Multienvironmental evaluation of wheat landraces by GGE Biplot Analysis for organic breeding

This study was conducted to determine the performance of wheat landraces cultivated under organic conditions and to analyze their stability across diverse environments. Six wheat landraces with specific characteristics (high protein content, drought tolerance, stay green) were tested under organic growing environment. The experiments were applied in three locations (Larisa (LAR), Thessaloniki (THES), Kilkis (KIL)) for three growing seasons. The role of specific agronomic traits (stay green, lodging) and their correlation with yield components were analyzed. Stability and genotypic superiority for grain yield were determined using ANOVA and genotype × environment (GGE) biplot analysis. Furthermore, the interrelationships among wheat traits and genotype-by-trait using regression analysis, coefficient of variation and (GT)-biplot technique were studied. Significant differences were found in yield among wheat landraces tested, and also in yield components, as related to specific traits expressed into organic environment. Best varieties in terms of yield were the medium statured landraces Skliropetra and M. Argolidas, characterized by lowest weight of 1000 grains, large number of spikes per m2 meter and the highest number of grains per spike as compared to the other landraces. The statistical model GGE biplot provides useful information for experimentation of wheat landraces when grown under organic environment. It identifies clearly the ideal and representative environment for experimentation and underlines the effect of specific traits for each wheat cultivar on yield performance and stability across environments.

Micro-Tuber Production in Diploid and Tetraploid Potato after Gamma Irradiation of in Vitro Cuttings for Mutation Induction

Micro-tubers are important propagules in potato breeding and potato production, and they are also dormant and easily transported and therefore good targets for mutation induction in potato mutation breeding. A prerequisite for mutation breeding is to determine optimal mutation treatments. Therefore, radio-sensitivity tests of a tetraploid and a diploid potato to gamma irradiation were undertaken. Effects of different gamma sources on radio-activity were also studied. In vitro potato cuttings were gamma irradiated using a wide dose range (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 20 Gy). The irradiated cuttings were then cultured to induce micro-tubers directly in vitro. Micro-tuber morphotypes were assessed after irradiation of cuttings using three gamma sources with emission activities of 1.8, 7.07 and 139 Gy/min. The diploid species (Solanum verrucosum) was more radio-sensitive than the tetraploid cultivar Desirée (Solanum tuberosum). Gamma dose rates had significant influences on subsequent micro-tuber production at various mutant generations. Effects included reductions in the number, size and weight of micro-tubers produced. Gamma dose was more lethal for the diploid potato genotype and micro-tubers produced were small compared to those produced by the tetraploid genotype after irradiation. Different treatments are recommended for diploid and tetraploid potato irradiation in producing large mutant micro-tuber populations. The mutant micro-tuber populations may then be screened for interesting mutations/trait for both genetics and plant breeding purposes.

Mutagenic Effects of Gamma Radiation on Eight Accessions of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.)

Mutagenesis is used for creating new genetic variability in cultivar improvement. Optimal mutagenic treatment is required for effective mutation induction in crop species. Therefore, radio-sensitivity of cowpea accessions to gamma irradiation was investigated. Seeds of eight cowpea accessions were irradiated with 60Co gamma radiation doses of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 Gy. The seeds were sown in pots to evaluate the treatment effects on seed germination (SG), seedling survival (SS) and growth habits of M1 generation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Low rates of SG (10% - 45%) were recorded at higher doses (500 - 400 Gy) in Ife Brown (IB) and its derivatives, whereas high SG rates (74% - 94%) were observed in IT90K-284-2 across all treatments. Percentage SS was inversely related to gamma dosage. A wide range of LD50 for SG (329 - 1054 Gy) and SS (149 - 620 Gy) were observed across the cowpea accessions. Low LD50 scores for SG (329 - 516 Gy) and SS (149 - 357 Gy) were observed among cowpea with rough seed coat, whereas cowpea with smooth seed coat recorded higher LD50 for SG (521 and 1054 Gy) and SS (449 and 620 Gy). Seed germination LD50 and SS LD50 were highly correlated with mean coat thickness (0.899 and 0.937) than mean seed weight (0.621 and 0.678). Gamma irradiation of cowpea seed at low dosage (100 Gy) increased the vigor of M1 seedlings with respect to primary leaf area, terminal leaflet area, seedling height and plant height at six weeks. Doses of 200 Gy and above resulted in a progressive reduction in vigor of plant and seed setting of cowpea. Radio-sensitivity varied with cowpea genotype and was associated with seed testa texture, thickness and seed weight. Low gamma irradiation treatment (100 Gy) may be used to enhance seedling vigor, vegetative growth and yield of cowpea at M1 generation.

Induced Mutation for Developing Mutant Rice Lines Tolerant to the Parasitic Weed Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze

This work aims to screen mutant rice lines tolerant to Striga asiatica.Two rainfed sensitive rice varieties B22 and F154 were used.Plants survival rates of the two parents were significantly lower respectively(9.74a and 11.83a)than those of mutant lines(55.36c to 74.36b);Striga plants emergence/pot were significantly higher for the parents(13.96c and14.89c)compared to the mutants(0.12a to 1.5b);the infection rate of parents(7.37b;7.86b)was higher compared to the mutants(2.27a to 2.74a);fertility rate/plant of parents was lower(20.98%b;22.29%b)but much higher than mutants(72.19%b to 78.35%b);the average panicle number/plant of parents was significantly lower(0.5a;1a)than those of mutants(1.5b to 2.4bc)and the 100 g grain weight of parents are lower(2.35a;2.56a)than those of mutants(3.19b to 3.23b).The culture of those mutant lines may increase rice production and contribute to enhancing food security in Madagascar.

Induced Resistance to <i>Striga hermonthica</i>in Sorghum by Gamma Irradiation

Striga species affect the potential productivity of cereals in sub-Saharian Africa due to the lack of durable Striga-resistance in host crops. This study aimed at inducing the new source of resistance in sorghum using gamma irradiation. Dry seeds of three Sorghum varieties;Grinkan, ICV1049 and Sariaso14 were gamma-irradiated with 200 Gy, 300 Gy, 400 Gy and 500 Gy. Screening strategies involved a 2-year field and greenhouse experiments, where mutant Sorghum families, their parents and resistant control were artificially infected with Striga hermonthica seeds. Field screenings revealed induced genetic variability among them, forty families significantly reduced the number of emerged Striga plants or showed good Sorghum grain yield performance despite the infection by S. hermonthica ecotype from Burkina Faso. The induced putative resistant mutants were identified across the four applied gamma-irradiation doses. Greenhouse experiment confirmed Striga resistance in seven mutant Sorghum families leading to no emergence of Burkina’s S. hermonthica ecotype along with high resistance index (RI) and low Striga damage score. Among them, two mutants SA38M5 and IC47M5 withstood S. hermonthica ecotype from Sudan. The induced mutants will be evaluated for the release to farmers for commercial production. Further studies are ongoing on confirmed mutants to highlight their Striga resistance mechanisms and explore the potential of pyramiding different mechanisms to produce durable resistance to S. hermonthica in sorghum.