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In breeding programs, the demand for high-throughput phenotyping is substantial as it serves as a crucial tool for enhancing technological sophistication and efficiency. This advanced approach to phenotyping enables the rapid and precise measurement of complex traits. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate the correlation between vegetation indices (VIs) and grain yield and to identify the optimal timing for accurately estimating yield. Furthermore, this study aims to employ photographic quantification to measure the characteristics of corn ears and establish their correlation with corn grain yield. Ten corn hybrids were evaluated in a Complete Randomized Block (CRB) design with three replications across three locations. Vegetation and green leaf area indices were estimated throughout the growing cycle using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and were subsequently correlated with grain yield. The experiments consistently exhibited high levels of experimental quality across different locations, characterized by both high accuracy and low coefficients of variation. The experimental quality was consistently significant across all sites, with accuracy ranging from 79.07% to 95.94%. UAV flights conducted at the beginning of the crop cycle revealed a positive correlation between grain yield and the evaluated vegetation indices. However, a positive correlation with yield was observed at the V5 vegetative growth stage in Lavras and Ijaci, as well as at the V8 stage in Nazareno. In terms of corn ear phenotyping, the regression coefficients for ear width, length, and total number of grains (TNG) were 0.92, 0.88, and 0.62, respectively, demonstrating a strong association with manual measurements. The use of imaging for ear phenotyping is promising as a method for measuring corn components. It also enables the identification of the optimal timing to accurately estimate corn grain yield, leading to advancements in the agricultural imaging sector by streamlining the process of estimating corn production.

In breeding programs, the demand for high-throughput phenotyping is substantial as it serves as a crucial tool for enhancing technological sophistication and efficiency. This advanced approach to phenotyping enables the rapid and precise measurement of complex traits. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate the correlation between vegetation indices (VIs) and grain yield and to identify the optimal timing for accurately estimating yield. Furthermore, this study aims to employ photographic quantification to measure the characteristics of corn ears and establish their correlation with corn grain yield. Ten corn hybrids were evaluated in a Complete Randomized Block (CRB) design with three replications across three locations. Vegetation and green leaf area indices were estimated throughout the growing cycle using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and were subsequently correlated with grain yield. The experiments consistently exhibited high levels of experimental quality across different locations, characterized by both high accuracy and low coefficients of variation. The experimental quality was consistently significant across all sites, with accuracy ranging from 79.07% to 95.94%. UAV flights conducted at the beginning of the crop cycle revealed a positive correlation between grain yield and the evaluated vegetation indices. However, a positive correlation with yield was observed at the V5 vegetative growth stage in Lavras and Ijaci, as well as at the V8 stage in Nazareno. In terms of corn ear phenotyping, the regression coefficients for ear width, length, and total number of grains (TNG) were 0.92, 0.88, and 0.62, respectively, demonstrating a strong association with manual measurements. The use of imaging for ear phenotyping is promising as a method for measuring corn components. It also enables the identification of the optimal timing to accurately estimate corn grain yield, leading to advancements in the agricultural imaging sector by streamlining the process of estimating corn production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mung beans make up a relatively large part of the daily needs of every Vietnamese family. However, mung bean yield in the Mekong Delta is still low, and variety is one of the main factors affecting this problem. Therefore, the study of new varieties with a high yield and adaptability to different environmental conditions is extremely necessary. We evaluated genetic characteristics such as productivity and growth time of the introduced mung beans based on agronomic traits (plant height at flowering, plant height at harvesting, number of internodes, number of branches, number of pods plant−1, and theoretical yield), thereby creating a database of genetic characteristics for further breeding programs. The results showed that the mature pods of all varieties were harvested up to two times after one planting season. The broad-sense heritability of studied traits including plant height at flowering and harvesting, number of internodes and branches, number of pods plant−1, and theoretical yield varied from 15.57% to 85.71% in the first harvest and from 68.45% to 89.58% in the second harvest. It can be seen that these traits were influenced by the environment. Hence, it is important to choose appropriate seasons to enhance the potential of the mung bean variety. Moreover, the correlation coefficient results showed a strong positive relationship between yield and the number of pods per plant, indicating that the number of pods plant−1 is one of the important factors affecting mung bean yield. Based on important agronomic traits including the number of pods per plant, 1000 seeds' weight, growth time, and yield, two promising mung bean varieties were selected, which were VC 6494-986-S7 and VC 6518-50. Our results provided useful information for improving the yield of mung beans as well as contributing to the introduced mung bean breeding program in Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid a rapidly growing global population and increasing threats to crop yields, this review focuses on Speed Breeding (SB) in crop genetics. It traces SB's development from carbon arc lamp experiments 150 years ago to its modern use with LED technology which significantly accelerates breeding cycles. SB has applications in genetic mapping, genetic modification, and trait stacking, enhancing crop resilience by leveraging allelic diversity. It aligns well with breeding methods like single plant selection and single seed descent. The integration of SB with gene editing, genotyping, and genomic selection holds great promise. However, SB faces challenges related to infrastructure, genotypic variations, and potential stress responses. In summary, SB is a powerful and promising approach to address food security concerns and advancing crop genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The performance of oat genotypes differs across environments due to variations in biotic and abiotic factors. Thus, evaluation of oat genotypes across diverse environments is very important to identify superior and stable genotypes for yield improvement. Methods: The study aimed to assess the interaction (genotype‐by‐environment interaction; GEI) effect and determine the stability of grain yield in oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes in Ethiopia using parametric and nonparametric stability statistics. Twenty‐four oat genotypes were evaluated in nine environments using a randomized complete block design replicated three times. Results: The pooled analysis of the variance of grain yield showed significant variations among genotypes, environments, and their interaction effects. Significant GEI revealed the rank order change of genotypes across environments. The environment main effect captured 44.62% of the total grain yield variance, while genotype and GEI effects explained 28.84% and 26.54% of the total grain yield variance, respectively. The grain yield stability was assessed based on 12 parametric and two nonparametric stability statistics. The results indicated that genotypes with superior grain yield‐ showed stable performance on the basis of the stability parameters of the genotypic superiority index (Pi), the Perkins and Jinks adjusted linear regression coefficient (Bi), and the yield stability index (YSI), indicating that selection using these stability parameters would be efficient for grain yield enhancement in oat genotypes. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients also showed that the stability parameters of Pi, Bi, and YSI had a significant positive association with grain yield. However, grain yield had an inverse correlation with the stability parameters of standard deviation, deviation from regression (Sdi2), the Hernandez desirability index (Dji), Wricke ecovalence (Wi), the Shukla stability variance (σi2), the AMMI stability value (ASV), and environmental variance (S(2)i), indicating that oat genotype selection using these stability parameters would not be efficient for yield enhancement because these stability parameters favor low‐yielding genotypes more, compared to high‐yielding ones. Conclusions: Therefore, G5, G8, G11, G12, G14, G16, G17, G19, and G22 genotypes were adaptable in all nine environments based on stability parameters of Pi, Bi, and YSI, and selection of these superior genotypes would improve grain yield in oat genotypes. However, the validity of this result should be confirmed by repeating the experiment in the same environments over two or more years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variability is critical in order to create candidates for new superior varieties. This research objective was to evaluate the performance and variability of agronomical traits on the mungbean SSD on F4 V422H/129 population. The research was conducted at IPB University, Bogor, from March to June 2021. The SSD on F4 VR422H/129 population (378 genotypes with single plant as a representative of one genotype) and five check varieties were evaluated. The treatments were arranged in augmented design for RCBD in three replications. For agronomical traits, every F4 plant and 10 sample plants for each check variety were observed. Statistical analysis includes mean, frequency-distribution, heritability, genetic variability, correlation. The days to flowering, days to harvesting, generative periods, plant height on F4 V422H/129 were not significantly different from Vima 5, while total pod number, total pod weight, total seed weight, pod length were significantly higher. The agronomical traits were affected by genetic factors (heritability 0.71-0.99%), except for days to harvest. Based on the high genetic variability (CGV 0.62-0.64%), it was possible to select of total pod weight, total seed weight, or pod length in the next generation V422H/129. The total seed weight had a significant positive correlation with total pod weight and pod length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cowpea is the most important food legume in West and Central Africa and a valuable economic commodity in the region. Among the major biotic constraints to cowpea production are root parasitic weeds of which Alectra vogelii (Benth.) is of increasing importance. The cowpea landrace B301 was previously identified as a source of Alectra resistance, but neither the genes nor genomic loci conferring this resistance have been mapped. Therefore, to map and identify genetic markers linked to Alectra resistance for use in the molecular improvement of cowpea, we developed an F2 population from a cross of the susceptible variety 524B with B301. The population was phenotyped for resistance to A. vogelii and genotyped with a cowpea high density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray. Putative resistance loci were mapped in F2 populations by categorical trait–multiple interval mapping and validated by selective genotyping. Selective genotyping indicated that the resistance loci on Vu04 (Rav1) and Vu11 (Rav2) were significantly associated with resistance (p ≤ 0.01). Using marker assisted backcrossing, the two resistance loci were introgressed independently into the susceptible 524B genetic background. Phenotyping and genotyping of the segregating backcross families delineated Rav1 to a 10 cM on chromosome 4 and Rav2 to a 6.7 cM interval in chromosome 11. These two loci are desirable for breeding Alectra resistant cowpea varieties due to their simple inheritance and ability to independently confer complete immunity to the parasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accounts of twentieth-century agricultural industrialization in the United States and beyond often center the production and distribution of commercial F1 hybrid seeds as a pivotal development. The commercialization of hybrid corn seeds in the 1930s was initially heralded as a science-driven advance in agricultural productivity. However, since the 1970s "hybrid seeds" have been linked to many perceived perils attendant on industrialized agriculture, from the undermining of farmers' independence to the diminishment of crop genetic diversity to the consolidation of corporate control over the global food system. First grouped with the semidwarf varieties of the Green Revolution to emblematize capital- and chemical-intensive agriculture, hybrids are today often lumped together with genetically modified varieties for much the same reason. This essay revisits the scholarship that helped produce this understanding of hybrid seeds. It explores how and why the singular history of hybrid corn inflected understandings of crop breeding and seed production in general, contributing to lasting confusion about the promises and pitfalls of distinct approaches to crop development and the nature of hybrid seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant height is an important morphological trait that affects crop yield. Several genes related to plant height and yield have been reported in rice (Oryza sativa L.), however, the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of these traits is still not completely understood. VP64 is widely used as a transcriptional activator to investigate the biological function of genes encoding transcription factors. Here, we identified a novel bZIP transcription factor OsbZIP62 that is involved in modulating agronomic traits in rice. Overexpression of OsbZIP62-VP64 (Osb-ZIP62V) significantly increases the plant height and yield per plant in rice. RNA-seq analysis showed that some plant height and panicle development related genes (i.e., OsEATB, OsDSS1 and OsGA3ox2) were up-regulated in OsbZIP62V overexpressing rice plants. Besides, OsbZIP62 could also bind to the promoters of several putative target genes. These results suggested that OsbZIP62 plays a role as transcriptional regulator in regulating the expression of genes associated with agronomic traits, and OsbZIP62 fused with VP64 would be useful in crop genetic modification with improved plant architecture and yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through the release of carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH 4), and nitrous oxide (N 2 O). These emissions are a major driver of climate change and pose a threat to global food security. This review examines the carbon footprint of agriculture, highlighting the connection between this sector and greenhouse gas emissions worldwide as well as the favourable interaction between food systems and climate change. This study investigates the causes and effects of the food chain to highlight the urgent need to develop novel agricultural methods. Precision farming, vertical farming, organic farming, and carbon-sequestering farms are a few of the innovative methods being addressed. Each has the potential to lower emissions and mitigate climate change. In the field of contemporary technologies, this review looks into improvements in crop genetics directed towards climate resilience and the use of carbon capture and utilization methods in agriculture. By increasing both sustainability and production, these advances have the potential to completely alter the agricultural environment. To build a sustainable food system that reduces carbon emissions and combats climate change while maintaining the food security of future generations, we emphasize the urgency of implementing these innovative technologies and practices. [Display omitted] • Sources and impacts of carbon emissions in agricultural field were provided. • Innovative farming practices such as organic farming and precision farming were focussed. • The importance of recent technological advancements in agriculture has been discussed. • Future perspectives on sustainability approaches were reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers are powerful tools for the determination ofrelationships between genotypes and genetic diversity because of advantages such as high polymorphism, codominance nature, multiallelism and distribution on encoding and non-encoding regions, This study investigated the transferability and polymorphism of 102 barley SSR markers in 41 bread and durum wheat and triticale genotypes. A total of 50 pair primers were transferable,and 40 pair primers producing 118 alleles(onaverage 2.95 allelesper locus) were polymorphic. The Polymorphism Information Content and genetic diversity for these markers were estimated to be 29% and 33%, respectively. The average of Shannon and Nei indices for the studied genotypes were 34% and 23%, respectively. Cluster analysis, using a Minimum Evolution algorithm and P-distance coefficient, assigned the genotypes into five groups. In principal coordinates analysis, the first principal component explained 74.69% of the total molecular variation. Analysis of molecular variance based on the genome structure of the genotypes using molecular data revealed a high level of variation within groups. In conclusion, this study has identified a set of 50 polymorphic SSR markers of barley as being useful for diversityanalysis of common wheat, durum wheat, and triticale. These microsatellites could be used for diversity analysis, molecular mapping/QTL analysis, molecular marker-assisted selection, and comparative genome analysis.

Rice is one of the most consumed cereals in the world and of extreme social and economic importance in Brazil. Minas Gerais is the leading State in irrigated rice production in the Southeast Region. This study aimed to estimate the genetic progress of 26 years of the irrigated rice breeding programme of Epamig in Southeast Brazil by time meta‐analysis. Genetic progress was estimated for grain yield, plant height and days to flowering. The dataset understood 162 genotypes in 91 trials of value for cultivation and use of 26 seasons. The rate of annual genetic gain for grain yield was estimated.99% (49.85 kg year−1). It was also verified that was a reduction in plant height and an increase in days to flowering, even if very low. Due to distinct historical phases of the rice breeding programme, there were changes in research focus and, consequently, affected the genetic gains. With this study, it was possible to evaluate the selection strategies carried out in the past and identify important points to maintain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress may continue to be a major limitation for the crop productivity world wide and severity may increase with the changing climate scenario. Although the finger millet is renowned for its drought tolerance, drought stress at reproductive stage dramatically affects the grain yield. A field experiment was conducted over the two years during summer 2019 and summer 2020 to identify stable drought tolerant finger millet genotypes. Three hundred and fifty genotypes representing wide genetic variability available in finger millet were evaluated for grain yield per plant under drought stress and well watered conditions by following augmented design. Significant yield reduction was observed due to drought stress in both the years. The grain yield per plant under drought stress and well watered conditions were used to determine different drought tolerance indices (DTI) viz. geometric mean productivity (GMP), mean productivity (MP), harmonic mean (HM), drought resistance index (DRI), yield index (YI), yield stability index (YSI) for each genotype and year. The combination of drought tolerance indices over the two years were used to identify the stable drought tolerant genotypes. The genotypes viz. GE-1234, GE-1286 and GE-3003 were found to be the most drought tolerant across DTI and GE-1641, GE-4719 and GE-3722 were found to be highly susceptible. The tolerant genotypes recorded less than 26 per cent yield reduction under drought stress over the two years. On the other hand, the yield reduction was more than 76 per cent over the two years in susceptible genotypes. In the present study using combination of DTI, contrasting genotypes for drought tolerance were identified and were confirmed by yield reduction under stress environment for further use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Hazelnut is consumed worldwide and is of critical economic importance to the rural communities of Turkey's northern coast. A new disease outbreak has drastically decreased yields across Turkey and climate change is emerging as a new threat to cultivation. Our study is the first to provide a genomic perspective on diversity in this vulnerable crop, which will prove valuable for future breeding efforts. Such research into perennial crops like hazelnut can help to improve farmer livelihoods and ensure the sustainability of crop production in a changing world. Summary Assessing and describing genetic diversity in crop plants is a crucial first step toward their improvement. The European hazelnut, Corylus avellana L., is one of the most economically important tree nut crops worldwide. It is primarily produced in Turkey where rural communities depend on it for their livelihoods. Despite this, we know little about its domestication history and the genetic diversity it holds. We use double digest restriction‐site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing to produce a genome‐wide dataset containing wild and domesticated hazelnut. We uncover patterns of population structure and diversity, determine levels of crop‐wild gene flow, and estimate the relationships among different genetic clusters. We use a dataset of over 60k single nucleotide polymorphisms to find that genetic clusters of cultivars do not reflect their given names and that there is limited evidence for a reduction in genetic diversity in domesticated individuals. We find evidence that hazelnut may have been domesticated more than once and that admixture has likely occurred multiple times between wild and domesticated hazelnut. We provide the first genomic assessment of Turkish hazelnut diversity and suggest that there has not been an extreme bottleneck during the domestication of this crop, leading to cultivars at different stages of domestication. Our study provides a platform for further research that will protect hazelnut from the threats of climate change and an emerging fungal disease.

Cowpea is the most important food legume in West and Central Africa and a valuable economic commodity in the region. Among the major biotic constraints to cowpea production are root parasitic weeds of which Alectra vogelii (Benth.) is of increasing importance. The cowpea landrace B301 was previously identified as a source of Alectra resistance, but neither the genes nor genomic loci conferring this resistance have been mapped. Therefore, to map and identify genetic markers linked to Alectra resistance for use in the molecular improvement of cowpea, we developed an F2 population from a cross of the susceptible variety 524B with B301. The population was phenotyped for resistance to A. vogelii and genotyped with a cowpea high density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray. Putative resistance loci were mapped in F2 populations by categorical trait–multiple interval mapping and validated by selective genotyping. Selective genotyping indicated that the resistance loci on Vu04 (Rav1) and Vu11 (Rav2) were significantly associated with resistance (p ≤ 0.01). Using marker assisted backcrossing, the two resistance loci were introgressed independently into the susceptible 524B genetic background. Phenotyping and genotyping of the segregating backcross families delineated Rav1 to a 10 cM on chromosome 4 and Rav2 to a 6.7 cM interval in chromosome 11. These two loci are desirable for breeding Alectra resistant cowpea varieties due to their simple inheritance and ability to independently confer complete immunity to the parasite.

The study of domestication contributes to our knowledge of evolution and crop genetic resources. Human selection has shaped wild Brassica rapa into diverse turnip, leafy, and oilseed crops. Despite its worldwide economic importance and potential as a model for understanding diversification under domestication, insights into the number of domestication events and initial crop(s) domesticated in B. rapa have been limited due to a lack of clarity about the wild or feral status of conspecific noncrop relatives. To address this gap and reconstruct the domestication history of B. rapa , we analyzed 68,468 genotyping-by-sequencing-derived single nucleotide polymorphisms for 416 samples in the largest diversity panel of domesticated and weedy B. rapa to date. To further understand the center of origin, we modeled the potential range of wild B. rapa during the mid-Holocene. Our analyses of genetic diversity across B. rapa morphotypes suggest that noncrop samples from the Caucasus, Siberia, and Italy may be truly wild, whereas those occurring in the Americas and much of Europe are feral. Clustering, tree-based analyses, and parameterized demographic inference further indicate that turnips were likely the first crop type domesticated, from which leafy types in East Asia and Europe were selected from distinct lineages. These findings clarify the domestication history and nature of wild crop genetic resources for B. rapa , which provides the first step toward investigating cases of possible parallel selection, the domestication and feralization syndrome, and novel germplasm for Brassica crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Because agriculture's productivity is based on this process, a combination of technologies to reduce emissions and enhance soil carbon storage can allow this sector to achieve net negative emissions while maintaining high productivity. Unfortunately, current row-crop agricultural practice generates about 5% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and European Union. To reduce these emissions, significant effort has been focused on changing farm management practices to maximize soil carbon. In contrast, the potential to reduce emissions has largely been neglected. Through a combination of innovations in digital agriculture, crop and microbial genetics, and electrification, we estimate that a 71% (1,744 kg CO2e/ha) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from row crop agriculture is possible within the next 15 y. Importantly, emission reduction can lower the barrier to broad adoption by proceeding through multiple stages with meaningful improvements that gradually facilitate the transition to net negative practices. Emerging voluntary and regulatory ecosystems services markets will incentivize progress along this transition pathway and guide public and private investments toward technology development. In the difficult quest for net negative emissions, all tools, including emission reduction and soil carbon storage, must be developed to allow agriculture to maintain its critical societal function of provisioning society while, at the same time, generating environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat of different genotypes was analyzed for their micro and macronutrient contents using HHXRF. It was found that K and Ca was present in significant quantities and besides other trace elements Fe and Zn were present showing a positive trend for crop improvement programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic erosion can result in the loss of sorghum landrace genetic diversity. In the study areas, although it is generally believed that genetic erosion had occurred, there are no data on its amount and extent. Thus, this study is aimed to assess farmers' perception about the use of sorghum landraces and their genetic erosion and to identify suggested reasons for the replacement of sorghum landraces. To this end, a field survey of 1200 farmers, randomly selected over the three districts (Tenta, Mekdela, and Delanta) during 2006 to 2015/2016 main cropping seasons, was undertaken. Structured questionnaire survey of households, focused group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observations were used to collect data. Moreover, the data for samples collected during 1980 were obtained from the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI). Sorghum landrace history profile analysis indicated that there was an insight in the use of local varieties among local farmers over the past three or above decades. However, there is a reduction trend due to the different selection criteria described by farmers. "Kokita," "Merar," "Marchuke," "Tinkish" (except for "Necho-Tinkish" and "Jofa-Tinkish"), and "Fesho" were totally excluded (lost) by local farmers attributed by home consumption preferences. The interviewed farmers indicated that genetic erosion had occurred. Genetic erosion of 100% was observed in white sorghum in Mekdela and 66.7% in Delanta and Tenta districts. Likewise, genetic erosion of red sorghum, 25%, 20%, and 75%, respectively, was detected in Tenta, Mekdela, and Delanta. For yellow sorghum grains, genetic erosion was 33.4% in Tenta and 66.7% in Mekdela and Delanta. Genetic erosion for "Tinkish" was found to be 66.7% in Tenta and 50% in Mekdela and Delanta. Based on farmer responses, genetic erosion was attributed to reduced benefits from landraces, drought, climate change, market price and demand, and reduction in land size. The actions of both natural and conscious selection on farm were also discussed in detail as genetic erosion scenarios. Therefore, attention should be given to conservation of farmers' varieties in which involving farmers' participation is very important in order to use their indigenous knowledge for conservation of FVs and on-farm conservation strategies should be practiced for FV sustainable use. Thus, genetic resource conservation is attained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the function of genes within staple crops will accelerate crop improvement by allowing targeted breeding approaches. Despite their importance, a lack of genomic information and resources has hindered the functional characterisation of genes in major crops. The recent release of high-quality reference sequences for these crops underpins a suite of genetic and genomic resources that support basic research and breeding. For wheat, these include gene model annotations, expression atlases and gene networks that provide information about putative function. Sequenced mutant populations, improved transformation protocols and structured natural populations provide rapid methods to study gene function directly. We highlight a case study exemplifying how to integrate these resources. This review provides a helpful guide for plant scientists, especially those expanding into crop research, to capitalise on the discoveries made in Arabidopsis and other plants. This will accelerate the improvement of crops of vital importance for food and nutrition security.

Societal Impact Statement: Hazelnut is consumed worldwide and is of critical economic importance to the rural communities of Turkey's northern coast. A new disease outbreak has drastically decreased yields across Turkey and climate change is emerging as a new threat to cultivation. Our study is the first to provide a genomic perspective on diversity in this vulnerable crop, which will prove valuable for future breeding efforts. Such research into perennial crops like hazelnut can help to improve farmer livelihoods and ensure the sustainability of crop production in a changing world. SummaryAssessing and describing genetic diversity in crop plants is a crucial first step toward their improvement. The European hazelnut, Corylus avellana L., is one of the most economically important tree nut crops worldwide. It is primarily produced in Turkey where rural communities depend on it for their livelihoods. Despite this, we know little about its domestication history and the genetic diversity it holds.We use double digest restriction‐site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing to produce a genome‐wide dataset containing wild and domesticated hazelnut. We uncover patterns of population structure and diversity, determine levels of crop‐wild gene flow, and estimate the relationships among different genetic clusters.We use a dataset of over 60k single nucleotide polymorphisms to find that genetic clusters of cultivars do not reflect their given names and that there is limited evidence for a reduction in genetic diversity in domesticated individuals. We find evidence that hazelnut may have been domesticated more than once and that admixture has likely occurred multiple times between wild and domesticated hazelnut.We provide the first genomic assessment of Turkish hazelnut diversity and suggest that there has not been an extreme bottleneck during the domestication of this crop, leading to cultivars at different stages of domestication. Our study provides a platform for further research that will protect hazelnut from the threats of climate change and an emerging fungal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers are powerful tools for the determination of relationships between genotypes and genetic diversity because of advantages such as high polymorphism, codominance nature, multiallelism and distribution on encoding and non-encoding regions, This study investigated the transferability and polymorphism of 102 barley SSR markers in 41 bread and durum wheat and triticale genotypes. A total of 50 pair primers were transferable, and 40 pair primers producing 118 alleles (on average 2.95 alleles per locus) were polymorphic. The Polymorphism Information Content and genetic diversity for these markers were estimated to be 29% and 33%, respectively. The average of Shannon and Nei indices for the studied genotypes were 34% and 23%, respectively. Cluster analysis, using a Minimum Evolution algorithm and P-distance coefficient, assigned the genotypes into five groups. In principal coordinates analysis, the first principal component explained 74.69% of the total molecular variation. Analysis of molecular variance based on the genome structure of the genotypes using molecular data revealed a high level of variation within groups. In conclusion, this study has identified a set of 50 polymorphic SSR markers of barley as being useful for diversity analysis of common wheat, durum wheat, and triticale. These microsatellites could be used for diversity analysis, molecular mapping/QTL analysis, molecular marker-assisted selection, and comparative genome analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last decade has witnessed dramatic changes in global food consumption patterns mainly because of population growth and economic development. Food substitutions for healthier eating, such as swapping regular servings of meat for protein-rich crops, is an emerging diet trend that may shape the future of food systems and the environment worldwide. To meet the erratic consumer demand in a rapidly changing world where resources become increasingly scarce due largely to anthropogenic activity, the need to develop crops that benefit both human health and the environment has become urgent. Legumes are often considered to be affordable plant-based sources of dietary proteins. Growing legumes provides significant benefits to cropping systems and the environment because of their natural ability to perform symbiotic nitrogen fixation, which enhances both soil fertility and water-use efficiency. In recent years, the focus in legume research has seen a transition from merely improving economically important species such as soybeans to increasingly turning attention to some promising underutilized species whose genetic resources hold the potential to address global challenges such as food security and climate change. Pulse crops have gained in popularity as an affordable source of food or feed; in fact, the United Nations designated 2016 as the International Year of Pulses, proclaiming their critical role in enhancing global food security. Given that many studies have been conducted on numerous underutilized pulse crops across the world, we provide a systematic review of the related literature to identify gaps and opportunities in pulse crop genetics research. We then discuss plausible strategies for developing and using pulse crops to strengthen food and nutrition security in the face of climate and anthropogenic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)‐based genome editing, derived from prokaryotic immunity system, is rapidly emerging as an alternative platform for introducing targeted alterations in genomes. The CRISPR‐based tools have been deployed for several other applications including gene expression studies, detection of mutation patterns in genomes, epigenetic regulation, chromatin imaging, etc. Unlike the traditional genetic engineering approaches, it is simple, cost‐effective, and highly specific in inducing genetic variations. Despite its popularity, the technology has limitations such as off‐targets, low mutagenesis efficiency, and its dependency on in‐vitro regeneration protocols for the recovery of stable plant lines. Several other issues such as persisted CRISPR activity in subsequent generations, the potential for transferring to its wild type population, the risk of reversion of edited version to its original phenotype particularly in cross‐pollinated plant species when released into the environment and the scarcity of validated targets have been overlooked. This article briefly highlights these undermined aspects, which may challenge the wider applications of this platform for improving crop genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Triticum aestivum (wheat) is one of the world's oldest crops and has been used for >8000 years as a food crop in North Africa, West Asia and Europe. Today, wheat is one of the most important sources of grain for humans, and is cultivated on greater areas of land than any other crop. As the human population increases and soil salinity becomes more prevalent, there is increased pressure on wheat breeders to develop salt-tolerant varieties in order to meet growing demands for yield and grain quality. Here we developed a mutant wheat population using the moderately salt-tolerant Bangladeshi variety BARI Gom-25, with the primary goal of further increasing salt tolerance. Results: After titrating the optimal ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) concentration, ca 30,000 seeds were treated with 1% EMS, and 1676 lines, all originating from single seeds, survived through the first four generations. Most mutagenized lines showed a similar phenotype to BARI Gom-25, although visual differences such as dwarfing, giant plants, early and late flowering and altered leaf morphology were seen in some lines. By developing an assay for salt tolerance, and by screening the mutagenized population, we identified 70 lines exhibiting increased salt tolerance. The selected lines typically showed a 70% germination rate on filter paper soaked in 200 mM NaCl, compared to 0–30% for BARI Gom-25. From two of the salt-tolerant OlsAro lines (OA42 and OA70), genomic DNA was sequenced to 15x times coverage. A comparative analysis against the BARI Gom-25 genomic sequence identified a total of 683,201 (OA42), and 768,954 (OA70) SNPs distributed throughout the three sub-genomes (A, B and D). The mutation frequency was determined to be approximately one per 20,000 bp. All the 70 selected salt-tolerant lines were tested for root growth in the laboratory, and under saline field conditions in Bangladesh. The results showed that all the lines selected for tolerance showed a better salt tolerance phenotype than both BARI Gom-25 and other local wheat varieties tested. Conclusion: The mutant wheat population developed here will be a valuable resource in the development of novel salt-tolerant varieties for the benefit of saline farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was performed under irrigated condition of Diyarbakir and Sanliurfa provinces, Turkey in the 2013-2014 production season to determine superior wheat genotypes for irrigated or high rainfall areas and contribute breeding programs. Experiments was designed according to the random blocks trial pattern with four replications. Performance of genotypes for examined traits was found statically different at level of p≤ 0.01. According to ranking biplot analyse G9 was the most stable genotype for grain yield and G11 for seed protein content. Advansed lines, G9, G11 and G17 were determined as supeior genotypes for grain yield and quality traits compare to cultivars that used as a national checks. These advanced lines could be used as genitor in breeding programs to improve high quality and yielding varieties for irrigated conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implications of freezing seeds to conserve genes statically and for the long term are complex and deserve further reflection to appreciate seed banking as an attempt to detach seeds from their life cycle. Here, I use a cryopolitical framework to explore this in the context of the activities of the International Board of Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR) between 1973 and 1984. I suggest that the emergence of seed banks is a shift toward a cryopower mode of governance, where technoscientific intervention in the biology of seeds was presented as a means to manage the survival of seeds. The project of ex situ conservation is a socio‐technical effort by international institutions such as IBPGR and a variety of institutions with seed repositories. In creating a coldscape, they sought to make genetic resources into frozen seeds that were stable and mobile, not only across space but, importantly, over time. Consequently, our interpretations of seed banks as sites of geopolitical significance in the controversies over access to seeds can be complemented by considering their biopolitical importance as interventions that extend the power of IBPGR and other institutions toward plant life, and the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean sesame core collection contains agro-morphologically superior sesame accessions from geographically diverse regions in four continents. In the present investigation, the genetic diversity and population structure of this collection was analyzed with 5292 high-quality SNPs discovered by double-digest restriction site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing, a cost-effective and flexible next-generation sequencing method. The genetic distance between pairs of accessions varied from 0.023 to 0.524. The gene diversity was higher in accessions from Asia than from America, Africa, and Europe. The highest genetic differentiation was observed between accessions collected from America and Europe. Structure analysis showed the presence of three subpopulations among the sesame accessions, and only six accessions were placed in an admixture group. Phylogenetic tree and principal coordinate analysis clustered the accessions based on their countries of origin. However, no clear division was evident among the sesame accessions with regard to their continental locations. This result was supported by an AMOVA analysis, which revealed a genetic variation among continental groups of 5.53% of the total variation. The large number of SNPs clearly indicated that the Mediterranean sesame core collection is a highly diverse genetic resource. The collection can be exploited by breeders to select appropriate accessions that will provide high genetic gain in sesame improvement programs. The high-quality SNP data generated here should also be used in genome-wide association studies to explore qualitative trait loci and SNPs related to economically and agronomically important traits in sesame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole-genome resequencing provides information of great relevance for crop genetics, evolution, and breeding. Here, we present the first whole-genome resequencing study using seven eggplant (Solanum melongena) and one wild relative (Solanum incanum) accessions. These eight accessions were selected for displaying a high phenotypic and genetic diversity and for being the founder parents of an eggplant multiparent advanced generation intercrosses population. By resequencing at an average depth of 19.8× and comparing to the high-quality reference genome "67/3" over 10 million high-reliable polymorphisms were discovered, of which over 9 million (84.5%) were single nucleotide polymorphisms and more than 700,000 (6.5%) InDels. However, while for the S. melongena accessions, the variants identified ranged from 0.8 to 1.3 million, over 9 million were detected for the wild S. incanum. This confirms the narrow genetic diversity of the domesticated eggplant and suggests that introgression breeding using wild relatives can efficiently contribute to broadening the genetic basis of this crop. Differences were observed among accessions for the enrichment in genes regulating important biological processes. By analyzing the distribution of the variants, we identified the potential footprints of old introgressions from wild relatives that can help to unravel the unclear domestication and breeding history. The comprehensive annotation of these eight genomes and the information provided in this study represents a landmark in eggplant genomics and allows the development of tools for eggplant genetics and breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical crop models have been developed to predict crop yield and quality, and they are based on physiological and environmental inputs. After molecular discoveries, models should integrate genetic variation to allow predictions that are more genotype-dependent. An interesting approach, Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL)-based ecophysiological modeling, has shown promising results for the design of ideotypes that are adapted to biotic and abiotic stresses, but there are still limitations to attaining a fully integrated model. The aim of this case study is to clarify the impact of choosing different model equations (closely related and with different numbers of parameters) and optimization methods on the detection of QTLs controlling the parameters of crop growth. Different growth equations were parameterized based on a genetic population by following different approaches. The correlations between parameters were analyzed, and two different strategies were adopted to address the correlation issue. QTL analysis was performed on the optimized values of the parameters of the growth equations and on the observed dry mass (DM) data to validate the QTLs detected. Overall, models and strategies resulted in different QTLs being detected. Similar LOD profiles but with peaks of different heights were observed, some of which were significant, resulting in different numbers of QTLs. In some cases, peaks had slightly different positions or were absent. Even closely related growth models led to the detection of different QTLs. The goodness of fit and complexity of the growth models were found to be insufficient to select the best model. Calculating parameters independently of observed data may not be a good strategy, whereas setting parameters independent of the genotype is recommended. Given the large-scale global optimization problem and the strong correlations between parameters, the two algorithms tested showed poor performance. Currently, the lack of effective algorithms is the main obstacle to answering the question posed. The authors therefore suggest testing different model formulations and comparing the QTLs detected before choosing the best formulation to use in an ecophysiological modeling approach based on QTLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]