studied. The parents, F₁ and F₂ population were grown in an insect-proof screenhouse. Each 3-day-old seedling was infested with 10 apterous adult aphids. Seedling reaction was recorded when the susceptible check was killed. The segregation data revealed that the resistance of ICV11 and TVU310 is governed by single dominant genes. All the F₂ seedlings of the cross ICV10xTVU310 were resistant, indicating that they have the same gene for resistance. However, the F₂ populations from the crosses ICV10xICV11 and ICV11xTVU310 segregated in a ratio of 151, indicating that the dominant genes in ICV11 and TVU310 are non-allelic and independent of each other. The resistance gene of ICV10 and TVU310 is designated as Ac₁ and that of ICV11 as Ac₂.     

Long-term impacts of elevated carbon dioxide and transgenic Bt cotton on performance and feeding of three generations of cotton bollworm

A field screening trial undertaken in Uganda showed that a number of Musa L. (Musaceae) cultivars and hybrids displayed high levels of resistance to banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), while most highland banana cultivars tended to be susceptible to weevil attack. In this study, research was undertaken to determine modalities of resistance to banana weevil. Laboratory studies suggested that all cultivars were attractive to the weevil and that females freely oviposited on all cultivars. While some differences were found between cultivars in attractivity and egg numbers, these were not related to subsequent damage. Therefore, antixenosis does not appear to play an important role in host‐plant resistance to banana weevil. Larval survivorship rates in living corms were, for the most part, low on resistant cultivars, suggesting that antibiosis mechanisms offer the primary avenues of resistance. In the laboratory, development was slower on some resistant cultivars although survivorship rates on excised corm material were not as well related to levels of resistance as that on living material. Sap appeared to play a minor role in reducing egg eclosion rates on some resistant cultivars. Methanol extracts from Kayinja, a resistant cultivar, inhibited larval development on corms of susceptible cultivars in the laboratory.     

Identification and evaluation of two diagnostic markers linked to Fusarium wilt resistance (race 4) in banana (Musa spp.)

Fusarium wilt caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4 (FOC4) results in vascular tissue damage and ultimately death of banana (Musa spp.) plants. Somaclonal variants of in vitro micropropagated banana can hamper success in propagation of genotypes resistant to FOC4. Early identification of FOC4 resistance in micropropagated banana plantlets is difficult, however. In this study, we identified sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers of banana associated with resistance to FOC4. Using pooled DNA from resistant or susceptible genotypes and 500 arbitrary 10-mer oligonucleotide primers, 24 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) products were identified. Two of these RAPD markers were successfully converted to SCAR markers, called ScaU1001 (GenBank accession number HQ613949) and ScaS0901 (GenBank accession number HQ613950). ScaS0901 and ScaU1001 could be amplified in FOC4-resistant banana genotypes (“Williams 8818-1” and Goldfinger), but not in five tested banana cultivars susceptible to FOC4. The two SCAR markers were then used to identify a somaclonal variant of the genotype “Williams 8818-1”, which lost resistance to FOC4. Hence, the identified SCAR markers can be applied for a rapid quality control of FOC4-resistant banana plantlets immediately after the in vitro micropropagation stage. Furthermore, ScaU1001 and ScaS0901 will facilitate marker-assisted selection of new banana cultivars resistant to FOC4.     

Sources of resistance to downy mildew (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Peronospora parasitica</Emphasis> (Pers. (ex Fr.) Fr.) in Sicilian germplasm of cauliflower and broccoli

Downy mildew (Peronospora parasitica (Pers. ex Fr.) Fr.) is a serious disease of brassicas in several countries. Seedlings are very susceptible to this pathogen and crops require frequent fungicide treatments to reach a good marketable yield. The use of resistant cultivars can be the most economical, reliable and environmental friendly method for managing this disease. In this work 32 Sicilian landraces and 16 commercial cultivars of cauliflower and broccoli (B. oleracea) were screened for downy mildew resistance at the cotyledon stage using one P. parasitica strain from Portugal and one from Sicily (Italy). Seven-day old seedlings were inoculated by deposing a droplet of a spore suspension on the cotyledons, incubated under controlled environment and scored 7 days later using a seven-class scale of interaction phenotype (IP), which took into consideration host response and pathogen sporulation. There were no differences in virulence between the two P. parasitica isolates. Accessions ranged from very susceptible to highly resistant to downy mildew showing a variable number of resistant individuals per accession. Forty accessions were very susceptible to downy mildew and are of no interest as sources of resistance, since most of the seedlings were scored in the most susceptible IP classes. Seven accessions had intermediate resistance and included individuals that expressed some degree of resistance. Accession Cv 90 (Cavolfiore Torino) and Br 63 (Sparaceddu) showed the majority of seedlings in the resistant IP classes and may constitute valuable sources of resistance to downy mildew to be used in breeding programs.     

Inheritance and mechanism of resistance to herbicides inhibiting acetolactate synthase in Sonchus oleraceus L.

A biotype of Sonchus oleraceus L. (Compositae) has developed resistance to herbicides inhibiting acetolactate synthase (ALS) following field selection with chlorsulfuron for 8 consecutive years. The aim of this study was to determine the inheritance and mechanism of resistance in this biotype. Determination of ALS activity and inhibition kinetics revealed that K_m and V_max did not vary greatly between the resistant and susceptible biotypes. ALS extracted from the resistant biotype was resistant to five ALS-inhibiting herbicides in an in vitro assay. ALS activity from the resistant biotype was 14 19, 2, 3 and 3 times more resistant to inhibition by chlorsulfuron, sulfometuron, imazethapyr, imazapyr and flumetsulam, respectively, than the susceptible biotype. Hybrids between the resistant and a susceptible biotype were produced, and inheritance was followed through the F₁, F₂ and F₃ generations. F₁ hybrids displayed a uniform intermediate level of resistance between resistant and susceptible parents. Three distinct phenotypes, resistant, intermediate and susceptible, were identified in the F₂ generation following chlorsulfuron application. A segregation ratio of 121 was observed, indicative of the action of a single, nuclear, incompletely dominant gene. F₃ families, derived from intermediate F₂ individuals, segregated in a similar manner. Resistance to herbicides inhibiting ALS in this biotype of S. oleraceus is due to the effect of a single gene coding for a resistant form of the target enzyme, ALS.     

Inheritance of partial resistance to powdery mildew in spring wheat

Summary Four spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars exhibiting partial resistance to powdery mildew induced by Erysiphe graminis f.sp. tritici were crossed to a common susceptible cultivar to study the inheritance of resistance. The genetic parameters contributing to resistance were estimated by generation means analyses. Additive gene action was the most important genetic component of variation among generation means in all four crosses. Additive by additive effects were significant in one cross and both additive by additive and additive by dominance effects were significant in another. Dominance effects were not significant. The F2/F3 correlations in three crosses ranged from 0.27 to 0.43. Three additional crosses among resistant cultivars were employed to study the effectiveness of selection in improving resistance. By selecting the most resistant plants from the F2 and evaluating the progenies in the F4, increases in resistance ranging from 21% to 31% were obtained. In all crosses, there was transgressive segregation in both directions indicating that the genes conferring resistance to these cultivars differ and exhibit additive effects.     

Selection ofMycosphaerella fijiensis-resistant cell lines from micro-cross sections of banana and plantain

Anin vitro selection system using microcross sections of banana and plantain cultivars belonging to AAA and AAB genomic groups were used to produce plants resistant against the Black Sigatoka disease. The fungus resistant plantlets were obtained in a double selection system. This involved in a first step the use of a fungal crude filtrate and in the second step the purified host-specific toxin 2,4,8-trihydroxytetralone extracted from the fungusMycosphaerella fijiensis (M. fijiensis), the causal agent of Black Sigatoka disease. Resistant plantlets obtained from the double selection system were inoculated with conidia ofM. fijiensis in a growth chamber to reproduce Black Sigatoka symptoms. Compared to non-treated control plantlets, which were highly susceptible to the fungus, 10.7–19.3% toxin-resistant plantlets which arose from tissues that went through the double selection system were resistant againstM. fijiensis. This technique of using micro-cross sections for selection on fungal toxins seems to be amenable to differentMusa genotypes for the production of fungus-resistant plants.F. A. Schulz died 11. 3. 1995     

7个香蕉品种对枯萎病的抗性评价及3种评价方法的对比

[目的] 评价香蕉自主选育品种对枯萎病病原菌尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型（Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense）热带4号小种（tropical race 4, Foc TR4）的抗性。[方法] 以浸根法和2种灌注法将Foc TR4接种于不同抗性的香蕉品种上,分析接种后香蕉的发病情况,比较筛选这3种评价方法,并评价7个香蕉品种的苗期和田间抗性水平。[结果] 采用浓度为2×10⁵ 个·mL^-1的PDB培养基Foc TR4孢子悬浮液灌注法进行香蕉苗期抗性评价更为高效可行;综合苗期和田间抗性评价结果,7个香蕉品种的抗性由高到低为：南天黄>红研3号>红研5号>红研2号>滇蕉1号>巴西蕉>红研1号。[结论] 以南天黄作为高抗品种对照,以巴西蕉作为高感品种对照条件下,红研3号和红研5号抗性为中等抗性偏强,红研2号达到中抗水平,滇蕉1号为感病,红研1号为高度感病。     

Development of transgenic pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) plants resistant to downy mildew

Transgenic pearl millet lines expressing pin gene—exhibiting high resistance to downy mildew pathogen, Sclerospora graminicola—were produced using particle-inflow-gun (PIG) method. Shoot-tip-derived embryogenic calli were co-bombarded with plasmids containing pin and bar genes driven by CaMV 35S promoter. Bombarded calli were cultured on MS medium with phosphinothricin as a selection agent. Primary transformants 1T₀, 2T₀, and 3T₀ showed the presence of both bar and pin coding sequences as evidenced by PCR and Southern blot analysis, respectively. T₁ progenies of three primary transformants, when evaluated for downy mildew resistance, segregated into resistant and susceptible phenotypes. T₁ plants resistant to downy mildew invariably exhibited tolerance to Basta suggesting co-segregation of pin and bar genes. Further, the downy mildew resistant 1T₁ plants were found positive for pin gene in Southern and Northern analyses thereby confirming stable integration, expression, and transmission of pin gene. 1T₂ progenies of 1T₀ conformed to dihybrid segregation of 15 resistant:1 susceptible plants.     

Mode of inheritance and genetic diversity of BaMMV resistance of exotic barley germplasms carrying genes different from ‘ym4’

Summary In order to obtain information about the mode of inheritance of BaMMV resistance in germplasms carrying genes different from the German gene ym4 f₁-tests for resistance as well as F₂-segregation analyses of crosses to susceptible German cultivars were carried out by mechanical inoculation in the greenhouse. In the f₁ the majority of plants of each combination tested reacted susceptible to BaMMV while in the F₂ a good fit to a segregation of 1r:3s or 7r:9s was observed. Therefore, the results of these tests revealed that the BaMMV resistance of all the varieties tested is inherited either by a single or by two recessive genes. By testing intercrosses of these resistant varieties segregation of BaMMV-susceptile plants was observed in the majority of combinations, revealing a high degree of genetic diversity in the barley gene pool.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Wolfgang Schnell on the occasion of his 80th birthday     

Central Role of Salicylic Acid in Resistance of Wheat Against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium graminearum</Emphasis>

Head blight caused by Fusarium graminearum (F. graminearum) is one of the major threats to wheat and barley around the world. The importance of this disease is due to a reduction in both grain yield and quality in infected plants. Currently, there is limited knowledge about the physiological mechanisms involved in plant resistance against this pathogen. To reveal the physiological mechanisms underlying the resistance to F. graminearum, spikes of resistant (Sumai3) and susceptible (Falat) wheat cultivars were analyzed 4 days after inoculation, as the first symptoms of pathogen infection appeared. F. graminearum inoculation resulted in a greater induction level and activity of salicylic acid (SA), callose, phenolic compounds, peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), and polyphenol oxidase in resistant versus susceptible cultivars. Soil drench application to spikes of SA, 24 h before inoculation with F. graminearum alleviated Fusarium head blight symptoms in both resistant and susceptible cultivars. SA treated plants showed a significant increment in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production, lipid peroxidation, SA, and callose content. SA-induced H₂O₂ level seems to be related to increased superoxide dismutase and decreased catalase activities. In addition, real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that SA pretreatment induced expression of PAL genes in both infected and non-infected head tissues of the susceptible and resistant cultivars. Our data showed that soil drench application of SA activates antioxidant defense responses and may subsequently induce systemic acquired resistance, which may contribute to the resistance against F. graminearum. These results provide novel insights about the physiological and molecular role of SA in plant resistance against hemi-biotrophic pathogen infection.