AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Martonvásár, H-2462, Brunsvik str. 2, Hungary.
The wheat season. Due to the mild winter, the cereals
overwintered without damage. The spring, which was cooler and
wetter than usual, favored the development of wheat, and the hot
weather characteristic of July did not prevent grain filling.
Thanks to the extremely favorable weather, the wheat yield average
was higher than expected (5.1 t/ha). [p.
35]
Z. Bedö, L. Láng, O. Veisz, G. Vida, I. Karsai, K. Mészáros, and M. Rakszegi.
Breeding. Four new winter wheat cultivars were registered in 2004.
Mv Regiment (Mv 05-02), an early maturing, high-yielding cultivar with good abiotic stress resistance, was selected from the cross 'GA901273-46-I/F6038W12-1'. This cultivar has good frost resistance and tolerates high temperature during the grain filling period. Mv Regiment is resistant to powdery mildew, moderately susceptible to the local races of leaf rust, and susceptible to yellow rust. Mv Regiment is a medium-quality, soft wheat.
Mv Hombár (Mv 06-02) is an early maturing cultivar with high yield potential and good yield stability. The cultivar has the parentage 'GA90078-I/MV-Matador'. Mv Hombár has good resistance to frost and powdery mildew and is moderately resistant to leaf rust and yellow rust. The cultivar has a soft kernel type, with extremely high wet gluten (37-39 %) and higher than average protein content. The rheological quality measured by a Farinograph is poor.
Mv Táltos (Mv 07-02, F4549W2-1/FATIMA) is an average quality bread wheat with competitive yield potential. The average gluten content is 30 %, and the gluten is strong and elastic, resulting in good B1-A2 Farinograph quality. Mv Táltos is not sensitive to sprouting and has good quality stability. Mv Táltos matures early and has reliable winter hardiness. Drought tolerance has been proved in very dry seasons.
Mv Kemence, (Mv 10-02), a good quality, hard-kernel bread wheat, was selected from the cross 'F885K4-1/MV Magdalena'. The wet gluten content varies between 30-34 %, and the farinograph quality is typically A2, rarely B1. Mv Kemence is agronomic characters are favorable, and reliable winter hardiness is associated with good lodging resistance. The cultivar is moderately resistant to powdery mildew and leaf and yellow rusts.
Kernel-hardness studies. We established that not only the hexaploid species, but also the diploid species studied all contained genes for puroindoline-a and puroindoline-b. Among the hexaploid cultivars tested, a Gly (46)-Ser (46) mutation was detected in the Bánkúti 1201 population. The glycine-serine sequence exchange influences grain hardness by inducing a reduction in hydrophobicity. Two genotypes with hard grains were found among the diploid species. In the tetraploid group of species, three soft-grained genotypes were detected containing puroindoline genes, despite the fact that they had no D genome. In the tetraploid species, deletions or point mutations were detected in the puroindoline-b sequence, resulting in a lack of protein expression or in changes in the structure and lipid-binding ability of the puroindoline proteins. As a result, the endosperm structure is hard. The analysis indicated that a deletion is to be found in the puroindoline-b gene of the tetraploid T. turgidum subsp. petropavlovsky (AB), as the result of which, no protein is expressed, so the grain type is hard. These lines can be used to increase the genetic diversity of wheat.
Cultivar identification by microsatellite markers. A total of 96 winter wheat cultivars registered in Hungary were analyzed using microsatellite markers. All the markers identified using SSR primers were located not only on different chromosomes but on different chromosome arms. Fifteen primers were tested on the complete cultivar collection. A total of 91 amplified fragments were obtained with sizes ranging from 123-239 bp. The largest number of alleles was recorded for primer pair GWM219 (11) and the smallest for primer pairs GWM664 and GWM415 (2). Several reactions included allele sizes characteristic of a single or a small number of varieties. The 96 cultivars could be distinguished using a maximum of nine markers.
Disease-resistance studies. An artificially inoculated nursery was studies for the degree of infection of genotypes with known stem rust-resistance genes. We found that cultivars with the Sr36 gene continued to be free of stem rust infection in 2004. Resistant infection type, combined with less than 20 % severity, was observed for genotypes with the genes Sr9d, Sr11, Sr30, Sr31, and SrDr, and for the gene combination Sr5+Sr6+Sr8+Sr17.
Within the framework of international (Bioexploit-EU FP6) and Hungarian (NKTH) projects, leaf rust-resistance genes that can be traced with PCR-based markers in molecular marker-assisted selection (Lr9, Lr19, Lr24, Lr25, Lr29, Lr35, Lr37, and Lr47) are identified and traced in the progeny populations of crosses between four Martonvásár cultivars and sources carrying these resistance genes. Phenotypic analysis has commenced for 16 populations in the artificially inoculated nursery.
Powdery mildew isolates collected in the neighborhood of Martonvásár are used to determine the race composition of the pathogen population, the level of virulence and the efficiency of known resistance genes. The dominant wheat powdery mildew races (and their frequency) in 2004 were 51 (25.5 %), 72 (17.2 %), 90 (11.5 %), 76 (10.4 %), and 63 (6.8%). The number of virulence genes in the pathogen populations averaged 5.71. Almost complete resistance to the tested wheat powdery mildew isolates was provided by resistance gene Pm4a. In addition, the virulence in the pathogen population was less than 20 % on cultivars with genes Pm1+Pm2+Pm9, Pm3b, and Pm3d.
The field resistance of Martonvásár wheat cultivars and breeding lines, and of potential resistance sources, to FHB was examined under artificially inoculated conditions in an irrigated nursery. Among the winter wheat cultivars, the resistance of Martonvasari 4, Mv Magdalena, and Mv Emese was better than the average of the tested cultivars.
The resistance of a number of cultivars and breeding lines to the fungus species P. tritici-repentis, which causes tan spot on Gramineae, and Phaeosphaeria nodorum, responsible for leaf and glume blotch in wheat, was determined after artificial inoculation in the seedling and adult-plant stages. Results so far suggest that there are significant differences between the cultivars in susceptibility to both diseases.
Abiotic stress resistance studies. The individual effects and interactions of climatic extremes, soil, water, and temperature on plants were investigated in experiments set up in an artificial environment system as part of the meteorological research involved in the Agroecological Program. Drought stress was applied in five different stages of development to determine its effect on the yield components of the wheat cultivars Mv Emma and Mv Martina. On the basis of phenological data and yield, the plants are most sensitive to drought from flowering to milky ripeness, very sensitive between booting and heading, and moderately sensitive from shooting to booting, especially if the length of each stage is considered. We found that drought stress during the sensitive period may cause yield losses as great as those caused by permanent water deficiency.
Studies were also made on the relationship between abiotic stress factors (drought) and pathogen infection (P. tritici-repentis) and on the phenomenon of cross-tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress factors. We concluded from the results that the biomass production of the plants declined linearly as the concentration of the PEG-6000 solution increased. As the result of infection with the pathogen, there was a further decrease in biomass production. Genotypes susceptible to the pathogen were infected to a significantly lower extent than the control plants after treatment with 5 and 10 % PEG, thus confirming the existence of cross-tolerance.
Within the framework of environment protection research involving the effects of global climate change, investigations were made on how interactions between nitrogen supplies, heat stress during ripening and increased atmospheric CO2 level affected the development and yield of winter wheat cultivars. Heat stress was found to result in forced ripening, resulting in reduced biomass and yield, and poorer dough quality. The yield-reducing effect of heat stress was relatively greater at high nitrogen supply levels than with more modest nutrient supplies. An increased level of atmospheric CO2 was able to counteract, totally or in part, the reductions in biomass and yield caused by heat stress. With low nitrogen supplies, the biomass and yield-increasing effect of a rise in the atmospheric CO2 level was observed to a lesser extent, if at all.
Studies were made on the effects of soil nitrogen and phosphorus supplies and of the doubled atmospheric CO2 level on winter wheat cultivars. Plants ripen early in the case of nutrient deficiencies, and the doubled CO2 level caused them to ripen even earlier. At high nutrient levels the number of grains increased, but their size remained the same or decreased. The yield quality, however, was determined to a greater extent by variety traits than by the quantity of nutrients. At twice the normal CO2 concentration, there was generally a deterioration in yield quality, but this was only pronounced in the case of poor nutrient supplies. Phosphorus deficiency combined with high levels of soil nitrogen prevented an increase in the protein and gluten contents of the grain.
Durum wheat breeding. One new winter durum cultivar was registered in 2004.
Mv Gyémánt (Mv22-01, GK Basa/DF33//Krisztall2/3/Parusz/4/DF623/5/GKD11-12)
is a winter-hardy, high-yielding, winter durum wheat with good
pasta-making quality. Mv Gyémánt had one of the
best values of cold tolerance of all the breeding lines tested,
with a survival rate in the phytotron at -15°C of over 80
%, which is an outstanding achievement for a winter durum wheat
genotype. This level of cold tolerance is combined with high yellow
pigment and protein content.
Durum quality. The elaboration of a marker-assisted method
to improve the efficiency of selection for yellow pigment content
in durum wheat was continued in 2004. Several polymorphic RAPD
and SSR markers have been identified in tests on previously developed
recombinant lines and on the parental varieties of these populations.
Studies were made on the yellow index values of 198 lines originating from the 'MvTD10-98/PWD1216' combination of winter durum wheat. The difference in the yellow index values of the two parents considerably exceeded the LSD5% value. The Minolta 'b' value of the parent with the lower yellow pigment content (MvTD10-98) was 18.46 in 2002 and 21.19 in 2004, and no values lower than this were recorded for any of the lines, but nor were any lines found with values higher than that of the parent with the higher yellow index (PWD1216 = 25.98). The yellow index of five lines did not differ significantly from that of the better parent. The yellow index also was significantly influenced by the year, but there was no substantial difference over the years for the order of progeny with values close to the parental values. Efficient selection for both positive and negative values of yellow pigment can be carried out in early progeny generations.
B. Barnabás, M. Molnár-Láng, É. Darkó, É. Szakács, and I. Takács.
Effect of cyanobacterial and microalgal biomass on anther culture response of wheat. We investigated the influence of media supplemented with a biomass of four terrestrial and freshwater microalgal and cyanobacterial strains (1-2 g/l) on the androgenic response, frequency of microspore-derived embryo-like structures, and their regeneration capacity in anther cultures of wheat. The addition of 1 g/l of cyanobacterium biomass MACC 643 to induction and regeneration media significantly improved the androgenic response by 50 % in the genotype Mv Pálma and reduced the requirement for the synthetic auxin 2,4-D.
Regeneration of haploid plants from activated egg cells of wheat via zygote rescue. Haploid wheat plants were produced by a new method of zygote rescue carried out after distant pollination. Wheat stigmas were pollinated with maize pollen and subsequently the activated egg cells from the elongated ovaries were rescued for in vitro plant development in single cell culture. As a control, older embryos also were dissected and subsequently cultured. The efficiency was comparable with both the techniques applied. Taking into consideration that the lack of a normal endosperm hampers embryo development even in the early stages, early zygote rescue after distant pollination may represent a more efficient way of producing DH plants in cultivars which are recalcitrant in androgenic cultures, after further optimization of the in vitro culture of isolated single cells.
Identification of a new class of recombinant prolamin genes in wheat. A novel storage-protein gene with obvious chimeric structure was isolated from an immature kernel-specific cDNA library prepared from the old Hungarian cultivar Bánkúti 1201. This clone contains g-gliadin sequences on the 5' region and LMW-glutenin sequences on the 3' end. A frameshift mutation also was introduced by the putative recombination event, thus, the amino acid sequence of the C-terminal region was transformed to a completely new polypeptide. Based on this finding, seven additional recombinant prolamin genes of similar structure were isolated with specific PCR primers. The eight chimeric clones seem to be derived from four individual g-gliadin and three LMW-glutenin sequences. These genes show remarkable diversity in terms of size, gliadin/glutenin ratio, frameshift mutations, and sulphur content as well. The putative functional characteristics of the chimeric polypeptides and problems related to the origin of the encoding genes are discussed.
Detection of the T1A·1R wheat/rye translocation in new Martonvásár wheat cultivars and advanced lines using in situ hybridization. Several types of rye translocation carrying major resistance genes are to be found in the foreign and Hungarian wheat varieties currently under cultivation. The T1B·1R translocation involving the 1RS chromosome arm from the rye cultivar Petkus can be detected in many of the Martonvásár wheat cultivars registered in earlier years. The presence of the T1A·1R translocation was first detected by C-banding in the Mv Dalma. Recently, 13 new Martonvásár cultivars and advanced lines were tested to discover whether they carried this rye chromosome segment. The presence of rye translocations was demonstrated using GISH, whereas the chromosomes were identified by means of FISH. The DNA probe used in FISH was the pSc119.2 repetitive sequence, which exhibits a specific hybridization pattern on the long arm of chromosomes 1A and 1B, allowing the two types of rye translocation to be identified unambiguously. We demonstrated that, of the genotypes examined, Mv Táltos, Mv 07-03, Mv 08-03, and Mv 12-04 contained the T1B·1R translocation, whereas Mv Gorsium and Mv Walzer carried the T1B·1R translocation. Pedigree analysis on the tested cultivars indicated that the sources of the T1A·1R translocation in the Martonvásár wheat breeding program were the wheat lines GA90078-I, F4549-W2-1, and F4831, which can all be traced back to the wheat cultivar Amigo.
Physiological and morphological responses to water stress in Ae. biuncialis and T. aestivum genotypes with differing tolerance to drought. The physiological and morphological responses to water stress induced by PEG or by withholding water were investigated in Ae. biuncialis genotypes differing in the annual rainfall of their habitat (1,050, 550, and 225 mm/year) and in T. aestivum wheat genotypes differing in drought tolerance, in order to find Ae. biuncialis accessions suitable for improving drought tolerance in wheat through intergeneric crossing. A decrease in the osmotic pressure of the nutrient solution from -0.027 MPa to -1.8 MPa resulted in intense water loss, a low extent of stomatal closure, and a decrease in the intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) in Aegilops genotypes originating from dry habitats, whereas in wheat genotypes, high osmotic stress induced increased stomatal closure, resulting in a low level of water loss and high Ci. Nevertheless, under saturating light at a normal atmospheric CO2 level, the rate of CO2 assimilation was higher for the Aegilops accessions under strong osmotic stress than for the wheats. Moreover, in the wheat genotypes, CO2 assimilation exhibited less or no O2 sensitivity. These physiological responses were manifested in changes in the growth rate and biomass production, because Aegilops genotypes (Ae550 and Ae225) retained a higher growth rate (especially in the roots), biomass production and yield formation after drought stress than wheat.
On the basis of these results, Aegilops genotypes originating from a dry habitat seem to have better drought tolerance than wheat, making them good candidates for improving the drought tolerance of wheat through intergeneric crossing.
Changes in the meiotic pairing behavior of a winter wheat-winter barley hybrid maintained for a long period in tissue culture and tracing the barley chromatin in the progenies using GISH and SSR markers. Our aim was to produce backcross progenies in a new 'winter wheat (Asakaze komugi) / 6-row winter barley (Manas)' hybrid produced in Martonvásár. Because no backcross seeds were obtained on the initial hybrids, young inflorescences of the hybrids were used for in vitro multiplication in three consecutive cycles until a backcross progeny was developed. The chromosome constitution of the regenerated hybrids was analyzed using GISH after each in vitro multiplication cycle. The seven barley chromosomes were present even after the third in vitro multiplication cycle, but abnormalities were observed. Sixteen BC2 plants shown by GISH analysis to contain one to three complete barley chromosomes, two deletion barley chromosomes, and a dicentric wheat-barley translocation were grown to maturity from the single backcross progeny. The barley chromatin was identified using 20 chromosome-specific barley SSR markers. All seven barley chromosomes were represented in the BC2 plants. A deletion breakpoint at FL ±0.3 on the 5HL chromosome arm facilitated the physical localization of microsatellite markers.
G. Galiba, G. Kocsy, T. Janda, G. Kovács, E. Páldi, G. Szalai, A. Vágújfalvi, B. Tóth, E. Horváth, and M. Pál.
Stress-induced antioxidant responses. In the following experiments, changes induced by cold treatment and drought stress in the activity of the antioxidant enzyme system were investigated in the wheat cultivars Cheyenne (frost resistant) and Chinese Spring (frost sensitive). In Cheyenne, both drought and cold treatment caused a significant increase in the activity of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and guaiacol peroxidase. In Chinese Spring, however, only drought stress led to an increase in activity in the case of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase. No significant change in the glutathione reductase activity were observed either after 2 days of cold hardening at 5 C or after 1 day of drought stress in either genotype. Salicylic acid did not increase the stress tolerance of wheat; it diminished the frost resistance of the winter wheat Cheyenne and the drought tolerance of the spring wheat Chinese Spring despite stimulating the activity of the guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes. The ability of p-hydroxybenzoic acid to improve abiotic stress tolerance was demonstrated for the first time; it was found to increase drought tolerance in Cheyenne and frost resistance in Chinese Spring. The increase in catalase activity could be responsible for the induction of drought tolerance. The frost resistance of Cheyenne increased as the result of drought stress, especially after preliminary treatment with p-hydroxybenzoic acid. In Chinese Spring, the effect of drought stress on frost resistance was ambiguous. Although it reduced damage to the photosynthetic system in the course of frost stress, the plants suffered substantial membrane damage.
Genetic resources. The growing interest in hulled wheat cultivation has no doubt been stimulated by the increasing demand for traditional foods with an image of naturalness, especially on the organic market. The new economic situation could stimulate the breeding and production of emmer and einkorn as the source of an especially valuable foodstuff. Based on the intensively growing market needs, the establishment of organic breeding procedures has been initiated in the case of einkorn and emmer. Several hundreds of genebank accessions from these two species have been characterized in recent years. The results suggest that their direct use in breeding is greatly hindered, however, by the fact that the lots stored in the genebank are very heterogeneous populations. In recent years, several pure lines have been produced using the single seed descent method, and the lines obtained have been agronomically described. The genetically extreme genotypes were crossed to produce mapping populations for further molecular studies. The best lines were used in organic breeding. In the case of einkorn, the lines obtained were tested under low-input conditions and their yielding capacity has found to be already higher than 3 t/ha. During the einkorn improvement procedure, a new semidwarf genotype was identified and genetically analyzed. According to the results of a recent experiment, this genotype carries a recessive monogenic dwarf gene, which should be highly useful in producing semidwarf einkorn cultivars.
CEREAL RESEARCH NON-PROFIT COMPANY
Szeged, H-6726, Alsokikötö sor 9., Hungary.
Z. Kertesz, J. Matuz, L. Cseuz, M. Csösz, B. Beke, P. Fonad, Cs. Kertesz, A. Mesterhazy, M. Papp, J. Pauk, L. Purnhauser, L. Bona, J. Falusi, and E. Acs.
During the past 4 years, 21 new winter wheat cultivars have been released for Hungary. The released cultivars with the full parentage are given in Table 1. Some of the released cultivars have achieved a significant acreage in Hungary and have special agronomic and breeding value.
| Cultivar | Year of release | Pedigree |
|---|---|---|
| GK Bagoly | 2000 | Mv16 / Zg241 |
| GK Sas | 2000 | Mv16 / Zg241 |
| GK Szivarvany | 2000 | Zg241 / Othalom // Mv17 / Othalom |
| GK Szalka | 2000 | Garaboly / Mv 22 |
| GK Raba | 2000 | Bucsanyi 20 / HE 82 |
| GK Csongrad | 2001 | Kincso / 2*Mini Mano // Kincso / Istvan |
| GK Heja | 2001 | Mv16 / Zugoly |
| GK Hollo | 2001 | Mv16 / Zugoly C.12 |
| GK Tunder | 2001 | Zugoly / 85.50 |
| GK Ati | 2001 | 2*Mv4 /3/ Jkm / Rna2 // Gm / D1 /4/ Mini Mano |
| GK Margit | 2001 | Ck983 / Gb // Mini Mano / Reka |
| GK Jutka | 2001 | Ck983 / Gb // Mini Mano / Reka |
| GK Hattyu | 2002 | Gobe / Othalom / Mini Mano |
| GK Cinege | 2002 | Zugoly / Élet |
| GK Smaragd | 2002 | 2*Istvan / Gobe |
| GK Rubintos | 2002 | 2*Mv4 /3/ Jkm /Rna2 // Gm / D1 /4/ Mini Mano |
| GK Ledava | 2002 | E34 / 76.1.142 // Zg5007 / GK020684 |
| GK Tisza 1 | 2003 | Tiszataj / Zombor |
| GK Kapos | 2003 | GKT5 // Sz1500 / Ttj /3/ 4470 |
| GK Piacos | 2003 | Mv15 / BLFA8 |
| GK Hargita | 2003 | David / Kalasz |
GK Ati is a premium quality wheat, comparable to Canadian hard red wheats. This cultivar has a gluten content of approximately 40 % with excellent gluten quality and a hard endosperm, short straw, an average yield potential, but moderate winter hardiness. One special characteristic is better tolerance to Olemma melanopus than all other cultivars in Hungary.
GK Bagoly is an early cultivar with a high yield potential and good resistance to leaf and stem rust. In addition to a high gluten content (33-35 %) and acceptable baking quality, GK Bagoly has the hardest kernel endosperm structure among the GK cultivars.
GK Cinege is a very early cultivar with good baking
quality with brown glumes.
GK Csongrad is an early ripening cultivar and one of the
firsts in yielding ability in Hungary. In the past dry years,
it was one of the best in drought tolerance. The cultivar is resistant
to stem rust (carries Sr36) and moderately susceptible
to leaf rust and powdery mildew. Wet gluten content (33-35 %)
and the bread making quality also are high.
GK Hargita is an early, awnless cultivar with a high yield potential. The wet gluten content is 32-34 %, the Farinograf quality 68-86. GK Hargita has good resistance to leaf rust, yellow rust, and leaf spots.
GK Hattyu is one of the standard cultivars of the intermediate-maturity group, with a very attractive plant type (strong straw, white head, and good stand). Baking quality is moderate.
GK Hollo is the standard cultivar of the late-maturity group in Hungary. In addition to a high yield potential, GH Hollo has a strong resistance to all the foliar diseases in Hungary, a gluten content of 35-38, and good baking quality but intermediate kernel hardness. Because of its tall straw, this cultivar is capable to lodging under high-input conditions.
GK Tisza is a new premium quality wheat with an average yield potential.
During the past 5 years, two new winter durum wheat cultivars (GK Selyemdur and GK Diadur) have been released for Hungary.
GK Betadur is the leading standard durum cultivar in the Hungarian production (with an 80 % acreage of the total durum fields), because of its excellent milling and pasta quality. This cultivar was registered in Serbia-Montenegro and has a license in Romania.
GK Selyemdur (registered in 2001) has the same quality as GK Betadur but with an improved yield potential. The acreage is increasing and in 2004 it reached the 10 % of the total durum area.
Multi location yield tests are set for testing the adaptability of our advanced lines. Adaptability, which is highly dependent on drought, winter tolerance, and sink-source capacity, is a crucial characteristic in wheat. Our tests are usually planted at ten locations under different conditions (soil type, altitude, precipitation, lowest temperature in winter, high and low input, and sowing time). At any location, 40-60 genotypes in four replications are tested excluding the check cultivars. Yield and yield components such as 1,000-kernel weight and some agronomic parameters are evaluated to find the best yielding cultivar that are adaptable to abiotic stresses.
Advances lines also were tested for frost resistance in a growth chamber. At flowering time, experiments estimating sink and source capacity were executed. Some of the most important quality parameters of the sample of each location, such as gluten content and hardiness index also were measured by MININFRA (NIR method on full seeds) to measure the stability of these parameters. Year by year, the multilocation trials are the basis of the development of our new winter wheat and winter durum wheat cultivars.
L. Cseuz.
Within the framework of Wheat Consortium on Research supported by the Hungarian Ministry of Education, our advanced wheat lines were tested for drought tolerance as a selection tool in our breeding system.
Water retention ability (WRA) was determined from the fresh mass of three excised leaves of 70 genotypes (registered cultivars and candidates) harvested from the field early in the morning. After maintaining in Petri dishes on wet filter paper for 24 h, the turgid mass was measured, and the leaves desiccated for 8 hrs in controlled conditions (65 % relative humidity and 24 C). After measuring their desiccated mass, the dry mass of the flag leaf was determined after a total desiccation. From these data, the initial relative water content (RWCi) and the desiccated relative water content (RWCd) were calculated. WRA was evaluated by comparing the reduction of RWC among the genotypes tested: (RWCd/RWCi) x 100 (%). We found a 40-90 % variation in the relative water content of the excised leaves after 8 hr desiccation in the year 2002 and 20-78 % water loss in 2003. The initial relative water content of flag leaves at dawn was between 69-96 % and 83-99 % among the 70/100 genotypes tested. On average, flag leaves could take up ~ 20 % in 2002 and 7 % water, to the initial RWC. After the 8 hr desiccation, the flag leaves could retain 55 % and 37 % of their initial RWC on average. Genotypes with the best WRA could retain 80 % of their initial RWC, whereas the poor genotypes could only retain 21 %. In 2003, genotypes with higher WRA retained 67.85 %, whereas those with the lowest WRA value only retained 16.73 % of their initial RWC.
Chemical desiccation tests were made to evaluate the translocation ability of the stem reserves in 100 genotypes. Each entry was sprayed with a desiccant (2 % NaClO3 solution) 14 days after anthesis. Kernel weight reductions due to the postanthesis stress were assessed by comparing treated and control plots for each entry. Wheat cultivars differed between 16.7-55 % in reduction of kernel mass, and this response was correlated with the response to the late season drought among the genotypes tested. In 2002, kernel mass was reduced by 34.6 % on average in the tested genotypes. The desiccant treatment caused expressive depression in kernel mass, and significant differences were found among the 70 entries. Hundreds of lines can be evaluated relatively fast and easy with these tests. In 2003, the depression of kernel mass was 38.9 %, and a great variation were found among the 100 tested genotypes (12.4-43 %).
Remote measurements of canopy temperature were done with a hand-held infrared thermometer (Crop Trak IR Thermometer Spectrum Inc.). In the nonstressed experiment, canopy temperatures were measured in three repetitions 2 to 5 days after each irrigation. Measurements were done at midday, under sunny, windless conditions at heading stage in a stressed (rainfed) and in an irrigated trial. Three repetitions and check cultivars established the right calibration. The thermometer was pointed down from a distance of 1 m to avoid the influence of soil exposure. In 2002, canopy temperature was 23.6 C, varying between 22.2 and 25.1 C, whereas the air temperature was 32 C. No significant difference was detected between the stressed and irrigated plots in canopy temperature under heat and drought stress. In 2003, the spring also was dry and hot. The drought continued until June, and irrigation treatments significantly affected plant growth and production. The average canopy temperature of the plots in the nonstressed environment (irrigated) was 22.85 C, whereas it was 26.47 C under stressed conditions. Extreme values in the irrigated treatment had less of a difference (20.1-25.0 C) than in the control plots (25.07-31.07 C). On average, drought increased the temperature of canopy surface by 3.61 C, which equals 13.61 %.
C. Lantos, E.F. Juhasz, R. Mihaly, A. Mesterhazy, L. Cseuz, M. Csösz, D. Dudits, and J. Pauk.
Wheat anther culture. Doubled haploid wheat lines were produced by anther culture, and these lines have been integrated into breeding programs. For genetic research, mapping populations have been generated by anther culture to study the genetic background of drought tolerance and FHB and Dreschlera resistance. DH lines were induced from a segregating F2 population using sensitive and resistant parents in crosses. The size of mapping populations are designed for about 160-160 DH individuals.
Isolated microspore culture. Isolated microspore culture is a special field of haploid technology. Intensive research has been cone on isolated microspore culture of wheat, triticale, and rice. The effect of different media were studied on induction of androgenesis. Different basic media and hormonal combinations were tested and compared. The best results were shown by a modified W14 medium supplemented by 0.5-0.5 mg/l 2.4-D and kinetin. Ten elite genotypes were tested in isolated microspore culture. All ten genotypes were responsive and able to product embryo-like structures. Green plants were regenerated from microspore derived embryos in case of seven varieties. To date, the bottleneck of microspore culture of cereals is the green plant regeneration.
Anther and microspore culture based haploid technology have been applied for in vitro selection of segregated transgenic populations at cell level. Stability of inheritance of the bar gene was studied in anther culture and in vitro microspore culture. Finally, DH transgenic wheat lines (TDH) were selected and generated using haploid-induction methods.
Genetic transformation (ALR). Climatic changes indicated some years ago that new molecular-genetic research was needed for the hunt for drought-resistance genes and gene-regulating elements. Without doubt, any agronomically important crops are expressing enhanced oxidative stress tolerance would be of great commercial value, because many limiting factors for plant performance involve oxidative stress.
The aldose reductase (ALR) gene was isolated from alfalfa (MsALR) and constructed into a plant expression vector (pAHC25) named pAHALR. Young embryos were bombarded with this plasmid. The transformed calli were cultured and selected on medium containing 20 mg/l ppt as selective agent. For the molecular analysis of transgenic samples, PCR and Western hybridizations were made. The activity of ALR also was investigated on the transgenic plants by biochemical and physiological analysis.
L. Purnhauser, M. Tar, G. Kaszony, M. Csösz, and A. Mesterhazy.
The NILs of Lr20 and Lr52 and its recurrent parent Thatcher, were used to identify AFLP, RAPD, and SSR markers linked to Lr20 and Lr52. An F2 populations from a cross between the resistant NIL Lr20, NIL Lr52, and the susceptible cultivar GK Deliba were used to map the linked markers. Segregation of Lr20 and Lr52 for resistance was evaluated using artificial infection. Out of 135 AFLP primer combinations tested, 32 showed polymorphism between the NIL Lr20 and GK Delibab. However, no linkage was found between these bands and the resistant phenotype. In addition, 15 microsatellite primers between the NIL Lr20 and GK Delibab also were tested. Three were polymorphic, but only one of them was linked to the Lr20. RAPD and SSR primers were tested between the NIL Lr52 and GK Delibab. Lr29, for which we previously found linked RAPD marker, a new S-SAP marker and several microsatellite markers also linked to Lr29 were identified. Marker-assisted selection was initiated to transfer Lr1, Lr19, Lr20, Lr29, Lr24, and Lr37, and Sr36 genes to six Hungarian wheat cultivars.
In our Fusarium-resistance project, some exotic resistance sources (including Sumai 3, Nobeoka bozu, and Ringo Star) are used to transfer FHB tolerance to the agronomically better, but susceptible Hungarian wheat cultivars. The objective of this study was to characterize the wheat lines for FHB tolerance by the use of several microsatellite markers specific for FHB QTL (identified in Sumai 3) at chromosomes 2BS, 3BS, 5A, and 6BS, and to evaluate the correlation between the FHB tolerance and the presence of markers in wheat lines developed in the FHB-resistance program. The results showed that the level of tolerance in some new lines reached that of the resistance sources. The presence of markers showed a fairly good association with the phenotipic tolerance data especially for markers specific for 3BS chromosome. These markers are used in our MAS program for FHB tolerance.
Acknowledgement. This research was supported by a postdoctoral OTKA grant D38486.
M. Papp, M. Varga, T. Bartok, A Mesterhazy, Z. Kertesz, and J. Matuz.
Resistance to the cereal leaf beetle and bird cherry-oat aphid
was tested in 2000-03 on 30 winter wheat cultivars by means of
an artificial infestation in field cages covered by insect nets.
Highly significant differences were found between cultivars in
leaf-feeding damage by O. melanopus, infestation severity
by R. padi, and reduction of yield and 1,000-kernel weight.
The most resistant cultivar had 29 % leaf-feeding damage by O.
melanopus, and the most susceptible 77 %. The average yield
decrease caused by O. melanopus was 42 %, with extremes
of 24 and 54 %. The correlation between the leaf-feeding damage
by O. melanopus and the yield loss was significant (r =
0,8208; P < 0,001). Values of infestation by R. padi
varied between 25 and 47 %. The average yield reduction caused
by R. padi was 33 %. Yield of the most tolerant cultivar
was reduced by 21 %, whereas the most susceptible one was reduced
by 51 %. A highly significant correlation was found between infestation
severity by R. padi and yield reduction (r = 0,8368; P
< 0,001). Among the examined cultivars, our new cultivar GK
Ati, had significant resistance to O. melanopus.
Released in 2001, GK Ati was patented in 2004. GK Bagoly and GK
Cinege had medium to good resistance to R. padi.
The qualitative and quantitative chromatographic analyses of the free phenols and phenolic acids were made from leaf extracts of 26 wheat cultivars collected at booting, heading and milk-ripening. The highest amount of phenols and phenolic acids was detected in wheat leaves at boot stage. At heading and milk-ripening, their quantity was more than 50 % less. Of the phenolic acids, the high concentration of vanillic acid and ferulic acid contents seem to be resistance factors to O. melanopus, whereas resistance to R. padi correlated closely with the high protocatechuic, ferulic, and caffeic acid concentrations.
Acknowledgement. This work was supported by OTKA Foundation grant No. Tº32538.
B. Toth, A. Mesterhazy, T. Bartok, and J. Varga.
Fusarium head blight is economically one of the most important
fungal diseases of wheat throughout the world. Contamination of
wheat by the mycotoxins produced by F. graminearum and
F. culmorum is the most serious effect of FHB, because these mycotoxins,
including various trichothecenes (DON and NIV) and zearalenone,
are harmful both to humans and animals. We examined the genetic
variability of Hungarian populations of F. graminearum
sensu lato and F. culmorum by various molecular
and analytical methods. All Hungarian isolates were found to belong
to mycotoxin chemotype I, producing DON and/or its acetylated
derivatives (predominantly 15-acetyl-DON). The genetic variability
of F. graminearum isolates was much higher than that of
F. culmorum isolates during RAPD and IGS-RFLP analyses. Phylogenetic
analysis of putative reductase gene sequences let us cluster the
F. culmorum isolates into three main groups corresponding to European,
North American, and Hungarian isolates. For F. graminearum,
representatives of species other than F. graminearum sensu
stricto (F. boothii and F. vorosii) also have
been identified in Hungary. Formal description of F. vorosii
is in progress. Mycoviruses also have been identified in five
F. culmorum and one F. graminearum isolates. A real-time
PCR method has been developed to detect Fusaria in wheat.
We also identified 16 polyketide synthase (PKS) and 15 nonribosomal
peptide synthetase (NRPS) genes in a F. graminearum genomic
database. Two of these NRPS genes were found to be closely related
to peptide synthetases of various fungi taking part in psiderophore
biosynthesis. Further studies are in progress to clarify the role
of some of the identified PKS and NRPS in pathogenesis..
Acknowledgments. This research was supported by a postdoctoral
OTKA grant (D38486). We also thank the NKFP (4/ 038/2001) and
EU (QLK1-CT-1999-01380) for supporting aspects of this work.
M. Csösz.
We started a new project to receive data about the change of
occurrence of the necrotrophic pathogens in Szeged in 2000. More
than 10.000 leaf samples from 8-13 locations were collected for
analysis in March, April, May, and June 2000-04. The previous
crop was different at each field (canola, winter canola, peas,
mustard, red pepper, sunflower peas black soil, onion, sugar beet,
and winter wheat (only 1 place)). The samples were incubated in
Petri dishes on wet filter-paper at 20 C for 48-72 h. The necrotrophic
fungi (B. sorokiniana, D. tritici-repentis, S.
tritici, and S. nodorum) were then subject to microscopic
identification. Epidemiologically the four diseases have different
patterns. The D. tritici-repentis and the S. nodorum
were highest in June, S. tritici in April, and B. sorokiniana
similar in each month, but the measure of the occurrence was not
higher than 20 % as an average of 5 years (Table 2). Presence
of necrotrophic pathogens was lowest in 2003. We observed significant
differences in composition and occurrence of pathogens among the
locations and years.
| Month | Year (occurrence (%)) | 5-year average | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | ||
| Drechslera tritici-repentis | ||||||
| March | -- | 8.01 | 1.18 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.30 |
| April | 0.21 | 14.53 | 3.24 | 0.16 | 1.21 | 3.87 |
| May | 7.04 | 8.05 | 6.03 | 4.75 | 17.87 | 8.75 |
| June | 24.67 | 18.72 | 6.47 | 5.06 | 18.59 | 14.70 |
| Septoria tritici | ||||||
| March | -- | 28.85 | 1.18 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 7.51 |
| April | 22.01 | 19.80 | 1.76 | 0.32 | 3.33 | 9.44 |
| May | 6.11 | 11.72 | 3.38 | 0.00 | 11.73 | 6.59 |
| June | 5.98 | 2.31 | 2.79 | 0.47 | 19.77 | 6.26 |
| Septoria nodorum | ||||||
| March | -- | 11.54 | 1.03 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.14 |
| April | 2.73 | 9.40 | 1.32 | 0.00 | 0.45 | 2.78 |
| May | 5.07 | 5.13 | 6.62 | 0.63 | 0.80 | 3.65 |
| June | 20.37 | 31.79 | 6.47 | 4.91 | 22.50 | 17.21 |
| Bipolaris sorokiniana | ||||||
| March | -- | 0.48 | 0.15 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.16 |
| April | 4.40 | 1.00 | 0.15 | 0.16 | 0.00 | 1.14 |
| May | 7.15 | 1.10 | 0.00 | 0.16 | 0.53 | 1.79 |
| June | 4.30 | 0.26 | 0.29 | 0.47 | 6.46 | 2.36 |
E. Acs and Zs. Kovacs.
DIABET-MIX powder mixture is an additional powder containing vegetable protein that can be used for producing diabetic bakery products. The carbohydrate content of rolls and breads baked by using this powder is 30 % less than that of regular baking products and 10 % of the carbohydrate components left in the products is a hardly digestible polysaccharide. This product could be used in a diabetic diet. Using these new products, 50 % or more could be consumed in the diet with the blood glucose level remaining at 30 % or less because of the favorable physiological effects of the powder's polysaccharide content. The effect is clinically tested. These products can be applied to a fat-reducing diet as well, because of slight absorption. Some characteristic data of the diabetic bread and roll include carbohydrates, 37.9 %; protein, 16.6 %; and energy, 948 KJ/100 g. The DIABET-MIX product family and the production technology of items baked using it are under patent.
KARCAG RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF DEBRECEN UNIVERSITY
5301 Karcag, Kisújszállási út 166, Hungary.
M. Fazekas, L. Balla, Gy. Chrappán, Á. Czimbalmas, and S. Bene. [p. 47-48]
Our efforts in wheat breeding continue. Our recent release is Kg Széphalom, a high-yielding, semidwarf cultivar with excellent winter hardiness and quality. We started the multiplication of seed. The cultivars registered earlier, Alex (1999), Róna (1998), Hunor (1998), Kg Kunhalom (2002), and Kg Magor (2002), gained in area planted and used more and more widely, especially in the dry plain area.
Because breeding has to meet the requirements of the society, farming, and market, we have to take into consideration of the challenge of the present days. In order to meet the farmer's and market needs and requirements, our breeding strategy based on selection under low-input management and is associated with the tillering capacity, adaptation to the low-input production, and stable yield.
Our strategy involves the increase of biological yield and the improvement of harvest index and good reaction to the fertilizers especially for nitrogen. For this reason, we studied a group of cultivars to learn the genetic advances during the last century. We set up a trial with the leading cultivars of the first half of the 20th century, so-called extensive types. We studied the most widely used cultivars of the second half of the century and, finally, some newer releases.
The cultivars can be grouped according to their yield potential (Table 1). The extensive types of the cultivars produced on average 4.83 t/ha. We took this as 100.00 %. The next generation produced 7.30 t/ha, which means 151.14 % over the previous group. The next group yielded 8.71 t/ha, 180.33 %. These are the leading cultivars at present. The next group of cultivars produced 9.53 t/ha and 197.31 %. The newest cultivar, Kg Kunhalom, was on the top with 10.06 t/ha and 208.33 %. The candidate cultivar Gloria was on the same level and ranked second.
| Cultivar | Year of registration | Yield (t/ha) | A % | B % | C % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KG Kunhalom | 2002 | 10.09 | 230.10 | 142.92 | 113.95 |
| Glória | fj. | 10.04 | 228.85 | 142.14 | 113.33 |
| Buzogány | 1998 | 9.73 | 221.89 | 137.82 | 109.88 |
| GK Cipó | 1998 | 9.64 | 219.73 | 136.47 | 108.81 |
| Róna | 1998 | 9.60 | 218.81 | 135.91 | 108.36 |
| Alex | 1999 | 9.42 | 214.71 | 133.36 | 106.32 |
| Gaspard | 1992 | 9.41 | 214.48 | 133.22 | 106.21 |
| GK Öthalom | 1985 | 9.39 | 214.03 | 132.93 | 105.99 |
| F 98039 G-51 | fj. | 9.06 | 206.61 | 128.33 | 102.32 |
| MV 15 | 1985 | 8.93 | 203.53 | 126.42 | 100.79 |
| KG Magor | 2002 | 8.92 | 203.31 | 126.27 | 100.68 |
| Mv Pálma | 1994 | 8.91 | 203.08 | 126.13 | 100.56 |
| Mv Magdaléna | 1996 | 8.86 | 201.94 | 125.42 | 100.00 |
| Mv Csárdás | 1999 | 8.76 | 199.66 | 124.01 | 98.87 |
| Hunor | 1998 | 8.70 | 198.40 | 123.23 | 98.25 |
| Fatima 2 | 1992 | 8.65 | 197.15 | 122.45 | 97.63 |
| Mv Palotás | 2000 | 8.38 | 190.99 | 118.63 | 94.58 |
| GK Élet | 1996 | 8.34 | 190.08 | 118.06 | 94.13 |
| Boema | fj. | 8.05 | 183.47 | 113.95 | 90.85 |
| MV 23 | 1991 | 7.94 | 180.96 | 112.39 | 89.61 |
| MV 4 | 1974 | 7.21 | 164.31 | 102.05 | 81.37 |
| Mv Magvas | 1998 | 7.16 | 163.17 | 101.35 | 80.80 |
| Jubilejnaja 50 | 1970 | 7.14 | 162.83 | 101.13 | 80.63 |
| Bezosztája 1 | 1960 | 7.06 | 161.00 | 100.00 | 79.73 |
| Tiszavidéki | -- | 5.30 | 120.75 | 75.00 | 59.80 |
| FertQdi 293 | 1960 | 5.27 | 120.07 | 74.58 | 59.46 |
| Fleischmann | 1924 | 4.70 | 107.07 | 66.50 | 53.02 |
| Bánkúti új | 1929 | 4.51 | 102.85 | 63.88 | 50.93 |
| Bánkúti 1201 | 1929 | 4.39 | 100.00 | 62.11 | 49.52 |
| SD5 % | 0.75 |
We need to emphasize that the cultural conditions were excellent in 2003-04 crop year. We planted at the proper time, which lead to a good tillering and stand establishment. The spring was cool, and the distribution of precipitation unusually excellent. One-hundred thirty kilograms of N fertilizer was applied, so the different yield can be contributed to the genetic yield potential of the cultivars. These data also show the genetic advance in wheat breeding during the last 50 years in Hungary, which is approximately 100 % or more.
The major goal of the breeding at the moment is to enhance the economic viability and competitiveness of the Hungarian wheat production maintaining the quality and marketability meeting the consumer needs, while developing environmentally friendly and efficient processing concepts.