Correlation between Stigma Characteristics and Outcrossing Rate of Five Photo-thermo Sensitive Genic Male Sterile(PTGMS) Rice Lines

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the correlation between stigma characteristics and outcrossing rate of photo-thermo sensitive genic male sterile（PTGMS） rice lines. [Method] The stigma exsertion rate, stigma size and stigma vitality of Chuang 5S, Yun 9S, Peiai 64 S, P88 S and Y58 S were analyzed. Using R608 as a male parent, outcrossing rate of these five PTGMS lines was determined. [Result]There were differences in stigma exsertion rate, stigma size and stigma vitality among five PTGMS lines. P88 S exhibited the best stigma characteristics and relatively strong stigma vitality, with the stigma exsertion rate of 95.94%, stigma vitality coefficient of 2.71, outcrossing rate of 84.02% in the field. Peiai 64 s had the minimum stigma length（2.41 mm） and stigma width（1.10 mm） and the weakest stigma vitality, with the stigma exsertion rate of 93.04%, outcrossing rate of 65.47%. Yun 9S,Y58 S and Chuang 5S displayed medium stigma characteristics, among which Yun9 S exhibited higher outcrossing rate than other two PTGMS lines. Correlation analysis showed that stigma exsertion rate, stigma length, stigma width, stigma area and stigma volume were significantly correlated to outcrossing rate（P〈0.05）, with correlation coefficients of 0.897, 0.934, 0.934, 0.939 and 0.937, respectively. However,there was no significant correlation between stigma vitality coefficient and outcrossing rate. [Conclusion] Based on stigma characteristics of five PTGMS lines, auxiliary pollination measures should be adopted reasonably to save production costs and improve hybrid rice seed yield.

Breeding and Utilization of Japonicalinous CMS Line Chunjiang 19A with Wide Compatibility and High Outcrossing Rate

[Objective] To breed and utilize the japonicalinous cytoplasmic male sterile （CMS） line Chunjiang 19A with wide compatibility and high outcrossing rate. [Method] Cbunjiang 16A was used as the female parent to cross with Indica-Japonica crossing material B125, which was used as male parent. Backcross breeding was contin- ued for consecutive generations to breed the CMS lines with wide compatibility and high outcrossing rate. [Result] Chunjiang 19A is a late medium Japonica CMS line with good fertility stability. The proportion of sterile plants and pollen abortion rates are 100% and the Cheng＇s index is 14. It is the japonicalinous CMS line with early flowering, partial stigma exsertion, high outcrossing rate, wide compatibility, high re- sistance to stripe disease and good combining ability. The hybrid rice combinations originated from Chunjiang 19A have strong tUlering ability, dominant heterosis, high resistance to stripe disease, great yield potential and good color change at mature stage. [Conclusion] The successful breeding of Chunjiang 19A laid good foundation for the breeding of Japonica hybrid rice and Indica-Japonica hybrid rice combinations with high seed production and dominant heterosis, showing a promising application prospect.

A microsatellite study on outcrossing rates and contamination in an Eucalyptus globulus breeding arboretum

Four pairs of microsatellite molecular polymorphism primers were used to analyse microsatellite fingerprints of 188 seedlings derived from an open-pollinated progeny grafted Eucalyptus globulus breeding arboretum in Victoria, south-eastern Australia. The microsatellite loci chosen for this study were highly polymorphic with the mean number of alleles per locus of 14.25. Individual mothers varied in their outcrosssing rate estimate from 15% to 95%, the overall outcrossing level in the arboretum was 47.9% and the contamination rate was 17.6%. The high selfing level was likely to result in marked inbreeding depression in the performance of open-pollinated seed lots. Open-pollinated seeds collected from such arboreta are not advisable because of its low genetic quality, although such arboreta may be useful for the seed production through large-scale manual pollination or collecting seeds only from trees or genotypes within the arboretum that have high outcrossing rates.

Family Outcrossing Rates of Pinus caribaea Morelet var. caribaea in Seed Orchard and Natural Populations

Family outcrossing rates of Pinus caribaea var. caribaea populations that differed in origin and management were estimated by using isozyme markers. The family outcrossing rates were estimated by (1)fixing the probability of pollen gene frequency (p); (2) allowing pollen gene frequency to vary among families. The estimates of family outcrossing rates for all the populations varied widely among families (clones of the seed orchard), ranging from 0.39 to 2.0. The average family outcrossing rates of both m...

Mating system and genetic diversity of a rare desert legume Ammopiptanthus nanus (Leguminosae)

Ammopiptanthus nanus is an endangered evergreen shrub endemic to the deserts of central Asia and plays an important role in delaying further desertification. We examined allozyme variation and AFLP diversity in A. nanus populations and investigated the mating system of this species using progeny arrays assayed for polymorphic allozyme loci. Mating system analysis in the Keyi＇eryongke＇er population showed low levels of outcrossing, and strong inbreeding depression. Low levels of genetic variation were detected at both population （allozyme, Pp=14.0%, A=l.14, He=0.031; AFLP, Pp=14.5%, Shannon＇s information index I=0.063） and species （allozyme, Pp=21.1%, A=1.21, He=0.040; AFLP, Pp=20.9%, I=0.083） levels; while moderate genetic differentiation existed among populations, as indicated by allozymes （Gsa-=0.081） and AFLP （GST=0.151-0.193）. Founder effect, bottlenecks in evolutionary history, the mixed mating system and co-ancestry may have influenced the level of genetic diversity in A. nanus. Markers of both types provide new insights for conservation management, indicating that the Biao＇ertuokuoyi and Keyi＇eryongke＇er populations should be given priority for in situ conservation and regarded as seed sources for ex situ conservation.

Factors Influencing the Outcrossed Seed-Setting Obstacles of Photo-thermo Sensitive Genie Male Sterile Rice

Using photo-thermo sensitive genie male rice (PTGMS) Pei' ai 64S, W7415S, W6154S, N26S, Annong S, Nongken 58S, 7001S and 5088S as female parents and conventional indica lines 8258 and U89 as male parents, the factors affecting outcrossed seed-setting were analyzed. The PTGMS had obstacles in outcrossed seed setting influenced by inheritance and environment at varying degrees. Environmental temperature was regarded as the main factor that resulted in the outcrossed seed-setting obstacles. The sensitive stage was at the early stage of grain filling for outcrossed seed setting. There existed remarkable differences at the sensitivity stage, the duration of sensitive period, the sensitive level and the effective level of outcrossed seed-setting obstacles caused by environmental temperature among different PTGMS lines. Therefore, attention should be paid to outcrossed seed-setting obstacles in selection and utilization of PTGMS lines.

Non-associative learning underlies pollination interaction of pollinators and flowering plants

The behavioral response of pollinators is significantly influenced by the prior experience of flower visiting.Learning of pollinators,including non-associative learning,associative learning,and operant conditioning,is determined by the presence or absence of rewards during the flower visiting experience.Here,we indicate that process of non-rewarding flower(empty flower)visiting coincident well with the behavioral paradigm of non-associative learning.Habituation,one of non-associative learning,most likely modulates the pollinating behavior patterns of empty flower visitation.Moreover,we propose that the process of habituation recovery,including spontaneous recovery and dishabituation,may also modulate the behavior of pollinators,which leads to ecological consequences of long-distance pollen dispersal and high outcross pollination rate.We believe that utilizing the methodology of non-associative learning behavioral neurobiology paradigm to investigate pollinator behavior will establish novel insights into the sensory responses and neural activity of pollination behavior in the pollination systems.

Effects of distinct pollinators on the mating system and reproductive success in Incarvillea sinensis,an annual with large floral displays

Aims Most flowering plants engage in mutualisms with animals to move pollen between individuals,and it is expected that pollinators play an essential role in the evolution of selfing,yet few studies have deter-mined how distinct pollinator types affect a plant’s mating system and reproductive success differentially.We investigated the effect of two different pollinators on the reproductive success of Incarvillea sinensis,an annual with showy,insect-pollinated,one-day flowers.Methods We marked flowers after a single visit from both pollinator species(Bombus patagiatus and Amegilla quadrifasciata)and calculated the number of pollen grains deposited on the stigma and pollen left in the anthers,the fruit and seed set,the outcrossing rate and the cor-relations of paternity.Important Findings There was no significant difference in the number of pollen grains deposited on the stigma,or in the seed and fruit set between the two pollinators in both years.The mean number of pollen grains removed by B.patagiatus was significantly higher than that removed by A.quadrifasciata.The outcrossing rate of flowers pollinated by B.patagiatus was significantly higher than that of flowers pollinated by A.quadrifasciata.The correlation of paternity of flowers pollinated by B.patagiatus was significantly lower than that of flowers polli-nated by A.quadrifasciata.For I.sinensis,B.patagiatus may exhibit larger pollen wastage,thus reducing the male reproductive success of the plant,but it causes higher female reproductive success because of its higher outcrossing rate and the lower correlation of paternity.Our findings highlighted that different animal pollinators could indeed cause differential mating systems and reproductive success.