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Four molecular marker systems--RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA), ISSR (intersimple sequence repeat), SRAP (sequence-related amplified polymorphism), and SSR (simple sequence repeat)--were used to evaluate seed genetic purity of a hybrid cabbage cultivar 'Zaoxia 16'. Genetic relationships of the F1 hybrids and their parents were analyzed with 157 RAPD primers, 54 ISSR primers, 84 SRAP primer combinations, and 44 SSR primers. Three RAPD primers (NAURP2006, NAURP2020, and NAURP2031), two ISSR primers (NAUISR1058 and NAUISR1062), one SRAP primer combination (NAUSR04/NAURS05), and two SSR primers (NAUSSR1011 and NAUSSR1031), which produced male and female parent-specific markers simultaneously, were selected for testing the genetic purity of the F1 seeds. A total of 210 'Zaoxia 16' hybrid individuals were investigated with these eight selected primers. Of these, 12 appeared to be false hybrids. Nine of the 12 putative false hybrids, confirmed with all eight primers, exhibited similar banding patterns to the female parent, suggesting that they could be derived from selfing of the female parent. The results were in accordance with those from field evaluations. This study showed that RAPD, ISSR, SRAP, and SSR markers are highly efficient and reproducible for genetic purity testing of cabbage commercial hybrid seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relevance. Biologically active compounds are widely used at the modern vegetable production, and especially at the seed production. Influence of Micephyt preparation in the mixed with Etrel is evaluated at the first time. The goal of the study is evaluation the effect of Micephyt in the mixed of Etrel on the obtaining of hybrid seeds of the squash (Cucurbita pepo var. giramontia Duch.).Materials and methods. Studies were carried out at the experimental plot Transnistrian State University named T.G. Shevchenko (Tiraspol) during 2010-2012. The object of studies was maternal line F1 (166/5x98/5) of squash (analog of commercial hybrid F1 Lenutsa). Materials of study were preparations: Etrel (c= 0 and 300 ppm) and Micephyt in the mixed with Etrel (c= 10 and 100 ppm). There were 2 treatments of squash plants with these preparations: at the stage 2-3 leaves, and at the stage of 6-7 leaves.Results. Treatments maternal line of squash F1 with mixed preparation “Etrel-300 ppm + Micephyt-10 ppm” show the positive effect on the seed productivity of plants. We observed the significant increasing main components of seed productivity during three years of study. The mass of 1000 seed was increased on 10.1%; the quantity of seed fruits was increased on 9.0%; the quantity of fruits on the plant was increased on 11.8% and the seed productivity was increased on 33.0%. Seed yields of F1 squash were increased in 1.37 times on the standard (“Etrel-300 ppm”) after plant treatment with mixed preparation “Etrel-300 ppm + Micephyt-10 ppm”. High quality of seeds was maintained. The profitability of additional costs associated with the use of the preparation Micephit for the treatment of the maternal line 166/5 squash was 343%. So, the treatment of squash plants with mixed preparation “Etrel-300 ppm + Micephyt-10 ppm” is economic effective element the technology of F1 squash hybrid seed production.

Background: Avena longiglumis Durieu (2n = 2x = 14) is a wild relative of cultivated oat (Avena sativa, 2n = 6x = 42) with good agronomic and nutritional traits. The plant mitochondrial genome has a complex organization and carries genetic traits of value in exploiting genetic resources, not least male sterility alleles used to generate F1 hybrid seeds. Therefore, we aim to complement the chromosomal-level nuclear and chloroplast genome assemblies of A. longiglumis with the complete assembly of the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) based on Illumina and ONT long reads, comparing its structure with Poaceae species. Results: The complete mitochondrial genome of A. longiglumis can be represented by one master circular genome being 548,445 bp long with a GC content of 44.05%. It can be represented by linear or circular DNA molecules (isoforms or contigs), with multiple alternative configurations mediated by long (4,100–31,235 bp) and medium (144–792 bp) size repeats. Thirty-five unique protein-coding genes, three unique rRNA genes, and 11 unique tRNA genes are identified. The mitogenome is rich in duplications (up to 233 kb long) and multiple tandem or simple sequence repeats, together accounting for more than 42.5% of the total length. We identify homologous sequences between the mitochondrial, plastid and nuclear genomes, including the exchange of eight plastid-derived tRNA genes, and nuclear-derived retroelement fragments. At least 85% of the mitogenome is duplicated in the A. longiglumis nuclear genome. We identify 269 RNA editing sites in mitochondrial protein-coding genes including stop codons truncating ccmFC transcripts. Conclusions: Comparative analysis with Poaceae species reveals the dynamic and ongoing evolutionary changes in mitochondrial genome structure and gene content. The complete mitochondrial genome of A. longiglumis completes the last link of the oat reference genome and lays the foundation for oat breeding and exploiting the biodiversity in the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Drought stress is a serious abiotic factor limiting the quality and yield of maize (Zea mays). To produce maize plants with enhanced drought tolerance, we generated transgenic maize plants overexpressing OsPYL/RCAR7, encoding an abscisic acid receptor. We crossed the selected lines with maize variety B73 and obtained F1 hybrid seeds. Initial screening suggested that the transgenic lines were more drought tolerant than wild-type plants. Analysis using the DroughtSpotter platform indicated that expressing OsPYL/RCAR7 enhanced drought resistance in transgenic maize seedlings by reducing water loss. In addition, the stomatal conductance of the leaf surface was 30% lower in OsPYL/RCAR7-overexpressing plants than in wild-type ones. After drought treatment, OsPYL/RCAR7-overexpressing maize showed a much higher survival rate than the wild type, suggesting that expressing OsPYL/RCAR7 reduced the negative effects of drought exposure on stomatal conductance and enhanced water use efficiency. Furthermore, the expression levels of drought-tolerance–related abscisic acid–signaling genes ABP2 and RAB16A were higher in the transgenic plants than in the wild type. Taken together, our data indicate that the seedlings of transgenic maize expressing the gene OsPYL/RCAR7 showed increased tolerance to drought stress, raising the possibility that stress-related genes from monocotyledonous crops could be used as genetic resources to improve the agricultural traits of maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Stigma characteristics are important factors affecting the seed yield of hybrid rice per unit area. Natural variation of stigma characteristics has been reported in rice, but the genetic basis for this variation is largely unknown. We performed a genome‐wide association study on three stigma characteristics in six environments using 1.3 million single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) characterized in 353 diverse accessions of Oryza sativa. An abundance of phenotypic variation was present in the three stigma characteristics of these collections. We identified four significant SNPs associated with stigma length, 20 SNPs with style length (SYL), and 17 SNPs with the sum of stigma and style length, which were detected repeatedly in more than four environments. Of these SNPs, 28 were novel. We identified two causal gene loci for SYL, OsSYL3 and OsSYL2; OsSYL3 was co‐localized with the grain size gene GS3. The SYL of accessions carrying allele OsSYL3AA was significantly longer than that of those carrying allele OsSYL3CC. We also demonstrated that the outcrossing rate of female parents carrying allele OsSYL2AA increased by 5.71% compared with that of the isogenic line carrying allele OsSYL2CC in an F1 hybrid seed production field. The allele frequencies of OsSYL3AA and OsSYL2AA decreased gradually with an increase in latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. Our results should facilitate the improvement in stigma characteristics of parents of hybrid rice. Significance Statement: The utilization of heterosis in rice is an effective strategy to enhance the grain yield. However, this entails the production of F1 hybrid seeds every year. The yield of F1 hybrid seeds is affected by stigma characteristics. The cloning of OsSYL2AA filled a gap in the genetic study of style length and could be used for improving stigma characteristics to increase the yield of F1 seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accounts of twentieth-century agricultural industrialization in the United States and beyond often center the production and distribution of commercial F1 hybrid seeds as a pivotal development. The commercialization of hybrid corn seeds in the 1930s was initially heralded as a science-driven advance in agricultural productivity. However, since the 1970s "hybrid seeds" have been linked to many perceived perils attendant on industrialized agriculture, from the undermining of farmers' independence to the diminishment of crop genetic diversity to the consolidation of corporate control over the global food system. First grouped with the semidwarf varieties of the Green Revolution to emblematize capital- and chemical-intensive agriculture, hybrids are today often lumped together with genetically modified varieties for much the same reason. This essay revisits the scholarship that helped produce this understanding of hybrid seeds. It explores how and why the singular history of hybrid corn inflected understandings of crop breeding and seed production in general, contributing to lasting confusion about the promises and pitfalls of distinct approaches to crop development and the nature of hybrid seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoplasmic male-sterility (CMS) has been exclusively used to produce F1 hybrid seeds of onion (Allium cepa L.). A single nuclear locus, Ms, is known to restore male-fertility of CMS in onions. Unstable male-sterile onions producing a small amount of pollen grains have been identified in a previous study. When such unstable male-sterile onions were crossed with stable male-sterile onions containing CMS-R cytoplasm, male-fertility was completely restored, although genotypes of the Ms locus were homozygous recessive. Inheritance patterns indicated that male-fertility restoration was controlled by a single locus designated as Ms2. A combined approach of bulked segregant analysis and RNA-seq was used to identify candidate genes for the Ms2 locus. High resolution melting markers were developed based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected by RNA-Seq. Comparative mapping of the Ms2 locus showed that Ms2 was positioned at the end of chromosome 2 with a distance of approximately 70 cM away from the Ms locus. Although 38 contigs containing reliable SNPs were analyzed using recombinants selected from 1344 individuals, no contig showed perfect linkage to Ms2. Interestingly, transcription levels of orf725, a CMS-associated gene in onions, were significantly reduced in male-fertile individuals of segregating populations. However, no significant change in its transcription level was observed in individuals of a segregating population with male-fertility genotypes determined by the Ms locus, suggesting that male-fertility restoration mechanism of Ms2 might be different from that of the Ms locus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) has been widely used for commercial F1 hybrid seeds production. CMS is primarily caused by chimeric genes in mitochondrial genomes. However, which specific stages of anther development in cabbage are affected by the chimeric genes remain unclear. Results: In the present study, the complete mitochondrial genomes were sequenced and assembled for the maintainer and Ogura CMS cabbage lines. The genome size of the maintainer and Ogura CMS cabbage are 219,962 bp and 236,648 bp, respectively. There are 67 and 69 unknown function ORFs identified in the maintainer and Ogura CMS cabbage mitochondrial genomes, respectively. Four orfs, orf102a, orf122b, orf138a and orf154a were specifically identified in the Ogura CMS mitochondrial genome, which were likely generated by recombination with Ogura type radish during breeding process. Among them, ORF138a and ORF154a possessed a transmembrane structure, and orf138a was co-transcribed with the atp8 and trnfM genes. orf154a is partially homologous to the ATP synthase subunit 1 (atpA) gene. Both these genes were likely responsible for the CMS phenotype. In addition, cytological sections showed that the abnormal proliferation of tapetal cells might be the immediate cause of cytoplasmic male-sterility in Ogura CMS cabbage lines. RNA-seq results showed that orf138a and orf154a in Ogura CMS might influence transcript levels of genes in energy metabolic pathways. Conclusions: The presence of orf138a and orf154a lead to increased of ATPase activity and ATP content by affecting the transcript levels of genes in energy metabolic pathways, which could provide more energy for the abnormal proliferation of tapetal cells. Our data provides new insights into cytoplasmic male-sterility from whole mitochondrial genomes, cytology of anther development and transcriptome data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivated strawberry is the most widely consumed fruit crop in the world, and therefore, many breeding programs are underway to improve its agronomic traits such as fruit quality. Strawberry cultivars were vegetatively propagated through runners and carried a high risk of infection with viruses and insects. To solve this problem, the development of F1 hybrid seeds has been proposed as an alternative breeding strategy in strawberry. In this study, we conducted a potential assessment of genomic selection (GS) in strawberry F1 hybrid breeding. A total of 105 inbred lines were developed as candidate parents of strawberry F1 hybrids. In addition, 275 parental combinations were randomly selected from the 105 inbred lines and crossed to develop test F1 hybrids for GS model training. These populations were phenotyped for petiole length, leaf area, Brix, fruit hardness, and pericarp color. Whole-genome shotgun sequencing of the 105 inbred lines detected 20,811 single nucleotide polymorphism sites that were provided for subsequent GS analyses. In a GS model construction, inclusion of dominant effects showed a slight advantage in GS accuracy. In the across population prediction analysis, GS models using the inbred lines showed predictability for the test F1 hybrids and vice versa, except for Brix. Finally, the GS models were used for phenotype prediction of 5,460 possible F1 hybrids from 105 inbred lines to select F1 hybrids with high fruit hardness or high pericarp color. These F1 hybrids were developed and phenotyped to evaluate the efficacy of the GS. As expected, F1 hybrids that were predicted to have high fruit hardness or high pericarp color expressed higher observed phenotypic values than the F1 hybrids that were selected for other objectives. Through the analyses in this study, we demonstrated that GS can be applied for strawberry F1 hybrid breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High oil content is one of the most important characteristics of rapeseed ( Brassica napus L.) breeding. In order to understand the genetic basis of seed oil content, a series of reciprocal crosses between rapeseed parents with high oil content (53110, 61616 and 6F313), medium-oil content (Zhongshuang 9) and low oil content (51070 and 93275) were conducted. It was found that the oil content of F1 hybrid seeds in rapeseed was mainly controlled by the maternal genotype. The maternal effect value of oil content was estimated to be 0.86. The pollen parent had a xenia effect on oil content, estimated to be 0.14 which changed the mean value by 1.86 percent. The inheritance of oil content was studied in a set of 8 × 8 diallel crosses of different varieties. The results indicated that the inheritance of oil content could be explained by an additive-dominant-epistasis model. Although the dominant and additive effects played major roles and accounted for more than 70% of the total variance, there was also a small epistatic effect. The broad and narrow sense heritability of oil content was 83.88 and 36.94%, respectively. Based on the oil content differences between the reciprocal crosses in the same offspring generation (F1 and F2) in rapeseed, it could be concluded that there were significant cytoplasmic effects on oil content. In this study, two lines with significantly cytoplasmic effects, either positive or negative, were selected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of studies have been conducted on hybridization between transgenic Brassica napus and B. rapa or backcross of F1 hybrid to their parents. However, trait changes must be analyzed to evaluate hybrid sustainability in nature. In the present study, B. rapa and transgenic (BrAGL20) B. napus were hybridized to verify the early flowering phenomenon of F1 hybrids, and F1 hybrid traits were analyzed to predict their impact on sustainability. Flowering of F1 hybrid has been induced slightly later than that of the transgenic B. napus, but flowering was available in the greenhouse without low temperature treatment to young plant, similar to the transgenic B. napus. It is because the BrAGL20 gene has been transferred from transgenic B. napus to F1 hybrid. The size of F1 hybrid seeds was intermediate between those of B. rapa and transgenic B. napus, and ~40% of F1 pollen exhibited abnormal size and morphology. The form of the F1 stomata was also intermediate between that of B. rapa and transgenic B. napus, and the number of stomata was close to the parental mean. Among various fatty acids, the content of erucic acid exhibited the greatest change, owing to the polymorphism of parental FATTY ACID ELONGASE 1 alleles. Furthermore, F2 hybrids could not be obtained. However, BC1 progeny were obtained by hand pollination of B. rapa with F1 hybrid pollen, with an outcrossing rate of 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using male sterile (MS) lines instead of normal inbred maternal lines in hybrid seed production can increase the yield and quality with lower production costs. Therefore, developing a new MS germplasm is essential for maize hybrid seed production in the future. Here, we reported a male sterility gene ms*-N125, cloned from a newly found MS mutant ms*-N125. This mutant has an underdeveloped tassel that showed impaired glumes and shriveled anthers without pollen grains. The MS locus of ms*-N125 was mapped precisely to a 112-kb-interval on the chromosome 5. This interval contains only three candidate genes, Zm958, Zm959, and Zm960. Sequencing results showed that only candidate Zm960 harbored a 548-bp transposable element (TE) in its 9th exon, and the two other candidate genes were found to have no genetic variations between the mutant and wild type (WT). Thus, Zm960 is the only candidate gene for male sterility of the mutant ms*-N125. In addition, we screened another recessive MS mutant, ms*-P884, which exhibited similar male sterility phenotypes to ms*-N125. Sequencing Zm960 in ms*-P884 showed a 600-bp TE located in its 2nd exon. Zm960 encodes an ATP-binding cassette in the G subfamily of ABC (ABCG) transporters, ZmABCG2a, with both mutants which harbored an Ac/Ds-like transposon in each. To verify the function of ZmABCG2a for male sterility further, we found an ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutant, zmabcg2a*, which displayed male sterility and tassel phenotypes highly similar to ms*-N125 and ms*-P884, confirming that ZmABCG2a must be the gene for male sterility in maize. In addition, the results of lipid metabolome analysis of ms*-N125 young tassels showed that the total lipid content of the mutant was significantly lower than that of the WT, with 15 subclasses of lipids, including PE (phosphatidylethanolamine), PC (phosphatidylcholine), DG (digalactosyldiacylglycerols), and MGDG (monogalactosyldiacylglycerol) which were significantly down-regulated in the ms*-N125 mutant versus its wild type. In summary, we identified alternate mutations of the ZmABCG2a gene, which may be a potential germplasm for hybrid seed production in maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize is the second most important staple food crop in the world after wheat. For maize hybrid seed production, a prominent step is detasseling in the female parent, which is laborious, time consuming, and increases the hybrid seed cost by 15 to 20 percent. Hence, to overcome this problem, exploitation of male sterility in maize crops gains special significance. In this direction, the research was conducted to transfer cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS-C) from a CMS donor (VL192114) into the female parents (CAL1514 and ZL153493) of heat- and drought-resilient maize hybrids (RCRMH-2 and RCRMH-3) by a marker-assisted backcross scheme. The present research used Diversity Array Technology (DArTag) and Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP)-based single-nucleotide polymorphic markers for background selection in backcross populations. Genome recovery percentage ranged from 64.25 to 72.70, 78.94 to 87.69 and 82.28 to 90.77 percent in the BC1F1, BC2F1 and BC3F1 population, respectively, in the CAL1514 population, while it was 63.47 to 73.55, 78.16 to 88.76 and 83.96 to 91.81 percent in the BC1F1, BC2F1 and BC3F1 population, respectively, in the ZL153493 population. When the near-isogenic CMS lines of both populations are compared for agro-morphological traits with their recurrent parents, the agronomic qualities of recurrent parents, as well as the attributes of distinctness, uniformity and stability, are shown. Therefore, male sterility-transferred, female lines of RCRMH-2 and RCRMH-3 maize hybrids can be used directly to produce maize hybrid seed without the need of the detasseling process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid metabolism is critical for male reproduction in plants. Many lipid-metabolic genic male-sterility (GMS) genes function in the anther tapetal endoplasmic reticulum, while little is known about GMS genes involved in de novo fatty acid biosynthesis in the anther tapetal plastid. In this study, we identify a maize male-sterile mutant, enr1, with early tapetal degradation, defective anther cuticle, and pollen exine. Using genetic mapping, we clone a key GMS gene, ZmENR1, which encodes a plastid-localized enoyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) reductase. ZmENR1 interacts with β-hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydratase (ZmHAD1) to enhance the efficiency of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis. Furthermore, the ZmENR1/ZmHAD1 complex is regulated by a Maize Male Sterility 1 (ZmMS1)-mediated feedback repression loop to ensure anther cuticle and pollen exine formation by affecting the expression of cutin/wax- and sporopollenin-related genes. Intriguingly, homologous genes of ENR1 from rice and Arabidopsis also regulate male fertility, suggesting that the ENR1-mediated pathway likely represents a conserved regulatory mechanism underlying male reproduction in flowering plants. Authors identify a genic male sterility gene, ZmENR1, in maize and report that it encodes an enoyl carrier protein reductase that forms heterodimers with ZmHAD1 to ensure maize pollen and anther development through regulating lipid and ROS metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and its restoration of fertility (Rf) system is an important mechanism to produce F1 hybrid seeds. Understanding the interaction that controls restoration at a molecular level will benefit plant breeders. The CMS is caused by the interaction between mitochondrial and nuclear genes, with the CMS phenotype failing to produce functional anthers, pollen, or male gametes. Thus, understanding the complex processes of anther and pollen development is a prerequisite for understanding the CMS system. Currently it is accepted that the Rf gene in the nucleus restores the fertility of CMS, however the Rf gene has not been cloned. In this study, CMS line 8A and the Rf line R1, as well as a sterile pool (SP) of accessions and a restorer pool (RP) of accessions analyzed the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between CMS and its fertility restorer using the conjunction of RNA sequencing and bulk segregation analysis. Results: A total of 2274 genes were up-regulated in R1 as compared to 8A, and 1490 genes were up-regulated in RP as compared to SP. There were 891 genes up-regulated in both restorer accessions, R1 and RP, as compared to both sterile accessions, 8A and SP. Through annotation and expression analysis of co-up-regulated expressed genes, eight genes related to fertility restoration were selected. These genes encode putative fructokinase, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase, pectate lyase, exopolygalacturonase, pectinesterase, cellulose synthase, fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein and phosphoinositide phospholipase C. In addition, a phosphatidylinositol signaling system and an inositol phosphate metabolism related to the fertility restorer of CMS were ranked as the most likely pathway for affecting the restoration of fertility in pepper. Conclusions: Our study revealed that eight genes were related to the restoration of fertility, which provides new insight into understanding the molecular mechanism of fertility restoration of CMS in Capsicum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, we evaluated the implementation of a seed production system based on the exploitation of male sterility on coffee. We studied specifically the combination between CIR-SM01 and Marsellesa® (a Sarchimor line), which provides a hybrid population called Starmaya. We demonstrated that the establishment of seed garden under natural pollination is possible and produces a sufficient amount of hybrid seeds to be multiplied efficiently and economically. As expected for F1 hybrid, the performances of Starmaya are highly superior to conventional cultivars. However, we observed some heterogeneity on Starmaya cultivar in the field. We confirmed by genetic marker analysis that the off-types were partly related to the heterozygosity of the CIR-SM01 clone and could not be modified. Regarding the level of rust resistance of Starmaya cv., we saw that it could be improved if Marsellesa was more fully fixed genetically. If so, we should be able to decrease significantly the percentage of rust incidence of Starmaya from 15 to 5%, which would be quite acceptable at a commercial level. Starmaya represents the proof of concept for the mass propagation of Arabica F1 hybrid seeds using male sterility. Finally, we discuss the possibility to increase the number of hybrid varieties produced by seed, exploring some initiatives to identify male sterility markers to induce male sterility on any conventional cultivar. This would definitively open up the universe of known Arabica cultivars to be used in breeding new F1 hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brassica oleracea L. species embrace important horticultural crops, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, which are highly valued for their beneficial nutritional effects. However, the complexity of flower emasculation in these species has forced breeders to adopt biotechnological approaches such as somatic hybridization to ease hybrid seed production. Protoplasts entail a versatile tool in plant biotechnology, supporting breeding strategies that involve genome editing and hybridization. This review discusses the use of somatic hybridization in B. oleracea L. as a biotechnological method for developing fusion products with desirable agronomic traits, particularly cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) condition. These CMS lines are critical for implementing a cost-effective, efficient, and reliable system for producing F1 hybrids. We present recent studies on CMS systems in B. oleracea L. crops, providing an overview of established models that explain the mechanisms of CMS and fertility restoration. Additionally, we emphasize key insights gained from protoplast fusion applied to B. oleracea L. breeding. Key steps including pre-treatments of donor plants, the main tissues used as sources of parental protoplasts, methods for obtaining somatic hybrids and cybrids, and the importance of establishing a reliable plant regeneration method are discussed. Finally, the review explores the incorporation of genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas9, to introduce multiple agronomic traits in Brassica species. This combination of advanced biotechnological tools holds significant promise for enhancing B. oleracea breeding programs in the actual climate change context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant height is a critical agronomic trait closely linked to yield, primarily regulated by Gibberellins (GA) and auxins, which interact in complex ways. However, the mechanism underlying their interactions remain incompletely understood. In this study, we identified a tomato mutant exhibiting significantly reduced plant height. Through gene cloning and bulked segregant analysis (BSA) sequencing, we found that the mutant gene corresponds to the tomato auxin response factor gene SlARF5/MP. Here, we show that overexpression of SlARF5/MP significantly enhances plant height. Additionally, treatment with GA3 restored the plant height of the mutant to wild-type (WT) levels, indicating that GA content is a key factor influencing plant height. We also observed significant upregulation of GA-biosynthesis genes, including GA2-oxidases GA20ox3 and GA20ox4, as well as the GA3 biosynthesis gene GA3ox1, in SlARF5-overexpressing plants. Furthermore, we demonstrated that SlARF5 directly binds to SlGA2ox3, which mediates the conversion of GA3 to inactive GA, therebyregulating its expression. Our findings suggest that SlARF5 modulates GA3 metabolism by regulating GA synthesis genes, ultimately leading to alterations in plant height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Environment-friendly pest management techniques are safer, sustainable over the years, better for ecosystem services, and more convenient with lower risks. Netting and or bagging is one of the most suitable tools for pest management. To develop environmentally friendly management techniques against the common cutworm (Spodoptera litura Fab.), we compared the cost-effectiveness of netting and bagging for the production of bell peppers in Bangladesh. Research Method: The study was undertaken in the field of Entomology, at Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh, from October 2018 to April 2019. Netting and bagging significantly improved plant morphology, fruit quality, and yield and managed the insect pests. Findings: In this paper, we tried to bring forth different prospects of netting and bagging in bell peppers to manage the common cutworm. Superior-quality fruits were harvested from the netting/bagging treatment compared to the control. Netting and bagging treatment increased yield by more than 10-fold over control and decreased fruit infestation to 10.67%. The maximum marginal benefit-cost ratio (MBCR = 18.06) was achieved from the netting/bagging treatment, while the lowest MBCR (7.29) was obtained from bagging only. Superior-quality fruits were obtained using white paper bags compared to brown paper bags. The common cutworm first appeared in February and gradually increased with the progress of the season, indicating that netting and bagging need to be applied at the early fruiting stage of bell pepper. Research Limitations: The study focused on the environment-friendly management of common cutworms in bell peppers, revealing impressive results, but these need to be validated across the locations. Originality/Value: Albeit labor-intensive, combining nylon netting with fruit bagging is a cost-effective, eco-friendly management technique against the common cutworm of bell pepper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant mitochondrial genomes sometimes carry cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS)-associated genes. These genes have been harnessed in various crops to produce high-yielding F1 hybrid seeds. The gene open reading frame 352 (orf352) was reported to be an RT102-type CMS gene in rice (Oryza sativa), although the mechanism underlying its role in CMS is unknown. Here, we employed mitochondrion-targeted transcription activator-like effector nucleases (mitoTALENs) to knockout orf352 from the mitochondrial genome in the CMS rice RT102A. We isolated 18 independent transformation events in RT102A that resulted in genome editing of orf352, including its complete removal from the mitochondrial genome in several plants. Sequence analysis around the mitoTALEN target sites revealed their induced double-strand breaks were repaired via homologous recombination. Near the 5'-target site, repair involved sequences identical to orf284, while repair of the 3'-target site yielded various new sequences that generated chimeric genes consisting of orf352 fragments. Plants with a chimeric mitochondrial gene encoding amino acids 179-352 of ORF352 exhibited the same shrunken pollen grain phenotype as RT102A, whereas plants either lacking orf352 or harboring a chimeric gene encoding amino acids 211-352 of ORF352 exhibited partial rescue of pollen viability and germination, although these plants failed to set seed. These results demonstrated that disruption of orf352 partially restored pollen development, indicating that amino acids 179-210 from ORF352 may contribute to pollen abortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize is highly sensitive to waterlogging stress, and seeds fail to germinate under hypoxic conditions induced by submergence, leading to severe yield losses. We conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis during the initial stages of seed germination, exploring aerobic and hypoxic conditions in two inbred lines, B73 and Okcheon Chal-1. Notably, significant differences emerged between aerobic and hypoxic conditions on the first day of germination, particularly in genes associated with fermentation and phytohormone regulation. However, consistent transcriptomic changes were observed in primary metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway. These differences strongly correlate with each other, illustrating the efficacy of the hypoxic response for survival in water. Furthermore, this suggests that germinating seeds serve as a promising model for studying plant hypoxia responses with controlled environmental conditions. Insights from this study contribute to understanding the fundamental mechanisms of hypoxia response and hold promise for developing strategies to cultivate waterlogging-tolerant maize cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don) is renowned for its diverse colors and resilience to harsh climates. Still, most commercial cultivars predominantly display flat petals. Using cultivars representing non-wavy, medium-wavy, and extreme-wavy flower forms, we examined morphological differences in both their mature leaves and floral organs. Phenotypes of self-pollinated (S1) and cross-pollinated (F1, F2) populations further underscored their morphological distinctions. Specifically, the extreme-wavy type displayed elliptical leaves, broader than the non-wavy type, with a pronounced acute apex and a notably wrinkled blade surface. The non-wavy type also bore intensely wavy petal margins and exhibited a smaller flower diameter, with a notable absence of a functional pistil, indicating female sterility. The insights gained allowed for early differentiation during the seedling period. This study suggests that the inheritance of these flower forms is regulated by an allele WAVY (Wv), which exhibits incomplete dominance. Concretely, the non-wavy form arises from a recessive homozygous expression (wvwv), the extreme-wavy from a dominant homozygous expression (WvWv), and the medium-wavy from a heterozygous expression (Wvwv). This study provides clarity on morphological descriptions and inheritance patterns of wavy flower forms, facilitating strategic breeding of diverse flower forms in periwinkle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoinhibition refers to the inability of seeds to germinate when inhibited by high temperatures, but when environmental conditions return to normal, the seeds are able to germinate rapidly again, which is different from thermodormancy. Meanwhile, with global warming, the effect of the thermoinhibition phenomenon on the yield and quality of crops in agricultural production is becoming common. Lettuce, as a horticultural crop sensitive to high temperature, is particularly susceptible to the effects of thermoinhibition, resulting in yield reduction. Therefore, it is crucial to elucidate the intrinsic mechanism of action of thermoinhibition in lettuce seeds. This review mainly outlines several factors affecting thermoinhibition of lettuce seed germination, including endosperm hardening, alteration of endogenous or exogenous phytohormone concentrations, action of photosensitizing pigments, production and inhibition of metabolites, maternal effects, genetic expression, and other physical and chemical factors. Finally, we also discuss the challenges and potential of lettuce seed germination thermoinhibition research. The purpose of this study is to provide theoretical support for future research on lettuce seed germination thermoinhibition, and with the aim of revealing the mechanisms and effects behind lettuce seed thermoinhibition. This will enable the identification of more methods to alleviate seed thermoinhibition or the development of superior heat-tolerant lettuce seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) was introduced to Southeast Asia in the 16th–17th centuries and has since flourished as an industrial crop. Since the 1980s, Thailand has emerged as the leading producer and exporter of cassava products. This growth coincided with the initiation of cassava breeding programs in collaboration with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), focusing on root yield and starch production. The success of Thai cassava breeding programs can be attributed to the incorporation of valuable genetic diversity from international germplasm resources to cross with the local landraces, which has become the genetic foundation of many Thai commercial varieties. Effective evaluation under diverse environmental conditions has led to the release of varieties with high yield stability. A notable success is the development of Kasetsart 50. However, extreme climate change poses significant challenges, including abiotic and biotic stresses that threaten cassava root yield and starch content, leading to a potential decline in starch-based industries. Future directions for cassava breeding must include hybrid development, marker-assisted recurrent breeding, and gene editing, along with high-throughput phenotyping and flower induction. These strategies are essential to achieve breeding objectives focused on drought tolerance and disease resistance, especially for CMD and CBSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Journal of Agricultural Sciences (SJAS) is the property of Beni Suef University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Both genomes in chloroplasts and mitochondria of plant cell are usually inherited from maternal parent, with rare exceptions. To characterize the inheritance patterns of the organelle genomes in cucumber (Cucumis sativus var. sativus), two inbred lines and their reciprocal F1 hybrids were analyzed using an next generation whole genome sequencing data. Their complete chloroplast genome sequences were de novo assembled, and a single SNP was identified between the parental lines. Two reciprocal F1 hybrids have the same chloroplast genomes with their maternal parents. Meanwhile, 292 polymorphic sites were identified between mitochondrial genomes of the two parental lines, which showed the same genotypes with their paternal parents in the two reciprocal F1 hybrids, without any recombination. The inheritance patterns of the chloroplast and mitochondria genomes were also confirmed in four additional cucumber accessions and their six reciprocal F1 hybrids using molecular markers derived from the identified polymorphic sites. Taken together, our results indicate that the cucumber chloroplast genome is maternally inherited, as is typically observed in other plant species, whereas the large cucumber mitochondrial genome is paternally inherited. The combination of DNA markers derived from the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes will provide a convenient system for purity test of F1 hybrid seeds in cucumber breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Plants, People, Planet is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Kernels of cotton provide lint and linter for textiles, oil and protein for food and feed. Cotton seed is formed following fertilization between an ovule and a pollen grain. The seed coat is maternal in origin, whereas the embryo and attached cotyledonary leaves are hybrids of parental lines. The extraction of genomic DNA from an ungerminated whole, a portion or mixed seeds are prerequisite in genetic and genomic studies of cotton. As far as our knowledge, there is only one method of nondescriptive DNA extraction from ungerminated cotton seeds without affecting the seed germination capability, but it has technical difficulties and requires special equipment. Furthermore, the amount of DNA extracted using the published method is low and, therefore, it is only suitable for routine marker assisted selection studies. In this study, a DNA extraction protocol referred to as the CTAB-LiCl was developed for single whole cotton seed, a portion of cotton seed and bulked cotton seeds. This protocol uses a combination of CTAB and LiCl to lyse cells and deplete RNAs simultaneously. The CTAB-LiCl DNA extraction method was evaluated in ninety-six individuals of six different cotton cultivars along with two genetic standards of cotton, TM-1 (G. hirsutum L.), Pima 3–79 (G. barbadense L.), and several other plant species of different plant genera. Results revealed that this method produced high quality and amounts of DNA as confirmed by spectrophotometry, agarose gel, restriction enzyme digestion, polymerase chain reaction, and library production for next generation sequencing studies of whole genome bisulfite sequencing. It does not require the use of liquid nitrogen, RNase, proteinase K, or beta-mercaptoethanol and can be completed in approximately 2 h. Small tissues of the chalaza ends of ungerminated cotton seeds could be used to obtain high quality and quantity of DNA ranging from 14 to 28 µg without affecting the seeds' germination ability, allowing marker-assisted selection before planting and flowering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed storability has a significant impact on seed vitality and is a crucial genetic factor in maintaining seed value during storage. In this study, RNA sequencing was used to analyze the seed transcriptomes of two rice thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (TGMS) lines, S1146S (storage-tolerant) and SD26S (storage-susceptible), with 0 and 7 days of artificial accelerated aging treatment. In total, 2658 and 1523 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in S1146S and SD26S, respectively. Among these DEGs, 729 (G1) exhibited similar regulation patterns in both lines, while 1924 DEGs (G2) were specific to S1146S, 789 DEGs (G3) were specific to SD26S, and 5 DEGs (G4) were specific to contrary differential expression levels. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that "translation", "ribosome", "oxidative phosphorylation", "ATP-dependent activity", "intracellular protein transport", and "regulation of DNA-templated transcription" were significantly enriched during seed aging. Several genes, like Os01g0971400, Os01g0937200, Os03g0276500, Os05g0328632, and Os07g0214300, associated with seed storability were identified in G4. Core genes Os03g0100100 (OsPMEI12), Os03g0320900 (V2), Os02g0494000, Os02g0152800, and Os03g0710500 (OsBiP2) were identified in protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks. Seed vitality genes, MKKK62 (Os01g0699600), OsFbx352 (Os10g0127900), FSE6 (Os05g0540000), and RAmy3E (Os08g0473600), related to seed storability were identified. Overall, these results provide novel perspectives for studying the molecular response and related genes of different-storability rice TGMS lines under artificial aging conditions. They also provide new ideas for studying the storability of hybrid rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Chemistry & Biotechnology is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Radish (Raphanus sativus L.), a root vegetable belonging to the Brassicaceae family, is considered one of the representative crops displaying sporophytic self-incompatibility (SSI). The utilization of a self-incompatibility system in F1 breeding can improve the efficiency of cross-combinations, leading to a reduction in breeding time and aiding in the development of novel F1 varieties. The successful implementation of this system necessitates the rapid and accurate identification of S haplotypes in parental lines. In this study, we identified a total of nine S haplotypes among 22 elite radish lines through Sanger sequencing. Subsequently, we obtained sequences for showing a 95% similarity to nine S haplotypes, along with sequences identified by other researchers using BLAST. Following this, multiple sequence alignment (MSA) was conducted to identify SRK and SLG sequence similarities, as well as polymorphisms within the class I and II groups. Subsequently, S haplotype-specific marker sets were developed, targeting polymorphic regions of SRK and SLG alleles. These markers successfully amplified each of the nine S haplotypes. These markers will play a crucial role in the rapid and precise identification of parental S haplotypes in the radish F1 breeding process, proving instrumental in the radish F1 purity test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wide crossing is a useful method for transferring traits of interest from wild Triticeae species to wheat. In this study, Aegilops sharonensis was successfully hybridized to three tetraploid wheat species with crossability varying from 0.86 to 1.76 %. F1 hybrids were verified by their display of intermediate characteristics in morphology, cytology, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiles. The exogenous x- and y-type subunits of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits of Ae. sharonensis were expressed in F1 hybrid seeds and showed identical electrophoretic mobilities to those originally present in Ae. sharonensis. In F2 hybrids, the x-type subunit migrated faster, indicating that a decrease in molecular mass had occurred. Cloning of the open reading frames of subunit variants revealed that the x-type subunit had protein sequence variations, including single residue mutations, and insertions and deletions involving one or more repeat motifs. The two deletions causing the size reduction of the exogenous x-subunits of Ae. sharonensis in the F2 seeds were most likely the result of slip-mismatching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetically modified oilseed rape is currently grown on about 23 % of the global oilseed rape acreage. In order to separate transgenic and non-transgenic oilseed rape production and to ensure co-existence of different agricultural cultivation schemes, as is specified by the European legislation, confinement measures have to be defined. Pollen-mediated gene flow is the most important means by which transgenes are dispersed between fields. In contrast to the majority of the previous investigations the objective of this study was to assess the extent of gene flow in the case of multiple pollen-donor fields. A high erucic acid rape genotype was used as biochemical marker for the quantification of outcrossing into a low erucic acid oilseed rape variety. Outcrossing data were obtained from two experimental locations. As expected, multiple pollen sources in a fragmented landscape can result in high gene transfer frequencies, thus requiring larger isolation distances than a field design with a single pollen donor source. The results of the study are transferable to homozygous transgenic oilseed rape varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]