Identification of Heterotic Groups and Patterns Based on Genotypic and Phenotypic Characteristics Among Rice Accessions of Diverse Origins

Abstract

Identification of the right parental combinations to maximize heterosis is the major goal of hybrid breeding, which could be achieved through identification of heterotic groups. The main objective of this study was to identify promising heterotic groups for future rice breeding programs. A collection of 359 rice genotypes of diverse origins of China and abroad, composed of inbreds, maintainers, restorers, and temperature-sensitive genic male sterile (TGMS) lines were genotyped using 10K SNP chips. The SNP data set was subjected to genomic analyses for estimation of genetic divergence and diversity. Significant variations were observed in the germplasm with the identification of six different genetic groups. These lines were assigned to the genetic groups independent of their origin. Taking an account of commercially used heterotic groups present in each cluster, three cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines and 14 inbred and restorer lines with moderate to high genetic distances selected from five heterotic patterns were crossed and obtained 42 F1 hybrids. A total of 14 hybrids were found with significant maximum mid- and better-parent heterosis, namely, TaifengA × Guang122, TaifengA × Wushansimiao, and TaifengA × Minghui63 for earliness; Guang8A × Huazhan for dwarf stature; and Guang8A × Huanghuzhan-1, TaifengA × Yuexiangzhan, Guang8A × Minhui3301, TianfengA × Guang122, Guang8A × Yahui2115, TianfengA × Huanghuazhan, TianfengA × Minghui63, TianfengA × Minhui3301, TaifengA × Gui99, and Guang8A × Yuenongsimiao for yield and yield-related traits. Mid-parent and better-parent heterotic F1 hybrids were in positive correlation with the genetic distances as that manifested by commercially used heterotic groups, encouraging the use of genotypic data for identification of heterotic groups. Our study provides an informative strategy for the development of early maturing, lodging resistant and high-yielding commercial hybrids and cultivars in future heterosis breeding programs.

High Genetic Diversity in the Himalayan Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Germplasm with Divergence from Its Center of Origin in the Mesoamerica and Andes

“…An analysis of genetic diversity is important for identifying the nature and magnitude of variability for the efficient management and conservation of germplasm as well as practical plant breeding. − Our results revealed a high diversity within the Pakistani Himalayan common beans genotypes with clear divergence from the reference primary gene pools of common beans, i.e., Mesoamerican and Andean. It can be helpful for detecting divergence among gene pools for reliable scoring and selection of individuals for breeding programs.…”

“…This genetic divergence is suggested to be useful in the selection of diverse parents for hybridization. 59 , 62 , 64 Population subdivision within the Himalayan population was overlapping, showing low differentiation across locations, suggesting a frequent gene flow between these geographical locations, most probably due to human activities that carry the material from one location to the other.…”

“…69 The existence of at least five genetic groups identified through the DAPCs could be useful for the selection of parents for potential crosses. 59 Crossing distant and diverse parents enables the generation of segregating progenies with more variation and thus could be useful to identify lines with desirable characteristics. 58,63 Crosses could be made using different lines from both indigenous Himalayan and primary gene pools.…”

Transcriptomic and Physiological Analyses of Two Rice Restorer Cultivars under Different Nitrogen Supplies Provide New Insights for Hybrid Rice Breeding

“…China has been successful in breeding hybrid rice in the past decades but is now facing challenges in developing new hybrids with high-yielding potential, better grain quality, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses [4,[39][40][41][42]. Hybrid rice has been successfully developed with a threeline system based on a sterile male line, a maintainer line, and a restorer line, which greatly contributed to global food production in the past decades [6,42,43]. NH511 was derived from the hybridization between two heavy panicle-type restorer lines, namely, Shuhui 881 and Shuhui 527, which exhibited good combining ability and acceptable grain quality [44].…”

Development and evaluation of the utility of GenoBaits Peanut 40K for a peanut MAGIC population

“…Moreover, this technology is widely applicable to the following areas including evaluating germplasm, constructing high-density genetic linkage maps, genetic mapping, and protecting intellectual property rights associated with crop varieties (Xu et al 2020 ). To date, several GenoBaits marker panels have been developed for animals and plants, including GenoBaits Maize 20K (Guo et al 2019 ), GenoBaits Rice 10K (Hussain et al 2022 ), GenoBaits Soy40K (Liu et al 2022 ), GenoBaits Wheat 16K (Huang et al 2022 ), and GenoBaits Porcine SNP 50K (Wang et al 2022 ).…”