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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]

Cannabis sativa L. cv. 'Cheungsam' is an industrial hemp plant of Republic of Korea origin, primarily cultivated for fiber and seed production. In vitro seed germination and tissue culture are valuable tools for developing various biotechnological techniques. In the present study, we aimed to develop a tissue culture process for hemp plants using Cheungsam as a model plant and examine the secondary metabolites produced from its callus. We also developed a method to prepare pathogen-free seedlings from field-derived seeds using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) solution as a liquid germination medium. Treating seedlings with removed seed coat in 3% H2O2 significantly reduced the contamination rate. Callus formation and de novo organogenesis of shoots and roots from callus were successfully achieved using cotyledon and leaf tissues prepared from the pathogen-free seedlings. The most effective in vitro regeneration results were obtained using the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with certain targeted growth regulators. An optimal combination of 0.5 mg/L thidiazuron (TDZ) and 1.0 mg/L 1-naphthalene acetic acid proved highly effective for callus induction. The addition of 0.5 mg/L TDZ in the MS medium significantly stimulated shoot proliferation, while robust root development was best supported by MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid for both cotyledon and leaf explants. Finally, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of ethanol extract from Cheungsam leaf callus revealed the presence of different secondary metabolites, including 9-octadecenamide, methyl salicylate, dodecane, tetradecane, and phenol, 2,4-bis-(1,1-dimethylethyl). This study provides a comprehensive de novo regeneration protocol for Cheungsam plants and insight into the secondary metabolite profiles of its callus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic richness of the Capsicum genus holds significant potential for breeding programs, but it hinders the integration of biotechnological approaches for genetic improvement. In vitro manipulation and regeneration of pepper species have been limited by the inherent recalcitrance barriers of the genus, which mainly manifest in the massive obtention of structures with multiple shoot apical meristem (SAM) deformations. Fifty years of pepper tissue culture have demonstrated that explant responsiveness to culture conditions is essentially governed by molecular and physiological factors, and it is highly genotype-dependent. The empirical approach of the research carried out in this field has allowed to substantially improve the in vitro response by modifying the surrounding environment. Currently, there are several reports of pepper regeneration through organogenesis, somatic embryogenesis, and androgenesis. However, these protocols are quite inefficient and little reproducible in other Capsicum genotypes. Literature about pepper tissue culture has extensively reviewed the plant regeneration success achieved, but little is known about the multifactorial nature of this persistent phenomenon. This article summarizes the progress made in understanding the recalcitrant nature of the Capsicum genus, highlighting the influence of the molecular and physiological processes involved in the in vitro response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selection is a fundamental part of the plant breeding process, enabling the identification and development of varieties with desirable traits. Thanks to advances in genetics and biotechnology, the selection process has become more precise and efficient, resulting in faster breeding progress and better adaptation of crops to environmental challenges. Genetic parameters related to gene additivity and epistasis play a key role and can influence decisions on the suitability of breeding material. In this study, 188 rapeseed doubled haploid lines were assessed in field conditions for resistance to Leptosphaeria spp. Through next-generation sequencing, a total of 133,764 molecular markers (96,121 SilicoDArT and 37,643 SNP) were obtained. The similarity of the DH lines at the phenotypic and genetic levels was calculated. The results indicate that the similarity at the phenotypic level was markedly different from the similarity at the genetic level. Genetic parameters related to additive gene action effects and epistasis (double and triple) were calculated using two methods: based on phenotypic observations only and using molecular marker observations. All evaluated genetic parameters (additive, additive-additive and additive-additive-additive) were statistically significant for both estimation methods. The parameters associated with the interaction (double and triple) had opposite signs depending on the estimation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise knowledge of all aspects controlling plant tissue culture and in vitro plant regeneration is crucial for plant biotechnologists and their correlated industry, as there is increasing demand for this scientific knowledge, resulting in more productive and resilient plants in the field. However, the development and application of cell and tissue culture techniques are usually based on empirical studies, although some data-driven models are available. Overall, the success of plant tissue culture is dependent on several factors such as available nutrients, endogenous auxin synthesis, organic compounds, and environment conditions. In this review, the most important aspects are described one by one, with some practical recommendations based on basic research in plant physiology and sharing our practical experience from over 20 years of research in this field. The main aim is to help new plant biotechnologists and increase the impact of the plant tissue culture industry worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We established transformation technologies using Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Smith & Townsend) Conn to insert foreign genes into high THC-containing cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.). The Arabidopsis non-expressor of pathogenesis-related protein 1 (AtNPR1) gene was selected as a potentially useful agronomic gene, which was linked to the bar gene from Streptomyces that encodes herbicide resistance. We investigated how Agrobacterium strains (EHA105 and GV3101), glufosinate concentrations, explant source, and light intensity affected transformation frequency (TF). Transformation was confirmed by RT-PCR with primers for the NPR1 or bar genes. Glufosinate at 0.5–1 mg/L inhibited growth of non-transformed calli within 8 weeks following A. tumefaciens infection. Strain EHA105 yielded a higher TF compared to strain GV3101. Whole leaflets yielded a higher TF compared to sectioned leaf explants with strain GV3101. However, this effect was not seen with EHA105. Petiole segments showed a higher TF than leaf sections with strain EHA105. Placing explants under light or dark conditions did not affect TF, which ranged from 5% to 95% in different experiments. This is the first report of successful transformation of two high THC-containing C. sativa genotypes with two foreign genes simultaneously—AtNPR1 and bar. The recovery of plantlets from transgenic calli was not attempted and awaits further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of TDZ on adventitious shoot regeneration from leaves of the pear cultivars Conference and Abate Fétel, and the rootstock Farold®87 was investigated. Our main aim was to set up efficient in vitro regeneration protocols for all these pear genotypes by using expanding leaves from elongated shoot cultures as starting plant material. Our best results in terms of percentage of regeneration were achieved by using half-strength Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with 1 μM NAA, combined with 13.5 μM TDZ for Conference (87.3%) and Farold®87 (53.3%), and 9 μM TDZ for Abate Fétel (68%). The impact on leaf organogenesis of the antibiotics timentin, cefotaxime, and carbenicillin, alone or in combination, usually used for the control of Agrobacterium overgrowth, and of kanamycin, commonly used for the selection of putatively transformed plants, were also evaluated to be exploited in future transformation trials. In general, the use of carbenicillin (475 mM), cefotaxime/carbenicillin (210/238 mM) and cefotaxime (630 mM) did not negatively affect the regeneration efficiency of Conference, Abate Fétel and Farold®87, respectively. The use of 4 μM kanamycin should be suitable to select transformed shoots from Abate Fétel and Farold®87 leaves, while a lower concentration or a different selection strategy should be applied for Conference. We report new regeneration and selection protocols usable for the application of new biotechnologies in the genetic improvement of pear cultivars and rootstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite world food production keeping pace with population growth because of the Green Revolution, the United Nations (UN) State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022 Report indicates that the number of people affected by hunger has increased to 828 million with 29.3% of the global population food insecure, and 22% of children under five years of age stunted. Many more have low-quality, unhealthy diets and micronutrient deficiencies leading to obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related non-communicable diseases. Additionally, current agro-food systems significantly impact the environment and the climate, including soil and water resources. Frequent natural disasters resulting from climate change, pandemics, and conflicts weaken food systems and exacerbate food insecurity worldwide. In this review, we outline the current knowledge in alternative agricultural practices for achieving sustainability as well as policies and practices that need to be implemented for an equitable distribution of resources and food for achieving several goals in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, animal husbandry, particularly ruminant meat and dairy, accounts for a significant proportion of agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and land use but contributes only 18% of food energy. In contrast, plant-based foods, particularly perennial crops, have the lowest environmental impacts. Therefore, expanding the cultivation of perennials, particularly herbaceous perennials, to replace annual crops, fostering climate-smart food choices, implementing policies and subsidies favoring efficient production systems with low environmental impact, empowering women, and adopting modern biotechnological and digital solutions can help to transform global agro-food systems toward sustainability. There is growing evidence that food security and adequate nutrition for the global population can be achieved using climate-smart, sustainable agricultural practices, while reducing negative environmental impacts of agriculture, including GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lettuce (Lactuca spp.) is an annual and self-pollinating crop that belongs to the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. It is one of the most globally essential commercial vegetable crops, used in salads and sandwiches. The lettuce leaves are used to make a cigarette without nicotine. Seeds and stems contain edible oil and dried latex. Gene banks have conserved a large pool of lettuce's genetic resources, including wild Lactuca species with the same chromosome numbers 2n = 2x = 18. Lactuca species vary greatly in terms of geographical distribution and morpho-agronomic characteristics. By crossing commercial varieties with locally adapted varieties, novel alleles can be introduced, increasing genetic diversity and making preselection for desirable traits easier. Lettuce breeders and geneticists' main objectives are to improve lettuce for various desirable traits, including tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress and high yield. These targets accomplished with modern genomics tools together with traditional breeding methods. This chapter discusses lettuce conservation and biodiversity, stages of lettuce breeding, agriculture practices, and conventional breeding techniques and their restrictions. It also includes modern plant breeding tools and marker-assisted breeding, editing of genome, and genetic engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Plant breeding plays a significantly important role in ensuring global food security. Among several methods of plant breeding, mutation breeding has shown remarkable success in crop improvement at a much faster rate than traditional breeding. The present study was carried out to review the different approaches and mutagenic agents of plant mutation breeding. Research Method: The review focused on both conventional and novel techniques of mutation breeding. To prepare a comprehensive article, the author reviewed selected available published information on experimental mutagenesis running back to the 20th century. Findings: In nature, mutations happen at a much slower rate hindering the scientists' efforts of crop improvement. On the contrary, mutagens have provided the solution to a slow mutation rate by inducing mutations at much faster rates. Recent advances in science have opened up new paths of mutation breeding approaches. These approaches accompanied by state-of-the-art biotechnology has provided more effective, efficient, and robust results. For further development of mutation breeding, certain rules and regulations enacted worldwide must be addressed once more. Originality/Value: The study provides a comprehensive review on current knowledge of different mutation breeding approaches and mutagenic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review is devoted to biotechnological methods and approaches used in eggplant selection. Using in-vitro techniques, micropropagation makes it possible to obtain Solanum melongena L. plants identical to the original ones. This article discusses various aspects of eggplant microcloning; draws conclusions about the successful induction of shoots, which is an important stage required for the regeneration of the callus; and describes the methodological issues of origin, explant treatment, cultivation features, composition of nutrient media, growth regulators, growing conditions and rooting algorithms, and adaptation of the resulting regenerant plants. The microclonal reproduction of Solanum melongena L. by organogenesis from cotyledon and hypocotyl explants is described. After explants were introduced into an in-vitro culture, significant differences in the nature of growth and development of the tissues in the nutrient media were observed on the 6-8th day. A comparative analysis of the stimulating effect of growth regulators revealed that thidiazuron with a concentration of 0.02 mg/l had the highest efficiency; its effect on the regenerative capacity of the explant depended on the concentration in the medium. The dependence of all stages of microclonal reproduction on the genotype is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immature, vegetable-like fruits are produced by crops of great economic importance, including cucumbers, zucchini, eggplants and bell peppers, among others. Because of their high respiration rates, associated with high rates of dehydration and metabolism, and their susceptibility to chilling injury (CI), vegetable fruits are highly perishable commodities, requiring particular storage conditions to avoid postharvest losses. This review focuses on the oxidative stress that affects the postharvest quality of vegetable fruits under chilling storage. We define the physiological and biochemical factors that are associated with the oxidative stress and the development of CI symptoms in these commodities, and discuss the different physical, chemical and biotechnological approaches that have been proposed to reduce oxidative stress while enhancing the chilling tolerance of vegetable fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term "landrace" has generally been defined as a cultivated, genetically heterogeneous variety that has evolved in a certain ecogeographical area and is therefore adapted to the edaphic and climatic conditions and to its traditional management and uses. Despite being considered by many to be inalterable, landraces have been and are in a constant state of evolution as a result of natural and artificial selection. Many landraces have disappeared from cultivation but are preserved in gene banks. Using modern selection and breeding technology tools to shape these preserved landraces together with the ones that are still cultivated is a further step in their evolution in order to preserve their agricultural significance. Adapting historical landraces to present agricultural conditions using cutting-edge breeding technology represents a challenging opportunity to use them in a modern sustainable agriculture, as an immediate return on the investment is highly unlikely. Consequently, we propose a more inclusive definition of landraces, namely that they consist of cultivated varieties that have evolved and may continue evolving, using conventional or modern breeding techniques, in traditional or new agricultural environments within a defined ecogeographical area and under the influence of the local human culture. This includes adaptation of landraces to new management systems and the unconscious or conscious selection made by farmers or breeders using available technology. In this respect, a mixed selection system might be established in which farmers and other social agents develop evolved landraces from the variability generated by public entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

World population is expected to reach 9.2 × 109 people by 2050. Feeding them will require a boost in crop productivity using innovative approaches. Current agricultural production is very dependent on large amounts of inputs and water availability is a major limiting factor. In addition, the loss of genetic diversity and the threat of climate change make a change of paradigm in plant breeding and agricultural practices necessary. Average yields in all major crops are only a small fraction of record yields, and drought and soil salinity are the main factors responsible for yield reduction. Therefore there is the need to enhance crop productivity by improving crop adaptation. Here we review the present situation and propose the development of crops tolerant to drought and salt stress for addressing the challenge of dramatically increasing food production in the near future. The success in the development of crops adapted to drought and salt depends on the efficient and combined use of genetic engineering and traditional breeding tools. Moreover, we propose the domestication of new halophilic crops to create a 'saline agriculture' which will not compete in terms of resources with conventional agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with essential nutrients and trace elements, vegetables provide raw materials for the food processing industry. Despite this, plant diseases and unfavorable weather patterns continue to threaten the delicate balance between vegetable production and consumption. It is critical to utilize machine learning (ML) in this setting because it provides context for decision-making related to breeding goals. Cutting-edge technologies for crop genome sequencing and phenotyping, combined with advances in computer science, are currently fueling a revolution in vegetable science and technology. Additionally, various ML techniques such as prediction, classification, and clustering are frequently used to forecast vegetable crop production in the field. In the vegetable seed industry, machine learning algorithms are used to assess seed quality before germination and have the potential to improve vegetable production with desired features significantly; whereas, in plant disease detection and management, the ML approaches can improve decision-support systems that assist in converting massive amounts of data into valuable recommendations. On similar lines, in vegetable breeding, ML approaches are helpful in predicting treatment results, such as what will happen if a gene is silenced. Furthermore, ML approaches can be a saviour to insufficient coverage and noisy data generated using various omics platforms. This article examines ML models in the field of vegetable sciences, which encompasses breeding, biotechnology, and genome sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucurbitaceae is one of the most economically important plant families, and includes some worldwide cultivated species like cucumber, melons, and squashes, and some regionally cultivated and feral species that contribute to the human diet. For centuries, cucurbits have been appreciated because of their nutritional value and, in traditional medicine, because of their ability to alleviate certain ailments. Several studies have demonstrated the remarkable contents of valuable compounds in cucurbits, including antioxidants such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids, but also tannins and terpenoids, which are abundant. This antioxidant power is beneficial for human health, but also in facing plant diseases and abiotic stresses. This review brings together data on the antioxidant properties of cucurbit species, addressing the genetic and pre- and postharvest factors that regulate the antioxidant content in different plant organs. Environmental conditions, management, storage, and pre- and postharvest treatments influencing the biosynthesis and activity of antioxidants, together with the biodiversity of this family, are determinant in improving the antioxidant potential of this group of species. Plant breeding, as well as the development of innovative biotechnological approaches, is also leading to new possibilities for exploiting cucurbits as functional products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant food biofortification is recently receiving remarkable attention, as it aims to increase the intake of minerals, vitamins, or antioxidants, crucial for their contribution to the general human health status and disease prevention. In this context, the study of the plant's secondary metabolites, such as polyphenols, plays a pivotal role for the development of a new generation of plant crops, compensating, at least in part, the low nutritional quality of Western diets with a higher quality of dietary sources. Due to the prevalent immunomodulatory activity at the intestinal level, polyphenols represent a nutritionally relevant class of plant secondary metabolites. In this review, we focus on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of different classes of polyphenols with a specific attention to their potential in the prevention of intestinal pathological processes. We also discuss the latest biotechnology strategies and new advances of genomic techniques as a helpful tool for polyphenols biofortification and the development of novel, healthy dietary alternatives that can contribute to the prevention of inflammatory bowel diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]