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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]

Remote sensing has a potential application in assessing and monitoring the plants’ biophysical properties using the spectral responses of plants and soils within the electromagnetic spectrum. However, only a few reports compare the performance of different remote sensing approaches against in-situ spectral measurement. The current study assessed potential applications of open data source satellite images (Sentinel 2 and Landsat 9) in estimating the biophysical properties of a crop on a study farm. A Landsat 9 (30 m resolution) and Sentinel-2 (10 m resolution) satellite images with less than 10% cloud cover have been extracted from the open data sources for the period of December 2021-April 2022. In addition, SpectraVue 710s Leaf Spectrometer was used to measure the spectral response of the crop in April at five different locations within the same field. Results obtained by different data collection methods were compared to evaluate them for applicability in precision agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research aimed to identify and genotype barley lines and varieties resistant to the fungal disease net blotch Pyrenophora teres Drechsler [anamorph Drechslera teres (Sacc.) Shoem]. Widely distributed Bulgarian and foreign elite barley genotypes were the object of the study. So far, all the varieties constituting the varietal structure of Bulgaria were valued as medium-sensitive (MS 4, 5) to very sensitive (VS 8, 9) according to their phenotypic reaction to net blotch. The genotypes used as resistance identifiers from the global gene banks, as a reference, showed sensitivity to local isolates. All barley forms of different origins, forming the trait collection were subjected to selection and genetic analysis. An ISSR marker system was used to genotype certain barley forms to their different phenotype reactions to Pyrenophora teres. We report quantitative trait loci (QTL) for potential net blotch resistance using combined data from ISSR analysis and phenotype observations. The obtained genetic map gives an idea of the identified polymorphisms' relation, which may further serve to establish their additional links with the behavior of the varieties with the examined plant pathogen. Moreover, the created map can also be used to identify associations of these markers with resistance to other pest levels, thereby allowing the identification of genomic regions contributing to horizontal (multiple) resistance, such as those of particular interest. Identification of ISSR markers associated with major QTLs which can be used for marker-assisted selection (MAS), and their validation in unrelated barley populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current state of development and interpretation of vegetation indices makes them relatively difficult for practical use in farming. In this review, we briefly describe the key bottlenecks, together with discussing possible solutions to overcoming some of them. Based on our own experience with developing working precision agriculture solutions for field crops we propose an integrated approach to working towards building systems that can prove easily understandable outputs with low management requirements for the farmers that plan to use them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]