Search

Genetic diversity of Cambodian melons was evaluated by the analysis of 12 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and 7 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers using 62 accessions of melon landraces and compared with 231 accessions from other areas for genetic characterization of Cambodian melons. Among 62 accessions, 56 accessions were morphologically classified as small-seed type with seed lengths shorter than 9 mm, as in the horticultural groups Conomon and Makuwa. Gene diversity of Cambodian melons was 0.228, which was equivalent to those of the groups Conomon and Makuwa and smaller than those of Vietnamese and Central Asian landraces. A phylogenetic tree constructed from a genetic distance matrix classified 293 accessions into three major clusters. Small-seed type accessions from East and Southeast Asia formed clusters I and II, which were distantly related with cluster III consisting of large-seed type melon from other areas. All Cambodian melons belonged to cluster I (except three accessions) along with those from Thailand, Myanmar, Yunnan (China), and Vietnam ("Dua thom" in the northwest), thus indicating genetic similarity in these areas. In addition, the Cambodian melons were not differentiated among geographical populations. Conomon and Makuwa were classified into cluster II, together with melon groups from the plains of Vietnam. The presence of two groups of melons in Southeast Asia was also indicated by population structure and principal coordinate analysis. These results indicated a close genetic relationship between Cambodia and the neighboring countries, thus suggesting that Cambodian melons are not directly related to the establishment of Conomon and Makuwa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The top-mouth culter Erythroculter ilishaeformis is a kind of carnivorous fish that is currently a widely distributed fish in China, which is a commercially important freshwater fish in China. However, only few effective molecular markers on E. ilishaeformis are available. In this study, nine muscles and liver tissues of cDNA libraries of E. ilishaeformis were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq4000 paired-end sequencing technology. 86,574 sequences from 80,945,107 paired-end reads were generated. 55 novel simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed based on high-throughput sequencing. After genetic diversity analysis, observed heterozygosity (Ho) was from 0.1613 to 0.4839. Expected heterozygosity (He) was from 0.1507 to 0.3728. Minor allele frequencies (MAFs) were from 0.3333 to 0.5000, and Hardy-Weinberg values were relatively balanced. These SSR markers developed from transcriptome sequencing will be as a useful tool to exploit populations genetic of E. ilishaeformis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus) is a national protected species in China. It first became extinct in the wild in 1976, and was reintroduced to the Kalamaili National Park (KNP) in Xinjiang, China in 2001. This study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity and structure of the reintroduced population of Przewalski's horse in KNP. Here, we developed and designed microsatellite molecular markers using 48 feces samples and combined this with published genomic data from the species. A preliminary analysis of genetic diversity within the Przewalski's horse population in the KNP was conducted using 16 pairs of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers with high levels of polymorphism and high stability. A total of 199 alleles were amplified using 16 SSR primer pairs, averaging 12.438 at each locus. In the sample of 48 genomes, the average effective number of alleles detected was 2.695, the average expected heterozygosity was 0.577 and the inbreeding coefficient was 0.232. Twelve loci showed significant deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium following Bonferroni sequential corrections. Our research finds that the genetic diversity of the Przewalski's horse population in the KNP remains high. This is the first research using newly developed SSR markers to describe the genetic diversity and structure of the reintroduced Przewalski's horse population in KNP, China. As such, it can inform future reintroductions of the species and conservation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis is the property of Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis Editorial Office 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.)

In order to better manage broomcorn millet resources, distinguish their identities and trace their sources, it is necessary to create an efficient and feasible germplasm resource identification system. In this study, 77 broomcorn millet resources in Shanxi Province were used as the materials. PCR and capillary electrophoresis were carried out on 77 broomcorn millet resources with FAM(blue) fluorescent group labeling at the upstream 5' end synthesized by Shanghai Sangon Biological Co., Ltd. It was found that only five marker combinations(RYW3, RYW6, RYW20, RYW37, and RYW40) could distinguish all materials. Among them, the combination of RYW6+RYW37 could distinguish 60 materials, the combination of RYW6+ RYW20+RYW37 could distinguish 69 materials, the combination of RYW6+RYW20+RYW37+RYW40 could distinguish 73 materials, and the combination of RYW3+RYW6+RYW20+RYW37+RYW40 could distinguish all 77 materials. A total of 79 alleles were detected in 77 materials at 8 loci, with an average of 9.875 detected at each locus. The effective allele variation (Ne) detected was 2.675 9, Shannon diversity index(I) was 0.991 6, Nei's gene diversity index(Nei) was 0.426 0, and polymorphism information content(PIC) was 0.553 3. On this basis, the ID analysis 4.0 online barcode generator was used to generate a scannable barcode DNA molecular identity cards. Using two-dimensional code online technology, the basic information of the materials was transformed into scannable two-dimensional code DNA molecular identity cards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exserohilum turcicum is the causative agent of northern leaf blight of maize and sorghum. Although host specificity of E. turcicum has been observed from isolates collected from maize and sorghum, limited molecular evidence has been presented so far for the formation of formae speciales. In this study, 15 simple‐sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to study genetic diversity and population structure of 60 E. turcicum isolates from maize and sorghum in Henan province of China. A total of 54 haplotypes were identified from all isolates, in which 29 haplotypes were unique to the maize population and 25 were unique to the sorghum population. The phylogenetic tree showed that 60 isolates were clustered into two genetic groups; Group I consisted of 30 isolates from sorghum and Group II consisted of 30 isolates from maize. The formation of two groups was also supported by the result of principal component analysis. The analysis of population structure indicated that the main source of genetic compositions was completely different between the maize and sorghum populations. The fixation index (FST) and gene flow (Nm) between the two populations were 0.184 and 1.111, respectively. The analysis of molecular variance demonstrated that 27% and 73% of the total variation were distributed between and within the two populations, respectively. These findings reveal a high level of genetic divergence between E. turcicum populations associated with maize and sorghum and advance our understanding of the molecular basis underlying host specificity of E. turcicum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been significant progress in enhancing the genetic foundation underlying important agricultural traits such as resistance to scab and the development of a columnar growth habit. V. inaequalis is a hemibiotrophic fungus widely distributed in temperate regions where apples are grown on commercial scale. The present investigation was undertaken to identify Vf gene and Co gene, which, respectively, confer resistance against apple scab disease and columnar phenotype in apple cultivar 'Rosalie' and introgression of both the genes in commercially important cultivar 'Fuji'. Polymorphism survey was carried out between the two parents using 22 simple sequence repeat (SSR) and sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. The observations revealed that almost 50% hybrids fall in resistant category and 50% in susceptible category. The results of marker-assisted screening confirmed 38 F1s carrying resistance gene for scab while the remaining 32 F1 plants were found to be lacking the gene. The 38 genotypically scab-resistant hybrids were selected for further characterization as columnar and non-columnar plants. Based on the selection criteria, 21 individuals were categorized as columnar and the remaining 17 were categorized as non-columnar. The phenotypic screening was followed by screening of F1 s using molecular markers for Co gene. The amplification of Co-specific markers yielded columnar-specific fragments in the population and fitted the expected 1:1 Mendelian ratio. 18 scab-resistant F1 hybrids were found to carry Co gene and the remaining 20 did not possess the gene for columnar growth habit. Gene-specific primers identified in the present study can be directly used for screening large apple germplasm in a short period of time for developing resistant varieties against apple scab as well as varieties with columnar growth habit. Hybrids with verified scab resistance and columnar growth can be swiftly utilized as scab-resistant columnar cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) growing has increased exponentially in the last two decades, fueled by a very dynamic offer of new cultivars. In this scenario, misclassification of genotypes is a matter of concern, despite that good nursery management practices are in place in most countries and new molecular fingerprinting tools have become available elsewhere. In this framework, here we report the use of three highly informative microsatellite (SSR) markers, selected after evaluating the performance of 12 SSRs on 30 commonly planted blueberry cultivars. We present here the validation of this set, comprising markers CA344, CA421 and NA1040 tested on a set of 136 cultivars and lines, all of which can be differentiated by these markers. A dendrogram built with the generated data set grouped the rabbiteye genotypes in a separate clade. The whole polymorphic information content of this set of SSRs was 0.878 and the observed and expected heterozygosity index averaged 0.890 and 0.886, respectively. Additionally, we detected 14 genotypes that showed minor allelic variants, exhibiting mostly single changes in their patterns with respect to the reference cultivar. Overall, the frequency of mutations was 0.6%, considering the 18 allelic variants identified in approximately 3000 analyzed samples. Marker CA421 exhibited the largest frequency of mutations, with 16 out of the 18 variants identified. Plants carrying these variants corresponded to the most planted cultivars introduced to Chile, which have been extensively micropropagated. The implications of these variations for the traceability of plants based on their fingerprinting are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Liliaceae family includes the perennial, herbaceous, monocotyledonous plant Lilium candidum (L. candidum). The cosmetics, fragrance, and pharmaceutical industries regularly use L. candidum. It has been widely used in traditional medicine for wound healing, and its anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects have been demonstrated in various studies. Natural populations of L. candidum are significantly affected by biotic and abiotic factors such as anthropological pressure, diseases, pathogen attacks, fossil fuel pollution, and climate change. Overcollection and destruction of its habitat put L. candidum into the endangered category. Therefore, it is of great importance to preserve this plant's genetic diversity, which plays a crucial role in adapting to different conditions, preserving evolutionary potential, and breeding studies. Molecular markers are essential in breeding and evolution studies to conserve genetic resources. Because of its economic and medical importance, various DNA markers have been used to evaluate the genetic diversity of L. candidum accessions. In this study, the genetic diversity of L. candidum, which is native to Türkiye, was determined with ISSR and SSR molecular markers among accessions collected from seven different cities and 76 accessions (Muğla, İzmir, Aydın, Antalya, Balıkesir, Denizli, and Manisa). Genetic distances and phylogenetic analysis were carried out using the software TASSEL 5.2.63. The assessment of genetic diversity was visualized through a UPGMA dendrogram. The resulting phylogenetic tree revealed two distinct groups. The closest and farthest accessions were determined according to the genetic distance matrix. It was determined that the highest genetic distance value was between 19 (Balıkesir, Kepsut) and 76 (Muğla, Ula) accessions (0.5390946) and the lowest genetic distance value was between 53 (Muğla, Marmaris) and 54 (Muğla, Marmaris) accessions (0.1069968). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cane yield and sucrose content are the two main breeding objectives in sugarcane, and plant height, stem diameter, and brix are major constituent factors of cane yield and sucrose. Identification of associated molecular markers and exploring elite alleles with yield and sucrose traits could provide a theoretical basis and reference for marker assisted breeding of sugarcane. In this study, 62 sugarcane germplasm entries were used as the experimental materials. Three breeding traits, including plant height, stem diameter, and brix were investigated under four planting environments at maturity stage. ANOVA, genetic variation analysis and association analysis between the identified from related markers for further allele effect analysis. The result of ANOVA revealed that genotype, planting environment and their interaction had significant effect on plant height, stem diameter and brix in sugarcane. The broad-sense heritability of the three traits ranged from 0.68 to 0.76, indicating that they had stable genetic characteristics and their phenotype was mainly determined by its genotype. The frequency of these three traits showed typical quantitative traits with normal distribution characteristics. The coefficients of variation of the three traits ranged from 6.73% to 19.89%, suggesting a rich variation in phenotypes. A total of 204 alleles were found with a mean of 5.5135 per marker. The average gene diversity coefficient was 0.6779, and the average PIC value was 0.6252. The 89.19% of total markers were highly polymorphic with PIC>0.5. Population structure analysis revealed that the tested group could be divided into three subgroups. A total of 20 markers were detected associated with plant height, stem diameter, and brix traits based on MLM method, which explained 5.04%--27.98% of phenotypic variation. Seven of them detected in two or more planting environments were considered as elite markers, 8 alleles with positive effect were identified and considered as the elite alleles, and 10 typical materials were found carrying these elite alleles by allele effect analysis. These results provide a great significance for candidate gene mining of yield and sucrose content traits and parents selection of hybrid combinations in sugarcane breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local tea plant population resources are rich in genetic variations, which are the natural treasure house of tea genes and the main source of breeding excellent tea cultivars. However, the genetic information of most local tea plant populations is unknown. In this study, the genetic diversity and population structure of the four main local tea plant populations from the Jiangxi Province of China were explored by combining the identification of phenotypic characters with simple sequence repeat (SSR). The loci associated with the phenotypic characters were also screened. The results of the genetic diversity analysis of the phenotypes and SSR were consistent. We observed that the genetic diversity of the population species in the four tea plant populations was higher than that of the wild species. The genetic diversity index was in the order Wuyuan > Fuliang > Suichuan > Ningdu. The single plants of each population were heterozygotes. The Wuyuan population had the highest heterozygosity. The clustering results of the phenotypes and SSR of the tea plant populations were not completely consistent. SSR could more effectively distinguish the tea plant populations. Four tea populations could be clustered into three groups. In total, nine SSR loci were screened and were significantly associated with nine phenotypic characters (P < 0.01). The interpretation rate of the phenotypic variation ranged from 6.94 to 33.90%. These phenotypic characters were related to the yield and mechanical harvest of the tea cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Dalian Ocean University is the property of Journal of Dalian Ocean University Editorial Office 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.)

To study genetic variation in Indian populations of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, both truss morphometrics and genetic characterization have been performed. In the present study, 88 individuals from two farm populations (GIFT and West Bengal) and one reservoir population (Gujarat) were selected to analyse variations at ten morphometric landmarks and eight microsatellite loci. Truss morphometric analysis showed PCI, PCII, and PCIII expressing 29.1%, 21.36%, and 15.48% of the variance, respectively. Results showed no clear shift in shape between the studied populations of O. niloticus, indicating low morphological variability among them. The number of microsatellite alleles ranged from 3 to 9, while expected heterozygosity (HE) and observed heterozygosity (HO) values ranged from 0.56 (WB) to 0.68 (Guj) and 0.59 (GIFT) to 0.72 (Guj), respectively. The Gujarat and West Bengal populations had the smallest pairwise distance (0.0123) between them, indicating that they were genetically closer. Individuals from GIFT, however, showed the largest distance from the other populations. DNA marker variations revealed the highest genetic variability in the Gujarat population and the lowest variability in the GIFT population. The results of this study will help establish a base population for genetic improvement program and conservation of wild populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sago plant (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) is one of the most carbohydrate-producing plants in the world. Microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) play an important role in the genome and are used extensively compared to other molecular markers. For the first time, we are exploiting data expressed sequence tags (EST) of sago plants to identify and characterise markers in this species. EST data about sago plants are obtained through the EST database on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website. We obtained data of 458 Kb (412 contig) with a maximum and minimum length of 1,138 and 124 nucleotides, respectively. We successfully identified 820 perfectly patterned SSR using Phobos 3.3.12 software. The type characterisation of EST-SSR was dominated by tri-nucleotides 36% (294), followed by hexa-nucleotides 24% (202), tetra-nucleotides 15% (120), penta-nucleotides 13% (108) and di-nucleotides 12% (96). The most frequency of SSR motifs in each type is AG, AAG and AAAG. Analysis of synteny on the EST sequence with the online application Phytozome found that sequences were distributed on 12 Oryza sativa chromosomes with a likeness percentage between 63% to 100% and e-value between 0 to 0.094. We developed the primer and generated 19 primers. Furthermore, we validated 7 primers that all generated polymorphic alleles. To our knowledge, this report is the first identification and characterisation of EST-SSR for sago species and these markers can be used for genetic diversity analysis, marker assisted selection (MAS), cultivar identification, kinship analysis and genetic mapping analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cobia Rachycentron canadum, mainly distributed in the warm waters of tropical and subtropical regions around the world, remains a fish of considerable economic importance. Detailed diversity and the number of microsatellite sequences in the cobia genome are still unintelligible. The primary aim of this work was to identify and quantify the miscellaneous SSR sequences in the cobia genome. More than 280,000 sequences were sequenced and screened using next‐generation sequencing technology and microsatellite identification. Perfect mononucleotide repeats, dinucleotide microsatellites, and trinucleotide microsatellites contain (A)10/(T)10, (AC)6/(TG)6, and (AAT)5–32 as the largest number of motifs in each type of microsatellite, respectively. The tetranucleotide and pentanucleotide microsatellites (TTM and PTM) consist of the largest number of motifs of both (ATCT)5–32 and (TCAT)5–31 in TTMs, and (CTCTC)5–9 in PTMs, whereas the hexanucleotide microsatellites are rarely observed in the cobia genome. All c. 38000 sequences of composite microsatellites are extremely diverse, including compound (11.71%), interrupted compound (71.77%), complex (0.45%), and interrupted complex (16.07%). In this study, we developed a convenient and useful recording system for writing down and categorizing diverse composite microsatellite types. This system will provide great support for exploring repeat origins, evolutionary mechanisms, and the application of polymorphic microsatellites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) is a self-fertilizing weed species that exerts negative impacts on wheat production and herbicides are intensively used to manage it. Cross-fertilization may lead to genetic differentiation in this species. Therefore, this study investigated genetic diversity among wild mustard populations collected from wheat fields across various regions in Türkiye. Genetic variation was evaluated using 5 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers in populations collected from 30 different locations. Populations were analyzed using UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) and principal component analysis (PCA). The mean genetic diversity (GD) and polymorphism information content (PIC) values were 0.752 and 0.844, respectively. High genetic variability was recorded among populations within geographic locations. The populations were categorized into two major groups by UPGMA. There was no apparent geographic isolation among tested populations, which displayed a high degree of variability. The primary source of this variability is thought to be the adaptability of wild mustard seeds dispersed through various methods across diverse locations. Despite being a predominantly self-pollinating species, wild mustard may also employ some cross-pollination mechanisms. In conclusion, SSR markers proved useful in determining genetic diversity in outcrossing species, especially where no prior genotypic information is available. The study suggests that genetic diversity is maintained in wild mustard populations even with rotational farming practices and intensive use of herbicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sphaerulina musiva is an important poplar pathogenic fungus that causes leaf spot and stem canker. SSR markers serve as excellent molecular markers for assessing genetic diversity in fungi. To date, few SSR markers have been developed and applied in S. musiva. In this study, genomic‐SSR markers were developed from the S. musiva genome, and applied to analyse the genetic diversity of S. musiva isolates from Henan province in China. A total of 9923 SSR loci were identified with a relative abundance of 343.15 SSR loci per Mb. Tri‐nucleotide repeats were the most abundant in five types of SSRs, and accounted for 56.82% of the total SSR loci. Twelve genomic‐SSR markers were successfully developed from tri‐nucleotide SSR loci. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 8 with an average of 4.08 alleles. The polymorphism information content of these loci ranged from 0.428 to 0.770, with an average of 0.553. Based on the SSR markers, a total of 48 haplotypes were identified from 48 S. musiva isolates. Forty‐eight isolates were divided into four main genetic groups at a genetic distance of 0.21. Genetic relationships of the isolates had no obvious correlation with geographic origin. It is the first time to develop genomic SSR markers in S. musiva. The developed SSR markers will be a useful tool to evaluate genetic diversity and population structure of S. musiva. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the mating system of the endangered aquatic fern Ceratopteris thalictroides in China was investigated using microsatellite markers. The estimates of the multilocus outcrossing rate (tm) and single-locus outcrossing rate (ts) were high at the species level (tm = 0.701 and ts = 0.595, respectively), indicating that C. thalictroides is a predominantly outcrossing species. Negative F (inbreeding coefficient of the maternal parents) values (-0.137) at the species level indicated an excess of heterozygotes and low inbreeding in the populations analyzed. Our investigation revealed that some of the natural and ex situ conservation populations of C. thalictroides have a prolific capacity for vegetative growth. The results showed that the homosporous pteridophyte C. thalictroides in China predominantly favors gametophytic crossing with a certain level of inbreeding along with vegetative growth. Ten populations have been established for ex situ conservation in Wuhan, China, with a survival rate of more than 90%, and mature spores were collected from them. Several factors, including high dispersal of spores and gametophytes by flowing water, high gene flow, and the wide distribution of the species in China, with the occurrence of some large populations, may have resulted in a high outcrossing rate in Chinese C. thalictroides. The high outcrossing rate of C. thalictroides showed that ex situ plantings are most suitable for enhancing possible mixing of the different populations, thus minimizing inbreeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Breeding and re-introducing the endangered firefly Pyrocoelia pectoralis (Lampyridae: Lampyrinae) to a suitable habitat has become necessary because increased urbanization and light pollution have seriously reduced its numbers. To better understand this species' reproductive biology, the anatomy of the male and female reproductive systems was investigated, and sperm competition and paternity were studied using SSR. The study of the anatomy of the female reproductive system as well as the paternity experiments revealed sperm competition in P. pectoralis. This is the first report to study sperm competition and paternity using SSR, both in fireflies generally, and in Pyrocoelia pectoralis (Olivier) in particular. The endangered terrestrial firefly Pyrocoelia pectoralis (Olivier) is endemic to China. Populations of P. pectoralis have decreased dramatically due to urbanization and pollution. Breeding and re-introduction to a suitable habitat may save the species from becoming extinct. Because of its polyandrous character, an investigation into the possibility of sperm competition and paternity outcomes from multiple matings was initiated to better understand its reproductive physiology. To achieve these goals, 13 SSR markers were developed. The results of paternity experiments indicate there is a significant difference between P3 and P1 or P2. The female reproductive system has three spermathecae which accept sperm from different matings, and no bursa or spermatophore-digesting organ is developed. Our research established that multiple inseminations with sperm from different males occur, leading to competition between ejaculates. The benefits of such competition include an increasing number of sperm in the ejaculates of competing males and the consequential increase in fertilized eggs (thus, fecundity), and thereby a higher chance of genetic diversity and fitness in the offspring of the firefly P. pectoralis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SSR (simple sequence repeat) is a molecular marker technology for PCR amplification analysis by specific primers, also known as microsatellite DNA. The principle of SSR molecular markers was introduced, and the application of SSR molecular markers in germplasm resources, variety purity identification, authenticity identification, genetic diversity and germplasm traits of corn was analyzed. The results showed that SSR molecular marker technology could be used to analyze the variety purity identification, authenticity identification, genetic structure, genetic relationship, division of superior and inferior groups, germplasm traits and other aspects of corn, and also could provide references for future researches on the construction of genetic linkage map of corn, molecular marker-assisted breeding, gene mapping, germplasm resources and other aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La Gomera Island is one of the areas of our planet where the phylloxera plague never arrived. To measure the genetic diversity of the vine after more than 500 years (inter- and intravarietal variability) of adaptation to this new environment, a prospection was carried out. For this purpose, 120 samples were collected and genotyped with 20 SSRs. A total of 52 unique profiles were found corresponding to 4 new varieties (Coello blanca, Barrerita negra, Malvasia periquin gomerae, Verdello gomerae), 9 individuals identical to the most widespread profile, and 39 individuals that presented variations (1 corresponding to a mutation of a new variety (Verdello gomerae de Monacal) and 38 corresponding to variations of known varieties, some of which included cases of triallelism or quadriallelism). The population of local vines in La Gomera Island is considered to be the most unique in the Canary Islands to date. It is hypothesised that the grapevine varieties Malvasia periquin gomerae and Verdello gomerae are possibly the most unique and that the Barrerita negra variety may have resulted from an interspecific crossbreeding. The Coello blanco variety (admixed) seems to have a strong Central European influence. Finally, we propose that the prime name for the Albillo forastero variety, which was arbitrarily imposed by the scientific community, be changed to the more widespread and better-known name in La Gomera Island and the Canary Archipelago, which is Forastera gomerae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation aimed to identify reliable morphological markers that could serve as indicators for Phytophthora infestans Mont. resistance in potato germplasm. A total of 86 potato genotypes were subjected to genetic diversity assessment using simple sequence repeats, followed by a field trial alongside to evaluate resistance responses and morphological characteristics. Two genotypes (LA CHIPPER and J/95–144) exhibited high resistance to late blight (LB), while four genotypes (BR 6609–7, NO–NOVA, MP/99–406, and CP–4174) displayed moderate resistance. The disease response was juxtaposed DUS characters, thus leading to the identification of critical traits (semi-compact to compact foliage, solid stem, angular stem cross-section, no secondary stem coloration, anthocyanin pigmentation on the stem, smooth tuber skin, and white to creamy tuber flesh coloration). These DUS parameters could be utilized for developing high-yielding, LB-resistant potato cultivars in future breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Genetic differences between isolated endemic populations of plant species and those with widely known twin species are relevant for conserving the biological diversity of our planet’s flora. Prunus ledebouriana (Schlecht.) YY Yao is an endangered and endemic species of shrub almond from central Asia. Few studies have explored this species, which is closely related and morphologically similar to the well-known Prunus tenella Batsch. In this article, we present a comparative analysis of studies of three P. ledebouriana populations and one close population of P. tenella in Eastern Kazakhstan in order to determine the particular geographic mutual replacement of the two species. Methods. The populations were collected from different ecological niches, including one steppe population near Ust-Kamenogorsk (P. tenella) and three populations (P. ledebouriana) in the mountainous area. Estimation of plant height using a t-test suggested a statistically significant difference between the populations and the two species (P < 0.0001). DNA simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were applied to study the two species’ genetic diversity and population structure. Results. A total of 19 polymorphic SSR loci were analyzed, and the results showed that the population collected in mountainous areas had a lower variation level than steppe populations. The highest level of Nei’s genetic diversity index was demonstrated in the 4-UK population (0.622) of P. tenella. The lowest was recorded in population 3-KA (0.461) of P. ledebouriana, collected at the highest altitude of the four populations (2,086 meters above sea level). The total genetic variation of P. ledebouriana was distributed 73% within populations and 27% between populations. STRUCTURE results showed that two morphologically similar species diverged starting at step K = 3, with limited population mixing. The results confirmed the morphological and genetic differences between P. tenella and P. ledebouriana and described the level of genetic variation for P. ledebouriana. The study’s results proved that the steppe zone and mountain altitude factor between P. tenella and isolated mountain samples of P. ledebouriana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of temporary immersion system-bioreactors (TIB) has shown promise for sugarcane micropropagation due to its capacity for high-yield seedlings production. However, the temporary immersion system also carries the risk of somaclonal variations (SV) in regenerated plants. SV, encompassing phenotypic changes resulting from genetic or epigenetic alterations, and it presents challenges in preserving the genetic uniformity of the seedlings, a crucial factor for sugarcane productivity. A molecular marker like Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) offers a reliable means to assess the genetic stability of TIB-derived sugarcane seedlings, ensurinng that the temporary immersion system-based micropropagation produces true-to-type planting materials. In this study, SSR analysis was conducted to determine the relative genetic stability of TIB-derived sugarcanes, using 15 SSR markers, generating over 200 DNA fragments ranging from 150 to 4,000 bp in size. The genetic stability was calculated as the Jaccard’s similarity index of the SSR patterns of TIB-derived sugarcanes compared to their mother plants. The genetic stability varied between 92 and 96% in three Indonesian sugarcane varieties (PSKA 942, PS 094, and PS 091) which is relatively high considering the high cell mass multiplication in TIB (up to 30 multiplies). Morphological observations in the field also revealed no differences between TIB-derived sugarcane and their mother plants, convincing the true-to-type of micropropagation products. This study demonstrated the high relative genetic stability of TIB-derived sugarcanes, paving the way for large-scale commercial application in plantations.Key message: Genetic stability test using SSR markers revealed that a high yield micropropagation of sugarcane using TIB produced true-to-type sugarcane seedlings, also confirmed by the morphological uniformity on the field observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zicaitai (Brassica rapa var. purpuraria (L.H.Bailey) Kitam 1950) is a vegetable crop that boasts a high nutritional value and unique flavor. It originated from Central China and was formed after long-term cultivation and domestication. In this study, we obtained the complete sequence of the chloroplast genome of zicaitai, a circular molecule of 153,483 bp in length. This chloroplast genome consists of a large single-copy (LSC) region (83,282 bp), a small single-copy (SSC) region (17,775 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) (26,213 bp). By sequence annotation, 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes were identified in the zicaitai chloroplast. A total of 315 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were found located in LSC (197), SSC (72), and IR (46), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on chloroplast genomes indicated the relationship of zicaitai and the Brassicaceae family, which supports zicaitai as a variety of B. rapa in taxonomy. The results obtained in this study provide insight into further research on Brassica chloroplasts and their phylogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Egyptian Journal of Botany 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.)

Abstract The genus Abies is widely distributed across the world and is of high importance for forestry. Since chloroplasts are usually uniparentally inherited, they are an important tool for specific scientific issues like gene flow, parentage, migration and, in general, evolutionary analysis. Established genetic markers for organelles in conifers are rather limited to RFLP markers, which are more labour and time intensive, compared with SSR markers. Using QUIAGEN CLC Workbench 23.03, we aligned two chloroplast genomes from different Abies species (NCBI accessions: NC_039581, NC_042778, NC_039582, NC_042410, NC_035067, NC_062889, NC_042775, NC_057314, NC_041464, MH706706, MH047653 and MH510244) to identify potential SSR candidates. Further selection and development of forward and reverse primers was performed using the NCBI Primer Blast Server application. In this article, we introduce a remarkably polymorphic SSR marker set for various Abies species, which can be useful for other conifer genera, such as Cedrus, Pinus, Pseudotsuga or Picea. In total, 17 cpSSRs showed reliable amplification and polymorphisms in A. grandis with a total of 68 haplotypes detected. All 17 cpSSRs amplified in the tested Abies spp. In the other tested species, except for Taxus baccata, at least one primer was polymorphic.

The genus Allium is the most diverse, with cultivated crops such as onion, garlic, bunching onion, chives, leeks, and shallots, and several wild and semi-domesticated Allium species utilized as minor vegetables. These minor species are the genetic resources for various abiotic and biotic stresses. To employ underutilized species in breeding programmes, the magnitude of the genetic background of cultivated and semi-domesticated alliums, the phylogeny and diversity of the population must be known. In this study, nineteen SSR markers were employed to study the divergence and population structure of 95 Allium accessions which includes species, varieties, and interspecific hybrids, yielded 92 polymorphic loci, averaging 4.84 loci per SSR. PIC values range between 0.24 (ACM 018) and 0.98 (ACM 099). The cross transferability of ACM markers among Allium species ranges from 1.33 to 10.53 per cent, which is relatively low. The genotypes investigated were clustered into four primary clusters A, B, C, and D with 13 sub clusters I-XIII, conferring to the clustering results. The population structure investigations also found that K is a peak at value 4, implying that the population is predominantly segregated into four distinct groups, which associates the clustering pattern. The employed SSR markers adeptly unravel the complexities of diversity within alliums, holding promise for refining future breeding programs targeting elite progenies.

Osmanthus fragrans Lour. is prized for its fragrant, cool-season blooms, smooth leaves, and compact tree form; however, the species is limited in production and use to USDA Hardiness Zones 7 and higher. Increasing the total amount of genetic variability available for evaluation, selection, and breeding is foundational to the development of novel Osmanthus cultivars with increased cold-hardiness and improved ornamental characteristics such as high rooting rates, faster growth, fragrant flowers, and an evergreen or semi-evergreen habit. Hybridization among Osmanthus species should generate novel phenotypes and allow trait introgression among populations and breeding lines. The objectives of this study were to produce, verify, and evaluate Osmanthus hybrids by making controlled and open-pollinated crosses among Osmanthus species, using SSR markers to determine parentage of cross progeny, and comparing flowering, leaf shape, and form of hybrids offspring with parents. Fifty-eight of 66 progenies (88%) were assigned paternity at the 95% confidence level or above and 47 progenies (71%) were assigned paternity at the 99% confidence level. Novel Osmanthus hybrids were produced including O. armatus × O. fortunei, O. armatus × O. heterophyllus, and O. armatus × O. fragrans. Open-pollinated families increased in height an average of 204% and 159% per year in the first and second growing seasons, respectively. Male flower type was significantly associated with progeny flower type (χ2 = 17.5, p < 0.0001) while leaf margin was not associated with cross family (χ2 = 0.83, p = 0.84). Evaluation of more Osmanthus accessions and subsequent hybridizations will be necessary to introgress favorable genes and generate the variation necessary to expand the genus into new markets.

This study explored the genetic diversity within a collection of 94 economically important pearl millet inbreds, encompassing 45 maintainers and 49 restorer lines, using DNA-based markers. A set of 30 polymorphic SSR primer pairs were utilized, yielding 84 alleles, with alleles per locus ranging from 2 to 4 with an average of 2.8 alleles. Employing DARwin’s tree and Neighbor Joining method for cluster analysis, all cultivars were effectively categorized into two major groups (restorer and maintainer), further subdivided into subgroups. Noteworthy variations in Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) values were observed among the markers, indicating varying degrees of genetic diversity. Notably, some markers exhibited substantial diversity, whereas others were highly conserved. Genetic similarity estimates ranged from 0.05 to 0.67, averaging 0.28, underscoring ample diversity among maintainer and restorer inbreds for productive breeding efforts. Intriguingly, the study also detected contamination in three analyzed lines, adding an intriguing facet to the investigation.

Surface shortwave radiation (SSR) plays an important role in global energy systems. The new generation of geostationary meteorological satellite Himawari-8, with higher spatiotemporal and spectral resolution, offers a new opportunity to retrieve SSR with higher accuracy. In this study, an improved algorithm was applied to estimate instantaneous, hourly, and daily mean SSR using cloud products from the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) onboard the Himawari-8 satellite. The validation against Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) stations showed a root mean square error (RMSE) of 95.8 W m−2 for instantaneous SSR, 82.4 W m−2 for hourly SSR, and 22.8 W m−2 for daily SSR and mean bias error (MBE) of −15.8 W m−2, −14.1 W m−2, and −6.6 W m−2. The validation against China Meteorological Administration (CMA) stations showed a RMSE of 99.5 W m−2 and MBE of −8.2 W m−2 for hourly SSR and RMSE of 27.7 W m−2 and MBE of −3.9 W m−2 for daily SSR, which are generally better than the Himawari-8 SSR product. Overall, the improved algorithm performed well on the new-generation geostationary satellite, with high accuracy and efficiency, and would contribute to surface process research and photovoltaic engineering applications.

Abstract Background As an important food and cash crop, identification of DNA molecular markers is of great significance for molecular marker-assisted breeding of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) moench). Although some sorghum-related mutation databases have been published, the special SSR and SV databases still need to be constructed and updated. Results In this study, the quality of 18 different sorghum genomes was evaluated, and two genomes were assembled at chromosome level. Through the identification and comparative analysis of SSR loci in these genomes, the distribution characteristics of SSR in the above sorghum genomes were initially revealed. At the same time, five representative reference genomes were selected to identify the structural variation of sorghum. Finally, a convenient SSR/SV database of sorghum was constructed by integrating the above results ( http://www.sorghum.top:8079/ ; http://43.154.129.150:8079/ ; http://47.106.184.91:8079/ ). Users can query the information of related sites and primer pairs. Conclusions Anyway, our research provides convenience for sorghum researchers and will play an active role in sorghum molecular marker-assisted breeding.

Sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., is an important food crop worldwide. Large scale evaluation of sweetpotato germplasm for genetic diversity is necessary to determine the genetic relationships between them and effectively use them in the genetic improvement. In this study, the genetic diversity of 617 sweetpotato accessions, including 376 landraces and 162 bred varieties from China and 79 introduced varieties from 11 other countries, was assessed using 30 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer pairs with high polymorphism. Based on the population structure analysis, these sweetpotato accessions were divided into three groups, Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3, which included 228, 136 and 253 accessions, respectively. Consistent results were obtained by phylogenic analysis and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). Of the three groups, Group 2 showed the highest level of genetic diversity and its accessions were mainly distributed in low-latitude regions. The accessions from South China exhibited the highest level of genetic diversity, which supports the hypothesis that Fujian and Guangdong were the first regions where sweetpotato was introduced to China. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated significant genetic differentiations between the different groups, but low levels of genetic differentiation existed between the different origins and accession types. These results provide valuable information for the better utilization of these accessions in sweetpotato breeding.

Molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) can significantly accelerate and improve the efficiency of the breeding process in seedless grape cultivars. In this study, we developed the KASP_VviAGL11 and VviAGL11_410 markers based on a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) site (Chr18: 26889437 (A/C)) of the VviAGL11 gene, and compared them with previously reported SSR markers p3_VvAGL11 and 5U_VviAGL11 by testing 101 cultivars and 81 F1 hybrid progenies. The results showed that both of the proposed markers obtained 100% accuracy rates in detecting allele A, which was closely associated with the seedless trait in grapes, while p3_VvAGL11 and 5U_VviAGL11 had lower accuracy rates due to their tendency to produce false positives. After careful evaluation of the technical advantages and disadvantages associated with these markers, we concluded that KASP_VviAGL11 was superior in terms of simplicity, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and accuracy. Thus, we optimized the process of molecular MAS for seedless grapes, focusing on the KASP_VviAGL11 marker as a central component, to provide key technical support for the development of new seedless grape cultivars.

The fruit color of chili pepper is an important characteristic in identification and classification and is often used as the basis for determining consumer preferences. Information on the relationship between chili fruit color and its molecular profile is very important in supporting selection activities in plant breeding. This study aims to identify genetic diversity associated with the fruit color of three genotypes of chili (Capsicum frutescens L.): Cakra Hijau, HV-149 and G1/M8, using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR). Morphological confirmation was carried out according to Capsicum descriptors. Nineteen RAPD markers and six SSR markers were used for genetic variability assessment. Genetic variation was analyzed using the unweighted pair group method with the arithmetic mean and the Jaccard similarity index. The three chili genotypes had different fruit colors at each maturation stage. The immature Cakra Hijau fruit is dark green and turns dark red as it ripens. The immature fruits of the G1/M8 line are light green and turn red when ripe. Finally, immature HV-149 fruits are dark green and yellow when ripe. The SSR markers used in this study were unable to show polymorphism. On the other hand, the RAPD marker successfully detected genetic variation in the three chili genotypes and resulted in a total of 49 alleles. The average value of polymorphic information content of the RAPD primers used ranged from 0 to 0.296, with the highest index indicated by OPA-1. The dendrogram shows the separation of the three genotypes into two main clusters, with the first cluster consisting of the HV-149 variety and the second cluster consisting of Cakra Hijau and G1/M8 lines. This study revealed that there are genetic variations based on the morphological characteristics of fruit color at each ripening stage and RAPD band profile. The RAPD marker was more effective than the SSR marker for identifying the genetic diversity of fruit color in the three chilies studied.

Cinnamomum bodinieri is important landscaping and economic tree species, which is rich in essential oils in branches and leaves. However, there are few theoretical researches on the genomics of C. bodinieri. In order to reveal the chloroplast genomic characteristics and phylogenetic relationship of C. bodinieri, the complete chloroplast genome was sequenced based on Illumina platform and assembled through de novo. The genome structure, gene composition, sequence repeats, codon usage bias and phylogeny were analyzed subsequently. Furthermore, the phylogenetic tree was constructed with the chloroplast genome data of the main species of Subfam. Lauroideae. The results were as follows: (1) The complete chloroplast genome of C. bodinieri was 152 727 bp in length including two inverted repeats (IRs) of 20 132 bp, which were separated by large single copy(LSC) of 93 605 bp and short single copy(SSC) of 18 858 bp, respectively, and the GC content was 39.13%. (2) The genome encoded 127 functional genes, including 83 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 36 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. A total of 92 SSR loci were detected in the chloroplast genome, and most of them were composed of nucleobase A and T. The codon adaptation index (CAI) and effective number of codons (ENc) were 0.166 and 54.68, respectively. There were some differences in IR region and the boundary of two SC regions of the chloroplast genomes between C. bodinieri and related species. (3) Phylogenetic tree based on 24 species of Subfam. Lauroideae showed that the C. bodinieri was most closely related to C. camphora. The phylogeny strongly supported the establishment of the three clades, Cinnamomum-Ocotea, Laurus-Neolitsea, and Machilus-Persea. This study enriched the information on the genetic resources of C. bodinieri, and further clarified the phylogenetic status of the main genera of Subfam. Lauroideae.

Substitution of plant cultivars of high commercial value with a cheaper, lower quality one is a common fraud committed against consumers and producers. Since it is one of the most widely grown legumes, lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is suitable for such frauds. This study aimed to identify lentil cultivars which are registered and authorized in the market in Türkiye by using current molecular methods. For this purpose, 26 lentil cultivars were analyzed for 15 SSR markers and two DNA barcode regions (trnH-psbA and matK). A high allele diversity was observed by 12 scorable SSR markers, and the average number of alleles was determined to be 16. One of the important findings was the presence of “cultivar-specific alleles” that can be used to identify each cultivar in the lentil market in Türkiye. At least one “cultivar-specific allele” was obtained for each cultivar. The lentil cultivars were also analyzed by two DNA barcode regions as trnH-psbA and matK. While it was observed that the rate of the intra-species variation for the trnH-psbA region was low and 26 varieties were divided into 7 groups, higher rate was found for matK and samples were distributed into 14 groups. Nevertheless, it was observed that intra-species discrimination can be made more effective when both loci are used together and 26 species were distributed into 18 different groups. We expect that the results of this study, especially the cultivar-specific SSR alleles and DNA barcoding sequence data may be used routinely to identify production and packaged products that are commercially available in markets.

Resumo Os níveis de variabilidade genética populacionais podem ser determinados por marcadores moleculares, como RAPD e AFLP usados em estudos de fingerprinting, ou microssatélites, que são bastante utilizados em estudos de estrutura genética populacional, respondendo a questões ecológicas essenciais para a adoção de medidas conservacionistas. Atualmente são conhecidos microssatélites de regiões codificantes do genoma (SSR-EST), que têm como vantagem a transferabilidade entre espécies próximas em contraste aos microssatélites de regiões anônimas. Esta revisão visa divulgar esta nova modalidade de microssatélites, os SSR-ESTs, que estão sendo cada vez mais utilizados como ferramenta molecular eficiente para estudos populacionais com enfoque em conservação.

The diversity of herbivorous insects is attributed to their propensity to specialize on toxic plants. In an evolutionary twist, toxins betray the identity of their bearers when herbivores coopt them as cues for host-plant finding, but the evolutionary mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood. We focused on Scaptomyza flava, an herbivorous drosophilid specialized on isothiocyanate (ITC)-producing (Brassicales) plants, and identified Or67b paralogs that were triplicated as mustard-specific herbivory evolved. Using in vivo heterologous systems for the expression of olfactory receptors, we found that S. flava Or67bs, but not the homologs from microbe-feeding relatives, responded selectively to ITCs, each paralog detecting different ITC subsets. Consistent with this, S. flava was attracted to ITCs, as was Drosophila melanogaster expressing S. flava Or67b3 in the homologous Or67b olfactory circuit. ITCs were likely coopted as olfactory attractants through gene duplication and functional specialization (neofunctionalization and subfunctionalization) in S. flava, a recently derived herbivore.

By using 14 SSR primer pairs, we here analyzed and compared the amplification results of 534 DNA samples from six red sugar beet germplasm resources under three treatments. These data were used to explore the sampling strategy for the aforementioned resources. Based on the sampling strategy results, 21 SSR primer pairs were used to evaluate the genetic diversity of 47 red sugar beet germplasm resources. The six population genetic parameters used for exploring the sampling strategy unveiled that individual plants within the population had a relatively large genetic distance. The genetic parameters Ne, I, and Nei’s of the randomly mixed sampling samples increased rapidly between 10 and 30 plants before decreasing. Therefore, when SSR technology was used to analyze the genetic diversity of the red sugar beet germplasm resources, the optimal sampling gradient for each population was the adoption of a random single-plant mixed sampling sample of no less than 10 plants and no more than 30 plants. The 21 SSR primer pairs were used to detect genetic diversity in 30 random mixed samples of 47 resources. The average polymorphic information content (PIC) was 0.5738, the average number of observed alleles (Na) was 4.1905, the average number of effective alleles (Ne) was 2.8962, the average Shannon’s information index (I) was 1.1299, the average expected heterozygosity (Nei’s) was 0.6127, and the average expected heterozygosity (He) was 0.6127. The genetic distance of the 47 germplasm resources ranged from 0.0225 to 0.551 (average: 0.316). According to the population structure analysis, the most suitable K value was six, which indicated the presence of six populations. Based on the clustering analysis results, the 47 germplasm resources were segregated into six groups, with obvious clustering and some germplasm resources noted for having groups with close genetic relationships. We here established a more accurate and scientific sampling strategy for analyzing the genetic diversity of red sugar beet germplasm resources by using SSR molecular markers. The findings provide a reference for collecting and preserving red sugar beet germplasms and protecting their genetic diversity.

Direct-seeded rice (DSR) is gaining popularity among farmers due to its environmentally safe and resource-efficient production system. However, managing the rice root-knot nematode (RRKN), Meloidogyne graminicola, remains a major challenge in DSR cultivation. Developing genetic resistance is a pragmatic and effective approach compared to using hazardous pesticides. Pusa Basmati 1121 (PB1121) is the most popular Basmati rice variety, but it is highly susceptible to RRKN. In contrast, Phule Radha (PR) has shown highly resistant reaction to RRKN, as reported in our earlier study. We generated an F2:3 population from the cross of PB1121/PR and evaluated it for RRKN resistance-related traits under artificial inoculation conditions. The distribution pattern of traits in the F2:3 population indicated that resistance may be governed by a few major-effect genes and many minor-effect genes. The molecular markers reported to be associated with QTLs governing RRKN resistance traits were used to test in the current population. Although the simple linear regression identified significant associations between the markers and RRKN resistance-associated traits, these associations were spurious as the LOD score was below the threshold limit. This indicates that PR possesses novel genomic regions for resistance to RRKN as it does not possess any of the earlier reported QTLs.

Buckwheat is a highly nutritional pseudocereal with antioxidant potential. The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic variability of 21 varieties of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) and 14 varieties of Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.) using microsatellite markers. By analyzing 21 SSR markers, an average of 11.6 alleles per locus were amplified and an average PIC value of 0.711 was determined. We determined the heterozygous status of the individuals and variability in the set using the SSR analysis on the basis of expected heterozygosity (He, 0.477), observed heterozygosity (Ho, 0.675), Shannon’s index (I, 0.820), and fixation indices (FST, FIS, FIT). Based on the SSR analyses, the lower level of expected heterozygosity in the analyzed set of Tartary buckwheat genotypes was observed compared to common buckwheat. With the help of a hierarchical cluster analysis using the UPGMA algorithm, Structure analysis, and PCoA analysis for the SSR markers, we divided the buckwheat varieties in the dendrogram into two main clusters according to the species. The AMOVA analysis showed that genetic variability between the individuals prevails in the analyzed set. The SSR technique proved to be a suitable tool for the determination of intra- and inter-varietal genetic variability and for analysis of diversity.

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a precious and healthy ingredient of Mediterranean cuisine. Due to its high nutritional value, the interest of consumers in the composition of EVOO is constantly increasing, making it a product particularly exposed to fraud. Therefore, there is a need to properly valorize high-quality EVOO and protect it from fraudulent manipulations to safeguard consumer choices. In our study, we used a straightforward and easy method to assess the molecular traceability of 28 commercial EVOO samples based on the use of SSR molecular markers. A lack of correspondence between the declared origin of the samples and the actual origin of the detected varieties was observed, suggesting possible adulteration. This result was supported by the identification of private alleles based on a large collection of national and international olive varieties and the search for them in the molecular profile of the analyzed samples. We demonstrated that the proposed method is a rapid and straightforward approach for identifying the composition of an oil sample and verifying the correspondence between the origin of olives declared on the label and that of the actual detected varieties, allowing the detection of possible adulterations.

Despite its worldwide adoption in many countries, rubberized asphalt mixtures are not fully incorporated as an alternative paving material in current Italian road specifications. This reluctance stems from a lack of experience, resistance to change in established work practices, and, sometimes, insufficient evidence demonstrating tangible benefits with local specifications. Furthermore, conventional characterization methods such as void checks and indirect tensile strength testing by means of IDT may not accurately capture the true benefits of using alternative paving materials. This study introduces performance-driven characterization approaches with the final aim of evaluating whether more advanced procedures may provide additional information compared to current practices and, in turn, promote the use of alternative paving materials. Hence, an investigation has been conducted to compare the rutting behavior of conventional asphalt mixtures with those modified with engineered crumb rubber (ECR). This comparison utilized performance-driven characterization approaches, including a basic IDT-based methodology at higher temperatures (HT-IDT), as well as two more sophisticated approaches, the Stress Sweep Rutting (SSR) and Flow Number (FN) tests, using the asphalt mixture performance tester (AMPT). Finally, the results were compared with those obtained using the IDT, a conventional method as specified by the major Italian road authority. As a result, the addition of ECR proves beneficial in enhancing the qualities of dense mixtures tailored for use on urban and secondary roads; however, only performance-driven characterization, with both basic and advanced methodologies, can clearly describe the pivotal role of ECR in achieving discernible enhancements in the rutting behavior of asphalt mixtures.