No description available.

No description available.

Septoria tritici blotch (Stb) is a major foliar disease of wheat worldwide caused by the fungal pathogen Mycosphaerella graminicola. This project mapped the chromosomal locations of Stb resistance, which will be useful for wheat cultivar enhancement. In the first study of this project, Stb resistance and grain yield quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified in a winter wheat doubled-haploid (DH) population produced from the cultivars Pastiche (resistant) and Torfrida (susceptible). A genetic map of the population was constructed using 104 microsatellite and 202 DArT markers. Separate disease and yield field trials were conducted in north-western Europe to measure natural Stb infection and grain yield, respectively. A resistance QTL from Pastiche was identified (QStb.jic-2A) that reduced flag leaf pycnidial density by 31.2% compared to the population mean. A second QTL from Pastiche (QYld.jic-2A) co-localized with QStb.jic-2A, and conferred an increase in grain yield of approximately 2.0% (0.19 t ha-1). The second study determined the map location of the third multiple-isolate resistance gene in the hexaploid landrace Salamouni. A population was developed using the resistant DH line 98S05B*13 (Salamouni/Katepwa) crossed to the susceptible cultivar Katepwa. The parent 98S05B*13 was found to contain the resistance gene Stb14 on chromosome 3BS, therefore, to minimize the effect of this gene, individual plants of the F2 population were selected for self-pollination based on presence or absence of Stb14 using flanking microsatellite markers. The Stb14(+) F2:3 families were screened with M. graminicola isolate MG96-36. Bulked segregant analysis identified a possible linkage to the gene of interest on chromosome 3AS. Polymorphic microsatellite markers on 3AS were used to construct a linkage group. The markers barc321 and barc12 were found to flank the resistance gene at genetic distances of 1.9 and 2.5 cM, respectively. This position on 3AS has not been previously linked to Stb resistance and this gene will be designated StbSm3. The third population was developed to fine map the isolate-specific resistance gene Stb14 located on chromosome 3B of Salamouni. A large population of 84 fixed recombinant F4 families was developed using the co-dominant microsatellite markers flanking Stb14. Attempts to identify clearly polymorphic molecular markers within the interval containing Stb14 were unsuccessful.

The nitrogen uptake of organically selected and conventional spring wheat cultivars was assessed throughout the growing season. High protein yielding advanced lines were selected from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the University of Manitoba’s joint organic breeding program. The organic breeding lines were compared with conventional check cultivars. The organic lines were found to have higher average yield, grain N yield, kernel density, HI, and NHI while the check cultivars were found to have higher average grain protein. No significant differences were observed between organic lines and the check cultivars for biomass and N biomass accumulation. The strong performance of the organic breeding lines compared to their conventional counterparts for several key parameters is a positive indication of the benefits of specialized breeding programs. The higher yield of the organic lines indicated that they were better able to cope with the environmental stresses associated with organic growing conditions.

From 1993-95, the behavioural ecology of the lapwing Vanellus vanellus L. was studied in Upper Teesdale, Co. Durham, with the aim of describing the behavioural mechanisms underlying some population characteristics. Significant effects of age and individuals were found in many aspects of Lapwing breeding biology. Older Lapwings returned to the breeding grounds before yearlings, with adult males returning earliest of all. First breeding attempts occurred at one-year-old for most females, but at two-years-old for most males. Males two-years-old and over showed a remarkable degree of consistency in breeding status (breeding or non-breeding) in consecutive years, even where this meant persistent non-breeding. The age of first breeding, and consistency of breeding status among males, indicates intense intermale competition for limited breeding habitat, with some males, perhaps of low quality, apparently permanently prevented from breeding. However, few differences in annual breeding success were found among females of different ages. With the exception of egg size in first clutches, where yearling females laid eggs around 5% smaller than adults, yearling and adult females were similarly fecund. Laying dates and egg volumes in first clutches exhibited high indices of repeatability between years, probably reflecting a high degree of heritability of these traits. High frequencies of polygyny were recorded, despite the traditional view of strict monogamy for this species. The mating success of male Lapwings increased between one and three years-of-age. The distinct parental roles of the sexes facilitated the occurrence of polygyny by reducing activity-budget costs of polygynous associations for both sexes. Polyterritoriality, polyandry and double-brooding were also recorded and discussed.

The breeding bird assemblages of blanket bog and moorland habitats in the United Kingdom are of special international importance. They are characterised by species drawn from arctic to temperate regions breeding at high density and showing a particular affinity for open, in parts waterlogged, grazed and burned landscapes. Much recent debate has focussed on the effects of conifer plantations on the distribution and breeding success of these birds. This study concentrates on differences in breeding distribution and success of selected moorland birds. On blanket bog in Caithness and on heather moorland in Grampian Region, moorland waders <i>Charadrii</i> and red grouse <i>Lagopus lagopus scoticus</i> were counted using three methods cross-checked against each other; a) transects using trained dogs, b) listening for calls at dawn and dusk, and c) daylight transects without dogs. Counts were done on afforested ground and adjacent 'edge' areas, and on open moorland far from trees. In Caithness, densities of moorland waders on afforested ground started to decline as soon as planting began, and none was found inside plantations > 7 years old. Red grouse densities on afforested ground in Caithness and in Grampian rose higher than on open moorland areas during the first five years after planting, before declining. It is suggested that red grouse will disappear from afforested ground in Caithness 8-9 years after planting, and in Grampian 11-12 years after. On areas adjoining plantation < 8 years old in Caithness, densities and breeding success of waders and red grouse did not differ significantly from those on open moorland areas far from trees. However, next to older trees the densities of some waders were lower, and breeding success of golden plover <i>Plurialis apricaria</i> and red grouse lower than on open moorland. In Grampian, densities of red grouse did not differ between the different types of area, but breeding success was significantly lower on edge areas than on open moorland. Lower densities and poorer breeding in the two species mentioned above coincided with older nearby trees and taller ground vegetation. However, within areas there were no significant relationships between density and distance from the forest edge for any species, and similarly for breeding success.

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Between 1985 and 1987, ten areas of upland, marginal grassland were surveyed for breeding waders; eight areas west of the Pennines in the Eden Valley, Cumbria, and two East of the Pennines at Alston, Cumbria and Teesdale, Co. Durham. Grassland improvement resulted in the virtual disappearance of snipe and marked decreases in both the density and the proportion of fields used by breeding lapwing, curlew and redshank. The absence of snipe following improvement was due to land drainage, whereas reduced curlew densities resulted from vegetation changes, redshank were relatively unaffected provided wet areas persisted nearby. Data on lapwing breeding success were obtained from a study of 637 clutches. Fewer clutches suffered predation on unimproved than on improved pastures and resulted in higher hatching success. This, combined with more failed clutches being replaced and better survival by young chicks, resulted in higher productivity on unimproved than on improved pastures. The role of predation in reducing hatching success was confirmed experimentally. In addition, more clutches were destroyed by agricultural activities on improved than on unimproved meadows, resulting in lower productivity. Productivity on unimproved areas was enough to sustain the population, but was insufficient on improved areas and it is suggested that this, together with high philopatry, causes the decline in density of lapwings on improved areas. Invertebrates were sampled by chemical expellents, soil cores and pitfall traps. Grassland improvement resulted in increased earthworms and beetles other than carabids, but decreased spiders and carabic beetles. Fewer species of spider after improvement were largely due to lowered vegetation architecture diversity, whilst fewer species of tipulids resulted from reduced soil moisture and loss of food plants. Changes in species composition were apparent when comparing the seasonal pattern of pitfall catches on unimproved and improved grassland.

No description available.

No description available.