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With its controlled environment, protected cultivation is advantageous and effective for breeding programs. This distinct setting also guarantees that fresh vegetables meet high quality standards. The controlled environment allows for precise monitoring and tuning of breeding efforts, a critical factor in continuously improving the quality of fresh vegetable production. Classical breeding strategies include hybridization, pedigree selection, backcrossing, recombination, and marker-assisted breeding. However, advanced techniques like phenomics and genome editing are revolutionizing the field. These methods accelerate phenotyping and aid in identifying traits and genetic variants linked to quality characteristics. Modern biotechnological tools, specifically genetic engineering and gene editing methods like CRISPR/Cas, have enhanced a wide array of traits in numerous vegetable species. These technological advancements have the potential to effectively address challenges associated with stress resistance, product quality, and shelf-life, thereby presenting promising prospects for the advancement of agriculture. The protracted process of developing new vegetable cultivars with reduced physiological issues through contemporary techniques is an enduring endeavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassicas are considered the third most important source of vegetable oil globally. With the escalating production of Brassica varieties, there is growing demand for high-yielding genotypes. Doubled haploid (DH) techniques have become very popular in various Brassica breeding programs. Such DH techniques can play a significant role in plant breeding by accelerating the production of homozygous lines and increasing selection efficiency. Among these methods, isolated microspore culture stands out as the most effective, facilitating the generation of a higher number of embryos compared to conventional methods of plant breeding. Different chemical compounds such as herbicides, brassinosteroids, and polyethylene glycol have an antimitotic effect and have been found to generate DH plants and improve microspore embryogenesis in Brassica species. Colchicine and trifluralin have proven to be efficient chromosome-doubling agents as well as important supplements that can increase the rate of embryogenesis. This review serves as a comprehensive summary and effectiveness evaluation of the latest research findings in the Brassica oil crops to help increase efficiency of the future research focusing on DH methods and application of antimitotic agents in the various oilseed species of the genus Brassica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important cultivated vegetables in the world. However, in some countries such as Mexico the lack of cultivars adapted to different environmental production conditions is a limitation. Moreover, recent studies have indicated that breeding aimed at increasing yield has led to a loss of genetic diversity. Therefore, it is necessary to explore and characterize new sources of germplasms. This study aimed to characterize new sources of germplasm and identify the most transcendental traits for distinguishing tomato types and lines that are useful for the genetic improvement of the species. Sixty characters were evaluated in 16 advanced lines of native tomatoes from Central and Southern Mexico during the fall–winter cycles 2023–2024 at the Bajío Experimental Station, Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico, based on the guidelines of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) and the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and post hoc tests, canonical discriminant analysis, and the Eigenanalysis selection index method (ESIM). Morphological variation showed that five qualitative traits were determinant factors in distinguishing tomato types and lines, whereas agronomic discriminant traits were the equatorial and polar diameters of the fruit and its ratio, number of locules, pedicel length, stem length, and internode distance. In addition, significant positive correlations were found between leaf length and width, equatorial diameter of the fruit, and polar diameter of the fruit. Lines JCM-17, JMC-10, and JCM-01 were the most selectable lines according to the ESIM values. The morphological variation found and the characteristics with higher selection values identified may be valuable for optimizing the tomato genetic improvement process in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change significantly threatens crops, mainly through drought stress, affecting barley, which is essential for food and feed globally. Ten barley cultivars were evaluated under normal and drought stress conditions during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, focusing on traits such as days to heading and maturity, plant height, number of spikes m−2, spike length, 1000-kernel weight, and biological and grain yield. Drought stress significantly reduced most of these traits. The genotypes showed significant differences in their responses to irrigation treatments, with the interaction between seasons and cultivars also being significant for most traits. The grain yield and 1000-kernel weight were among the least affected traits under drought stress, respectively. Notably, Giza138 and Giza126 showed strong drought tolerance, suitable for drought-resilient breeding. In season one, Giza126, Giza134, and Giza138 yielded 13%, 9%, and 11%, respectively, while Giza135 and Giza129 showed higher reductions at 31% and 39%. In season two, Giza126, Giza134, and Giza138 had reductions of 14%, 10%, and 13%, respectively, while Giza135 and Giza129 again exhibited higher reductions at 31% and 38%. These cultivars also showed strong performance across various stress tolerance indices, including the MP, YSI, STI, GMP, and YI. Giza 134 demonstrated the lowest values for the SDI and TOL, indicating superior drought stress tolerance. On the other hand, Giza 129 and Giza 135 were the most sensitive to drought stress, experiencing significant reductions across critical traits, including 6.1% in days to heading, 18.37% in plant height, 28.21% in number of kernel spikes−1, 38.45% in grain yield, and 34.91% in biological yield. In contrast, Giza 138 and Giza 2000 showed better resilience, with lower reductions in the 1000-kernel weight (6.41%) and grain yield (10.61%), making them more suitable for drought-prone conditions. Giza 126 and Giza 132 also exhibited lower sensitivity, with minimal reductions in days to heading (2%) and maturity (2.4%), suggesting potential adaptability to water-limited environments. Giza 126 maintained the highest root lengths and had the highest stomatal conductance. Giza 138 consistently had the highest chlorophyll content, with SPAD values decreasing to 79% under drought. Despite leading in shoot length, Giza 135 decreased to 42.59% under drought stress. In conclusion, Giza 126 and Giza 138 showed adaptability to water-limited conditions with minimal impact on phenological traits. Giza 126 had the longest roots and highest stomatal conductance, while Giza 138 consistently maintained a high chlorophyll content. Together, they and Giza 134 are valuable for breeding programs to improve barley drought tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration of nitrogen fertilizer is matched with the nutrient requirements in different growth stages of plants, which coordinates their vegetative and reproductive growth. In this study, the influences of nitrogen concentration before and after initiation of flower bud differentiation (first and second stage, respectively) on pepper seedling quality were studied. The chlorophyll a content, sucrose synthase activity, and sucrose phosphate synthase activity of pepper seedlings grown under moderate nitrogen (15 mmol L−1) in the first stage combined with high nitrogen (25.61 mmol L−1) in the second stage were 15.7%, 39.3%, and 34.6% higher than those of the same nitrogen concentration (15 mmol L−1) in the first and second stages treatment, respectively. The regression model also showed that the values of flower bud diameter, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, and glutamine synthetase activity of pepper were high under the condition of moderate nitrogen in the first stage and higher nitrogen in the second stage. In addition, the results of comprehensive evaluation showed that moderate nitrogen (15 mmol L−1) in the first stage and high nitrogen (25.61 mmol L−1) in the second stage treatment ranked first, which improved carbon and nitrogen metabolism, increased biomass accumulation, and promoted the flower bud differentiation and flowering of pepper seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solanum torvum, a wild relative of eggplant in the Solanaceae family, is widely used as a rootstock to prevent various soil-borne diseases. Despite this valued trait, S. torvum seeds exhibit strong seed dormancy, resulting in low-frequency germination and uneven emergence rates during agricultural production. In this study, exogenous gibberellin (GA) was applied to induce the germination of seeds, thereby enabling the application of transcriptome analysis to explore the effects of exogenous GA on germination. A total of 9723 genes were identified to be involved in GA-induced germination of S. torvum seeds. These GA-associated genes were enriched in amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, glycolysis, the citrate cycle, pyruvate metabolism, hormone biosynthesis, and signaling transduction. Further analysis of these genes reveals that exogenous GA impaired the endogenous biosynthesis of GA. Analysis of the 285 key genes influenced by GA, auxin, abscisic acid (ABA), and other hormones suggests mutual crosstalk in the signaling of various hormones, enabling the joint regulation of the germination of S. torvum seeds. Additionally, a total of 440 genes encoding transcription factors were identified to be responsible for transcriptional reprogramming during GA-induced seed germination, and putative candidate genes responsible for S. torvum seed dormancy and germination, including ABI5, DOG1, DRM1, LEC1, and PIF, were significantly down-regulated in germinated S. torvum seeds. These findings provide the first insights into transcriptome regulation during GA-induced germination of S. torvum seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation, characterization and exploitation of agrobiodiversity are key factors to guarantee food security and face future challenges such as climate changes. These issues are the subject of a series of international agreements, such as the Convention of Biological Diversity, with its Nagoya Protocol, and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004. Italy ratified the Treaty in 2004 and instituted a long-lasting program, RGV-FAO, to implement it. CREA is one of the three organizations involved in the RGV-FAO Program, together with the National Research Council (CNR) and Reti Semi Rurali. CREA maintains a total of 40,186 accessions including cereals, vegetables, fruits, forages, industrial crops, forest and woody crops, medicinal and aromatic plants, and their wild relatives. Accessions are conserved using different ex situ conservation systems (seeds, in vivo plants, vegetative organs and in vitro plantlets), and characterized using genetic, morpho-phenological and/or biochemical methods. Herein, we will present the CREA long-lasting program RGV-FAO with some examples of the use of plant genetic resources in breeding programs, including molecular approaches. Some critical issues related to access and benefit sharing in PGRFA, such as the Nagoya Protocol and the Digital Sequence Information, will be discussed, highlighting their potential impact on food security and on the advancement of knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni originated in South America, but has gained popularity due to the concentration of sweet steviol glycosides present in its leaves. Stevia is also currently grown on other continents in many countries characterised with warm climate. This research aimed to determine whether different irrigation practices might have a significant influence on the yield and composition of the leaves of stevia plants grown in Poland, in cooler climate than native regions for stevia plants. Stevia plants were grown with four different irrigation regimes: irrigation twice a week, irrigation once a week, irrigation only during times of the drought and not irrigated at all. It was determined that different irrigation regimes have substantial effects on the yield, biometric characteristics and chemical composition of stevia leaves, but none of the irrigation regimes were clearly supreme to the others. Yield of stevia plants that were irrigated once a week or only during the drought times was the highest (2.42–2.58 kg per square meter). Stevia plants that were not irrigated were characterised with the lowest height and lateral width (47.61 and 25.35 cm). Leaves of un-irrigated stevia contained the greatest dry mass content (30.47%) and highest concentration of phenolic compounds (337.88 mg per 100 g of fresh stevia leaves). Stevia plants that were irrigated once or twice a week were characterised with a lower concentration of chlorophylls or carotenoids at the time of the harvest (1.20–1.24 and 2.54–2.58 mg per gram of fresh stevia leaves), but stevia plants that were not irrigated contained a greater amount of chlorophyll and carotenoids (1.58 and 3.17 mg per gram of fresh stevia leaves). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa is a resilient crop known for its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. This study examined the agronomic performance and ecological adaptability of quinoa across four distinct altitudes in the northwestern regions of China. Six quinoa genotypes were assessed for agronomic traits, phenology and yield performances, and nutritional quality characteristics in Yining city, Nilka County, Tekes County and Zhaosu County under varied environmental conditions. Our findings demonstrate significant variations in all measured traits, including agronomic and nutritional quality traits, across the various altitudes and genotypes. In Yining city, a warmer and lower altitude area, genotypes exhibit superior traits for fodder production, including increased branches, longer panicles, robust stems, and high seed protein content. Genotypes Jinli 1 and Beijing 2 achieve yields exceeding 3 tons per hectare (t/ha), highlighting the region's productivity. The Nilka and Tekes counties boasted the shortest quinoa crop cycles, with Jinli 1 yielding 4.05 t/ha seeds in Tekes County, exhibiting high protein and fat content alongside low saponins, making it a prime location for yield production. Zhaosu County, with its cooler climate and fertile chernozem soil, elicited high 1000 seed weight and more robust protein response than Nilka and Tekes counties, illustrating the impact of soil fertility on nutritional composition. Correlation analyses further elucidated that the plants characterized by shorter flowering times, crop cycles, compact inflorescence, and taller heights exhibited superior seed yields. Our study contributes significant insights into the ecological adaptability and nutritional dynamics of quinoa, with implications for sustainable crop production and food security in diverse agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bacterial wilt disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a significant threat to eggplant production. Breeding and promoting resistant varieties is one of the most effective methods to manage bacterial wilt. Conducting QTL (quantitative trait locus) mapping of resistant genes can substantially enhance the breeding of plant resistance to bacterial wilt. In this study, a population of 2200 F2 individuals derived from resistant and susceptible materials was utilized to establish extreme resistance and susceptibility pools. Following resequencing analysis of the parents and extreme pools, the QTL were examined using the DEEP-BSA software and QTLseqr R package (version 0.7.5.2). The results revealed that the detection of 10 QTL sites on chromosomes 5, 8, 9, and 11 by the five algorithms of the DEEP-BSA software. Additionally, the candidate region of 62 Mb–72 Mb on chromosome 5 was identified in all five algorithms of the DEEP-BSA software, as well as by the QTLseqr R package. Subsequent gene annotation uncovered 276 genes in the candidate region of 62 Mb–72 Mb on chromosome 5. Additionally, RNA-seq results indicated that only 13 genes had altered expression levels following inoculation with R. solanacearum in the resistant materials. Based on the expression levels, SMEL4_05g015980.1 and SMEL4_05g016110.1 were identified as candidate genes. Notably, SNP annotation identified a non-synonymous mutation in the exonic region of SMEL4_05g015980.1 and a variant in the promoter region of SMEL4_05g016110.1. The research findings have practical significance for the isolation of bacterial wilt resistance genes in eggplant and the development of resistance to bacterial wilt varieties in eggplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of an editorial article titled "Effects of Agronomical Practices on Crop Quality and Sensory Profile" published in the journal Agronomy. The article discusses the importance of agronomical practices in improving crop quality and sensory properties. It highlights the challenges faced in achieving sustainable development goals related to poverty, hunger, clean water, climate action, and sustainable agriculture. The article presents research on various crops, including tomatoes, citrus fruits, apples, olives, and almonds, and explores topics such as growing conditions, cultivars, irrigation strategies, and postharvest treatments. The findings emphasize the need for breeding programs and consumer preferences in developing crop varieties that meet both climatic conditions and consumer demands. The article also discusses the impact of irrigation strategies on olive oil quality and the importance of trellis systems in grapevine cultivation. Additionally, it explores the potential of Boesenbergia rotunda as a medicinal plant for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and the utilization of prickly pear peel flour in cake production. [Extracted from the article]

In this review, the main issues related to the conservation and valorization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) will be primarily addressed. The conservation of PGRFA concerning outcrossing plants poses a significant challenge. For this reason, this review will cover the key challenges related to all stages, starting from in situ sampling, collection in the germplasm bank, and conservative reproductive methods. Integrated approaches involving the combined use of classical and molecular techniques will be described for the characterization of accessions. Within this framework, some successful Italian case studies focused on maize will be reported as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aubergine (Solanum melongena L.) (Solanaceae) is a widespread crop in the Mediterranean basin. Verticillium dahliae is one of the main soil-borne pathogens affecting the aubergine crop. Its control has traditionally been achieved by soil fumigation with chemical disinfectants. Restrictions on the use of chemical fumigants have led to the search for solutions in genetic resistance using rootstocks. In southeastern Spain, aubergines are grafted for the control of V. dahliae. Two Solanum torvum rootstocks (Hugo F1 and Torpedo) and a Solanum melongena hybrid (Javah F1) were tested against five isolates of V. dahliae obtained from grafted (A1 and A2) and ungrafted (Vd8, Vd17 and Vd66) aubergines compared with the susceptible cultivar Larne F1 under controlled conditions. Isolates from grafted plants infected all three rootstocks, with differences observed in the percentage of plants with symptoms and in the disease symptom severity. Three strains isolated from the ungrafted aubergines (Vd8, Vd17 and Vd66) infected Javah F1 rootstock. The Hugo F1 and Torpedo rootstocks showed a high level of resistance to V. dahliae, while Javah F1 was susceptible to the pathogen. The Hugo F1 and Torpedo rootstocks are suitable for mitigating the effects of Verticillium wilt in Mediterranean aubergine crops. Understanding the nature of the resistance from S. torvum could enhance the benefits of grafting or facilitate the introduction of resistance into commercial cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use practices face significant pressure due to increased demand and conflicting needs. Several factors contribute to this trend, such as the ever-increasing human population, the increased demand for food production, and the expansion of industrial and agricultural areas. This paper, focused on the cultivation patterns and investigating changes in land use of maize and soybean over time (i.e., both genetically modified and non-genetically modified) in two South African provinces. The objective was to determine whether there was a net increase or decrease in land cover age for these two crops between 2006 and 2017 in the selected study areas. Hence, the study utilized ArcGIS (10.8.1) software to quantify and map the land used for the cultivation of maize and soybean from 2006 to 2017 in Free State and North West provinces. The results show both provinces to have minimal expansion or change in cultivation areas for both maize and soybean between 2006 and 2017. We concluded that both maize and soybean cultivation areas in these provinces, did not expand beyond the current agricultural areas (space), and did not encroach onto new land areas. As a result, both maize and soybean do not currently pose a threat to the surrounding landscape (i.e., natural vegetation) and are not in direct competition with other neighboring land use practices. We recommend that data on the annual planting or cultivation area be consistently gathered, analyzed, and mapped to monitor any alterations that could influence the current findings. This will also assist with any land use planning and management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main production area of Camellia vietnamensis (C. vietnamensis) is in the low mountain and hilly areas of southern China. The low survival rate of seedlings caused by drought is one of the main obstacles restricting the development of the C. vietnamensis industry. An exploration of the key adaptation mechanism of C. vietnamensis to drought stress is important in order to improve its drought resistance. We conducted a study on the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and drought resistance-related genes of five C. vietnamensis cultivars grown in Hainan province under varying degrees of drought stress. The results indicate that drought stress can lead to a decrease in the relative water content and photosynthetic capacity of C. vietnamensis leaves. Compared with the control, the drought damage index, malondialdehyde, relative electrical conductivity, soluble protein, soluble sugar and proline contents of the five C. vietnamensis cultivars increased with drought-stress duration and degree. With increasing drought-stress intensity, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the content of related metabolites (total polyphenols, total flavonoids, tea saponins) gradually increased, and the expression levels of phenylpropanoid pathway-related genes (Cv4CL1, CvCAD1, CvCAD2, CvPOX1, CvPOX2, CvPOX3) were upregulated. Based on the results of the drought tolerance coefficients, principal component analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis, we classified five C. vietnamensis cultivars into drought-tolerant cultivars ('Haida 1'); moderately drought-tolerant cultivars ('Haida 4' and 'Wanhai 4'); and drought-sensitive cultivars ('Wanhai 3' and 'Wanhai 1'). The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the promotion and cultivation of C. vietnamensis and the selection of drought-resistant cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulching films have an important function in crop cultivation; at the end of their life, however, their removal and disposal become both an economic and environmental problem. One possible alternative to low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulch is provided by certified soil-biodegradable mulch films, such as those produced by Novamont and commercially available under the trade name MaterBi®. MaterBi is a biodegradable thermoplastic material made with starch and a biodegradable copolyester based on proprietary technology. In this study, we compared two biodegradable MaterBi®-based films (commercial and experimental films) with bare soil and a low-density polyethylene to evaluate their effect on yield and on a number of qualitative characteristics (organoleptic and nutraceutical composition) of eggplant fruits (cv Mirabelle F1) grown in two different regions in Southern Italy (Sicily and Campania). In our study, the use of biodegradable MaterBi® films improved not only yield and production parameters, such as the number and average weight of fruits, but also lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant activity and phenolic and ascorbic acid content. For many parameters, responses differed according to the cultivation environment and, in particular, the site's pedoclimatic conditions. Our results suggest that biodegradable MaterBi®-based mulching films are a potentially valid alternative to traditional LDPEs, providing the production and quality benefits reported above and promoting environmental sustainability, thanks to their positive biodegradable properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The WD40 gene family is a highly conserved protein family in plants that plays a crucial role in various life activities. Although eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) genome sequencing has been completed, there is limited research on the WD40 family in eggplant, and the regulatory mechanism of its involvement in anthocyanin synthesis remains poorly understood. The research identified the eggplant WD40 gene family, comprising 187 SmWD40 members that are unevenly distributed across 12 chromosomes of the eggplant. Phylogenetic analysis classified them into 11 subgroups, with members within the same subgroup having similar motifs and gene structures. The promoter of the SmWD40 genes contains a high number of light, stress, and hormone response elements. The expression patterns of 20 SmWD40 members of the S5 subgroup were analyzed during the formation of fruit color in long purple eggplant. Subsequently, we used virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to confirm the significance of the TTG1 (SmWD40-56) gene in subgroup S5 for anthocyanin synthesis in eggplant fruit. To investigate the molecular mechanism of SmWD40-56 in eggplant fruit color formation, we analyzed the expression patterns of structural genes for anthocyanin synthesis in eggplant fruit silenced for SmWD40-56. Finally, we predicted the protein interaction network of the SmWD40-56 gene to understand its potential regulatory mechanisms. The result showed that SmWD40-56 may regulate the structural genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis and plays an important role in eggplant fruit color formation. This study provides some basis for studying the mechanism of eggplant fruit color formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is among the vital fruit vegetables cultivated globally for its health and nutritional benefits. However, its production has been hindered by whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci G.) infestation worldwide. This study aims to assess the effect of some bio-pesticides in the control of whiteflies on eggplants under field conditions. The trial consists of seventeen (17) treatments replicated three times for 45 days. From the results obtained, neem leaf extract (60 mL/L) proved more effective against whiteflies, with 1.2 and 1.3 adults/leaf, while buttermilk and cow dung (50 mL/L) were less effective (10.1 and 10.8 adults/leaf) when compared to untreated plots (26.9 and 33.4 adults/leaf), two weeks after the third spray during the first and second trials. The highest reduction (%) in whitefly population was found using neem leaf extract (95.7 and 96.1%) and cow urine (85.8 and 96.1%), with cow dung and buttermilk exhibiting the least overall averages (65.9 and 62.3%), two weeks after the third spray during the respective trials. Neem extract and cow urine were more effective among the treatments examined and, thus, recommended to be incorporated into control strategies of whiteflies for the improved production of eggplants in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is an increasing problem worldwide that limits crop production. The cultivation of salt-tolerant flowers is a potential sustainable strategy for the exploitation of saline soils while avoiding the use of freshwater resources. However, our understanding of how flowers can adapt to salinity is still limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of salinity on a widely-used ornamental plant (Tagetes patula) by submitting three cultivars (cv. Aurora Orange, Fireball, Safari Scarlet) to different salinity levels (0, 50, 100, 300 mM). The plants were grown under controlled conditions and followed over two weeks. We tested the effect of salinity on plant growth and flower production, as well as on the levels of total carotenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase activity, ascorbate peroxidase). The findings indicate a substantial decline in both plant growth and flower production under saline conditions. Overall, plant height was ¼ lower, and there were 1/3 less flowers under salinity. Additionally, there was a consistent rise in antioxidant compounds, highlighting the swift response of defense mechanisms, both enzymatic and non-enzymatic, to combat stress. The high levels of antioxidant compounds sustain the use of marigold flowers as a new source of nutritional compounds, with enriched nutritional contents. Yet, cultivation of these plants in saline conditions should carefully consider the pronounced adverse effects observed at high salinity levels (e.g., 100 and 300 mM) on both plant and flower production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventeen traditional pear cultivars grown in the Central–Western Iberian Peninsula, all of them clearly in decline or close to extinction, have been characterized from the point of view of agromorphological and chemical. A total of twenty-one agromorphological and chemical traits, mainly defined by the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, were used to describe the fruits during a 3-year period from 2020 to 2022. Some of the genotypes showed distinctive and interesting agronomical characteristics from a commercial point of view, such as high yields and fruit quality. This was the case of the pear cultivars called "Pera Temprana", "Muslo de Dama", and "Pera de Cristal de Peñacaballera". Their fruits were quite heavy (125.32–142.56 g) and had a good sweetness/acidity balance (12.67–14.92° Brix/2.76–3.42 g malic acid/L). The rest of the pear cultivars, with the exception of the "Cermeños" group and "Pera Canela" genotype, also presented interesting commercial characteristics given that their fruits had equatorial diameters greater than 6 cm and total soluble solids levels close to or above 13° Brix. The results of the PCA and cluster analysis showed that agromorphological and chemical analysis can provide reliable information on the variability in pear cultivars. The loss of these traditional crops has enormous significance given that they have unique characteristics and are perfectly adapted to the edapho-climatic conditions of the region. This work constitutes an important step in the conservation of genetic pear resources in the Central–Western Iberian Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is an essential legume crop providing healthy and nutritious food for people in low- to middle-income countries, worldwide. Lentil roots support symbiotic interactions with soil rhizobia species fostering nitrogen fixation; however, assemblage and diversity of the complete microbial rhizosphere community and the effect of seed genotype and origin remain largely unexplored. In this study we examined, via metagenomic analysis, the effects of seed origin on the rhizosphere's communities in samples of the famous Greek lentil landrace, Eglouvis, derived from different local farmers and farming systems (including a Gene Bank sample), in comparison to a commercial variety. The landrace exhibited higher rhizosphere microbiome diversity compared to the commercial variety for all indexes. A core microbiome comprised of 158 taxa was present in all samples, while a greater number of unique bacterial taxa was recorded in the landrace samples compared to the commercial cultivar. Notably, landrace samples originated from organic farming had more than double the number of unique taxa compared to conventional counterparts. The study revealed a higher diversity of N2 fixers and archaea, Crenarchaeota and Thaumarchaeota, in landrace samples and particularly in those derived from organic farming, underpinning the distinct recruiting efficiency of beneficial soil microbes by the landrace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum holds the potential for enhancing food security, yet the impact of the interplay of water stress and salinity on its growth and productivity remains unclear. To address this, we studied how drought and salinity affect physiological traits, water use, biomass, and yield in different tropical sorghum varieties, utilizing a functional phenotyping platform, Plantarray. Cultivars (Kuali, Numbu, Samurai2) were grown under moderate and high salinity, with drought exposure at booting stage. Results showed that Samurai2 had the most significant transpiration reduction under moderate and high salt (36% and 48%) versus Kuali (22% and 42%) and Numbu (19% and 16%). Numbu reduced canopy conductance (25% and 15%) the most compared to Samurai2 (22% and 33%) and Kuali (8% and 35%). In the drought*salinity treatment, transpiration reduction was substantial for Kuali (54% and 57%), Samurai2 (45% and 60%), and Numbu (29% and 26%). Kuali reduced canopy conductance (36% and 53%) more than Numbu (36% and 25%) and Samurai2 (33% and 49%). Biomass, grain yield, and a-100 grain weight declined in all cultivars under both salinity and drought*salinity, and Samurai2 was most significantly affected. WUEbiomass significantly increased under drought*salinity. Samurai2 showed reduced WUEgrain under drought*salinity, unlike Kuali and Numbu, suggesting complex interactions between water limitation and salinity in tropical sorghum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting techniques have been intricately associated with the optimization of water use efficiency (WUE). In this study, various eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) rootstock–scion combinations were compared under three irrigation regimes (IR): 50% deficit in water volume (IR50), a doubling of irrigation volume (IR200), and normal watering (IR100). The cultivar Black Bell (Bb) was employed as a scion, while the rootstock adopted included the F1 hybrids Energy (En) and Beaufort (Be) and one accession of S. torvum (To). The trial encompassed the evaluation of no- and self-grafted plants. Plants grown in a cold greenhouse in Sicily were assessed for their morphological parameters, as well as their fruit production and quality. The leaf analysis encompassed the evaluation of chromatic parameters and water potential. Significant variation was observed for plant height, exhibiting the lowest values in self-grafted combinations. The leaf water potential varied significantly in relation to the rootstock–scion combination employed and to the irrigation regime. Fruit quality traits displayed significant variations for chromatic parameters L* and a*, as well as for the fruit's longitudinal and transversal diameters and the soluble solid content. The number of fruits and fruit production per plant varied significantly in relation to the rootstock–scion combination; the highest fruit production was recorded for Black Bell grafted onto S. torvum grown by IR50. The fruit weight displayed a significant interaction between the experimental factors under study. Notably, for the WUE calculated in relation to fruit production, a significant interaction between the experimental factors studied was ascertained. The highest WUE was registered for IR50, specifically for To/Bb. This research aims to develop a comprehensive water-efficient organic farming protocol for sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pepper (Capsicum spp.) is one of the most important crops worldwide. The fruits of Capsicum species are known to contain high amounts of vitamins and carotenoids, and they have health-promoting properties. In this study, a total of 513 pepper accessions belonging to two Capsicum species, C. annuum and C. frutescens, were investigated for their morphological characteristics and contents of phytochemicals including carotenoids, β-carotene, vitamin C, capsaicinoids, and total soluble solids. The results revealed wide variations in morphological traits and phytochemical contents between the accessions and across species. In addition, the association of fruit color and orientation with phytochemical contents was evaluated; the results indicated that germplasm with yellow-colored and pendant-oriented fruits could be important due to their high vitamin C levels. Multivariate analysis of the agro-morphological and phytochemical parameters revealed that Capsicum germplasm were clearly distinguished according to species. Furthermore, cluster analysis showed that germplasms belonged to three groups, and six genotypes were determined as being good genetic resources with high health-promoting phytochemical contents. Especially, vitamin C content was positively correlated with fruit diameter, weight, and wall thickness. Our findings revealed morphological and phytochemical characteristics potentially useful for breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato cv. super strain B was widely cultivated in Saudi Arabia under drought stress. Illumina Hiseq-2000 was used to create the transcriptional profile of tomato cultivar super strain B. A total of 98,069 contigs were gathered, with an average length of 766 bp. Most of the genes in the gene ontology (GO) analysis were categorized into molecular function (MF) of ATP binding (1301 genes), metal ion binding (456 genes), protein kinase activity (392 genes), transferase activity (299 genes), Biological process (BP) of DNA-templated genes (366 genes), and regulation of transcription genes (209 genes), while cellular components (CC) of integral component of membrane (436 genes). The most dominant enzymes expressed were transferases (645 sequences). According to the KEGG pathway database, 15,638 transcripts were interpreted in 125 exclusive pathways. The major pathway groups were metabolic pathways (map01100, 315 genes) and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (map01110, 188 genes). The total number of variants in the twelve chromosomes of super strain B compared with the tomato genome was 5284. The total number of potential SSRs was 5047 in 4806 unigenes. Trinucleotide repeats (3006, 59.5%) were the most found type in the transcriptome. A total of 4541 SNPs and 744 INDELs in tomato super strain B were identified when compared with the tomato genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biostimulants' application to plants can reduce the damage caused by abiotic factors such as drought or salinity and improve crop yield under these stressful conditions. In this work, several biostimulants, namely Terrabion Aminovit® (a commercial product based on amino acids), potassium fulvate, humic acids, and a seaweed extract, were applied to cherry tomato plants using fertigation at two doses of 0.2 and 1.0 g L−1. The plants were then subjected to a water stress treatment by completely withholding irrigation for 12 days. After the treatments, all plants were harvested to determine several growth and biochemical parameters. Pre-treatment with all biostimulants protected the tomato plants against dehydration, as indicated by a significant increase in leaf water content compared to the non-irrigated controls. Leaf fresh weight and root water content also increased, except in the plants treated with humic acids, by about 2 fold in plants pre-treated with Terrabion Aminovit® and 1.5 fold in the presence of potassium fulvate and the seaweed extract. The water stress treatment caused a significant increase in leaf proline content, up to 113.6 μmol g−1 DW, approximately 18 fold higher than in well-irrigated control plants; this value was significantly lower in Terrabion Aminovit® pre-treated plants but even higher, ca. 180 μmol g−1 DW, in those treated previously with the seaweed extract. These results indicate that proline is a suitable water stress biomarker in tomatoes and that the biostimulants probably differ in their mode of action, suggesting that the effect of the seaweed extract is mediated by proline accumulation. A significant activation of antioxidant enzymes, namely superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, was also observed in water-stressed plants; application of the biostimulants resulted in all cases, in a significant reduction in the specific activities of the three enzymes, indicating reduced levels of drought-induced oxidative stress in the plants. We conclude that applying these biostimulants, particularly Terrabion Aminovit®, may help minimise the adverse effects of water stress on tomatoes by maintaining turgor and improving growth through mechanisms still unknown but which appear to involve, at least in part, enhancing the plants' antioxidant defence responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinization is a common abiotic stress that severely limits the growth of Reaumuria soongarica and reduces its application value. To better understand the response of R. soongarica to salt stress and the physiological mechanisms of exogenous Ca2+ and NO compound treatment in alleviating salt stress, the growth parameters, antioxidant system, carbohydrate metabolism and nitrogen compound metabolism were compared on Days 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 15 and 30. The results showed that salt stress could significantly reduce the plant height, root length, fresh and dry weights of aboveground and underground parts, as well as the relative water content, severely inhibiting the growth of R. soongarica seedlings. After Ca2+ and NO compound treatment, these growth parameters were significantly improved, and the harm caused by stress in R. soongarica was alleviated. Regarding the antioxidant system, the Ca2+ and NO compound treatment could significantly increase the activities of SOD, CAT, APX and GR, as well as the contents of ASA and GSH, which indicated that exogenous Ca2+ and NO could eliminate the accumulated active oxygen by increasing the activities of oxidoreductases and the content of nonenzymatic antioxidant substances, thereby improving the salt tolerance of R. soongarica. Regarding carbon metabolism, after Ca2+ and NO compound treatment, the soluble sugar and sucrose contents, as well as the activities of sucrose phosphate synthase and sucrose synthase, were significantly increased, which indicated that Ca2+ and NO compound treatment could maintain higher soluble sugar and sucrose contents in R. soongarica and reduce osmotic stress caused by salt treatment. Regarding nitrogen metabolism, the Ca2+ and NO compound treatment reduced the harm of salt stress by regulating the nitrogen compound contents and nitrogen compound-related enzyme activities, including increases in the NO3− content and NR, NiR, GS, GOGAT and GDH activities and a reduction in the NO2− content. The results of this study indicate that the inhibition of the growth and development of R. soongarica by salt stress can be alleviated by regulating the antioxidant system, carbohydrate metabolism and nitrogen compound metabolism, which provides a theoretical basis for Ca2+ and NO compound treatment to improve plant salt tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the origin of Spanish durum wheat and olive tree landrace collections (preserved in seed banks and ex situ field collections, respectively) was traced throughout different studies on genetic structure analysis of different landrace collections and historical records of plant material circulation of these two crops in the south and east of Spain (the main cultivation areas). Although there were several groups of Spanish durum wheat landraces, they did not cluster geographically and likely came from intense grain circulation within the country and abroad (due to a high seeding rate of about 100 kg/ha and an unstable production) from the 15 to 19th centuries (especially the Maghreb and Sicily). However, Spanish olive tree landraces experienced lower genetic circulation over time and space due to the longevity of the species and the large size of the reproductive material. They can be clearly divided into two groups: those from the south, of Maghrebi origin, which most likely originated during the Islamic expansion of the 8–15th centuries, and those from the east, arriving most likely during Roman times from Italy. The genetic circularity levels of the plant material of these two crops are different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pepper (Capsicum spp.) is an important vegetable crop worldwide with high economic and nutritional value. The Capsicum genus comprises more than 30 species, of which C. annuum, C. chinense, C. baccatum, C. frutescens, and C. pubescens are the five domesticated ones. Anthracnose fruit rot, caused by Colletotrichum spp., is one of the most destructive fungal diseases of pepper. In this review, we compiled up-to-date information from 40 publications on anthracnose resistance in Capsicum species. In total, 375 accessions were described as showing different levels of resistance against Colletotrichum spp. These accessions belonged to different species, including C. annuum (160), C. baccatum (86), C. chacoense (4), C. chinense (90), and C. frutescens (16), as well as 19 accessions of which the species were not reported. High levels of resistance were mainly present in C. baccatum and C. chinense. For some of the resistant accessions, resistance genes or quantitative trait loci (QTL) were reported. Using associated molecular markers, we located 31 QTLs and 17 resistance-related genes in the recently published Capsicum genomes, including C. annuum CM334 version 1.6, C. chinense version 1.2, and C. baccatum version 1.2. Our results could be helpful for making use of some reported accessions in the breeding of pepper cultivars with resistance to anthracnose rot disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European long shelf-life (LSL) tomato landraces can be classified into two main groups: the Italian group, including 'Piennolo' landraces, and the Spanish group, including the 'Penjar' and 'Ramellet' landraces. In this study, a partially common set of 'Piennolo' and 'Penjar-Ramellet' varieties was grown in Italy and Spain to evaluate the effect of different agro-environmental and storage conditions on fruit quality and shelf-life. Overall, both Italian and Spanish LSL genotypes lost their peculiar phenotype in terms of physicochemical properties and shelf-life behavior when not grown in their original agro-environment. To better understand the sensory attributes that drive consumers' preferences, all varieties were characterized using descriptive sensory analysis combined with hedonic tests. The evaluations were conducted postharvest on raw and processed products according to the country's culinary tradition (baked in Italy; spread on bread in Spain). Sensory description by trained panels conducted on raw and processed products highlighted different sensory profiles between the two LSL tomato groups. In the 'Piennolo' group, a reduction in sensory diversity among the genotypes was observed in the baked products compared to the raw ones, while this trend was not observed for the 'Penjar-Ramellet' group. None of the varieties fully met the consumers' preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pear is one of the most important fruit species grown in the temperate zones of the globe. Besides fruit production, pear species are highly valued in forestry and agroforestry systems; in landscaping, as ornamental features; as fruits of ecological value, and in other areas. The Pyrus species, obtained from a gene bank, were evaluated for the different morphological traits of the trees, leaves, flowers, and fruits, as well as their responses to attacks from principal diseases and pests. Phenotypic data were examined using correlation and multivariate analyses, and a dendrogram of morphological traits was completed via molecular investigations at the DNA level using the RAPD markers. The findings revealed the complexities of the phenotypic and genetic connections among Pyrus species, as well as the difficulty in establishing phylogenetic relationships among pear species. The findings also demonstrated that the wide variability between species with different geographical origins, and their multiple peculiarities of interest, represents a cornerstone as the source of genes of great utility for pear breeding or for utilizing trees for different edible crops and for silvocultural, landscape, or ecological purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alpine forage grass species Elymus nutans Griseb. is widely distributed in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and the Himalayas due to its high adaptability. However, it has become threatened by climate warming and excessive grazing. Thus, understanding its genetic and phenotypic information is crucial to aid resource management and conservation efforts. In this study, microsatellite markers were developed based on RNA-seq transcriptome data from E. nutans Griseb. varieties 'Aba' and 'Kangbei', resulting in the identification of 48,457 SSRs from 304,554 de novo assembled unigenes. Seventeen polymorphic markers, 13 inflorescence phenotypic traits, and seed shattering values were determined for 31 E. nutans accessions collected from eastern Tibet. The molecular markers generated 134 well-amplified bands with a mean Nei's genetic diversity of 0.31 and a Shannon information index of 0.46. Pairwise genetic similarity ranged from 0.554 to 0.895, with an average of 0.729. Based on the molecular marker data, all accessions were divided into two classes via the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA), the Markov chain Monte Carlo method, and the principal coordinate analysis (PCA) method. We used Tassel analysis to determine 11 loci with a significant relationship to phenotypic traits, and Pearson's correlation analysis showed that some inflorescence traits were significantly influenced by the environment. Furthermore, we detected strong patterns of isolation by both environment (IBE) and distance (IBD) via Mantel analysis. This study provides valuable insights into the genetic and phenotypic differentiation of E. nutans, informing germplasm resource evaluation and future breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The olive industry involves environmental problems of special relevance, such as the generation of residual brines after the pickling process. Moreover, in the pitting and filling operations of the olives, fatty residues are generated that end up being washed away in the wastewater of these industries. The novelty of this work is based on the extraction of high value-added compounds from residues resulting from the industrialization process of olives, whose content in fatty acids, phenolic compounds and other substances could make them susceptible to being considered as a raw material of interest for the development or enrichment of other foods. The results obtained determined that the physico-chemical and functional characteristics of the oil and the brine, generated as by-products in the olive industry, indicated their potential as raw materials. For this reason, new formulations of the filling of olives (anchovy, red pepper, and lemon flavour) were developed, using the residual oil as a by-product, which showed greater global acceptability by consumers compared to a commercial stuffing made with sodium alginate. In addition, wastewater was used as a brine by-product to pickle three types of vegetables: carrot, cauliflower, and onion. All pickled vegetables showed the highest phenolic content and a higher overall liking, the differences being significant with respect to commercial reference. In conclusion, the results obtained could allow for the conversion of a by-product into a co-product, partially solving an environmental problem, and providing added value to the final product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asteraceae is one of the families with a large number of ornamental plants. Climate change imposes the need to select species that are more tolerant to changing environmental conditions, especially drought. In this study, we compared the performance under water stress of six species belonging to different tribes of Asteraceae with different geographical origins. Young plants obtained after seed germination were subjected to intermediate water stress (irrigation with half the water amount used in control treatments) and severe water stress (no irrigation at all) for one month. Growth variables and biochemical stress markers were determined to assess the effects on the plants of the stress treatments. Multivariate analysis tools were used to rank species according to their tolerance. Three species were relatively more susceptible to water stress, Callistephus chinensis, Xerochrysum bracteatum, and Calendula officinalis, whereas Leucanthemum vulgare, Glebionis carinata, and Ageratum houstonianum were more tolerant. Our study indicated that the last two species, which are registered as invasive in some geographic areas, possess a larger phenotypic plasticity. Principal component analysis (PCA) combined with canonical variation analysis (CVA) proved optimal statistical methods for analysing species of diverse origins and belonging to different genera of a large family, such as the Asteraceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic tomato cultivation is growing all over the world due to its healthy functional properties and environmental concerns. Recently, some new varieties with increased functional properties, particularly high lycopene, have been developed. However, few were assessed under organic farming systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate physico-chemical properties and the main bioactive compound contents, as well as lipophilic, hydrophilic and total radical scavenging activities of a recently developed high lycopene tomato variety homozygous for hp-2dg genes (HLT-F71) grown under organic conditions for two non-consecutive years (2019 and 2021) compared to the ordinary control 'Nemador' variety. The lycopene, β-carotene, total phenol, flavonoid, vitamin C, radical scavenging activity and tocopherols were analyzed by using spectrophotometric and HPLC methods, respectively. The high lycopene content variety presented suitable marketable yield, average fruit weight, pH, titratable acidity, firmness and higher °Brix, pulp color than the control. Additionally, it has significantly higher lycopene, β-carotene, total phenol, flavonoid, vitamin C and particularly considerable α-tocopherol contents, as well as radical scavenging activity. The high lycopene tomato variety with hp genes proved to be an effective sustainable variety for enhancing tomato fruit yield and functional properties even under organic grown conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a major crop production constraint worldwide. Some legume crops are known for their ability to resist water deficit stress. This study evaluated the responses of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea (L.) to soil water deficit stress. The experiment was set as a split-plot randomized complete block design. Three bambara groundnut landraces: viz DodR, NALBAM 4 and S19-3, and one groundnut variety, MNANJE, were assigned to subplots with three water regimes assigned to main plots (regime one: irrigated throughout the growing period, regime two: water deficit stress was imposed at the start of flowering to the end of first flush flowering, regime three: water was withheld during the pod development). Water deficit stress increased proline content by 123% in stressed plots. The highest (174%) and lowest (89%) proline increases were evident in the genotypes MNANJE and NALBAM 4, respectively. Water deficit decreased stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and photosynthetic rate, with MNANJE and S19-3 showing the smallest percentage decrease in most of the traits. This suggests that the two genotypes are drought resistant. The variations observed among landraces could be exploited to breed resilient varieties for cultivation in drought-prone areas, ultimately improving food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cowpea is a nutrient-rich staple legume and climate-resilient crop for vulnerable agroecosystems. However, the crop still remains underutilized, mainly due to its narrow genetic base, and the production is often ravaged by aphid infestation outbreaks. Thus, genetic diversity assessment and the detection of defense-related alleles are fundamental to germplasm management and utilization in breeding strategies to support food safety in climate change times. A germplasm collection of 87 cowpea landraces sourced from Greece was subjected to seed phenotyping, SSR genotyping and to screening for the presence of aphid-resistance-conferring alleles. Significant diversity in the species' local germplasm was revealed. The landraces were grouped in metapopulations based on their broader geographical origin. High amounts of variation and statistically significant differences were detected among the landraces regarding the seed morphological traits, the seed color and eye color according to MANOVA (Wilk's λ = 0.2, p < 0.01) and significant correlations were revealed among these features according to Pearson's test (p < 0.05). High levels of genetic polymorphism were detected for the metapopulations, ranging from 59% (VuPop3) to 82% (VuPop4). The AMOVA revealed that 93% of the molecular diversity was distributed among the landraces of each metapopulation. Further population structure analysis presumed the existence of two inferred populations, where in population A, 79% of the landraces have a cream/cream-brown seed coat, whereas in population B, 94% of the landraces are brown-ochre to black-seeded. Molecular screening for alleles conferring aphid resistance revealed the correspondence of 12 landraces to the resistant genotype of TVu-2876. The study highlights the importance of cowpea germplasm collection genetic diversity, as a source of important agronomic traits, to support breeding efforts and expand cowpea cultivation to foster food security and agriculture sustainability and diversification in climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the purpose of breeding documentation, researchers and breeders kept handwritten records of the breeding history, including parental information and breeding methods. The cultivars were used again as parents for further breeding, and modern cultivars of rice have a wide range of alleles from many generations of parents and ancestors. To understand such a breeding history, it is necessary to ask around for relevant information, which is then usually documented in Excel or Word by multiple breeders or breeding institutes. Here, we constructed RicePedigree, which contains the breeding history of rice based on the documents provided by the Rural Development Administration (RDA) in Korea. We devised a simple method for collecting a breeding history and storing it in a database. RicePedigree is a web-based application on the database that facilitates researchers' and breeders' utilization of the breeding history of rice. Based on the query cultivar name, it will return a hierarchical tree of breeding histories and a list of cultivars and breeding lines that contain query cultivars in their breeding histories. This app would be a good way to review and keep track of information about current and future cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased productivity, nutritional quality, and pest resistance have been primary breeding goals. However, managing such increases in a genotype is challenging. In this context, gene introgression using dwarf plants is an alternative; however, there are no dwarf Santa Cruz tomato varieties for direct use in breeding programs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to improve fruit quality and pest resistance through successive backcrossing of dwarf Santa Cruz tomato populations with agronomic potential. Six and 13 dwarf tomato populations obtained from the first and second backcrossing, respectively, the donor parent, and the commercial cultivar 'Santa Clara' as the check, totalling 21 treatments, were evaluated. Univariate analysis and computational intelligence were used to evaluate the best genotypes. All agronomic variables showed significant and progressive increases after the first and second backcrossing. The highlighted BC2 populations were Sci#16.1-2, Sci#25.1,1-2, Sci#25.1,2-2, Sci#3.1,1-2, Sci#3.1,2-2, Sci#8.3,1-2, and Sci#8.3,2-2, with significant increases in mean fruit weight, pulp thickness, fruit length and diameter, and acyl sugar content. The selected BC2 populations can be used as male parents to obtain normal hybrids to achieve increased productivity, nutritional quality, and a broader spectrum of pest resistance owing to the presence of acyl sugars in the leaflets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.), whose roots are rich in starch, is widely grown around the world and plays a prominent role in ensuring food security. At present, there are no reports on the genetic diversity of sweetpotato germplasm revealed by InDel markers. In this study, we developed a set of 30 InDel markers to evaluate the genetic diversity and relationships of 240 accessions, comprising 77 landraces, 80 introduced accessions, 82 improved varieties released in China, and a diploid wild relative Ipomoea trifida. A total of 94 reliable loci were obtained, with a mean of 3.13 loci per primer, and the PIC value ranged from 0.143 to 0.821. The whole population could be divided into three sub-populations according to a structure analysis based on the Bayesian model, which was consistent with the results of principal component analysis (PCA). A neighbor-joining tree was constructed based on Nei's genetic distance ranging from 0 to 0.556 and discriminated the panel of the population into three main groups (Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ). Group Ⅲ was further split into seven subgroups (ⅢA–ⅢG). The clustering pattern of the 240 accessions was unrelated to their geographic origins. Most of the accessions, whether landraces, improved varieties released in China or introduced germplasm, were mixed, which revealed the high level of genetic similarity among accessions from different regions. There was little difference in the level of genetic diversity between landraces and improved varieties, which was probably due to the exchange and utilization of accessions from different regions. More efforts should be made to collect and utilize sweetpotato germplasm resources and further broaden the genetic basis of sweetpotato cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are a highly advanced kingdom of living organisms on the earth. They survive under all climatic and weather variabilities, including low and high temperature, rainfall, radiation, less nutrients, and high salinity. Even though they are adapted to various environmental factors, which are variable, the performance of a crop will be compensated under sub/supra optimal conditions. Hence, current and future climate change factors pose a challenge to sustainable agriculture. Photosynthesis is the primary biochemical trait of crops that are affected by abiotic stress and elevated CO2 (eCO2). Under eCO2, the C3 legumes could perform better photosynthesis over C4 grasses. The associated elevated temperature promotes the survival of the C4 crop (maize) over C3 plants. In the American Ginseng, the elevated temperature promotes the accumulation of phytocompounds. Under less water availability, poor transpirational cooling, higher canopy temperatures, and oxidative stress will attenuate the stability of the membrane. Altering the membrane composition to safeguard fluidity is a major tolerance mechanism. For protection and survival under individual or multiple stresses, plants try to undergo high photorespiration and dark respiration, for instance, in wheat and peas. The redox status of plants should be maintained for ROS homeostasis and, thereby, plant survival. The production of antioxidants and secondary metabolites may keep a check on the content of oxidating molecules. Several adaptations, such as deeper rooting, epicuticular wax formation such as peas, and utilization of non-structural carbohydrates, i.e., wheat, help in survival. In addition to yield, quality is a major attribute abridged or augmented by climate change. The nutrient content of cereals, pulses, and vegetables is reduced by eCO2; in aniseed and Valeriana sp., the essential oil content is increased. Thus, climate change has perplexing effects in a species-dependent manner, posing hurdles in sustainable crop production. The review covers various scientific issues interlinked with challenges of food/nutritional security and the resilience of plants to climate variability. This article also glimpses through the research gaps present in the studies about the physiological effects of climate change on various crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne pathogen that is difficult to eliminate, causes a severe reduction in the yield and quality of eggplant, and could be controlled through environmentally friendly biofumigation. However, the mechanisms of its effects on the dynamic changes of soil microbes is not clear. In this study, we examined the efficacy of two Brassica vegetables, mustard (Brassica napiformis, BFN) and oilseed rape (Brassica napus, BFC), as biofumigants to control Verticillium dahliae and observed their effects on the soil microbial community compared with chemical fumigants (CF) and a control (CN) in a greenhouse where eggplant was continuously cultivated for 12 years. Illumina MiSeq sequencing was used to analyse the soil microbiome. Real-time PCR was used to assay in order to estimate the soil abundance of Verticillium dahlia, and the glucosinolate concentration in biofumigants was determined using HPLC. Results showed that the BFN treatment had a significant biocidal effect on V. dahliae in the soil, decreasing its abundance by 64.74% compared to the control (CN). No significant difference was observed between BFC and CN treatments. Yield in the BFN treatment improved due to a lower disease incidence rate and disease index. Biofumigation had significant effects on the community structure and abundance of bacteria and fungi. The bacterial diversity of the BFN treatment was significantly lower than those of the other treatments, and beneficial bacterial community relative abundance, such as Flavobacteria, Pseudomonas and Bacillus, increased after the soil was biofumigated for 15 days. However, the temporal difference in bacterial and fungi structure among the different treatments was reduced with the development of the eggplant growth stage. The Mortierella, Altemaria and Chaetomium genera were significantly abundant across all treatments. Soil enzyme activities were also improved. In summary, biofumigation using mustard was efficient in controlling eggplant Verticillium wilt due to changes in the soil bacterial composition at the early eggplant growth stage; the initial conditions in the soil bacterial community are a key determinant of what is going to happen after Brassica biofumigation, which could be considered a practical addition to integrated pest management for the reduction of soil-borne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize will continue to expand and diversify as an industrial resource and a feed and fuel crop in the near future. The United Nations estimate that in 2050 the global population will reach 9.7 billion people. In this context, food security is increasingly being discussed. Additionally, another threat to food security is global warming. It is predicted that both the quantity and the quality of crops will be seriously affected by climate change in the near future. Scientists and breeders need to speed up the process of creating new maize cultivars that are resistant to climate stress without diminishing yield or quality. The present paper provides a brief overview of some of the most important genomics tools that can be used to develop high-performance and well-adapted hybrids of maize and also emphasizes the contribution of bioinformatics to an advanced maize breeding. Genomics tools are essential for a precise, fast, and efficient breeding of crops especially in the context of climate challenges. Maize breeders are able now to develop new cultivars with better traits more easily as a result of the new genomic approaches, either by aiding the selection process or by increasing the available diversity through precision breeding procedures. Furthermore, the use of genomic tools may in the future represent a way to accelerate the processes of de novo domestication of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-trellised culture of tomato is gaining interest among farmers cultivating long shelf-life (LSL) landraces because of the reduction in production costs. This cropping system can benefit from the selection of determinate growth genotypes, mirroring the advancements achieved in processing tomatoes. With this aim, and profiting from the natural variation found within the Penjar landrace, we selected traditional determinate genotypes and breed novel lines carrying both the self-pruning (sp) and the compound inflorescence (s) mutations. Traditional genotypes and breeding lines were compared to commercial controls in a three multi-locality trial and under two irrigation regimes (normal watered, 100% ETc; and water deficit, 50% ETc). Water use efficiency, harvest index, yield and fruit quality traits were studied at harvest. During postharvest, the effects of genotype and management practices on shelf life were assessed under different storage conditions (controlled conditions/cold storage/farmer facilities). All genotypes used water more efficiently under water deficit irrigation than under normal irrigation. Harvest index was improved in the determinate genotypes and was neither affected by locality nor by irrigation factors. Breeding lines showed yields similar to the controls and the traditional ones; however, they displayed a plant architecture that facilitated their management. They also presented higher postharvest shelf life than controls and traditional lines. Shelf life was significantly affected by genotype (G), locality (L, at early stages), and irrigation regime (I, at later stages), with the contribution of the genotype to the phenotypic variance increasing along the postharvest. Low watering increased shelf life in some genotypes while cold storage and high humidity conditions impeded the long shelf-life trait. Overall, sunscald incidence and percentage of unripe fruits when using a single harvest strategy are the major limitations for non-trellised culture of Penjar tomato. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the main aspects of management and on breeding targets to promote a non-trellised culture of Penjar tomato in combination with optimal water use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a primary form of land degradation in arid and semi-arid areas, soil salinity can adversely affect plant nutrient balance, photosynthesis, protein synthesis, energy metabolism, and other functions. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) inoculation of plants is an environmentally friendly strategy to alleviate salt stress and improve salt tolerance. Based on the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database, in terms of the number of publications and citations, collaboration networks, and keywords, this bibliometric analysis employed VOSviewer 1.6.17 and HistCite Pro 2.1 software to map the scientific knowledge of related research, comprehensively review knowledge structure and provide an outlook on future research topics. The results showed that publications and citations increased exponentially between 1978 and 2021. Regarding knowledge structure, Asian nations conducted research in a more concentrated manner, developed close collaborative relationships, and produced rich research results. Halotolerant PGPR, sustainable agriculture, microbial community, soil salinization, microbiome, oxidative stress, and biofertilizer, are currently hot topics. This bibliometric study will provide a meaningful reference for investigating the field's evolution and pinpointing the research frontiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change accentuates abiotic stress conditions putting at risk several commercial cultivars particularly vulnerable to salinity in the early stages of development, which makes adopting new technologies in tune with the environment necessary to mitigate its impact. In this study, we tested the possible effects of a commercial biostimulant (BALOX®) on enhancing salt stress tolerance in salt-treated tomato plants, analysing plant growth and several stress biochemical markers: photosynthetic pigments, ion contents in roots and leaves, leaf concentrations of different osmolytes, oxidative stress markers, non-enzymatic antioxidants, and the specific activities of major antioxidant enzymes. The experimental design consisted of three soil salinity levels (non-saline, saline, and very saline), two biostimulant doses (0.4 mL and 0.8 mL of the BALOX® stock per litre of irrigation water), and the non-treated control (without biostimulant), evaluated at 30 and 60 days of treatment. The biostimulant favoured plant growth, especially at the root level and in saline soils. In addition, it helped reduce Na+ and Cl− uptake by the roots and seemed to stimulate, to some extent, K+ and Ca2+ transport to the aerial part of the plant. The BALOX® application significantly reduced the level of stress affecting the plants in saline soils, as shown by the decrease in the contents of proline and oxidative stress biomarkers and the activity of salt-induced antioxidant enzymes. Some of the biostimulant effects were also observed under low salinity conditions; therefore, in addition to enhancing salt stress responses, BALOX® appears to stimulate the growth of tomato plants through a general improvement of photosynthesis and primary metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The barley old cultivars can be used as a source of genetic diversity to breed new varieties well adapted to different environmental conditions. In this study, 431 European barley accessions were evaluated phenotypically across 2 years under field conditions and genotypically using DArTseq to gain insight into the genetic architecture of phenology, biomass, yield components, and seed yield traits. Accessions were grouped into sub-collections by cultivation period (group A—cultivated prior to 1985, B—cultivated after 1985, and C—Polish landraces), and by European country of origin or European region, to compare their phenological and agronomic value for 16 traits such as: days to heading (DH), days to milk-waxy stage (DMW), days to maturity (DM), days to harvest (DPH), plant height (PH), lodging (LT), row number (RN), spike density (SD), spike length (SL), grain per spike (NGS), glume colour (GC1), grain awn type (GAT), grain covering (GT), grain pericarp colour (GPC), and 1000—grain weight (TGW), and to indicate marker-trait associations (MTAs) with these traits. Based on the results, phenotypic plants per se under field conditions and spikes, or seeds under laboratory conditions it was possible to cluster the collection. DH negatively correlated with PH and important yield components, such TGW. Overall, the genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis identified 143 MTAs associated with these traits. Twenty-three MTAs were associated with plant phenological stages: 5 MTAs with DH, 6 MTAs with DMW, 5 MTAs with DM, and 9 MTAs with DPH. Eighty-nine SMTAs for plant phenotypic traits were identified: 1 for LT and 88 MTAs for PH. Thirty-one markers were identified for agronomic yield traits: 16 MTAs for SD, 11 MTAs for NGS, and 4 for TGW. One association result, 7241263-17 on chromosome 2H, corresponded to the genomic region mapped for DM, DPH, and SD. Marker 3258999-37-C/T on chromosome 2H, significant for NGS, was closely located to results 3263044-31-G/T for SD and 3263989-64-A/C for DMW. On chromosome 6H, closely located were markers significant for SD (3255466-35-C/G) and for NGS (3259102-57-C/A). Moreover, on chromosome 6H, closely located were markers significant for SD (3918801-14-G/A), for NGS (3666407-49-T/G), and for DMW (3663162-62-A/C). The well-characterized barley collection and identified MTAs markers will be used to create a Polish Genebank platform and will serve as a valuable resource for precise breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant grafting is a maneuver humans learned from nature and has been practiced since ancient times. The technique has long been applied for efficient propagation as well as for the modification of the traits of interest, such as stress tolerance, tree size, and fruit quality. Since grafting can enhance the environmental tolerance and disease resistance of a plant, its techniques are now used not only in tree species but also among vegetables. Despite such wide advantages of grafting, however, the potential cause behind a compatible graft establishment (scion-rootstock connection) is yet to be fully understood. As compared to succulent herbaceous plants, woody plants often take a longer time for the graft-take and the plants may exhibit incompatible/unsuccessful graft-establishment symptoms within a period ranging from months to years. In this review, we discuss factors involved in a successful/compatible graft establishment along with bottlenecks of our understanding and future perspectives in a simplified manner- particularly focusing on incompatible graft formation on fruit trees based on earlier studies in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shoot and fruit borer has asserted itself as a severe pest of eggplant. In vitro mutagenesis is an excellent method for producing mutants resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses. This study aimed to create eggplant mutants that were resistant to shoot and fruit borer infestation. In the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, two genotypes, including a landrace, were treated with varying amounts of EMS. Among the treatments, MS medium supplemented with 2% EMS demonstrated the most favorable effect. Explant performance dropped by up to 1.5% with an increase in EMS in the medium. The 2% EMS dose was appropriate for in vitro mutant eggplant development, but the higher dose was extremely damaging. EMS made several mutants sterile. Three landrace mutants were insect-resistant. Total phenols, leaf chlorophylls A and B, antioxidants, and solasodine were abundant in these genotypes. Correlation studies found a link between affected fruits and shoots and total phenols, antioxidants, and solasodine. Solasodine was shown to be related to chlorophylls A and B. The eggplant shoot and fruit borer infestation rate can be reduced by increasing these specific biochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agrobiodiversity and adaptability to environmental changes derived from global warming are challenges for the future of agriculture. In this sense, landraces often have high levels of genetic variation, tightly connected with the changing environmental conditions of a territory. The genus Phaseolus, with five domesticated species, is one of the most important sources of proteins, carbohydrates and micronutrients in various countries. This study aimed to compare the adaptation capacity to drought, in the vegetative growth phase, of a commercial cultivar and two landraces traditionally cultivated in the Mediterranean basin of Phaseolus lunatus (Lima bean). Growth and biochemical responses of the analysed genotypes to different water-deficit treatments were evaluated and compared. In addition, the effectiveness of the voltammetric method for evaluating stress levels in cultivated plants was tested. The studied parameters revealed that P. lunatus is a drought-tolerant species, showing similar results for the three cultivars. However, contrary to what was expected from the germination phase results, the commercial variety Peru showed some better responses under water stress conditions. Finally, the voltammetric method proved to be a good and fast tool for assessing oxidative stress in cultivated plants, showing results in agreement with total phenolic compounds and total flavonoid fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]