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Purpose. Study of the genetic nature of CMS lines as female components in the hybridization process; selection of the best breeding genotypes with high adaptive potential; establishment of the productivity of the obtained monogerm triploid hybrids on a sterile basis. Methods. The original forms were breeding genotypes from the collection of Verkhniaky Experimental Breeding Station: monogerm SM and CMS lines, obtained through individual selections from recombinant forms of foreign germplasm and aboriginal SM. Modern selection methods were used, specifically recombination, hybridization, and selection. Saturation, analysis and top crossings were carried out. Breeding genotypes were tested according to generally accepted methods. Results. According to the results of long-term research, the possibility of development of breeding lines from the cleavage products of foreign hybrids has been established. Based on the application of modern breeding methods, promising materials with a significant share of valuable genotypes with high adaptive potential and a broad genetic base were developed and selected. Using donors of recombinant initial forms, new CMS lines were developed, which, even under stressful environmental conditions, demonstrate high performance indicators when crossed with multi-germ pollinators of different genetic origin. Conclusions. The selection of the best CMS lines was carried out by the combination value and tolerance to biotic and abiotic factors. In the framework of research, with the aim of obtaining a higher effect of heterosis, new hybrids were developed with the use of female hybrid components of the CMS1 line and male multi-germ SM component of different origins. They are characterized by resistance to biotic and abiotic factors in different regions of the country. According to the results of ecological variety testing, experimental hybrids STs280823 and STs280828 with a sugar yield of 104.5 and 113.5% to the standard are recommended for state va

The potential performance of eggplant accessions (31 accessions: 21 cultivars from 7 countries worldwide and 10 hybrids from 5 countries) was evaluated and genotypes were screened and monitored in comparison with reference accessions for the potential performance traits: performance, average marketable fruit weight, and number of fruits per plant. 32 sources of performance indicators were identified. By the "performance " trait, the following accessions were selected: 5 breeding-valuable collection cultivars - 'Daejeon Puurple' (1,656 g/plant), 'Zelkilo' (1,701 g/plant), and 'Long Violet' (1,782 g/plant), which yielded more than the reference cultivar, 'Almaz' (1,506 g/plant) by 9.9-18.0%, and 2 F1 hybrids – 'Izumrudnyi' F1 (1,459 g/plant) and 'Mari' F1 (1,323 g/plant), which yielded more than the reference accession by 89.9 and 81.5%, respectively. The study confirmed the value of reference accessions in breeding for performance: 'Almaz' (X̄ = 1,506.33 g/plant) and 'Bibo' F1 (X̄ = 1,623.00 g/plant). By the "average marketable fruit weight" trait, 14 valuable sources were selected for the breeding of high-yielding large-fruited genotypes: 10 cultivars - 'Marafonets' (217 g), 'Vironik' (220 g), 'Universal-6' (229 g), 'Long Violet' (241 g), 'Chornyi Krasavets' (266 g), 'Xingyuun' (311 g), 'Helios' (322 g), 'Rosa Bianka di Catania' (330 g), 'Daejeon Puurple' (455 g), and 'Zelkilo' (526 g); and four F1 hybrids – 'Briska' F1 (941 g), 'Klorinda' F1 (676 g ), 'Gordita' F1 (563 g), and 'Izumrudnyi' F1 (392 g). The heaviest marketable fruit weight was recorded for Chinese cv. 'Zelkilo' (527 g) and Italian hyb. 'Briska' F1 (941 g), which was 187-287% heavier than in the reference accessions, respectively. Three cultivars and a Chinese hybrid in the collection had the lightest fruits (Turkish cv. 'Turkish Orange' (66.9 g) and two Chinese cvs. 'Hangqi No. 1-2' and 'Hangqi No. 1' (76.1 and 79.3 g, respectively) and hyb. 'Puurple Dragon' F1 (94.6 g)). These accessions c

CONTEXT: Early generation seed (EGS) production and delivery pathways are critical components of so-called formal seed systems, of principal importance in the release of improved varieties into national seed systems. Vegetatively propagated crops (VPCs), with clonal reproductive ability and considerable differences in production and dissemination patterns from sexually propagated crops, often challenge generalized assumptions about ‘business models’ for private sector-led EGS production. OBJECTIVE: We evaluate production trends and institutional arrangements for early generation ‘seed’ (stem cutting) production in the Greater Mekong Subregion of Southeast Asia to compare models, stakeholders, production pathways, and economic efficiency. We systematically document three cases of formal EGS production underpinning this globally important agricultural commodity, and contextualize their development in regional cassava production trends. We then interrogate whether the observed models support common assumptions in contemporary debates about how VPC seed system development, in particular the logic of public and private participation. METHODS: To contextualize EGS initiatives, we compiled district-level production data and processing factory locations from national sources across the Greater Mekong subregion, paired with data on varietal releases and international trade of cassava products. To evaluate institutional arrangements for cassava EGS production in this context, we conducted ten key informant interviews with stakeholders involved with three case studies in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Using a seed value chains framework, we compared institutional participation, seed multiplication practices, and partial budgets of each case. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The three cases represent diverse institutional arrangements that don't exhibit seed company-led, profit-motivated structures often recommended by experts. Despite the commercial nature of export-oriented Southea

Nickel is a crucial metal widely used in various industrial applications, such as lithium-ion batteries and stainless-steel production. The increasing demand for nickel and resource depletion challenges highlight the need for sustainable extraction methods. Agromining employs hyperaccumulator plants to extract nickel from soils that are either contaminated or naturally enriched in nickel. Bornmuellera emarginata is a nickel hyperaccumulator originating from Greece and a promising candidate for nickel agromining. This study aimed to identify suitable genotypes for a successful “domestication” breeding program, focusing on phenotypic traits. Seeds from 35 plants across six wild populations were cultivated under controlled conditions for 7 months to complete a full life cycle. In this period, growth parameters (e.g., plant height (PH), leaf size, and biomass) were determined. Geographically proximate populations displayed greater phenotypic similarity than those from distant locations. Substantial morphological variations, including PH (40–126 cm) and leaf length (6–13 cm), were observed. Nickel concentrations in plants ranged from 290 to 6250 mg kg−1 dry weight, resulting in nickel yields of 10–145 mg/plant. The notable phenotypic differences among genotypes provide a valuable biological resource for initiating a breeding program to enhance overall nickel yield in B. emarginata agromining crops. Selection and breeding efforts should prioritize genotypes with high biomass production and nickel concentrations. This research lays the foundation for targeted breeding to optimize the potential of B. emarginata in nickel agromining.

Camelina sativa, an ancient oilseed crop from Brassicaceae family, has gained attention for its potential in food technology. Archaeobotanical analyses reveal it was the only oilseed cultivated in Serbian archaeological sites from 3rd to 6th CE. Camelina is recognised for its unique fatty acids profile, being low in erucic acid, which makes it applicable as food and feed. On top of that, camelina is rich in polyunsaturated fats, particularly alpha-linolenic acid (up to 50%). Camelina's main use was in biofuels, although camelina holds promise for food industry. Research conducted at the Serbian Institute of field and vegetable crops (IFVCNS) focuses on enhancing camelina's traits to meet the growing demand for sustainable and nutritious food sources. By advancing camelina's breeding, we seek to optimise key attributes such as increased oil and protein content, improved oil quality with favourable fatty acid profiles, and reduced levels of anti-nutrients. These improvements aim to position camelina as valuable ingredient in the food industry. To assess stability of seed yield and oil content, we evaluated two promising camelina lines (L1, L2) across 12 diverse environments (E1-E12). Our results indicate significant variations in performance based on sowing time, with spring-sown lines generally outperforming winter-sown ones. While environments E1-E6 excelled in oil content (40-46%), E10 showed the lowest oil production (29%). Environment E5 emerged as the optimal location for high and stable seed and oil yield. As partner of the CARINA project consortium, IFVCNS is at the forefront of exploring innovative uses of camelina. Our high-quality camelina seed and biomass will be exploited for active compounds extraction. Polysaccharides from camelina cake are being evaluated as stabilizing agent for formulations in food-supplements, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. New methods for polysaccharides extraction that are more energy-efficient and operate without chemica

Sugar beet ranks as the second most important sugar crop globally, after sugarcane, with an estimated global production of 183.51 million metric tons in 2023-2024. Contributing 20–25% of the world’s total sugar output, sugar beet plays a significant role in the global sugar industry. Europe leads in sugar beet cultivation, producing around 50% of the global supply. In addition to its importance in sugar and bioethanol production, sugar beet pulp is highly valued as a feed supplement for gestating and lactating cows, known for its high energy content and digestibility. It can also replace roughage in finishing diets. Beet tailings provide essential nutrients for livestock, particularly cattle. Beyond agriculture, sugar beet is used in chemical production, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional petrochemical sources.

With climate change significantly affecting crop production, a need for introduction of innovative methods and tools into breeding programs emerged. Furthermore, breeding for abiotic stress resistance, especially drought tolerance, is complex and it requires taking a comprehensive approach and combination of classic and modern tools. The Center of Excellence for Innovations in Breeding of Climate-Resilient Crops – Climate Crops gathers researchers from different backgrounds with the same aim of creating climate-resilient crops. Since the establishment of the Center, multi-omics approach has been used, with focus on epigenetics, an emerging field in genetics, to help us identify mechanisms of fast crop adaptation to stress. Moreover, the cutting-edge phenotyping and sensing tools for the identification of traits associated with stress tolerance and early identification of stress resilience have been introduced into crop selection processes. This in combination with mutation breeding and genome editing, complimenting classical breeding is expected to pave the way for a new era in breeding and creating innovative solutions for 21st century crop breeding and cultivation.

Conserving, accessing, studying, diversifying, sharing, improving and utilizing crop genetic resources systematically, adequately and sustainably is a key for addressing pressing challenges related to the changing climate and farmers’ needs. A drastic on-farm decline in both special and varietal diversity has made agroecosystems unsustainable and vulnerable to changing climate, being incapability to adapt to current production needs. On the other hand, a vast plant genetic material stored in many collections and gene banks worldwide requires a lot of different resources to be eventually put in use and is, despite the numerous past and ongoing research efforts, still largely untapped. In the last decades, the region of the Southeastern Europe has been facing severe and frequent drought events, heat waves, hail storms, floods and uneven distribution of rainfall, as well as biotic stressors, such as new crop pathogens and their races. To address these challenges, IFVCNS has been exploring diversity of cereal genetic resources kept in its large collections containing wild relatives, landraces, obsolete varieties, modern varieties and breeding material within several national and international projects. Molecular diversity studies, using SSR and SNP markers, revealed ancestral relationships and relatedness of local wheat, barley and maize to germplasm from other parts of the world. Microsatellite analyses combined with the multi-year field data allowed detection of marker-trait associations suitable for marker-assisted selection for yield-related traits, quality and nitrogen-use efficiency traits. Data from field and controlled environments were obtained by implementation of modern available phenotyping instruments and use of phenotyping platforms for physiological measurements and identifying genotypes with salt and heat stress tolerance. IFVCNS was a testing site of a large European network for quantify the breeding value of the introgressed wheat landrace alleles with

Edamame je nezrelo zrno soje koje predstavlja popularnu grickalicu u Japanu i često se služi uz pivo. Visok nivo glutaminske kiseline u edamamu pruža prirodnu umami aromu koja savršeno dopunjuje gorčinu hmelja. Cenjen je zbog svojih nutritivnih prednosti, uključujući visok sadržaj proteina i bogatstvo bioaktivnih jedinjenja kao što su izoflavoni, esencijalne aminokiseline i antioksidansi, što sve doprinosi njegovoj nutritivnoj vrednosti i senzornoj privlačnosti. Međutim, trenutna proizvodnja edamame u Evropi je ograničena, pri čemu se većina useva uvozi iz azijskih zemalja. Kako potražnja za zdravim grickalicama nastavlja da raste širom Evrope, postoji značajna prilika za oplemenjivanje edamame prilagođene evropskim agro-klimatskim uslovima i tržištu. Napori u selekciji su usmereni na razvoj novih linija koje su dobro prilagođene ovim uslovima, sa fokusom na genetsko unapređenje osobina vezanih za prinos, kvalitet i nutritivni sadržaj, kako bi se zadovoljile potrošačke preferencije za ukusom i hranljivim vrednostima. U ovom istraživanju korišćena je senzorna evaluacija za analizu više od 60 genotipova edamame i senzorskih karakteristika koje su favorizovali potrošači, što je pomoglo u uspostavljanju kriterijuma za selekciju u oplemenjivanju. Senzorni podaci dobijeni iz ispitivanja ukusa (slatko, kiselo, slano, gorko, umami, orašasto i pasuljasto) korišćeni su za određivanje genotipova sa najboljim performansama na osnovu percepcije potrošača. Senzorna evaluacija se pokazala kao efikasan alat za usmeravanje oplemenjivača u povećanju tržišne privlačnosti i razvoju novih sorti edamame., Edamame, the immature soybeans harvested before they ripen, is a popular snack in Japan and is often served alongside beer. The high levels of glutamic acid in edamame provide a natural umami flavor that complements the bitterness of hops. It is valued for its nutritional benefits, including high protein content, rich in bioactive compounds such as isoflavones, essential amino acids, and antioxidants, all of which contribute to its nutritional value and sensory appeal. However, current edamame production in Europe is limited, with the majority of the crop being imported from Asian countries. As the demand for health-conscious snacks continues to rise across Europe, the potential for breeding edamame tailored to European climates and markets presents a significant opportunity. Breeding efforts have focused on developing new lines that are well-adapted to European agro-climatic conditions, emphasizing the genetic improvement of traits related to yield, quality, and nutritional content to meet consumer preferences for flavor and nutrition. In this study, sensory evaluation was employed to analyse more than 60 edamame genotypes and the sensory characteristics favored by consumers, aiding in the establishment of breeding selection criteria. The sensory data obtained from the screening study (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami, nutty and beany) were used to determine the top-performing genotypes based on consumer perception. Sensory evaluation serves as an effective tool for guiding breeders in enhancing market appeal and developing new edamame varieties.

Changes are inevitable! Changes in climate must be accompanied by changing strategies in breeding. Now more than ever breeders need to anticipate and accelerate sunflower breeding toward creating hybrids that can withstand current and future environmental changes in order to meet oil crop demand. At the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, we are exploiting one of the greatest collection detection and introduction of desirable traits. Within the project “Creating climate smart sunflower for future challenges” (SMARTSUN), grant number 7732457 funded by Science Fund of Republic of Serbia through IDEAS call, we have identified root traits associated with drought tolerance aiming to introduce them in our commercial breeding material. Root as a primary organ for water uptake has been heavily neglected in sunflower breeding programs, thus this research enabled its expansion. Future studies will include the identification of drought-resistant epiQTLs and epigenetic-targeted resistance genes and the creation of markers for their detection in marker-assisted selection.

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) contributes to global food security through the supply of high-quality vegetable protein. China is the center of soybean origin, but soybean adaptation to European environments is important for mitigating climate change effects through increasing of domestic production in order to serve the growing need for plant-based protein in food production. Due to the short breeding history of European soybeans, a comparative analysis of genetic diversity and adaptational potential of Chinese and European elite cultivars would support future breeding initiatives. Therefore, 140 early maturity elite soybean cultivars of either Chinese or European origin were both genotyped (200K SNP array, SSR marker set, E-gene composition at E1-E4 loci) and evaluated across 17 European environments spanning a latitude range from 45 to 52°N. Genotyping results were revealing a clear differentiation between elite cultivars of either European or Chinese origin, and the level of diversity was similar between the two regions. Unique SSR alleles and E-haplotypes were found for both populations which demonstrates the preservation of genetic variation through a continuous selection for specific adaptation. European cultivars appear to be roughly based on two major ancestral lines, and genotypes are markedly structured along maturity groups due to regional adaptation needs. In contrast, Chinese cultivars trace back to a larger number of ancestors reflecting the rich background diversity present in soybeans from China. Wild-type alleles at E-loci significantly delayed flowering, and effects of particular E-alleles were clearly depending on geographic latitude. Photoperiod-insensitive E-haplotypes carrying non-functional E-alleles proved to be suitable for cultivation in higher latitudes of Europe with longer day-length, whereas photoperiod-sensitive late-maturity E-haplotypes are adapted to southern latitudes with respect to flowering time exclusively. The results sugge

Creating wheat varieties with high yield potential is a comprehensive task due to its highly quantitative and polygenic nature, and low heritability. Selection based on different yield components may contribute to increasing genetic gain and avoiding yield plateaus. The availability of high-throughput molecular tools, along with the continuous development of wheat sequence databases, opened a new era for dissecting grain yield. The aim of this study was to perform a genome-wide association analysis for agronomically important traits on a set of 261 accessions originating from 30 countries worldwide, across three growing seasons in Southeast Europe, using the 90 K iSELECT chip. Eight yield-related traits: plant height (PH), peduncle length (PL), spike length (SL), spike weight (SW), spikelet number per spike (SNSP), grain number per spike (GNSP), grain weight per spike (GW), and thousand grain weight (TGW) were evaluated. Three multivariate GWAS models (BLINK, FarmCPU, and MLMM) revealed a total of 157 statistically significant associations (LOD>5.4) across the whole wheat genome. The highest number of associations was detected for the B genome (58%) specifically for chromosomes 1B (17%) and 7B (15%). Among 17,093 SNPs remained after filtering markers with >10% missing data and MAF <5%, 21 SNPs showed associations stable for different models/environments. Two SNP markers, RAC875_c6905_776 (1B) and D_contig21046_677 (2D), showed positive effects on SNSP, and explained around 12-17%, of phenotypic variation (PVE) for this trait. The SL was positively correlated with locus IAAV8416 (5B), with a small PVE of 1%. In contrast, the SNP marker from chromosome 3B, Kukri_c48750_1372, showed a negative effect on this yield component, with an average PVE of about 16%. The highest number of stable QTLs was detected for PH and PL. Two SNPs from the A genome, BobWhite_c2001_586 (5A) and wsnp_Ex_c31149_39976066 (6A), showed a pleiotropic effect on PH and PL.

New pathways in grain breeding and the cultivation of nutritionally enriched crops are imposed by the world's population expansion and trends in food and feed production, which encourage the use of functional foods with potential health benefits. A sustainable turnkey system that produces highquality, nutritionally rich crops may be achieved by a new generation of genotypes of cereals and legumes, such as soybean and maize, that have optimal physical and chemical properties along with higher antioxidant levels due to the presence of polyphenols and anthocyanins. Generating the new research avenue called “nutribreeding” is part of the CREDIT Vibes project funded by the European Commission.

Genomics-assisted breeding is a revolutionary approach to crop improvement, using advanced genomic tools and technologies to accelerate and improve the efficacy of breeding programs. Combining novel methodologies and applications of genomics with traditional breeding for crop improvement aims to address global agricultural and food security challenges. In this way, breeders can identify and select desirable traits more effectively, accelerating the development of high-yielding, disease-resistant, climate-resilient, adaptive and stable crop varieties. Technological advancement in the area of genomics and the development of genomic resources have made genomics-assisted breeding a cost-effective and time-saving method. The use of high throughput sequencing technologies, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genomic selection (GS) and genome editing (GE) enables the identification of genetic markers linked to agronomically important traits, facilitating marker-assisted selection (MAS), enabling breeders to predict the performance of breeding lines more accurately and offering the capacity to enhance breeding efficiency. Case studies will illustrate the practical applications of genomics-assisted breeding in cereal, legume, and oilseed species at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops (Novi Sad, Serbia), demonstrating benefits such as improved yield and increased resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. Moreover, the challenges and future directions in this field, including the need for more extensive genomic resources, the integration of multi-omics data and speed breeding, and ethical considerations will be addressed.

In the early phases of a maize breeding program, numerous new genotypes are assessed across field trial locations to identify the best performers for advancement to subsequent stages. The best ones are identified to proceed to the next phase so that, in the final stages of the breeding program, a small number of superior hybrids are tested in pre-registration and post-registration field trials across different locations. In 2020, field trials using a partially replicated design were conducted, with each genotype being replicated twice per location. The trials included 176 hybrids derived from crosses between different S2 progenies with an elite inbred tester. These trials aimed to identify top-performing genotypes using a linear mixed model. The factor analytic (FA) model is a powerful statistical tool used in maize breeding for analyzing genotype-by-location (G×L) interactions. The FA model assumes that observed performance of genotypes in different locations can be explained by a few latent factors. In our study, the FA model was employed to address the heterogeneity of genetic variance among locations and the genetic covariance between pairs of locations. Given the high degree of heterogeneity in our trial data, the FA model approach provided precise predictions of G×L effects. The FA model with one latent factor identified as the best-fitting model, explaining approximately 80% of the G×L interaction. The resulting genetic correlation matrix indicated moderate to high positive correlations among the locations. Utilizing the FA(1) model, the most promising genotypes regarding grain yield and yield stability were identified.

In recent years, overcoming the negative impact of climate change on the oil crops productivity and creating tolerant genotypes have become one of the strategic goals in agriculture. Climate change has different effects in different agroecological conditions, which requires the creation of different genotypes, adapted to the specific environmental conditions and tolerant to the predominant stresses still having appropriate adaptability and stability. Sunflower breeders are thus using all available resources and tools to increase genetic variability, and mine for desirable traits and genes for creating productive genotypes in stressful conditions. At the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, we are currently combining different –omics approaches for extensive characterization of our breeding material for abiotic stress resilience. By exploiting transcriptomics, we will be able to identify desirable tolerance genes, while phenomics will help get more insight into genotype-environment interactions which is essential in crop breeding. Combining different approaches will facilitate tailored breeding for a particular environment and help create new generation sunflower hybrids ready to face new challenges

This study aims to optimize non-edible crops for cultivation on marginal lands. Modern biotechnology tools are combined with tailored agronomic practices to achieve this goal, focusing on low inputs and efficient water use. To increase resource use efficiency, the following activities are designed: a) identifying optimized, resource-efficient varieties for marginal lands, b) developing modern biotechnology tools for industrial crops, and c) implementing tailored agronomic practices. Advanced breeding material for specific non-edible industrial crops has been developed in breeding programs through EU research projects (GRACE, MAGIC, OPTIMISC, MultiHemp, SUNLIBB, and FIBRA) and national/multinational projects. Several advanced high yielding genotypes with increased tolerance to different abiotic factors have been evaluated in order to be registered as new varieties/hybrids suitable for marginal lands with low inputs (water / fertilizers). The following crops: hemp, miscanthus, crambe, and castor bean were grown on multi location trials in Greece, Italy, Spain, and Serbia as part of MIDAS project. Optimal agricultural practices (improved varieties/hybrids, different irrigation and fertilization rates, and/or plant densities) were applied in order to evaluate the phenology, biometric and agronomic performances, as well as yield quantity and quality. Advanced breeding tools, including marker assisted selection – MAS, genome editing, and speed breeding, were used to further develop elite material. These advanced tools help produce improved varieties and hybrids to meet the future needs of agricultural production.

Climate change pose a significant threat to maize production. In the last decade, we have experienced severe drought, floods, supercell storm and a heat dome. As a consequence, in some years the grain yield was dramatically reduced due to lack of precipitations, the grain quality was compromised due to presence of mycotoxins, in some years the yield was lost due to lodging but in some others due to extreme heat and drought. The improved growing solutions are the powerful adaptation measure, but the development of maize hybrids capable to cope with these challenges is of crucial importance. Traditional maize breeding have contributed to significant increase in grain yield, and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress. We have identified hybrids tolerant to drought and grain mycotoxin accumulation, tolerant to stalk and root lodging caused by high wind speed, and tolerant to extreme heat and drought occurring at the same time. In the years to come, climate change will determine the breeding programs, but some traits, such as grain yield, tolerance to heat and drought, stalk and root quality and tolerance to mycotoxin accumulation will remain at the breeder’s top priority. However, longer time needed for conventional hybrid development could be an obstacle to quick response of maize breeders to dynamic environmental changes. Integration and use of new generation technologies will increase the precision, efficiency and speed in development of climate resilient hybrids.

Field multienvironment yield trials are conducted to enable the selection of the most successful genotypes. This is critical due to the existence of genotype by environment interaction. In general, data can be considered of high quality if it is suitable for its intended use, ie. if it enables the selection of superior genotypes. As it is a very demanding process in terms of the engagement of financial, material and personnel resources, it is of crucial importance to make this process as efficient as possible. In this sense, "data cleaning" is of great importance in order to ensure reliable statistical processing and the main function of the trials themselves, the selection of superior genotypes. It is generally accepted that even up to 30% of the data can be replaced by a calculated value without significant loss of quality. Additional information about potential non-representative data values can be obtained from Box plot analysis. A good researcher spends more than 75% of his time collecting and cleaning data and developing a hypothesis, and only up to 25% on actually processing statistical data and deriving results. The experiments themselves are performed at several levels where each subsequent level differs qualitatively from the previous one in terms of a larger plot, more repetitions, and a larger number of locations, with a smaller reduction in the number of hybrids being tested, providing a more reliable decision.

Oilseeds such as camelina and rapeseed are cultivated primarily for their high-quality oil. The oil de-rived from both crops is characterized by a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, phenols, and vitamin E. The camelina and rapeseed oils are applied in various branches of industry including food, pharmaceutical, chemical, and for obtaining biofuels. These oilseeds synthesize a significant amount of protein. These oilseeds play a major role in addressing the growing issue of protein deficit in the diets of people worldwide because of their high protein content. Efforts in breeding are essential to develop genotypes with high yield and protein content, while also maintaining high oil content and ensuring adaptability to climatic changes. During 2022/2023, various genotypes of rapeseed and ca-melina were grown in the experimental fields of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops Novi Sad in order to select varieties with ideal attributes. Among these, genotype NS Svetlana exhibited the highest oil content of 44.85 %, whereas genotype NS Dunav demonstrated the highest protein content of 24%. While camelina generally presented lower oil content compared to rapeseed, Genotype III stood out with a maximum oil content of 37.82%. Camelina also displayed significantly higher protein content than rapeseed. Protein content in camelina reached 26.59% in the case of Genotype I.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is one of the most widely cultivated oilseed crop globally, providing oil for cooking, food products, and industrial applications, as well as contributing to agricultural diversification and economic development in many regions. In addition to numerous biotic factors that create problems in growing sunflower, record temperatures and unfavorable distribution of precipitation present increasingly challenging conditions for successful production. Sunflower breeding for both, abiotic (non-living environmental factors) and biotic (living organism- related), limiting factors involves a combination of traditional breeding methods and modern biotechnological approaches. It is a dynamic and multidisciplinary process that requires ongoing research and adaptation to evolving agricultural and environmental conditions. Abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, as well as biotic stresses like pests and diseases, are common challenges for sunflower cultivation. Innovative research on sunflower, such as the SmartSun project, is implementing modern technologies for precise phenotyping, along with genotypic and epigenetic research, in order to examine the mechanisms of sunflower adaptation to extreme abiotic factors, primarily drought, which are increasingly frequent phenomenon. By using a platform for automatic analysis of the architecture of the root system for plants grown in rhizotrons, the morphology and anatomy of the roots is being analyzed. Data obtained by root phenotyping and gene expression analysis will be used for epigenetic analysis - sRNA and lncRNA. Using mathematical and statistical processing of data obtained from analyses will provide insight into a consolidated response to drought tolerance that can be used in breeding.

Soybean is a crop of major economic and environmental importance. Due to its broad importance, there is a need for developing long-term breeding strategies based on state-of-theart technologies that involve breeding predictive tools. Genomic prediction (GP), highthroughput phenotyping prediction (HTPP), and Fourier transformed near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (FT-NIRS) are selected as the three main pillars for predictive models because they reflect certain parts of soybean plant biology. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data describes molecular differences between genotypes, while NIR spectra can be considered as surrogates for overall tissue chemical composition and reflect the culmination of physiological processes, and HTPP can detect subtle differences in canopy growth and developmental changes. Implementation of these prediction models through their compilation has the potential for application in a cost-effective manner. Estimating the accuracy and effectiveness of each specific model and describing their interaction is an essential step in understanding the complicated relationships between yield predictors. For that purpose, two sets of field trials are established to simulate the real breeding evaluation process (early and late-stage panels). For prediction model compilations, several strategies are used. The first strategy treats all data sets equally, while the second and third approaches take into account data set hierarchy and the application of different algorithms. Using all the strategies for combining prediction models should provide an answer to whether it is possible to improve the precision and accuracy of soybean phenotype prediction within and between environments as a key indicator for increasing genetic gain.

Whole genome sequences (WGS) of 185 North American Thoroughbred horses were compared to quantify the number and frequency of variants, diversity of mitotypes, and autosomal runs of homozygosity (ROH). Of the samples, 82 horses were born between 1965 and 1986 (Group 1); the remaining 103, selected to maximize pedigree diversity, were born between 2000 and 2020 (Group 2). Over 14.3 million autosomal variants were identified with 4.5-5.0 million found per horse. Mitochondrial sequences associated the North American Thoroughbreds with 9 of 17 clades previously identified among diverse breeds. Individual coefficients of inbreeding, estimated from ROH, averaged 0.266 (Group 1) and 0.283 (Group 2). When SNP arrays were simulated using subsets of WGS markers, the arrays over-estimated lengths of ROH. WGS-based estimates of inbreeding were highly correlated (r > 0.98) with SNP array-based estimates, but only moderately correlated (r = 0.40) with inbreeding based on 5-generation pedigrees. On average, Group 1 horses had more heterozygous variants (P < 0.001), more total variants (P < 0.001), and lower individual inbreeding (FROH; P < 0.001) than horses in Group 2. However, the distribution of numbers of variants, allele frequency, and extent of ROH overlapped among all horses such that it was not possible to identify the group of origin of any single horse using these measures. Consequently, the Thoroughbred population would be better monitored by investigating changes in specific variants, rather than relying on broad measures of diversity. The WGS for these 185 horses is publicly available for comparison to other populations and as a foundation for modeling changes in population structure, breeding practices, or the appearance of deleterious variants.

Asynchroner Schlupf bezeichnet das zeitlich gestaffelte Schlüpfen innerhalb eines Geleges und tritt häufig bei Vögeln in unbeständigen Umgebungen auf. In dieser Studie untersuchen wir die Asynchronität im Schlupf beim Schneesperling (Montifringilla nivalis). Alle Daten wurden in den Brutsaisons 2022 und 2023 in einer Nistkastenpopulation entlang der Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße erhoben. Für die Nestlinge wurden Schlupfzeitpunkte und Gewicht während der Nestling Periode erfasst, ebenso wie die Umweltbedingungen an den Neststandorten. Wir nahmen an, dass ungünstige Bedingungen um die Legezeit zu einer verstärkten Asynchronität im Schlupf führen würden. Zusätzlich erwarteten wir bei stärker ausgeprägter Asynchronität zum Schlupfzeitpunkt später größere Gewichtsunterschiede zwischen Geschwistern, die sich je nach Umweltbedingungen und Fütterung verstärken oder abschwächen würden. Der Schlupf in den von uns untersuchten Schneesperlingsbruten dauerte von einem bis zu 2.5 Tagen, was vergleichbar mit Daten zu anderen Sperlingsvögeln ist. Wir konnten keine signifikanten Auswirkungen der von uns untersuchten Umweltbedingungen während der Legezeit auf die Asynchronität feststellen. Gelege mit höherer Asynchronität zeigten wie erwartet größere Unterschiede im Gewicht der Nestlinge. Unabhängig vom Grad der Asynchronität in einem Nest, konnten alle Nestlinge ein ähnliches Maximalgewicht erreichen, was an günstigen Umwelt- und so auch Fütterungsbedingungen in unserem Untersuchungszeitraum liegen könnte. Die Ergebnisse machen deutlich, dass die Asynchronität im Schlupf beim Schneesperling auch in Jahren mit ungünstigen Bedingungen besser erforscht werden muss, da solche Jahre sehr wahrscheinlich mit dem Klimawandel zunehmen werden. Es wird angenommen, dass die Asynchronität im Schlupf sich unter solchen Bedingungen anders auf die Entwicklung und das Überleben der Nestlinge auswirkt., Hatching asynchrony, the staggered hatching of eggs within a clutch is a common phenomenon of birds coping with unpredictable environments. This study examines the relationships between hatching asynchrony and environmental conditions with its impact on nestling development in the alpine species white-winged snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis). Data were collected from a nestbox population along the Grossglockner high alpine road during the 2022 and 2023 breeding seasons. For all nestlings hatching dates and body mass development during the nestling period were recorded and important environmental conditions were included. We hypothesized that hatching asynchrony in a clutch would be higher under adverse environmental conditions. Additionally, we supposed that greater hatching asynchrony would lead to increased developmental gaps between siblings and that those gaps would increase or decrease further depending on environmental conditions and feeding. Our results showed that hatching asynchrony in snowfinches ranged from less than a day to 2.5 days which compares to other passerines. No significant effects of environmental conditions during laying on hatching asynchrony were found. Clutches with higher initial hatching asynchrony exhibited greater variation in nestling body mass as expected. The nestlings reached similar weights independent of the degree of hatching asynchrony, which might be explained by good feeding conditions during our study period. These findings highlight the importance of investigating hatching asynchrony in years of adverse environmental conditions, which are likely to increase for snowfinches due to climate change. Hatching asynchrony might then impact nestling development and survival differently., Davina Knoll, Zusammenfassung in deutscher Sprache, Die Arbeit fußt auf dem gleichnamigen Artikel, Masterarbeit Universität Innsbruck 2024

The melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a widely cultivated species globally, with significant economic importance thanks to the diversity of shapes, flavours and colours its different varieties. These characteristics not only give it great commercial value, but also position it as a crop of interest for both agricultural and scientific purposes. An essential process in the development of any fruit is ripening, which makes it possible to generate and disperse seeds to perpetuate the genetics of the species. In melon there are two types of ripening, the climacteric and non-climacteric; the climacteric one is characterised by the production of an ethylene peak and an increase in cellular respiration, while the non-climacteric lacks these characteristics. This contrast makes the melon a promising organism to study the fruit ripening process. With the objective of studying the genes responsible for the melon fruit ripening, in this project a fine mapping of the quantitative trait locus (QTL) MAK.10-1 has been carried out. Through an F2 derived from an introgression line (IL) MAKR40 obtained through the enhancement of the 'Ginsen makuwa' (Makuwa) and 'Védrantais' (Ved) varieties, we will seek to delimit the region of the genome involved in the delay in ripening. To develop the fine mapping near 5000 individuals from the F2 population were germinated and genotyped, obtaining 48 F2 recombinant individuals in the QTL region by using flanking markers. The recombinant individuals were imported into the greenhouse for the fruit development and were phenotyped for ripening-related characters. The analysis of the recombinants allowed to delimit the QTL region to 150 kb, where 20 genes are found. Some of these have been studied in greater depth, and several potential candidates involved in the regulation of climacteric ripening of melon are suggested. This project provides a basis for future research on the climacteric ripening of melo and the genetic harvest, with potential applications, El meló (Cucumis melo L.) és una espècie àmpliament cultivada a nivell global, amb una significativa importància econòmica gràcies a la diversitat de formes, aromes i colors que presenten les seves diferents varietats. Aquestes característiques no sols li atorguen un gran valor comercial, sinó que també la posicionen com un cultiu d'interès tant per a l'àmbit agrícola com a científic. Un procés essencial en el desenvolupament de qualsevol fruit és la maduració, la qual permet generar i dispersar les llavors per a perpetuar la genètica de l'espècie. En el meló existeixen dos tipus de maduració, la climatèrica i no climatèrica; la climatèrica es caracteritza per produir un pic de l'hormona d'etilè i augmentar la respiració cel·lular, mentre que la no climatèrica manca d'aquestes característiques. Aquest contrast fa del meló un organisme prometedor per a estudiar el procés de maduració del fruit. Amb l'objectiu d'estudiar els gens responsables de la maduració del fruit del meló, en aquest projecte s'ha realitzat un mapatge fi del locus de caràcter quantitatiu (QTL) MAK.10-1. A través d'una segona generació filial (F2) derivada d'una línia de introgressió (IL) MAKR40 obtinguda mitjançant l'encreuament de les varietats 'Ginsen makuwa' (Makuwa) i 'Védrantais' (Ved), es va buscar delimitar la regió del genoma implicada en el retard de la maduració. Per al desenvolupament del mapatge fi es van fer germinar i es van genotipar uns 5000 individus de la població F2, obtenint 48 individus F2 recombinants a la regió del QTL mitjançant l'ús de marcadors flanquejants. Els individus recombinants es van emportar a hivernacle per al desenvolupament del fruit i es van fenotipar caràcters relacionats amb la maduració. L'anàlisi dels recombinants va permetre delimitar la regió del QTL a 150 kb, on es troben 20 gens. Alguns d'aquests han estat estudiats en major profunditat, i s'ha arribat a suggerir diversos candidats potencials implicats en la regulació de la maduració climatèrica del m, El melón (Cucumis melo L.) es una especie ampliamente cultivada a nivel global, con una significativa importancia económica gracias a la diversidad de formas, aromas y colores que presentan sus distintas variedades. Estas características no solo le otorgan un gran valor comercial, sino que también la posicionan como un cultivo de interés tanto para el ámbito agrícola como científico. Un proceso esencial en el desarrollo de cualquier fruto es la maduración, la cual permite generar y dispersar las semillas para perpetuar la genética de la especie. En el melón existen dos tipos de maduración, la climatérica y no climatérica; la climatérica se caracteriza por producir un pico de la hormona etileno y aumentar la respiración celular, mientras que la no climatérica carece de dichas características. Este contraste hace del melón un organismo ideal para estudiar el proceso de maduración del fruto. Con el objetivo de identificar los genes responsables de la maduración del fruto del melón, en este proyecto se ha realizado un mapeo fino del locus de carácter cuantitativo (QTL) MAK.10-1. A través de una segunda generación filial (F2) derivada de una línea de introgresión (IL) MAKR40 obtenida mediante el cruce de las variedades 'Ginsen makuwa' (Makuwa) y 'Védrantais' (Ved), se buscó acotar la región del genoma implicada en el retraso de la maduración. Para el desarrollo del mapeo fino se hicieron germinar y se genotiparon unos 5000 individuos de la población F2, obteniendo 48 individuos F2 recombinantes en la región del QTL mediante el uso de marcadores flanqueantes. Los individuos recombinantes se llevaron a invernadero para el desarrollo del fruto y se fenotiparon caracteres relacionados con la maduración. El análisis de los recombinantes permitió acotar la región del QTL a 150 kb, donde se encuentran 20 genes. Algunos de estos han sido estudiados en mayor profundidad, y se ha llegado a sugerir varios candidatos potenciales implicados en la regulación de la maduración climatéri, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum Responsables, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::8 - Treball Decent i Creixement Econòmic

Lettuce is the most highly consumed raw leafy vegetable crop eaten worldwide, making it nutritionally important in spite of its comparatively low nutrient density in relation to other vegetables. However, the perception of bitterness caused by high levels of sesquiterpenoid lactones and comparatively low levels of sweet tasting sugars limits palatability. To assess variation in nutritional and taste-related metabolites we assessed 104 members of a Lactuca sativa cv. Salinas x L. serriola (accession UC96US23) mapping population. Plants were grown in three distinct environments, and untargeted NMR and HPLC were used as a rapid chemotyping method, from which 63 unique Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) were identified. We were able to identify putative regulatory candidate genes underlying the QTL for fructose on linkage group 9, which accounted for up to 36 % of our population variation, and which was stable across all three growing environments; and for 15-p-hydroxyyphenylacetyllactucin-8-sulfate on linkage group 5 which has previously been identified for its low bitterness, while retaining anti-herbivory field effects. We also identified a candidate gene for flavonoid 3,5- hydroxylase underlying a polyphenol QTL on linkage group 5, and two further candidate genes in sugar biosynthesis on linkage groups 2 and 5. Collectively these candidate genes and their associated markers can inform a route for plant breeders to improve the palatability and nutritional value of lettuce in their breeding programmes.

Scots pine blister rust is a rust fungal pathogen that has become more noticeable in recent years and has increased in recorded incidence in Northern Scandinavia. This has prompted an initiation of resistance breeding to the fungus in the Northern Swedish pine breeding program. To accomplish this, it is necessary to evaluate the breeding potential for increased resistance and putative impact on other breeding objective traits that may have genetic correlations to resistance. To assess the potential of the trait to be included in the breeding program we examined half sibling families in four trials of which two had high incidence of Scots pine blister rust in a range of 25.4–42.1 %. We assessed vitality and height in one year and rust lesion frequency at two later time points. We found that rust resistance had a narrow sense heritability of 0.36–0.41, while vitality reached 0.17 and height 0.25. We found a high genetic correlation between sites in rust resistance and no genetic correlation between rust resistance and either vitality or height. This means that breeding for increased resistance in Scots pine can be done effectively without risking a negative impact on established breeding objective traits and that resistance is stable across environments.

Tomatoes represent one of the most economically significant agricultural crops at the beginning of the 21st century. The total production of tomatoes in the world is around 186 million tons, with a value of 195 billion dollars. Such a high value of production justifies high investments in tomato breeding, as well as a creation of a large number of hybrids and varieties. Conventional methods of breeding are based on the creation of new genetic variability through hybridization, phenotypic evaluation, and selection of the obtained hybrids or selection of inbred, pure lines in order to create new varieties. In breeding programs, the emphasis is placed on the yield and quality of the fruits. The application of modern methods of breeding, should improve the resistance of tomatoes to biotic and abiotic factors of the environment, especially in conditions of pronounced climate change. In recent decades, innovative breeding methods and techniques have included marker-assisted selection, induction of double haploids, application of the male sterility system in the production of hybrid seeds, and high-throughput genotyping (SNP array or genotyping-by-sequencing) in order to determine QTLs/genes and associated SNP markers. Genome editing and genomic selection technologies appear as the last step, which should provide increase of efficiency and speed up the tomato breeding process itself.

Parasitoid wasps are haplodiploid insects, but polyploidy (diploid males, triploid females) occurs for many species. In biological control, polyploidy may have beneficial effects on desirable biological related traits. However, this is only possible in species for which polyploidy does not impair essential biological functions, as in for instance species with Complementary Sex Determination (CSD), where inbreeding drives sterile diploid male production and extinction risk. Notably, while CSD polyploidy is better studied, most biological agents are non-CSD species. This includes model Nasonia vitripennis, a blowfly parasitoid that can be purposefully made polyploid and then produces a high number of reproductive polyploid individuals. To test baseline non-CSD polyploid utility, an outbred polyploid N. vitripennis transformer knockdown line (tKDL) was established and assayed for relevant traits for considering polyploids as biological agents. Male diploidy and female triploidy increased head width, a body size proxy. Polyploidy increased unmated lifespan in diploid males, but decreased it in triploid females. In first matings, haploid and diploid males had equal fecundity, but sperm depletion assays revealed reduced diploid male fitness overall. Triploid females had a reduction in parasitization ability. This reduced male fecundity and female parasitization in tKDL suggest that polyploid Nasonia parasitoids have limited direct use in biological control, particularly in this outbred background. They are possibly more suitable for preparative applications, such as retaining alleles with sex-specific benefits.

Capsule: Tracked Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus breeding in Spain winter either in the southern parts of the Iberian Peninsula or in Morocco, although migration timing and distances did not differ between birds using different wintering regions. Aims: To study, for the first time, the migratory patterns of Hen Harriers breeding in Spain. Methods: Eight breeding adult Hen Harriers were tagged in Spain with GPS/GSM transmitters between 2019 and 2022 to study autumn and spring migration between breeding areas in central or northern Spain, and wintering quarters in southern Spain and Morocco. Results: Males and females did not differ significantly in their patterns of migration (dates for start and end of migration, duration, daily distance, and total distance) in either migratory period. Individuals started the autumn migration between July and January, with the peak migration in mid-October. Spring migration took place from February to April and peaked in mid-March. Mean (± sd) distances travelled were: daily distance 168.99 ± 80.10 km/day and total distance 995.07 ± 402.90 km in autumn, and 141.74 ± 41.41 km/day and 1035.26 ± 593.51 km in spring. Two types of migration patterns were found: intra-peninsular migration and migration to Morocco. Migration dates and distances did not differ significantly between individuals with intra-peninsular migration strategies and those migrating to Morocco. Conclusion: These results are the first to describe the migratory behaviour of Spanish breeding Hen Harriers using satellite telemetry. Knowledge of migratory routes and behaviour are important for planning the conservation of species

Introduction: Syringomyelia (SM) is a heritable disorder causing a fluid filled cavity (FFC) in the spinal cord with a reported overall prevalence of 39 to 46% in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS). Breeders started screening their CKCS with MRI in the Netherlands since 2004 and in Denmark since 2015. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of MRI-based selection in breeding on the prevalence of SM. Method: MRI scans of 2,125 purebred CKCS were available. SM was defined as having a visible FFC in the spinal cord. The prevalence of SM per year of birth was calculated, and a logistic regression was used to evaluate the affected status of offspring from affected versus unaffected parents and age category of the parent and study the combined effect of parental status and age-category to evaluate the effect on the affected status of the offspring. Results: The mean FFC in affected CKCS was 2.03 ± 1.47 mm and ranged from 0.5 to 9 mm (median of 1.5 mm). An age effect exists as older CKCS, which has a higher frequency of being affected compared with younger CKCS. There was no significant sex predilection for SM in this dataset. The mean prevalence of SM decreased slightly from 38% (2010–2014; 2.8 ± 1.3 years of age (mean ± sd); median 2.6 years) to 27% (2015–2019; 2.4 ± 1.2 years of age; median 2.1 years) in the screened population of CKCS (p = 4.3e-07). Breeding with two affected parents increased the odds ratio with 3.08 for producing affected offspring (95% CI 1.58–6.04) compared with breeding with unaffected parents. Discussion: MRI-based screening and selection against SM led to a minimal decrease in the prevalence of SM in the Dutch and Danish CKCS population. Breeding with dogs with SM significantly increases the risk of affected offspring. As the disorder is progressive with age, and based on the results of this study, MRI-based screening for all CKCS is recommended at an age of 3 years or older, and to reduce SM more effe

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is the fourth most important oil crop worldwide grown in almost all continents. Ever since climate change started causing significant seed and oil yield in sunflower, breeders widened their breeding programs into breeding for abiotic stress resistance. Designing climate-smart sunflower will help maintain and desirably increase existing seed and oil yields and also enable a more stable oil source for the already shaken oil market. Drought is one of the most important abiotic stress interfering with crop growth and development. Sunflower is especially sensitive to drought at germination, anthesis and achene-filling phenophases. Overall, drought can lead to up to 51% yield loss which is why it is imperative to identify and create drought-tolerant genotypes, as well as mine for drought-tolerance genes and traits to accelerate the sunflower breeding process. Through different projects financed by the European Commission and the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia researchers from the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops have undertaken a comprehensive approach to mine for drought-tolerant traits, mainly root traits as well as to examine genetic and epigenetics mechanisms of drought stress tolerance. We have exploited different phenotyping tools for the identification of drought-tolerant sunflower genotypes and associated traits such as in vitro screening and rhizothrons. Further studies will be oriented toward examining the transcriptome and epigenome of the most tolerant and sensitive sunflower genotypes.

Oplemenjivanje suncokreta je kontinuirani proces dizajniran da poveća nivo prinosa i poboljša otpornost na biotičke i abiotičke stresove. Oplemenjivači su bili uspešni u proizvodnji velikog broja sorti koristeći konvencionalne metode oplemenjivanja koje se razlikuju u zavisnosti od vrste. Pojava novih tehnika, kao što je genomska selekcija i izmena genoma, zajedno sa efikasnim platformama za fenotipizaciju, utrle su put efikasnijem unošenju poželjnih osobina. Novi pristupi u genotipizaciji i fenotipizaciji omogućili su efikasnije prikupljanje podataka za identifikaciju kvantitativnih svojstava i objašnjenje genetske osnove agronomski važnih osobina. Stvaranje genotipova suncokreta otpornih na promene klime može doprineti ublažavanju negativnog uticaja koje poljoprivredna proizvodnja ima na životnu sredinu, poput intenzivnog iskorišćavanja voda i emisije gasova staklene bašte, dok s druge strane obezbeđuje resurse za stabilnu poljoprivrednu proizvodnju. U radu je dat pregled novih pristupa i koraka u oplemenjivanju suncokreta i stvaranju genotipova tolerantnih na promene klime, uz osvrt na aktivnosti u Institutu za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo vezane za njihovu primenu u NS oplemenjivačkom programu., Sunflower breeding is a continuous process designed to increase yield levels and improve resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Breeders have been successful in producing a large number of varieties using conventional breeding methods that vary by species. The emergence of new techniques, such as genomic selection and genome editing, together with efficient phenotyping platforms, have paved the way for more efficient introduction of desirable traits. New approaches in genotyping and phenotyping have enabled more efficient data collection to identify quantitative traits and explain the genetic basis of agronomically important traits. The creation of sunflower genotypes resistant to climate change can contribute to mitigating the negative impact that agricultural production has on the environment, such as intensive water depletion and greenhouse gas emissions, while on the other hand providing resources for stable agricultural production. The paper provides an overview of new approaches and steps in sunflower breeding and the creation of genotypes tolerant to climate changes, with a review of the activities at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops related to their application in the NS breeding program.

Tomato consumer liking results from the interaction between the fruit's characteristics and human senses, shaped by diversity among consumers regarding physiology, culture and past consumption experiences. Rather than a unique preference, consumers can be segmented into different sensory clusters (sensoclusters). This study investigates European consumer preferences for general-supermarket tomatoes and compares them with preferences for renowned landraces in local markets. Based on the results of two focus groups, online surveys were designed to collect consumer preferences related to fruit external and internal appearance, ripening stage, odor, flavor and texture attributes. Preferences obtained from 2333 consumers revealed the existence of different sensoclusters. For the General Survey five sensoclusters were identified, and according to the sensory attributes enriched in each the profiles "tasty tomato" (22.9% of the surveyed population), "cherry-sweet tomato" (11.3%), "light-flavor tomato" (21.6%), "beefsteak-tomato" (31.2%), and "unripen tomato" (12.0%) were described. The most discriminant sensory attributes were the ripening stage, taste intensity, sweetness, typical tomato odor, hollowness, juiciness, and skin perception. General consumer preferences were also identified, such as the preference for fruits with calyx (75.4%), uniform green shoulder (73.1%), and medium sweetness (64.9%). For Bulgarian Oxheart and Valenciano landraces we identified three and two sensoclusters, respectively, indicating the need to diversify breeding efforts to meet consumers' expectations. By contrast, Montserrat landrace consumers are mostly included in a single sensocluster. Sensoclusters presented in this work can be translated in sensory ideotypes for plant breeding programs, with the aim of targeting specific consumer segments., Postprint (published version)

Horses were brought to the Faroe Islands by Norse settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries. Over the centuries, the geographical remoteness in the North Atlantic Ocean forced these horses to adapt to their surroundings. Only the horses that could withstand the weather survived, and the Faroe Islands became home to a horse breed that was small, strong, hardy, and agile. The small horses were used by farmers for agricultural purposes and occasionally for transport between villages. Most of them roamed the mountains all year and no targeted breeding took place. The oldest record available of horses on the Faroe Islands is from 1857, which counted 844 horses with 396 mares, and 476 foals and stallions. Exportation of the horses to coal mines in Britain combined with modernization of the agriculture on the Faroe Islands, resulted in a breed that nearly went extinct. By the 1960s, there were less than ten horses of the breed left alive. A rescue operation was initiated, and suitable horses for breeding were used, however many of them were already related. All Faroese horses alive today, are descendants of only four individual horses. In 1978, the Faroese Horse Association (Felagið Føroysk Ross) was established to conserve the Faroese indigenous horse breed and they have kept a studbook ever since. In 2018, the online pedigree registration system Føroya Fongur was created, in which online access is provided to the studbook with extensive information about the Faroese horse breed. By the end of 2023 there were 82 living Faroese horses. The breed can thank their survival to the hard work and dedication from individual horse owners and enthusiast through the years, and through the work of the Faroese Horse Association. You could say that the conservation of the Faroese horse this far is a success story as the breed has managed to survive and increase in numbers over the years. However, there are still several big challenges and threats facing this small and hardy breed. There i

This manual summarizes the existing techniques on the induced breeding, seed production, and culture of the African catfish based on surveys done in Iloilo, Philippines. SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department will present a standardized way of breeding and culturing the African catfish under captive conditions, but will not encourage growing them in natural freshwater habitats. Previous data have shown that their presence in lakes adversely affects the population of other indigenous species and may lead to a loss of biodiversity.

Methane emissions will be added to many national ruminant breeding programs in the coming years. Little is known about the covariance structure of CH4 traits over a lactation, which is important for optimizing recording strategies and establishing optimal genetic evaluation models. Our aim was to study CH4 over a lactation using random regression (RR) models, and to compare the accuracy to a fixed regression repeatability model under different phenotyping strategies. Data were available from repeated measurements of CH4 concentrations (ppm) recorded in the feed bins of milking robots on 52 commercial dairy farms in the Netherlands. In total, 36,370 averaged weekly records were available from 4,664 cows. Genetic parameters were estimated using a fixed regression model, and a RR model with first- to fifth-order Legendre polynomials for the additive genetic and within-lactation permanent environmental effect. The mean heritability (± SE) was 0.17 ± 0.04, and the mean within-lactation repeatability was 0.56 ± 0.03. The genetic correlations between DIM were high and ranged from 0.34 ± 0.36 to 1.00 ± <0.01. Permanent environmental correlations showed large deviations and ranged from −0.73 ± 0.08 to 1.00 ± <0.01. With a large number of full lactation daughter CH4 records per bull, the reliability was not sensitive to using the fixed versus the RR model. However, when shorter periods were recorded at the start and end of the lactation, the fixed regression model resulted in a loss of reliability up to 28% for bulls. Assuming the fixed model when the true (co)variance structure is reflected by the RR model, more than twice as long of a recording from the start of lactation was required to achieve maximum reliability for a bull. Thus, a too simplistic model could result in implementing too little recording, and in lower genetic gains than predicted from the reliability.

Among the effects of wide-ranging climate change, drought presents a significant threat to global agricultural production. Drought reduces yield quantity and quality of crops, particularly in the semi-arid and arid regions. Sunflower is known for its moderate tolerance to water stress conditions thanks to its well-developed root system and ability to grow in different agroecological conditions. However, prolonged exposure to drought significantly reduces sunflower seed and oil yields, impacting global oil quality. Drought stress in sunflower mostly occurs during the seedling stage, vegetative phase or reproductive phase. Understanding the mechanisms and factors influencing drought tolerance is essential for developing resilient sunflower capable of sustaining agricultural productivity in the face of climate variability and water scarcity. Therefore, breeding for drought tolerance is an economical, feasible, and environmentally friendly control method However, it requires the use of the unexploited approach in sunflower research due to the complexity of the trait. Initially, determination of the genetic diversity existing within and between sunflower species remains the basis for elucidating of the genetic structure and for improvement of traits, including drought tolerance. Manipulation of this diversity to improve drought tolerance among sunflower genotypes may be achieved through selection of adaptive mechanisms that include drought escape, avoidance and tolerance. The breeding tools and technologies for drought tolerance are based on so-called “-omics” techniques, including phenomics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics. Phenomics refers to a quantitative description of the plant's morphological, anatomical, ontogenetic, physiological, and biochemical properties. Recent advancements in phenomics, facilitated by highthroughput phenotyping tools, empower researchers to explore multivariate phenotypic information. Utilizing mainly no

Providing food for the growing population is a challenging task, however, with historical agricultural practices, we can’t meet the food requirement of the world population. We are in the need to adopt modern technology to overcome adverse climatic and cultural challenges, which are faced by current generation, that is Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is the booming technology in the agriculture, which uses different sensors and neural networks and uses resources minimally based on need and predict the coming obstacles, which causes huge loss to crop. This review explain is, various applications of AI in the sustainable agriculture for crop managemen by overcoming realtime challenges and importance of AI in agriculture by comparing with traditional methods.

Wheat is the staple plant species for production food and end food products for nutrition of majority world populations. The constraints of natural resources and an increase of human population, require increasing arable land for plant cultivation and improving crop yield for security of food. Existing limitations present a challenge to breeders to use classical and new biotechnological methods to create new varieties with higher yield, better quality and greater resistance to stress conditions. In addition, during cultivation, it is necessary to apply adequate crop nutrition and protection of crops from diseases and pests with mineral fertilizers in order to increase crop resistance and reduce the negative impact of stress factors, thus increasing yields., Pšenica je osnovna biljna vrsta za proizvodnju hrane i krajnjih prehrambenih proizvoda za ishranu većine svetske populacije. Ograničenja prirodnih resursa i povećanje ljudske populacije, zahtevaju povećanje obradivog zemljišta za uzgoj biljaka i poboljšanje prinosa i kvaliteta za sigurnost hrane. Postojeća ograničenja predstavljaju izazov oplemenjivačima za korišćenje klasičnih i novih biotehnoloških metoda za stvaranje novih sorti sa većim prinosom, boljim kvalitetom i većom otpornosti na uslove stresa. Osim toga, u toku gajenja, neophodno je primeniti adekvatnu ishranu useva i zaštitu useva od bolesti i štetočina mineralnim djubrivima u cilju povećanja otpornosti useva i smanjenje negativnog uticaja faktora stresa, a na taj način i povećanje prinosa.

To overcome the different challenges to food security caused by a growing population andclimate change, soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) breeders are creating novel cultivars that have thepotential to improve productivity while maintaining environmental sustainability. Genomic selection(GS) is an advanced approach that may accelerate the rate of genetic gain in breeding using genome-wide molecular markers. The accuracy of genomic selection can be affected by trait architectureand heritability, marker density, linkage disequilibrium, statistical models, and training set. Theselection of a minimal and optimal marker set with high prediction accuracy can lower genotypingcosts, computational time, and multicollinearity. Selective phenotyping could reduce the numberof genotypes tested in the field while preserving the genetic diversity of the initial population. Thisstudy aimed to evaluate different methods of selective genotyping and phenotyping on the accuracyof genomic prediction for soybean yield. The evaluation was performed on three populations:recombinant inbred lines, multifamily diverse lines, and germplasm collection. Strategies adoptedfor marker selection were as follows: SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) pruning, estimation ofmarker effects, randomly selected markers, and genome-wide association study. Reduction of thenumber of genotypes was performed by selecting a core set from the initial population based onmarker data, yet maintaining the original population’s genetic diversity. Prediction ability using allmarkers and genotypes was different among examined populations. The subsets obtained by themodel-based strategy can be considered the most suitable for marker selection for all populations. Theselective phenotyping based on makers in all cases had higher values of prediction ability comparedto minimal values of prediction ability of multiple cycles of random selection, with the highestvalues of prediction obtained using AN approach and 75% population

Bacterial canker, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv syringae (Pss), is a serious disease of stone fruit orchards causing severe yield reductions and the death of entire trees. To analyze the response and to identify novel sources of Pss resistance in our rootstock breeding program, we used a novel, rapid and reliable leaf disk pathogenicity test to screen pre-breeding material constituted by interspecific hybrids of plum/peach/almond (‘AGAF’/‘ADAGAF’) or sweet cherry (‘PACIR’) species and commercial rootstocks with two Pss strains. Some ‘AGAF’/ ‘ADAGAF’ and all ‘PACIR’ rootstocks showed lower susceptibility than commercial rootstocks to Pss strains used. The reduced symptoms displayed by the ‘PACIR’ hybrids with Prunus lannesiana and P. incisa as genomic background suggest that these species could be novel sources of genetic resistance to Pss within the Cerasus subgenus. Histological and candidate gene expression analysis suggest a multi-tiered immune response of Prunus species to Pss attack with a higher callose deposition and activation of molecular mechanisms that would restrict the bacteria infection and help to maintain a better redox homeostasis and performance of ‘Marianna 2624′, a plum resistant genotype. Identification of Prunus species with resistance to Pss and the analysis of their immune response are the first step towards characterizing the underlying genetic mechanisms of resistance and introducing these traits into commercial germplasm.

Sunflower seeds are key agricultural commodities due to their nutritional and industrial value. This study aimed to analyze the distribution of targeted bioactive compounds and assess the physical properties across 27 sunflower seed genotypes, including parental lines and F1 and F2 hybrids, cultivated in Serbia. Various analytical techniques were employed to determine the chemical composition and physical characteristics of the seeds. This research revealed significant genetic variability in fatty acid profiles, with differences in polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acid levels among the genotypes. Hybrid seeds displayed variations in 1000-seed weight and bulk density compared to parental lines, which exhibited higher essential fatty acid contents and mechanical properties advantageous for industrial processing. These insights highlight the potential for refining breeding strategies to improve seed quality for specific industrial purposes. Overall, this study emphasizes the critical role of genetic selection in enhancing the nutritional and processing qualities of sunflower seeds, offering valuable perspectives for advancing agricultural and breeding practices.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) breeding for biotic and abiotic challenges is a dynamic and multidisciplinary process that requires ongoing research and adaptation to evolving agricultural and environmental conditions. It plays a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability and productivity of sunflower crop worldwide, as an important source of edible oil for human consumption. Sunflower is host for large number of pathogenic microorganism that can cause a significant reduction in yield such as Plasmopara halstedii, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Verticillium dahliae, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium spp. etc. Another important biotic threat on sunflower is certainly the parasitic plant broomrape (Orobanche cumana) which is one of the most important breeding topic worldwide. Breeding process typically combines traditional breeding methods and modern biotechnological tools to enhance the efficiency and precision of the breeding process. It is aimed to identify and incorporate genes or traits associated with resistance or tolerance to certain biotic stress and utilize molecular markers linked to genes associated with. Abiotic stress tolerance involves selection and development of genotypes that can withstand and thrive in unfavourable environmental conditions such as drought, salinity, high temperatures, etc. In that regard, effective sunflower breeding is aimed at combining phenotypic data with genotypic information for more effective selection via utilizing advanced phenotyping technologies to accurately assess plant performance under different stress conditions. In addition, work on increasing and maintaining the existing genetic diversity in sunflower gene banks is essential for long-term resilience against evolving biotic and abiotic stresses.