Creating large EMS populations for functional genomics and breeding in wheat

Wheat germplasm is a fundamental resource for basic research,applied studies,and wheat breeding,which can be enriched normally by several paths,such as collecting natural lines,accumulating breeding lines,and introducing mutagenesis materials.Ethyl methane sulfonate(EMS)is an alkylating agent that can effectively introduce genetic variations in a wide variety of plant species.In this study,we created a million-scale EMS population(MEP)that started with the Chinese wheat cultivars‘Luyan 128’,‘Jimai 38’,‘Jimai 44’,and‘Shannong 30’.In the M1 generation,the MEP had numerous phenotypical variations,such as>3,000 chlorophyll-deficient mutants,2,519 compact spikes,and 1,692 male sterile spikes.There were also rare mutations,including 30 independent tillers each with double heads.Some M1 variations of chlorophyll-deficiency and compact spikes were inheritable,appearing in the M2 or M3 generations.To advance the entire MEP to higher generations,we adopted a single-seed descendent(SSD)approach.All other seed composites of M2 were used to screen other agronomically important traits,such as the tolerance to herbicide quizalofop-P-methyl.The MEP is available for collaborative projects,and provides a valuable toolbox for wheat genetics and breeding for sustainable agriculture.

Research progress on plant tolerance to soil salinity and alkalinity in sorghum

Sorghum is an important source of food, feed and raw material for brewing, and is expected to be a promising bioenergy crop. Sorghum is well known for its strong resistance to abiotic stress and wide adaptability, and salt tolerance is one of its main characteristics. Increasing sorghum planting acreage on saline-alkalien land is one way to effectively use this kind of marginal soil. In this paper, domestic and overseas research on plant tolerance to soil salinity and alkalinity in sorghum, including salt-tolerant genetics and breeding, physiology, cultivation, and identification of tolerant germplasms, are reviewed. Suggestions for further studies on salinity and alkalinity tolerance in sorghum are given, and the prospects for sorghum production in saline-alkalien land are discussed.

Nuclear Technique and Agriculture in China

Nuclear technique is a powerful scientific tool in agricultural research, an area with fruitful achievements in China. Application of nuclear technique in agriculture (Nuclear Agricultural Sciences) based on the development of related science and technology is a high-tech area, and also a significant aspect of non-electrical power application of nuclear technique. As an important component of agricultural science and technology, Nuclear technique application in agricultural field has achieved a lot and made remarkable contributions to the economic, social and ecological development of China. The current paper reviews the achievements, and presents the situation of the application of nuclear technique in the Chinese a-griculture briefly. The author strongly suggests that Chinese government should pay more attention to the study on the application of nuclear technique in agriculture, in order to promote its development and contribute more to the Chinese society and agriculture.