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Vicia sativa L., commonly known as the common vetch, is an annual, self-pollinating legume used primarily as fodder both by livestock and wildlife. Additionally, it contributes to environmental balance through nitrogen fixation and the improvement of soil properties. The phenotypic, genetic, and metabolite variability among four advanced lines (BK45, BK29, BK23, BK27) and two commercial varieties (M-6900, BI-65) of V. sativa were evaluated in order to be used for future breeding programs aimed at producing genetically improved varieties. BK45 was the most promising line due to its high genetic polymorphism, but also because it exhibited a significant amount of seed production and high seed quality based on its metabolomics profile. A stepwise multiple regression analysis (MRA) revealed a relationship between SCoT alleles, seed, and biomass yield. Additionally, several statistically significant marker bands linked to metabolites were found using the SCoT marker analysis. Hence, data assessed via MRA may be helpful in marker-assisted breeding programs. Finally, the two commercial varieties can be further exploited in breeding programs due to their high genetic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐depth whole‐genome resequencing of 53 diverse fig tree genotypes yielded a rich dataset of genetic variants. We successfully identified 5,501,460 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 1,228,537 insertions and deletions (InDels), providing a high‐density and excellent‐quality genetic map of the fig tree. We also performed a detailed population structure analysis, dividing the 53 genotypes into three geographical groups and assessing their genetic diversity and divergence. Analysis of structural variants (SVs) and copy number variations (CNVs) revealed their potential functional impact, particularly in plant‐pathogen interaction and secondary metabolism. Metabolomic fingerprinting of fig genotypes uncovered extensive variation in primary metabolites and polyphenolic compounds, highlighting the influence of genotype on fruit quality traits such as nutritional content and bioactive compound composition. The genome‐wide association study (GWAS) identified critical SNPs associated with fruit quality and morphological features. The discovery of significant candidate genes, such as AGL62, GDSL, and COBRA‐like protein 4 genes, offers promising targets for marker‐assisted selection and genome editing approaches to improve fig fruit morphological and quality traits. This extensive genomic analysis of fig trees enhances our understanding of the genetic basis of important agronomic traits and provides a rich resource for future research in this economically and nutritionally significant fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) is an aromatic herb widely used in the food industry, with several commercial cultivars available with different qualitative characteristics. Commercial cultivars are usually preferred over landraces due to their higher yield and also the lack of improved landraces than can be commercialized. In Greece, however, traditional dill landraces are cultivated by local communities. Many are conserved in the Greek Gene Bank and the aim here was to investigate and compare the morphological, genetic, and chemical biodiversity of twenty-two Greek landraces and nine modern/commercial cultivars. Multivariate analysis of the morphological descriptors, molecular markers, and essential oil and polyphenol composition revealed that the Greek landraces were clearly distinguished compared with modern cultivars at the level of phenological, molecular and chemical traits. Landraces were typically taller, with larger umbels, denser foliage, and larger leaves. Plant height, density of foliage, density of feathering as well as aroma characteristics were desirable traits observed for some landraces, such as T538/06 and GRC-1348/04, which were similar or superior to those of some commercial cultivars. Polymorphic loci for inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and start codon targeted (SCoT) molecular markers were 76.47% and 72.41% for landraces, and 68.24% and 43.10% for the modern cultivars, respectively. Genetic divergence was shown, but not complete isolation, indicating that some gene flow may have occurred between landraces and cultivars. The major constituent in all dill leaf essential oils was a-phellandrene (54.42–70.25%). Landraces had a higher a-phellandrene and dill ether content than cultivars. Two dill landraces were rich in chlorogenic acid, the main polyphenolic compound determined. The study highlighted for the first-time Greek landraces with desirable characteristics regarding quality, yield, and harvest time suitable for breeding programs to develop new dill cultivars with superior features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]