Contamination of ergot ( Claviceps purpurea ) in grains continues to be a problem in outcrossing plants like rye, especially in years of favorable infection (cold, rainy) conditions. The problem is not the yield loss, but the contamination of the grains by toxic alkaloids leading to strict critical values within the European Union. This study was conducted to (1) partition the variation of genotype, inoculation treatments and environment for ergot infection of 12 winter rye genotypes, (2) the effect of varying proportions of a non-adapted restorer gene on ergot, and to (3) reveal within the genotype the relative importance of male pollen fertility and female receptivity on the ergot reaction of single crosses bearing different restorer genes. In total, 12 rye genotypes and two factorial crossing designs with each of five female and four male lines differing in their restorer genes were tested by artificial infection in up to 16 environments in four European countries. High and significant genotypic variation regarding the ergot severity and pollen-fertility restoration were observed. Furthermore significant general combining ability and specific combining ability variances and interactions with environment were obtained. The pollen-fertility restoration of the male had by far the highest importance for ergot severity, the female component, however, also revealed a significant effect. In conclusion, selecting for superior restoration ability is the most promising way on the short term, but there are also possibilities to improve the maternal site in future breeding programs.

中文翻译：

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冬季黑麦杂种中的麦角感染显示出雄性和雌性基因型和环境的不同贡献

谷物中麦角（Claviceps purpurea）的污染仍然是黑麦等异种植物的一个问题，尤其是在有利感染（寒冷、多雨）条件的年份。问题不在于产量损失，而在于谷物受到有毒生物碱的污染，导致欧盟内的严格临界值。本研究旨在（1）划分 12 种冬黑麦基因型麦角感染的基因型、接种处理和环境的变异，（2）不同比例的非适应恢复基因对麦角的影响，以及（3）在基因型内揭示了雄性花粉生育力和雌性接受性对带有不同恢复基因的单杂交麦角反应的相对重要性。总共，在四个欧洲国家的多达 16 个环境中，通过人工感染测试了 12 种黑麦基因型和两种因子杂交设计，其中每个系都有 5 个雌性和 4 个雄性品系，它们的恢复基因各不相同。观察到有关麦角严重程度和花粉生育力恢复的高而显着的基因型变异。此外，还获得了显着的一般配合力和特定配合力的变化以及与环境的相互作用。迄今为止，男性的花粉生育力恢复对麦角严重程度的重要性最高，然而，女性成分也显示出显着的影响。综上所述，选择恢复能力强的品种在短期内是最有前景的方式，但在未来的育种计划中也有改善母体部位的可能性。