Increased yield performance of mutation induced Soybean genotypes at varied agro-ecological conditions

In soybean breeding program, continuous selection pressure on traits response to yield created a genetic bottleneck for improvements of soybean through hybridization breeding technique. Therefore an initiative was taken to developed high yielding soybean variety applying mutation breeding techniques at Plant Breeding Division, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Bangladesh. Locally available popular cultivar BARI Soybean-5 was used as a parent material and subjected to five different doses of Gamma ray using Co60. In respect to seed yield and yield attributing characters, twelve true breed mutants were selected from M4 generation. High values of heritability and genetic advance with high genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV) for plant height, branch number and pod number were considered as favorable attributes for soybean improvement that ensure expected yield. The mutant SBM-18 obtained from 250Gy provided stable yield performance at diversified environments. It provided maximum seed yield of 3056 kg ha-1 with highest number of pods plant-1 (56). The National Seed Board of Bangladesh (NSB) eventually approved SBM-18 and registered it as a new soybean variety named ‘Binasoybean-5’ for large-scale planting because of its superior stability in various agro-ecological zones and consistent yield performance.

Trait variation between and within Andes and coastal mountain ranges in the iconic South American tree Araucaria araucana in Chile

As global commitments to restoration are underway, science is needed to support capacity to achieve meaningful gains for ecosystems and human communities. In Chile, identification and generation of appropriate plant material is a barrier to achieving major restoration goals under the Paris Climate Agreement. Understanding genetic differentiation among plant populations is needed to maximize restoration success. For Araucaria araucana, a highly threatened iconic South American tree, this information is greatly needed to guide restoration and conservation efforts because this species occurs across a strong climate gradient. We grew seedlings from 12 populations of A. araucana across its range in Chile in a common garden to assess regional (coastal versus Andes mountain ranges) and population variation in key plant traits and relate this variation to environmental variables. We demonstrate that A. araucana is differentiated within regions and populations across its range in Chile by a suite of traits, particularly branch number and length (showing plant architectural differences) and needle width (showing leaf investment differences). We show that this variation is at least partly explained by climate and soil variables, with the most variation explained by differences between regions in temperature annual range. Thus, we recommend that restoration efforts focus on conserving genetic variation among and within regions and their populations and preventing the translocations of genotypes between coastal and Andes populations.

Insight Into the Multiple Branches Traits of a Mutant in Larix olgensis by Morphological, Cytological, and Transcriptional Analyses

Larix olgensis is a tall deciduous tree species that has many applications in the wood fiber industry. Bud mutations are somatic mutations in plants and are considered an ideal material to identify and describe the molecular mechanism of plant mutation. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms of bud mutations in L. olgensis remain unknown. In this study, dwarfed (or stunted), short-leaved, and multi-branched mutants of L. olgensis were found and utilized to identify crucial genes and regulatory networks controlling the multiple branch structure of L. olgensis. The physiological data showed that the branch number, bud number, fresh and dry weight, tracheid length, tracheid length-width ratio, inner tracheid diameter, and epidermal cell area of mutant plants were higher than that of wild-type plants. Hormone concentration measurements found that auxin, gibberellin, and abscisic acid in the mutant leaves were higher than that in wild-type plants. Moreover, the transcriptome sequencing of all samples using the Illumina Hiseq sequencing platform. Transcriptome analysis identified, respectively, 632, 157, and 199 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in buds, leaves, and stems between mutant plants and wild type. DEGs were found to be involved in cell division and differentiation, shoot apical meristem activity, plant hormone biosynthesis, and sugar metabolism. Furthermore, bZIP, WRKY, and AP2/ERF family transcription factors play a role in bud formation. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of L. olgensis bud and branch formation and establishes a fundamental understanding of the breeding of new varieties in L. olgensis.

Identification of quantitative trait loci underlying five major agronomic traits of soybean in three biparental populations by specific length amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq)

Flowering time, plant height, branch number, node numbers of main stem and pods per plant are important agronomic traits related to photoperiodic sensitivity, plant type and yield of soybean, which are controlled by multiple genes or quantitative trait loci (QTL). The main purpose of this study is to identify new QTL for five major agronomic traits, especially for flowering time. Three biparental populations were developed by crossing cultivars from northern and central China. Specific loci amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) was used to construct linkage map and QTL mapping was carried out. A total of 10 QTL for flowering time were identified in three populations, some of which were related to E1 and E2 genes or the other reported QTL listed in Soybase. In the Y159 population (Xudou No.9 × Kenfeng No.16), QTL for flowering time on chromosome 4, qFT4_1 and qFT4_2 were new. Compared with the QTL reported in Soybase, 1 QTL for plant height (PH), 3 QTL for branch number (BR), 5 QTL for node numbers of main stem, and 3 QTL for pods per plant were new QTL. Major E genes were frequently detected in different populations indicating that major the E loci had a great effect on flowering time and adaptation of soybean. Therefore, in order to further clone minor genes or QTL, it may be of great significance to carefully select the genotypes of known loci. These results may lay a foundation for fine mapping and clone of QTL/genes related to plant-type, provided a basis for high yield breeding of soybean.

The Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilization on The Yield and Some Yield Components of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) In Van Conditions

The study was conducted to determine effects of organic and inorganic fertilization on the yield and some yield components in lentil cultivars in 2014-15 growing seasons in Van. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomised block design with three replications. The study was conducted to determine effects of different fertilizer sources (Control, DAP, Chicken manure and sheep manure) on the yield and some yield components in two lentil cultivars (Özbek and Kafkas). In the study were investigated the plant height, first pod height, branch number per plant, pod and seed number per plant, seed number per pod, biological yield, seed yield per unit, harvest index, 1000-seed weight and protein ratio in seed. The highest seed yield was obtained from chicken manure application of Özbek cultivar with 157.6 kg da-1.

Allometric Growth of Sargassum fusiforme (Ochrophyta, Fucales) Organs in the Maturation Period Based on Biomass Analysis of Samples from Gouqi Island

Sargassum fusiforme is a seaweed species that plays an important role in the diverse communities of the flora and fauna of coastal food webs. Assessments of its biomass and energy allocation in addition to allometric organ growth have important ecological value for understanding the community structure, carbon storage, and resource assessment of seaweed beds during periods in which they thrive. In this study, the morphology of Sargassum fusiforme and the biomass of organs and total organisms in the maturation period were studied, and the allometric relationships for different organs of Sargassum fusiforme were analyzed using the standardized major axis (SMA). In the maturation period of Sargassum fusiforme, branch number, height × stem diameter were the prior independent variables, and the optimum biomass was y = 0.002x1.107 (R2 = 0.923). The biomass allocation ratio of blades was the highest (38.33%), followed by stems (32.90%) and receptacles (28.77%). The growth rates of the various organs were found to differ, and the rate of biomass increase for the blades and stems tended to converge. The rate of receptacle biomass growth of Sargassum fusiforme was the highest in the maturation period, and the rate of organ biomass increase was Wb < Ws < Wt < Wr, which reflects the trade-off with energy allocation as a strategy used by Sargassum fusiforme.

Genetic Variability and Character Association Studies in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

India is a nation which has got huge scope for modernization. The pace of increasing modernization in India coupled with its ever increasing human population is posing a very serious impact on environment mainly due to global warming. Abrupt rainfall conditions coupled with drought conditions prevailing during the Kharif season often hampers paddy transplantation in eastern parts of India. It results in late harvesting of paddy which in turn leads to late sowing of mustard crop in the fields during Rabi season. Hence, the need of the hour is to develop Indian mustard varieties having high yield potential as well as suitable for late sown conditions in Eastern India. An investigation was carried out to study the genetic variability, correlation and path analysis of ten quantitative traits in 33 genotypes of Indian mustard procured from diverse agro-climatic zones of the country. Analyses of variance were found to be highly significant for all the characters studied. Genotypic Coefficient of Variability as well as Phenotypic Coefficient of Variability were found high for number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, number of siliqua and seed yield per plot. High heritability coupled with higher genetic advance was found for plant height, number of siliqua per plant and seed yield per plot suggesting due importance of these traits for selection in breeding program.The phenotypic and genotypic correlation studies revealed that seed yield per plot exhibited significant positive correlation with plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of siliqua per plant, siliqua length, seeds per siliqua and 1000 seed-weight. Path coefficient analysis revealed that seed yield per plot, days to maturity, plant height, number of primary branch, number of secondary branch, number of siliqua per plant had positive direct effect on seed yield per plot suggesting that direct selection for these triats can be practiced for yield improvement in Indian mustard.

Dynamic versus Concurrent Lighting with Red and Blue Light-emitting Diodes as the Sole Light Source Can Potentially Improve Campanula Stock Plant Morphology for Cutting Production

Short campanula (Campanula portenschlagiana ‘PGM Get MEE’®) stock plants present a difficulty in machine-harvesting of cuttings. Light adjustment may be an effective approach to mediate plant elongation. Two experiments were performed to 1) investigate whether short-term (five weeks) daily 24-h dynamic lighting (DL) with red and blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can promote elongation without inducing flowering, and 2) explore whether DL can be used to modify stock plant morphology to improve the cutting quality and rooting success in a controlled environment. Two lighting treatments were used: concurrent lighting (CL) with red (85%) and blue (15%) LEDs (RB) at 100 µmol·m−2·s−1 and DL with red (170 µmol·m−2·s−1), blue (30 µmol·m−2·s−1), and RB (100 µmol·m−2·s−1) LEDs sequentially at three different lighting stages, respectively, in both experiments. In Expt. 1, at final harvest of stock plants, the side branches were longer under DL compared with CL, but the five (= 2 + 2 + 1) weeks of 24-h daily lighting resulted in visible flower buds under both treatments. Based on the results of Expt. 1, a second experiment (Expt. 2) was conducted with the same cultivar and experimental conditions, but with a shorter photoperiod (10 h·d−1) for 11 (= 8 + 2 + 1) weeks. In Expt. 2, at final harvest, DL compared with CL caused more upright side branches, and reduced the dry biomass of side branches with one branching order and leaf chlorophyll content. However, the harvested cutting quality and rooting success were similar between both treatments. In both experiments, side branch number under DL was greater compared with CL at the end of the first lighting stage. Stock plants under DL were taller from the second lighting stage on to final harvest compared with CL, and the final heights of stock plants under DL met the target for machine-harvest in both experiments. Therefore, if the lighting strategy is further optimized, DL can potentially benefit controlled-environment production of campanula cuttings.

The effect of time and type of stress moderators on yield and yield components of cotton on conventional and double-cropping systems under saline conditions

Background Today, stress moderators are employed to mitigate crop loss due to the adverse effects of environmental stress. The current research aimed to investigate the impacts of time and stress moderator types on agro-physiological responses of cotton on conventional and double-cropping systems during 2017 and 2018 under saline conditions. A split-plot factorial experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Cultivation system [conventional (recommended planting date) and double-cropping systems (sowing after harvest of wheat)] were considered as the main plots, and stress moderator type at four levels [water control, 2 mmol·L–1 Salicylic acid (SA), 100 mmol·L–1 Glycine betaine (GB), and 100 μmol·L–1 sodium nitroprusside (SNP)] and application time (flowering and flowering + bolling stages) were regarded as subplots. Results Plant height, reproductive branch number, the number of bolls, 10-boll weight, 1 000-seed weight, biological yield, seed cotton yield, lint yield, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, total chlorophyll, sodium, potassium, and proline content were less in double-cropping system comparing with conventional system. Spraying with the stress moderators alleviated soil salinity effects on yield, yield components, and biochemical traits of cotton. SNP spraying led to maximum plant height, branch number, the number of bolls per plant, 10-boll weight and seed cotton yield. SA spraying yielded the highest 1 000-seed weight, biological yield, lint percentage and lint yield. The highest chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, and total chlorophyll content resulted from SNP spraying. Yield, yield components, and biochemical traits did not respond to the stress moderator types in double-cropping system. However, the highest chlorophyll a, carotenoids, proline content, the number of bolls per plant, and seed cotton yield resulted from SNP spraying in conventional system. No statistically significant differences were observed between spraying with SNP and SA in most studied traits. Conclusions The results suggest that the optimum cotton planting time and SNP spraying could be recommended for producing the most suitable yield under saline conditions. Highlights External application of stress modulators increases salinity stress tolerance. Spraying with sodium nitroprusside has more moderating effect. Agro-physiological response of cotton to moderators is stronger in early sowing. Maximum seed cotton yield was achieved at early sowing and spraying sodium nitroprusside. Delayed cultivation reduces cotton yield.