Search

DNA-binding with one finger (Dof) proteins comprise a large family that play central roles in stress tolerance by regulating the expression of stress-responsive genes via the DOFCORE element or by interacting with other regulatory proteins. Although the Dof TF has been identified in a variety of species, its systemic analysis in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is lacking and its potential role in abiotic stress responses remains unclear. A total of 36 potential Dof genes in potato were examined at the genomic and transcriptomic levels in this work. Five phylogenetic groups can be formed from these 36 Dof proteins. An analysis of cis-acting elements revealed the potential roles of Dofs in potato development, including under numerous abiotic stress conditions. The cycling Dof factors (CDFs) might be the initial step in the abiotic stress response signaling cascade. In potato, five CDFs (StCDF1/StDof19, StCDF2/StDof4, StCDF3/StDof11, StCDF4/StDof24, and StCDF5/StDof15) were identified, which are homologs of Arabidopsis CDFs. The results revealed that these genes were engaged in a variety of abiotic reactions. Moreover, an expression analysis of StDof genes in two potato cultivars ('Long10′ (drought tolerant) and 'DXY' (drought susceptible)) of contrasting tolerances under drought stress was carried out. Further, a regulatory network mediated by lncRNA and its target Dofs was established. The present study provides fundamental knowledge for further investigation of the roles of Dofs in the adaptation of potato to drought stress, aiming to provide insights into a viable strategy for crop improvement and stress-resistance breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tahitian (or Polynesian) chestnut Inocarpus fagifer is distributed widely in tropical South-East Asia and in the Pacific region. It is an important component in traditional agroforestry systems. However, its importance as a food plant has decreased considerably. There is no evidence that the species has ever been domesticated, nor that deliberate breeding and crop improvement is presently taking place. This article aims to provide an overview of the current status of knowledge about its distribution, biology, its past and current cultivation and use as a species in agroforestry systems, and to analyse its future potential for production, commercial use and plant improvement. Inocarpus fagifer grows in lowlands in coastal and near coastal areas, often along rivers. It often forms almost pure stands underneath the canopy trees. Inocarpus fagifer trees are very vigorous and shade-tolerant. They thrive in moist to wet soils. Nearly all parts of the tree have been used for multiple purposes including timber, medicine, and animal fodder. The seed has significant traditional importance as human food, and it plays an important role in the diets of rural communities, in particular during the crop harvesting season. Inocarpus fagifer is mostly disease-free. Reports about the commercial use of I. fagifer remain localised and largely anecdotal. The species retains a good potential for commercial development and for a wider commercial use as an alternative food source. No accessible genebank accessions are available. Fundamental questions on its marketability and genetic potential need to be answered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The future global food security depends on the availability of water for agriculture. Yet, the ongoing rise in nonagricultural uses for water, such as urban and industrial uses, and growing environmental quality concerns have increased pressure of irrigation water demand and posed danger to food security. Nevertheless, its severity and duration are predicted to rise shortly. Drought pressure causes stunted growth, severe damage to photosynthesis activity, loss in crop yield, reduced seed germination, and reduced nutrient intake by plants. To overcome the effects of a devastating drought on plants, it is essential to think about the causes, mechanisms of action, and long-term agronomy management and genetics. As a result, there is an urgent need for long-term medication to deal with the harmful effects of drought pressure. The review focuses on the adverse impact of drought on the plant, physiological, and biochemical aspects, and management measures to control the severity of drought conditions. This article reviews the role of genome editing (GE) technologies such as CRISPR 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) related spaces and short palindromic relapse between proteins in reducing the effects of phytohormones, osmolytes, external compounds, proteins, microbes (plant growth-promoting microorganism [PGPM]), approach omics, and drought on plants that support plant growth. This research is to examine the potential of using the microbiome associated with plants for drought resistance and sustainable agriculture. Researchers also advocate using a mix of biotechnology, agronomic, and advanced GE technologies to create drought-tolerant plant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing global demands for agricultural goods will require accelerated crop improvement. High-throughput genomic, phenomic, enviromic and other multi-omic data collection methods have largely satisfied data acquisition bottlenecks that previously existed within crop breeding and management. Fully capitalizing on large, high-dimensional datasets has now evolved as a new challenge. Artificial intelligence (AI) is currently the foremost solution. Types of AI with the capacity to learn (machine learning), such as neural networks, can better facilitate the translation of data into useful predictions by bypassing the limitations of human expert-driven learning. The potential for applying AI to major crop improvement methods has already been demonstrated with preliminary successes shown using deep learning for genomic selection, feature selection for enviromics, ensembles and knowledge-based AI for crop growth modeling, computer vision and convolutional neural networks for phenomics, and unsupervised machine learning for multi-omics. Other types of neural networks including transformer, recurrent, encoding decoding, and generative networks as well as symbolic (non-learning) AI such as robotic process automation, expert systems, and inductive logic programming are also reviewed to contextualize the rapidly changing AI field. Overall, AI has shown strong potential to leverage data for a variety of crop improvement tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular markers are effective tools used to 'flag' the location of a specific gene or the inheritance of a definite trait. Markers are unique DNA fragments that can be identified inside the entire genome. The development of molecular markers combined with high throughput technologies have paved the way for achieving the desirable traits as well as induced biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in plant, which enhanced the crop breeding. Highly polymorphic molecular markers are developed for gene mapping, estimation of genetic diversity, finding out the evolution and phylogeny of crop, analysis of heterosis, assessment of diploid/haploid crops and genotyping of cultivars along with Marker Assisted Breeding (MAB)/Marker Assisted Selection (MAS). These are the most significant objectives for crop breeding. This review reveals about the role of various recently developed molecular markers in the improvement of crop. Molecular markers act as a "milestone" for the researchers who aim to enhance crop breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant crops serve as essential sources of nutritional sustenance, supplying vital nutrients to human diets. However, their productivity and quality are severely jeopardized by factors such as pests, diseases, and adverse abiotic conditions. Addressing these challenges using innovative biotechnological approaches is imperative for advancing sustainable agriculture. In recent years, genome editing technologies have emerged as pivotal genetic tools, revolutionizing plant molecular biology. Among these, the CRISPR–Cas9 system has gained prominence due to its unparalleled precision, streamlined design, and heightened success rates. This review article highlights the profound impact of CRISPR/Cas9 technology on crop improvement. The article critically examines the breakthroughs, ongoing enhancements, and future prospects associated with this cutting-edge technology. In conclusion, the utilization of CRISPR/Cas9 presents a transformative shift in agricultural biotechnology, holding the potential to mitigate longstanding agricultural challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the rising requirement for food production, by 2050, it is necessary to increase global production two-fold, necessitating the growth of new crop varieties. However, this process is time-consuming, largely determined by the crop's generation period. To address this challenge, Speed Breeding (SB) technology leverages controlled environmental conditions to accelerate plant development, allowing for the multiplication of many generations per year. SB also allows for the integration of advanced protocols such as gene editing, phenotyping, and genotyping accelerating crop improvement. SB has been effectively applied to various crops, including cereals, pulses and canola crops, producing 4–6 generations in a year. With its application to a wide range of crops and lower labor requirements than breeding methods, SB offers a practical and efficient option for crops with large populations. Speed breeding has come up as a highly efficient and potent method for rapidly developing new plant varieties. Notable successes have been achieved in crops like cereals, oilseed and vegetables where new cultivars have been developed with desirable attributes such as more protein content, disease resistance, salt tolerance and drought tolerance. Overall, speed breeding offers an accessible and transformative option for crop improvement, which will definitely help in global agricultural demand and mitigate the result of climate alteration on agriculture. This review provides a glance of SB's activities across various crops and its significance in the current context of crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of metabolite modification and species-specific metabolic pathways has long been recognized. However, linking the chemical structure of metabolites to gene function in order to explore the genetic and biochemical basis of metabolism has not yet been reported in wheat (Triticum aestivum). Here, we profiled metabolic fragment enrichment in wheat leaves and consequently applied chemical-tag-based semi-annotated metabolomics in a genome-wide association study in accessions of wheat. The studies revealed that all 1,483 quantified metabolites have at least one known functional group whose modification is tailored in an enzyme-catalyzed manner and eventually allows efficient candidate gene mining. A Triticeae crop-specific flavonoid pathway and its underlying metabolic gene cluster were elucidated in further functional studies. Additionally, upon overexpressing the major effect gene of the cluster TraesCS2B01G460000 (TaOMT24), the pathway was reconstructed in rice (Oryza sativa), which lacks this pathway. The reported workflow represents an efficient and unbiased approach for gene mining using forward genetics in hexaploid wheat. The resultant candidate gene list contains vast molecular resources for decoding the genetic architecture of complex traits and identifying valuable breeding targets and will ultimately aid in achieving wheat crop improvement. Chemical-tag-based semi-annotated metabolomics combined with genome-wide association studies facilitates gene identification and specialized metabolic pathway elucidation in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Browntop millet (Brachiaria ramose (L.) Stapf.), is an important small millet crop. It can thrive in variety of climates, uses limited amount of water for growth and development and has high minerals and fibre. As the genetic diversity in any crop species is crucial for crop improvement, present study was aimed at evaluating the diversity present in the germplasm accessions by measuring 13 morphological traits across 27 accessions of browntop millet. The data revealed significant variations between the accessions for each of the traits that were examined. GCV and PCV were observed to be more for the trait panicle width and it was found less in case of days to maturity. The difference in GCV and PCV was very narrow for panicle width indicating least influence of surrounding environment which was further supported by high value of broad sense heritability. While grain yield per plant recorded highest heritability with GAM. Grain yield per plant showed significant positive correlation with plant height, number of panicles per plant, panicle length, peduncle length, flag leaf width and flag leaf length. Principal component analysis revealed 88.73 per cent of total variation was from grain yield per plant, total panicle weight per plant, panicle width and flag leaf length comprising the accessions viz., namely IC617956, IC613546, VBT 002, TNBr 016 and IIMR BTL. The study identified best accessions for different traits based on correlation and multivariate analysis that could be of further use in the browntop millet breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little millet is an important small millet grown mostly in India. The availability of genetic variability is a critical requirement for crop improvement. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and correlation study was undertaken in a set of 28 little millet genotypes to estimate genetic diversity, association pattern among seven quantitative traits and to select suitable genotypes for crop improvement. In cluster analysis, the genotypes were classified into three distinct clusters, each with one or two subgroups. Cluster I had the major genotypes with comparable ancestry, followed by Cluster II. The total variance was split into seven major principal components, with the top two PCs with eigenvalues greater than one accounting for 82.57% of the overall variation. PC1, which explained a larger part of the variance (58.05%), was strongly influenced by days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, number of productive tillers per plant, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield. PC2 was primarily influenced by plant height and fodder yield. PCA and association analysis revealed a significant positive association between grain yield and the number of productive tillers per plant, 1000-grain weight, plant height. These traits would be useful for direct selection for little millet crop improvement. In both cluster analysis and PCA, the genotypes DHLM 14-5, IIMR LM-8004, NDL LM1, TNPSu 242, VS 33, WV 168, DPLN 1 and VS 38 displayed diversity, implying that these lines may be used in crossing programme to generate further genetic variability to select suitable transgressive segregants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study involved assessment of genetic variability and trait association of seed yield and its component traits in 20 EMS-derived stable mutant lines of black aromatic rice. The traits grain yield / plant, harvest index, effective tillers and biological yield/ plant recorded maximum GCV and PCV. Heritability estimates ranged from 67 percent for total number of tillers/ plant to 99 percent for days to 50 percent flowering. The trait grain yield per plant revealed high heritability (>80%) coupled with high advance in genetics (>50%). The traits fertile spikelets per panicle, effective tillers/ plant, biological yield, panicle length, and plant height were significantly and positively correlated with grain yield. The path analysis revealed maximum positive direct effects of fertile spikelets per panicle, harvest index, biological yield, grain length and effective tillers on grain yield indicating the selection of these traits for efficient crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) stands as a important cereal sustaining over half of the world's population. This study delves into the challenges confronting breeders in the realm of crop improvement, specifically focusing on the intricate task of designing an ideotype--a genotype amalgamating diverse attributes for optimal performance. Traditional methodologies, exemplified by the Smith--Hazel (SH) index, grapple with issues such as multicollinearity and the complexities of economic weighting decisions. In response to these challenges, the Multi-Trait Genotype--Ideotype Distance Index (MGIDI), conceptualized by Olivoto and Nardino (2021), emerges as a ground breaking approach. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) aids in the reduction of trait dimensionality, revealing four key factors that collectively contribute to 79.444% of total variability. The Scree plot guides factor selection, ensuring a targeted analysis. The MGIDI index computation yields a total genetic gain of 273.025%, with specific traits like spikelet fertility and seedling dry weight exhibiting significant gains. Six high-performing rice accessions--SM227, NLR33892, MTU3626, 239(3), SMB3, and 405C3 were identified through MGIDI. These identified genotypes serve as valuable resources for developing recombinant populations, aligning with sustainable and effective crop improvement strategies. Additionally, these promising varieties exhibit strengths across various traits, offering potential for simultaneous trait improvement in future breeding programmes. The efficiency of MGIDI is highlighted through its innovative application in simultaneous trait selection, underscoring its significance across a wide range of crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation comprising 36 diverse cauliflower genotypes along with three checks were raised during winter season of 2021-22 to study genetic variability, association between different characters, and direct and indirect effects of component traits to formulate selection criteria for utilization in crop improvement programme. The analysis of variance indicated exitance of sufficient genetic variability for all morphological and yield traits taken for the study. High PCV and GCV were reported for marketable curd weight, net curd weight and stalk length. Similarly, high heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for gross plant weight, marketable curd weight and curd solidity which indicates that these traits can be easily improved through simple selection. Correlation and path coefficient analysis revealed that gross plant weight, net curd weight, curd size index, curd solidity, plant frame and stalk length could be considered as the best selection parameters for evolving high yielding cauliflower genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carotenes have been identified as the most essential carotenoids in the human body, together with lycopene, lutein, and β-cryptoxanthin due to their beneficial antioxidant activities. Because of these properties, we have designed and conducted in 2018--2021 an experiment where various tomato accessions were metabolically profiled for their antioxidant content and other fruit parameters for further usage in crop improvement programs. Same genotypes were phenotyped and profiled with DNA markers to characterize their relative genetic distance. Aggregated data from metabolic and genetic profiling were complemented by the phenotypic data to select for the most promising cross (Pl. karotina x L1116) that was performed and developed into F1 and F2 generations. After phenotyping and genetic profiling of the 104 F2 individuals obtained from that cross, 24 individuals were selected for metabolic profiling for antioxidant contents. In relation to carotenoids accumulated in fully matured fruits the highest lycopene concentration detected in our study was 587.03 µg/g DW, while β-carotene reached 440.29 µg/g DW. Our results support the use of such integrative approach to accelerate tomato breeding when improved metabolic content of the fruits is aimed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Melatonin, a natural signaling compound (hormone) is present in animals, plants, bacteria even in Fungi. • In fungi, it regulates circadian rhythms, growth, development and morphogenesis by maintaining cellular homeostasis. • Melatonin has potential in crop production, mushroom biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry as antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer metabolite. • Fungal melatonin has advantageous over animal and plant sources. Melatonin performs a critical part in the reduction of biotic and abiotic stressors of plants, triggering defence systems and pathogen diminutions. As there are lot of reports available on the effects on melatonin on plants and animals, our decision is to focus primarily on fungi. A diverse group of melatonin producer fungi from unicellular Saccharomyces to filamentous Trichoderma , even the advanced basidiomycetous edible mushroom Agaricus, Pleurotus etc. provide an enriched panorama for exploration. This review article is composed of the report about the properties of melatonin, their role on the plant-fungal interactions, covering its effects on fungi from various ecological niche viz. soil/leaf-borne pathogenic fungi, endophytes as well as the fungi occurring in arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). There were both positive as well as negative impacts of melatonin on the fungal mycelia, primordia, fruiting bodies and spores. The biotechnological applications of melatonin in enhancing abiotic stress responses, signalling pathways, antioxidant and probable secondary metabolite productions and developing biocontrol agents have also been discussed. Melatonin plays an essential role in cultivation of edible mushroom. Melatonin and its homologues also possess anti-cancerous activity and can be used in different therapeutic applications as an anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating genetic diversity simplifies the identification of superior genotypes, facilitating the development of high-yielding, resilient to climatic conditions and promoting effective crop improvement. The present study aimed to examine the divergence, correlation and path analysis across 55 okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) germplasms for 17 traits during the summer season (March-July) of 2022. The experiment utilized randomized complete block design with three replications conducted in Phagwara, Punjab. Analysis of variance suggested a sufficient amount of genetic variation was found among all genotypes. Using Mahalanobis D2 analysis, the samples were classified into seven clusters, the largest being cluster I, composing 34 germplasm. Only one germplasm was found in Clusters II, IV, V, VI, and VII. The inter-cluster distance was highest between clusters II and VII, whereas the intra-cluster distance was greatest in Cluster III. The number of fruits per plant had the highest percent contribution to the divergence, accounting for 49.63%. At both phenotypic and genotypic levels, there was a strong positive correlation (+) observed between fruit yield and various characteristics, including plant height, fruit length, number of fruits per plant, number of marketable fruits per plant, average fruit weight, and the number of pickings. Genotypic path analysis revealed that characteristics such as the first flowering node, days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, plant height, inter-nodal length, number of nodes per plant, number of fruits per plant, marketable fruits per plant, and average fruit weight exhibited a positive and direct effect on fruit yield. When selecting this trait to improve yield in okra through breeding, it is essential to focus on specific characteristics that directly contribute to higher production. This research will help resilient okra varieties understand yieldinfluencing factors in Punjab environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucilage is one of the key components of flaxseed (which is also called linseed), and exhibits unique functional properties such as high water-holding capacity, and foamability. As a result, flaxseed mucilage has applications in food, agriculture, medicine and other industries. The composition and functional properties of mucilage vary between genotypes. To explore this variation, we characterized the mucilage of nine diverse varieties of flaxseed according a range of parameters including: morphology, mucilage content, fibre content, minerals, phenolic acids, polyphenols, antimicrobial activity, and antioxidant activity. We found significant differences between the genotypes in almost all of the parameters tested. Furthermore, we found a strong correlation between several of these parameters, including antioxidant activity, hydroxycinnamic acid, and sugar content. Antimicrobial activity against Gram positive bacteria was correlated with fibre content and potassium content, while chlorogenic acid content was correlated with suppression of Gram negative bacteria. These results provide a framework for crop improvement further development of functional and value-added products from flaxseed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crops arose from wild ancestors and to understand their domestication it is essential to compare the cultivated species with their crop wild relatives. These represent an important source of further crop improvement, in particular in relation to climate change. Although there are about 58,000 Lens accessions held in genebanks, only 1% are wild.We examined the geographic distribution and genetic diversity of the lentil's immediate progenitor L. orientalis. We used Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS) to identify and characterize differentiation among accessions held at germplasm collections. We then determined whether genetically distinct clusters of accessions had been collected from climatically distinct locations.Of the 195 genotyped accessions, 124 were genuine L. orientalis with four identified genetic groups. Although an environmental distance matrix was significantly correlated with geographic distance in a Mantel test, the four identified genetic clusters were not found to occupy significantly different environmental space. Maxent modelling gave a distinct predicted distribution pattern centred in the Fertile Crescent, with intermediate probabilities of occurrence in parts of Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Morocco, and the south of the Iberian Peninsula with NW Africa. Future projections did not show any dramatic alterations in the distribution according to the climate change scenarios tested.We have found considerable diversity in L. orientalis, some of which track climatic variability. The results of the study showed the genetic diversity of wild lentil and indicate the importance of ongoing collections and in situ conservation for our future capacity to harness the genetic variation of the lentil progenitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance (R) genes in the Triticeae tribe include not only genes encoding the canonical intracellular nucleotide-binding leucine-rich-repeat proteins (NLRs) but also genes encoding kinase fusion proteins (KFPs). Exploring these unconventional KFPs may expand the scope of effector-triggered immunity (ETI) and will have significant implications for crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed yield components and ear characteristics are critical parameters for seed yield improvement of cereal crops. In this study, 23 hulled oat (Avena sativa) cultivars were planted in four experimental sites during 2018–2020. We determined the ear parameters including the number of four spikelet types, the ear length, the seed weight per ear, and the size of the left and the right seed in the double‐seed spikelet. In addition, five oat cultivars with the highest percentage of the triple‐seed spikelet were selected to evaluate the germination performance of the left, the middle, and the right seed. The results showed that the double‐seed spikelet was present in 73% of the ear, occupying the highest proportion than other spikelet types. The negative correlation showed the trade‐off between total seed number per ear and average seed weight. According to the pathway analysis, the number of double‐seed spikelet had the significantly highest direct effect on the seed weight per ear with the path coefficient of 0.93. In the double‐seed spikelet, the length and the thickness both had significantly positive correlations to the seed weight of the left and the right seeds. The middle seed, which had the smallest seed size, had the lowest germination rate, germination index, vigour index, seedling weight, and length than the right and left seed among three seed positions in the triple‐seed spikelet. We conclude that the double‐seed spikelet number is a key ear characteristic when breeding high‐yielding cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle is the ancestral CO 2 assimilation pathway and is found in all photosynthetic organisms. Biochemical extensions to the CBB cycle have evolved that allow the resulting pathways to act as CO 2 concentrating mechanisms, either spatially in the case of C 4 photosynthesis or temporally in the case of Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). While the biochemical steps in the C 4 and CAM pathways are known, questions remain on their integration and regulation with CBB cycle activity. The application of omic and transgenic technologies is providing a more complete understanding of the biochemistry of C 4 and CAM species and will also provide insight into the CBB cycle in these plants. As the global population increases, new solutions are required to increase crop yields and meet demands for food and other bioproducts. Previous work in C 3 species has shown that increasing carbon assimilation through genetic manipulation of the CBB cycle can increase biomass and yield. There may also be options to improve photosynthesis in species using C 4 photosynthesis and CAM through manipulation of the CBB cycle in these plants. This is an underexplored strategy and requires more basic knowledge of CBB cycle operation in these species to enable approaches for increased productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To find out genetic variability, heritability, and trait association among yield and yield-related traits among bread wheat genotypes, an alpha lattice design was used in triplicate manner where 50 wheat genotypes were evaluated at the University of Agriculture Peshawar during rabbi growing season 2021-22 along with a regional check genotype. Data were taken on ten parameters. All the genotypes showed significant variation among them, signifying the possibility of enhancing genetic improvement through breeding programs. Highly significant differences were found in days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, spike length, grain filling duration, number of grains per spike, biological yield and grain yield these traits indicating diversity in yield potential. Moderate to low heritability values were noted for most of the traits. The study exhibits positive correlations for plant height with grain yield, spike length with biological yield and harvest index with grain yield. On the basis of high heritability and positive correlation of grain yield with other traits, it is recommended that G-41, G-3, G-12, G-37, G-34 and G-14 genotypes which have the potential to be incorporate in further breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paw San Hmwe (PSH) is an indigenous rice variety from Myanmar with a good taste, a pleasant fragrance, and excellent elongation ability during cooking. However, its low yield potential and strong photoperiod sensitivity reduce its productivity, and it is vulnerable to climate changes during growth. To improve the photoperiod insensitivity, yield, and plant stature of PSH, the high-yield genes Grain number 1a (Gn1a) and Wealthy Farmer's Panicle (WFP), together with the photoperiod insensitivity trait, were introgressed into PSH via marker-assisted backcross breeding and phenotype selection. For the photoperiod insensitivity trait, phenotypic selection was performed under long-day conditions during the dry season. After foreground selection of Gn1a and WFP via simple sequence repeat genotyping, genotyping-by-sequencing was conducted to validate the introgression of target genes and determine the recurrent parent genome recovery of the selected lines. The improved lines were insensitive to photoperiod, and the Gn1a and WFP introgression lines showed significantly higher numbers of primary panicle branches and spikelets per panicle than the recurrent parent, with comparative similarity in cooking and eating qualities. This study successfully improved PSH by decreasing its photoperiod sensitivity and introducing high-yield genes via marker-assisted selection. The developed lines can be used for crop rotation and double-season cropping of better-quality rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic fertilizer is utilized to improve the organic carbon levels in arable soils, which is helpful for soil quality improvement and crop yield increase. However, the after-effect of organic fertilizer varies among regions with different temperature and precipitation conditions, and the extent of the impact remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the impact of varying temperature and rainfall conditions on the accumulation of soil organic carbon after organic fertilizer application. A meta-analysis of 168 peer-reviewed studies published between 2005 and 2022 involving a total of 464 trials was conducted. The following was discovered: (1) In the major grain-producing areas of China, there was a significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) between latitude and soil organic carbon content. Meanwhile, temperature and precipitation had a significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) with soil organic carbon content. (2) The increase in temperature inhibited the increase in soil organic carbon storage. The improvement effect of organic fertilizer application in the low-temperature areas was significantly increased by 60.93% compared with the mid-temperature areas, and by 69.85% compared with the high-temperature areas. The average annual precipitation affected the after-effect of organic fertilizer as follows: 400–800 mm > 400 mm > more than 800 mm. (3) The influence of climatic conditions on the after-effect of organic fertilizer was more significant depending on the specific tillage practice. To increase organic fertilizer use efficiency and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, liquid organic fertilizers with abundant trace nutrients and amino acids, which take advantage of releasing nutrients more swiftly and have a better fertilization effect, could be an alternative to traditional organic fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The substitution of chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer with organic fertilizer (organic substitution, OS) is increasingly applied in crop production, due to its environmentally friendly characteristics, low price, and high crop and soil improvement efficacies. Here, we studied the effects of chemical N fertilizer with organic fertilizer treatment at different proportions (no organic substitution (NOS), 20% (OS-20), 40% (OS-40), 60% (OS-60), 100% (OS-100), and 200% (OS-200, double the organic fertilizer application amount of OS-100) on the yield and quality of apples in the Shanxi Province of China. The results revealed that, compared to the NOS, the total apple yields of OS treatments, especially the OS-60 and OS-100 treatments, decreased. However, all OS treatments, except OS-200, increased the yield of large-sized fruits (transverse diameter ≥ 85 mm) and the mean mass of apple fruits, and significantly decreased yield of small-sized fruits (transverse diameter < 75 mm). All OS treatments, especially OS-40, promoted the total sugar and vitamin C (Vc) contents and fruit hardness of apples, and OS-40, OS-60, and OS-200 resulted in significantly decreased titratable acid contents in apples. The influence of organic substitutions on soil quality was further investigated in a two-year field experiment. The results showed that the influence of organic substitution on soil chemical properties differed between the two years. Notably, 40% OS increased the soil organic carbon (SOC) content and the C/N ratio in the upper 20 cm of the soil in both years. Additionally, OS treatments reduced the residual nitrate (NO3−)-N (RN) content in deep soil layers, suggesting that OS has the potential to alleviate N leaching. Moreover, redundancy analysis (RDA) of the soil, fruit yield, and fruit quality parameters revealed that the SOC content in the 0–20 cm soil layer and the RN content in the 0–100 cm soil layer had the greatest impact on the fruit quality and yield variables, respectively. This study showed that the proper substitution (40%) of chemical N fertilizer with organic fertilizer could improve the yield of large-sized fruits, the mean mass and fruit quality of apples, and soil chemical properties. Our study will provide a basis for rational organic substitution in apple orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field-road mode classification (FRMC) that identifies "in-field" and "on-road" categories for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) trajectory points of agricultural machinery containing geographic information is essential for effective crop improvement. Most previous studies utilize local trajectory features (i.e., the relationships between a point and its neighboring points), but they ignore global trajectory features (i.e., the relationships between the point and all points of the trajectory), leading to difficulty in improving the overall classification performance. The global trajectory features are useful for FRMC because they contain rich trajectory information (e.g., mode switching and motion tendency). Therefore, a ConvTEBiLSTM network-based method is proposed to improve the overall performance. Firstly, nine statistical features (e.g., speed and direction) are extracted from the original data and fed into the ConvTEBiLSTM network. Then, the ConvTEBiLSTM network combining the Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory network, 1D Convolution network, and Transformer-Encoder network is used to extract and fuse local and global trajectory features. Finally, a linear classifier is applied to identify the "field" and "road" categories of GNSS points based on the fused features. Experimental results show that compared with the baselines, our method achieves the best accuracy and F1-score of 97.38% and 92.74% on our Harvester dataset, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: MiRNAs have been reported to be the key regulators involving a wide range of biological processes in diverse plant species, but their functions in switchgrass, an important biofuel and forage crop, are largely unknown. Here, we reported the novel function of miR528, which has expanded to four copies in switchgrass, in controlling biomass trait of tillering number and regrowth rate after mowing. Blocking miR528 activity by expressing short tandem target mimic (STTM) increased tiller number and regrowth rate after mowing. The quadruple pvmir528 mutant lines derived from genome editing also showed such improved traits. Degradome and RNA‐seq analysis, combined with in situ hybridization assay revealed that up‐regulation of two miR528 targets coding for Cu/Zn‐SOD enzymes, might be responsible for the improved traits of tillering and regrowth in pvmir528 mutant. Additionally, natural variations in the miR528‐SOD interaction exist in C3 and C4 monocot species, implying the distinct regulatory strength of the miR528‐SOD module during monocot evolution. Overall, our data illuminated a novel role of miR528 in controlling biomass traits and provided a new target for genetic manipulation‐mediated crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium is a universal messenger in different kingdoms of living organisms and regulates most physiological processes, including defense against pathogens. The threat of viral infections in humans has become very clear in recent years, and this has triggered detailed research into all aspects of host–virus interactions, including the suppression of calcium signaling in infected cells. At the same time, however, the threat of plant viral infections is underestimated in society, and research in the field of calcium signaling during plant viral infections is scarce. Here we highlight an emerging role of calcium signaling for antiviral protection in plants, in parallel with the known evidence from studies of animal cells. Obtaining more knowledge in this domain might open up new perspectives for future crop protection and the improvement of food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA methylation plays a key role in the development and plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. This work aimed to evaluate the DNA methylation in contrasting cassava genotypes for water deficit tolerance. The varieties BRS Formosa (bitter) and BRS Dourada (sweet) were grown under greenhouse conditions for 50 days, and afterwards, irrigation was suspended. The stressed (water deficit) and non-stressed plants (negative control) consisted the treatments with five plants per variety. The DNA samples of each variety and treatment provided 12 MethylRAD-Seq libraries (two cassava varieties, two treatments, and three replicates). The sequenced data revealed methylated sites covering 18 to 21% of the Manihot esculenta Crantz genome, depending on the variety and the treatment. The CCGG methylated sites mapped mostly in intergenic regions, exons, and introns, while the CCNGG sites mapped mostly intergenic, upstream, introns, and exons regions. In both cases, methylated sites in UTRs were less detected. The differentially methylated sites analysis indicated distinct methylation profiles since only 12% of the sites (CCGG and CCNGG) were methylated in both varieties. Enriched gene ontology terms highlighted the immediate response of the bitter variety to stress, while the sweet variety appears to suffer more potential stress-damages. The predicted protein-protein interaction networks reinforced such profiles. Additionally, the genomes of the BRS varieties uncovered SNPs/INDELs events covering genes stood out by the interactomes. Our data can be useful in deciphering the roles of DNA methylation in cassava drought-tolerance responses and adaptation to abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicago truncatula, model legume and alfalfa relative, has served as an essential resource for advancing our understanding of legume physiology, functional genetics, and crop improvement traits. Necrotrophic fungus, Ascochyta medicaginicola, the causal agent of spring black stem (SBS) and leaf spot is a devasting foliar disease of alfalfa affecting stand survival, yield, and forage quality. Host resistance to SBS disease is poorly understood, and control methods rely on cultural practices. Resistance has been observed in M. truncatula accession SA27063 (HM078) with two recessively inherited quantitative-trait loci (QTL), rnpm1 and rnpm2, previously reported. To shed light on host resistance, we carried out a de novo genome assembly of HM078. The genome, referred to as MtHM078 v1.0, is comprised of 23 contigs totaling 481.19 Mbp. Notably, this assembly contains a substantial amount of novel centromere-related repeat sequences due to deep long-read sequencing. Genome annotation resulted in 98.4% of BUSCO fabales proteins being complete. The assembly enabled sequence-level analysis of rnpm1 and rnpm2 for gene content, synteny, and structural variation between SBS-resistant accession SA27063 (HM078) and SBS-susceptible accession A17 (HM101). Fourteen candidate genes were identified, and some have been implicated in resistance to necrotrophic fungi. Especially interesting candidates include loss-of-function events in HM078 because they fit the inverse gene-for-gene model, where resistance is recessively inherited. In rnpm1, these include a loss-of-function in a disease resistance gene due to a premature stop codon, and a 10.85 kbp retrotransposon-like insertion disrupting a ubiquitin conjugating E2. In rnpm2, we identified a frameshift mutation causing a loss-of-function in a glycosidase, as well as a missense and frameshift mutation altering an F-box family protein. This study generated a high-quality genome of HM078 and has identified promising candidates, that once validated, could be further studied in alfalfa to enhance disease resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Enhanced agricultural production is urgently required to meet the food demands of the increasing global population. Abundant genetic diversity is expected to accelerate crop development. In particular, the development of the CRISPR/Cas genome editing technology has greatly enhanced our ability to improve crop's genetic diversity through direct artificial gene modification. However, recent studies have shown that most crop improvement efforts using CRISPR/Cas techniques have mainly focused on the coding regions, and there is a relatively lack of studies on the regulatory regions of gene expression. Results: This review briefly summarizes the development of CRISPR/Cas system in the beginning. Subsequently, the importance of gene regulatory regions in plants is discussed. The review focuses on recent developments and applications of mutations in regulatory regions via CRISPR/Cas techniques in crop breeding. Conclusion: Finally, an outline of perspectives for future crop breeding using genome editing technologies is provided. This review provides new research insights for crop improvement using genome editing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycine max (L.) Merr. (soybean) is a multi-purpose crop used for both animal and human feed. It is an economically and industrially important crop. It possesses many therapeutical and nutraceutical compounds. Therefore, soybean is referred to as 'Gold from the soil'. Conventional breeding approaches are laborious and time-consuming. Thus, alternative biotechnological methods, such as in vitro micropropagation, regeneration, and transformation, could be advantageous. Despite the efforts made in the field of soybean micropropagation for haploidy and doubled haploidy, especially androgenesis, the success rate accounts for only approximately 2%. Androgenesis in soybean is lacking primarily due to its recalcitrant nature and differences in the development of microspores within a flower. Haploids and doubled haploids (DHs) have contributed immensely to crop improvement programs. In this review, soybean androgenesis history, production of haploids, and doubled haploids have been highlighted. The factors responsible for the androgenic responses have also been discussed. Furthermore, the review will be helpful in understanding the challenges in the standardization of protocol for the production of haploids and DHs in soybean, which will eventually assist breeding and crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Limitation in soil organic matter interferes with plant growth and productivity. Chemical fertilisers can provide limiting nutrients to plants, especially in barren soil, but they have detrimental *Correspondence to: Sedat Çam Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harran University, Haliliye, S¸anlıurfa 63050, Turkey Email: sedatcam@harran.edu.tr effects on living organisms; therefore, plant growth-promoting (PGP) rhizobacteria may be an alternative to synthetic fertilisers to improve plant tolerance to nutrient stress. Aims. This study evaluated the effects of single and co-inoculation of two PGP rhizobacterial strains with macroalgae (Cladophora glomerata) extract on barley growth. We also tested the ability of the respective strains to produce biofilm and exopolysaccharide (EPS) at different pH values under in vitro conditions. Methods. Plants were cultivated in an organic matter-limited alkaline soil under Handling Editor: Caixian Tang field conditions. Key results. All treatments increased barley growth parameters to some extent. Growth parameters increased most in Bacillus + macroalgae extract (B + MA) and Bacillus + Azotobacter + macroalgae extract (B + A + MA) treatments. These two treatments significantly enhanced shoot length by 22.9-25.7%, dry weight of shoot + spike by 118.2-154.5%, total weight of grains by 76.5-78.1%, and number of grains per spike by 94.8-112.1% in comparison with the control. The respective two treatments also increased biofilm formation and EPS production in response to alkaline pH. Conclusions. Barley productivity may be increased by using PGP strains with greater potential to produce biofilm and EPS, and inoculating them with macroalgae extract. The B + MA treatment could be applied singly or in combination with Azotobacter. Implications. Single or co-inoculation of such PGP bacteria with macroalgae extract may be commercialised to enhance barley productivity in organic matter-limited soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of a breeding program largely depends on the presence of sufficient genetic diversity in crops to provide an avenue for selection of desirable genotypes for utilization in crop improvement. The "wooden box technique" was adopted to evaluate drought tolerance in cowpea landraces cultivated by small-scale farmers in Northern Nigeria. The technique enables high throughput screening of cowpea genotypes for their agro-morphological variability to drought at seedling stage. Therefore, this study aimed to provide data on cowpea landrace responses to drought at the seedling stage, with the objective of helping mitigate crop loss in a region predominantly characterized by early-season drought events. Here, 420 cowpea genotypes (307 landraces, 113 IITA accessions) were screened for tolerance to seedling drought. Time course analysis of growth and agronomic traits revealed gradual cessation of growth as drought stress intensified as evidenced by reduction in trifoliate, increased leaf senescence and stem wilting. Multivariate analysis using principal component (PC) analysis and k-mean clustering identified 3 major clusters where PC1 and PC2 explained 46.7% of the variability in response to drought stress. The biplot analysis showed that plant height, stem greenness and trifoliate contributed positively to PC1 while leaf senescence score was negatively related to the clustering on this axis. The comprehensive data analysis pipeline enabled the identification of the relationship between agronomic and stay-green parameters which provided the understanding of traits that were useful during the selection of landraces under drought stress at the seedling stage. Additionally, our results identified potentially tolerant landraces for drought prone ecologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: The adaptive significance of amphistomy (stomata on both upper and lower leaf surfaces) is unresolved. A widespread association between amphistomy and open, sunny habitats suggests the adaptive benefit of amphistomy may be greatest in these contexts, but this hypothesis has not been tested experimentally. Understanding amphistomy informs its potential as a target for crop improvement and paleoenvironment reconstruction. Methods: We developed a method to quantify "amphistomy advantage" (AA $\text{AA}$) as the log‐ratio of photosynthesis in an amphistomatous leaf to that of the same leaf but with gas exchange blocked through the upper surface (pseudohypostomy). Humidity modulated stomatal conductance and thus enabled comparing photosynthesis at the same total stomatal conductance. We estimated AA $\text{AA}$ and leaf traits in six coastal (open, sunny) and six montane (closed, shaded) populations of the indigenous Hawaiian species ʻilima (Sida fallax). Results: Coastal ʻilima leaves benefit 4.04 times more from amphistomy than montane leaves. Evidence was equivocal with respect to two hypotheses: (1) that coastal leaves benefit more because they are thicker and have lower CO2 conductance through the internal airspace and (2) that they benefit more because they have similar conductance on each surface, as opposed to most conductance being through the lower surface. Conclusions: This is the first direct experimental evidence that amphistomy increases photosynthesis, consistent with the hypothesis that parallel pathways through upper and lower mesophyll increase CO2 supply to chloroplasts. The prevalence of amphistomatous leaves in open, sunny habitats can partially be explained by the increased benefit of amphistomy in "sun" leaves, but the mechanistic basis remains uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Induction of mutation plays an important role in the breeding programme among modern methods of plant breeding. Genetic variability is prerequisite for crop improvement and through induced mutation it was found to be very effective for creating variability in the quantitative and qualitative characters. Hence, the present study was aimed to induce genetic variability within short time. In the present investigation positive as well as negative impact on quantitative traits were recorded. Methods: The experiment material comprised of seeds of horsegram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc] variety Paiyur 2 which was subjected to ethyl methane sulphonate (02, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5%), gamma radiation (100, 200, 300 and 400 Gy) and combination treatments. The mutations affecting gross morphological changes in growth and yield characters such as plant habit, flowering, pod morphology, maturity and seed yield were scored as quantitative characters. The micro mutations at population level can be easily detected in the form of increased variations for quantitative traits in the segregation of mutagen treated populations. Micro mutations can alter morpho-physiological characters hence they are of a particular interest to the plant breeders. ANOVA test was performed to determine the significant differences and Duncan's multiple range test (p=0.05) to compare the differences among treatment means. Result: Among the twenty-five treatments studied both the mutagens, gamma radiations and Ethyl Methane Sulphonate proved to be very effective to induce variability in quantitative traits in M2 and M3 generations. The results of Duncan's multiple range test analysis revealed that the treatment of mutagens in combinations induced more positive effects as compared to that of using alone. The combined treatments were found positive for improvement of primary branches per plant, no. of pods per plant, pod length, no. of seeds/pod and seed yield per plant in M2 and M3 generations whereas the treatment of gamma irradiation imparted its significant role for improvement of plant height, days required for 50% flowering, days to maturity and 1000 seed weight in both M2 and M3 generations whereas the treatment with Ethyl Methane Sulphonate is useful for improving no. of pods per plant and no. of seeds/pod in M2 generation alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient trees are natural wonders because of their longevity, having lived for hundreds or thousands of years, and their ability to withstand changing environments and a variety of stresses. These long-lived trees have sophisticated defense mechanisms, such as the production of specialized plant metabolites (SPMs). In this review, we provide an overview of the major biotic and abiotic stresses that long-lived trees often face, as well as an analysis of renowned ancient tree species and their unique protective SPMs against environmental stressors. We also discuss the synthesis and accumulation of defensive SPMs induced by environmental factors and endophytes in these trees. Furthermore, we conducted a comparative genomic analysis of 17 long-lived tree species and discovered significant expansions of SPM biosynthesis gene families in these species. Our comprehensive review reveals the crucial role of SPMs in high resistance in long-lived trees, providing a novel natural resource for plant defense, crop improvement and even the pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatially enhanced-resolution omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq) enables the identification of spatial cell-type heterogeneity of biological samples. Combining single cell sequencing with histological spatial information enables the identification of cell subtypes in biological samples. Stereo-seq captures plant transcriptomes with high resolution. Combining Stereo-seq and single cell sequencing enables the construction of spatially resolved developmental trajectories. Single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) advancements have helped detect transcriptional heterogeneities in biological samples. However, scRNA-seq cannot currently provide high-resolution spatial transcriptome information or identify subcellular organs in biological samples. These limitations have led to the development of spatially enhanced-resolution omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq), which combines spatial information with single cell transcriptomics to address the challenges of scRNA-seq alone. In this review, we discuss the advantages of Stereo-seq technology. We anticipate that the application of such an integrated approach in plant research will advance our understanding of biological process in the plant transcriptomics era. We conclude with an outlook of how such integration will enhance crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matching crop varieties to their target use context and user preferences is a challenge faced by many plant breeding programs serving smallholder agriculture. Numerous participatory approaches proposed by CGIAR and other research teams over the last four decades have attempted to capture farmers' priorities/preferences and crop variety field performance in representative growing environments through experimental trials with higher external validity. Yet none have overcome the challenges of scalability, data validity and reliability, and difficulties in capturing socio-economic and environmental heterogeneity. Building on the strengths of these attempts, we developed a new data-generation approach, called triadic comparison of technology options (tricot). Tricot is a decentralized experimental approach supported by crowdsourced citizen science. In this article, we review the development, validation, and evolution of the tricot approach, through our own research results and reviewing the literature in which tricot approaches have been successfully applied. The first results indicated that tricot-aggregated farmer-led assessments contained information with adequate validity and that reliability could be achieved with a large sample. Costs were lower than current participatory approaches. Scaling the tricot approach into a large on-farm testing network successfully registered specific climatic effects of crop variety performance in representative growing environments. Tricot's recent application in plant breeding networks in relation to decision-making has (i) advanced plant breeding lines recognizing socio-economic heterogeneity, and (ii) identified consumers' preferences and market demands, generating alternative breeding design priorities. We review lessons learned from tricot applications that have enabled a large scaling effort, which should lead to stronger decision-making in crop improvement and increased use of improved varieties in smallholder agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of crop plants is critically affected by biotic and abiotic stress. These stressors threaten food availability by reducing overall crop yield and productivity. Changes in chromatin state by epigenetic modification are part of plant adaptive and survival responses and are considered pivotal for improving agronomic traits. Epigenetics is an exciting field that involves heritable gene expression changes that do not require changes in DNA sequence. Epigenetic modification is well known as a crucial player in plant phenotypic diversity and defense against pathogens. Hence, there is a growing interest in unlocking the epigenome for crop improvement. Herein, we highlight the epigenetic modifications implicated in plant biotic stress response and their contributions to important agronomic traits. We also discussed adopting epigenetics to expand phenotypic diversity and produce desired characteristics in crop plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring genetic gain is required in crop improvement programs in order to assess the effectiveness of breeding initiatives. The periodic measurement of genetic gain will quantify the efficiency of new technologies incorporated into the program. Here, a total of 24 cultivars (20 released from Zimbabwe's National Breeding program (ZNBP) plus 4 released by the largest and oldest private seed company in Zimbabwe, Seed Co) over the period of 1900–2016, were evaluated across 10 locations in Zimbabwe. The testing locations represented agro-ecologies where maize is optimally grown and where maize production is under threat from climate change-induced abiotic stresses, particularly drought and heat stress, in Zimbabwe. The 24 cultivars were laid out across all the locations using the alpha (0.1) lattice design replicated two times with six incomplete blocks nested in each of the replicates. The genetic gains were estimated at 61 kg ha−1 yr−1, 25 kg ha−1 yr−1, 6 kg ha−1 yr−1, and 2 kg ha−1 yr−1 under optimal, random drought stress, heat stress, and managed drought stress conditions, respectively. The results were comparable with those from other studies where newly released cultivars yielded more than old cultivars. Overall, the results demonstrated that over a century, the ZNBP has been making significant progress in yield increments in its maize genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strigolactones (SLs) are fundamental to the ability of plants to cope with phosphate deficiency. A recent study by Yuan et al. indicates that the genetic module PHR2/NSP1/NSP2 is crucial in activating SL biosynthesis and signaling under inorganic phosphate (Pi) deficiency. Furthermore, this genetic module is essential for improving Pi and nitrogen homeostasis in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

R2R3-MYB represents a substantial gene family that plays diverse roles in plant development. In this study, 102 SmR2R3-MYB genes were identified from eggplant fruit and classified into 31 subfamilies. Analysis indicated that segmental duplication events played a pivotal role in the expansion of the SmR2R3-MYB gene family. Furthermore, the prediction of miRNAs targeting SmR2R3-MYB genes revealed that 60 SmR2R3-MYBs are targeted by 57 miRNAs, with specific miRNAs displaying varying numbers of target genes, providing valuable insights into the regulatory functions of miRNAs in plant growth, development, and responses to stress conditions. Through expression profile analysis under various treatment conditions, including low temperature (4 °C), plant hormone (ABA, Abscisic acid), and drought stress (PEG, Polyethylene glycol), diverse and complex regulatory mechanisms governing SmR2R3-MYB gene expression were elucidated. Notably, EGP21875.1 and EGP21874.1 exhibited upregulation in expression under all treatment conditions. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses demonstrated that, apart from anthocyanins (delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-(6-O-p-coumaroyl)-glucoside, and malvidin-3-O-(6-O-p-coumaroyl)-glucoside), overexpression of SmMYB75 could also elevate the content of various beneficial compounds, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenes, in eggplant pulp. This comprehensive study enhances our understanding of SmR2R3-MYB gene functions and provides a strong basis for further research on their roles in regulating anthocyanin synthesis and improving eggplant fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of CRISPR/Cas9 has had a disruptive impact on the world by bringing about dramatic progress and rapid penetration of genome editing technology. However, even though gene disruption can be easily achieved, there has been a challenge in freely changing the sequence. To solve this problem, various novel technologies have emerged in recent years to realize free rewriting of genome sequences. In this review, scarless editing by two-step HDR, a technology that can freely rewrite genomes from a single nucleotide to more than several thousand nucleotides, will be introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial wilt is a disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, which affects over 450 plant species and causes significant reduction in crop yields including of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) worldwide. Developing and identifying tomato genotypes with Ralstonia solanacearum tolerance and high yield potential, presents an opportunity for improvement of crop productivity. The objective of this study was to explore the heritability of tomato resistance against bacterial wilt and the genetic variation within the population for breeding purposes. A breeding population was created by crossing two bacterial wilt-resistant (MT56 and BL333) and three commercially desirable susceptible (Assila, Rambo and Heinz) tomato varieties, using North Carolina Design II, in a screen house at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute, Kabanyolo (MUARIK). Results showed that the Area Under Disease Progress Curve was significant (P<0.001), indicating that cumulative disease progress was less in resistant genotypes of segregating generations. Disease severity increased with days after inoculation (DAI), with Heinz showing the highest level of susceptibility. The General Combining Ability for male parent (GCAm) was significant (P< 0.01), and Specific Combining Ability (SCAfxm) and GCAf were significant (P<0.01) for the F2 generation. Broad-sense heritability was higher than the narrow-sense heritability in both F1 and F2 generations, suggesting that non-additive gene action predominately controlled tomato resistance to bacterial wilt infestation. The genetic diversity ranged from 0.5 to 0.6759, with a mean value of 0.5787. Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) varied from 0.375 to 0.6357, with a mean of 0.4888, indicating a high degree of variation. SLM 12-2 was the most polymorphic marker, with a PIC of 0.6357. The Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic Average (UPGMA) classified all tomato genotypes into six clusters, namely Clusters 1 and 2 (Susceptible parents), Cluster 3 (Resistant parents), Clusters 4 and 5 (New source of resistance), and Cluster 6 (F1P1xP5). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean has been grown as an important protein and oil crop for thousands of years. Additionally, it also has a high content of iso-flavonoids, folic acid and saponins, exhibiting various biological activities. It contains several antioxidants, and has anti-diabetic, anti-proliferative, anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory properties. However, soybean also contains various antinutritional factors such as trypsin inhibitor, agglutinin, lectins, phytic acid and tannins, which reduce nutrient utilisation. Attempts have been made to improve the nutritional quality of soybean through conventional breeding, but anticipated outcomes could not be met and these efforts primarily resulted in agronomically undesirable traits. However, the development of cutting-edge tools and technologies including high throughput genotyping, phenotyping, DNA sequencing techniques and genome editing have made great progress in improving the functional and nutritional qualities of soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant height (PH) and main shoot length (MSL) are multi-allelic quantitative traits, that exert profound influences on crop productivity. The identification of QTLs responsible for PH and MSL is important for enhancing crop yield potential. To achieve this, we constructed a genetic linkage map using 192 SSRs in combination with 94 BCILs derived from JS1 and JS2 somatic hybrids. This comprehensive map spanned a total length of 1420.69 cM, expanding into 12 linkage groups. For PH, we identified a total of seven and one QTLs across two successive crop seasons. Interestingly, the minor QTLs identified during the first season exhibited relatively modest phenotypic effects (2.43–7.33%) while a dominant QTL (12.88% PVE) was identified in the subsequent crop season. All these QTLs displayed positive and negative additive effects, often accompanied by exceptionally high dominance effects (≤ 39.06). For MSL, we detected three QTLs during the first crop season, characterized by LOD values of 3.0063, 3.3156, and 8.9608, explaining 5.61%, 6.17%, and 16.27% PVE, respectively. Subsequently, two QTLs were identified on LG-2 with LOD values of 2.5869 (13.79% PVE) and 3.5740 (7.93% PVE), revealing negative additive effects. In the QTL regions for PH and MSL, we discovered a total of 20 genes, with eight and twelve genes associated with auxin and Brassinosteroids genes, displaying essential roles in regulating shoot height. In this pioneering study, we present the first-ever report detailing the identification of PH and MSL genes contributed by S. alba creating linkage drags in advanced BCILs and providing an opportunity for Brassica crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meristems are stem cell-containing structures that produce all plant organs and are therefore important targets for crop improvement. Developmental regulators control the balance and rate of cell divisions within the meristem. Altering these regulators impacts meristem architecture and, as a consequence, plant form. In this review, we discuss genes involved in regulating the shoot apical meristem, inflorescence meristem, axillary meristem, root apical meristem, and vascular cambium in plants. We highlight several examples showing how crop breeders have manipulated developmental regulators to modify meristem growth and alter crop traits such as inflorescence size and branching patterns. Plant transformation techniques are another innovation related to plant meristem research because they make crop genome engineering possible. We discuss recent advances on plant transformation made possible by studying genes controlling meristem development. Finally, we conclude with discussions about how meristem research can contribute to crop improvement in the coming decades. This review discusses developmental regulators that affect meristem organization and plant form. The authors provide several examples showing how these regulators have been manipulated by crop breeders to enhance agronomic traits and highlight the significance of plant transformation techniques for crop genome engineering. Precisely fine-tuning meristem regulators will expand our ability to improve crop performance under various environmental conditions in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Five hundred Allium cepa potential intron polymorphism (AcPIP) markers were screened and 275 cross-transferable and polymorphic AcPIP markers were identified for Allium crop improvement. • Randomly selected 10 AcPIP markers used to characterize the diversity and population structure of 96 Allium cepa Further by application of the Power core tool, we identified nine diverse Allium cepa subsamples (among ninety-six) which represent whole genetic diversity. • Among identified nine diverse Allium cepa subsamples, genotype number 74 has HTSS and could be used for identification and introgression of HTSS coding genes in elite cultivars. Further DNA fingerprint of 32 Alliums also developed by application of 20AcPIP markers. Allium cepa is a widely grown crop for its spice and culinary properties. For molecular breeding of Allium cepa , mining and utilization of various sequence-based markers have been widely reported. Unfortunately, none has reported its molecular breeding using potential intron polymorphism (PIP) markers. Due to advantage of intron positioning prediction and practical utility, the PIP markers used for screening the possible polymorphism and cross-transferability in the Alliums. Screening results showed that among 500 Allium cepa potential intron polymorphism (AcPIP) markers, 275 are cross-transferable and polymorphic. Among the 275 AcPIP, 111 polymorphic markers were physically mapped on to 1st to 8th chromosomes of the Allium cepa. Out of the 275 AcPIP containing functionally significant markers, 118 were mapped in onion with Arabidopsis proteome. A set of 10 Alliums were utilized to interpret the polymorphic possibilities of the 500 AcPIP markers. In totality, 55 % AcPIP markers were polymorphic and cross-transferable among the Alliums. The polymorphic information content (PIC) of AcPIP markers ranged from 0.03 to 0.47 and heterozygosity index (H) varied between 0.16 and 0.80. The constructed phylogenetic tree based on the AcPIP markers of 10 Alliums revealed different clusters due to differences in their taxonomic positions. Out of 275 AcPIP markers, 10 AcPIP markers genotyping based Jaccard dissimilarity-based NJ tree of 96 individuals of Allium cepa showed two distinct groups (high total soluble solid; HTSS and low total soluble solid; LTSS). NJ tree and dissimilarity matrix reveal that group I genotypes are distinct, and dissimilar from group II and III genotypes hence it seems that group II and III genotype evolve from group I genotypes. Further we identified nine diverse Allium cepa subsample among which, genotype number 74 has HTSS and could be used for identification and introgression of HTSS coding genes in elite cultivars. Further DNA fingerprint of Alliums with 20 AcPIP markers suggested geographical reach of the released onion varieties. Hence results suggest that 275 AcPIP markers may be useful for accelerating the breeding programme of the Alliums and other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L. Beauv.) is a grain-producing crop with high nutritional benefits and adaptability to broad environmental conditions. Indonesian local foxtail millet accessions are valuable genetic resources for crop improvement of the species. This study aims to assess the biodiversity of Indonesian local foxtail millet accessions and estimate their salinity tolerance level utilizing the SiDREB2-based SNAP marker and early evaluation at the seedling stage. Our results showed that eight Indonesian local foxtail millet accessions, namely Toraja, Mauliru-2, Hambapraing, NTB-1, ICERI-5, ICERI-6, Botok-4, and Botok-10, had high variability based on agro-morphological traits. The Hambapraing and Mauliru-2 were the potential accessions with high yield estimates (2.33 ton.ha-1 and 1.93 ton.ha-1) and early harvest time (<110 DAT). ICERI-6 was indicated as a salinity-tolerant genotype based on the SiDREB2-based marker and early salinity evaluation at the seedling stage, while Toraja, Mauliru-2, NTB-1, and Botok-4 were categorized as sensitive genotypes. Germplasm variability and the estimated salinity tolerance level of Indonesian local foxtail millet accessions presented in this study serve as essential information in the foxtail millet breeding for high productivity, early harvest time, and salinity tolerant variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]