Development of a fertile genetic bridge between Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb. and T. repens L.

  Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb and T. repens L. are taxonomically related but very difficult to cross. The rare hybrids so far reported between these two species were obtained only by embryo culture. This difficulty has been overcome in the present research by the creation of a “fertile bridge” between T. ambiguum and T. repens. Characters of interest can now be transferred from T. ambiguum to T. repens by using this “fertile bridge” without the use of sophisticated techniques. An array of backcross progenies was generated from crosses between a T. ambiguum×T. repens F₁ hybrid (8x H-435) and its parental species. The 8x hybrid was cross-fertile only with T. repens and resulted in 145 seeds from 1578 reciprocal crosses. Eleven of nineteen initially grown BC₁F₁ plants were all hexaploid with an average pollen stainability of 41.6%. A high frequency of multivalents at metaphase-I indicated that both autosyndetic and allosyndetic pairing occurred. Backcrosses of 6x BC₁F₁ plants to T. repens resulted in 5x BC₂F₁ plants with an average pollen stainability of 59.3%. On the other hand, 6x BC₁F₁×6x T. ambiguum crosses did not produce any seed and only two pentaploid plants were obtained from 6x BC₁F₁×4x T. ambiguum crosses. The difficulty encountered in generating 6x backcross progeny with 6x T. ambiguum was overcome by intercrossing the 6x BC₁F₁ plants and producing 6x BC₁F₂ plants with an average pollen stainability of 65.8%. One of these 6x BC₁F₂ plants was cross-compatible as a female with 6x T. ambiguum and resulted in CBC₂ plants that were all cross-compatible with 6x T. ambiguum. The 6x BC₁F₂ plants are likely to be superior to 6x BC₁F₁ progeny, as they have exhibited better expression of the combined rhizomatous and stoloniferous growth habit, improved fertility, more frequent nodal rooting and heavier nodulation. Consequently, the 6x BC₁F₂ plants can either be used directly in the selection programme or as a “fertile bridge” between the two parental species. The present work has resulted in the development of a series of fertile hybrids by the manipulation of chromosome numbers, combining the agronomic characteristics of the parent species in varying genome balances and at a range of ploidy levels. It is concluded that the initial sterility of the primary interspecific hybrids need not be a barrier to successful inter-breeding. Received: 2 August 1996 / Accepted: 4 April 1997     

Ontogenetic and interspecific organ weight allometry in Old World monkeys

The importance of allometry as an analytic tool is well recognized in the literature of primate morphology. However, a number of recent studies have illustrated how interpretive difficulties can arise when researchers confound different types of allometric data. Such confusion is due less to carelessness than to uncertainty about how different types of allometry are related. The present study examines the relationship between two types—ontogenetic and interspecific allometry–in the case of organ weight scaling in six species of Old World monkeys. Accepting the interpretation of interspecific allometry as a reflection of functional scaling constraints, the results of this analysis indicate how ontogenetic patterns have been modified in different-sized species to maintain compliance with these constraints. Specifically, for the heart and lungs it appears that vertical transpositions of individual species' ontogenies are dictated by isometric interspecific allometry, while in the case of the kidneys and liver, the relation of negative allometry across species entails alteration of the relative growth coefficients of the individual species. While these conclusions can at present only be applied to organ weight scaling, the approach of examining interspecific patterns in light of developmental differences between species should prove very helpful in our efforts to understand the phenomena of size and scaling.     

Biosystematic studies on Hystrix longearistata from Japan and Hystrix duthiei from China (Poaceae: Triticeae)

Morphological comparison, cytogenetic study and fertility analysis of Hystrix duthiei (2n = 28) from China, Hystrix longearistata (2n= 28) from Japan and their artificial hybrids were carried out. Morphologically H. duthiei was similar to H. longearistata. H. longearistata had longer lemma awn, wider leaf and 2～3 florets per spikelet, while H. duthiei had 1～2 florets per spikelet. These two taxa can be easily crossed. F_l hybrids showed very high degree of bivalent pairing (13～14 bivalents) at the metaphase- I of meiosis. No multivalents were found. The fertility of pollen and seed set of the parents were normal, while the F_l hybrids were of only partial fertility. H. longearistata was closely related to H. duthiei. They should be included in the same species. Because of the differences of their distributions and habitats, some morphological divergency and a little sterility barrier have had appeared between them. It is reasonable to treat Hystrix longearistata as a sub-species of Hystrix duthiei .     

Peroxidase Isozyme Study in the Interspecific Advanced Lines From Gossypium

By using thin-layer-isoelectrofocusing technique, the authors have been studied peroxidase isozymes activities of the true leaves (at the flower bud stage) and the anthers in the interspecific advanced lines (ALs) from Gossypiurn hirsuturn × G. arboreum, which have been steadily inherited from twenty generations. It was found that: 1. The peroxidase isozymes were similar in different varieties of plants from the same species, but some what different among species originated from the same genome group, and showed remarkably interspecific isozymes difference among species originated from different genome group. 2. The zymograms of the ALs were similar to those of the female parent G. hirsuturn "Keiyi 2”, and obviously different from those of the male parent G. arboreum "Wanzi”.     

Observation of Pollen Tube Behaviour and Early Embryogenesis Following Interspecies Pollination Between Actinidia deliciosa and A. arguta

The pollen tube behaviour in the style and early embryogenesis following interspecies pollination between Actinidia deliciosa No. 26 and A. arguta were observed by means of fluorescence and light microscopy. Pollen grains germinated on the papillate stigma and pollen tubes grew along the V-shaped open-type style. Pollen tubes showed slower growth and reached the ovules 50--60 hours later than those of the control. Several abnormalities of pollen tubes have been observed at the base of the style, including wave-like pollen tubes, pollen tubes with swollen or pointed tips, with variable diameters, and a few with irregular growth. Random deposition of callose along pollen tube wall and even the whole wall was observed. About 26.74 % of the ovules were successfully fertilized and developed into seeds, among them 68.50% of the seeds were normal and 31.50% were abortive. About 11.41% were empty seeds without embryo and endosperm. Unfertilized small ovule was 61.45 %. Normal seed and its embryo were smaller than those of the control. The development of embryo was of the Soland type. The endosperm was cellular. The zygote remained quiescent for about 12-15 days before it started to divide, eventually forming a cotyledonary embryo 50 days after pollination.     

Spatial discrimination of pheromones and behavioural antagonists by the tortricid moths Cydia pomonella and Adoxophyes orana

Male moths responding to their species-specific sex pheromone, may cease their upwind flight when pheromone components of sympatric species are added to the mixture. The interspecific interaction between the pheromone response of the tortricid moths Cydia pomonella and Adoxophyes orana was investigated in field-trapping and wind-tunnel studies. Addition of the A. orana pheromone [(Z9)-tetradecenylacetate and (Z11)-tetradecenylacetate] to a source containing the C. pomonella pheromone [(E8, E10)-dodecadienol] resulted in a significant inhibition of attraction by male C. pomonella. It is demonstrated that this behavioural antagonist for C. pomonella must be emitted from the same point source to induce this inhibitory effect. A spatial separation of the two interspecific pheromones (at 14 cm, 5 cm and 0.5 cm crosswind) restored the attraction of the conspecific pheromone for male C. pomonella. In contrast to C. pomonella, male A. orana were not inhibited by point sources releasing both the C. pomonella and A. orana pheromone. We suggest that the discrepancy in the interspecific pheromone interaction between these two tortricids can be explained if we consider the evolutionary ecology of interspecific pheromone communication in C. pomonella and A. orana. Accepted: 18 July 1999     

长喙毛茛泽泻的种群分布格局和群落内种间关联

长喙毛茛泽泻茶陵种群呈斑块分布,格局类型为聚集分布型,每个亚种群也呈聚集分布,但聚集强度不同。长喙毛茛泽泻与其几个主要伴生种的相关性经测定结果是：与莼菜及黄花狸藻之间的相关性不显著;与柳叶箬、双穗雀稗及石龙尾之间正相关显著;与疏勿蓼之间负相关显著,长喙毛茛泽泻种子近距离传播以及无性繁殖特性是造成其聚集分布的主要原因。柳叶箬、双穗雀稗和石龙尾对长喙毛茛泽泻具有极强的竞争作用。     

Unilateral and bilateral hybridization barriers in inter-series crosses of 4x 2EBN Solanum stoloniferum, S. pinnatisectum, S. cardiophyllum, and 2x 2EBN S. tuberosum haploids and haploid-species hybrids

Wild Mexican potato species are an important untapped source of useful variation for potato improvement. Introgression methods such as 2n gametes, chromosome doubling, and crossing with disomic 4x 2 endosperm balance number (EBN) bridge species have been used to overcome post-zygotic endosperm failure according to the EBN hypothesis. Stylar barriers can prevent zygote formation, bilaterally when zygote formation is blocked in both directions of the cross or unilaterally when zygote formation is blocked in self incompatible (SI) × self compatible (SC) crosses. In several Solanaceae species, the S-locus for SI has been implicated in interspecific incompatibility. The objectives of this research were to determine if: (1) disomic 4x 2EBN Solanum stoloniferum can be used as a bridge species for introgression of the Mexican 2x 1EBN species Solanum cardiophyllum and Solanum pinnatisectum, (2) pre- and/or post-zygotic barriers limit hybridization among EBN compatible Solanum inter-series crosses, and (3) reproductive barriers act unilaterally or bilaterally. Fruit formation and seed set was recorded for inter-pollinations of S. stoloniferum, 4x 2EBN chromosome doubled S. cardiophyllum and S. pinnatisectum, and 2x 2EBN S. tuberosum haploids (HAP) or haploid-species hybrids (H-S). In vivo pollen tube growth was analyzed for each cross combination with fluorescence microscopy. Attempts to create bridge hybrids between S. stoloniferum, and S. cardiophyllum or S. pinnatisectum were not successful. Pre- and post-zygotic barriers prevented seed formation in crosses involving S. cardiophyllum and S. pinnatisectum. Self compatibility in S. stoloniferum and S. pinnatisectum suggests that the S-locus does not contribute to the stylar barriers observed with these species. Alternatively, the presence of functional and nonfunctional (SC) S-alleles may explain interspecific incompatibility in intra- and inter-ploidy crosses. A non-stylar unilateral incongruity was discovered in H-S/HAP × S. stoloniferum crosses, indicating either a post-zygotic barrier, or a pre-zygotic barrier acting at or within the ovary. Furthermore, lack of S. stoloniferum pollen rejection may occur through absence of S. stoloniferum pollen-active genes needed to initiate pollen rejection, or through competitive interaction in S-locus heterozygous S. stoloniferum pollen. Introgression strategies using these species would benefit potato breeding by introducing genetic diversity for several traits simultaneously through co-current introgression.     

Reticulate evolution in Thuja inferred from multiple gene sequences: implications for the study of biogeographical disjunction between eastern Asia and North America

The eastern Asia-North America disjunction is one of the most interesting biogeographical patterns, but its formation is still in much debate. Here nucleotide sequences of five cpDNA regions, nrDNA ITS and two low-copy nuclear genes (LEAFY, 4CL) were employed to reconstruct the phylogeny and to explore the historical biogeography of Thuja, a typical eastern Asia-North America disjunct genus. High topological discordance was observed between chloroplast and nuclear gene trees, even between different nuclear gene trees, suggesting that Thuja could have a reticulate evolutionary history due to multiple interspecific hybridization events. The eastern Asian species Thuja koraiensis might have obtained its chloroplast genome from the eastern North American species T. occidentalis by chloroplast capture, while the western North American species T. plicata is very likely to have inherited a recombinant cpDNA. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of multiple genes, DIVA-reconstruction of the distribution history, molecular clock estimation and fossil data, we inferred that Thuja could have originated from the high-latitude areas of North America in the Paleocene or earlier with subsequent expansion into eastern Asia through the Bering Land Bridge. The two eastern Asia species T. standishii and T. sutchuenensis have a sister relationship, and their split could have occurred in the Oligocene or early Miocene. In the present study, the selection of molecular markers in biogeographic studies was also discussed. Since most previous studies on the eastern Asia and North America disjunction are based on uniparentally inherited cpDNA and (or) directly sequenced nrDNA ITS data, the historical reticulate evolution in the studied groups might have been underestimated. Therefore, we suggest that multiple genes from different genomes, especially low-copy nuclear genes, be used in this research area in the future.