Variation and covariation of seed weight and its components in wheat following irradiation,EMS, and hybridization

Summary Seeds from two hexaploid wheat varieties, Giza 150 and Sonora 64, and the F₂ seeds of their hybrid were given two mutagenic treatments, gamma irradiation and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), to study the type of variation and covariation in seed weight, width, and length induced by irradiation, EMS, and hybridization. Measurements of seed weight and its components were taken on 30 replicated lines derived from each treated and non-treated material.Both irradiation and EMS produced significant variability in seed weight and its components in the pure genetic background. The hybrid genetic background somewhat depressed the expression of irradiation-induced variability. The variations resulting from EMS and hybridization were to a great extent independent and cumulative.Neither EMS nor irradiation caused any significant shift in the means of seed weight, width, and length. The positive association between inheritance of width and length in irradiation-derived materials did not increase the mean seed weight compared with the control.The magnitude of the genetic correlations in irradiation varieties was double that obtained from hybrid-or EMS-derived materials. It is suggested that EMS mainly produced mutations of genes and/or minute chromosomal aberrations, whereas the genetic variation produced by gamma irradiation was accompanied by the loss and/or gain of large segments of the chromosomes.     

Quantitative variability in wheat following irradiation,EMS, and hybridization

Summary The effects of gamma irradiation and EMS seed treatment on the genetic properties of pure line and hybrid wheat populations were measured. Two hundred lines were derived from each mutagenic treatment of each genetic source and, together with their control materials, were assayed for heading date, plant height, spike length, and kernel weight in a replicated field experiment.Both mutagens induced significant genetic variability for the four traits in either Giza 150 or Sonora 64, two pure cultivars, but neither was effective in increasing the genetic variation in their hybrid background. The relative magnitude of induced variation compared with that from hybridization depended on the particular mutagen and attribute and averaged less than 50% of that from hybridization. Heritabilities and expected genetic gains were not much lower in mutagenic populations than in hybrid populations. The relative distributions of the variance components among families and within families, and the estimates of the genetic correlations in the various populations, indicated that induced mutations were somewhat similar in nature to the variation released from hybridization. The induced variation was not accompanied by any shift in the population mean and, in most cases, variation was equally distributed around the population mean.     

Light Absorption and Competition in Mixed Communities of Hordeum Leporinum-Euphorbia Scordifolia

The effect of Euphorbia scordifolia and Hordeum leporinum competition on leaf area development, radiant energy absorption, and dry matter production was evaluated in a field experiment. Profile measurements (0-0.3, 0.3-0.6, 0.6-0.9, and >0.9 m above ground) of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) and leaf area index (LAI) by species were taken at four densities of E. scordifolia (0, 1, 4, and 12 plants per m²). APAR calculated for H. leporinum in mixed communities was 79, 77, and 49 % of the APAR in H. leporinum and LAI was reduced to 81, 65, and 37 %. LAI of H. leporinum was concentrated in the 0.3-0.6 m layer, while the taller E. scordifolia plants had the greatest LAI above 0.6 m. By absorbing radiant energy in the upper canopy, E. scordifolia reduced APAR penetrating to H. leporinum. Measurements of net photosynthetic and transpiration rates, leaf temperature, and stomatal conductance confirmed the importance of competition for PAR for plant growth and metabolism. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Transcript profiling of genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis among three carrot cultivars with various taproot colors

Protoplasma - Carotenoids are a group of natural pigments that are widely distributed in various plants. Carrots are plants rich in carotenoids and have fleshy roots with different colors....     

A biosocial model of medication use among older women and men in Ismailia, Egypt

In Western industrialized countries, women report using health services, and certain medications, more often than do men. Often, analyses are based on data that exclude objective measures of morbidity and that come from cross-sectional surveys, which precludes the use of socioeconomic covariates that are endogenous to seeking care. Here, differences in objective cognitive and physical function, as well as differences in reporting on illness, propensity to seek care, and socioeconomic resources are expected to account for differences in care-seeking behaviour among women and men. This model is applied to the question of medication use in Ismailia, Egypt, using two waves of survey data and in-home tests of physical function from 896 adults aged 50 years and older. The results show that women use "modern" medications more often than do men, and that differences between women and men in reported morbidity and disability, observed cognitive and physical function, and economic resources account for women's greater use of medication. The findings underline a need for biosocial models to understand differences in women's and men's care-seeking behaviour in later life.     

Variability and covariability for plant height,heading date,and seed weight in wheat crosses

Summary Variability, covariability, heritability, and expected genetic gains from selection for heading date, plant height, and kernel weight were estimated in progenies derived from six wheat crosses. The crosses differed in the magnitude of the genetic variabilities of their progenies, but all crosses had significant variabilities for all traits. Heritability estimates were calculated by the variance components method. The estimates of heritability were relatively high for all three traits and averaged 86% for heading date, 77% for plant height, and 70% for kernel weight. The presence of significant genetic variabilities and high heritability estimates indicated that selection would be effective for the three traits.The segregates derived from crosses between medium tall parents showed transgressive segregation that would permit isolation of short-statured types. Transgressive segregation also occurred for heading date and kernel weight.Heading date and plant height were positively and highly significantly correlated in four crosses out of six. But both plant height and heading date had, in general, low negative correlations with kernel weight which would not preclude the development of short wheats with high kernel weight from these crosses. The association between characters was mostly genetic in cause.     

Light Absorption and Competition in Mixed Communities of Hordeum Leporinum-Euphorbia Scordifolia

The effect of Euphorbia scordifolia and Hordeum leporinum competition on leaf area development, radiant energy absorption, and dry matter production was evaluated in a field experiment. Profile measurements (0-0.3, 0.3-0.6, 0.6-0.9, and >0.9 m above ground) of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) and leaf area index (LAI) by species were taken at four densities of E. scordifolia (0, 1, 4, and 12 plants per m²). APAR calculated for H. leporinum in mixed communities was 79, 77, and 49 % of the APAR in H. leporinum and LAI was reduced to 81, 65, and 37 %. LAI of H. leporinum was concentrated in the 0.3-0.6 m layer, while the taller E. scordifolia plants had the greatest LAI above 0.6 m. By absorbing radiant energy in the upper canopy, E. scordifolia reduced APAR penetrating to H. leporinum. Measurements of net photosynthetic and transpiration rates, leaf temperature, and stomatal conductance confirmed the importance of competition for PAR for plant growth and metabolism.