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Ascochyta blight, caused by a complex of pathogenic fungi including Didymella pinodes, Ascochyta pisi, and Phoma pinodella, is a major disease of field pea (Pisum sativum), causing severe losses through lesions on leaves, stems, and pods. Mutation breeding using gamma irradiation is a non-GMO strategy to induce genetic variation and accelerate the development of improved genotypes. In this study, the M₂ generation of the forage pea cultivar Dodoni (Pisum sativum L. var. arvense), derived from M₀ seeds irradiated with 100 Gy, was evaluated for tolerance to D. pinodes (CBS 251.47) using a detached-leaf assay under controlled greenhouse conditions. Disease progression was quantified via image-based analysis on the 3^rd and 5^th days post-infection, calculating diseased area and disease severity index. Extensive phenotypic evaluation was also conducted on 16 families in the greenhouse and 100 families under field conditions, using an augmented incomplete block design. Screening revealed several M₂ families with significantly improved tolerance compared to non-irradiated controls. Among these, some individuals combined enhanced resistance with improved yield-related traits, such as higher pod number and biomass, while others exhibited reduced agronomic performance. These findings highlight the phenotypic diversity induced by gamma irradiation and demonstrate the potential to generate dual-purpose pea genotypes with both disease resistance and enhanced productivity, providing valuable material for future breeding of resilient cultivars.

High-throughput molecular technology DArTseq generates markers for potential use in molecular breeding of crops. Using DArTseq, we analysed a comprehensive set of 333 European potato varieties reflecting the outcomes of long-term breeding history and representing a potential germplasm for future breeding of potatoes in the Central European region. The varieties were classified according to four factors: region of origin, breeder, earliness and utilisation mode, that may potentially reflect their genetic structure, and for which complete data were publicly available. The DArTseq analysis was performed by the service centre, the Diversity Array Technology (University of Canberra), which generated approximately 38 000 silicoDArT and 64 000 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) polymorphic markers. The discriminatory ability of the markers in relation to the factors was confirmed using neighbour-joining and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), while the informativeness was assessed using the discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC). The analyses identified the 50 SNPs most strongly associated with each factor, along with their highly probable chromosomal localisation. Herein presented research contributes to the evaluation of potato genetic resources by adding the novel molecular data of active germplasm and implies their future utilisation in genome wide association studies and marker assisted selection.

Leaf rust is an important wheat disease that considerably reduces the wheat production in most wheat growing regions worldwide. This study aimed to identify leaf rust resistance genes in 42 wheat varieties to find genetic sources with the broadest spectrum of resistance against leaf rust pathotypes, to enable effective breeding for disease resistance. In this study, 42 wheat cultivars were inoculated with 18 pathotypes of Puccinia triticina Eriks. at the seedling stage to postulate the Lr genes in the cultivars. Resistance to leaf rust at the adult stage was then tested in field trials under natural infection during the 2019 to 2020 cropping seasons at Baoding, Hebei Province. Gene postulation together with molecular marker detection identified ten Lr genes (Lr1, Lr10, Lr14a, Lr26, Lr2a, Lr17, Lr20, Lr34, Lr37, and Lr46) among the 42 accessions.  Lr1 was present in 16 accessions, Lr14a in three accessions, Lr17 in five accessions, Lr2a in five accessions, Lr34 in one accession, Lr10 in two accessions, Lr37 in two accessions and Lr46 in 29 accessions. Additionally, 15 wheat accessions displayed adult-plant resistance or other unknown genes. These results suggest that a high level of leaf rust resistance can be achieved by combining known resistance genes and adult-plant resistance genes in wheat cultivars.

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) is a globally important crop valued for its flavour diversity and health benefits. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed to compare genomic variation and functional potential between clone Yabukita and locally adapted clone I.1.93. Using next-generation sequencing, approximately 10× genome coverage was achieved for both clones, with high mapping efficiency (98.24% for Yabukita and 97.88% for clone I.1.93), ensuring reliable downstream analyses. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis revealed distinct genomic patterns, with Yabukita showing a more uniform chromosomal SNP distribution, while clone I.1.93 exhibited higher SNP densities on specific chromosomes, particularly chromosomes 5 and 13. Silent mutations predominated in Yabukita (48.21%), whereas missense mutations were more frequent in clone I.1.93 (57.97%), suggesting greater functional divergence. Most SNPs occurred in non-coding regions, indicating potential regulatory roles. GO and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed highly similar shared pathways, including photosynthesis and protein interactions, alongside clone-specific enrichment related to photosynthesis in Yabukita and stress responses in clone I.1.93. miRNA profiling identified distinct regulatory patterns, including the clone-specific miR530 in clone I.1.93. Biosynthetic gene cluster analysis further predicted secondary metabolite pathways associated with terpenoid, polyketide, and saccharide biosynthesis. These findings provide valuable genomic insights for tea improvement and breeding programs.

Diagnostic morphological traits distinguishing Tilia cordata and T. platyphyllos are not always apparent. Precise species identification is crucial for conservation management and for establishing genetic resources of forest reproductive material. In this study, we employed fifteen microsatellite (SSR) markers to identify diagnostic loci for reliable species discrimination between T. cordata and T. platyphyllos species and to evaluate the genetic diversity. A total of 250 trees were sampled from eight natural autochthonous populations of T. cordata and T. platyphyllos in the Czech Republic, and additional ten individuals of T. tomentosa were included for comparison. Markers Tc8 and Tc918 were identified as diagnostic, exhibiting species-specific alleles for T. cordata and T. platyphyllos. Contrary to the previously published results, we obtained PCR amplicons at locus Tc918 with an allele size of 226 bp in T. cordata. An analysis of the fifteen SSR loci revealed a high level of genetic variability in both the T. cordata and T. platyphyllos populations. No clonally identical genotypes were detected across the eight study sites. The genetic differentiation (Fst) was higher between T. platyphyllos and T. tomentosa (0.316) than between T. platyphyllos and T. cordata (0.205). Bayesian clustering further revealed distinct genetic structures for T. cordata, T. platyphyllos, and T. tomentosa.

Assessing of genetic diversity is essential for identifying useful alleles for crop improvement. This study evaluated genetic diversity among two cassava breeding populations for total carotenoid content (TCC), dry matter content (DMC), and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) concentration using trait-linked single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A total of 360 genotypes were analysed, including 261 from the IITA breeding programme (Population 1), 23 progenitor lines, and 76 from the University of Ibadan Cassava (UIC) breeding programme (Population 2). Minor allele frequency (MAF), gene diversity (GD), observed heterozygosity (H_e), and polymorphic information content (PIC) were computed. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering were performed to examine genetic variation and population structure. Call rates were high (96–100%). MAF ranged from 0.00 to 0.50, with mean values of 0.28, 0.28, and 0.29 for Population 1, Population 2, and progenitors, respectively. GD averaged 0.36, 0.36, and 0.35 across these groups. Observed heterozygosity was 0.42, 0.41, and 0.43, while PIC values averaged 0.29, 0.27, and 0.27 for Population 1, Population 2, and progenitors, respectively. PCA and clustering analyses grouped the genotypes into three clusters containing 257, 88, and 15 genotypes. The first two principal components explained 39.1% of the total genetic variation. The results indicate substantial genetic diversity among the studied genotypes, suggesting strong potential for allele pyramiding and highlighting the informativeness of the SNP markers used.

The genus Solanum comprises numerous wild and cultivated species that are important for potato breeding. This pilot-scale study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity in 44 accessions from Solanum sect. Petota, comprising wild species, Andean landraces, and modern cultivars, obtained from the Potato Research Institute Havlíčkův Brod, Ltd. and the Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry at the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. Nuclear microsatellite markers (SSR, 29 loci) were applied via five multiplex PCR reactions and analysed using capillary electrophoresis. Binary data matrices were analysed using DARwin software to generate dendrograms reflecting allelic polymorphism. The SSR panel effectively differentiated cultivated accessions from wild types, consistent with the current taxonomy of the genus Solanum, with particularly clear clustering of Andean landraces and modern varieties. However, resolution among wild accessions was limited, likely due to their high genetic complexity and interspecific overlap. These results support the suitability of the SSR panel for analysing diversity in cultivated potatoes. while also highlighting the challenges in resolving wild Solanum taxa. This study contributes to germplasm characterisation and provides a molecular basis for future breeding programmes.

Soil salinity is a major environmental constraint that limits the growth and productivity of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), a legume adapted to mildly acidic soils but highly sensitive to saline–alkaline conditions. Dehydration-Responsive Element Binding (DREB) transcription factors are key regulators of plant responses to abiotic stresses. In this study, the AhDREB gene from peanut was introduced into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) to examine its functional role under salt stress. The transgenic lines (L32.2 and L37.2) exhibited strong induction of AhDREB expression upon exposure to 150 and 250 mM NaCl, with transcript levels increasing up to 2.34-fold compared with untreated controls (P < 0.001). Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that AhDREB enhanced the transcription of two osmolyte-related genes, NtP5CS and NtSUSY. Under saline conditions, the expression of these genes was 1.20–1.89-fold higher in transgenic lines than in wild-type (WT) plants and 4.74–7.66-fold higher than in non-stress conditions (P < 0.001). Consistently, both lines accumulated greater amounts of proline and soluble sugars, showing 2.09–2.30-fold and 2.40–4.70-fold increases, respectively, compared with the WT. Relative to non-stress conditions, proline and sugar contents increased by 3.59–5.47 fold and 3.75–7.65-fold, respectively. Line L37.2 accumulated higher proline levels, whereas L32.2 exhibited greater sugar content, indicating distinct osmolyte regulation patterns. Overall, the AhDREB gene enhances salt tolerance in tobacco by transcriptionally activating osmolyte biosynthetic pathways and improving cellular osmotic adjustment, providing molecular evidence for its potential application in developing stress-tolerant peanut cultivars.

Solanum commersonii shows tolerance to low temperatures, a key target trait for potato breeding. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CIPKs) play a significant role in plant defence response to several stresses, including cold. In this study, we observed the expression of ScCIPK1, ScCIPK3, ScCIPK23 and ScCIPK24 in S. commersonii exposed to 4 °C at multiple time intervals. Initial findings revealed that these genes were under-expressed after 10 and 30 minutes of cold stress, except ScCIPK3. Notably, after 24 hours, all genes displayed higher expression levels compared to the non-stressed controls. These findings highlight the role of ScCIPK3 in the early stages of cold response and indicate a coordinated regulatory mechanism across CIPKs that likely contributes to the cold stress tolerance observed in S. commersonii. In this work, we introduce a model to elucidate the signalling crosstalk under cold stress in S. commersonii, providing insights that could facilitate the development of cold-resistant potato cultivars.

The need of vernalisation, controlled by the gene VRN-1, impacts wheat adaptation and yield stability, yet field evidence on the plasticity of VRN-1 homoeologs expression is limited. We quantified VRN-1 homoeolog dynamics across two sites and two seasons in seven cultivars, by sampling their apex and leaf. VRN-A1 varied with genotype (P < 0.001***), tissue (apex > leaf; P < 0.001***), apex development (P < 0.001***), day length (P < 0.001***), and to a lesser extent, on short-term freezing exposure, quantified as a 5-day freezing-degree sum (FDS; P = 0.019*). Photoperiod class (Ppd-D1a vs Ppd-D1b) added an additional effect (P = 0.001***). VRN-B1 showed strong genotype effects (P < 0.001***), a modest effect of site on its expression (P = 0.025*), and pronounced associations with microclimate variables (day length, thermal sums, freezing exposure; all P < 0.001***). Directionally, Ppd-D1a backgrounds tended to advance the development while showing earlier apex VRN-A1 peaks. Overall, VRN-A1 expression mainly reflected developmental stage and seasonal forcing, whereas VRN-B1 might be more microclimate-responsive, indicating complementary roles for timing and stress-response plasticity. To isolate causal effects and to further explain these dynamics, targeted sequencing and tests in near-isogenic lines will be needed in future work.

Sorghum as a C₄ crop has been shown to be both drought tolerant and photosynthetically productive. In this study, we demonstrated that sorghum SbSnRK1βγ2 (SbSNF4-2), the γ subunit of the sucrose non-fermenting 1 (SNF1)/SNF1-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) heterotrimeric complex, increased the plant height and biomass in Setaria viridis, a C4 relative of sorghum, but not in rice, a C3 relative, when overexpressed driven by the maize ubiquitin promoter. However, the overexpression did not increase the tiller number in S. viridis, although it caused modest increases in the tiller number in both sorghum and rice. In addition, SbSnRK1βγ2 did not affect the panicle weight in sorghum, but its overexpression doubled the panicle weight in S. viridis in all four evaluated transgenic lines. Overall, the overexpression of SbSnRK1βγ2 tripled the biomass production in S. viridis, indicating SbSnRK1βγ2’s potential in any future cellulosic biofuel production and S. viridis’ utility as an alternative genetic vehicle to functionally characterise sorghum genes.

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is a resilient yet underutilised C₄ cereal valued for its adaptability to abiotic stress and high nutritional content. While panicle traits have been linked to yield in many cereals, the spatial arrangement of foxtail millet panicles remained unexplored, especially among locally adapted genotypes. This study aimed to characterise spatial panicle architecture traits and to analyse the DUF-640, a gene controlling primary branch number, among Indonesian foxtail millet genotypes. Results revealed substantial variation in panicle architecture, including primary branch number, grain number, and grain density in eight Indonesian foxtail millet genotypes, suggesting potentially greater diversity across broader germplasm. In contrast to the substantial panicle trait variations, phylogenetic and structural analyses showed that DUF-640 genes were highly conserved across Setaria species. Although previously associated with primary branch development, the coding sequence of DUF-640 was not associated with branching variation in this study. However, its high sequence conservation across Setaria species suggests a vital and possibly conserved regulatory function. This study enhances the understanding of the morphological and genetic diversity of foxtail millet, particularly among Indonesian foxtail millet genotypes. Future research should focus on the functional characterisation of DUF-640 and the identification of regulatory sequences governing its gene expression.

Biofortification provides a sustainable, pragmatic strategy to address the lack of vitamin A and the associated health complications. The objectives of the study encompassed the quantification of the carotenoid content of 147 maize inbred lines, the identification of variable regions within the ZEP1 gene, the correlation of these observed variances in the presence of this gene with carotenoid content, and the identification of lines harbouring the favourable alleles of the crtRB1 gene. The observed correlations among the carotenoids synthesised by distinct branches of the biosynthetic process were both significant and positive. Utilising gel-based genotyping, 24 lines with contrasting carotenoid profiles were selected, evaluated and sequenced. Analysis of the variation in the sequence classified these lines based on their similarities to give 8 allele groups. The findings highlight that inbred lines both group 1 and group 8 exhibited significant associations with the carotenoid content of the lines. Specifically, ZEP1_7852, a discernible variation belonging to group 8, was found to be significantly associated with zeaxanthin content and total carotenoid content. Furthermore, 25 lines were found to have provitamin A content above 15 μg/g, harbouring the favourable alleles of the crtRB1 gene using KASP SNP zm0016. These lines can serve as parents for source populations and hybrids, leading to the further enhancement of provitamin A in maize.

Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (sweet orange) is the most important cultivated citrus fruit in the world. However, Hanglongbing (HLB) disease, caused by Candidatus Liberibactor asiaticus (CLAs), poses a major threat to sweet orange production, by hindering colour, quality and export. Carotenoid cleavage oxygenases (CCOs), which include carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs) and 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenases (NCEDs), are essential for plant growth, development, and adaptation to phytohormonal, biotic, and abiotic stresses. This study identified 14 CsCCO genes in C. sinensis. Structural and conservation studies were conducted using gene structure and conserved domain analysis. Genomic localisation, gene duplication, and similarity among these genes were also examined. Gene ontology analysis predicted that CsCCOs could be involved in the carotene catabolic process. Analysis of cis-regulatory elements revealed that most CsCCO genes are involved in responses to stress, light signalling, and plant growth regulation. Genes in the 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) subgroup are predominantly localised in chloroplasts, whereas genes in other subgroups are primarily found in the cytoplasm. All 13 of the CsCCOs genes identified were regulated by 25 microRNAs, indicating the crucial role of microRNAs in gene regulation in Citrus sinensis. The expression patterns of CsCCO genes in response to biotic and abiotic stress were studied. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that CsNCED3 and CsNCED10 were up-regulated in response to HLB. This provides insight into the function of CCO genes in C. sinensis and identifies potential candidate genes for combating citrus greening.

Iris × germanica L. (bearded iris) is a popular ornamental plant with numerous commercially important cultivars; however, little is known about the genetic diversity and population structure of the species, as limited DNA markers have been explored. In this study, 34 722 expressed sequence tag (EST)-simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were identified from RNA sequencing data. The most abundant SSR motifs belonged to the tri-nucleotide type, of which the most common were AGG/CCT followed by AAG/CTT. Overall, 50 primer pairs derived from these EST-SSRs were randomly selected and synthesized, and 22 primer pairs with good polymorphism effects were used for the following experiment. Correlation analysis of nine floral traits showed that most floral traits had significant correlations with each other. Association analysis between SSR molecular markers and nine floral traits showed that 11 EST-SSR markers were associated with 3–6 floral traits. The cluster tree constructed by using the unweighted pair group method demonstrated that the cultivars that had the same parents or similar colour were clustered together. The genotypic relations of most cultivars were consistent with their pedigree-based relationships. The EST-SSR loci identified in this study will facilitate the exploitation of genetic resources and molecular breeding of I. × germanica.

With climate change, plants face numerous stresses, notably drought for rice cultivation. Improving rice drought tolerance is vital for sustainable production in water-scarce regions. Identification of drought tolerant genotypes at the seedling stage of the crop contributes to build a climate resilient genotype during the period of water scarcity and under challenging environmental conditions. Hence, polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG-6000) induced drought conditions could be used for testing the drought tolerance in rice at an earlier stage of the crop. Optimization of PEG-6000 concentration for screening index at -6 bar was done using three drought-tolerant and two drought-susceptible check varieties based on probit analysis. Subsequently, 100 rice landraces underwent PEG-6000 induced drought screening at –6 bar and a total of 32 genotypes were selected as tolerant. After 14 days of treatment, the nine observations viz. germination %, root length (cm), shoot length (cm), number of secondary roots, fresh weight (g), dry weight (g), shoot/root ratio, root/shoot ratio and vigour index were recorded. Variance analysis, revealing significant genetic variation among genotypes for all studied traits, indicating genetic variability. Post hoc analysis confirmed notable variation among treatments. Principal component analysis revealed three components, with the first three accounting for 88.89% of total variability. With respect to the biplot, the ten genotypes viz., IRGC109, IRGC403, IRGC448, IRGC461, IRGC466, IRGC486, IRGC508, IRGC518, IRGC527 and IRGC535 are the seedling stage drought tolerant genotypes based on shoot length, number of secondary roots and vigour index. Population structure classified the accessions into two subpopulations, reflecting diversity. The allele frequency divergence is 0.095 which is a measure of fixation index revealing that the moderate divergence is not extremely pronounced. Genetic diversity, assessed through 26 SSR markers selected from drought tolerant QTLs and markers related to vigour index, exhibited 100% polymorphism with 115 alleles and an average PIC value of 0.61 per primer. Shannon index varied between 0.34 (RM212) and 1.96 (RM252), averaging 1.18. Six SSR markers viz., RM246, RM302, RM252, RM219, RM251, and RM486 were associated with the six key traits viz., shoot length, root length, number of secondary roots, dry weight, shoot/root ratio, and root/shoot ratio respectively offering valuable resources for selecting drought-tolerant accessions as it provides the first step in the selection of genotypes based on the key traits.

The present study investigates the differential protein expression levels between the frost-tolerant variety Qingda No.1 and the frost-sensitive variety Gannong No.9. The analysis was conducted using 4D-Label-free quantitative proteomics technology, with the samples collected prior to and after overwintering. The results showed that the protein expression of Qingda No.1 changed more significantly during the overwintering process, with 451 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) being identified, of which 224 were up-regulated and 227 down-regulated. In contrast, the protein expression of Gannong No.9 differed from that of alfalfa roots of the frost-sensitive variety, with 204 DEPs being identified, of which 93 were up-regulated and 111 down-regulated. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis showed that the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was significantly enriched in both groups. Furthermore, enzymes such as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H), and chalcone isomerase (CHI) were significantly up-regulated in the freezing-tolerant varieties. Protein interaction network analysis revealed the synergistic regulation mode of DEPs. The present study elucidated the metabolic adaptive mechanism of overwintering in alfalfa roots at the protein level, thus providing a theoretical basis for the selection and breeding of frost-tolerant varieties.

Tomato is a major global crop, extensively cultivated in China. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its responses to high-temperature stress remain poorly understood. This study investigates these mechanisms by examining a heat-resistant tomato variety, Hm 2-2 (R), and a heat-sensitive variety, BY 1-2 (S), under high temperature (40 °C). Total RNA was extracted from samples taken at 0 and 24 h post-treatment, followed by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened based on the criteria of |log₂ fold change| ≥ 2 and false discovery rate ≤ 0.05. Gene ontology (GO) function annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathway enrichment analysis were performed to explore the biological significance of these DEGs. The results revealed 6 038 upregulated and 2 866 downregulated DEGs in the R-0 (Hm 2-2 plants treated at 40 °C for 0 h) vs. R-24 (Hm 2-2 plants treated at 40 °C for 24 h) group and 5 297 upregulated and 3 920 downregulated DEGs in the S-0 (BY 1-2 plants treated at 40 °C for 0 h) vs. S-24 (BY 1-2 plants treated at 40 °C for 24 h) group, respectively. GO enrichment analysis indicated that the majority of DEGs were associated with biological processes, followed by cellular components and molecular functions. KEGG pathway analysis identified 130, 131, 89, and 115 regulatory (or altered) pathways in the R-0 vs. R-24, S-0 vs. S-24, S-0 vs. R-0, and S-24 vs. R-24 group comparisons, respectively. Notably, pathways related to protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum and plant hormone signal transduction were significantly enriched, suggesting their critical roles in the tomato’s response to heat stress. Moreover, 156 transcription factors (TFs) implicated in heat stress response were identified, spanning various TF families such as MYB, AP2-EREBP, b-ZIP, bHLH, NAC, and WRKY. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of 14 randomly selected DEGs validated the RNA-seq results confirming the reliability of the data. In summary, this study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of tomato’s responses to high-temperature stress, laying a crucial foundation for future research in this area.

Aloe vera and A. arborescens are succulent plants widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food supplements. The objective of this study was to perform interspecific crosses and agronomically characterise three genotypes cultivated in a Venezuelan highland region (altitude 1 727 m, 13–17.9 °C). Successful hybridisation was achieved only when A. arborescens pollen (P1) was used on A. vera pistils (P2), whereas the reciprocal cross was largely unsuccessful. Hybrid seed germination reached 11.86%, and adult hybrids exhibited significant vegetative superiority over P1, particularly in leaf volume, leaf weight, and flower number. The progeny outperformed both parents in leaf base width and lateral tooth size, thereby enhancing its ornamental value. The expected 2n = 2x = 14 karyotype was confirmed in the root meristems of hybrids. The analysis of leaf pulp processing indicated that the hybrid was promising for juice production (39.8% yield, 1 203 ppm acemannan), thus highlighting its potential for agro-industrial applications in tropical highlands or comparable temperate regions. Other agronomic traits, including number, thickness, colour, and shape of leaves; sprouting of stem branches and basal suckers, flowering period, inflorescence, eggs/ovary, and details of the colour and dimensions of bracts, perianth, pedicel, and ovary, were also evaluated.

This study investigated the genetic basis of days to heading (DTH) in tropical japonica rice using F₂ populations derived from late-maturing Rojolele and early-maturing Rojolele Srinuk varieties. Phenotypic analysis of DTH showed continuous distribution and positive skewness. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) derived single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) from early and late-heading bulks were used to identify three candidate regions with strong association to DTH: qDTH3.1 and qDTH3.2 on chromosome 3, and qDTH7.1 on chromosome 7, with the latter linked to the Oryza sativa Pseudo-Response Regulator 37 (OsPRR37) gene. InDel markers validated qDTH7.1’s significant linkage to DTH, particularly marker ID14, which is effective for marker-assisted selection of early DTH in Rojolele background.

The potato is a pivotal food crop on a global scale. Nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR) are the key enzymes in nitrogen assimilation. In previous research, we found that the nitrogen assimilation process was effectively regulated by StNR and StNiRs in potato and that there were significant differences in nitrogen utilisation efficiency between different potato varieties. In this study, three potato variants with different nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) were subjected to various nitrogen supply levels and photoperiod treatments. The results indicated that the relative expression levels of StNR and StNiRs in their leaves and roots, along with the enzyme activity of NR and NiR, were proportional to the nitrogen supply levels and photoperiod. This study further clarified the expression patterns of StNR and StNiRs, as well as the enzyme activity changes of NR and NiR in leaves and roots under different nitrogen supply levels and different photoperiod treatments. This provides a theoretical basis for further in-depth exploration of the specific functions related to nitrogen absorption and assimilation efficiency in potato.

The testing and evaluation of native populations of perennial ryegrasses (Lolium perenne L.) collected from the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina were conducted from 2020 to 2022 at experimental fields and laboratories of the Institute for Genetic Resources and the Agricultural Institute of the Republic of Srpska in Banja Luka. Six native populations (labelled G1–G6) and two cultivars, Esquire and Tivoli (labelled G7 and G8), were analysed in this study. The following traits were examined: the plant height (cm), number of generative stems per plant, inflorescence length (cm), number of spikes per inflorescence, seed mass per inflorescence (g), and seed yield per plant (g). The results showed that all the native populations exhibited higher average plant heights compared to the Esquire standard (G7). Population G2 had the highest average number of spikes per inflorescence (26.8), while population G4 achieved the greatest average inflorescence length (27.7 cm). Statistically significant differences in the inflorescence length were observed between populations G2, G3, G4, and G6, compared to the standards G7 and G8 (Esquire and Tivoli). The genotype and year had a significant impact on the seed yield per plant. The average yield ranged from 32.4 g (G7) to 53.4 g (G4). The seed yield per plant showed a strong positive correlation with the number of generative stems per plant, the inflorescence length, and the number of spikes per inflorescence. The native populations G4 and G5 achieved significantly higher seed yields per plant compared to the other populations and may serve as highly valuable material for breeding programmes.

Wheat Fusarium head blight (FHB) leads to losses of grain yield and quality. Ingestion of diseased grain is detrimental to human health due to the mycotoxins present in the grain. Developing resistant cultivars for environments where FHB is prevalent is therefore an important breeding objective. One of the most effective wheat genes conferring type II resistance to FHB is Fhb1, originally discovered in the Chinese cultivar (cv) Sumai 3. Another excellent FHB resistance gene is Fhb7 located on the long arm of Lophopyrum elongatum chromosome 7E. Several alleles of Fhb7 have been identified. Allele Fhb7^The2 was found in disomic substitution lines 7E(7A), 7E(7B) and 7E(7D) derived from amphiploid AgCS. The amphiploid was produced from a hybrid Triticum aestivum cv Chinese Spring × L. elongatum. To find if combining Fhb7^The2 with Fhb1 confers higher resistance in wheat than single genes, an introgression line derived from AgCS and possessing Fhb7^The2 was recurrently backcrossed to bread wheat cv Rollag and MN-Washburn possessing Fhb1. Experimental lines possessing both Fhb7^The2 and Fhb1 were developed and validated cytogenetically and with the L. elongatum genome-wide Sequenom SNP MassARRAY. Spikes of these lines, parental cv Rollag and MN-Washburn, and those of disomic addition line 7E possessing Fhb7^The2 plus controls were inoculated with Fusarium in a twice-replicated trial in controlled greenhouse environmental conditions. FHB infection rates were significantly lower in lines combining Fhb7^The2 with Fhb1 than in materials with Fhb7^The2 or Fhb1 alone.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is a major global oilseed crop and exhibits significant heterosis. The discovery and characterisation of novel male-sterile accessions remain fundamental for harnessing heterosis in rapeseed breeding. Previously, we developed a male sterile two-type line system 19F08AB in B. napus. In this study, anther abortion in 19F08A was characterised using the squash method. The inheritance of male sterility in 19F08A and its genetic relationship to reported male sterile accessions in rapeseed was investigated using classical genetic analysis and male-sterility-gene-specific molecular markers. Results indicated that male sterile flowers of 19F08A exhibit flat petals, reduced floral organs, short filaments, and completely degenerated stamens devoid of pollen. Pollen mother cells in 19F08A degenerated at the pre-meiotic stage and aborted completely at the tetrad stage, with no dyad or tetrad formation observed. This suggested that 19F08A represents a meiosis abnormality-type male sterility. Classical genetic and molecular marker analysis revealed that male-sterile plants 19F08A carry the genotype of pol (RfpRfpMsms), whereas fertile plants 19F08B possess pol (RfpRfpmsms). The effect of the pol cytoplasm was masked by the Rfp gene. Therefore, fertility in 19F08AB is controlled by a pair of nuclear genes (Ms/ms), with male sterility exhibiting dominance over fertility. The application prospects of this male-sterile accession are also discussed. These findings expand the pool of male-sterile resources available for B. napus hybrid breeding and contribute to plant male sterility theory.

Pod dehiscence or pod shattering from mature soybean (Glycine max L.) is one of the most outstanding disadvantages in domesticated cultivars. Pod shattering in relation to 16 quantitative traits and 3 qualitative traits among 140 cultivars of vegetable soybeans, grain soybeans and small-grain soybeans was evaluated over two years. We found the pod shattering percentage is positively correlated with the number of productive branches, pod width, pod length, pod area, 100-seed weight, 1-seeded-pod percentage, 2-seeded-pod percentage and seed protein content, but negatively correlated with the plant height, pod height at the bottom, number of nodes on the main stem, 3-seeded-pod percentage, 4-seeded-pod percentage and seed oil content. The pod shattering percentage in vegetable soybeans is remarkably high, reaching up to 93%, 7.8 times higher than that of grain soybeans. A schematic model of the characteristics for shatter-susceptible and shatter-resistant soybean cultivars is proposed. The pod shattering in vegetable soybeans is related to the “umbrella-shaped” architecture and pod size. It is suggested to select lines with more 2-seeded and 3-seeded pods for vegetable soybeans, but a higher seed oil content and greater node number on the main stem for grain soybeans and small-grain soybeans, to avoid pod shattering in future breeding programmes.

This study examined the genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance in the F₄ generation of sorghum to enhance grain productivity. The study was conducted at Citayam Research Station, Depok Indonesia (March–September 2023), and evaluated 102 progenies of the F₄ population from a Bioguma (a mutant line) × Gando Keta (a local variety) cross using an Augmented block design with four replications. The results of this experiment indicated that the F₄ generation outperformed the Gando Keta grain yield components, but remained inferior to Bioguma. The yield traits were influenced by the non-additive gene action, with genetic factors playing a significant role in grain weight variation. The top 20% of F₄ progenies exhibited improved yield characteristics, including thicker stems, larger panicles, and increased grain weight.

Transgenic organisms modified with ancestral genes for nitrogen metabolism are rare. Previously, it was reported that genetically modified Nicotiana tabacum with the ARO4 gene of aromatic amino acid synthesis from the yeast Debaryomyces hansenii increases its growth during moderate salt stress. In this investigation, it was explored if the changes in the expression of the gene DhARO4 in Nicotiana tabacum, during saline irrigation, are related to the chlorophyll content and the total reactive oxygen species production. Seedlings of transgenic and wild type Nicotiana tabacum germinated in standard conditions were divided into two irrigation groups, with 100 mM of NaCl and with tap water; and, after 50 days, in the non-senescent adult leaves of the plants, the total chlorophyll a and b and the total chlorophyll content were determined by spectrophotometry and the reactive oxygen species production (•OH, ¹O₂, H₂O₂) was quantified by a 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein assay. The expression of the DhARO4 gene was verified with a salt shock of 100 mM of NaCl for 24 hours in the transgenic and wild type plants in the tap water irrigation group. The DhARO4 gene transcript increased (P < 0.05) in the transgenic plant; meanwhile, the average concentration of chlorophyll a increased (P < 0.05), and the average production of reactive oxygen species decreased (P < 0.05).

This study has evaluated the genetic characteristics and wheat processing-related properties of four Korean wheat landraces (KWLs). The KWLs were found to possess the vernalization alleles vrn-A1, vrn-B1, and Vrn-D1 and the photoperiod alleles Ppd-A1b, Ppd-B1b, and Ppd-D1a. The Korean cultivated variety Keumgang also shared these alleles with the exception of vrn-D1. With regard to grain hardness, KWL 2 was shown to possess Pina-D1a and Pinb-D1b like Keumgang, while other KWLs were classified as carrying Pina-D1a and Pinb-D1a. All KWLs were found to be non-waxy, carrying the alleles Wx-A1a, Wx-B1a, and Wx-D1a. With regard to the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) genes, all four KWLs carried low-activity alleles, in contrast to the Keumgang sample. The assessment of physicochemical properties revealed that KWL 1, 3, and 4 had a higher amylose content but a lower protein content than KWL 2 and Keumgang. In tests of solvent retention capacity KWL 1 and KWL 2 exhibited the lowest and highest values, respectively, for all four solvents used in the tests. With regard to the dough properties, the results of Mixolab analysis indicated a faster starch gelatinisation in KWL1, while in KWL 2 a high water absorption and the longest dough development and stability times were found. KWL 3 and 4 exhibited similar dough behaviours. Principal component analysis of the four KWL lines revealed distinct clustering based on their physicochemical and dough-related traits.

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play multiple roles in plants. As a kind of PRRs, chitin elicitor receptor kinase 1 (CERK1) proteins were reported to function in plant resistance to fungal and bacterial pathogens, and tolerance to salt stress. In this study, a predicted cowpea CERK1 homologous gene, designated as VuCERK1, was identified by database search. VuCERK1 protein contains 618 amino acid residues, with a predicted molecular mass of 67.5 kDa and a predicted isoelectric point of 5.04. VuCERK1 shows 58% and 60% sequence identity with AtCERK1 and OsCERK1, respectively. VuCERK1 also shows similar subcellular pattern with AtCERK1 and OsCERK1, suggesting VuCERK1 may function in cowpea immune responses. Gene expression assay indicated, that VuCERK1 was expressed in four different seedling tissues tested, comprising first leave, epicotyl, hypocotyl and root, and it could be induced by salt stress. Furthermore, transient expression of VuCERK1 in Nicotiana benthamiana induced obvious cell death. In addition, heterologous overexpression of VuCERK1 in Arabidopsis thaliana conferred enhanced disease resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 hrcC^- (Pto DC3000 hrcC^-).

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), a globally significant oilseed crop, faces substantial yield losses due to drought stress, a major environmental constraint. In this study, the effects of nitric oxide (NO) to increase drought tolerance in four sunflower genotypes (resistant Irtysh, RAR 56 and sensitive Zarya, RAR 133) showing different stress responses were investigated. Conducted in a controlled hydroponic system, the experiment applied 100 µM NO under 12% polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought, assessing growth, physiological, and biochemical parameters. PEG alone reduced shoot and root growth, relative water content (RWC), and ion levels (K, Ca, Mg, Na), while increasing oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde (MDA), H₂O₂, •OH) and electrolyte leakage, particularly in sensitive genotypes. NO application, both alone and with PEG, significantly mitigated these effects, enhancing root fresh weight, RWC, and antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR)), while reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. Resistant genotypes (Irtysh, RAR 56) exhibited superior stress amelioration. These findings highlight NO’s role as a signalling molecule in augmenting drought resilience through genotype-specific mechanisms. The differential responses among genotypes suggest opportunities for identifying genetic markers associated with NO-mediated drought tolerance, which could guide marker-assisted breeding programs. Additionally, integrating these insights with genomic editing techniques may accelerate the development of drought-resistant sunflower cultivars tailored for water-scarce regions. Future research should optimise NO delivery methods and evaluate field-scale efficacy to advance sustainable sunflower production in water-limited environments.