Use of single cross hybrids to measure heterosis for yield in diverse lucerne genotypes growing in a subtropical environment
J. A. G. Irwin A D , P. M. Pepper B , D. Armour A , J. M. Mackie A and K. F. Lowe CA School of Integrative Biology, The University of Queensland, Qld 4067, Australia.
B Animal Research Institute, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Moorooka, Qld 4105, Australia.
C Mutdapilly Research Station, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Peak Crossing, Qld 4306, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: j.irwin@uq.edu.au
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59(11) 999-1009 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR08146
Submitted: 1 May 2008 Accepted: 31 July 2008 Published: 14 October 2008
Abstract
Yield stagnation is a worldwide issue for lucerne breeding, and reasons for the yield plateau include emphasis on disease and pest resistance and not yield per se, and the broad-based synthetic approach to lucerne breeding which is generally used. In this study, an incomplete diallel was made between 50 lucerne clones with representatives from the 3 hypothetical heterotic groups, Medicago sativa subsp. falcata, dormant subsp. sativa, and non-dormant subsp. sativa. Male sterile clones were also included among the dormant group. The single crosses were compared in a subtropical environment at Gatton, Queensland, for yield and other relevant agronomic traits against the adapted synthetics Sequel (dormancy group 9), UQL-1 (group 7), and a highly non-dormant experimental synthetic (line B) derived by introgression of highly non-dormant Arabian germplasm into Sequel. The trial was conducted in a known low-disease-pressure site for Phytophthora root rot, and anthracnose was managed by regular application of prophylactic treatments. The best single cross outyielded Sequel and line B by 13% and 8%, respectively. In this environment, yield was very much influenced by the dormancy group of the test material, with group 9 material significantly outyielding more dormant material. General combining ability (GCA) effects were more important determinants of cumulative yields than specific combining ability (SCA) effects, with these effects being significantly greater than zero for only 4 of the 236 crosses tested over the 15-month period. Similarly, GCA effects were more important for determining autumn height and persistence. The research did identify a small number of clones with good GCA for yield per se, and it would appear that future work should focus on developing more narrow-based synthetics with 4–8 parents which have been selected on the basis of their GCA for yield per se. DNA markers would appear to have a role in selecting clones carrying multiple resistances, and in establishing marker pedigrees for high-yielding parental clones such as we have identified, which can be traced through subsequent generations of recurrent selection in cultivar improvement.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of The University of Queensland, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (UQ163). We thank Dr Tony Swain for programming the Genstat Procedure, Joanne Musial for assisting in the collection and preparation of seed, Tom Bowdler and Sandra Nolan for their assistance with maintenance, harvesting, and assessing the field experiment, and Dave Schofield and the staff at Gatton Research Station for the day-to-day management of the experiment.
Allard RW
(1999) History of plant population genetics. Annual Review of Genetics 33, 1–27.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
(accessed January 2008)
Bingham ET,
Groose RW,
Woodfield DR, Kidwell KK
(1994) Complementary gene interactions in alfalfa are greater in autotetraploids than diploids. Crop Science 34, 823–829.
Boschma SP, Williams RW
(2008) Using morphological traits to identify persistent lucernes for dryland agriculture in NSW, Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59, 69–79.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brummer EC
(1999) Capturing heterosis in forage crop cultivar development. Crop Science 39, 943–954.
Busbice TH
(1969) Inbreeding in synthetic varieties. Crop Science 9, 601–604.
Casler MD
(2008) Among-and-within-family selection in eight forage grass populations. Crop Science 48, 434–442.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Davis W, Greenblatt IM
(1967) Cytoplasmic male sterility in alfalfa. Journal of Heredity 83, 342–345.
Demarly Y
(1963) Genetics of tetraploids and plant breeding. Amelior Plantes [Paris] [Engl. summ.] 13, 307–400.
Dudley JW
(1964) A genetic evaluation of methods of utilising heterozygosis and dominance in autotetraploids. Crop Science 4, 410–413.
Dudley JW,
Busbice TH, Levings CS
(1969) Estimates of genetic variance in ‘Cherokee’ alfalfa (Medicago sativa L). Crop Science 9, 228–231.
Flajoulot S,
Ronfort J,
Baudouin P,
Barre P,
Huguet T,
Huyghe C, Julier B
(2005) Genetic diversity among alfalfa (Medicago sativa) cultivars coming from a breeding program, using SSR markers. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 111, 1420–1429.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Griffing B
(1956) Concept of general and specific combining ability in relation to diallel crossing systems. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences 9, 463–493.
Hill MJ
(1996) Potential adaptation zones for temperate pasture species as constrained by climate: a knowledge-based logical modelling approach. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 47, 1095–1117.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hill RR
(1971) Selection in autotetraploids. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 41, 181–186.
Hill RR
(1983) Heterosis in population crosses of alfalfa. Crop Science 23, 48–50.
Irwin JAG,
Aitken KS,
Mackie JM, Musial JM
(2006) Genetic improvement of lucerne for anthracnose (Colletotrichum trifolii) resistance. Australasian Plant Pathology 35, 573–579.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Irwin JAG,
Lloyd DL, Lowe KF
(2001) Lucerne biology and genetic improvement — an analysis of past activities and future goals in Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 52, 699–712.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kehr WR, Gardner CO
(1960) Genetic variability in Ranger alfalfa. Agronomy Journal 52, 41–44.
Labombarda P,
Pupilli F, Arcioni S
(2000) Optimal population size for RFLP-assisted cultivar identification in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Agronomie 20, 233–240.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lamb JFS,
Sheaffer CC,
Rhodes LH,
Sulc RM,
Undersander DJ, Brummer EC
(2006) Five decades of alfalfa cultivar improvement: impact on forage yield, persistence, and nutritive value. Crop Science 46, 902–909.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Levings CS, Dudley JW
(1963) Evaluation of certain mating designs for estimation of genetic variance in autotetraploid alfalfa. Crop Science 3, 532–535.
Mackie JM,
Musial JM,
Armour DJ,
Phan HTT,
Ellwood SE,
Aitken KS, Irwin JAG
(2007) Identification of QTL for reaction to three races of Colletotrichum trifolii and further analysis of inheritance of resistance in autotetraploid lucerne. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 114, 1417–1426.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Mackie JM,
Pepper PM,
Lowe KF,
Musial JM, Irwin JAG
(2005) Potential to increase yield in lucerne (Medicago sativa subsp. sativa) through introgression of Medicago sativa subsp. falcata into Australian adapted material. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56, 1365–1372.
Musial JM,
Aitken KS,
Mackie JM, Irwin JAG
(2005) A genetic linkage map in autotetraploid lucerne adapted to northern Australia, and use of the map to identify DNA markers linked to resistance to Phytophthora medicaginis. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56, 333–344.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Musial JM,
Basford KE, Irwin JAG
(2002) Analysis of genetic diversity within Australian lucerne cultivars and implications for future genetic improvement. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53, 629–636.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Musial JM,
Lowe KF,
Mackie JM,
Aitken KS, Irwin JAG
(2006) DNA markers linked to yield, yield components, and morphological traits in autotetraploid lucerne (Medicago sativa L.). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57, 801–810.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Musial JM,
Mackie JM,
Armour DJ,
Phan HTT,
Ellwood SE,
Aitken KS, Irwin JAG
(2007) Identification of QTL for resistance and susceptibility to Stagonospora meliloti in autotetraploid lucerne. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 114, 1427–1435.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Pearson CJ,
Brown R,
Collins WJ,
Archer KA,
Wood MS,
Petersen C, Boothe B
(1997) An Australian temperate pastures database. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 48, 453–465.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pupilli F,
Labombarda P,
Scotti C, Arcioni S
(2000) RFLP analysis allows for the identification of alfalfa ecotypes. Plant Breeding 119, 271–276.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Riday H, Brummer EC
(2002) Forage yield heterosis in alfalfa. Crop Science 42, 716–723.
Schonhorst MH,
Davis RL, Carter AS
(1957) Responses of alfalfa varieties to temperatures and day-lengths. Agronomy Journal 49, 142–143.
Smith SE,
Guarino L,
Al-Doss A, Conta DM
(1995) Morphological and agronomic affinities among middle-eastern alfalfas — accessions from Oman and Yemen. Crop Science 35, 1188–1194.
Stanford EH
(1951) Tetrasomic inheritance in alfalfa. Agronomy Journal 43, 222–225.
Westover HL
(1931) Alfalfa varieties in the United States. USDA Farmer’s Bulletin 1731, 1–13.
