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Almonds are one of the most popular and widely consumed tree nuts in the world, prized for their taste, texture, and nutritional benefits. However, the quality and characteristics of almonds can vary significantly depending on the variety and growing conditions. In this context, a comparative study was conducted to explore the nut quality traits of almond local and foreign cultivars, as well as their F1 hybrid offspring resulting from crossbreeding. "Nut quality" is a dynamic concept changing based on consumer needs and perceptions that reflect sociocultural evolution. The aim of this study was to identify the most promising almond varieties and hybrids based on some nut quality traits including macro–micro elements and tocopherol contents. To accomplish this goal, samples were collected from local (Gulcan 2 and Nurlu) and foreign (Lauranne and Guara) almond cultivars, as well as F1 hybrid offspring resulting in two cross-breading ("Gulcan 2 × Lauranne" and "Guara × Nurlu"), and conducted a comprehensive analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Our results showed that the nut quality traits of almonds can vary significantly among different cultivars and hybrids, with some varieties and hybrids exhibiting superior characteristics compared to others. These findings provide important insights into the potential for improving almond quality through crossbreeding and the development of new varieties with improved characteristics which can help inform breeding programs and improve the quality of almonds available in the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the traits present in plant populations of a species is essential to carry out selection and breeding. The objective of the present study was to estimate the genetic parameters and correlate genetically and phenotypically the variables rubber yield, annual trunk girth increase, number of latex vessel rings and bark thickness in early measurement cycles. A total of 22 rubber tree progenies ( Hevea brasiliensis) were assessed in three locations during three early measurement cycles. The bark thickness variable correlated significantly for the three increase measurements made in the locations of Jaú, Pindorama and Votuporanga. The progeny mean based joint hereditability showed mean values greater than individual plants and within progeny plants of 0.848, 0.286 and 0.242, respectively. The variables annual trunk girth increase and bark thickness are genetically correlated variables. Rubber yield is correlated genetically with bark thickness that permits simultaneous selection for the two characteristics. The early measurement cycles were efficacious for finding genetic variability among the genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saponin-free quinoa genotypes were evaluated in summer and autumn–winter sowings, for phenotypic traits and yield stability. They were obtained by single plant-progeny selection from hybrids, as part of the breeding efforts in adapting the crop to the Brazilian Savannah environments. The soils (Ferralsols) were limed and fertilized prior to cultivation. The experiment was sown in two dates: 20th December 2006 (summer), and 30th April 2007 (autumn–winter), at 15°39′ and 16°14′ S latitude, 47°27′ and 47°44′ W longitude, with altitudes of 976 and 1,110 m, respectively. The mean temperature and rainfall for the summer sowing were 23.0°C and 723 mm. In autumn–winter, under controlled irrigation, the mean temperature was 2.9°C lower than in summer, when plants were exposed to water logging spells. The treatments consisted of fourteen selected genotypes and the varieties Kancolla, BRS Piabiru and Q4.5, used as controls. Comparisons were based on plant height, biomass and grain yield, harvest index (HI) and 1,000 seed weight. The experimental design was a complete randomized bloc, with three replications. Analysis of variance was performed for each sowing and jointly. Statistical differences for the environments were evident only for grain size and plant height. The performance of selected genotypes in each sowing date and in the joint analysis, allows saying that populations Q0779, Q0780 and Q0782 are potentially useful in the acquisition of stable genotypes for the Brazilian Savannahs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, treatments of both trifluralin (at 10, 100 and 1000 μM) and N2O (in the form of gas under pressure) were applied to Begonia flower buds to induce the formation of 2n pollen. Three male fertile species ( B. cucullata, B. subvillosa var. leptotricha and B. fischeri) and two male sterile hybrids ( B. schmidtiana × B. cucullata and B. subvillosa var. leptotricha × B. cucullata) were treated. Pollen size, which is related to pollen DNA content, increased after both N2O and trifluralin treatments, but the induction of large pollen was genotype dependent. Trifluralin induced large pollen only in the male fertile species, while N2O treatments induced fertile 2n pollen in the male sterile B. schmidtiana × B. cucullata. Cytological studies showed that trifluralin induced multinuclear monads that resulted in 4n gametes in stead of 2n gametes. In general, large pollen obtained after trifluralin treatments showed low germination capability, while large pollen obtained after N2O treatments retained high germination capability. Seedlings with raised ploidy level could only be obtained after crosses were performed with large pollen obtained from N2O treatments. Hence, N2O treatments are preferable to the use of trifluralin to induce 2n gametes in Begonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyploidy is widespread in plants and has played a major role in the evolution and diversification of the plant kingdom. Unreduced (2n) gametes are an interesting tool for polyploidisation and the creation of genetic variation in plant breeding. Especially in ornamentals, polyploidisation can broaden attractive features within a species. A Begonia collection was screened on the occurrence of 2n pollen with the aid of four different techniques: pollen size measurement, flow cytometric analysis of nuclei isolated from germinated and non germinated pollen, investigation of the microsporogenesis and analysis of progeny. In ten of the 70 screened genotypes ( B. dregei, B. pearcei, B. ‘Anna Christina’, B. ‘Bubbles’, B. ‘Florence Rita’, B. ‘Orococo’, B. ‘Rubaiyat’, B. ‘Spatflacier’, B. ‘Tamo’ and B276), large pollen were observed with a rather spherical than normal ellipsoidal shape. Flow cytometric data proved that these aberrantly shaped pollen were associated with 2n ploidy levels, although they were not always viable. Meiotic aberrations in these large pollen producers resulted mainly in dyads although also monads, triads and polyads were observed. Successful crosses were obtained with B. dregei, B. ‘Orococo’, and B276 as pollinators; DNA content had increased in all or a part of the progeny. The results show that the occurrence of 2n pollen is not a rare phenomenon in Begonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breeding in oil palm aims mainly at improving palm oil yield. Short palms are also desired because they are easy to harvest and increase the economic life of the plantation. A total of 23 progenies from Deli × La Mé and Deli × PO 1097 P (Yangambi) crosses were field tested at La Dibamba Oil Palm Research Centre in Cameroon from 1988 to 1998. Oil yield components were measured on per palm basis from 3 to 9 years after planting, and the vertical growth at 6 years after planting. The mean oil yield of the trial was average, representing 102% of the control (3.515 t/ha), and the mean height 6 years after planting was 101% that of the control (88.0 cm). The analysis of variance detected differences among progenies for various yield parameters and vertical growth. The comparison of means showed clear separation of groups of progenies for oil yield at the juvenile period (3–5 years after planting). At maturity (6–9 years after planting), the groups of progenies were overlapping indicating that progenies were comparable each other. However, four precocious progenies and high oil yielding at maturity (119–122% of the control) in absolute values can be released to planters. Though their vertical growth represented 116–127% of that of the control, short pisifera palm are expected from parental selfs or crosses given the intrinsic heterozygosity of oil palm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transformation system for Chinese cabbage protoplasts was developed using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 (harbouring the plasmid pBinΩSCK and the plasmid pMOG 411 respectively). The plasmid pBinΩSCK contains a 415 bp insert derived from the Cowpea trypsin proteinase inhibitor gene and The plasmid pMOG 411 contains a 870 bp fragment which codes an anti-bacterial peptide gene. Freshly isolated protoplasts of Chinese cabbage ( Brassica campestris L.ssp. pekinensis) lines were pre-treated at 4 ∘C for 1 h, then incubated at 25 ∘C for 2–3 days in the dark. 3 drops of A. tumefaciens solution in log-phase were added to 10 ml protoplasts and cocultivated for 48 h at 25 ∘C. Some kanamycin-resistant plants and a number of kanamycin-resistant calli were obtained. Southern blot hybridization analysis demonstrated the presence of the CpTI gene and the anti-bacterial peptide gene in the Chinese cabbage genome. Northern blot analysis of the kanamycin-resistant plantlets and calli confirmed the accumulation of the CpTI and the anti-bacterial peptide mRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica napus (2 n = 38) and Diplotaxis harra (2 n = 26) were used to investigate gene transfer from D. harra to B. napus. Intergeneric F1 hybrids (dihaploid 2 n = 32 chromosomes) were obtained through ovary culture. The chromosome associations in the first meiotic division was (0–2)III + (2–10)II + (12–28)I. Many seeds were harvested in the F1 hybrid after backcrossing with B. napus, and from open pollination of the F1 hybrid. Somatic chromosome numbers of BC1 and hybrid plants varied from 2 n = 26 to 52. In the first meiotic division, high frequencies of bivalent association and relatively low pollen fertility were observed. BC2 plants generated from the BC1 plants with 2 n = 38 chromosomes, 69.6% showed 2 n = 38 chromosomes. Many aneuploids with addition and deletion of chromosomes were also obtained. A bridge plant between B. napus and D. harra with 2 n = 32 chromosomes should be valuable material for the breeding of brassica crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cytogenetic study was investigated in the intergeneric F1 hybrid, F2 and backcross progenies (BC1). The plants used were Brassica juncea (2n=36) and Diplotaxis virgata (2n=18). Three intergeneric F1 hybrids between two species were produced through ovary culture. They showed 36 chromosomes. It might consist one genome of B. juncea and two genomes of D. virgata. The morphology of the leaves resembled that of B. juncea. The color of the petals was yellow that was like in D. virgata. The size of the petal was similar to that of B. juncea. The mean pollen fertility was 15.3% and the chromosome associations in the first meiotic division were (0–1) IV+(0–2) III+(8–12) II +(12–20) I. Many F2 and BC1 seeds were harvested after open pollination and backcross of the F1 hybrids with B. juncea, respectively. The F2 seedlings showed different chromosome constitutions and the range was from 28 to 54 chromosomes. Most seedlings had 38 chromosomes followed by 36, 40 and 54. The BC1 seedlings also showed different chromosome constitutions and the range was from 29 to 62. Most seedlings had both 40 and 54 chromosomes followed by 36, 46 and 52. In the first meiotic division of F2 and BC1 plants, a high frequency of bivalent associations was observed in all the various kinds of somatic chromosomes. Many F3 and BC2 seeds were obtained by self-pollination and open pollination of both F2 and BC1 plants, and by backcrossing both F2 and BC1 plants with B. juncea, respectively, especially, three type progeny with 36, 40 or 54 chromosomes. The somatic chromosomes of the F3 and BC2 plants were further investigated. The bridge plants between B. juncea and D. virgata with 36 chromosomes may be utilized for breeding of other Brassica crops as well as B. juncea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three adjacent EcoRI fragments of the rDNA unit from Lycopersicon esculentum, eleven anonymous genomic and two anonymous cDNA clones from Brassica napus and three restriction endonucleases: BamHI, EcoRI and EcoRV were used for RFLP analysis of the genome of Hypericum perforatum L. A polymorphic band identified with EcoRI and two rDNA probes in five somaclones originated from the same genotype was detected in all progenies of two somaclones indicating the inheritance of the molecular changes. rDNA unit heterogeneity represented by two types of RFLP pattern revealed among somaclones and seed-derived control plants using EcoRV and two rDNA probes may indicate an alloploid origin of Hypericum perforatum. The occurrence of the identical RFLP patterns in some R0 somaclones and seed-derived plants and their progenies may be related to the apomictic mode of reproduction which is assumed to be prevalent in Hypericum perforatum. The differences in RFLP patterns of progenies when compared with the maternal plants (1 out of 10 progenies of one control plant and 1 out of 8 progenies of one somaclone) may indicate that some progenies have originated through sexual recombination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]