F2 Seeds Research Articles

Genetics of Resistance in F2 Soybean Populations for Adzuki Bean Bruchid (Callosobruchus chinensis)

Adzuki bean bruchid (Callosobruchus chinensis) is a significant pest of soybean in Uganda. To sustainably manage this pest, utilization of resistant soybean varieties is the key solution. Development of resistant varieties needs knowledge on modes of inheritance which is crucial in selection of parent materials. To identify parents, a study was initiated to determine the gene action and mode of inheritance of resistance to bruchids in soybean. Nine parental lines were crossed in a full-diallel at Makerere University Agricultural Institute, Uganda. The generated F1s were advanced to F2 and seeds were evaluated for response to bruchid infestation in a randomised complete block design. Ten seeds were infested with 10 randomly selected unsexed 1-3 day old bruchids. Genotypes showed significant differences in seed weight loss (swl), adult bruchid emergence (ABE) and Dobie susceptibility index (DSI) indicating that these parameters could be used to screen genotypes in genetic analysis. Mean squares of general combining ability (GCA) were significant (P < 0.05) for swl, DSI and number of ABE from the F2 seeds indicating additive gene action. Susceptibility parameters ABE and DSI showed significant specific combining ability (SCA) indicating non-additive gene action. Resistance was influenced by maternal effects indicating that direction of the cross was important. Genotypes S-Line 9.2 and S-Line 13.2A showed negative significant GCA effects for at least two of the susceptibility parameters indicating that they were the best parents for bruchid resistance breeding. The study established that additive, non additive and maternal effects governed the gene expression in soybean resistance to bruchids.

Recombinant inbred lines derived from cultivars of pea for understanding the genetic basis of variation in breeders' traits

AbstractIn order to gain an understanding of the genetic basis of traits of interest to breeders, the pea varieties Brutus, Enigma and Kahuna were selected, based on measures of their phenotypic and genotypic differences, for the construction of recombinant inbred populations. Reciprocal crosses were carried out for each of the three pairs, and over 200 F2 seeds from each cross advanced to F13. Bulked F7 seeds were used to generate F8–F11 bulks, which were grown in triplicated plots within randomized field trials and used to collect phenotypic data, including seed weight and yield traits, over a number of growing seasons. Genetic maps were constructed from the F6 generation to support the analysis of qualitative and quantitative traits and have led to the identification of four major genetic loci involved in seed weight determination and at least one major locus responsible for variation in yield. Three of the seed weight loci, at least one of which has not been described previously, were associated with the marrowfat seed phenotype. For some of the loci identified, candidate genes have been identified. The F13 single seed descent lines are available as a germplasm resource for the legume and pulse crop communities.

Genetic mapping of a barley leaf rust resistance gene Rph26 introgressed from Hordeum bulbosum.

The quantitative barley leaf rust resistance gene, Rph26, was fine mapped within a H. bulbosum introgression on barley chromosome 1HL. This provides the tools for pyramiding with other resistance genes. A novel quantitative resistance gene, Rph26, effective against barley leaf rust (Puccinia hordei) was introgressed from Hordeum bulbosum into the barley (Hordeum vulgare) cultivar 'Emir'. The effect of Rph26 was to reduce the observed symptoms of leaf rust infection (uredinium number and infection type). In addition, this resistance also increased the fungal latency period and reduced the fungal biomass within infected leaves. The resulting introgression line 200A12, containing Rph26, was backcrossed to its barley parental cultivar 'Emir' to create an F2 population focused on detecting interspecific recombination within the introgressed segment. A total of 1368 individuals from this F2 population were genotyped with flanking markers at either end of the 1HL introgression, resulting in the identification of 19 genotypes, which had undergone interspecific recombination within the original introgression. F3 seeds that were homozygous for the introgressions of reduced size were selected from each F2 recombinant and were used for subsequent genotyping and phenotyping. Rph26 was genetically mapped to the proximal end of the introgressed segment located at the distal end of chromosome 1HL. Molecular markers closely linked to Rph26 were identified and will enable this disease resistance gene to be combined with other sources of quantitative resistance to maximize the effectiveness and durability of leaf rust resistance in barley breeding. Heterozygous genotypes containing a single copy of Rph26 had an intermediate phenotype when compared with the homozygous resistant and susceptible genotypes, indicating an incompletely dominant inheritance.

The Production of F0 Oyster Mushroom Seeds (Pleurotus ostreatus), The Post-Harvest Handling, and The Utilization of Baglog Waste into Compost Fertilizer

Community service is one of the duties that must be carried out by every lecturer in Higher Education as one aspect of Tri Dharma University. This community service was titled "The Production of F0 Oyster Mushroom Seeds (Pleurotus ostreatus), The Post-Harvest Handling, and The Utilization of Baglog Waste into Compost" which involved two partners. Partner 1 was in Pegajahan Village, Pegajahan Sub-District who experienced problems with the availability of high-quality F0 and F1 seeds and low production in terms of quality and quantity. Partner 2 was in Blok H Village Dolok Masihul Sub-District, Serdang Bedagai Regency who had a lack of knowledge about post-harvest handling and composting from oyster mushroom baglog waste. Solutions offered for both partners were: (1) transfer of knowledge, such as lectures and discussions; (2) training; and (3) mentoring about the cultivation of F0 and F1 oyster mushrooms. Goals and targets of this activity were: (1) the communities or the farmer groups were able to produce and cultivate F0 and F1 oyster mushrooms, so they did not need to buy F0 and F1 seeds from other regions and can fulfill the market demand; and (2) Partner 2 was able to make compost from oyster mushroom baglog waste and various processed food from oyster mushroom to increase their income. The results of this activity have provided benefits to Partner 1 regarding their ability to produce F0 and F1 seeds, ability to process post-harvest oyster mushrooms into several types of food to increase its selling value, and ability to make compost from baglog waste which can be used for plants to overcome environmental pollution and to increase Partner 2’s income.

Broadening the genetic base of Brassica napus canola by interspecific crosses with different variants of B. oleracea

Broadening the genetic base of the C genome of Brassica napus canola by use of B. oleracea is important. In this study, the prospect of developing B. napus canola lines from B. napus × B. oleracea var. alboglabra, botrytis, italica and capitata crosses and the effect of backcrossing the F1’s to B. napus were investigated. The efficiency of the production of the F1’s varied depending on the B. oleracea variant used in the cross. Fertility of the F1 plants was low—produced, on average, about 0.7 F2 seeds per self-pollination and similar number of BC1 seeds on backcrossing to B. napus. The F3 population showed greater fertility than the BC1F2; however, this difference diminished with the advancement of generation. The advanced generation populations, whether derived from F2 or BC1, showed similar fertility and produced similar size silique with similar number of seeds per silique. Progeny of all F1’s and BC1’s stabilized into B. napus, although B. oleracea plant was expected, especially in the progeny of F1 (ACC) owing to elimination of the A chromosomes during meiosis. Segregation distortion for erucic acid alleles occurred in both F2 and BC1 resulting significantly fewer zero-erucic plants than expected; however, plants with ≤ 15% erucic acid frequently yielded zero-erucic progeny. No consistent correlation between parent and progeny generation was found for seed glucosinolate content; however, selection for this trait was effective and B. napus canola lines were obtained from all crosses. Silique length showed positive correlation with seed set; the advanced generation populations, whether derived from F2 or BC1, were similar for these traits. SSR marker analysis showed that genetically diverse canola lines can be developed by using different variants of B. oleracea in B. napus × B. oleracea interspecific crosses.

Traits correlate with invasive success more than plasticity: A comparison of three Centaurea congeners.

The importance of phenotypic plasticity for successful invasion by exotic plant species has been well studied, but with contradictory and inconclusive results. However, many previous studies focused on comparisons of native and invasive species that co‐occur in a single invaded region, and thus on species with potentially very different evolutionary histories. We took a different approach by comparing three closely related Centaurea species: the highly invasive C. solstitialis, and the noninvasive but exotic C. calcitrapa and C. sulphurea. These species have overlapping distributions both in their native range of Spain and in their non‐native range of California. We collected seeds from 3 to 10 populations from each region and species and grew them in common garden greenhouse conditions to obtain an F1 generation in order to reduce maternal effects. Then, F1 seeds were grown subjected to simulated herbivory, variation in nutrient availability, and competition, to explore plasticity in the responses to these conditions. We found little variation in phenotypic plasticity among species and regions, but C. solstitialis plants from California produced more biomass in competition than their Spanish conspecifics. This species also had the highest relative growth rates when in competition and when grown under low nutrient availability. Noninvasive congeners produced intermediate or opposite patterns.

Participatory F1 hybrid seed production of tomato and its economic benefit

Quality seeds play significant role in the agriculture production. This study was aimed to produce quality F1 seed of tomato by involving farmers at reasonable price and increase the availability of F1 hybrid ‘Srijana’ in commercial tomato growing areas of Nepal. The activities were carried out during three consecutive years from September 2009 to August 2012 in three sites i.e. Dhikurpokhari and Armala of Kaski district, and Mattikhan of Syangja district. Altogether 12 plastic houses were constructed for F1 seed production. Twelve female farmers and technicians from Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Malepatan; District Agricultural Development Offices from Kaski and Syangja districts and I/NGO personnel and seed entrepreneurs participated in different seed production activities. Parental lines of Srijana tomato hybrid were maintained in ARS, Malepatan. Training was provided to farmers on F1 hybrid seed production focusing on emasculation and pollination of tomato crop and crop protection. Farmers produced a total of 11.4 kg F1 seeds and able to get NRs 10,01,730 by selling their produce. The gross profit margin from production of F1 seed comprises 350 times more in comparison to maize seed production. The economic analysis showed that the net profit per kilogram of tomato F1 seed is 92%. F1 seed production has been carried out even by rural women farmers after getting good schooling of knowledge and skill through training. It indicates that F1 hybrid technology should be extended to other crops so that more farmers could get benefit from producing F1 hybrid seeds as well as by growing F1 hybrid crops.

Glutenin analysis for the safe screening of self-pollinated wheat seeds when developing doubled-haploid populations

Abstract: The objective of this work was to apply glutenin analysis, as a simple and reliable method, to identify self-pollinated wheat (Triticum aestivum) seeds in F1 crosses, when developing mapping populations using doubled-haploid (DH) technology. F1 seeds were subjected to glutenin analyses using gel electrophoresis, to verify and confirm their heterozygotic profiles. Glutenin analyses were carried out using one half of the endosperm of each of the 87 F1 seeds. The other half of the endosperm was used to develop the mapping population through DHs. Plants with band patterns different from the expected ones were discarded. Although the incidence of self-pollinated seeds was relatively low (only 8%), the screening of F1 heterozygotic profiles is extremely important, particularly when creating reliable mapping populations.

Combining Ability of Agronomic and Yield Traits in Rice Genotypes

Combining Ability of Agronomic and Yield Traits in Rice Genotypes The demand for rice production in Kenya is high while production has remained far below consumption demand for quite a number of years. Growing of poorly adapted rice varieties with undesirable traits is one of the major factors limiting production. The objectives of this study were to determine the performance and combining ability of rice cultivars for both agronomic and yield related traits. Seven genotypes were crossed in a North Carolina II mating design to generate the F1 hybrids. The 12 F2 seeds, 7 parents and 1 check variety were planted at KALRO-Mwea following a randomized complete block design replicated three times. Analysis of combining ability was done using SAS (Version 9.3) software. Rice genotypes were significantly different for all the agronomic and yield traits except chlorophyll content, filled grains and thousand grain weight. The mean square GCA (m) were significantly different for all traits except chlorophyll content while for GCA (f) except productive tillers, panicles per plant and thousand grain weight. Specific Combining Ability showed significant differences for all traits measured. The heritability results indicated that these traits were governed by nonadditive genes. The parents, Komboka, Mwur 4 and Nerica 4 were good general combiners for grain yield, filled grains and had shorter duration to flowering. These parents could be used in a hybridization program to introgress yield traits into adapted low yielding lines. The best specific combiners were hybrids generated from a cross between Mwur 4 and Nerica 4 and Komboka and Nerica 4. These hybrids could be exploited for heterosis breeding.

Genetic Analysis of Adult Plant Resistance Genes to Stem Rust in Some Egyptian Bread Wheat Cultivars

Adult plant resistance (APR) to stem rust in seven Egyptian wheat cultivars i.e., Giza 168, Misr 1, Misr 2, Sakha 94, Gemmeiza 12, Sids 13 and Sids 14 and five stem rust resistance genes i.e., Sr9e, Sr11, Sr13, Sr28 and SrPl, were characterized during 2014/2015, 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 growing seasons at Sids Research Station. Stem rust resistance in seven Egyptian wheat cultivars was experimentally measured using two epidemiological parameters; final rust severity (FRS %) and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC). All of these parameters were found to be lower in the partially resistant (PR) cultivars; Giza-168, Sids-14, Sakha-94 and Gemmeiza-12, rather than those in the highly susceptible or fast-rusting cultivars; Misr-1, Misr-2 and Sids-13 as well as the check variety; Morocco. The partially resistant (PR) cultivars were slightly affected by stem rust infection resulting in little or few grain yield loss (%), less than the highly susceptible or fast-rusting cultivars which were severely rusted and showed high loss in grain yield under field conditions. F1 plants resulted from the crosses between these cultivars and the five stem rust resistance genes were planted, during 2014/2015 growing season, to produce F2 seeds. The resulted F2 plants were tested under field conditions in 2016/2017 at adult stage against a mixture of Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici races. Segregations of F2 plants indicated that the stem rust resistance gene; Sr13 was identified in all the tested wheat cultivars, except Misr 2. While SrPl was detected in the three wheat cultivars i.e., Sids 14, Sakha 94 and Gemmeiza 12, Also the three wheat cultivars; Giza 168, Sids 13 and Gemmeiza 12 proved to have the resistance gene Sr9e. The stem rust resistance gene Sr28; was found only in the two cultivars, Giza 168 and Sids 14, but Sr11 was identified in three wheat cultivars i.e., Giza 168, Sids 13 and Gemmeiza 12. A combination or pyramiding of multiple genes for stem rust resistance in one particular wheat cultivar prolonged their life expectancy and gives it the potentiality to be more durable.

Evolvement of transgenic male-sterility and fertility-restoration system in rice for production of hybrid varieties.

We have developed a unique male-sterility and fertility-restoration system in rice by combining Brassica napus cysteine-protease gene (BnCysP1) with anther-specific P12 promoter of rice for facilitating production of hybrid varieties. In diverse crop plants, male-sterility has been exploited as a useful approach for production of hybrid varieties to harness the benefits of hybrid vigour. The promoter region of Os12bglu38 gene of rice has been isolated from the developing panicles and was designated as P12. The promoter was fused with gusA reporter gene and was expressed in Arabidopsis and rice systems. Transgenic plants exhibited GUS activity in tapetal cells and pollen of the developing anthers indicating anther/pollen-specific expression of the promoter. For engineering nuclear male sterility, the coding region of Brassica napus cysteine protease1 (BnCysP1) was isolated from developing seeds and fused to P12 promoter. Transgenic rice plants obtained with P12-BnCysP1 failed to produce functional pollen grains. The F1 seeds obtained from BnCysP1 male-sterile plants and untransformed controls showed 1:1 (tolerant:sensitive) ratio when germinated on the MS medium supplemented with phosphinothricin (5mg/l), confirming that the male sterility has been successfully engineered in rice. For male fertility restoration, transgenic rice plants carrying BnCysP1Si silencing system were developed. The pollination of BnCysP1 male-sterile (female-fertile) plants with BnCysP1Si pollen resulted in normal grain filling. The F1 seeds of BnCysP1 × BnCysP1Si when germinated on the MS basal medium containing PPT (5mg/l) and hygromycin (70mg/l) exhibited 1:1 (tolerant:sensitive) ratio and the tolerant plants invariably showed normal grain filling. The overall results clearly suggest that the customized male-sterility & fertility-restoration system can be exploited for quality hybrid seed production in various crops.

Improved application of tribenuron-methyl as a chemical hybridizing agent with forchlorfenuron for rapeseed hybrid breeding

Chemicals or agents that can induce plant male sterility are considered chemical hybridizing agents (CHAs) and are quite useful for plant hybrid breeding. Tribenuron-methyl (TBM) can effectively induce male sterility in rapeseed plants. However, applications of TBM in rapeseed breeding practices have not been reported. Here, treatment with the CHA referred to as CHA-TBM, which contained 0.1–0.9 mg/L TBM, induced male sterility in all 22 tested rapeseed inbred lines. However, the highest induced male sterile rates in the tested rapeseed lines were only approximately 54–57% together with poisoned rates of approximately 36–39%, which were resulted from two treatments of CHA-TBM containing 0.5 mg/L TBM at an interval of 9 days beginning at the floral bud stage (FBS) of 2.0–3.5 mm. Such male sterile rates and poisoned rates caused by CHA-TBM indicated that TBM is not an ideal CHA for rapeseed hybrid breeding. The results of many screening experiments showed that forchlorfenuron can alleviate the toxic effects of TBM on rapeseed plants. Two treatments with the CHA referred to as CHA-TBM-FCF, which contained 0.6 mg/L TBM and 2.1 mg/L forchlorfenuron, at an interval of 9 days beginning at the FBS of 2.0–3.5 mm induced male sterility in approximately 96–98% of plants of all the 22 tested rapeseed inbred lines and poisoned only approximately 2–4% of the tested plants. The CHA-TBM-FCF treatment did not affect pistil fertility of the rapeseed plants, and had no carry-over influence on stamen fertility of the rapeseed hybrids produced with this CHA. Some rapeseed hybrids were successfully produced using CHA-TBM-FCF (e.g., Qinrong 1, Qinrong 2, Qinyou 19, Qinyou 33, Qinzayou 4 and Qinzayou 5). The hybridity values of the F1 seeds of the rapeseed hybrids produced using CHA-TBM-FCF were determined to be approximately 93–98% with the simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker techniques. Together, the results indicate that CHA-TBM-FCF containing TBM and forchlorfenuron at suitable concentrations is an ideal CHA for rapeseed hybrid breeding.

Investigating long-term effect of nanoparticles on growth of Raphanus sativus plants: a trans-generational study.

In the past decade, there has been an unprecedented growth in the application of nanoparticles (NPs) worldwide. Even though the acute toxicity of CuO and ZnO NPs to plants has been investigated in past, the trans-generational effects of these NPs in the environment are still unknown. In this study, we investigated whether the treatment of radish plants with CuO and ZnO NPs as single compound and as a binary mixture (10, 100 and 1000 mg/Kg soil) through their lifecycle would affect the seed quality and the development of second-generation seedlings or not. Results showed reduced root length, shoot length and biomass in F1 seedlings of NPs treated plants. The treated F1 seeds had smaller seed weight with accumulated Cu and Zn. The effect of toxic interaction between CuO and ZnO on plant growth was antagonistic in nature. Evaluation of the trans-generational impact is important to understand the long-term effect of NPs on the environment.

Performance of aneuploid backcross hybrids between the crop Brassica napus and its wild relative B. rapa.

Crossings between the diploid wild Brassica rapa (AA, 2n=20) and the tetraploid cultivar B.napus (AACC, 2n=38) can readily be made. Backcrosses to the wild B.rapa (BC1 ) produce aneuploids with variable chromosome numbers between 20 and 29. How does survival and performance relate to DNA content of plants? Growth of the BC1 plants was measured in the lab. One plant in the F1 self-pollinated spontaneously and produced abundant F2 seeds that were also examined. The number of C-chromosomes was estimated from DNA values obtained with flow cytometry. Average DNA value of the BC1 was similar to that of the parents, which shows that C-chromosomes do not reduce success of pollen or embryos. The average DNA value in the F2 was 13% higher than in the F1 , suggesting that extra C-chromosomes facilitated gamete success and/or embryo survival. Under both optimal and drought stress conditions growth and survival of BC1 hybrids was similar to that of B.rapa. No significant correlations existed between growth or survival and DNA value. Aneuploid plants were not inferior under the conditions of the growth room and may persist in nature. We discuss other factors, such as herbivory, that could prevent hybrid establishment in the field.

Reduced incompatibility in the production of second generation hybrids between two Magnolia species revealed by Bayesian gene dispersal modeling.

Hybrid zones are areas where gene flow between related species is currently occurring, so information on the compatibility between related species and their hybrids is essential for predicting the dynamics of such zones generated by introgressive hybridization. In this study, we quantified the compatibility among Magnolia stellata, M. salicifolia, and their hybrids in a hybrid zone using gene dispersal modeling. After determining the genealogical classes of adult trees in the hybrid zone, the paternity of 574 open-pollinated seeds from 37 known maternal trees was analyzed with microsatellite markers. A neighborhood-based Bayesian gene dispersal model developed by us for estimating compatibility was then applied to the paternity data. When M. stellata or M. salicifolia were mothers, interspecific mating to produce F1 hybrids yielded significant incompatibility, but backcrossing with F1 hybrids did not. Furthermore, when F1 hybrids became mothers, no significant incompatibility resulted from backcrossing to parental species or intra-F1 mating to produce F2 hybrids. The estimated proportion of F1 hybrids in the outcrossed seeds (1.7%) in the hybrid zone was much lower than that in the adult trees (14.0%). While it is difficult to obtain F1 hybrids, their low incompatibility makes it easy to produce advanced generation hybrids, once they have been successfully obtained. Although the production of F1 seeds is rare, heterosis and/or weak selection pressure in an empty niche between the parental species' niches may have contributed to the increased proportion of adult F1 hybrids in the hybrid zone.

Characterization of parents and F1 seeds of rice hybrid KRH-4 using different chemical tests and seed image analyzer

Characterization of parents and F1 seeds of rice hybrid KRH-4 using different chemical tests and seed image analyzer

Divergence in Life History Traits between Two Populations of a Seed-Dimorphic Halophyte in Response to Soil Salinity.

Production of heteromorphic seeds is common in halophytes growing in arid environments with strong spatial and temporal heterogeneity. However, evidence for geographic variation (reflecting local adaptation) is almost nonexistent. Our primary aims were to compare the life history traits of two desert populations of this halophytic summer annual Suaeda corniculata subsp. mongolica and to investigate the phenotypic response of its plant and heteromorphic seeds to different levels of salt stress. Dimorphic seeds (F1) of the halophyte S. corniculata collected from two distant populations (F0) that differ in soil salinity were grown in a common environment under different levels of salinity to minimize the carryover effects from the field environment and tested for variation in plant (F1) and seed (F2) traits. Compared to F1 plants grown in low soil salinity, those grown in high salinity (>0.2 mol⋅L-1) were smaller and produced fewer seeds but had a higher reproductive allocation and a higher non-dormant brown seed: dormant black seed ratio. High salinity during plant growth decreased germination percentage of F2 black seeds but had no effect on F2 brown seeds. Between population differences in life history traits in the common environment corresponded with those in the natural populations. Phenotypic differences between the two populations were retained in F1 plants and in F2 seeds in the common environment, which suggests that the traits are genetically based. Our results indicate that soil salinity plays an ecologically important role in population regeneration of S. corniculata by influencing heteromorphic seed production in the natural habitat.

Pollen-mediated gene flow from transgenic to non-transgenic switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) in the field

BackgroundSwitchgrass is C4 perennial grass species that is being developed as a cellulosic bioenergy feedstock. It is wind-pollinated and considered to be an obligate outcrosser. Genetic engineering has been used to alter cell walls for more facile bioprocessing and biofuel yield. Gene flow from transgenic cultivars would likely be of regulatory concern. In this study we investigated pollen-mediated gene flow from transgenic to nontransgenic switchgrass in a 3-year field experiment performed in Oliver Springs, Tennessee, U.S.A. using a modified Nelder wheel design. The planted area (0.6 ha) contained sexually compatible pollen source and pollen receptor switchgrass plants. One hundred clonal switchgrass ‘Alamo’ plants transgenic for an orange-fluorescent protein (OFP) and hygromycin resistance were used as the pollen source; whole plants, including pollen, were orange-fluorescent. To assess pollen movement, pollen traps were placed at 10 m intervals from the pollen-source plot in the four cardinal directions extending to 20 m, 30 m, 30 m, and 100 m to the north, south, west, and east, respectively. To assess pollination rates, nontransgenic ‘Alamo 2’ switchgrass clones were planted in pairs adjacent to pollen traps.ResultsIn the eastward direction there was a 98% decrease in OFP pollen grains from 10 to 100 m from the pollen-source plot (Poisson regression, F1,8 = 288.38, P < 0.0001). At the end of the second and third year, 1,820 F1 seeds were collected from pollen recipient-plots of which 962 (52.9%) germinated and analyzed for their transgenic status. Transgenic progeny production detected in each pollen-recipient plot decreased with increased distance from the edge of the transgenic plot (Poisson regression, F1,15 = 12.98, P < 0.003). The frequency of transgenic progeny detected in the eastward plots (the direction of the prevailing wind) ranged from 79.2% at 10 m to 9.3% at 100 m.ConclusionsIn these experiments we found transgenic pollen movement and hybridization rates to be inversely associated with distance. However, these data suggest pollen-mediated gene flow is likely to occur up to, at least, 100 m. This study gives baseline data useful to determine isolation distances and other management practices should transgenic switchgrass be grown commercially in relevant environments.

Dynamic nucleolar activity in wheat×Aegilops hybrids: evidence of C-genome dominance.

NOR loci of C-subgenome are dominant in wheat×Aegilops interspecific hybrids, which may have evolutionary implications for wheat group genome dynamics and evolution. After interspecific hybridisation, some genes are often expressed from only one of the progenitor species, shaping subsequent allopolyploid genome evolution processes. A well-known example is nucleolar dominance, i.e. the formation of cell nucleoli from chromosomes of only one parental species. We studied nucleolar organizing regions (NORs) in diploid Aegilops markgrafii (syn: Ae. caudata; CC), Ae. umbellulata (UU), allotetraploids Aegilops cylindrica (CcCcDcDc) and Ae. triuncialis (CtCtUtUt), synthetic interspecific F1 hybrids between these two allotetraploids and bread wheat (Triticum aestivum, AABBDD) and in F3 generation hybrids with genome composition AABBDDCtCtUtUt using silver staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). In Ae. markgrafii (CC), NORs of both 1C and 5C or only 5C chromosome pairs were active in different individual cells, while only NORs on 1U chromosomes were active in Ae. umbellulata (UU). Although all 35S rDNA loci of the Ct subgenome (located on 1Ct and 5Ct) were active in Ae. triuncialis, only one pair (occupying either 1Cc or 5Cc) was active in Ae. cylindrica, depending on the genotype studied. These C-genome expression patterns were transmitted to the F1 and F3 generations. Wheat chromosome NOR activity was variable in Ae. triuncialis×T. aestivum F1 seeds, but silenced by the F3 generation. No effect of maternal or paternal cross direction was observed. These results indicate that C-subgenome NOR loci are dominant in wheat×Aegilops interspecific hybrids, which may have evolutionary implications for wheat group genome dynamics and allopolyploid evolution.

Recombinants from the crosses between amphidiploid and cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea) for pest-resistance breeding programs

Peanut is a major oilseed crop worldwide. In the Brazilian peanut production, silvering thrips and red necked peanut worm are the most threatening pests. Resistant varieties are considered an alternative to pest control. Many wild diploid Arachis species have shown resistance to these pests, and these can be used in peanut breeding by obtaining hybrid of A and B genomes and subsequent polyploidization with colchicine, resulting in an AABB amphidiploid. This amphidiploid can be crossed with cultivated peanut (AABB) to provide genes of interest to the cultivar. In this study, the sterile diploid hybrids from A. magna V 13751 and A. kempff-mercadoi V 13250 were treated with colchicine for polyploidization, and the amphidiploids were crossed with A. hypogaea cv. IAC OL 4 to initiate the introgression of the wild genes into the cultivated peanut. The confirmation of the hybridity of the progenies was obtained by: (1) reproductive characterization through viability of pollen, (2) molecular characterization using microsatellite markers and (3) morphological characterization using 61 morphological traits with principal component analysis. The diploid hybrid individual was polyploidized, generating the amphidiploid An 13 (A. magna V 13751 x A. kempff-mercadoi V 13250)4x. Four F1 hybrid plants were obtained from IAC OL 4 × An 13, and 51 F2 seeds were obtained from these F1 plants. Using reproductive, molecular and morphological characterizations, it was possible to distinguish hybrid plants from selfed plants. In the cross between A. hypogaea and the amphidiploid, as the two parents are polyploid, the hybrid progeny and selves had the viability of the pollen grains as high as the parents. This fact turns the use of reproductive characteristics impossible for discriminating, in this case, the hybrid individuals from selfing. The hybrids between A. hypogaea and An 13 will be used in breeding programs seeking pest resistance, being subjected to successive backcrosses until recovering all traits of interest of A. hypogaea, keeping the pest resistance.