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Parthenocarpy and stenospermocarpy are the two mechanisms underlying the seedless fruit set program. Seedless fruit occurs naturally and can be produced using hormone application, crossbreeding, or ploidy breeding. However, the two types of breeding are time-consuming and sometimes ineffective due to interspecies hybridization barriers or the absence of appropriate parental genotypes to use in the breeding process. The genetic engineering approach provides a better prospect, which can be explored based on an understanding of the genetic causes underlying the seedlessness trait. For instance, CRISPR/Cas is a comprehensive and precise technology. The prerequisite for using the strategy to induce seedlessness is identifying the crucial master gene or transcription factor liable for seed formation/development. In this review, we primarily explored the seedlessness mechanisms and identified the potential candidate genes underlying seed development. We also discussed the CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing approaches and their improvements.

Anthocyanins, a major class of flavonoids, are important pigments of grape berries. Despite the recent discovery of the genetic cause underlying the loss of color, the metabolomic and molecular responses are unknown. Anthocyanin quantification among diverse berry color muscadines suggests that all genotypes could produce adequate anthocyanin quantities, irrespective of berry color. Transcriptome profiling of contrasting color muscadine genotypes proposes a potential deficiency that occurs within the anthocyanin transport and/or degradation mechanisms and might cause unpigmented berries. Genome-wide association studies highlighted a region on chromosome-4, comprising several genes encoding glutathione S-transferases involved in anthocyanin transport. Sequence comparison among genotypes reveals the presence of two GST4b alleles that differ by substituting the conserved amino acid residue Pro 171 -to-Leu. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that GST4b2-Leu 171 encodes an inactive protein due to modifications within the H-binding site. Population genotyping suggests the recessive inheritance of the unpigmented trait with a GST4b2/2 homozygous. A model defining colorless muscadines' response to the mutation stimulus, avoiding the impact of trapped anthocyanins within the cytoplasm is established., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

While horizontally transferred transposable elements (TEs) have been reported in several groups of plants, their importance for genome evolution remains poorly understood. To understand how horizontally transferred TEs contribute to plant genome evolution, we investigated the composition and activity of horizontally transferred TEs in the genomes of four Vitis species. A total of 35 horizontal transfer (HT) events were identified between the four Vitis species and 21 other plant species belonging to 14 different families. We determined the donor and recipient species for 28 of these HTs, with the Vitis species being recipients of 15 of them. As a result of HTs, 8-10 LTR retrotransposon clusters were newly formed in the genomes of the four Vitis species. The activities of the horizontally acquired LTR retrotransposons differed among Vitis species, showing that the consequences of HTs vary during the diversification of the recipient lineage. Our study provides the first evidence that the HT of TEs contributes to the diversification of plant genomes by generating additional TE subfamilies and causing their differential proliferation in host genomes.

Background/aim: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype, predominant in African American women. In this study, the antioxidant/anticancer activity of muscadine grape extracts and the role of their phenolic and flavonoid contents in exerting these properties were investigated in TNBC cells., Materials and Methods: Berry extracts from muscadine genotypes were investigated for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant capacity, and anticancer effects using breast cancer cell lines, representing Caucasians and African Americans., Results: The antioxidant activity was associated with high TPC content. Extracts showed cytotoxicity up to 78.6% in Caucasians and 90.7% in African American cells, with an association with high antioxidant capacity. There was a strong correlation between TPC and anticancer/antioxidant activities., Conclusion: The anticancer and antioxidant effects of muscadine grapes are attributed to the TPC of extracts, which showed a stronger positive correlation with growth inhibition of African American breast cancer cells compared to Caucasians., (Copyright© 2019, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

The article focuses on the development and characteristics of a new white wine grape cultivar called 'Blanc Du Soleil' developed by the Florida A&M University Grape Genetics and Breeding Program in collaboration with Texas A&M University. It is discussed that it is notable for its resistance to Pierce's disease and its successful adaptation to the climate of the Texas Gulf Coast and Florida Panhandle, resulting in the production of high-quality wine.