Published September, 1998

1410 CROP SCIENCE, VOL. 38, SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1998

Registration of M-Q-54, a Fast-Germinating

ABA-Insensitive Mutant of 'Quantum' Barley M. I. CAGIRGAN,* K. VISSER, C. TOKER, M. WANG,
M. B. YlLDIRIM, M. E. TUGAY, AND F. HEIDEKAMP (5)

The barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) mutant line M-Q-54 (Reg. no.
GP-134, PI 599301) was released in August 1997, to provide
germplasm with good agronomic performance to study the role of
abscisic acid (ABA) in seed germination. It was developed by the
Plant Mutation Research Group of Akdeniz University, Antalya,
Turkey, in cooperation with the Center for Phytotechnology,
Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
M-Q-54 is an advanced mutant line (M10) of the Austrian two-
rowed spring cultivar Quantum selected in the M2 generation.
Seeds of Quantum were irradiated with gamma rays at 150 Gy.
The M, generation was planted in November 1985 at Tokat,
Turkey, and harvested as single spikes from each plant in July
1986. A total of 1459 M, plant progenies were grown as M2 spike
rows in the 1986-1987 season as a winter nursery to screen for
cold tolerance. Several putative mutants with gigas and erect
growth habit were identified and confirmed as true-breeding in the
following generations. Only one family segregated with the gigas
habit of M-Q-54; the mutation frequency was 6.9 x 10~4 on the M2
family basis (1).
The M-Q-54 mutant produced significantly higher grain yield
than Quantum barley (882 vs. 88 g per plot) under semiarid condi-
tions in a cold and drought-stressed nursery sown on 29 Oct. 1994
at Urkutlu, Burdur province, Turkey (2). The yield level of the
mutant also was comparable to or slightly higher than that of the
landrace cultivar, Kilinc-B (882 vs. 794 g per plot). Further studies Registration of Sorghum Germplasm
showed that the high and stable yielding capacity of the mutant
under semiarid conditions is due to good stand establishment, cold Lines GT-IR6, GT-IR7, and GT-IR8
tolerance, and tall plant height (high biomass) (2).
In 1993, a cooperative project to discern the role of gibberellic Grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] germplasm lines
acid (GA3) and ABA in controlling the germination of barley GT-IR6 (Reg. no. GP-560, PI 602444), GT-IR7 (Reg. no. GP-561,
grains was started. Mutant lines with various plant heights were PI 602445), and GT-IR8 (Reg. no. GP-562, PI 602446) were
tested for sensitivity to GA3 and ABA. No difference in response developed at the USDA-ARS Insect Biology and Population
to GA3 for germination was found among the mutants tested. How- Management Research Lab (IBPMRL) in Tifton, GA, in coopera-
ever, the dissected embryos of the M-Q-54 mutant germinated at tion with University of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station.
least 10 h earlier than those of the wild-type Quantum in the pre- They were released in 1997 as a combined source of resistance to
sence of 10~4 M ABA. Consequently, this mutant line was selected leaf feeding by fall armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda J.E. Smith)
for further studies. and to the sorghum midge [Contarinia sorghicola (Coquillet)].
It also was noted during early growth stages that the M-Q-54 GT-IR6 and GT-IR7 were developed from mass selection over
mutant plants exhibited a slower growth rate and a more prostrate 10 generations begun in 1977 within the F2 population of the cross
habit compared with the wild type prior to heading. After heading, (SGIRL-MR1 x SGIRL Exp 4). In general, selection was conduct-
the mutant plants grew larger and produced about 1.4 times more ed among 300 to 1000 plants in successive 'generations of this
grain than the wild type under growth chamber conditions. The population for 10 to 20% of the best individuals for plant type,
half-maximal concentrations of ABA inhibitory to germination resistance to insects and diseases, shorter plant height, early matu-
were determined to be 5 x 10~~4 Mfor the mutant and 10~6 for the rity, uniform seed, and other agronomic traits such as vigor.
wild type, suggesting that ABA signal transduction pathways were Greater attention was given to selection for resistance to insects in
not greatly affected in the mutant. When isolated embryos were GT-IR7 than in the GT-IR6 population. GT-IR8 was developed
allowed to imbibe water, ABA was released from the mutant and from selection within the F2 population of the cross (SGIRL Exp
wild-type embryos at the same rate. However, the level of free 4 x SGIRL Exp 3), using the same criteria for 10 generations as
ABA in the incubation medium of the mutant decreased much for GI-RI6. SGIRL-MR-1 is a 1971 midge-resistant release from
faster than that of the wild type, as measured by two different the IBPMRL (2); SGIRL Exp 3 and SGIRL Exp 4 are experimen-
ABA assay methods. tal lines selected from a Feterita collection (designated 1721 CM)
Our data suggest that ABA turnover can occur in vitro outside obtained from CIMMYT.
the embryo tissue. The mutation probably affects enzymes involved GT-IR6 requires an average of 55 d to 50% anthesis at Tifton;
in the degradation-conjugation pathway of ABA (3). Only one for GT-IR7 and GT-IR8, days to 50% anthesis are 61 and 58, res-
mutant with low basal levels of ABA has been reported previously pectively. All of the lines are R-lines and have a testa. Phenotypi-
(4). The M-Q-54 mutant with its unique agronomic characteristics cally, the seeds of GT-IR6 and GT-IR7 are brown, but those of
should provide an additional tool for ABA research and be a poten- GT-IR8 are white. Plant heights, averaged over a 10-yr period at
tial parent for barley breeding. The mutant also is being evaluated Tifton for GT-IR6, GT-IR7, and GT-IR8 were 113, 117, and 107
in advanced yield trials for potential release as a new cultivar. cm, respectively. These heights are all significantly shorter than the
Small amounts of seed of both the mutant and its wild type may average (139 cm) of previous releases (1,2,3); this, combined with
be obtained from the Plant Mutation Research Group, Faculty of the earliness of GT-IR6 and GT-IR8, makes them excellent candi-
Agriculture, Akdeniz University, P.O. Box 510, at Antalya, Turkey. dates for introgression into presently grown hybrids. All lines have
 CROP REGISTRATIONS
medium-loose head types that discourage damage by the corn
earworm [Helicoverpa zea (Boddie)], and GT-IR6 also has
excellent panicle exsertion.
The three germplasm lines are similar to previous releases in
their reaction to leaf diseases and sustain less leaf-feeding damage
by the fall armyworm (1.5 vs. 1.9). GT-IR7 demonstrates resis-
tance to the sorghum midge that is equivalent to previous releases
(1.70 vs. 1.75), while midge ratings of GT-IR6 and GT-IR8 are
slightly higher, but have significantly more resistance than the com-
mercial hybrid checks (<3.0 vs. >5.0). Replicated experiments of
test crosses with related testers, over a 3-yr period, produced yields
that were 65 to 75% of the average for commercial hybrids and
yields of GT-IR6 and GT-IR7 test crosses outyielded those of pre-
vious releases by more than 10%.
Breeder seed of these germplasm lines will be maintained by
the author and can be obtained in small quantities upon request. It
is requested that appropriate recognition be made of the source of
these germplasm lines when they contribute to the development of
a line or hybrid.
N. W. WIDSTROM* (4)
Registration of ICMP 94001
Pearl Millet Germplasm
ICMP 94001 pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] (Reg.
no. GP-37, PI 597748) is a mass-selected Cycle-1 bulk of an extra-
early-maturing and nearly daylength-insensitive maintainer (B)
composite (EEBC). ICMP 94001 was developed for use as parental
germplasm for breeding early-maturing maintainer (B) lines of the
Al and A4 cvtoplasmic-nuclear male-sterility systems in pearl
millet. It was released in 1996 by the International Crops Research
Institute forthe Semi-Arid Tropics(ICRISAT), Patancheru, Andhra
Pradesh, India. ICMP 94001 was tested under the designation
EEBCC1.
EEBC is based on Iniadi germplasm accessions originating from
the Togo-Ghana-Benin area of western Africa (1). Iniadi germ-
plasm is characterized by relatively daylength-insensitive early
flowering (70 to 85 d to maturity), short grain-filling period (23 to
25 d), low-tillering (1 to 2 tillers plant"1), compact and conical
panicles, good panicle exsertion, and large grain size (15 to 20 g
1000 grain"1).
The first random mating in the development of the EEBC from
which ICMP 94001 was selected involved 286 S2 progenies tracing
to 43 Iniadi accessions. These S2 progenies were derived from 188
S, progenies that flowered no later than the earliest-maturing, com-
mercial male-sterile line, 843A (AKM 2068). Both S0 plants and
S, progenies were selected for early flowering under extended
daylength (14.5 h) at Patancheru during the rainy seasons. The
extended daylength conditions were created using 100-W incandes-
cent bulbs fixed at a grid of 3 by 5 m at the height of 1.5 m above
the soil surface. The S2 progenies involved in the first random
1411
mating were crossed by hand in a disease nursery, where they were
also selected for resistance to downy mildew [caused by Sckro-
spora graminicola (Sacc.) J. Schr6t.]. The two subsequent random
matings were done in isolation with a population size of approxi-
mately 10 000 plants, of which nearly half were randomly harvest-
ed each time. ICMP 94001 was developed by bulk harvesting 200
open-pollinated plants selected from the third random mating of the
EEBC in an isolation plot during the 1994 dry season. Selection
criteria for these plants were visual assessment for high grain yield,
compact panicles, synchronous tillering, and improved standability.
In a yield trial conducted in six year-location environments in
southern and northwestern India, ICMP 94001 had a mean grain
yield of 2.651 ha"1, approximately 12% more than the unselected
CO bulk of EEBC (EEBC CO) and 13% less than HHB 67, the
earliest-maturing commercial grain hybrid in India. Both ICMP
94001 and EEBC CO bulks required 39 d to 50% flowering (2 d
less than HHB 67) and had a mean plant height of 1.6 m (0.1 m
more than HHB 67). ICMP 94001 and HHB 67 had similar panicle
lengths (17-18 cm) and dry stover yields (2.3 t ha"1). Under nor-
mal daylengths of 13.5 h during the 1994 rainy season and 12.5 h
during the 1995 dry season at Patancheru, mean 50% flowering
date of ICMP 94001 was 37 d, compared with 39 d for HHB 67.
Under extended daylengths of 14.2 h during the 1994 rainy season
and 14.7 h during the 1995 dry season, mean 50% flowering date
of ICMP 94001 was 40 d, compared with 47 d for HHB 67. ICMP
94001 has large grain size, with a 1000-grain mass of 14 g, com-
pared with 10 g for HHB 67. ICMP 94001 is highly resistant to
downy mildew. In greenhouse inoculation tests at Patancheru,
ICMP 94001 had 8% disease incidence, compared with 82% inci-
dence for HHB 67 when inoculated with Patancheru isolate. ICMP
94001 had 11% incidence and HHB 67 had 41% incidence when
inoculated with Mysore isolate.
ICMP 94001 was developed to serve as a pool of variability to
provide parental materials for breeding B-lines flowering in <40 d.
The S2 progenies used to constitute this composite were not tested
for male-sterility maintenance ability; however, the Iniadi landrace
is known to contain a high frequency of plants with the sterility-
maintainer gene or genes for the Al system of cytoplasmic-nuclear
male sterility (2). An evaluation of 160 topcross hybrid plants made
by crossing EEBC CO onto ICMA-1 (81A1) indicated that 72% of
the plants were largely sterile, with 28% setting no seed and 44%
setting 1 to 5% seed under selfing. A similar evaluation of topcross
hybrid plants developed onto 81A4 indicated that 88% of the plants
were largely sterile, with 41% setting no seed and 47% setting 1 to
5% seed under selfing. Assuming that no major shift in the fre-
quency of sterility maintainer gene or genes has occurred from the
CO bulk to the Cl bulk, ICMP 94001 could be used to develop B-
lines of both the Al and the A4 male sterility systems.
Seed of ICMP 94001 will be maintained by ICRISAT Center,
Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India. Small quantities of seed are
available upon request.
K. N. RAI,* F. R, BIDINGER, K. HUSSAIN SAHIB,
AND A. S. RAO (3)