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Background: Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent) is a dioecious tree native to East Asia and mainland Southeast-Asia, introduced prehistorically to Polynesia as a source of bark fiber by Austronesian-speaking voyagers. In Oceania, trees are coppiced and harvested for production of bark-cloth, so flowering is generally unknown. A survey of botanical records of paper mulberry revealed a distributional disjunction: the tree is apparently absent in Borneo and the Philippines. A subsequent study of chloroplast haplotypes linked paper mulberry of Remote Oceania directly to a population in southern Taiwan, distinct from known populations in mainland Southeast-Asia. Methodology: We describe the optimization and use of a DNA marker designed to identify sex in paper mulberry. We used this marker to determine the sex distribution in selected localities across Asia, Near and Remote Oceania. We also characterized all samples using the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequence (ITS) in order to relate results to a previous survey of ITS diversity. Results: In Near and Remote Oceania, contemporary paper mulberry plants are all female with the exception of Hawaii, where plants of both sexes are found. In its natural range in Asia, male and female plants are found, as expected. Male plants in Hawaii display an East Asian ITS genotype, consistent with modern introduction, while females in Remote Oceania share a distinctive variant. Conclusions: Most paper mulberry plants now present in the Pacific appear to be descended from female clones introduced prehistorically. In Hawaii, the presence of male and female plants is thought to reflect a dual origin, one a prehistoric female introduction and the other a modern male introduction by Japanese/Chinese immigrants. If only female clones were dispersed from a source-region in Taiwan, this may explain the absence of botanical records and breeding populations in the Philippines and Borneo, and Remote Oceania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh) is an ecologically valuable species with a broad geographic distribution across the North America. Its diversity, versatility and enduring nature make it an ideal candidate for a selective breeding program in this region. However, an understanding of the genecology of this species is fundamental to deploy it successfully. Ten paper birch provenances were collected from British Columbia (BC, Canada) and northern Idaho (USA) along elevational transects to determine whether observed bud flush phenology was due to genetics and /or environmental variation or their interaction. Seedlings were grown at three different nurseries: University of Idaho (46°44'N), Landing (50°17'N) and Little Forestry (54°00'N) and planted in a randomized single tree interlocking block design in three common gardens at Sandpoint, ID (48°13'N), Skimikin, BC (50°45'N) and Red Rock, BC (53°45'N). Results indicate that variation in the timing of bud flush is a complex interaction among local genetic characteristics and environmental conditions of the growing site. Birch bud flush followed a general geographic trend where provenances at the southern common garden (Sandpoint) required less time (Day of Year, DoY) and fewer growing degree days (GDD) compared to central (Skimikin) and northern (Red Rock) common gardens. Although there were significant differences in the timing of bud flush among provenances along an elevational gradient, none of the regions showed the expected linear elevational cline, trends were inconsistent. Further, birch bud flush was significantly influenced by nursery displacement effects in the initial year of establishment but disappeared within three years. These results provide an opportunity to characterize bud flush phenology of paper birch and would be useful for improving operational paper birch seed transfer programs in BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Game theory has been extensively studied and applied in both the field of business and animal behavior. Similarly, in aquaculture, research and applications in these areas are in need as well. Consequently, why not use game theory to study aquaculture? There are very few researches and no reviews on this topic. This paper reviews applications of game theory on aquaculture, as well as its potential prospects for future applications. First, the utilization of game theory in the context of breeding is introduced, such as the release of gametes. Then, the applications of game theory in both the farming process and the aquatic product market are reviewed, like preference for water depth and product sales strategy. Following this, the future prospects and potential development directions of game theory in various aspects of aquaculture, such as transportation, are discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue honeysuckle, also named as haskap or honeyberry, an emerging fruit worldwide, with the species being Lonicera L., originating from the north hemisphere, exhibits high genetic heterogeneity and abundant genetic variation in fruit and leaf traits. However, there are few papers on the research progress of blue honeysuckle breeding and cultivars. The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) is an effective plant variety protection system, and blue honeysuckle cultivars from different countries and regions are registered in the UPOV database. In this review, we summarized the origin, domestication and germplasm collection, breeding categories and supporting techniques of blue honeysuckle, and the information on registered blue honeysuckle cultivars was analysed based on the UPOV database. Finally, the paper put forward the challenges of blue honeysuckle in development, breeding direction and perspectives to promote the development of blue honeysuckle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper was to highlight the importance and relevance of the proactive approach of microscopic laboratory techniques for prevention and control of major silkworm diseases thus contributing to the improvement of silkworm health and to augmentation of the sericulture production. The examinations were carried out by direct microscopy and laboratory diagnostic methods for specific diseases (bacterial, parasitic, mycotic and viral) according to the methodology of the OIE Manual, adapted to the conditions of the Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Pathology of Silkworms of S.C.S. Baneasa, Bucharest. Direct microscopical and bacterioscopic examinations were carried out to exclude the risk of the presence of pathogens in future generations selected for the conservation of the genetic background. Samples collected from the 84 breeds under conservation were subjected to direct microscopy and bacterioscopic examinations on two developmental stages of silkworms - egg and larval stage (L3). The results of the laboratory examinations required the elimination of inappropriate biological material from the reproduction, that allowed obtaining disease-free reproductive material of the best quality. In the present research paper, we demonstrated the importance of the proactive approach of microscopic laboratory techniques for prevention and control of major silkworm diseases in order to select breeds, lines and hybrids of silkworms with resistance to diseases owned by S.C.S. Baneasa, Bucharest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lagerstroemia is a native plant in China, which has been cultivated for more than 1 500 years. It is an excellent summer flower woody plant, and is widely used in urban landscaping because of its beautiful color, long flowering period and the advantage of purifying air. The germplasm resources of Lagerstroemia indica are extremely rich. There are about 60 species of Lagerstroemia in the world, 40% of which are in China. The results of national and regional investigations have laid a good foundation for the study of L. indica. In recent years, the cultivation and application of new cultivars have been increased in various regions. The breeding method is mainly traditional breeding, and many new cultivars with good characters and high market value have been cultivated. With the rapid development of breeding technology and molecular biology, a breakthrough has been made in the researches on molecular assisted breeding of L. indica. In this paper, the classification research, germplasm resources, breeding research and introduction and application of L. indica were reviewed. We systematically sorted out the germplasm resources of L. indica in China, including 24 wild species and 350 cultivars, discussed the research process and development trend of breeding of L. indica at home and abroad, and summarized the current situation of introduction and application research. In regard to the current research status of L. indica, this paper offered reflections on future research directions to enhance investigations of L. indica, improve germplasm resource banks, and establish information sharing channels; efforts on breeding should be expanded beyond flower color, fragrance, plant type, resistance and extension of flowering period; and biological and intelligent technologies should be leveraged to strengthen breeding techniques and accelerate innovation in L. indica germplasms. Continuous application forms for L. indica resources should be developed according to local conditions to fully realize their value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cassava is an important crop for the survival of smallholder farmers in Cameroon. However, the cassava sector has a low production per unit area compared to the technological potential in this country. In this context, breeders have developed varieties based mainly on their potential in terms of yield and disease resistance. These varieties have been widely disseminated in Cameroon within the framework of development projects. However, these releases have not achieved the expected adoption and yield levels at the national level. Therefore, it appears important to rethink the determinants of dissemination with a broader examination of the cassava production system. RESULTS: This paper analyses varietal complementarity as a key strategy in support of optimizing the experimental and continuous use of cassava varieties by farmers in the Central and Eastern regions of Cameroon. These two regions account for 50% of the country's production. A total of 111 semi‐structured interviews were conducted with farmers selected through purposive sampling in four villages in Central and Eastern Cameroon where improved varieties have been disseminated. The research revealed four types of complementarity, related to use, crop management, risk management and cultural complementarity. CONCLUSION: Our results argue for considering varietal complementarities practiced by farmers, within research and development programs to develop more effective breeding and dissemination approaches. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolomics, as a technology widely used in biological research, has shown its importance in ruminant research. This technology enables researchers to detect the metabolites produced by ruminants and deeply analyze the relationship between these metabolites and animal phenotype, which provides comprehensive and powerful support for the research on nutrition, breeding, and diseases of ruminants. In the nutritional research of ruminants, metabolomics can be used to evaluate the effects of different feed processing technologies and different nutritional levels on metabolites. In addition, in the study of ruminant feeding methods, metabolomics technology can detect the effects of different feeding methods, such as grazing and house feeding, on metabolites, which helps us to understand the effects of feeding methods on ruminant physiology and metabolism. In the study of ruminant diseases, metabolomics can be used to compare the metabolic differences between sick animals and healthy animals, as well as susceptible and insensitive animals, which is helpful to identify potential biomarkers and provide clues for early diagnosis and treatment of diseases. In the research of ruminant breeding, metabolomics can be used to evaluate the metabolic changes in litter size of female animals, testicular size of male animals and sperm quality. This information helps to select animals with good genetic characteristics and improve breeding efficiency. This paper reviews the research progress of metabonomics in ruminant production, including nutrition, feeding methods, diseases and breeding, and discusses the advantages of metabonomics research, so as to provide reference for the wider application of metabonomics technology in ruminant research in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CRISPR-Cas system, found in bacteria or archaea, serves as an adaptive immune system to counteract viral re-invasion by effectively cleaving nucleic acids. By leveraging the characteristics of Cas9 protein and its variants, researchers have devised a range of gene editing techniques that enable gene operations like gene knock-out or knock-in within cells, thereby facilitating genetic diversity in organisms. Additionally, these tools allow the manipulation of DNA or RNA through epigenetic modification to regulate gene expression, rendering them extensively employed in life science research. Poultry, as a significant agricultural species, plays a crucial role in supplying individuals with protein of superior quality. The utilization of CRISPR-Cas9 technology for gene editing and modification in avian genome is presently confined to the research phase, with remarkable advancements observed solely in chicken and quail. This paper presents an overview of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology, encompassing its components, delivery methods, and optimization strategies, while also exploring its potential applications in poultry production and prevention and control of diseases. These insights lay the groundwork for the future development of CRISPR-Cas9 technology in the context of poultry system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: The world is increasingly looking to plant‐based sources to meet its protein needs. Multiple factors are driving this progression, ranging from nutritional and ethical considerations to climate change and population growth. As a pulse crop, lentil is ideal to help meet this change in demand. However, plant‐based proteins have limiting amino acids and lower protein digestibility compared to animal‐based proteins. This research identifies genetic markers that can be used to accelerate breeding of protein quality traits in lentil to ultimately help meet the rising demand in high‐quality plant‐based protein and bolster global food and nutritional security. Summary: Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) contains ~25% high‐quality protein in addition to high concentrations of prebiotic carbohydrates and micronutrients, such as folate, iron, zinc, and selenium. As animal‐based protein's economic and environmental costs rise, plant‐based protein sources, such as lentil, will become increasingly important to global food systems. Consequently, evaluating and targeting protein quality traits for genomic‐assisted breeding is a valuable objective for lentil breeding programs.A diversity panel of 183 breeding lines was analyzed for protein quality traits, including amino acids and protein digestibility. Genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) data were used to assess population structure and conduct genome‐wide association studies (GWAS). Genes in local linkage disequilibrium (LD) with significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were identified and categorized by homology.Protein quality traits showed a wide range of variation. Repeatability estimates were low to moderate across traits. Twelve traits were strongly correlated with each other (r >.7). Admixture analysis identified six ancestral subpopulations, which also demonstrated clustering in principal component analysis. Ten different traits had significant SNP associations; two loci were shared across multiple traits. Twenty‐seven candidate genes, including glutathione S‐transferase, protease family, and gibberellin 2‐beta‐dioxygenase genes, were identified.This paper identifies SNP markers associated with lentil protein quality traits. Once validated, these SNPs could accelerate lentil protein quality breeding efforts. By targeting lentil's limiting amino acids (methionine and cysteine) and protein digestibility through marker‐assisted selection, the nutritional value of lentil's protein content could be increased without the need to alter total protein content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus) has gained immense popularity in the ornamental fish trade due to its striking color variations. However, ongoing debates persist regarding the taxonomic classification of these distinct color varieties as separate species. This paper aims to address this issue by employing mtDNA sequencing, microsatellite genotyping, and crossing experiments. Phylogenic analyses using mitochondrial and nuclear markers across green, golden, and red varieties showed that individuals from these tree color varieties were mixed in several clusters. Crossing between different varieties generated fertile offspring. These data indicates that three color morphs of the Asian arowana should not be classified as distinct species. Acknowledging the aesthetic significance of these varieties, a holistic understanding of their taxonomic status is crucial for informed conservation strategies and sustainable management of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saxifraga Tourn. ex L. is rich in species diversity with about 440-500 species and broad distribution. The taxonomical issues of this genus have been continuously concerned by the botanists. Saxifraga has important ornamental and medicinal values. Some of European countries have made great efforts on the exploitation and utilization of its ornamental resources. China is one of the diversity centers of Saxifraga, but it has been lagged far behind Europe, USA and even Japan in exploitation and utilization on ornamental value of this genus. The world breeding work in Saxifraga started 150 years ago. By the end of 2022, the 1 692 names of cultivars had been on-line listed by The Saxifrage Society, but only one came from China. In this paper, the germplasm resources of Saxifraga, and progress on its classification and breeding are reviewed, and also the utilization of its ornamental resources is briefly introduced, which will provide an important reference for taxonomical research, breeding and application of this genus in China. The results are as follows:(1) Saxifraga is rich in germplasms, but many scientific issues remain in the evolutionary relationships of its subordinate systems, which require a systematic and in-depth investigation by integrating morphological and molecular biology methods.(2)The cultivars of this genus are mainly raised through cross-breeding and mutant selection, and the majority of cultivars are from the UK, Czech Republic, Germany, and the Netherlands.(3)The breeding of Saxifraga started very late in China, with only few cultivars from one breeding method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leading role of Italy in the cultivation of durum wheat stimulated intense breeding activities in the country from the beginning of the 20th century, much earlier than in any other country involved in durum wheat production. Older, genetically more heterogeneous landraces were replaced with new, highly productive, superior quality varieties, and this led to an inevitable reduction in the overall genetic diversity among new cultivars, which makes the genetic variability preserved in old cultivars particularly valuable and important. The aim of this paper was to assist future breeding programs by providing a detailed description of the history of durum wheat breeding in Italy and of the changes in yield, quality, and related traits that subsequently occurred, starting from the most diffuse landraces present between 1900 and 1920 up until the present day. The parallel evolution of breeding techniques, breeding goals, and agricultural systems in this period is also described, and some future breeding goals suggested. In the current context of climate change and of rapidly mutating pathogen populations, preserving the yield level through the continuous introduction of new cultivars by exploiting the reservoir of largely unused genetic variation stored in old cultivars and landraces could be as important as increasing grain yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews information about a unique and iconic breed of the Orenburg Oblast, the homeland and the only place where the best herds of Orenburg down-hair goats in Russia are concentrated. Three types of these small ruminant animals are widespread on the territory of the region: Orenburg purebred gray goats, Orenburg purebred white goats, as well as crossbred white goats of F1 White Don × White Orenburg. Currently, at the farms of the Orenburg region, animals are selected according to their phenotype, with selected traits being color, weight and length of down hair. In recent years, the Orenburg goat breed has become an object of genetic research using various marker systems including immunogenetic, microsatellite, mtDNA and SNP markers. Overall, these studies evidence about the uniqueness of the allele pool in the landmark native breed of the Orenburg goats, which is a complex dynamic genetic system, prioritizing its further in-depth genome research and breeding applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Understanding the suite of environmental changes impacting migration and disentangling these from the dependencies between migratory stages is fundamental to understanding the drivers and mechanisms causing spatial shifts to migratory bird distributions. In this review, our objectives are to: (i) provide evidence of spatial change at all migratory stages, (ii) identify the key mechanisms driving change, (iii) discuss how anthropogenic change influences migratory patterns, (iv) highlight interdependencies between migratory stages and (v) offer a framework for understanding migratory pattern changes. Location: Migratory land birds globally. Methods: We defined a literature search to find examples of spatial changes in avian migrations and their underlying mechanisms. From the top 1000 search results, sorted by relevance, we retained 81 papers published between 1991 and 2020. Results: Spatial shifts in migratory bird distributions occur throughout the annual cycle, but patterns vary across taxa and migratory stages. Since avian migrants occupy multiple sites across the annual cycle, environmental change has particularly complex repercussions for their distributions. Multiple environmental changes can affect distributions at each migratory stage due to fitness asymmetries between migratory strategies and individuals responding flexibly to environmental changes within and across generations. Spatial changes at one stage (e.g. breeding) can also trigger further indirect spatial changes at other stages (e.g. stopovers) due to dependencies between stages. Conclusions: To understand the drivers and mechanisms underpinning spatial changes, comprehensive year‐round distributional data are crucial for observing change across multiple migratory stages and disentangling competing drivers. Biologging technology could elucidate the mechanisms causing changes to individual‐level strategies and uncover fitness asymmetries between strategies. Ultimately, gaining a clearer understanding of spatial changes will aid in predicting distributional responses to anthropogenic change in migratory birds. This is paramount for mitigating the effects of anthropogenic change and assessing future population viability within this vulnerable and extensive taxonomic group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our knowledge about Cyrenaican horses during the Greek and Roman periods is mainly derived from ancient literary sources. They tell us that horses were bred with distinctive skills in this region and report interesting stories highlighting the participation of Cyrenaican horses in athletic games. The literary data suggests Cyrene is a horse-breeding centre and this paper examines whether these assertions represent a reality, or simply a convention. This study investigates and analyses other locally related archaeological data, including epigraphy documents published by the digital corpora of IGCyr and IRCyr. Although most of the inscriptions in these corpora are published, little attention has been given to horses. The adapted approach here aims to build up a picture about horses using local evidence, with a focus on the linguistic indications of equestrian practice at Cyrenaica and the use of horse-related terms in nomenclature. Interestingly, the regional textual and archaeological data provide us with a similar picture to that presented by the literary references regarding horse breeding in Cyrenaica, charioteer training and their contribution to overseas Greek and Roman sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some recent information about the avifauna of the Vidraru mountain Dam Basin, located in the Southern Carpathians, Romania, are showed in this paper. During a year of study that followed mainly the birds specific to the lake, 66 species were observed, of which 14 were waterbirds, and 9 – Tadorna tadorna (Linnaeus, 1758), Aythya ferina (Linnaeus, 1758), Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus, 1758), Mareca penelope (Linnaeus, 1758), Tachybaptus ruficollis (Pallas, 1764), Podiceps cristatus (Linnaeus, 1758), Ardea cinerea Linnaeus, 1758, Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus, 1758) and Tringa ochropus Linnaeus, 1758, 64.98% – were mentioned for the first time in the area. Except for Mergus merganser Linnaeus, 1758, the only breeding species, Ardea cinerea and Phalacrocorax carbo were frequently found all year round and Anas platyrhyncos Linnaeus, 1758 and Tachybaptus ruficollis, during the winter, which show that a stable and still poor avifauna has developed on the dam basin. The data suggest that the Făgăraș Mountains are a major obstacle to pass for many aquatic migratory species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latex diagnosis is widely adopted in natural rubber-producing countries to optimize the natural rubber production through a physiological-based latex-harvesting system management. This study is the first bibliographical searching and meta-analysis on the variation of latex physiological parameters i.e. sucrose, inorganic phosphorus, thiols, and total solid content. The study used information extracted from 158 scientific papers. Descriptive statistics, agglomerative hierarchical clustering, and principal component analysis were performed to characterize applications of latex diagnosis, how often parameters are used and interpreted as well as the variation of its parameter values. From 158 papers, latex diagnosis parameters were used in 114 agronomy, 22 in physiology, and 22 in breeding papers. The agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis indicated that sucrose and inorganic phosphorus contents were clustered together and total solid and thiols contents were located in another cluster. The average values of the total solid content, sucrose, inorganic phosphorus and thiols were 43.9%, 9.4 mM, 16.5 mM, and 0.52 mM, respectively. The percentage of interpretation is 63.3% for sucrose, 54.4% for inorganic phosphorus, 47.5% for thiols, and 41.1% for the total solid content. The low interpretation of thiols and total solid contents question their relevance in latex diagnosis. The low adoption of latex diagnosis in breeding could hinder the selection of activities leads to a limitation of selection for long-term high yielding and stress-adapted clones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature has seriously impacted the production of wheat in many countries. We examined four wheat cultivars (PBW343, Berkurt, Janz, and Attila) under heat stress (35/25 °C) and control treatments (23/15 °C) for 3 days at the meiosis and anthesis stages to evaluate the response and recovery of the four cultivars to heat stress and the relationship between photosynthetic parameters related to heat tolerance. Photosynthetic activity in all cultivars declined in plants that were treated at 35 °C, even for only 1 d compared with control plants. However, the differences among the four cultivars were obvious in net photosynthetic rate (Pn). At meiosis, the reduction of Pn in Berkut and PBW343 was lower and could nearly fully recover after 3 d of recovery and showed higher heat tolerance characteristics. The highest reduction in Pn occurred in Janz, which did not recover completely after 3 d of recovery. The same trend was observed at the anthesis stage, but Pn in all cultivars could not fully recover. Taking transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and limitation of stomatal conductance (Ls) into account, results suggested the decline in Pn under heat stress was mainly caused by non-stomatal restriction. In parallel with the decline in Pn, the maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) decreased. In addition, both the maximum rate of net photosynthesis (Pmax) and the light saturation point declined after heat stress in all cultivars. However, the relevant photosynthetic parameters of PBW343 and Berkut recovered more quickly at both the meiotic and flowering stages. In summary, there were significant differences in the adaptability of different cultivars to high temperatures, with Berkut and PBW343 being more adaptable to heat stress than Janz and Attila. These may be used as valuable resources for further studies in breeding to understand the physiological mechanisms of heat sensitivity. This paper provides detailed information on the ecophysiological responses of wheat under heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wanmai 788 is a new wheat variety bred by Nanyang Academy of Agricultural Sciences and approved by Henan Province in 2021. This variety is characterized by high yield, multiple resistance, wide adaptability and high quality weak gluten, and is suitable for planting in wheat areas in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in the central and southern part of Henan Province. This paper introduces the breeding process, characteristics, yield performance and brief cultivation techniques of Wanmai 788, and discusses the key breeding techniques of the variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small breeding programs are limited in achieving competitive genetic gain and prone to high rates of inbreeding. Thus, they often import genetic material to increase genetic gain and to limit the loss of genetic variability. However, the benefit of import depends on the strength of genotype-by-environment interaction. Import also diminishes the relevance of domestic selection and the use of domestic breeding animals. Introduction of genomic selection has potentially exacerbated this issue, but is also opening the potential for smaller breeding programs. The aim of this paper was to determine when and to what extent small breeding programs benefit from importing genetic material by quantifying the genetic gain as well as the sources of genetic gain. We simulated 2 cattle breeding programs of the same breed that represented a large foreign and a small domestic breeding program. The programs differed in selection parameters of sire selection, and in the initial genetic mean and annual genetic gain. We evaluated a control scenario without the use of foreign sires in the domestic breeding program and 24 scenarios that varied the percentage of domestic dams mated with foreign sires, the genetic correlation between the breeding programs (0.8 or 0.9), and the time of implementing genomic selection in the domestic compared with the foreign breeding program (concurrently or with a 10-yr delay). We compared the scenarios based on the genetic gain and genic standard deviation. Finally, we partitioned breeding values and genetic trends of the scenarios to quantify the contribution of domestic selection and import to the domestic genetic gain. The simulation revealed that when both breeding programs implemented genomic selection simultaneously, the use of foreign sires increased domestic genetic gain only when genetic correlation was 0.9 (10%–18% increase). In contrast, when the domestic breeding program implemented genomic selection with a 10-yr delay, import increased genetic gain at both tested correlations, 0.8 (5%–23% increase) and 0.9 (15%–53% increase). The increase was significant when we mated at least 10% or 25% domestic females with foreign sires and increased with the increasing use of foreign sires, but with a diminishing return. The partitioning analysis revealed that the contribution of import expectedly increased with the increased use of foreign sires. However, the increase did not depend on the genetic correlation and was not proportional to the increase in domestic genetic gain. This represents a peril for small breeding programs because they could be overly relying on import with diminishing returns for the genetic gain, marginal benefit for the genetic variability, and large loss of the domestic germplasm. The benefit and peril of import depends on an interplay of genetic correlation, extent of using foreign sires, and a breeding scheme. It is therefore crucial that small breeding programs assess the possible benefits of import beyond domestic selection. The benefit of import should be weighed against the perils of decreased use of domestic sires and decreased contribution and value of domestic selection. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection with hepatitis E virus (HEV) is common in both developing and industrialized nations. Genotypes 3 and 4 are increasingly being reported, particularly in high‐income countries where the precise extent of HEV transmission via food is currently unclear. Recently, HEV has been found to be excreted in milk; however, data on the potential milk‐borne transmission is still lacking or conflicting and warrants further research on the topic. As such, the aim of the present study was to review the current scientific knowledge and to summarize the existing studies in which HEV has been detected in milk. Exhaustive searches were carried out in Mendeley, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. A total of 157 papers were retrieved from the four electronic databases. After removing duplicate articles from the databases (n = 30), exclusion criteria identified unrelated research (n = 115). This allowed the identification of 12 eligible papers. To date, studies on HEV detection in milk were mostly from China (n = 5), followed by Egypt (n = 2), Germany (n = 1), Belgium and Holland (n = 1), Turkey (n = 1), Czech Republic (n = 1) and Spain (n = 1) and were focused on a variety of animals (cow, goat, donkey, buffalo, sheep and camel) and humans. Four out of the 12 eligible studies did not find any evidence of HEV in milk. Moreover, 3 out of the 12 studies detected low rates of HEV (0.2–1.8%) and two were based on a low sample size (n = 1 and n = 4). Interestingly, one study showed very high detection rates and also detected HEV genotype 1 in an animal milk sample, an unusual finding since it only occurs in humans, deserving further studies for confirmation and characterization. Two studies detected high prevalence of HEV genotype 4 in bovine samples from China, with one showing indication of the presence of infectious HEV in milk. To date, there is still a small amount of available data on the HEV presence in milk, posing important questions regarding both animal and human health. Thus, further efforts on this potentially underestimated zoonotic route for HEV should be given, warranting further studies on the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cattle have the potential to seriously injure humans and cause damage to property. The risk of cattle reacting in a dangerous manner can be reduced through genetic selection for cattle which have a better temperament. A literature search was undertaken which returned papers which met the criteria of "Bovine", "Genetics" and "Behaviour" or terms therein. Behavioural traits were grouped and their heritability, genomic associations and correlations with production traits examined. It was found that heritability estimates were more accurate in studies with large populations (n > 1000). Gene associations with behavioural traits were found on all chromosomes except for chromosome 13, with associated SNPs reported on all chromosomes except 5, 13, 17, 18 and 23. Generally, it was found that correlations between behaviour and production traits were low or negligible, suggesting that genetic improvement can be undertaken without negatively affecting production. There was variation between the results of the studies examined, and this underlines that any genetic study is population specific. Thus, to assess the heritability, genetic associations with production and genomic areas of interest for behavioural traits, a large-scale study of the population of interest would be required. People who work with cattle are at severe risk of serious injury due to the size and strength of the cattle. This risk can be minimised by breeding less dangerous cattle, which have a more favourable reaction to humans. This study provides a systematic review of literature pertaining to cattle genetics relating to behaviour. The review protocol was developed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, with Population, Exposure and Outcome components identified as Bovine, Genetics and Behaviour respectively. Forty-nine studies were identified in the sifting and assigned non-exclusively to groups of heritability (22), genomic associations (13) and production traits related to behaviour (24). Behavioural traits were clustered into the following groups: "temperament, disposition and/ or docility", "aggression", "chute score", "flight speed", "milking temperament", "non-restrained methods" and "restrained methods". Fourteen papers reported high accuracy (Standard Error ≤ 0.05) estimates of heritability, the majority (n = 12) of these studies measured over 1000 animals. The heritability estimates were found to vary between studies. Gene associations with behavioural traits were found on all chromosomes except for chromosome 13, with associated SNPs reported on all chromosomes except 5, 13, 17, 18 and 23. Generally, it was found that correlations between behaviour and production traits were low or negligible. These studies suggest that additive improvement of behavioural traits in cattle is possible and would not negatively impact performance. However, the variation between studies demonstrates that the genetic relationships are population specific. Thus, to assess the heritability, genetic associations with production and genomic areas of interest for behavioural traits, a large-scale study of the population of interest would be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping has been thoroughly used in peanut genetics and breeding in spite of the narrow genetic diversity and the segmental tetraploid nature of the cultivated species. QTL mapping is helpful for identifying the genomic regions that contribute to traits, for estimating the extent of variation and the genetic action (i.e., additive, dominant, or epistatic) underlying this variation, and for pinpointing genetic correlations between traits. The aim of this paper is to review the recently published studies on QTL mapping with a particular emphasis on mapping populations used as well as traits related to kernel quality. We found that several populations have been used for QTL mapping including interspecific populations developed from crosses between synthetic tetraploids and elite varieties. Those populations allowed the broadening of the genetic base of cultivated peanut and helped with the mapping of QTL and identifying beneficial wild alleles for economically important traits. Furthermore, only a few studies reported QTL related to kernel quality. The main quality traits for which QTL have been mapped include oil and protein content as well as fatty acid compositions. QTL for other agronomic traits have also been reported. Among the 1261 QTL reported in this review, and extracted from the most relevant studies on QTL mapping in peanut, 413 (~33%) were related to kernel quality showing the importance of quality in peanut genetics and breeding. Exploiting the QTL information could accelerate breeding to develop highly nutritious superior cultivars in the face of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this scientific paper, the productive performances of beef cattle belonging to the Aberdeen Angus and Charolaise breeds from 6 farms in Neamț County were analyzed, studying the following indicators: birth weight (kg), body weight (kg), and average daily gain (g) at the age of 200 days (kg), and also 365 days (kg). The data on average values and variability of meat production indices show that the highest performances were 42.33 kg at birth, 246.29 kg and the average daily increase of 1030.71 grams per 200 days, and 433.69 kg with the average daily increase of 1074.33 kg, at the age of 365 days. On the last place was farm 1, which registered an average weight at birth of 30.70 kg, at 200 days this indicator was 188.59 kg, and the average daily gain was 786.20 grams; at 365 days the average weight was 320.84 kg and the average weight was 793.11 kg. Farm 1 raises the Aberdeen Angus breed, and farm 5 raises the Charolaise breed, which has better results due to the constant care of the breeder to improve the genetic material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of a study of long-term adaptation, management value and productivity of Large White sows of Hungarian origin in the conditions of steppe zone of Ukraine. It was found that Large White sows of Hungarian origin are characterized by high rates of long-term adaptation, management value and reproductive qualities. Thus, their age of life is 44.1 ± 1.97 months (Cv = 35.27%); the duration of breeding use is 32.8 ± 1.95 months (Cv = 46.91%); the index "level of adaptation" varies in the range from 5.48 to 27.20 points. Taking into account the intrabreed differentiation according to the index "level of adaptation", a significant difference between the groups of sows of class M + and M-was found according to the following indicators: "farrowing received", "live piglets in total, heads", "multifetation, heads", "nest weight during the weaning at the age of 28 days, kg". The indicator "livability of piglets before weaning at the age of 28-32 days, %" in the experimental groups of sows ranges from 90.1 to 94.4%. Sows from the category "high management value" exceeded peers from the category "low management value" in terms of "farrowing received", "live piglets in total, heads", "multifetation, heads", "nest weight during the weaning at the age of 28-32 days, kg" by 46.67% on average. The indicator "livability of piglets before weaning at the age of 28-32 days, %" in different management value groups of sows ranges from 91.3 to 100.0%. The maximum increase in additional products was obtained from sows which index "level of adaptation" ranges from 5.48 to 8.20 points (+4.99%), as well as from animals of the category "high management value" (+3.41 %), respectively. These indicators are proposed to be used as criteria for selection of highly productive animals in the controlled population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cross breeding is an important way to improve livestock performance. As an important livestock and poultry resource in Henan Province of China, Bohuai goat was formed by crossing Boer goat and Huai goat. After more than 20 years of breeding, BoHuai goats showed many advantages, such as fast growth, good reproductive performance, and high meat yield. In order to better develop and protect Bohuai goats, we sequenced the whole genomes of 30 BoHuai goats and 5 Huai goats to analyze the genetic diversity, population structure and genomic regions under selection of BoHuai goat. Furthermore, we used 126 published genomes of world-wide goat to characterize the genomic variation of BoHuai goat. Results: The results showed that the nucleotide diversity of BoHuai goats was lower and the degree of linkage imbalance was higher than that of other breeds. The analysis of population structure showed that BoHuai goats have obvious differences from other goat breeds. In addition, the BoHuai goat is more closely related to the Boer goat than the Huai goat and is highly similar to the Boer goat. Group by selection signal in the BoHuai goat study, we found that one region on chromosome 7 shows a very strong selection signal, which suggests that it could well be the segment region under the intense artificial selection results. Through selective sweeps, we detected some genes related to important traits such as lipid metabolism (LDLR, STAR, ANGPTL8), fertility (STAR), and disease resistance (CD274, DHPS, PDCD1LG2). Conclusion: In this paper, we elucidated the genomic variation, ancestry composition, and selective signals related to important economic traits in BoHuai goats. Our studies on the genome of BoHuai goats will not only help to understand the characteristics of the crossbred but also provide a basis for the improvement of cross-breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Genetic selection for bone quality can improve this, as it is heritable. A method was established using digital X-ray which took around 40 s in total and gave an image that allowed quantification of bone density from many appendicular bones. 2. The tibiotarsus measurement of bone density on the live hen across the different experiments had correlations with post-mortem whole bone radiographic density from 0.62 to 0.7, similar to that between density and material properties for example. Differences between groups of hens, where calcium and phosphorus in the diet were manipulated, were detected within 3 weeks of treatment using live hen measurement (P < 0.001, n = 24). 3. In a gage analysis, 'hen' explained more than 86% of the variance, demonstrating the ability to observe clear differences between hens. The effect of different operators' analysis on the contribution to variance was very low as was the repeated measurement of the same hen. 4. The measurement of bone density on the live hen described in this paper represented major progress to a usable method for genetic selection to improve bone strength in laying hens. The method has the potential to reduce the number of animals needed to test nutritional and management interventions to improve bone health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interbull's multiple across-country evaluaftion provides national breeding organizations with breeding values for internationally used bulls, which integrate performance data obtained in different breeding populations, environments, and production systems. However, breeding value-based selection decisions on domestic individuals born to foreign sires can only benefit from Interbull breeding values if they are integrated such that their information can contribute to the breeding values of all related domestic animals. For that purpose, several methods have been proposed which either model Interbull breeding values as prior information in a Bayesian approach, as additional pseudo data points, or as correlated traits, where these methods also differ in their software and parameterization requirements. Further, the complexity of integration also depends on the traits and genetic evaluation models. Especially random regression models require attention because of the dimensionality discrepancy between the number of Interbull breeding values and the number of modeled genetic effects. This paper presents the results from integrating 16,063 Interbull breeding values into the domestic single-step random regression test-day model for milk, fat, and protein yield for Australian Red dairy cattle breeds. Interbull breeding values were modeled as pseudo data points with data point-specific residual variances derived within animal across traits, ignoring relationships between integrated animals. Results suggest that the integration was successful with regard to alignment of Interbull breeding values with their domestic equivalent as well as with regard to the individual and population-wide increase in reliabilities. Depending on the relationship structure between integration candidates, further work is required to account for those relationships in a computationally feasible manner. Other traits with separate parity effects nationally could use a similar approach, even if not modeled with a test-day model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New data about the breeding and the presence of the goosander (Mergus merganser Linnaeus, 1758) in Romania are showed in this paper. A small breeding population of 5-17 pairs (3-6 pairs, on the Vidraru Reservoir) was found on four dam basins and, possibly, other reservoirs and streams from the envisaged area, that contains the Southern part of the Făgăraș Massif (the Făgăraș and the lezer-Păpușa Mountains) from the Southern Carpathians, proving that the species benefits from the construction of the reservoirs. Together with other populations from Czechia, Slovakia and Romania, it links, over the Carpathian arch, the populations from Alps and Balkans, resulting in a large and continuous area of distribution in the favourable habitats from France to Greece. Our observations confirm the territorial expansion of the goosander in Europe registered the last time. The dam basins, where females with chicks were identified, are located between 804 and 1,093 m s.I.a., corresponding to the deciduous and mixed woods. The breeding was firstly found in the area in 2007, on Râușoru and Baciu, but it may have happened earlier. Other aspects linked to the distribution, the preference of habitats, the dynamics, the density, the success of breeding etc. are discussed in the paper, too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hessian fly (HF), Mayetiola destructor (Say) is an important pest of wheat in North Africa, North America, Southern Europe, Northern Kazakhstan, Northwestern China, and New Zealand. It can cause up to 30% yield losses and sometimes can result in complete crop failure if infestation coincides with young stage of the wheat crop. Studies to-date have shown the availability of genetic diversity in the wheat genetic resources (landraces, wild relatives, cultivars, etc.) for resistance to Hessian fly. About 37 resistance genes have been reported from these wheat genetic resources for resistance to Hessian fly, of which, some have been deployed singly or in combination in the breeding programs to develop high yielding varieties with resistance to HF. Deployment of resistant varieties in different agro-ecologies with other integrated management measures plays key role for the control of HF. This paper summarizes the importance, life cycle, mechanisms of resistance, gene mining, and wheat breeding efforts for HF resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coffee species Coffea arabica is facing numerous challenges regarding climate change, pests and disease pressure. Improved varieties will be part of the solution. Making optimal use of the scarce genetic diversity of the species is hence essential. In this paper, we present the first study of C. arabica genetic diversity covering its complete native habitat in Ethiopia together with its main domestication centers: Yemen and Hararghe region in Ethiopia. All in all, 555 samples were analyzed with a set of Single Sequence Repeat markers. Through admixture genetic analysis, six clusters were identified. A total of two "Core Ethiopian" clusters did not participate in the domestication of the species. There were four clusters that were part of the "Domestication Pathway" of C. arabica. The first one was named "Ethiopian Legacy" as it represents the genetic link between "Core Ethiopia" and the "Domestication Pathway" in Yemen and Hararghe. The geographic origin of this cluster in Ethiopia was the south of Ethiopia, namely Gedio, Guji and Sidama, which hence appears as the source of coffee seeds that led to the domestication of C. arabica. In Yemen, in addition to the "Ethiopian Legacy" cluster, we confirmed the "Typica/Bourbon" and "New-Yemen" clusters. In Hararghe, the "Harrar" cluster, never described before, likely originates from a re-introduction of domesticated coffee from Yemen into this region of Ethiopia. Cultivated varieties around the world today originate from the "Ethiopian Legacy" and "Typica/Bourbon" clusters and but none are related to the "new-Yemen" and "Harrar" clusters. Implications for breeding strategies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shannong 116 is a strong gluten, high yield and multi-resistance wheat variety bred by Shandong Agricultural University, which was approved by the State in 2021 and by Shandong Province in 2022. Shannong 116 combines the excellent characteristics of the female parent (strong gluten, disease resistance and early maturity) and the male parent (high yield, water saving and lodging resistance), with a plant height of 76.9 cm, compact plant type, orderly spike layer and good maturity performance, which is suitable for large-scale promotion and market order planting in Huanghuai wheat area. In this paper, the characteristics of Shannong 116 are analyzed, and cultivation technical measures for high yield, high quality and high efficiency are put forward, in order to provide a technical support for the popularization and application of the variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kechun 140103 is a new spring wheat variety with high and stable yield bred by Keshan Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences. This paper summarizes the breeding process, characteristics, yield performance and cultivation techniques of Kechun 140103, in order to promote the popularization and application of the variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results obtained with reference to: average age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI), service period (SP) and mammary repose (RM). They were studied 3 farms with populations of cows of the breeds: Holstein and Spotted with Romanian Black (BNR). The studied reproduction indicators recorded the following average values: in the farm "Î.I. Dascălu Sînzîiana", in the Holstein breed, AFC - was 31.03 months, SP - 89.24 days, RM - 55.82 days and CI - 458.27 days, in the farm "Nacu Gheorghe" in the Holstein breed, AFC- was 25.72 months, SP - 87.96 days, RM - 57.58 days and CI - 459.51 days, and in the Spotted Romanian Black breed, AFC - was 27.54 months, SP - 97.22 days, RM - 56.92 days and CI - 401.64 days. The best results regarding the breeding activity were obtained in the farm "Î.I. Râtan Gheorghe", in Spotted with Romanian Black cattle, where AFC - was 27.52 months, SP - 80.04 days, RM -59.43 days, and CI - 393 days. From the analysis of the obtained data, it is revealed the need to reduce the service period, in the farms "Î.I Dascălu Sînzîiana" and "Nacu Gheorghe", at the optimal level of 80 days, because it is the only way to improve the reproduction indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although aquaculture is the fastest sector in terms of animal protein production in the world, breeding programs in aquatic species have been delayed compared to livestock and plants. Breeding improvement programs in aquaculture are mainly based on using phenotypic and pedigree information in quantitative genetics. However, approaches based on genomic information such as marker assistant selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS) have been used to improve economic traits in recent years. The present paper aimed to investigate the breeding principles in aquaculture from phenotypic selection to genomic selection, their advantages and limitations, and recent advances in different aquatic species. Results: Genomic selection increases genetic gain in aquaculture through increasing accuracy of selection, decreasing generation interval, decreasing inbreeding rate, better control of genetic and environmental interactions, and selection of animals with less sensitivity to environmental variation. Especially, genomic selection is suitable for difficult-to-measure or low heritability traits such as disease resistance, feed intake, reproduction traits, and carcass quality. Reference population size, marker density, mating design, number and size of families, and a number of generations are effective factors in the accuracy of genomic selection in aquaculture. Continuous advances in cost-effective technologies for genotyping especially genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) and bioinformatics will facilitate the faster application of genomic selection in aquaculture. Conclusions: Although genomic selection has been used for about 20 aquatic species in recent years and has provided opportunities for the improvement of genetic gain. However, the advantages of this method should be evaluated in commercial and economic aquatic breeding programs. It is expected that genomic selection will be widely used in aquatic breeding in the future and pave the way for the sustainable development of this industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

【Objective】The present paper aimed to illustrate the potential utilization of the gene of resistance to bacterial blight and bacterial leaf streak, so as to provide reference for enriching genetic base of rice breeding.【Method】A total of 102 rice cultivars were used to screen by molecular marker for the gene xa5, which mediated the resistance for both for resistance to bacterial blight and bacterial leaf streak. The parents carrying xa5 gene and having good resistance to bacterial blight and bacterial leaf streak were used as resistant sources to cross with susceptible cultivated rice. Through pedigree method and molecular marker-assisted selection（MAS）, elite hybrid rice restorer lines were cultivated. The excellent restorer lines and sterile lines were combined with strong heterosis combinations to analyze the resistance and comprehensive agronomic traits of strong heterosis combinations.【Result】A total of 17 cultivars were screened, which carried xa5 gene from 102 rice germplasm resources（materials）. Among these cultivars, DP3, IRBB5, N36, N776, N777, N779 and P89 were well resistant to both bacterial blight and bacterial leaf streak. An elite line Y240-1 was selected from the cross between DP3 and 9311. Moreover, 998 R was crossed with elite individual Y240-1. With molecular MAS, an elite restorer line Yexiangzhan with xa5 was developed from the cross of 998 R and Y240-1, after multiple generations of selfing. Yexiangzhan was combined with sterile line Pingfeng A to produce an elite hybrid cultivar Pingfengyouxiangzhan, which showed higher resistance to bacterial blight and bacterial leaf streak in comparison with Pingfeng A. Pingfengyouxiangzhan was resistant to rice blast at moderate level and meet the 2nd class standard of fine quality issued by Ministry of Agriculture of China.【Conclusion】xa5 gene with resistance to bacterial blight and bacterial leaf streak of rice has partial dominant effect, which can be used for breeding improvement of hybrid rice; It is helpful to enrich and broaden the genetic basis of rice breeding by cultivating the superior hybrid combinations of rice with moderate resistance to bacterial blight and stripe disease with wild rice blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyploidization is one of the important driving forces of speciation and crop domestication. Polyploidization is widely employed in the research and application of crops because it can greatly enrich the diversity in a very short period of time. Crop improvement using polyploidization has been successful in watermelon, cucumber, melon and other important Cucurbitaceae crops. Recent studies have shown that polyploids often have distinct environmental fitness advantages. With the increasingly serious of climate problems nowadays, improving the environmental adaptability of Cucurbitaceae crops via polyploidy has become one of the essential contents of Cucurbitaceae crop breeding. According to the genome composition, polyploids are divided into autopolyploids and allopolyploids. Most of the previous studies on Cucurbitaceae crops only focused on autopolyploid, and the understanding and research on allopolyploid were obviously lacking, which needed further development and utilization. Meanwhile, along with the advancement of genome sequencing technology and the rapid development of various omics and molecular biology technologies, many important progresses have been made in plant polyploidy research, which provides unprecedented opportunity for research on polyploidy-related mechanisms in Cucurbitaceae crops. This paper systematically reviewed the recent research and application on polyploidy in Cucurbitaceae crops, aiming to explore the development and future of polyploidy in the breeding of Cucurbitaceae crops, and providing a reference for the genetic breeding of cucurbit and other crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Navy bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) provides important raw materials for the bean canning industry. This article reviews grain compositional aspects influencing the canning and quality attributes of canned navy beans and breeding methodologies and strategies used to develop genotypes with superior canning-quality traits. Cultivars that are destined for the bean canning industry should meet the set canning-quality standards regardless of their yield potential. A number of phenotypic quality parameters are used to predict the final canning quality of genotypes. Primary quality parameters mainly comprise washed drained weight, processing quality index, and texture. Phenotyping for these traits is very expensive and requires grain quantities that can only be obtained in the advanced filial generations, making it difficult to breed for. Molecular marker-assisted selection has not yet contributed much to the improvement of canning quality in navy beans. However, it has the potential to facilitate the genetic improvement of several canning-quality traits. The review paper concludes with a number of recommendations. There exists a need for harmonizing protocols and standards for canning quality by breeders and processors, development and release of navy bean cultivars that combine high grain Fe and Zn content and drought tolerance with good canning qualities, and evaluation of genotypes across a number of environments. A need exists to identify stable and specifically adapted genotypes with respect to canning quality and drought tolerance, hasten the identification of molecular markers that are linked to canning-quality traits; and mainstream demand-led breeding in breeding programs to satisfy the market requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guangyou 151, derived from the three-line male sterile line Guangkang 13A with high rice-blast resistance and the restorer line Jianghui 151, was a new three-line hybrid rice variety developed by Sanming Academy of Agricultural Sciences. This variety had the characteristics of high yield, moderate rice-blast resistance, and high rice grain amylose content (27.8%), which was suitable for the processing of rice flour. It was registered and released for the commercial production by Fujian Crop Variety Approval Committee in 2022, with the approval number:Min Approved Rice 20220062. In this paper, the selection and breeding process, main characteristics, yield performance, and processing characteristics of Guangyou 151 were introduced, and the key points of cultivation and seed production technology were put forward, thus to provide theoretical basis for the further production, processing, popularization and application of this variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper expounded the current situation and genetic mechanisms of short-vine watermelon breeding from the aspects of material sources, breeding process and genetic characteristics of F1, hoping to provide a theoretical basis for short-vine watermelon breeding, and breeding materials for watermelon planting innovation, as well as new opportunities for high-quality and high-yield watermelon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyploidization is one of the important driving forces of speciation and crop domestication. Polyploidization is widely employed in the research and application of crops because it can greatly enrich the diversity in a very short period of time. Crop improvement using polyploidization has been successful in watermelon, cucumber, melon and other important Cucurbitaceae crops. Recent studies have shown that polyploids often have distinct environmental fitness advantages. With the increasingly serious of climate problems nowadays, improving the environmental adaptability of Cucurbitaceae crops via polyploidy has become one of the essential contents of Cucurbitaceae crop breeding. According to the genome composition, polyploids are divided into autopolyploids and allopolyploids. Most of the previous studies on Cucurbitaceae crops only focused on autopolyploid, and the understanding and research on allopolyploid were obviously lacking, which needed further development and utilization. Meanwhile, along with the advancement of genome sequencing technology and the rapid development of various omics and molecular biology technologies, many important progresses have been made in plant polyploidy research, which provides unprecedented opportunity for research on polyploidy-related mechanisms in Cucurbitaceae crops. This paper systematically reviewed the recent research and application on polyploidy in Cucurbitaceae crops, aiming to explore the development and future of polyploidy in the breeding of Cucurbitaceae crops, and providing a reference for the genetic breeding of cucurbit and other crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During thc past 30 yeart, Brasica napus L. has grown rapidly worldwide and thc emeraencc of a lar.c number of innovative rape varieties has provided tremendout suppori for ihe food, feed, biofuel and omamentat markets. This paper summarized the research on B. napus variete screening supporting cultivation techniques and breeding and utilization of fine varieties, and discussed the great potentiat oi screening planting and cultivating B. napus according to production goats in improving producâon tl'f'ieino-. providing a basis for bettet development and utilization of B. napus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tall fescue is a major species growing in temperate grasslands. It is a cool-season perennial native of Western Europe and used worldwide as forage for its quality and adaptability to various soils and climates. By its effects on germination and seedling growth, temperature affects the recruitment of individuals and, consequently, the genetic diversity of plant communities. Under most climate change scenarios, breeding cultivars adapted to new ranges of temperature will be necessary. Knowing the variability of the responses to temperature by different accessions is an essential first step towards such breeding. In this work, we (i) analyze the intraspecific variability of tall fescue in response to a constant temperature during germination and (ii) quantitatively describe the response curves. A sample of nine, from 128, accessions of tall fescue was evaluated. Four replicates of 100 seeds per accessions were tested for germination in the dark at eight constant temperatures ranging from 5 to 40 °C with increases of 5 °C. The germinability, lag to start and maximum germination rates were estimated. It was observed that the responses of tall fescue accessions were statistically different (p < 0.05). The optimal temperature for maximum germination ranged from 9 °C to 25 °C. Germination was not observed for any accession at 40 °C. The novelty of this work comes from the duration of the sampling period at low temperatures that was longer than in most published papers. Based on the responses to temperature during germination, our findings suggest that a high intraspecific genetic variability exists in tall fescue that merits further exploration. This variability should be useful to breed new cultivars adapted to the new environmental conditions imposed by the ongoing fast climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the history of flax breeding, the types, research methods, occurrence, and genetic mechanism of apomixis were reviewed. The development and genetic mechanism of apomixis in polyembryonic flax, the progress in inducing methods and other aspects was discussed by cytology, embryology, genetics, and molecular biology, etc., methods in this paper. The purpose of this study was to reveal the rules of apomixis and to improve the utilization efficiency of apomixis in breeding. The problems existing in apomixis breeding of polyembryonic flax and the research direction of apomixis of flax were put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to make an analysis of the evolution of the Aberdeen Angus breed in Romania. This research paper desire to be a first response to the many questions about accommodation, advantages, disadvantages, bio-acclimatization and profitability of the Aberdeen Angus cattle breed at national level, compared with the country of origin Scotland and with the countries with great success in raising this breed. The first embryo transfer was performed in 2000 and at the end of 2008 there took place the first cattle import of 120 heifers Aberdeen Angus breed from Germany. Now in 2019 we have in the Aberdeen Angus Romanian Herdbook 45.000 cattle in all area of Romania. During this research we noticed that the Aberdeen Angus breed is accommodating well in the Romanian pedoclimate conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a geographical framework for considering animal breeds as objects of knowledge and living entities, and uses it to explore how ideas of breed origin constitute breeds and affect interspecies relations, human relations and the making of value. It suggests how critical animal geographers could engage more fully with breeds and breeding through an expanded concept of breed wealth that includes the making of breeds as forms of "genetic capital" through the reproductive capacity of animals, the cultural value of breeds in terms of human collective identities and differentiations, and encounter value. This geographical approach to breeds and breeding involves not only engaging with the always situated nature of breed epistemologies, practices and relations, but also the geographical dimensions of what is predominately understood as a genealogically rather than spatially constituted category. A more‐than‐genealogical understanding of breeds draws attention to how place rather than pedigree alone is considered as constitutive of breeds, both in an evolutionary and immediate sense, despite the formal modern genetic definition of breeds and how geographical origination matters in the making of breed wealth across the multiple geographies of a breed as it is dispersed from its original "homeland." Addressing a national and international "love of a breed" – Icelandic horses which are defined as a national breed but are the focus of interest and enthusiasm both within and beyond Iceland – this paper explores how the ethical complexities of love, care and power are worked through in different ways across these geographies. Breed wealth, I argue, is a dynamic relational quality inflected by the meanings attributed to the place of breed origin. This paper offers a geographical approach to considering animal breeds in terms of how ideas of breed origin constitute breeds and affect interspecies relations, human relations and the making of value. It works through an expanded concept of breed wealth that includes the making of breeds as forms of "genetic capital" through the reproductive capacity of animals, the cultural value of breeds in terms of human collective identities and differentiations, and encounter value. Addressing a national and international "love of a breed" – Icelandic horses which are defined as a national breed but are the focus of interest and enthusiasm both within and beyond Iceland – this paper explores how the ethical complexities of love, care and power are worked through in different ways across these geographies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduced the breeding process, characteristics, yield performance, disease resistance, quality characters, and suitable production areas of the new early-maturing oil sunflower variety "Xin Kui No. 27", and summarized high-yield cultivation techniques based on large-area continuous cultivation demonstration to serve agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, two angel shark species, common angel shark Squatina squatina and smoothback angel shark Squatina oculata, were common in the upper continental shelf of the eastern Adriatic Sea. Although both species are considered critically endangered in the Adriatic and the rest of the world, there are almost no data on the current status of populations, threat assessment and species-specific in-situ conservation. Common angel shark is still present in highly fragmented areas of the eastern Adriatic with extremely rare but consistent records, while smoothback angel shark is mostly considered regionally extinct in the Adriatic due to overfishing and overuse of non-selective fishing gear. There have been only 3 published records of common angel shark this century, the last two of which were reported by fishermen. This paper presents data on 34 new finds, including neonates, juveniles, subadults and adults recorded between January 2020 and August 2021 in the Zadar-Šibenik archipelago (central Adriatic) and one in Premantura (northern Adriatic). Two are original findings during the field expedition, 9 were reported directly by local fishermen, while 23 were reported through a detailed questionnaire. Additionally, plausible breeding and/or nursery grounds between Zadar and Šibenik are discussed with their importance for revitalization and long- term conservation in situ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous improvements in human diet, there is an ever-increasing demand for high-quality chicken, so it is particularly important for poultry breeders to carry out the breeding of high-quality broilers in a timely fashion. Inosine monophosphate (IMP) is a flavor-enhancing substance, which plays a critical role in the umami taste of the muscle, making the content of IMP an important umami taste indicator. Currently, research on the deposition mechanism of IMP in chicken is not only necessary for chicken breeders to promote the production of high-quality meat and poultry but also to meet the human demand for chicken meat. In this paper, the research history of IMP, its structure and taste mechanisms, the pathway and influencing factors of de novo IMP synthesis, and the key genes regulating IMP synthesis and metabolism are briefly summarized. Our aim was to lay a theoretical foundation and provide scientific background and research directions for further research on high-quality broiler breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]