Heterotic groups for identifying of suitable combiners in sunflower using top-cross

The study was conducted in order to identify the suitable parental inbred lines using top cross method for improvement of new sunflower F1 single cross hybrids at research field of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute in Karaj, Iran during two Crop season (2018 and 2019). Experimental materials consisted of 31 restore lines and 43 cytoplasmic male sterile lines which were crossed with A1221 and R14 as the testers respectively. The developed F1 hybrids were evaluated for GCA of three breeding objectives i.e. flowering time, plant height and grain yield during two years replicated trials. Cluster analysis revealed two heterotic groups in which the restorer lines; R22, R24 and R38 (Grain yield of 33, 32 and 31 g head-1 respectively) and three CMS lines; A32, A370 and A110 (Grain yield of 47, 44 and 43 g head-1 respectively) were identified as the suitable restorer and cytoplasmic male sterile line for improvement of new sunflower single cross hybrids. Evaluation of specific combing ability of the resulted combinations will reveal the efficiency of this selection in the following generation.

Understanding Heterosis, Genetic Effects, and Genome Wide Associations for Forage Quantity and Quality Traits in Multi-Cut Pearl Millet

Pearl millet is an important food and fodder crop cultivated in the arid and semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia, and is now expanding to other regions for forage purpose. This study was conducted to better understand the forage quantity and quality traits to enhance the feed value of this crop. Two sets of pearl millet hybrids (80 single cross hybrids in Set-I and 50 top cross hybrids in Set-II) along with their parents evaluated multi-locationally for the forage-linked traits under multi-cut (two cuts) system revealed significant variability for the forage traits in the hybrids and parents. The mean better parent heterosis (BPH) for total dry forage yield (TDFY) was 136% across all the single cross hybrids and 57% across all the top cross hybrids. The mean BPH for in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) varied from −11 to 7% in the single cross hybrids and −13 to 11% in the top cross hybrids across cuts. The findings of TDFY and IVOMD heterosis in these sets indicated the potential of improvement of the hybrid cultivars for forage quantity and quality in forage pearl millet. The parental lines single cross parent (SCP)-L02, SCP-L06, and top cross parent (TCP)-T08 found superior in the forage quantity and quality traits can be utilized in the future breeding programs. Most of the forage traits were found to be controlled by using the non-additive gene action. A diverse panel of 105 forage-type hybrid parents (Set-III) genotyped following genotyping by sequencing (GBS) and phenotyped for crude protein (CP) and IVOMD under multi-cuts for 2 years identified one stable significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on LG4 for CP, and nine SNPs for IVOMD distributed across all the linkage groups except on LG2. The identified loci, once validated, then could be used for the forage quality traits improvement in pearl millet through marker-assisted selection.

Genetic Testing of Inbred Lines and Single Cross Hybrids against Fusarium Stalk Rot Caused by Fusarium moniliforme in Maize (Zea mays L.)

Globally, Maize (Zea mays L.) is a third major cereal food crop. It is a multipurpose crop with 26% of its production is used as food by human beings. Maize is known as “queen of cereals”, because of its high genetic yield potential, efficient utilization of radiant energy and wider adaptability. About 65 different phytopathogens affect the maize production in different stages of life cycle. Among which Fusarium moniliforme is one such soil borne pathogen causes Fusarium stalk rot (FSR) disease that ultimately reduces maize yield potential over the world. In any breeding program, screening and genetic testing of available germplasm resources against pathogens is necessary to prevent yield losses. Hence, the present research screened around 114 maize inbred lines and 45 single cross hybrids (SCHs) against FSR under artificial epiphytotic conditions. Among 114 inbreds, only four inbreds viz., CM 202, 10878, MAI-759 and MAI-766 (mean disease score of 3-4) showed moderately resistant reaction and out of 45 SCHs, only one hybrid combination i.e., MAI329 × CM202 (mean disease score was 2.60) exhibited resistance reaction against Fusarium stalk rot. Nevertheless, these resistance sources could be utilized in maize breeding programs for obtaining high yielding cultivars with resistance towards FSR disease.

Genetic insights on single cross maize hybrid and its importance on maize self-sufficiency in Nepal

When the world's population rises, total crop production worldwide is not meeting rising food demand. Focus on developing high yielding single cross hybrids of maize that are resource-efficient under diverse soil and climatic conditions is utmost for countries like Nepal. With the aim of exploring genetic reasons for higher hybrid vigor of single cross hybrid of maize, global genetic importance and addressing the emerging issue of needed higher productivity in Nepal to achieve maize self-sufficiency status, comprehensive review work was performed. Research findings explored that; the Heterosis hypothesis has been widely exploited in crop breeding, resulting in a large increase in yield. The ability analysis is of special importance in cross-pollinated crops like maize as it helps in identifying potential parents that can be used for producing hybrids and synthetics. New molecular tools and techniques can complement traditional methods to allow breeders to tackle priority research areas efficiently. Nepal’s reliance on imported hybrid maize seed and grain increased each year as competitive hybrid cultivars became unavailable within the country. Recently, higher yield gap due to lower productivity, being the major concern in Nepal, single cross hybrids are intervention point. For the countries like Nepal, where achieving higher yield of maize to address self-sufficiency is the nationally prioritized issue, single cross hybrids of maize could be the best way to come up.

Unlocking big data doubled the accuracy in predicting the grain yield in hybrid wheat

The potential of big data to support businesses has been demonstrated in financial services, manufacturing, and telecommunications. Here, we report on efforts to enter a new data era in plant breeding by collecting genomic and phenotypic information from 12,858 wheat genotypes representing 6575 single-cross hybrids and 6283 inbred lines that were evaluated in six experimental series for yield in field trials encompassing ~125,000 plots. Integrating data resulted in twofold higher prediction ability compared with cases in which hybrid performance was predicted across individual experimental series. Our results suggest that combining data across breeding programs is a particularly appropriate strategy to exploit the potential of big data for predictive plant breeding. This paradigm shift can contribute to increasing yield and resilience, which is needed to feed the growing world population.

Stability Assessment of Single-Cross Maize Hybrids Using GGE-Biplot Analysis

Grain yield potential of new maize hybrid varieties across target environments contributes to the uptake of these varieties by farmers. Evaluation of single-cross hybrids developed from test crossing introgressed inbred lines bred for three distinct environments to elite tropical inbred line testers was carried out. The study’s objective was to assess grain yield stability and genotype adaptability of the single-cross hybrids across South African environments relative to adapted commercial hybrid checks. One hundred and twenty-two introgressed inbred lines developed using the pedigree breeding program were crossed to four tropical elite inbred line testers using line × tester mating design to obtain 488 experimental single cross hybrids. Subject to availability of adequate seed for evaluation, a panel of 444 experimental single-cross hybrids was evaluated using an augmented design in two experiments defined as Population A and B for the study’s convenience in South African environments. Data for grain yield (t/ha) performance for experimental single-cross hybrids and commercial check hybrids in Population A and B across environments and individual environments identified experimental single-cross hybrids that had significant comparable grain yield (t/ha) performance relative to best commercial check hybrid (PAN6Q445B) on the market. The selected experimental single-cross hybrids 225, 89, 246 and 43 (Population A) and 112 (Population B) also had a better average rank position for grain yield (t/ha) relative to best commercial check hybrid. These selected experimental single-cross hybrids had a grain yield (t/ha) advantage range of 0.9-6.7% for Population A and 7.3% for Population A and B, respectively, relative to the adapted commercial check hybrid. GGE biplot patterns for which won-where for Population A indicated that at Potchefstroom Research Station and Ukulinga Research Station experimental single-cross hybrids 127 and135 were the vertex (winning) hybrids. Cedera Research Station did not have a vertex hybrid for Population A. For Population B, experimental single-cross hybrids 112, 117 and 18 were the vertex hybrids at Cedera Research Station, Ukulinga Research Station and Potchefstroom Research Station, respectively. Experimental single-cross hybrid 257 was identified as ideal genotype for Population A, while experimental single-cross hybrid 121 in Population B was the ideal genotype. Ideal environments were also identified as Ukulinga Research Station for Population A, and Cedera Research Station for Population B. Average-environment coordination (AEC) view of the GGE biplot in Population A indicated that experimental single-cross hybrids 1 was highly stable across environments. In comparison, Population B experimental single-cross hybrid 161 was highly stable across environments. In conclusion, selected single-cross hybrids in the current study can also be advanced for further evaluation with a possibility for identifying high yielding and stable single-cross hybrids for variety registration and release in target environments in South Africa.

Assessment of Tomato Recombinant Lines in Conventional and Organic Farming Systems for Productivity and Fruit Quality Traits

It is estimated that more than 95% of organic agriculture is based on crop cultivars that were bred for the conventional high-input sector. Most selections were made through conventional breeding programs and lack important traits required under organic and low-input conditions. Hybrids are the most common type of cultivars used in tomato because of heterosis. In tomato, continuous selfing enabled homozygosity to exploit favorable additive genes, resulting in the so-called inbred vigor. This paper presented the possibility to express inbred vigor at a level equal to or greater than hybrid vigor in tomato when cultivated under organic low input conditions. The evaluation of the recombinant lines produced through classical reverse breeding from four F1 single cross hybrids was done at low- and high-input farming systems. The results show that, following the appropriate breeding process in early generation selection and under low-input conditions, it is possible to produce recombinant lines, demonstrating inbred vigor in yield potential and fruit quality. These genetic materials can stand as new dynamic cultivars intended for cultivation in organic, low-input, or high-input conditions, depending on their performance in different farming systems at the later stages of evaluation.