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In the present study, the phenological and genetic differences/similarities of 95 walnut genotypes were considered. These genotypes had been propagated sexually from the open pollination of the maternal cultivar ‘Maras 12’. This study examined the timing of several phenological features like bud break, leafing, yellowing of the leaves and defoliation in the mother plant and in its progenies. A total of 6 ISSR primers were used for determining genetic differences among the genotypes. The differences between the maternal cultivar and the offspring genotypes included a difference of 97.89% in the bud-break date, 96.84% in the leafing date, 100% in the yellowing date of the leaves and 94.73% in the defoliation date. On average, the phenological variation stood at 97.36%. PCA analysis also confirmed the presence of genetic diversity-based phenological markers in our walnut seedling collection with PC1 58.27%, PC2 27.16%, PC3 12.16%, and PC4 2.40% of the total variation. A total of 38 bands were obtained in molecular analyses. These bands were largely polymorphic (89.47%). While the average number of alleles was 5.66, Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) varied between genotypes from 0.47 to 0.95, and the average PIC value was 0.64. The UPGMA dendrogram divided the genotypes into two main clusters and the similarity coefficient of the genotypes varied between 0.68 and 0.96. In sum, it was found that open-pollinated walnut genotypes had high degrees of phenotypic and genetic variation in comparison with their maternal cultivar ‘Maras 12’.

Studies showed that cross-pollination also affect fruits and green bean coffee quantity and quality yet study on this subject in Indonesia rarely found. This study focused on assessing the pollination effect of fruit quality and beans in terms of size, weight, physical defect, and content of caffeine and fatty acid. During this study, Tetragonula laeviceps, indigenous stingless bees, were applied as a pollination agent to be compared to open pollination. The result showed that open pollination produced bigger beans (16.73ab±1.57 X 14.66a±1.48 mm) with higher caffeine (18.22%) and lower fatty acid (41,86%), while application of T. laeviceps produced slightly heavier beans (0.22 gram). Besides producing higher caffeine and lower fatty acid, cross-pollination services mainly required wild pollinators, although T. laeviceps could act as a potential replacement or for the inundation of this service.

O uso de genótipos resistentes é um dos principais métodos de controle de doenças no Brasil, sendo fundamental o melhoramento genético visando a obter novos genótipos resistentes, para suprir essa demanda. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar os parâmetros genéticos das variáveis resistência ao cancro, causado por Chrysoporthe cubensis e resistência à mancha foliar, causada por Cylindrocladium spp. e Kirramyces epicoccoides, bem como avaliar suas implicações na estratégia de melhoramento genético de Eucalyptus grandis. Foi instalado um teste de progênies de polinização aberta, em dois locais no Estado de São Paulo, nas regiões de Anhembi e Itatinga. O teste foi realizado em blocos casualizados, com 176 progênies e três testemunhas, uma por parcela, com 30 repetições em Itatinga e 28 repetições na região de Anhembi. A resistência ao cancro foi avaliada aos 12, 24 e 29 meses de idade na região de Anhembi e aos 15, 27 e 32 meses de idade, na região de Itatinga. A resistência à mancha foliar foi avaliada aos 12 e 24 meses de idade na região de Anhembi e aos 15 e 27 meses de idade, na região de Itatinga. Os parâmetros genéticos foram estimados, utilizando o software SELEGEN REML/BLUP®. Com a mesma população de seleção, verificou-se que, para a região de Itatinga, as estimativas de parâmetros genéticos indicam maior potencial para a seleção de genótipos resistentes ao cancro e à mancha foliar. Porém, para as condições edafoclimáticas da região de Anhembi, essa população apresenta potencial de seleção inferior, o que fica evidenciado pelos baixos valores de herdabilidade média individual de progênies estimados. Na região de Itatinga, foram obtidos valores de herdabilidade média individual de progênies para a resistência ao cancro e à mancha foliar, que variaram de moderado a alto, indicando que pode haver bons ganhos com a seleção neste local.

Low-N maize variety is developed for its ability to tolerate low nitrogen soil environment. This experiment was conducted to study the genetic implication of Low-N maize variety for grain yield and related traits under low nitrogen soil conditions triple test cross analysis. Inbred lines used for the study were generated from twelve low nitrogen tolerance open pollinated maize varieties after six generations of selfing. Two inbred lines along with their F1 were used as testers for ten inbred lines in a triple test cross pattern to generate 30 crosses. The 30 crosses, their parents and the testers to State University, Ado-Ekiti during 2017 planting season. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Data were collected on plant height, ear height, days to 50% anthesis, days to 50% silking, incidence of curvularia leaf spot, blight, plant aspect, ear aspect, ear rot, stay green, cob per plant, ear weight, grain moisture content and grain yield. All data were subjected to analysis of variance and complete genetic estimates. Additive and dominants were significant (P < 0.05) for all traits; however, epitasis estimates were not significant for all the traits tested. The degree of dominance component indicated partial dominance for all the traits. Correlation coefficients for days to 50% anthesis and 50% silking, plant height, ear height, number of cobs per plant and grain yield were positive and significant (P < 0.05). Since both additive and dominance gene actions were important for low-N traits, the use of reciprocal recurrent selection procedure can be adopted in incorporating the trait into elite maize varieties.

Turkey is among the rare countries in terms of plant diversity, and thus, most plant species spread widely throughout the country. Apricot is one of these plant species. Due to the self-incompatibility seen in apricots, it is necessary to use a pollinator variety for a quality and efficient product. With this study carried out in 2021 year, the effects of different pollinators on fruit set and some fruit quality parameters of Casne Drenova, Ninfa and P. de Tyrinthe cultivars were investigated in Kayseri ecological conditions. In the study, early ripening apricot varieties were used as paternal parent. According to the results of the study, it was shown that fruit set values varied between 11.6% and 22.6%. In the pomological parameters examined in the study, in general (except for fruit firmness), differences were found in combinations using different pollinators compared to the open pollinated fruits of the maternal parent. It is foreseen that the results obtained will be guiding especially in the breeding studies to be carried out with these varieties and in the establishment of new orchards.

Breeding for new ornamental varieties is quite often a profitable occupation in the world. Worldwide breeding activities have generated a massive amount of literature. All present day ornamental varieties have evolved through bud sports, open pollinated interspecific crosses, open pollinated intraspecific crosses, planned crosses, natural chromosomal changes, chromosomal manipulations, induced mutations and using new breeding techniques like management of chimera, in vitro mutation, molecular approaches, somaclonal variations etc. The breeders have modified and improved these techniques on need basis to achieve targeted and directional changes. All work on ornamental breeding and development of new varieties are the results of concerted efforts of scientific community, nurserymen, breeders, amateur growers and flower lovers. It is important to highlight the factual account of the early work, genuine drawback of fulfillments and success of ornamental breeding. It is now needful to assess the present status of each technology developed after extensive research activities conducted by different research institutions. Breeders will be familier with the capability and constraints of different techniques and select the proper experimental approach which is most suitable and profitable to achieve their goals. This review provides an indeepth knowledge base for accurate designing of future breeding strategies in the field of ornamentals. The entire breeding system of ornamentals have been very simply reviewed and cited with very common examples so that even a new breeder can follow and select the most suitable techniques for developing the new varieties with desired traits of commercial ornamental species.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) known as a Camel crop of cereals, is among the dominant staple food grains for the majority of Ethiopians. Forty nine sorghum genotypes (hybrids + open pollinated varieties) were tested at five locations in a simple lattice design with two replications during the 2016 main cropping season. The objectives of this study were to determine yield stability using univariate methods and to assess the association among stability parameters of striga resistant sorghum genotypes in the dry lowland areas of Ethiopia. The result of the combined analysis of variance for grain yield revealed highly significant (P≤0.001) difference among Environment (E), Genotype (G) and Genotype × Environment Interaction (GEI). Based on the combined ANOVA over locations, the mean grain yield of environments ranged from 588 kg ha-1 in Humera to 4508 kg ha-1 in Sheraro. The highest yield was obtained from ESH-1 (3278 kg ha-1), while the lowest was from K5136 (735 kg ha-1) and the average grain yield of genotypes was 2184 kg ha-1. Different stability models were used in measuring of genotype stability such as AMMI Stability Value (ASV), Yield Stability Index (YSI), coefficient of regression (bi) and deviation from regression (S2di). Yield was significantly correlated with bi (0.91), r2 (0.55) and ASV (-0.56), while it was not correlated with S2di (-0.26). The non-significant correlation among yield and stability statistics indicated that, stability statistics provide information that can not be collected from average yield. The high positive correlation among mean grain yield and stability parameters is expected as the values of these parameters were higher for high yielding genotypes and the vice versa. Highly correlated stability parameters indicate that they can measure stability similarly. However, there were inconsistencies with the univariate stability parameters used, which created uncertainty to select or recommend the stable genotypes. Therefore, as the data is from one year, it is necessary to repeat the experiment at least for one more year across diverse dry lowland areas of Ethiopia.

The presence of residual female fertility in most of the parthenocarpic banana accessions encourages the banana breeder to develop new hybrids through conventional breeding. Desirable trait can be fixed in the first generation of hybrid progenies, but the evaluation of these hybrids in field is the time-consuming process owing to non-availability of uniform suckers/planting material. This can be overcome by developing multiple shoots from single embryo in a short period of time through embryo culture. A protocol for in vitro multiplication of plantlets from zygotic embryos was standardized in seeded accessions. Multiple shoots from zygotic embryos were achieved up to 55.2% and 64.1% in seeded accessions of Musa acuminata and M. velutina respectively in medium supplemented with 17.76 µM of BAP. The Single shoot derived (only germination) from zygotic embryos was decapitated and the apical meristem were disturbed for further multiple shoot formation in media supplemented with 17.76 µM of BAP. Present studies revealed that in total 75% and 91% of the M. acuminata and M.velutina embryos were able to produce multiple shoot from single embryo by manipulating the media composition and decortications technique. The above protocol was applied for zygotic embryos obtained from controlled pollination (18 cross combinations) and open pollination (nine accessions) of various genomic groups (ABB, AAB, AA). The multiple shoots derived from zygotic embryos and plantlet germinated from zygotic embryos was examined for genetic fidelity analysis by SSR markers. The protocol for multiple shoot formation from single zygotic embryo under in vitro culture developed in this study will accelerate the banana breeding program.

Male sterility is a useful trait in traditional and hybrid wheat breeding. A dwarf male-sterile wheat line that harbors two tightly linked dominant traits, one, the dwarf gene Rht-D1c (originally called Rht10), and the other, the male-sterility gene Ms2 (the two genes linkage group is collectively called RMs2), has been widely used in wheat breeding programs in China. The dominant Ms2 (or RMs2) locus confers complete male sterility in wheat. In this study, we compared the plant height and spike traits in the Ms2 (or RMs2)-isogenic BC2F1 lines that were derived from four soft white winter (SWW) wheat of the US Pacific Northwest (PNW), and the SWW line ‘Brundage’ that harbored an Ms2 transgene. The dominant Ms2 gene had no essential effects on agronomic traits, including plant height, spikelet length and spikelet numbers per spike, in the BC2F1 plants of SWW wheats and the T2 transgenic ‘Brundage’. In an open pollination environment in field, the Ms2-positive BC2F1 plants had a 79% natural seed-setting rate, but the RMs2-positive BC2F1 plants had only a 60% natural seed-setting rate, suggesting that the Ms2 system is more practical for cross-pollination than the RMs2 one. This difference is probably due to the extreme plant height-reducing effect (45% reduction on average) and the late anthesis effect (3–5 days in general) of the Rht-D1c locus. Collectively, these investigations showed that the dominant Ms2 gene has no detrimental effects on plant and spike growth in five PNW wheat varieties/lines, therefore can become a valuable gene tool for traditional and hybrid breeding in wheat.

This article investigates the possibility of obtaining genotypes of garden strawberry with enhanced fruit strength. The creation of species and varieties with the specified feature is expected to improve the quality, transportability and storability of berries. Experiments were performed in 2015–2020 at the collection and breeding plots of the Kokinsky testing station of the Federal Horticultural Research Centre for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery. 29 species of the domestic and foreign selection, 7 choice species, as well as the hybrid seedlings of 22 crossing combinations and 3 open pollination populations of garden strawberries, were investigated. The aim was to identify sources of increased trength and perspective crossing combinations, affording the highest yield of seedlings with firm fruits. The examination of the fruit strength was performed at the stage of optimal maturity. Berries crushing force was determined using a VR-04MS-2-BR balance by applying pressure to the fruits until the first drop of juice appears. The measurement results were converted into international units, i.e., Newtons (1 kg = 9.8 N). The phenotypic evaluation of varieties and species of garden strawberries based on the fruit strength revealed genotypes with the firmest fruits — Kleri, Darselect, Tenira, Selekta, Polka, Tzaritza, Aquarelle, Irma and the 3-366-9 selection. These varieties yield the fruits, which endure the crashing force of over 10 N. In the hybrid progeny, the fruit strength varied within a wide range, and its significant change within the crossing combinations and populations of open pollination was revealed. The Darselect, Cleri, Irma, Tzaritza varieties are the most valuable seed parents in the transmission of the high strength character. Within the research period, the best crossing combination yielding seedlings with fi m fruits were Alfa×Darselect, Festival Romashka×Darselect, Irma×Lyubava, 3-366-9×Kleri, Nashe Podmoskovye×Irma, Festival Romashka×Kleri and open pollination population of the Kleri, Darselect, Tzariza varieties. 42.2 to 60.3 % of hybrid seedlings yielded fruits with the crushing force of over 10 N, and an average value for the families amounted to 9.6–11.2 N.

The potential of an alien plant to spread rapidly and colonize new habitat may be related to the mode of reproduction and the ability to attract pollinators. Most studies focus on widespread invasive plants, in which pollinators are rarely limiting. Here, we assess the ability of a recent invader in South Africa, the tristylous Lythrum salicaria to self-reproduce and whether this can explain the delay between introduction and spread. This study was conducted in one of the largest known populations (a total of 7 populations in South Africa) of L. salicaria in the Liesbeek river in the fynbos biome. We assessed the importance of pollinators and autonomous selfing in L. salicaria by comparing seed set between pollinator excluded and naturally pollinated flowers. Overall, 5 pollinators (4 native and 1 alien) were recorded with Cape honeybees and Africa Monarch butterflies the most prominent. Seed and fruit set were significantly higher in open pollinated flowers compared to pollinator excluded flowers. Also, seed and fruit set in pollinator excluded flowers were higher in long and medium morphs compared to short morphs. Germination was high for seeds from pollinator, but also from pollinator excluded treatments. This shows that L. salicaria in South Africa is self-compatible to some extent, but it is frequented by pollinators, significantly increasing seed production. Despite L. salicaria being tristylous, all 3 morphs are present in South Africa and with a huge seed production, this species has the potential to become a major invader of rivers and wetlands in South Africa.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), known as green gold, is one of the best-known forage plants in the world. Alfalfa is an autotetraploid allogamous plant with a large genetic diversity among its cultivars. This diversity is due to self-incompatibility, a high rate of allogamy, and open pollination. This study aimed to investigate the biodiversity of grain storage proteins of M. sativa using gel electrophoresis. For this purpose, seed proteins of 12 Iranian genotypes including seeds collected from Lenjan of Isfahan, Dashte Qazvin, Asadabad, Qasr Shirin, Taleghan Qazvin, Malayer, Isfahan, Saqez, Gonbad Kavous, Kamyaran, Shiraz, and Najafabad of Isfahan were studied and a total of 22 strips were identified. Then, the strips were used to estimate the genetic distance of alfalfa genotypes. The results of the study based on the presence and absence of specific protein bands in the seed protein pattern showed that genotypes 1 (Collection from Isfahan-Lenjan) and 12 (Collection from Najafabad-Isfahan) have the most variation. A similarity matrix was calculated and cluster analysis was performed based on the Jaccard similarity coefficient by the UPGMA method. The similarity coefficients ranged from 0.3 to 1. In general, classification based on cluster analysis showed a similar trend to the differences observed in gel electrophoresis. The total protein of population number 12 (Najafabad population of Isfahan) had the highest amount among the studied genotypes. The highest and lowest number of bands were related to genotype number 12 (population of Najafabad, Isfahan) and genotype number 11 (population collected from Shiraz), respectively. Therefore, the results showed that the protein pattern of alfalfa seeds based on the presence and absence of protein bands can determine genetic diversity. These findings can be used in future research in the field of proteomics and breeding studies in future.

Network analyses rarely include fitness components, such as germination, to tie invasive plants to population‐level effects on the natives. We address this limitation in a previously studied network of flower visitors around a suite of native and invasive plants that includes an endemic plant at Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA. Eriogonum visheri coflowers with two abundant invasive plants, Salsola tragus and Melilotus officinalis, as well as a common congener, E. pauciflorum. Network analyses had suggested strong linkages between E. visheri and S. tragus and E. pauciflorum, with a weaker link to M. officinalis. We measured visitation, pollen deposited on stigmas, achene weight and germination over three field seasons (two for germination) in four populations (two in the final season) of E. visheri and applied in situ pollen treatments to E. visheri, adding pollen from other flowers on the same plant; flowers on other E. visheri plants; S. tragus, M. officinalis, or E. pauciflorum; open pollination; or excluding pollinators. Insect visitation to E. visheri was not affected by floral abundance of any of the focal species. Most visitors were halictid bees; one of these (Lasioglossum packeri) was the only identified species to visit E. visheri all three years. Ninety‐seven percent of pollen on collected E. visheri stigmas was conspecific, but 22% of flowers had >1 grain of E. pauciflorum pollen on stigmas and 7% had >1 grain of S. tragus pollen, Eriogonum visheri (Visher's buckwheat) is a rare endemic plant of management concern in the northern Great Plains. Two invasive species, Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweetclover) and Salsola tragus (Russian thistle) and an abundant congener (E. pauciflorum; fewflower buckwheat) occur and coflower with E. visheri, suggesting that they might interfere with pollination of the rare species. We found no evidence of pollination interference by either of the invasive species. In addition, evidence suggests that the abundant congener may provide an alternative resource to support pollinators that also visit the rarer species.

The open pollination cultivars (VPA) of maize are an alternative of production for a small property, because it presents a good agronomic performance and low production cost, mainly due to the possibility of seed production with low cost. The objective of this research was to evaluate the agronomic performance and economic viability of open pollination cultivars of maize in a low-altitude site in the central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The experiment was conducted during the 2018/2019 crop season, in the experimental area of the Federal University of Santa Maria-UFSM, in the municipality of Santa Maria-RS. The open pollination maize cultivars (SCS 154 Fortuna, SCS 155 Catarina, and SCS 156 Colorado) were used. The experiment consisted of three treatments and four replicates and the experimental design used was that of complete blocks at random. The open pollination cultivars presented an adequate agronomic performance in a low-altitude region in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, associated with the economic viability of the crop in the central region of the state.

Self-incompatibility, low yield and fruit set represent important factors influencing the pear production in Iran. Some compounds such as polyamines and the mixture of some mineral elements like SICS could be suitable to decrease above concerns. The trail included putrescine (Put) (0.1, 0.25 mM), both spermine (Spm) and spermidine (Spd) (0.05, 0.25 mM) and SICS (1, 2 mg/L) in (self and open) pollination and control. Spd (0.25 mM) in open pollination mode showed the highest yield per branch and fruit set in comparison with control. Spermidine (0.25 mM) in self-pollination mode was the best treatment for fruit length and diameter. In self-pollination mode, Spd (0.05 mM), Spm (0.25 mM) and SICS at 2 mg.L showed the significantly increase in irregular fruit shape. Spd and Put (0.25 mM) in self-pollination showed the best fruit volume among all of the treatments at both of pollination mode

Animal-mediated pollination is an essential ecosystem service on which over a third of the world's agricultural crops depend. Blueberry fruit production is highly dependent on animal pollination and although visited by a range of bee species in their native range and agricultural settings, bumble bees are thought to be their primary native pollinators. Demand for blueberries has increased in recent years due to their perceived health benefits. Consequently, blueberry cultivation has expanded well beyond their native and original agricultural range, including several regions where bumble bees are not present. In South Africa, like many areas in the world, honey bees are the only commercially available pollinators for blueberries because many countries ban the importation of bumble bees. This study aimed to determine the benefits of honey bee pollination on blueberry fruit yield for the variety Ventura by comparing yields of honey bee-pollinated flowers to flowers where pollinators were excluded. Our results show that honey bees significantly increased berry mass and diameter. We conclude that Ventura in South Africa can be pollinated by honey bees, and that honey bee pollination can be an effective substitute for bumble bees in areas where bumble bees are unavailable. We also determined the extent to which blueberry yields could be improved by comparing fruit yield under honey bee pollination to fruit yield achieved through hand pollination. We found that honey bee pollinated blueberry yields were lower than yields achieved through hand pollination, suggesting that there is potentially room to improve honey bee pollination. Furthermore, we offer a conceptual figure to demonstrate how yield obtained through pollinator exclusion, open pollination, and hand pollination relate to each other. Additional research is required to study how beneficial honey bees are to fruit yield on other blueberry varieties as the benefits of honey bees are likely to vary depending on the variety.

The objective of this study was to compare the evolution of two populations of opaque-2 and purple maize in the central semiarid region of Argentina, and to characterize the agronomic traits and grain chemical attributes to conclude the varietal description of each population. Introduced germplasm of both varietal types was grown under rainfed conditions during four crop years (2011/12, 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16) and characterized both agronomically and chemically. Significant differences were observed between varietal types in the morphological traits of plants and cobs, but did not differ in male flowering or female flowering. Purple maize exhibited taller plants with thicker stems and smaller cobs with heavier grains than opaque-2 maize. Purple maize showed lower grain yields (mean of 4.84 vs. 6.16 tn ha−1 in opaque-2 maize) with more marked variations between cycles (3.02 to 6.62 vs. 5.47 to 7.28 tn ha−1 in opaque-2 maize). The effects of the environment and genotype x environment interaction (G × E) were more notable for grain yield and grain chemical features such us protein, amylose and phenolic compound contents. Nonetheless, most of the agronomic traits in each varietal type showed higher genetic effects (67–92% in opaque-2 maize and 55–82% in purple maize) and a lower G × E (3–14% in opaque-2 maize and 7–19% in purple maize). The advances of this study represent substantial efforts on the development, characterization and description of maize genetic resources in Argentina, which represent potential raw materials for the functional-foods industry.

Rice is livelihood of majority of population in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. Hybrid rice varieties have been witnessed to enhance the production as well productivity over the open pollinated varieties and that’s why Indian farmers are being given preference the hybrid culture in their rice farming. If the farmers are well trained for the hybrid seed production, their income will certainly be enhanced. Keeping above facts, a series of experiments were conducted with rice hybrid NDRH2 accommodating its parental lines viz., IR58025A, IR58025B, NDR3026-3-1, along with a combination of treatments involving staggered seeding, proper application of GA3, DAP and Boric Acid, supplementary pollination, etc. measures in order to maximize the hybrid seed production. The economics of various components viz., common cost, treatment cost, cost of cultivation, gross return, net return and benefit cost (B: C) ratio of different treatments were worked out on the basis of input-output analysis. The maximum benefit: cost ratio viz., 2.56:1 and 2.60:1 during 2015 and 2017, respectively was observed with foliar application of GA3 @ 90g/ha+ DAP @ 3%+Boric acid @ 0.3% by producing hybrid seed of rice hybrid NDRH2 using CMS and fertility restorer system at 2:12 male and female planting ratio during Kharif season. Thus, these fine tuning in hybrid rice seed production technology advocated as a major profit earning enterprise which needs to be disseminated at farmer’s fields also on a mission mode in order to enhance and or double their income by 2022.

Pistachio is one of the most important and high economic nut crops in the world. In the present research, the phenological and pomological traits of twenty superior male genotypes (MG) and twenty s...