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The maintenance of plant germplasm and its genetic diversity is critical to preserving and making it available for food security, so this invaluable diversity is not permanently lost due to population growth and development, climate change, or changing needs from the growers and/or the marketplace. There are numerous genebanks worldwide that serve to preserve valuable plant germplasm for humankind’s future and to serve as a resource for research, breeding, and training. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) and the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) both have a network of plant germplasm collections scattered across varying geographical locations preserving genetic resources for the future. Besides the USDA and CGIAR, there are germplasm collections established in many countries across the world that also aim to preserve crop and plant collections. Due to the advancement of technology, genotyping and sequencing whole genomes of plant germplasm collections is now feasible. Data from genotyping can help define genetic diversity within a collection, identify genetic gaps, reveal genetic redundancies and verify uniqueness, enable the comparison of collections of the same crop across genebanks (rationalization), and determine errors or mix-ups in genetic identity that may have occurred in a germplasm collection. Large-scale projects, such as genotyping germplasm collections, require strategic planning and the development of best practices. This article details strategies and best practices to consider when genotyping whole collections, considerations for the identity verification of germplasm and determining genetic replicates, quality management systems (QMS)/QC genotyping, and some use cases.

A total of 3,860 accessions from the global in trust clonal potato germplasm collection w3ere genotyped with the Illumina Infinium SolCAP V2 12K potato SNP array to evaluate genetic diversity and population structure within the potato germplasm collection. Diploid, triploid, tetraploid, and pentaploid accessions were included representing the cultivated potato taxa. Heterozygosity ranged from 9.7% to 66.6% increasing with ploidy level with an average heterozygosity of 33.5%. Identity, relatedness, and ancestry were evaluated using hierarchal clustering and model-based Bayesian admixture analyses. Errors in genetic identity were revealed in a side-by-side comparison of in vitro clonal material with the original mother plants revealing mistakes putatively occurring during decades of processing and handling. A phylogeny was constructed to evaluate inter- and intraspecific relationships which together with a STRUCTURE analysis supported both commonly used treatments of potato taxonomy. Accessions generally clustered based on taxonomic and ploidy classifications with some exceptions but did not consistently cluster by geographic origin. STRUCTURE analysis identified putative hybrids and suggested six genetic clusters in the cultivated potato collection with extensive gene flow occurring among the potato populations, implying most populations readily shared alleles and that introgression is common in potato. Solanum tuberosum subsp. andigena (ADG) and S. curtilobum (CUR) displayed significant admixture. ADG likely has extensive admixture due to its broad geographic distribution. Solanum phureja (PHU), Solanum chaucha (CHA)/Solanum stenotomum subsp. stenotomum (STN), and Solanum tuberosum subsp. tuberosum (TBR) populations had less admixture from an accession/population perspective relative to the species evaluated. A core and mini core subset from the genebank material was also constructed. SNP genotyping was also carried out on 745 accessions from the Seed Savers potato collection which confirmed no genetic duplication between the two potato collections, suggesting that the collections hold very different genetic resources of potato. The Infinium SNP Potato Array is a powerful tool that can provide diversity assessments, fingerprint genebank accessions for quality management programs, use in research and breeding, and provide insights into the complex genetic structure and hybrid origin of the diversity present in potato genetic resource collections.

Introdução: O confinamento imposto pela pandemia COVID-19 resultou na alteração da vida dos idosos, o que poderá ter afetado a sua qualidade de vida e saúde. Objetivo: Descrever a qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde e verificar a sua associação com a ocorrência de quedas e a mobilidade funcional de idosos portugueses, durante a pandemia COVID-19. Método: Estudo transversal descritivo. Participaram 182 idosos, com idade > 65 anos (85.7% do sexo feminino; idade 72.7 ± 6.7 anos), do Baixo Alentejo, Portugal. A qualidade de vida foi avaliada através do questionário SF-36 e exploramos as relações entre os seus domínios e a ocorrência de quedas e a mobilidade funcional (Timed Up & Go). Resultados: Verificaram-se associações significativas entre a qualidade de vida com o género, ocorrência de quedas e a mobilidade. A análise das dimensões SF-36 revelou que uma perceção mais positiva da SM (73.1%) surge associada ao género feminino. Uma perceção de FF (73.1%), DC (53.3%), FS (74.7%), DE (45.1%) e SM (72.5%) mais positiva surge associada à não ocorrência de quedas e verificou-se que perceções mais positivas da FF (82.3%) e DE (53.2%) estão associadas a uma boa mobilidade. Conclusão: Verificou-se que uma melhor perceção da FF, FS, DE, SN e DC estão relacionadas com a não ocorrência de quedas. Uma boa perceção sobre a FF e DE relacionam-se com uma boa mobilidade. As conclusões deste estudo destacam a relação positiva entre a boa perceção de qualidade de vida, a não ocorrência de quedas e a boa mobilidade em idosos. Palavras-chave: SF-36; quedas; mobilidade; TUG; envelhecimento saudável.

Abstract Background Genebanks contribute to poverty reduction as well as food and nutritional security by being one of the main sources of diversity for the development of improved crop varieties. While the welfare implications of adopting improved varieties have been documented in many rural settings, little attention has been placed on genebanks that often supply key traits and genetic diversity to plant breeders by providing seed samples. In this study, we examined the contribution of the genebank housed by the International Crops Research Institute (ICRISAT) to the development of improved groundnut varieties used by farmers in Malawi. We then related this apportioned genebank contribution to market outcomes, such as market participation and the quantity of groundnut sold in markets. Methods Pedigree data obtained through consultations with genebank scientists and breeders were used in combination with a three-wave balanced household-level panel dataset of 447 smallholder farmers in Malawi. Different econometric techniques were used, including a double hurdle model to understand market participation and quantity of groundnuts sold. Results We found households to be using six improved groundnut varieties, four of which were traced to the ICRISAT genebank. We analyzed pedigrees of the varieties and apportioned the ancestral contribution of the genebank accessions. Linking the improved varieties grown by farmers with genebank ancestry to market outcomes, we observed a positive association between the ICRISAT genebank and market participation. We could not establish a robust effect on the quantity of groundnuts sold conditional on participation. We found the results to be driven by the area under improved groundnuts. Conclusion The ICRISAT genebank has provided accessions that confer useful traits to improved varieties of groundnut adopted by farmers in Malawi. Our analysis indicates that access to genetic resources from genebanks has resulted in the development of improved varieties with traits that are preferred by farmers such as higher yields and resistance to diseases. The adoption of these improved varieties led to increased production surplus and reduced transaction costs, allowing farmers to better participate in local groundnut markets. The study points to the crucial role of genebanks as important sources of crop diversity for improved food security and incomes of smallholder farmers.

O medo de cair é apontado como consequência psicológica proveniente da perda de funcionalidade e equilíbrio inerentes ao envelhecimento. Manter bons níveis de aptidão física poderá ser a chave para preservar a qualidade de vida e independência dos idosos. Este estudo tem como objetivo verificar qual a relação do medo de cair com a aptidão física de idosos inseridos em programas de exercício físico. A amostra contemplou 308 idosos, com idade ³ 65 anos (86.8% do sexo feminino; idade 74.78 ± 5.72 anos, altura 1.56 ± 0.08 m, peso 67.13 ± 12.14 kg), do Baixo Alentejo, Portugal. Avaliaram-se as características sociodemográficas, histórico de quedas, medo de cair (FES-I Portugal); nível de atividade física (IPAQ-E – versão curta) e indicadores de aptidão física funcional (Protocolo de Rikli & Jones, 2013). Verificaram-se associações significativas entre o medo de cair e as variáveis de aptidão física. Baixo medo de cair parece estar relacionado com melhor força dos membros inferiores (p < .001), agilidade e equilíbrio dinâmico (p < .001) e aptidão cardiorrespiratória (p < .001). Os resultados revelam que um baixo medo de cair está relacionado melhor capacidade funcional. No sentido de contribuir para a manutenção e desenvolvimento de capacidades físicas essenciais e evitar uma diminuição de qualidade de vida, reforçamos a importância de programas de exercício físico que incluam o treino de força, agilidade, equilíbrio e aptidão cardiorrespiratória, integrados em intervenções multifatoriais. Estas estratégias poderão, através da promoção e manutenção das capacidades funcionais, criar uma maior perceção de competência e consequentemente reduzirem o medo de cair. Abstact. The fear of falling is pointed out as a psychological consequence resulting from the loss of functionality and balance inherent to aging. Maintaining good levels of physical fitness may be the key to preserve the quality of life and independence of the older adult. This study aims to verify the relationship of fear of falling with the physical fitness of older adults inserted in a community physical exercise program. The sample included 308 older adults, aged ³ 65 years (86.8% female; age 74.78 ± 5.72 years, height 1.56 ± 0.08 m, weight 67.13 ± 12.14 kg), from Baixo Alentejo, Portugal. The study involved collecting indicators on the participants' sociodemographic characteristics, the history of falls, fear of fall (FES-I Portugal scale); level of physical activity (IPAQ-E - short version) and physical fitness indicators (Rikli & Jones, 2013). There were significant associations between fear of falling and physical fitness variables. Low fear of falling seems to be related to better lower strength (p

The international collections of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) hosted by 11 CGIAR Centers are important components of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s global system of conservation and use of PGRFA. They also play an important supportive role in realizing Target 2.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals. This paper analyzes CGIAR genebanks’ trends in acquiring and distributing PGRFA over the last 35 years, with a particular focus on the last decade. The paper highlights a number of factors influencing the Centers’ acquisition of new PGRFA to include in the international collections, including increased capacity to analyze gaps in those collections and precisely target new collecting missions, availability of financial resources, and the state of international and national access and benefit-sharing laws and phytosanitary regulations. Factors contributing to Centers’ distributions of PGRFA included the extent of accession-level information, users’ capacity to identify the materials they want, and policies. The genebanks’ rates of both acquisition and distribution increased over the last decade. The paper ends on a cautionary note concerning the potential of unresolved tensions regarding access and benefit sharing and digital genomic sequence information to undermine international cooperation to conserve and use PGRFA.

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(1) Background: The goal of this study was to analyze the reliability and validity of the Portuguese version of the SARC-F in older adults. (2) Methods: A total of 100 participants (77.1 ± 7.36 years, 73% women) were included in the study. In a first phase, the Portuguese SARC-F was adapted following the standardized forward–backward translation procedure, and internal consistency as well as inter-rater and test–retest reliability of the Portuguese SARC-F were analyzed. Secondly, clinical validation was evaluated by comparing the SARC-F total score with five operational definitions of sarcopenia and with other sarcopenia-related measurements. Discriminant validity, with respect to low muscle mass and strength and physical function were analyzed. (3) Results: The Portuguese SAR-F showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.82), excellent inter-rater reliability (total score), and substantial to excellent test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.891 for the total score). Specificity ranged from 72.5% (FNIH) to 73.4 (IGWS), and negative predictive values went from 91.8% (EWGSOP1) to 97.3% (FNIH), but low sensitivity and positive predictive value were observed. The Portuguese SARC-F showed a moderate ability to discriminate people with low muscle strength (AUC = 0.78) and gait speed (AUC = 0.89). (4) Conclusions: The Portuguese SARC-F is a valid and reliable tool for ruling out sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults and can discriminate between people with low handgrip strength and gait speed.