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Seed size is a critical agronomic trait that influences the yield and appearance quality of soybeans, making it a primary breeding objective with significant economic value. While the molecular mechanisms that regulate soybean seed size remain largely unknown, several functional molecular targets have been applied in breeding to create larger grain size materials. In this study, we utilized the CRISPR/Cas9 system to induce the targeted mutagenesis of GmEOD1, which encodes the E3 ubiquitin ligase. The resulting homozygous soybean mutant of GmEOD1 exhibited larger seed size and 100-seed weight, with no significant change in the average seed weight per plant. The sum of crude protein and oil content increased significantly in mutants while fatty acid composition remained unchanged. We identified six haplotypes among 156 soybean cultivars, with Hap1 and Hap2 representing the majority of cultivars with relatively higher 100-seed weight, suggesting that sequence variations of GmEOD1 may correlate with seed weight. Transcriptomic analysis across five stages of seed development revealed that stages one–three mainly focused on cell cycle, growth, wall synthesis and modification, photosynthesis, and sugar metabolism; promoting cell growth, reproduction, and carbon accumulation; and providing key intermediates for substance synthesis. Stages four–five focused on polysaccharide catabolism, xylan metabolism, and nutrient pool activity, promoting the accumulation of dry matter, such as sugars, proteins, and lipids in seeds. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of modules related to seed size revealed 13 hub genes involved in seed development regulation. This study provides a valuable theoretical basis and excellent opportunities for genetic editing of germplasm cells with subsequent molecular soybean seed size breeding, facilitating easier seed selection to improve soybean quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classical model only provides a correct analysis if all the effects are fixed. For experiments that include fixed and random effects, the general linear mixed model is appropriate for handling the non-normal distributed response variables. The aim of this study is to perform the genotype selection through a generalized linear mixed model and identify the impact of treatment and the related traits on grain yield. The data were collected using a lattice square design and measured the phenotype traits of sorghum. The result of PCA was used as an input variable for the general linear mixed model. The data analysis was performed using a general linear mixed model with maximum likelihood methods to estimate the parameters of the model. The result showed that the grain yield had a gamma distribution and a treatment effect on grain yield. The first principal component was significant for grain yield. The variability of grain yield due to the random effects of replication within treatment, genotype, and the interaction of genotype by treatment were significant. The best genotypes effective for the mass production of sorghum were G137, G66 and G156 under stress conditions and G55, G41 and G78 under irrigated conditions. Overall, genotype selection using a general linear mixed model for grain yield is recommended for genotype selection of plant breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rasouli et al. [[13]] studied the effect of these biofertilizers, separately and in combination, on plant growth and antioxidant capacity of lettuce plants. These microbes can be beneficial or detrimental to plant growth, and understanding these possible interactions is relevant to proposing environmentally friendly strategies to promote plant growth and quality. Although water restrictions are generally detrimental to plant growth, excessive irrigation can also be detrimental, especially for plants domesticated in arid regions. Plants respond to diverse environmental stimuli such as light, nutrients, temperature, and oxygen, which shape their growth and fate. [Extracted from the article]

The implementation of new planting systems in almond (Prunus amygdalus (L.) Batsch, syn P. dulcis (Mill.)) orchards for more sustainable practices has made tree architecture increasingly relevant as an important selection trait in plant breeding. Multiple features define the three-dimensional structure of the tree, with shoot production being the most important. Shoots can develop after a period of rest (proleptic shoots) or immediately (sylleptic shoots), at the same time as the extension of the parent shoot. Scion/rootstock interactions may change the proportion of proleptic and sylleptic shoots and thus alter tree architecture. To study this effect, we analyzed shoot formation on three almond scion cultivars grafted onto five interspecific hybrid rootstocks. The type of shoot (proleptic or sylleptic) and internode number per shoot were collected for two-year-old branches on three-year-old unpruned trees. We found that rootstock genotypes can alter the pattern of shoot production, especially the number of sylleptic shoots formed. More information on the molecular response is needed to comprehend the biological processes behind these differential phenotypes, which appear to be modulated by both apical dominance and apical control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic improvement of native forage species is a sustainable alternative for maximizing livestock production. Paspalum notatum Flügge is the most important forage grass in the native grasslands of southern Brazil, with substantial potential available for further genetic improvement. The objective of this study was to quantify a range of genetic parameters and predict yield gains in a population of P. notatum intraspecific hybrids. Results indicated intraspecific hybrids of P. notatum had high magnitudes of heritability in the broad and average sense of genotype, plus high selective accuracy and genetic variation for all forage characteristics evaluated. This indicated REML/BLUP can contribute useful information for plant selection in future plant breeding programs. The genetic material studied showed high genetic variability for forage production. Analysis indicated hybrids 336, 332, 437, 132 and male parent '30N' should be included in new crosses to increase the dry matter production of P. notatum. Parents need to be selected from different groups in order to maximize genetic variability and heterosis. In addition, these parents must be included in diallel crosses. The results obtained in this study provide important information for the future breeding of improved P. notatum cultivars for commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs), with well-insulated and airtight structures, enable the production of large quantities of high-quality plants year-round while achieving high resource use efficiency. However, despite the controlled environment in PFALs, variations in plant individuals have been found, which affect productivity in PFAL operations. Plant phenotyping plays a crucial role in understanding how the surrounding microenvironment affects variations in plant phenotypes. In the current study, a modular phenotyping system for seedling production was developed, focusing on practicality and scalability in commercial PFALs. Experiments on seedlings, which strongly affect productivity, were conducted to obtain cotyledon unfolding time and the time series projected area of cotyledons and true leaves of individual seedlings of romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia), using RGB images. This was also undertaken to analyze how the surrounding microenvironment of photosynthetic photon flux densities and nutrients affect growth variations for plant cohort research. In agreement with the actual measurements, variations in seedling growth were identified even under similar microenvironments. Furthermore, the results demonstrated larger variations in seedlings with higher relative growth. Aiming for simplified interactions of phenotypes with the microenvironment, management, and genotype, seedling selection and breeding with plant production in PFALs may enable plant uniformity and higher productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present work is to study possible differences in the germination behavior of apical and basal seeds (produced in the upper and lower fruits of the infruitescence), of two populations of field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), both produced in a Mediterranean and a continental temperate climate. The results showed that among the three studied factors (population, seed type, production site), only the production site was relevant for the total germination, germinating those produced in Morris in a greater amount than those produced in Lleida. Germination models could be applied only to seeds produced at Morris (>10% germination), and despite the lack of differences in the total germination percentage, germination rates (speed—b parameter—and time to 50% germination—G50) differed between population and seed types—apical seeds from the Spanish population germinated faster (lower b parameter) than the rest, while apical seeds of both populations germinated faster than the corresponding basal seeds (lower G50). The results show, on the one hand, the importance of the seed production site if this species was considered as a commercial oilseed crop and, on the other hand, differences that will help seed selection for seed germination and establishment improvement of pennycress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica oleracea var. acephala production and seed selection in the Mediterranean region is traditionally limited to private, family needs or small enterprises. In recent years it became popular, especially in the US, and known as a superfood due to the presence of specialized metabolites associated with health benefits, mainly from polyphenols, glucosinolates, and carotenoids groups. With the increasing popularity of this plant, there is a growing interest in its commercial production. Therefore, in the present work we aimed to study how seed origin influences the content of specialized metabolites in B. oleracea var. acephala. We grew plants from six different seed producers, in a hydroponic system under controlled conditions, and determined seed germination percentage, morphological characteristics, pigments, polyphenols, glucosinolates, and carotenoids content, as well as antioxidant activity. Seed origin influenced germination percentage, yield, and slightly morphological characteristic, but did not influence pigments, total polyphenols, phenolic acids, glucosinolates, and carotenoids content. However, content of flavonoids, ferulic, sinapinic, and, consequently, antioxidant activity was slightly different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]