ALBERT

Notes: Six stability statistics: (bi, s2di, 〈inlineGraphic alt="inline image" href="urn:x-wiley:01799541:PBR72:PBR_72_mu1" location="equation/PBR_72_mu1.gif" extraInfo="missing"/〉, 〈inlineGraphic alt="inline image" href="urn:x-wiley:01799541:PBR72:PBR_72_mu2" location="equation/PBR_72_mu2.gif" extraInfo="missing"/〉, 〈inlineGraphic alt="inline image" href="urn:x-wiley:01799541:PBR72:PBR_72_mu3" location="equation/PBR_72_mu3.gif" extraInfo="missing"/〉 and 〈inlineGraphic alt="inline image" href="urn:x-wiley:01799541:PBR72:PBR_72_mu4" location="equation/PBR_72_mu4.gif" extraInfo="missing"/〉) were estimated for maize, wheat and sorghum in different environments by using three statistical models. The significant linear portion of genotype × environment interaction for maize indicates different hybrids responded differently to environments, whereas the non-significant genotype × environment interaction (linear) were found for wheat and sorghum suggest that all genotypes responded similarly as the environments change. However, the highly significant pooled deviations (deviation from regression) for all three crops make yield predictions from the model less reliable. When regression coefficients (bi) were non-significant, s2di, became an important statistic in estimating stability. It appears that the regression coefficient, bi, was best used to estimate genotypic adaptability, whereas s2di, for stability. Maize and sorghum had negative correlations between the mean yield and stability statistics, s2di, 〈inlineGraphic alt="inline image" href="urn:x-wiley:01799541:PBR72:PBR_72_mu2" location="equation/PBR_72_mu2.gif" extraInfo="missing"/〉, 〈inlineGraphic alt="inline image" href="urn:x-wiley:01799541:PBR72:PBR_72_mu3" location="equation/PBR_72_mu3.gif" extraInfo="missing"/〉 and 〈inlineGraphic alt="inline image" href="urn:x-wiley:01799541:PBR72:PBR_72_mu4" location="equation/PBR_72_mu4.gif" extraInfo="missing"/〉, suggesting that high yield and stability are not mutually exclusive in the range of environments used in this study; however, such correlations did not occur in wheat. Thus, maize and sorghum hybrids with high yield potential and high stability could be identified and selected. Correlations between mean yield and bi, or 〈inlineGraphic alt="inline image" href="urn:x-wiley:01799541:PBR72:PBR_72_mu1" location="equation/PBR_72_mu1.gif" extraInfo="missing"/〉, were positive and significant for maize and sorghum but were non-significant for wheat, indicating that such relationships may be species specific. Under a given set of testing environments, the stability ranking associated with each maize hybrid is correlated to and depends on other hybrids included in the analysis.

Notes: Resistance to southern corn leaf blight is under the control of a single recessive allele, rhm, and can be scored from lesion number, size, type and sporulation in the lesion, which are best expressed by plants growing under field conditions, although resistance also can be measured at the seedling stage. An assay procedure that can unequivocally score disease severity from the seedling stage to post-flowering in the field is desirable. We analysed pairs of isogenic lines H95/H95rhm and B73/B73Htrhm, the F2 population of H95 × H95rhm consisting of a total of 687 individuals, and 120 F3 families, which were inoculated with conidia of Bipolaris maydis race O. The disease ratings were also studied together with the segregation scores of a single copy DNA probe, agrP144. Among 687 F2 plants derived from the cross H95 x H95rhm, 161 plants were rated as resistant and 526 susceptible, suggesting a 1: 3 ratio. Among the 120 F3 families, there were 32 susceptible, 58 segregating and 30 resistant rows, fitting the expected 1:2:1 ratio for a single gene model. Using agrP144 as a marker, 99.5% restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) allelic segregation scores corresponded to the disease ratings obtained from field data, indicating that the marker agrP144 is tightly linked to the rhm locus. Similarly, the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker p7m36 also is closely linked to the locus but on the opposite side of the marker agrP144.

Notes: A complete set of nine primary trisomics (2n+ 1) for cv.‘Yugu No. 1’of foxtail millet, Setaria italica (L.) Beauv. (2n= 2x= 18), was identified cytologically from progenies derived from crosses between autotriploids(2n= 2x= 27) and their diploid counterparts. Five autotriploid plants were identified from 2100 seedlings derived from 4x-2x crosses; the reciprocal crosses (2x-4x) failed to produce autotriploids. Autotriploids grew vigorously and were morphologically very similar to diploids. Theprimary trisomics (2n= 2x= 19) constituted ≅32.5% of the total progeny from the 3x-2x crosses, whereas 59.8% of the descendants were aneuploids with chromosome numbers ranging from 20 (double trisomics and tetrasomics) to 37 (2n= 4x+ 1; or autotetraploid with one additional chromosome). The nine primary trisomics identified were self-fertile; seven had characteristic morphology, whereas trisomics VIII and IX resembled the disomics. The seed set for trisomic V was the lowest (20%), and trisomic VIII the highest (74%). Other aneuploids with 20 or more somatic chromosomes were either self-sterile or partially fertile with various, but low, levels of seed set. Each of the primary trisomics showed its unique transmission rate when self-pollinated; trisomic IX had the highest (45.8%), whereas trisomic V had the lowest (19.6%) transmission rate.

Notes: Fifty genotypes and ten growth-regulator combinations were used in two experiments (I and II) to investigate genotype and hormonal effects on production of callus and embryoids via anther culture in maize (Zea mays L.). Hormonal effects across all genotypes were not significant in either experiment. However, highest callus-induction frequencies in both experiments occurred on YP basal medium plus 2,4-D at 2.0 mg 1−1, and kinetin at 1.5 mg 1−1 indicating that this combination was more effective than others. Genotypic differences in callus or embryoid induction across all media were significant. The most responsive genotypes in experiment I were single-cross hybrids Yuanwu × 592 and K727 × K305, which produced 18.3 and 6.7 % calli, respectively, with their appropriate media. The most responsive entry in experiment II was CIMMYT Pool 29, which produced 15.0 % calli on appropriate medium and an average of 10.0 % calli across 10 media. Twenty-three plantlets was regenerated from this study. Most of them developed embryogenically.

Notes: High and stable yield is a very desirable attribute of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) cultivars. Stable yield of a cultivar means that its rank relative to other cultivars remains unchanged in a given set of environments. To characterize 12 soybean cultivars chosen from performance trials, data were obtained from 10 environments (five locations in 2 years). Six stability parameters from four statistical models were derived for each cultivar. Regression coefficients were significantly and positively correlated only with coefficients of variation; they are useful in characterizing whether cultivars responded well in favourable or poor environments. Nassar and Huhn's nonparametric measures, Si(1) and Si(2), were significantly and positively correlated with Eberhart and Russell's sdi2 and Wricke's ecovalence (Wi). The stability measures are useful in characterizing cultivars by showing their relative performance in various environments. Results revealed that high-yielding cultivars also can be stable cultivars. Correlations between stability parameters obtained from individual years over the same set of locations and cultivars were very low and nonsignificant, suggesting that single-year data are not reliable as basis for selection. To provide an additional guide for selection, Kang's rank-sum approach was applied, in which both yield (in rank) and measured nonparametric stability (in rank) were considered. In general, selection for yield only would sacrifice stability to some degree, and selection for stability only would sacrifice a certain amount of yield. The rank-sum approach reconciles the two and appeared to provide a useful means to characterize soybean cultivars.

Notes: Effects of incubation temperature and developmental stage of microspores on polyhaploid production in three wheat cultivars‘Pavon 76′, ‘Kitt’, and ‘Chris’ and one triticale cultivar, ‘T81′, were studied using a one-step medium. Calli failing to differentiate on the one-step medium were placed on a medium containing 1 mg/l indole-3-acctic acid (IAA) and 2 mg/1 6-furfurylaminopunne (KIN). Anthers containing either early- or late-uninucleate microspores were incubated in dark at 26, 28 or 32°C lor 3 days prior to transfer to 26°C. Averaged over temperatures and microspore stages, frequency of calli and green plantlets were 8.9 % and 3.4 %, respectively, for wheat cultivar‘Pavon 76′, 8.4 % and 1.6 % for cultivar ‘Kitt’, 4.5 % and 0.25 % for cultivar ‘Chris’, and 2.9 % and 0.12 % for the triticale cultivar‘T81′. However, cultivar-by-developmental-stage interaction was significant for frequency of callus induction. Temperature had no significant effects on callus induction and plantlet regeneration. Anthers containing early-unmucleate microspores produced no polyhaploids.

Notes: Soybean (Glycine max L. ev. Columbus) seedlings grown in culture solution were treated with cadmium as CdSO4. Final concentrations of cadmium (Cd2+) in the solution were 0, 0.45, 0.90, and 1.35 μM. Soybean leaves, analyzed 10 days after Cd2+ was added to the culture solution, showed increased respiration rate and activities of malate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, ribonuclease, deoxyribonuclease, and peroxidase but decreased activity of carbonic anhydrase. Increased activity of hydrolytic enzymes and peroxidase reflects a general senescence response while the carbonic anhydrase decrease is consistent with an antagonism between cadmium and endogenous zinc. Chlorosis, epinasty, abscission of leaves, and decreased growth rate occurred in seedlings treated with 1.35 μM Cd2+.

Notes: The agronomic performance and chromosome behavior of autotetraploid sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] inbreds and F1 hybrids were investigated. Autotetraploids have possible commercial use and can serve as bridging species in crosses to natural tetraploids. Autotetraploid sorghum inbreds (2n = 40) had higher kernel weight, seed yield, and protein and amino acid content than their diploid counterparts. Stalk height and panicle length of the autotet-raploids, however, were not different from those of the diploids, and seed set of autotetraploids was lower in early generations. Seed set of autotetraploid Ft hybrids was related to and higher than that of the autotetraploid parental inbred lines. Frequency of quadrivalents, anaphase I and II laggards, and quartet micronuclei varied among autotetraploids. Frequency of quadrivalents did not appear to be an important factor in seed set nor was it significantly associated with frequency of laggards. Aneuploids (2n = 39, 41) had higher percentages of laggards and micronuclei than did euploids (2n = 40). Methods of pollination significantly affected seed set in autotetraploid S4 lines. Differences in seed set among autotetraploid lines indicated the feasibility of selecting for lines with high seed set and utilizing those lines for hybrid production.

Notes: Homozygous doubled-haploid plantlets derived from anther culture of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) are useful breeding materials. However, efficiency of an-drogenesis needs improvement. We used media (basic components, are the same as 85DI2) each containing one of the seven auxins [2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5–T), P-chloraphenoxyacetic acid (pCPA), 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid (dicamba), 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram), indole-3-butrytic acid (IBA), indole-3-acctic acid (IAA), and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) as a control] in combination with 6-furturyl-aminopurine (kinetin). In addition, each of the four cytokinins [6-benzylaminopurine (6-HA), 2-isopenlylnyl adenine (2-ip), 6-(4-hydroxy-3-meihylbut-2-enylamino) purinc (zeatin), and kinetin as a control] was tested in combination with 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Anthers containing microsporcs at miduninucleatc stage from live wheat cultivars (Angus, Centurk, Chris, K.itt, and Pavon 76) and two octoploid trilicale lines (T81, T82) were tested mainly for callus induction and polyhaploid production on each of the 11 media. The cultivar × medium interaction was not significant, When averaged over all growth regulators, Pavon was (he best cultivar which produced 14.4 % calli and 23 % polyhaploid plantlets. Averaged over all cultivars, the medium containing 2, 4-U produced the highest calli (13.9 %). Undifferentiated calli were regenerated on 87T1 medium, which contained IAA (1 mg/1) and kinetin (2 mg/1).

Notes: Abstract Because most interspecific Medicago embryos abort before they can be excised and cultured, our objective was to grow young pods in vitro. Various media were used to grow three-day-old pods of annuals [diploids, M. blancheana Boiss., M. disciformis DC., tetraploid M. scutellata (L.) Mill.] and perennials (diploid M. falcata L., tetraploid M. sativa L.). Few pods of perennial species grew to maturity on media containing modified Hoagland's plus 1% glucose or sucrose with or without 5% potato extract. Increasing sucrose to 6% increased the percentage of M. sativa pods that produced mature seeds. On DM (differentiation medium), the best medium, the percentage of pods producing viable seeds was: M. blancheana (82), M. disciformis (81), M. scutellata (48), M. sativa (63), M. falcata (15). DM plus 1 ppm indoleacetic or gibberellic acid did not enhance seed production.