ITEMS FROM THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR SOUTH-EAST REGIONS - ARISER

410020 Toulaykov str., 7, Saratov, Russian Federation.

The effect of Lr genes on grain yield and quality parameters in 2001. [p. 116]

S.A. Voronina, S.N. Sibikeev, and V.A. Krupnov.

We investigated the influence of Lr genes on the agronomic performance of a set of NILs of spring bread wheat. The growing conditions of the first half of the growing season in 2001 were very wet, and a moderate epidemic of leaf rust developed. The second half was hot and droughty and the grain-filling period lacked any precipitation. In these conditions, the Lr-sib lines had the highest grain yield as compared with the lr-sibs, for Lr14a + Lr23 (4.16 t and 3.32 t), Lr19 (3.32 t and 3.00 t), Lr14a (3.17 t and 2.41 t), and Lr9 + Lr19 (3.84 t and 3.48 t), respectively. For SDS evaluation, the Lr-sib lines equaled the lr-sib lines varying between 91.3-100. A mixograph analysis was produced for each NIL with Lr14a + Lr23 and Lr9 + Lr19 combinations. No significant difference between Lr and lr sibs were found.

The efficiency of Lr genes and gene combinations in 2001. [p. 116]

S.N. Sibikeev, S.A. Voronina, and V.A. Krupnov.

In a moderate epidemic of leaf rust in 2001, the different Lr genes and gene combinations were tested in the Department of Genetics ARISER. The following infection types were found:

IT = 3	Lr19;
IT = 2+3	Lr23, Lr25, Lr26;
IT = 11+	LrT.d (S57); and
IT = 0;	Lr16 + Lr3, Lr23 + Lr26, Lr19 + Lr9, Lr19 + Lr23, Lr19 + Lr24, Lr19 + Lr25, Lr19 + Lr26, Lr19 + LrT.d (S57), Lr19 + LrT.d (Sz), Lr23 + LrT.d (S57), LrT.dc, LrT.dcs, and Lr6R.

where LrT.d (S57) and LrT.d (Sz) are derived from T. durum cultivar Saratovskaya 57 and Saratovskaya zolotistaya, respectively; LrT.dc and LrT.dcs are derived from T. turgidum subsps. dicoccum and dicoccoides, respectively; and Lr6R is derived from Ag. intermedium chromosome 6Agi. The progression of the leaf rust epidemic in the June was depressed by hot and dry weather in the July. The maximum leaf rust severity on susceptible cultivars was 35-40 %.

A comparison of Ustilago tritici populations from the former USSR and abroad. [p. 116-117]

V.A. Krupnov and A.E. Druzhin.

Nielsen and Thomas (1996) identified about 44 races loose smut revealed in Canada and other countries. The identification of races was made on the 19 differential cultivars. Krivchenko et al. (1987) identified 71 races on nine cultivars from the former USSR. Different techniques for identification were used by each authors.

Included in the R class are reaction types 0 and 1 reduces the population of loose smut races in the former USSR to 33 (Table 1). The differentials have three common cultivars (Mindum, Kota, and Reward) and a comparison of their reaction to race pathogens is interesting (Table 1). The similarity in reaction of loose smut populations, which were detected in the Russian and foreign cultivars, may be explained by the prevalence of similar Ut genes.

Optimizing estimates of breeding material for resistance to loose smut. [p. 117-118]

A.E. Druzhin and A.Yu. Buyenkov.

We studied breeding material with resistance to loose smut using different techniques to estimate the effect of the pathogen and establish classes based on the degree of resistance (Table 2).

Table 2. Methods of estimating resistance to loose smut.

Krivchenko 1987					Nielsen and Thomas 1996
% of infected				Class	% plants infected	Symbol	Class
embryo		plants	Symbol
buds	scutella
0	0	0	0	Highly resistant	0-10	R	Resistant
0	< 20	0-5	I	Moderately resistant	11-30	MR	Moderately resistant
< 20	< 100	6-25	II	Moderately susceptible	31-50	MS	Moderately susceptible
< 40	< 100	26-50	III	Medium susceptible	51­70	S	Susceptible
> 40	100	> 50	IV	Highly susceptible	> 70	HS	Highly susceptible

The division of cultivars and lines for these types of reaction is based on results of estimating mycelium in seed and the quantity sporulating spikes in a field. Neither of these techniques take into account morphological and physiological changes that are observed in infected plants (e.g., destruction of ovary at inoculation, reduction in germination, quantity of seed/spike, or reduction of 1,000-kernel weight). These are the so-called latent losses. For our long-term assessments, latent losses in some cultivars included the classes R and MR (Nielsen and Thomas 1996) and 0, II, III (Krivchenko 1987). These losses can be rather large and depend on the presence in a cultivar of other Ut genes, their expression in a genotype, and their reaction to races of the pathogen (Table 3). Some cultivars and lines from the R and MR groups have low seed germination than those from the MS, S, and HS groups. Taking this into account, the percent of defeat from loose smut, in our opinion, it is necessary to make determinations from quantity of seed sown and health of plants at heading and not from the quantity of healthy and sporulating plants. When choosing the donor of resistance genes for loose smut, you need to consider the level of the latent losses from the Ut gene.

Table 3. Reaction of cultivars and lines on race 23 of loose smut. The race was identified on a set of Soviet cultivars and differentials in Saratov in 2000.

Cultivar/line	Reduction in relation to the control, %			% of plants sporulating	Type of reaction
	germination	seed/spike	1,000-kernel weight
L 2040	50.8	10.9	8.7	5.3	R	II
L 18-94	9.8	18.1	16.7	0.0	R	0-I
Zhygulevskaya	61.6	61.6	22.9	7.7	R	II
L 2359	85.6	1.7	11.1	0.0	R	0-I
Saratovskaya 46	90.4	3.2	6.7	2.0	R	I
L 2776-01	85.9	37.5	3.9	0.0	R	0-I
L 2772-01	48.2	19.9	4.4	5.8	R	II
L 1152-00	95.5	3.2	4.8	0.0	R	0-I
Yuogovostotchnaya 2	23.4	3.2	2.1	11.6	MR	II
Saratovskaya 60	44.0	2.4	1.6	12.3	MR	II
Saratovskaya 29	17.0	12.3	4.9	37.5	MS	III
L 505	68.6	--	--	75.0	HS	IV
L 528	65.3	--	--	100.0	HS	IV

INSTITITE OF COMPLEX ANALYSIS OF REGIONAL PROBLEMS

Karl Marx str., 105 A, kv. 167, Khabarovsk, 680009, Russian Federation.

The use of winter wheat varieties in the selection of spring wheat varieties for the far eastern Russian Federation. [p. 118-120]

Ivan M. Shindin.

Problems associated with the selection of initial breeding material for use in spring wheat breeding are very real. Although there is a large spring wheat germ plasm collection, it is not enough for the breeding of cultivars. Disease resistance, drought tolerance, and grain quality must be combined with high yield potential, but this combination is rarely implemented. Practice shows that it is better to use forms with the maximum number of traits for new varieties, which is why the best winter wheat varieties with higher biological potential for productivity, lodging resistance, and disease tolerance are of interest to spring wheat breeders.

The Primorskey Agricultural Experimental Station (now the Primorskey Research Agricultural Institute) started using winter wheat varieties for the selection of spring wheat cultivars in the 1960s under A.V. Zaitseva. As a result, Primorskaya 18 and Okeanskaya cultivars were developed. Although they did not find a commercial use, they did become valuable starting material for breeding spring wheat cultivars. Those hybridizations of winter wheat cultivars, however, were made without regard to their agrobiological use in far eastern Russia. In addition, methods of hybridization of winter and spring wheat cultivars and the nature of inheritance of developmental type, vegetative period, plant height, and productivity were not studied.

The Far Eastern Research Institute of Agriculture, Khabarovsk, and the Primorskey Research Institute of Agriculture, Ussuryisk, have studied 450 winter wheat cultivars. Valuable varieties selected as initial breeding material included such cultivars as Bezostaya 1, Skorospelka 35, Rannyaya 12, and Krasnodarskaya 39, which where bred at the Krasnodar Research Institute of Agriculture, and the U.S. cultivars Arthur, Redcoat, Kenosha, Sturdy, Soout 66, and Trader, which are resistant to P. graminis. Aurora, Kavkaz, Predgornaya 2, and Priboy (Russia); Ruslaka, Rumeliya, and Trapezitsa (Bulgaria); and Timwin, Redcoat, and Sturdy (U.S.) are tolerant to P. triticina. No cultivars resistant to F. graminiarum, the most harmful wheat disease in the far east, were bred, although Odesskaya 16, Odesskaya 26, Odesskaya 51, and Belotserkovskaya 198 (Ukraine); Kishenyovskaya 4 (Moldovia); Rumelia (Bulgaria); Libellula (Italy); and Redcoat, Timwin, Soutt 66, Sturdy, and Parker (U.S.) showed a high level of resistance (mark 4). Odesskaya 26, Odesskaya 51, Rumelia, Timwin, Sturdy, and Libeilula have complex resistance to P. triticina, P. graminis, and E. graminearum.

In far eastern Russia, the weight of grains/spike is an important indicator of productivity. The kernel weight of the majority of the winter wheat cultivars studied was 1 g, regardless of weather conditions. Predgornaya 2, Skorospelka 35, Kavkaz, Moldavanka, Mironovskaya 808, and Polesskaya 70 had weights of 1.23-1.44 g, which is 40-65 % higher than that of spring wheat cultivars. Ear length, weight of kernels/spike, and 1,000-kernel weight were indicators of a more productive spike, and were 7-8 cm, 25-30 grains, and 28­35 g, respectively, in spring wheat cultivars and 9-10 cm, 35-40 grains, and 38-45 g, respectively, in winter wheats.

As a result of selection for these traits, complex, valuable, medium-maturity cultivars with high or moderate resistance to diseases, strong stems, good grain quality, high yield potential, and relative yield stability were bred, including Bezostaya 1, Skorospelka, Predgornaya 2, Polesskaya 70, Mironovskaya 808, Scout 66, and Timwin. All of these cultivar have been used in hybridizations with spring wheat cultivars.

Inheritance studies of different characters has shown that the vegetative period of winter­spring hybrid F1s does not differ from that of the spring-type parents with the exception of hybrids with spring wheats Primorskaya 18 and Okeanskaya, which have winter wheat cultivar genes in their pedigrees. The vegetative period of those hybrids was 5-10 days longer than that of hybrids obtained by crossing a winter wheat and a 'pure' spring wheat cultivar.

Dihybrid (16 spring types/1 winter type) and trihybrid (54 spring types/1 winter type) schemes were used to split the F2. The largest percent of winter types (15-21 %) was found in those populations in which a spring type was developed from a winter-spring hybrid. In the F3, we found great diversity in spring and winter types and vegetative period. The number of spring lines was different and varied from 26-60 % depending on the cross combination, which is why spring forms should be selected in the F3 and following generations.

We determined that winter­spring F1 hybrids inheriting the trait of productivity by heterosis, which was two times more frequent than in hybrids from crosses of two spring wheat cultivars. Heterosis more often was determined by the weight of grains/spike and plant productivity (80 and 95 %, respectively). Heterosis reached 40­63 % in 'Aurora/Primorskaya 14' and 'Aurora/Amurskaya 75' crosses and 50-85 % in 'Kavkaz/Dalnevostochnaya', 'Kavkaz/Primorskaya 14', and 'Aurora/Amurskays 75'. Selection under different agricultural conditions may account for the difference between spring and winter wheat cultivars, because it did not allow for the exchange of genetic information, except in rare cases.

Analyses of hybrid populations indicate that the developmental process in winter­spring and spring-winter populations is richer than in 'pure' spring populations. A high level of variability for all traits was observed, including diversity in plant height, up to 45 cm; plant productivity, up to seven stems; ear length, up to 5 cm; the number of spiklets/spike, up to 9; the number of grains/spike, up to 28; l,000-kernel weight, up to 35.8 g; grain/spike, up to 1.3; and grains/plant weight, up to 6-7, Of these traits, the most highly variable traits were plant productivity and plant effectiveness, a difference of 6-7 times. This variability made a good basis for the selection of commercial spring wheats.

As a result of hybridization of winter and spring wheat cultivars, various lines were studied in different phases of the selection process. Bezostaya l, Kavkaz, Aurora, Skorospelka 35, Polesskaya 70, and Moldovanka are found in the pedigrees of many of these lines. High yield potential and resistance to lodging under the climatic conditions of far eastern Russia (about 6 t/ha) also are present. In a good summer, they have a yield advantage of 1-1.5 t/ha. In a dry summer, their yield is similar to that of standard cultivars. On average, these cultivars have a 20-25 % yield higher than standard cultivars.

The spring wheat cultivar Primorskaya 21, bred with the winter wheat Bezostaya 1, is characterized by high yield, lodging resistance, and resistance to P. graminis and U. tritici. Another spring wheat cultivar, Primorskaya 39, is also a product of a winter wheat, but was developed not a hybridization but by transformation of winter wheat cultivar Ilyichyovka into a spring wheat following individual selection. The spring wheat cultivars Primorskaya 21 and Primorskaya 39 are grown in the great growing area of the Primorskey Territory, which is situated in the far eastern part of Russia. In our opinion, the method of hybridization of winter wheat cultivars and spring wheat cultivars has great potential for further improving spring wheat cultivars for far eastern Russia.

 

 

RUSSIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY

Department of Mycology and Immunity of Agricultural Plants, 143050, Moscow region, B. Vyasemy, Russian Federation.

 

Virulence of Puccinia triticina in the Russian Federation in 2000. [p. 120-122]

E.D. Kovalenko, A.I. Zhemchuzina, and N.N. Kryazheva.

Wheat leaf rust is an important disease in the Russian Federation. Wheat is grown in many regions of Russia under a wide range of environmental conditions. Mean crop losses can vary from 10-12 % to 50 % on leaf rust-susceptible cultivars in epidemics years. Success in selecting resistant varieties of wheat in connected to the constant control of the pathogens population structure, determining new virulence pathotypes, and monitoring virulence frequencies.

Collections of leaf rust uredospores were made from wheat in the Central, Volgo-Vyatka, and north Caucasian regions. Uredospores from each collection were increased in the seedling-susceptible wheat cultivars Mironovskaya and Hakasskaya. Spores from a single uredium were directly inoculated on 5-6-day-old plants of a differential host series of NILs of Thatcher with single resistance genes Lr1, Lr2a, Lr2b, Lr2c, Lr3a, Lr3bg, Lr3ka, Lr9, Lr10, Lr11, Lr14a, Lr14b, Lr15, Lr16, Lr17, Lr18, Lr19, Lr20, Lr21, Lr23, Lr24, Lr25, Lr26, Lr27 + Lr31, Lr28, Lr29, Lr32, Lr36, and Lr38. Plants were sprayed with suspension of spores and placed in dew chamber overnight at 18°C. Spore suspensions of each isolate were applied to the first leaf of seedlings. Infection types are recorded after 12 days using the scale developed by Stakman and Levine.

Race composition and frequencies of virulence on each of the differential lines differs among collections from the three regions (Tables 1 and 2). The total number of phenotypes in the three agroecological areas was 121.

Central region. Thirty-seven virulence/avirulence phenotypes on 29 host lines were found among the 61 single-uredinial isolates. Twenty-five virulence genes were found (Lr1, Lr2a, Lr2b, Lr2c, Lr3a, Lr3bg, Lr3ka, Lr10, Lr11, Lr14a, Lr14b, Lr15, Lr16, Lr17, Lr18, Lr19, Lr20, Lr21, Lr23, Lr25, Lr26, Lr27 + Lr31, Lr28, Lr32, and Lr36) and four virulence genes were not (Lr9, Lr24, Lr29, and Lr38).

Volgo-Vyatka region. Twenty-nine virulence/avirulence phenotypes were found on host lines among 40 single uredinial isolates. Twenty-one virulence genes were found (Lr1, Lr2a, Lr2b, Lr2c, Lr3a, Lr3bg, Lr3ka, Lr10, Lr11, Lr14a, Lr14b, Lr16, Lr17, Lr18, Lr20, Lr21, Lr23, Lr25, Lr27 + Lr31, Lr32, and Lr36) and eight genes were not (Lr9, Lr15, Lr19, Lr24, Lr26, Lr28, Lr29, and Lr38).

North Caucasian region. Sixty-four virulence/avirulence phenotypes were found among 81 single uredinial isolates. Twenty-five virulence genes were discovered (Lr1, Lr2a, Lr2b, Lr2c, Lr3a, Lr3bg, Lr3ka, Lr10, Lr11, Lr14a, Lr14b, Lr15, Lr16, Lr17, Lr18, Lr19, Lr20, Lr21, Lr23, Lr25, Lr26, Lr27 + Lr31, Lr28, Lr32, and Lr36) and four genes were not (Lr9, Lr24, Lr29, and Lr38).

Virulence to Lr3a, Lr3bg, Lr11, Lr17, and Lr21 was very high and often 100 % in all regions. Virulence to Lr1 was relatively high in Central region but low in Volgo-Vyatka and North Caucasian regions. Virulence to Lr3ka, Lr23, Lr25, and Lr27 + Lr31 was high in North Caucasian region and low in two other regions. Lr26 virulence was low in Central region and relative high in North Caucasian region. Virulence to Lr19 was low in Central and in North Caucasian regions. Virulence to Lr19 was first detected in 1998 after the release of a new cultivar with high resistance to leaf rust race L-503. After new virulent race are detected, many new combinations of virulence to Lr19 were identified in the Central and North Caucasian regions. Virulence to Lr9, Lr24, Lr29, and Lr38 were absent and fully effective in all regions. Host-resistance genes Lr9, Lr24, Lr29, and Lr38 are important sources of resistance.

RUSSIAN UNIVERSITY OF PEOPLES' FRIENDSHIP

ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 6, Moskow, 117918, Russian Federation.

Biological determination of the time for optimum autumn sowing of different wheats (winter and alternative). [p. 122-124]

A.K. Fedorov.

The biologically optimum time for planting different varieties of winter wheat is the latest point in the autumn when the plants reach a phase of readiness for the formation of rudimentary spikes and will undergo spike formation at the earliest possible date in the spring. At this sowing time, spike formation in the spring occurs under the most favorable conditions (a large reserve of nutrients, low temperatures, and before the days have become long) and over a longer period ensuring the formation of large spikes. Optimum autumn sowing time of different varieties depends on their photoperiodic responce; the more marked this reponce, the earlier a variety should be sown and, conversely, the less marked the responce, the later the variety should be sown.

Wheat yields depend, to a considerable extent, on time of sowing. The largest yield can be obtained when sowing time is optimum. Yield reduction is severe when new, highly productive varieties are planted at the wrong time. Optimum sowing times currently are determined empirically and their biological nature has not been established. Why different wheat varieties have different optimum sowing times in the same climatic zone is still unclear.

Different wheat varieties were sown at different times under field and controlled (greenhouse, hotbed, and controlled-climate chamber) conditions. Observations were made on the differentiation of the growing point. Our studies (Table 1) showed that the sowing time has a strong influence over the onset of rudimentary-spike formation and heading. In plants of all the early sown wheat varieties (up to a definite day for each variety) including the most winter hardy variety (Lutescens 329), which were sown at three different times through 21 August, growing-point differentiation and heading were observed simultaneously. The same phenomenon was observed for all sowing times through 26 August in the moderately winter hardy varieties and through 1 September in the weakly winter hardy variety (Bezostaya 1). In later-sown plants, differentiation of the growing point and heading occurred later as the sowing time was delayed.

August-sown plants, which began spike formation simultaneously, received sufficient light energy in the autumn for the growing point and the entire plant to enter the reproductive phase. Plants sown at later times did not have this opportunity, so that in the spring, they continued to accumulate the necessary amount of nutrients and grow in order to reach the stage of readiness for the transition to the reproductive phase and formation of the rudimentary spikes.

The largest spikes were formed when the sowing times allowed the growing point to differentiate into spike rudiments, all other conditions being equal. The following data illustrate this point. The average weight of the grain from one spike of Mironovskaya 808 winter wheat was 1.18 g when sown on 11 August, 1.20 g when sown on 21 August, 1.24 g when sown on 26 August, 0.73 g when sown on 11 September, 0.64 g when sown on 21 September, and 0.47 g when sown on 1 October. Spike productivity was approximately the same for all four August sowing times. For other sowing times, the later planting date, the lower the grain yield per spike.

These changes in yield can be attributed to the fact that plants sown in August were the first to form rudimentary spikes under the most favorable spring conditions, having the largest reserve of nutrients accumulated since autumn. The period of spike formation was the longest for these plants. Plants sown at later times began this process considerably later and under less favorable conditions that include higher temperatures and longer days, poor water supply, and a smaller reserve of nutrients accumulated since autumn. These plants required a longer period (depending on the sowing time) for vegetative growth under long-day conditions in order to reach the stage of spike formation, for which there was a substantially fewer number of days. All this led to the formation of spikes with relatively lower productivity as a result of later sowing.

Not all sowing times that permitted plants to reach a phase of readiness for rudimentary-spike formation in autumn resulted in a high grain yield, although they potentially provided for formation of large spikes. When sown relatively early, plants did not overwinter well because of severe damage by diseases and pests, strong growth, and inadequate hardening.

During normal autumn climactic conditions, the highest yields were usually obtained from seeds planted at, or about, the latest time that permits plants to reach the stage of readiness for rudimentary-spike formation during the autumn and earliest heading in the spring. In terms of the whole plant, this roughly corresponded to the tillering stage for individual shoots and to the three-leaf stage and the beginning of development of the fourth leaf. For the winter wheat Mironovskaya 808, 26 August was the appropriate time (Table 1).

Different varieties were considerably different in their optimum sowing time in the same climatic zone (near Moscow in this case), which was due to the biological characteristics of the varieties and their ontogeneses (more precisely, their photoperiodic reaction). The more pronounced the photoperiodic reaction of a variety, the more strongly it reacted to short days with delayed development, and the earlier it needed to be planted. Thus, the earliest optimum time for sowing of the frost-resistant varieties Lutescens 329 and Ul'yanovka was August 21, whereas the latest optimum time for the weakly frost-resistant variety Bezostaya 1 was 1 September. Even later optimum times were observed for the short-stemmed Mexican winter wheats, because of their weak photoperiodic reaction. The reaction was considerably more pronounced for frost-resistant rather than for those with weak photoperiodic response. Under the conditions of shorter days in autumn, frost-resistant varieties consequently had a considerably greater decrease in growth and development than the weakly frost-resistant varieties.

When sown at the same time, frost-resistant varieties required a longer time to reach that point when they were capable of beginning formation of rudimentary spikes than were the weakly frost-resistant varieties. Thus, Mil'turum 321 spring wheat, with a pronounced photoperiodic reaction, was sown at different times late in the summer; but was able to start ear formation only when planted no later than 16 August. The corresponding date for Lutescens 62, with a weak photoperiodic reaction, was 1 September (Table 1).

Thus, the optimum sowing time for a given variety in a specific climatic zone is largely dictated by its reaction to photoperiod. Knowing the photoperiodic reactions of a new and older varieties, one can, without conducting many years of experiments, determine the optimum sowing time for the new variety. Optimum sowing prevents the large losses in grain yield that occur when new varieties are sown at nonoptimum times and has a strong economic effect on agricultural production. Such data are important in practical breeding. One can create new varieties with a preprogrammed optimum sowing time and a growing-season length that will ensure the highest yield under given climatic conditions.

Plants that differ in development type and vegetative periods will differ in their reaction to light during the vegetative phase and different amounts of light energy will be required for transition of the sprout to the light requirements of the longer vegetative phase (tillering). The longer the vegetative period, the more strongly expressed is the winter habit.

SARATOV STATE AGRARIAN UNIVERSITY named after N.I. VAVILOV

Department of Biotechnology, Plant Breeding and Genetics, 1 Teatralnaya Sg., Saratov 410600, Russian Federation.

New chemicals for morphogenic optimization of bread wheat in vitro. [p. 124]

Yu.V. Lobachev, O.V. Tkachenko, and T.I. Djatchouk (Agricultural Research Insitute of South-East Region, 7 Tulaykov st., Saratov, Russian Federation).
 
We studied the action of substances synthesized by the Chemistry Chair (Saratov State Agrarian University named after N.I. Vavilov) for use in induction-nutrient medium for increasing the regenerative ability of bread wheat callus in vitro. The new components, 1385, 1386, and 1387, from furfural branch, are produced under hemicellulose splitting and taken from agricultural timber-production wastes. Subtances 1386 and 1387 are optical isomers of 1385 ratsemat.

A semidwarf line that is an NIL of the Rht-B1c gene in the spring bread wheat background of Saratovskaya 29 and characterized by high morphogenetic activity of tissue culture in vitro was chosen for experiments (Djatchouk TI et al. 2001). After 10 days, 1385, 1386, and 1387 demonstrated growth-regulating activity (> 10 mg/l concentration) and they increase coleoptile length in GA-insensitive lines with the Rht-B1c gene. Material was put into induction nutrient medium at concentrations of 1 and 10 mg/l for in vitro cultivation of immature wheat embryos. Without 2,4-D, the plants lacked differentiation nor form callus. Compared with 1385 ratsemat and the 1386 optical isomer, 1387 increased plantlet formation frequency (from immature embryos) and reduced root growth. With 2,4-D (2 mg/l), 1385 negatively affected morphogenetic callus formation, but the others (1386 and 1387) did not have any effect on morphogenetic callus capacity at this concentration. Both the 1385 ratsemat and 1386 optical isomer positively influenced the regenerative ability, whereas 1387 did not effect callus formation with plantlets under initial nutritive medium. Therefore, the 1386 substance might be recommended for morphogenetic callus regenerative ability optimization as an immature embryo-cultivation medium as it raises callus regenerative ability to 52.7 % even at a concentration of 1 mg/l.

Publications.

• Djatchouk TI, Tkachenko OV, and Lobachev Yu. 2001. Rht genes influence androgenesis and somatic embryogenesis in vitro in spring bread wheat. Ann Wheat Newslet 47:148.

N.I. VAVILOV RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF PLANT INDUSTRY
42, B. Morskaya Str., St. Petersburg, 190000, Russian Federation.

Genealogical analysis of spring bread wheat resistance to loose smut. [p. 150-151]

S.P. Martynov and T.V. Dobrotvorskaya.

Loose smut is the serious disease of common wheat that is widely distributed in all wheat-growing areas and considered to be important in arid and semi arid regions of eastern Europe and Russia including western and eastern Siberia.

The purpose of our work was to analyze resistance to loose smut in bread wheat by comparing groups of resistant and susceptible spring wheat cultivars from two regions, Russia and North America, using a genealogical approach.

The data on bread wheat cultivars were taken from the database of the Information and Analytical System GRIS3.5. The GRIS database contains passport information for more than 100,000 accessions; 650 are characterized as resistant, 225 as is moderately resistant, 426 as susceptible, and 97 accessions have contradictory estimations of resistance/susceptibility.

This information, assembled from the various publications, was received over time from different researchers. For the genealogical analysis of resistance, we created two groups (i) Russian-released spring wheat cultivars and perspective lines (336) and (ii) North American-released spring wheat cultivars (106). Each of these groups were divided on two subgroups; resistant and susceptible to loose smut. Among Russian accessions analyzed, 180 were resistant (the majority are listed in Table 5) and 156 were susceptible (Alenkaya; Altaiskaya 50, 81, and 92; Albidum 21, 24, 28, 29, 43, 233, 604, 1616, 1697, 2815, 2817, and 3700; Albosar; Albocaesium 65; Amurskaya 90 and 1495; Amurskaya Golokoloska; Angara 86; AS-29; Baganskaya 93; Balaganka; Barnaulskaya 83; Belyanka; Biryusinka; Blansar; Botanicheskaya 2; Caesium 111; Chelyabinskaya 12; Chernyava 13; Dalnevostochnaya 10; Dvulineinaya (1986); Dobrynya; Duvanskaya Krasnokoloska; Enita; Ershovskaya 32; Erythrospermum 5, 7-5, 8-5, 14, 36-5, 43-5, and 59; GDS 11; Irgina; Iren; Ivolga; Kamalinka; Kantegirskaya 89; Kerba; Kinelskaya 59, 60, and 97; Krasnokutka 5, Krasnoyarskaya 83, Krestyanka, Krokhinskaya, Kurganskaya 1, L-503, L-505, Leda, Leningradskaya 88, Line 36-74, 611-h-73, and 7-72; Lira; Lutescens 22-5, 25, 53-12, 62, 74, 121, 277, 508, 521, 1272, 2074, and 3221; Lyuba; Milogradovka; Milturum 321 and 553; Niva; Noe Selektsionnaya; Novosibirskaya 81 and 89; Obskaya 14; Omskaya 9; 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, and 29, Ordynskaya, Oya, Piramida, Poltavka, PPG 23021-35, PPG 23311, Priamurskaya 93, Priirtyshskaya 86; Primorskaya 21; Priokskaya; Prizeiskaya; Rodina; Rosinka; Rosinka 2; Russa; Samsar; Saratovskaya 32, 38, 42, 46, 56, 62, 64, 66, and 210; Sarrubra; Sayanskaya 55; Selenga; Severyanka; Sibirka; Sibirka 1818; Sibiryachka 4; Simbirka; Skala; Skent 1; Smena; Sredneuralskaya 77; Strube; Tertsiya; Tulaikovskaya Stepnaya; Tulun 14, 15, and 32; Tulunskaya 10 and 12; Tyumenskaya 80; Tyumenskaya Rannyaya; Udarnitsa; Uralochka; Velutinum 15; Vetluzhanka; Voronezhskaya 6 and 12; Zemlyachka; Zhemchuzhina Zavolzhya; and Zlatozara). Among the North American spring wheat cultivars were 66 resistant (Table 4) and 40 susceptible varieties (AC Abbey, AC Eatonia, AC Intrepied, AC Majestic, AC Nanda, AC Phil, AC Reed, AC Taber, Biggar, Chester, Chinook, Columbus, Cutler, Cypress, Early Triumph, Genesis, GP-318, Huron, HY 320, Lake, Laura, Milton, Montana King, Oslo, Pasqua, Rescue, Reward, Sinton, SWS 52, and Vernon (Canada) and Ceres, Crim, HJ-98, Kota, Lathrop, Lee, Milam, Minnpro, Norm, and Verde (U.S.).

For each of the 442 accessions, we have constructed a genetic profile. In this profile we name the original ancestors that are included in family tree and their theoretical contributions in the genome of the cultivar. This contribution was estimated by calculating the coefficient of parentage between a cultivar and its ancestor. Two-way analysis of variance of the ancestor contributions for the design of unorganized replications was used in both groups. The source of resistance to loose smut was traced on expanded pedigrees with the help of an option from GRIS. The pedigrees of 336 Russian accessions were traced back to 218, and 106 North American cultivars back to 125 ancestors representing land races, local varieties, and material of unknown origin from the various countries of the world. For example, Table 1 shows the genetic profile for the Canadian spring wheat cultivar AC-ABBEY.

The genetic profile of one cultivar can be considered as a vector of the contributions to the 'final' ancestors in the genome of a cultivar, and the set of profiles of a set of cultivars represents a matrix of the ancestral contributions.

To reveal the distribution of the contributions of ancestors in subgroups of resistant and susceptible accessions, we made a two-way analysis of variance of the ancestor contributions. The factors investigated were subgroups of resistance (factor A) with two classes (resistance and susceptibility) and dominant ancestors (factor B) with number of classes b = 33 (Russian group) or b = 41 (North American group). Ancestors were considered dominant ancestors if the frequency was greater than 20 %. The ANOVA results were similar in both groups (Table 2). The effects of the resistance/susceptibility (factor A) were not significant. The effects of ancestors (factor B), and also 'ancestor x subgroup' interaction (A x B) were all highly significant (P < 0.005). The fact that factor A was not significant specifies that in each group, resistant and susceptible varieties occur from the same ancestors. The significance of factor B indicates the existence of sets of the basic ancestors that are stable and region-specific. For example, among the Russian spring wheats varieties, the local variety Poltavka is very common, with an average contribution of 0.203 at a 63.8 % frequency of presence, whereas the contribution of a local variety Ostka Galicyjska was 0.042 with frequency of presence 69.4 %. In the group of North-American cultivars, the contribution of Ostka Galicyjska is the greatest (0.146), and it is present at all cultivars of this group.

A highly significant interaction (A x B) between resistance (A) and ancestors (B) indicates that the ratio of the ancestor contributions in a subgroup of resistant accessions differs from that in a subgroup of susceptible accessions. Thus, the average contribution of the major ancestors of North American spring wheat cultivars, Ostka Galicyjska, Hard Red Calcutta, and Crimean, are significantly higher in a resistant subgroup in comparison with a susceptible subgroup both for North American and Russian cultivars. The most important ancestors of Russian spring wheats Poltavka and Selivanovsky Rusak also differ significantly in subgroups of resistant and susceptible accessions. The average contribution of Poltavka is much higher among the susceptible subgroup, and Selivanovsky Rusak prevails in a subgroup of resistant accessions (Table 3).

Table 3. Average contributions of predominant ancestors of Russian and North American spring wheats in subgroups of resistant and susceptible accessions. Values (inside one group) followed by different letters are significantly different at P = 0.05 by Duncan's multiple range test.

Name of ancestor	Russia		Canada and the U.S.
	Resistant	Susceptible	Resistant	Susceptible
Poltavka	0.178 m	0.227 n	---	---
Hard-Red-Calcutta	0.060 l	0.032 h	0.166 q	0.139 o
Ostka Galicyjska	0.054 kl	0.030 fgh	0.161 pq	0.122 n
Selivanovsky Rusak	0.051 jkl	0.029 efgh	---	---
Crimean	0.045 ijk	0.024 cdefgh	0.099 m	0.073 l
Beloturka	0.026 defgh	0.032 gh	---	---
Iumillo	0.015 bcd	0.005 ab	0.050 k	0.039 ijk
Kenya C-9906	0.012 ab	0.008 ab	0.025 efghij	0.031 ghij
LV-UKR via Lutescens 17	0.012 ab	0.012 ab	---	---
Gehun	0.010 ab	0.008 ab	0.008 abcde	0.007 abcde
Ladoga	0.010 ab	0.009 ab	0.014 abcdefg	0.028 fghij
Mediterranean	0.009ab	0.008 ab	0.009 abcdef	0.012 abcdefg
Banatka	0.009 ab	0.010 ab	---	---
Akakamugi	0.007 ab	0.006 ab	0.020 abcdefgh	0.023 cdefghij
LV-Irkutsk via Balaganka	0.007ab	0.014 abc	---	---
Yaroslav emmer	0.005 ab	0.004 ab	0.036 hijk	0.018 abcdefgh
Barleta	0.004 ab	0.003 ab	0.006 abcde	0.006 abcd
Goldendrop	0.004 ab	0.005 ab	0.011 abcdef	0.014 abcdefg
Marroqui	0.004 ab	0.002 a	0.008 abcde	0.014 abcdefg
Rieti	0.004 ab	0.003 ab	0.010 abcdef	0.012 abcdefg
Khivinka	0.004 ab	0.010 ab	---	---
Daruma	0.002 a	0.002 a	0.002 a	0.003 ab
Polyssu	0.002 a	0.002 ab	0.022 bcdefghij	0.025 defghij
T. timopheevii	0.002 a	0.002 a	0.006 abcde	0.007 abcde
Redchaff	0.001 a	0.001 a	0.002 a	0.004 abc
Red Straw	0.001 a	0.001 a	0.010 abcdef	0.009 abcdef

An analysis of the sources of resistance to loose smut was made with the aid of an option in the GRIS database that traces the transmission of a given gene allele or trait from ancestors to descendants on a pedigree tree. For a given cultivar, the program produces a list of ancestors with resistance to smut and a pedigree tree with ancestors marked for carrying resistance gene. For example, in Fig. 1 the expanded pedigrees of the spring wheats Thatcher, Saratovskaya 29, and Saratovskaya 35 has cultivars that are marked as resistant (Ut) or susceptible (ut) ancestors.

The results of the analysis of North American cultivars are shown in Table 4. By the tracing the resistance on expanded pedigrees, we can establish that a limited set of sources of resistance to loose smut is used in spring wheat breeding. Spring wheat cultivars from Canada and the U.S. received resistance mainly from three sources; the Polish local variety Ostka Galicyjska, the durum landrace Iumillo from Italy or Northern Africa, and a Ukrainian landrace Crimean brought by the Mennonites in 1873 from Crimea to North America). Two-thirds of the cultivars received resistance from three listed sources through Thatcher (Fig. 1a) and its derivatives (Neepawa, Pembina, and Manitou). One source of resistance in approximately one-fourth of the pedigrees was Ostka Galicyjska. The resistance genes in this cultivar is from Marquis and its derivatives (Canus, Hope, H-44, Red Bobs, and Regent). Some resistance donors were seldom used, including Selkirk (source of resistance Ostka Galicyjska and Crimean), Heines Kolben, Indiana Swamp, and Wisconsin 245.

For the majority of the Russian spring wheat varieties (Table 5), the source of resistance were a local variety of the Saratov province Selivanovsky Rusak (T. aestivum) and the durum landrace Beloturka (Fig. 1b). These varieties have Saratovskaya 29 and its derivatives (Irtyshanka 10 and Spektr) and also sister cultivars Saratovskaya 36 and Saratovskaya 39 in their pedigrees. Other sources of resistance were Lutescens 1487 (T. aestivum var. ferrugineum (LV-Yakutia)/T. durum var. hordeiforme (LV-Samara)) from the Samara province through the cultivar Novosibirskaya 67, an accession from Iran Horosanicum 1248 (Fig. 1c), cultivar Erythrospermum 841 selected from Turkmenistani landrace Ashhabad. A considerable part of the Russian spring wheat varieties has received resistance from the Canadian and U.S. cultivars Marquis and its derivatives (Kitchener and Red Bobs), Selkirk, Thatcher and its derivatives (Saunders, Pembina, Bezenchukskaya 98, and Pionerka), and also semidwarf cultivars from CIMMYT (PV-18, Inia 66, Nadadores 63, and Red River 68), which are present in the pedigrees of Thatcher and/or Hope. For varieties developed with the participation of winter wheats, probable sources of resistance genes for smut could be Kharkovskaya (a local variety from which Hostianum 237 was selected) through the cultivar Krasnodarskaya 39, and Crimean through Kooperatorka. Thus, resistance to loose smut in 36 % of the Russian accessions was obtained only through Russian and/or the ex-U.S.S.R. local sources; 35 % from North American material; and 22 % from both local and foreign sources.

Similar inventories of resistance sources in wheat varieties from other regions will assist the enlarging the gene pool of resistance genes used in breeding programs.

References.

• Martynov SP. 1998. Analysis of genetic profiles of winter wheats from Russia. Euphytica 100:305-311.
• Martynov SP and Dobrotvorskaya TV. 2000. A study of genetic diversity in wheat using the Genetic Resources Information and Analytic System GRIS. Rus J Genet 36:195-202.
  

Contributions from the Russian Federation continue with the Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.