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Ten pairs of near-isogenic lines (NILs) were developed for a major quantitative trait locus conferring Fusarium crown rot (FCR) resistance in barley. The locus locates on the long arm of chromosome 4H and the presence of the resistance allele reduced FCR severity by between 32.8 and 63.4 % with an average of 43.9 % across these NILs. Histological and quantitative PCR analyses all confirmed that the rates of Fusarium infection and disease development were much slower in the resistant isolines compared with those in the susceptible isolines. The contrasting phenotypes in FCR severity between the isolines for each of these NIL pairs would facilitate efforts in cloning and functional analyses of genes conferring resistance to this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of a three-line breeding system based on cytoplasmic male sterility has a great potential for hybrid production in barley. Hybrid vigour, or heterosis, which is an advantage of the offspring as compared to two parental lines, is one of the major factors for the success of the use of hybrids. In this study, gene differential expression profiles between barley hybrids and their parents were analysed by cDNA-AFLP analysis using forty eight crosses. Five transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) showed significant effects on heterosis of 1,000-kernel-weight, one of the major yield components. These five TDFs were successfully validated in different crosses by eliminating crosses with lower heterosis and thus can be used in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]