Breeding durable resistance to pathogens and pests is a major task for modern plant breeders and pyramiding different resistance genes into a genotype is one way of achieving this. Three powdery mildew resistance gene combinations, Pm2+Pm4a, Pm2+Pm21, Pm4a+Pm21 were successfully integrated into an elite wheat cultivar ‘Yang047′. Double homozygotes were selected from a small F2 population with the help of molecular markers. As the parents were near‐isogenic lines (NILs) of ‘Yang158′, the progenies showed good uniformity in morphological and other non‐resistance agronomic traits. The present work illustrates the bright prospects for the utilization of molecular markers in breeding for host resistance.

Genetic diversity constitutes the raw material for plant improvement, and provides protection against genetic vulnerability to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Aim To isolate, screen and identify the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from elephant silage during the process of the fermentation and their effects on the fermentation quality of sweet sorghum silage. Methods and Results The isolated strains were identified based on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics as well as 16S rRNA analysis. Seven LAB strains were isolated from elephant grass silage. Three strains (Pediococcus acidilactici (AZZ1), Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum (AZZ4), L. plantarum subsp. argentoratensis (AZZ7) and one commercial bacteria L. plantarum, ecosyl MTD/1(CB)) were chosen as additives at 6 log colony forming units per gram of fresh sweet sorghum grass in laboratory silos (680 g). Silos for each treatment were opened after 5, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days, respectively. All isolates were characterized as Gram‐positive, catalase‐negative and grow normally in 6·5% NaCl. The strains AZZ1, AZZ2 and AZZ5, were identified as Pediococcus genus while AZZ3, AZZ4, AZZ6 and AZZ7 were Lactobacillus genus. Compared to the control, all the isolates improved the silage quality of sweet sorghum silage, indicated by significantly (P < 0·05) lower pH and ammonia‐nitrogen contents and undesirable micro‐organism counts, and higher lactic acid (LA) contents and ratios of lactic acid/acetic acid. During ensiling, AZZ4 performed better among all of inoculants, indicated by significantly (P < 0·05) decreased on pH and ammonia‐N contents and higher increased on LA contents. Conclusion Strain AZZ4 is recommended as starter culture for sweet sorghum. Significance and Impact of the Study This is the first time to investigate the effects of LAB isolates from elephant grass silage and use them as additives, which is to find out how LAB inoculants improve the fermentation quality of sweet sorghum silage.

Aims: To examine the characteristics of three isolated Pediococcus acidilactici strains (LTG7, LOG9 and LH9) and evaluate their effects on silage quality, nutritive value and in vitro ruminal digestibility in a variety of forages. Methods and Results: One commercial inoculant Lactobacillus plantarum MTD-1 (G) and three isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were measured by morphological, physiological and biochemical tests. All the LAB strains were added to Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schred.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) for ensiling 30 days in laboratory silos (1 l) respectively. Isolated strains could grow normally at 5-20°C, pH 3Á5-7Á0 and NaCl (3Á0, 6Á5%), and were identified as P. acidilactici by sequencing 16S rDNA. In Italian ryegrass and oat silages, all inoculants obviously (P < 0Á05) increased lactic acid (LA) contents, LAB numbers and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and decreased pH, undesirable micro-organism numbers, butyric acid and ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N) contents compared with the corresponding controls. LTG7, LOG9 and G silages in Italian ryegrass and oat had markedly (P < 0Á05) higher LA content and IVDMD, and lower pH and NH 3 -N contents than LH9 silages. In tall fescue silage, LAB inoculants had no obvious (P > 0Á05) effect on fermentation quality, while markedly (P < 0Á05) enhanced IVDMD. Conclusions: Based on our results, strains LTG7 and LOG9 had similar potential with the commercial inoculant G in silage making. Significance and Impact of the Study: Few studies involved inoculation of silage with P. acidilactici in different forage types. Analysis of effects of LAB strains with their physiological and biochemical characteristics help understand how LAB inoculants affect the digestibility.

Aim To investigate epiphytic microbiota transformation of forages, their adaptation and contributions to fermentation quality of silage. Methods and Results Gamma‐irradiated chopped Napier grass were ensiled with distilled water (STR), extracted epiphytic microbiota of Napier grass (NAP), sudan grass (SUD), whole crop corn (WCC) and forage sorghum (FS). Inoculating Napier grass with WCC significantly increased lactic acid (LA) concentrations during the initial ensiling period followed by a decline after 30 days. Relative to other silages (except STR) inoculation with NAP resulted in lower LA and greater pH, ammonia‐N and dry matter (DM) losses. Silage inoculated with FS and SUD maintained lower pH as well as higher (P < 0·05) LA concentrations after 60 days of storage. During day 3 of ensilage, WCC, NAP and SUD inoculated silage were dominated by bacterial genera of Lactobacillus, while Lactococcus dominated the FS silage. Final silages were dominated by Lactobacillus in all treatment silages, however Enterobacter (16·3%) in NAP and Acetobacter (25·7%) in WCC silage were also prominent during the final ensiling. Conclusion The inoculation of epiphytic microbiota of forage sorghum and sudan grass positively influenced the microbial community and fermentability of sterile Napier grass silage. Significance and Impact of the Study This is the first time to investigate the effects of various epiphytic microbiota as silage inoculants which can be used as alternative source of environmental friendly and economically feasible silage additives.