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The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity among traditional common bean accessions through morphological descriptors and molecular markers. Sixty-seven common bean accessions from the Germplasm bank of the Instituto Federal of Espírito Santo—Campus de Alegre were evaluated. For this, 25 specific morphological descriptors were used, namely 12 quantitative and 13 qualitative ones. A diversity analysis based on morphological descriptors was carried out using the Gower algorithm. For molecular characterization, 23 ISSR primers were used to estimate dissimilarity using the Jaccard Index. Based on the dendrograms obtained by the UPGMA method, for morphological and molecular characterization, high genetic variability was observed between the common bean genotypes studied, evidenced by cophenetic correlation values in the order of 0.99, indicating an accurate representation of the dissimilarity matrix by the UPGMA clustering. In the morphological characterization, high phenotypic diversity was observed between the accessions, with grains of different shapes, colors, and sizes, and the accessions were grouped into nine distinct groups. Molecular characterization was efficient in separating the genotypes in the Andean and Mesoamerican groups, with the 23 ISSR primers studied generating an average of 6.35 polymorphic bands. The work identified divergent accessions that can serve different market niches, which can be indicated as parents to form breeding programs in order to obtain progenies with high genetic variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil boasts one of the world's richest biodiversities, including untapped sources of native species. Psidium cattleyanum Sabine is one of many underutilized species with potential for commercial exploitation, offering economic and health benefits. Considering this potential and the limited information on the species' genetic structures, this study aims to evaluate genetic divergence using physicochemical and morphometric characters of 16 accessions of this species. For this purpose, a germplasm collection containing P. cattleyanum from the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco (IPA) in Brazil was evaluated. The fruits were collected and sent to the Forest Seed Analysis Laboratory (LASF) at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE) for characterization. Germplasm characterization included an analysis of physicochemical and morphometric fruit characteristics. Subsequent analyses included genetic correlation between traits, genetic parameters, principal component analysis, and the Mulamba and Mock selection index for the accessions. The analysis of genetic divergence enabled identifying valuable P. cattleyanum accessions for future breeding programs, considering genetic variability based on morphological fruit characteristics. Furthermore, selection based on the Mulamba and Mock index highlighted high-performing individuals (A1.30, A1.40, A1.48, A1.44 and A1.21), enabling choices based on various characteristics for potential genotypic gains. This demonstrates the importance of a comprehensive approach in selecting accessions for species improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The Agricultural Research Centre of Mabegondo (Xunta de Galicia, A Coruña, Spain) conserves one of the most important collections of phytogenetic resources of ecotypes and natural populations of grassland species from northwestern Spain, among them populations of ryegrass (Lolium spp.), one of the most cultivated forage grasses in the world. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the diversity among commercial cultivars and natural ryegrass populations with phenotypic traits and molecular markers. Results Eleven polymorphic microsatellites loci were used to analyze 58 ecotypes and 10 cultivars (680 DNA samples in total) differentiating 673 genotypes. Two main groups were detected by the Structure analysis, one related to Lolium perenne and a second to Lolium multiflorum. The first group showed two subgroups and the second three. The cluster of L. multiflorum showed two subgroups not related with the third cluster including commercial varieties, one from the Canary Islands (with Lolium rigidum included) and a second one from northwestern Spain, which presented specific agromorphological characteristics, such as lower FES (number of days from 1 January, when three heads per plant were flowering per plot), CRE (growth in flowering, in g of dry matter), and AIN (number of inflorescences per plant). Conclusions This is the first time that a large amount of data on ryegrass from the Iberian Peninsula has been analyzed, obtaining a clear genetic differentiation of the autochthonous varieties from the commercial varieties analyzed. In addition, the genetic structure found in the ecotypes was related to the phenotypic variation analyzed. Being of interest in the conservation of biodiversity and in obtaining better adapted varieties of ryegrasses, due to their specific phenotypic traits, such as a lower FES, CRE and AIN.

Simple Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of breed (four native Portuguese goat breeds), season (February–April, May–August, and September–January) and semen processing (fresh and cryopreserved semen) on semen traits. A mixed linear model with repeated measures and three-way interactions was used to test the volume of ejaculate, spermatozoa (SPZ) concentration, total SPZ per ejaculate, SPZ viability, individual motility, normal morphology, and head, midpiece, and tail defects of semen from 616 (Serrana), 207 (Bravia), 171 (Charnequeira), and 23 (Preta de Montezinho) buck ejaculates. Overall, a significant and consistent effect of breed, season, and their interactions were observed on ejaculate traits. In turn, these factors seemed to have a limited impact on the studied SPZ traits, contrarily to the semen processing. Despite some differences observed between breeds that require further research, this study indicates that these native goat breeds can be used as semen donors at our latitude during the whole year under natural conditions. The aims of this study were to characterize the semen as well as the influence of breed, season, and semen processing on spermatozoa (SPZ) traits of four native Portuguese goat breeds used for the bank of Portuguese animal germplasm (BPAG). A total of 1017 ejaculates from Serrana (n = 30), Bravia (n = 15), Charnequeira (n = 11), and Preta de Montezinho (n = 3) bucks were collected between 2004 and 2020 at (EZN-INIAV; 39° N) during the whole year under natural conditions. All the fresh and cryopreserved (−196 °C) semen was evaluated and stored in the BPAG. Bravia bucks (the smallest breed) produced less (p < 0.05) volume of ejaculate than all the other breeds, which was higher during the full breeding season (September–January; p < 0.05), regarding all the other breeds. Contrarily, in general, SPZ concentration was lower during September–January, but total SPZ per ejaculate remained similar (p > 0.05) during May–August and September–January in Serrana bucks. The SPZ viability and SPZ midpiece defects were slightly influenced by breed and SPZ head defects by season (lowest % in February–April; p < 0.05). On the contrary, the freezing–thawing cycle strongly influenced (p < 0.01) all SPZ traits. The correlation coefficients of these traits between fresh and thawed SPZ were low (up to 0.33; p < 0.01), highlighting the importance of semen processing in semen cryopreservation. We conclude that breed and season had a relevant effect on ejaculate traits, but it was much less evident for the studied SPZ traits. These native goats can serve as semen donors throughout the year, under natural conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, the main issues related to the conservation and valorization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) will be primarily addressed. The conservation of PGRFA concerning outcrossing plants poses a significant challenge. For this reason, this review will cover the key challenges related to all stages, starting from in situ sampling, collection in the germplasm bank, and conservative reproductive methods. Integrated approaches involving the combined use of classical and molecular techniques will be described for the characterization of accessions. Within this framework, some successful Italian case studies focused on maize will be reported as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract: Spondias mombin is an arboreal species, the fruits of which possess a unique flavor and aroma and contain both nutritive and bioactive compounds. Considering that knowledge regarding the genetic variability in S. mombin is important for the establishment of a genetic improvement program, the aim was to characterize S. mombin accessions collected in the states of Maranhão and Piauí, northeastern Brazil, using molecular analysis with simple sequence repeats markers (ISSR). Twenty-six accessions maintained in the Embrapa Meio-Norte germplasm bank (Teresina, PI, Brazil) and two dwarf accessions collected from a private property in Teresina-PI were evaluated. The 12 ISSR markers employed presented strong discriminatory power as demonstrated by the high percentage of polymorphism (88.75%) and mean polymorphic information content (0.641). High genetic diversity among the accessions was demonstrated by the diversity indices of Nei (H=0.37) and Shannon (I=0.55), while gene flow between populations was considered moderate (Nm=0.6268 migrants per generation). The genetic diversity could be explained mainly by variability within-populations (88.71%) rather than between-populations (11.29%), although the genetic differentiation coefficient between-populations was moderate (GST=0.11) and statistically significant (P < 0.01). Unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) clustering and Population Structure analysis showed genetically distinct groups. The dwarf accessions were the most divergent and should be incorporated into the germplasm bank. Our study verified the existence of genetic differentiation between the tested S. mombin accessions and confirmed that such variability could be exploited through genetic improvement programs.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity among traditional common bean accessions through morphological descriptors and molecular markers. Sixty-seven common bean accessions from the Germplasm bank of the Instituto Federal of Espírito Santo—Campus de Alegre were evaluated. For this, 25 specific morphological descriptors were used, namely 12 quantitative and 13 qualitative ones. A diversity analysis based on morphological descriptors was carried out using the Gower algorithm. For molecular characterization, 23 ISSR primers were used to estimate dissimilarity using the Jaccard Index. Based on the dendrograms obtained by the UPGMA method, for morphological and molecular characterization, high genetic variability was observed between the common bean genotypes studied, evidenced by cophenetic correlation values in the order of 0.99, indicating an accurate representation of the dissimilarity matrix by the UPGMA clustering. In the morphological characterization, high phenotypic diversity was observed between the accessions, with grains of different shapes, colors, and sizes, and the accessions were grouped into nine distinct groups. Molecular characterization was efficient in separating the genotypes in the Andean and Mesoamerican groups, with the 23 ISSR primers studied generating an average of 6.35 polymorphic bands. The work identified divergent accessions that can serve different market niches, which can be indicated as parents to form breeding programs in order to obtain progenies with high genetic variability.

ABSTRACT Knowledge on the viability of the seeds is important in the management of the Germplasm Bank, as it allows monitoring the longevity and the need for regeneration of the accessions. The objective was to validate the efficiency of the Gomez-Campo methodology for seed conservation by evaluating physical dormancy and physiological quality of 11 Stylosanthes spp. accessions stored between seven and 13 years in the Forage Germplasm Bank of the State University of Feira de Santana (FGB-UEFS). One-hundred seed were used to determine moisture degree (%) and the viability with the descriptors: percentage of germination (G), germination speed index (GSI), synchronicity (Z) and average germination time (AGT). Sowing was done in plates moistened with water, arranged under controlled conditions (BOD chambers: at 20/30 °C and 12 hours/light) and in a completely randomized design in a 2 x 11 factorial scheme (scarified/non-scarified seeds and 11 accessions). After 14 days, it was observed that most of the accessesion presented high G (greater than 70%), GSI less than 2 seeds.day-1, Z with a mean value of 0,52 and AGT with a mean value of 2 days, characterizing a synchronous and rapid event. Thus, the methodology used in storage is efficient for the conservation of Stylosanthes seeds in the medium term.

The aims of this study were to characterize the semen as well as the influence of breed, season, and semen processing on spermatozoa (SPZ) traits of four native Portuguese goat breeds used for the bank of Portuguese animal germplasm (BPAG). A total of 1017 ejaculates from Serrana (n = 30), Bravia (n = 15), Charnequeira (n = 11), and Preta de Montezinho (n = 3) bucks were collected between 2004 and 2020 at (EZN-INIAV; 39° N) during the whole year under natural conditions. All the fresh and cryopreserved (−196 °C) semen was evaluated and stored in the BPAG. Bravia bucks (the smallest breed) produced less (p < 0.05) volume of ejaculate than all the other breeds, which was higher during the full breeding season (September–January; p < 0.05), regarding all the other breeds. Contrarily, in general, SPZ concentration was lower during September–January, but total SPZ per ejaculate remained similar (p > 0.05) during May–August and September–January in Serrana bucks. The SPZ viability and SPZ midpiece defects were slightly influenced by breed and SPZ head defects by season (lowest % in February–April; p < 0.05). On the contrary, the freezing–thawing cycle strongly influenced (p < 0.01) all SPZ traits. The correlation coefficients of these traits between fresh and thawed SPZ were low (up to 0.33; p < 0.01), highlighting the importance of semen processing in semen cryopreservation. We conclude that breed and season had a relevant effect on ejaculate traits, but it was much less evident for the studied SPZ traits. These native goats can serve as semen donors throughout the year, under natural conditions.

In this review, the main issues related to the conservation and valorization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) will be primarily addressed. The conservation of PGRFA concerning outcrossing plants poses a significant challenge. For this reason, this review will cover the key challenges related to all stages, starting from in situ sampling, collection in the germplasm bank, and conservative reproductive methods. Integrated approaches involving the combined use of classical and molecular techniques will be described for the characterization of accessions. Within this framework, some successful Italian case studies focused on maize will be reported as well.

Camellia oleifera C.Abel is an important oilseed crop. While germplasm resources have been widely collected and conserved, their genetic diversity remained to be explored effectively. Therefore, genomic libraries were constructed and sequenced, and all clean reads were assembled into 673,863 unigenes. In total, 27,953 SSRs were detected from all the unigenes, and 17,517 SSR primer pairs were successfully designed. Furthermore, we re-evaluated the genetic diversity of the germplasm bank of C. oleifera using 22 SSR markers. The number of alleles (Na), the effective number of alleles (Ne), the Shannon index (I), the polymorphic information index (PIC) ranged from 4 to 25 (mean of 11.41), 2.014 to 9.284 (mean of 4.800), 0.716 to 2.471 (mean of 1.682), 0.380 to 0.883 (mean of 0.717), respectively. Finally, a core collection consisting of 45 samples (15% of the 300 trees in the entire germplasm bank) was developed, the genetic diversity parameters of which showed nonsignificant differences from the entire germplasm bank. Genomic SSR development, the re-evaluation of genetic diversity and the development of a core collection from the germplasm bank in this study provided useful tools, abundant genetic resources and an effective collection for the utilization and deep exploration of C. oleifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study mainly aimed to evaluate the seasonal and breed effects on spermatozoa (SPZ) traits of ten Portuguese sheep breeds, cryopreserved and stored in the Portuguese National Germplasm Bank. The mean volume and SPZ concentration of the ejaculate was 0.77 mL and 5039 ± 51 × 106/mL, respectively, and were affected by breed but not by season. The viability (alive SPZ), individual motility, and abnormal morphology of fresh semen were 63.2 ± 0.2%, 61.41 ± 0.2%, and 10.1 ± 0.1%, respectively. A significant decrease of 28.5% of the viability and 35.5% of individual motility, as well as an increase of 54.5% in the SPZ abnormal morphology was observed in thawed semen. An effect of breed, but not of season, was observed on these SPZ traits. Nonetheless, breed × season interactions influenced individual motility and abnormal morphology, except for tail defects. Overall, the effect of season on ejaculate and SPZ traits was not significant and local rams are able to be SPZ donors for cryopreservation during the whole year in our latitudes. The semen quality is one of the determinant factors of ram semen cryopreservation. The present retrospective study aimed to characterize the seasonal ram pattern during the year for ten Portuguese local sheep breeds, hypothesizing that the breed and season had low effects on the main spermatozoa traits. A total of 1471 ejaculates were used and evaluated (fresh semen) from 85 rams between 2004 and 2020 and re-evaluated after thawing (thawed semen). The effect of breed, season, and sperm cryopreservation on nine semen traits were evaluated. The volume per ejaculate, spermatozoa (SPZ) concentration, and total number of SPZ per ejaculate, were affected by breed (p < 0.001) but not by season (p > 0.05). As expected, the semen processing was the most significant (p < 0.001) factor of variation on seminal parameters. Moreover, breed and interactions between breed × semen processing, modulated the response of alive SPZ, abnormal morphology, head, and intermediate piece defects. In fresh semen, season only affected the intermediate piece defects due to the highest percentage observed between February and April period in some breeds. Overall, and despite the mentioned particularities, there were similarities among the ten local breeds. We also concluded that the seasonal effect on ejaculate and SPZ traits is not significant in our region. These local ram breeds have low seasonality and can be employed in natural mating as well as semen donors for cryopreservation and assisted reproductive biotechnologies during the whole year at our latitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the importance of characterizing germplasm banks for their conservation and use in breeding programs and the commercial and nutritional potential of snap beans, the present study aimed to characterize the genetic diversity of snap bean accessions from the germplasm bank of IDR-Paraná through morpho-agronomic descriptors and molecular markers. A total of 102 snap bean accessions were evaluated, including 60 and 42 accessions of indeterminate and determinate growth habits, respectively. Sixty descriptors were used for morpho-agronomic characterization, which were evaluated in the wet season harvests of 2017 and 2018 using a randomized block design with three repetitions. Molecular characterization was performed using amplified fragment length polymorphism markers (AFLP) with four primer combinations. There was a wide variability among the snap bean accessions and a positive correlation between morpho-agronomic and molecular descriptors. The formation of two large groups of snap bean was observed and growth habit was strongly associated with gene pool, with evidence of high diversity among the accessions of the indeterminate growth habit. The descriptors that allowed high discrimination of the accessions were those that related to crop yield and cycle. The genetically divergent accessions with desirable agronomic characteristics may be used in crosses to initiate a breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to morphologically characterize and estimate the genetic diversity of 21 Capsicum accessions belonging to the Capsicum Germplasm Active Bank at the Universidade Federal do Piauí (BAGC–UFPI) using uni- and multivariate analysis. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, by completely randomized experimental design with four repetitions, with one plant per plot. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the comparison of means for seven quantitative variables were performed, followed by clustering the averages by the Scott-Knott test (P < 0.05). The analysis of the seven quantitative and thirteen qualitative descriptors was estimated based on the Gower distance. Later, it was performed the principal component analysis and the UPGMA hierarchical cluster method. Results characterized and identified a wide intra- and interspecific genetic variability related to the fruit size, colors, and shapes among the Brazilian Capsicum genotypes belonging to the BAGC–UFPI. The descriptors used in this research were effective in the discrimination of the pepper accessions, especially the closely related C. frutescens and C. chinense species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia 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.)

Copyright of Informacion Tecnica Economica Agraria is the property of Asociacion Interprofesional para el Desarrollo Agrario (AIDA) 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.)

Few studies have evaluated the genetic status of medicinal plants exposed to commercial harvesting. Here, we examine the genetic variability of Pilocarpus microphyllus, an endemic and threatened medicinal plant species from the eastern Amazon, across its largest remaining wild population. Popularly known as jaborandi, species of Pilocarpus genus are the unique known natural source of pilocarpine, an alkaloid used to treat glaucoma and xerostomia. However, Populations of P. microphyllus has experienced a severe decline in the last decades. Using RAD sequencing, we identified a total of 5,266 neutral and independent SNPs in 277 individuals collected from the Carajás National Forest (CNF). We quantified genetic diversity and gene flow patterns and estimated the minimum number of individuals necessary to establish a germplasm bank. Our results revealed high genetic diversity and four spatially distinct clusters of P. microphyllus with substantial admixture among them. Geographic distance and temperature dissimilarity were the factors that best explained the relatedness patterns among individuals. Additionally, our findings indicate that at least 40 matrices sampled randomly from each population would be required to conserve genetic diversity in the long term. In short, P. microphyllus showed high levels of genetic diversity and an effective population size (NE) sufficient to reduce the likelihood of extinction due to inbreeding depression. Our results indicate that diversity has been maintained despite the continuous harvesting of raw leaf material in the area over recent decades. Finally, the results provide information essential for the design of a germplasm bank to protect the endangered medicinal plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many feline species are currently threatened with extinction. Therefore, germplasm bank establishment has become imperative. However, cryoinjury and ischemia-reperfusion injury pose significant obstacles to both cryopreservation and xenotransplantation. In this regard, erythropoietin (Epo) represents a potential alternative strategy due to its properties. This study aimed to assess the incubation of domestic cat ovarian tissue in Epo, both before and after cryopreservation, and investigate its effectiveness in promoting revascularization following xenotransplantation. Sixteen ovaries from 8 healthy cats were sliced following elective bilateral ovariohysterectomy (OHE). Subsequently, 8 fragments measuring 3 mm³ each were obtained from the cortical region of each ovary. The fragments were allocated into 3 treatment groups: Cryo group, fragments were cryopreserved, thawed and immediately transplanted; Cryo + Epo group, fragments were first cryopreserved in nitrogen, thawed, incubated in Epo (100 IU) for 2h and transplanted; and the Epo + Cryo group, in which fragments were first incubated in Epo (100 IU) for 2h, cryopreserved, thawed and immediately transplanted. The fragments were then xenotransplanted into the dorsal subcutaneous region of ovariectomized female nude mice and retrieved at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-transplantation. The results indicated that Epo effectively enhanced follicular survival, preservation of viability, and tissue revascularization. The Epo + Cryo group displayed better revascularization rates on D14 and D21 post-transplantation and an increase in primordial and growing follicles on D28, the Cryo + Epo group exhibited significantly more follicles on D14 and D21, with fewer degenerated follicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The wisent (European bison) is a protected species. For this reason, we undertook the use of biotechnologies—such as in vitro maturation of oocytes, in vitro fertilization of matured oocytes, in vitro culture of embryos, and embryo vitrification—to establish a wisent embryo bank. The competencies of the vitrified embryos were tested by transferring the warming embryos to cattle (interspecies embryo transfer). The pregnancy was confirmed biochemically and using USG, and although the fetuses were resorbed, the embryos' competence for development was demonstrated. The results of these studies open the way for the cryoconservation of wisent germplasm. The wisent, or European bison (Bison bonasus), belongs to the same family (Bovidae) as the American bison and domestic cattle. The wisent is the largest mammal in Europe, and is called the "Forest Emperor". The wisent is listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List, and is protected by international law. Achievements in reproductive biotechnology have opened new possibilities for the cryoconservation of the wisent germplasm. Therefore, this research aimed to improve a strategy for the protection and preservation of the European bison through the creation of a wisent germplasm bank, based on the following procedures: isolation and in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes, in vitro fertilization (IVF) of matured oocytes, in vitro embryo culture (IVC), and embryo cryopreservation. Wisent ovaries were isolated from females outside the reproductive season, and eliminated from breeding for reasons other than infertility. Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were isolated from follicles greater than 2 mm in diameter and matured for 24 h and 30 h. After IVM, COCs were fertilized in vitro with wisent sperm. The obtained wisent zygotes, based on oocytes matured for 24 h and 30 h, were cultured for 216 h. Embryos at the morula and early blastocyst stages were vitrified and then warmed and transferred to interspecies recipients (Bos taurus). USG and biochemical tests were used to monitor pregnancies. This study obtained embryos in the morula and early blastocyst stages only after oocytes were fertilized and matured for 30 h. On average, per oocyte donor, 12.33 ± 0.5 COCs were isolated, and only 9.33 ± 0.61 COCs were qualified for in vitro maturation (75.68%), while 9.16 ± 0.48 COCs were matured (84.32%). On average, per donor, 5.5 ± 0.34 embryos were cleaved (59.96%) after 48 h post-fertilization (hpf), and 3.33 ± 0.21 achieved the eight-cell stage (36.52%) after 96 hpf, while 1 ± 0.21 morula and early blastocyst stages (10.71%) were achieved after 216 hpf. A total of six embryos (one morula and five early blastocysts) were obtained and vitrified; after warming, five of them were interspecies transferred to cattle (Bos taurus). On day 41 after fertilization, 3 out of 5 pregnancies were detected based on USG, P4, and PAG tests. However, no pregnancy was observed on day 86 after fertilization, indicating embryo resorption. This study shows that obtaining wisent embryos in vitro, and subsequent cryopreservation to create a wisent embryo bank, can be applied and implemented for the wisent protection program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: This research aimed to morphologically characterize and estimate the genetic diversity of 21 Capsicum accessions belonging to the Capsicum Germplasm Active Bank at the Universidade Federal do Piauí (BAGC-UFPI) using uni- and multivariate analysis. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, by completely randomized experimental design with four repetitions, with one plant per plot. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the comparison of means for seven quantitative variables were performed, followed by clustering the averages by the Scott-Knott test (P < 0.05). The analysis of the seven quantitative and thirteen qualitative descriptors was estimated based on the Gower distance. Later, it was performed the principal component analysis and the UPGMA hierarchical cluster method. Results characterized and identified a wide intra- and interspecific genetic variability related to the fruit size, colors, and shapes among the Brazilian Capsicum genotypes belonging to the BAGC-UFPI. The descriptors used in this research were effective in the discrimination of the pepper accessions, especially the closely related C. frutescens and C. chinense species.

The semen quality is one of the determinant factors of ram semen cryopreservation. The present retrospective study aimed to characterize the seasonal ram pattern during the year for ten Portuguese local sheep breeds, hypothesizing that the breed and season had low effects on the main spermatozoa traits. A total of 1471 ejaculates were used and evaluated (fresh semen) from 85 rams between 2004 and 2020 and re-evaluated after thawing (thawed semen). The effect of breed, season, and sperm cryopreservation on nine semen traits were evaluated. The volume per ejaculate, spermatozoa (SPZ) concentration, and total number of SPZ per ejaculate, were affected by breed (p < 0.001) but not by season (p > 0.05). As expected, the semen processing was the most significant (p < 0.001) factor of variation on seminal parameters. Moreover, breed and interactions between breed × semen processing, modulated the response of alive SPZ, abnormal morphology, head, and intermediate piece defects. In fresh semen, season only affected the intermediate piece defects due to the highest percentage observed between February and April period in some breeds. Overall, and despite the mentioned particularities, there were similarities among the ten local breeds. We also concluded that the seasonal effect on ejaculate and SPZ traits is not significant in our region. These local ram breeds have low seasonality and can be employed in natural mating as well as semen donors for cryopreservation and assisted reproductive biotechnologies during the whole year at our latitude.

Abstract Allium sativum L. is an herb of the Alliaceae family with a specific taste and aroma and medicinal and nutraceutical properties that are widely marketed in several countries. Brazil is one of the largest importers of garlic in the world, despite of its production is restricted and limited to internal consumption. Thus, explore the genetic diversity of commercial garlic conserved at germplasm banks is essential to generate additional genetic information about its economically important crop. A suitable tool for this purpose is the cytogenetic characterisation of these accessions. This study aimed to characterise the cytogenetic diversity among seven accessions of garlic from a Germplasm Bank in Brazil. The karyotypes were obtained by conventional staining and with chromomycin A3 (CMA) and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) fluorochromes. All accessions analysed showed chromosome number 2n = 16, karyotype formula 6M+2SM, symmetrical karyotypes, reticulate interphase nuclei, and chromosomes with uniform chromatin condensation from prophase to metaphase. The fluorochromes staining showed differences in the amount and distribution of heterochromatin along the chromosomes and between accessions studied. Based on the distribution pattern of these small polymorphisms, it was possible to separate the seven accessions into three groups. It was also possible to differentiate some of the accessions individually. One of the results obtained showed a heteromorphic distension of the nucleolar organiser region observed on the chromosome pairs 6 or 7 with peculiar characteristics. It was suggested for example, that the heteromorphic block of heterochromatin (CMA+++/DAPI-) on chromosome 6 of the “Branco Mineiro Piauí” accession can be used as a marker to identify this genotype or may be associated with some character of economic interest.

The objective of this paper is to assess the current situation of forest seed production and conservation in Ecuador, through the analysis of documents. It is noted that there are two strategies for the conservation and/or production of seeds in the country. In situ conservation shows results from the selection of seed sources from different actors: the EcoPAr foundation selected 20 in Andean forests in the Sierra, the Municipality of Quito identified 28, while Solidaridad Internacional installed 33 in Orellana, among others. Ex situ conservation developed alternatives such as: cryopreservation, long term, medium term, in vitro and field. The National Germplasm Bank of The National Autonomous Institute of Agro-Livestock Research has 72 species with 85 accessions, the Bank of the Private Technological University de Loja has 500 species in more than 800 accessions and there are also seven botanical gardens. The efforts made and the different experiences obtained are isolated. There are limitations of constructive and technological infrastructure, human resources, as well as deficiencies in the inter-institutional coordination of inventories and management plans of the forests that have seed sources.

Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. commonly known as sweet potato, is an important staple food worldwide, mainly due to its high nutritional value and yield. However, vegetative reproduction of sweet potato makes it more susceptible to viral infections, which threatens its productivity, quality, and difficult long-term preservation in germplasm banks. Also, it can act as a virus reservoir infecting the rest of the plant accessions in the bank collections. Hence, this work aimed to screen Begomovirus, Potyvirus, and Carlavirus infections in 16 traditional sweet potato cultivars from the germplasm collection of the ISOPlexis Germplasm Bank, Madeira, Portugal. The infection prevalence by these viruses among cultivars was 81.25%, 25.00%, and 6.25%, respectively; being ISOP1011 the only accession coinfected by Potyvirus and Carlavirus. The accessions ISOP1006, ISOP1010, and ISOP1047 were also coinfected by Begomovirus and Potyvirus, highlighting their vulnerability to viral infections. The ISOP1005 and ISOP1027 accessions were the only ones not infected by any of these viruses. The analysis of the partial sequence obtained from the Carlavirus detected in the accession ISOP1011, revealed the existence of an ORF that encodes for 93 amino acids of the catalytic domain of an RNA-directed RNA polymerase related to the Tymovirus protein family, as could be confirmed by comparison with proteins stored in UniProtKB. Multiple sequence alignment with these proteins showed that Motifs A and B of the catalytic domain were conserved. The search for sequence similarity with sequences deposited in GenBank reported a high sequence identity with Sweet potato yellow mottle virus (SPYMV) and Sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus (SPCFV). However, the 9-11% discrepancy in nucleotide sequence identity and a phylogenetic analysis carried out using the maximum probability method suggests the virus isolated from ISOP1011 is a new divergent strain of the SPCFV species.

Plant resources are the basis of human survival and development. Due to human and natural disturbance, plant diversity is facing a serious threat. Ex situ conservation is an important way to remove the threat. Botanical garden and germplasm bank are the main institutions of ex situ conservation. A total of 105 634 species of plants have been ex situ protected in the global botanical gardens, accounting for about 30% of the global total, and more than 40% of the threatened species have been protected. More than 3 million crop germplasm resources have been collected in more than 500 germplasm banks around the world. China's botanical gardens ex situ protected more than 20 000 native plants, accounting for about 60% of the total species; the National Crop Germplasm Bank and resource nurseries preserved more than 500 000 germplasm resources. While strengthening plant conservation, ex situ plant protection institutions have carried out a lot of scientific research and resource utilization. In order to promote the ex situ conservation of plant diversity and green development, this study also reviewed the research progress of ex situ conservation of plants, and put forward some suggestions on strengthening ex situ conservation of plants in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epididymal sperm shows higher cryoresistance than ejaculated sperm. Although the sperm proteome seems to affect cell cryoresistance, studies aiming at identifying proteins involved in sperm freezing-tolerance are scarce. The aims of this study were to investigate differences of sperm freezability and proteome between epididymal and ejaculated sperm in three mountain ungulates: Iberian ibex, Mouflon and Chamois. Sperm samples were cryopreserved in straws by slow freezing. Tandem mass tag-labeled peptides from sperm samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer in three technical replicates. The statistical analysis was done using the moderated t -test of the R package limma. Differences of freezability between both types of sperm were associated with differences of the proteome. Overall, epididymal sperm showed higher freezability than ejaculated sperm. Between 1490 and 1883 proteins were quantified in each species and type of sperm sample. Cross species comparisons revealed a total of 76 proteins that were more abundant in epididymal than in ejaculated sperm in the three species of study whereas 3 proteins were more abundant in ejaculated than epididymal sperm in the three species of study (adjusted P < 0.05; |log 2 | fold-change > 0.5). Many of the proteins that were associated with higher cryoresistance are involved in stress response and redox homeostasis. In conclusion, marked changes of sperm proteome were detected between epididymal and ejaculated sperm. This work contributes to update the sperm proteome of small ruminants and to identify candidate markers of sperm freezability. • Sperm freezability is higher in epididymal than in ejaculated sperm. • Sperm proteome differ between epididymal and ejaculated sperm. • This work contributes to the definition of protein markers of sperm freezability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. commonly known as sweet potato, is an important staple food worldwide, mainly due to its high nutritional value and yield. However, vegetative reproduction of sweet potato makes it more susceptible to viral infections, which threatens its productivity, quality, and difficult long-term preservation in germplasm banks. Also, it can act as a virus reservoir infecting the rest of the plant accessions in the bank collections. Hence, this work aimed to screen Begomovirus, Potyvirus, and Carlavirus infections in 16 traditional sweet potato cultivars from the germplasm collection of the ISOPlexis Germplasm Bank, Madeira, Portugal. The infection prevalence by these viruses among cultivars was 81.25%, 25.00%, and 6.25%, respectively; being ISOP1011 the only accession coinfected by Potyvirus and Carlavirus. The accessions ISOP1006, ISOP1010, and ISOP1047 were also coinfected by Begomovirus and Potyvirus, highlighting their vulnerability to viral infections. The ISOP1005 and ISOP1027 accessions were the only ones not infected by any of these viruses. The analysis of the partial sequence obtained from the Carlavirus detected in the accession ISOP1011, revealed the existence of an ORF that encodes for 93 amino acids of the catalytic domain of an RNA-directed RNA polymerase related to the Tymovirus protein family, as could be confirmed by comparison with proteins stored in UniProtKB. Multiple sequence alignment with these proteins showed that Motifs A and B of the catalytic domain were conserved. The search for sequence similarity with sequences deposited in GenBank reported a high sequence identity with Sweet potato yellow mottle virus (SPYMV) and Sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus (SPCFV). However, the 9-11% discrepancy in nucleotide sequence identity and a phylogenetic analysis carried out using the maximum probability method suggests the virus isolated from ISOP1011 is a new divergent strain of the SPCFV species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to perform a morphological and morphoagronomic analysis of wild Manihot species from a Brazilian semiarid region for inclusion in the collection at the Center for Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba. To characterize the 55 accessions, 12 quantitative and 18 qualitative descriptors were used. A dissimilarity matrix was generated by Mahalanobis generalized distance (D²), and clusters were identified by the UPGMA method. It was possible to verify the formation of 8 dissimilar groups based on morphological characters and 5 groups based on morphometric characters, indicating the presence of genetic diversity among accessions. The evaluated morphometric variable with the greatest relative contribution was the length between the central lobe. Based on the dissimilarity matrix, the accessions 16 x 48 were the most genetically distant accessions, followed by 47 x 49. The accessions 4 Monteiro, 16 Soledad, 38 Boa Vista, 3 Pedra Lavrada, 7 Junco, 10 Barra de Santa Rosa, 21 Monteiro, and 39 Junco are the most promising and can be used as parents in breeding programs for this forage species.

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Manihot esculenta Crantz is originally from the Amazon region of Brazil, which has the highest genetic diversity. Due to the wide adaptation of cassava to the most diverse environments, the evolutionary forces acted on the crop, resulting in a more complex genetic structure. This study evaluated the population structure and the genetic diversity through 25 SSR markers of 144 sweet cassava accessions collected in seven places in the south of Brazil. All the loci analyzed were polymorphic and showed several alleles per loci with a mean of 3.36 alleles and 38 rare alleles in the population. The mean value of polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.488, which indicates that the markers were informative and the mean observed heterozygosity was 0.644, while the mean expected heterozygosity was 0.557. The sweet cassava accessions were divided into 10 groups based on the population structure analysis. There was a moderate genetic differentiation (PhiPT = 0.106) among the sweet cassava subpopulations. The wide genetic variability among the studied accessions of sweet cassava demonstrates the importance of the emergency in the conservation of plants in germplasm banks, because the intense change in agriculture; the expansion of areas occupied by soybeans, corn, and other crops; and also the farmers' migration from rural areas to urban areas reduced cassava cultivation over time, and as a consequence, genetic variability has been lost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The bacurizeiro (Platonia insignis Mart.) is a tree native to the Amazon whose fruit is much used in the gastronomy in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil. Due to its great economic potential for these regions, the species is being conserved in germplasm banks to support genetic breeding programs. The aim of this work was the molecular characterization of P. insignis accessions belonging to the germplasm bank of the Embrapa Eastern Amazon research unit using ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeat) markers. Seventy-eight accessions of P. insignis belonging to 16 progenies were sampled in two different localities on Marajó Island, state of Pará, Brazil. Among the 16 progenies, seven were collected in Soure and nine in Salvaterra. The 78 accessions were genotyped with 23 pre-selected primers. We obtained 121 amplified products, of which 54 were polymorphic. The most polymorphic primers were UBC 834, UBC 899 and UBC 900. Primers UBC810 and UBC884 did not amplify polymorphic bands. Forty-nine markers out of 54 were selected for genetic analyses. AMOVA within and among progenies showed low genetic differentiation (ΦPT = 0.064, P

For more than 50 years, the CIAM-AGACAL (Agricultural Research Centre of Mabegondo, Xunta de Galicia, A Coruña, Spain) has been carrying out the important task of conserving the phytogenetic resources of ecotypes and natural populations of grassland species from northwestern Spain. The CIAM-AGACAL’s germplasm bank has 57 populations of red clover (Trifolium pratense Lam.), one of the most cultivated forage legumes in the world. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the diversity among cultivars and natural clover populations at morphological and molecular level. Twelve polymorphic SSR loci revealed 241 microsatellite alleles with an average of 20.08 alleles per locus. Two main groups were detected by the Structure software, one of them including local populations and the second clustering cultivars and related populations. Intra-specific variability was found among cultivars and natural populations. A moderate genetic differentiation of Spanish red clover cultivars was observed (Fst = 0.08) between the two main clusters. Finally, a certain relationship between phenotypic and genotypic variation was detected.

In order to obtain twenty-one evaluated accessions from the Avocado Germplasm Bank of CORPOICA, Palmira Research Station with two pathogenic strains of the oomycete, Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. The aim of this research was to identify avocado accessions, which used as rootstocks in a cultural control strategy for preventing root rot disease. Disease progression was evaluated using mycelium of the pathogen by cut-stem inoculation. The measurements of symptom progression length and width were carried out and analyzed. In order to obtain the area under the disease progression curve (AUDPC), these data were analyzed. A randomized complete block design (RCBD), with a factorial design of 3 x 21 in-subdivided parcels (2 strains of the pathogen, a control strain, and 21 avocado accessions) was performed. Eight readings were determined per plant throughout evaluation time. Statistical analysis showed significantly differences using the AUDPC for some avocado accessions. Tukey's test revealed five tolerance levels. Accession ‘NATU-001’ from Tumaco, Nariño, was identified as promising for its high tolerance and ‘CANO-008’ from Norcasia, Caldas, as a tolerant control accession had the second lowest value of AUDPC. Susceptible accessions used as control, e.g. ‘Hass’ variety and rootstock ‘Topa-Topa’, performed a very high susceptibility to the pathogen along with ‘QUIQUI-030’ accession from Quimbaya, Quindío, Colombia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the germination of seeds of different weight of Escontria chiotilla, collected in May 2009 in Coxcatlán, Puebla. The experimental design was completely randomized. Factors taken were seed weight (0.584, 0.490 and 0.466 mg) and storage conditions (23 ± 2 °C and -20 °C environment in the germplasm bank of UACHBANGEV). Germination capacity in 2009 (initial with no storage), 2010 and 2012, with storage of one and three years, respectively, was evaluated. The experimental unit was a Petri dish with 1 % agar and 100 seeds taken from each treatment with five repetitions, evaluated for 30 days each year. The results showed that germination capacity decreased after 3 years for all three weights. The heavier seeds (0.584 mg) retained the highest percentage in storage conditions environment, while the seeds stored in BANGEV decreased their ability to germinate at all weights. It was concluded that seed germination of Escontria chiotilla is affected by weight and storage condition and time.

On minitomatoes, the soluble solids content (SSC) is a fundamental characteristic for commercialization. During the productive cycle of the crop several harvests are realized, resulting in variations in the SSC from different genotypes. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the genetic variability and to monitor SSC in the clusters of different minitomato hybrids from dwarf lines. The SSC of the fruits were evaluated according with their position of the clusters, being the values expressed in 0Brix. The genetic diversity was obtained by multivariate analyzes, using the generalized distance of Mahalanobis, utilizing different grouping methods (UPGMA and Tocher). The hybrids performance for SSC was checked by the Scott-Knott test (p=0.005). The cluster’s position influenced on the SSC of the minitomatoes fruits and the first cluster of all hybrids that were evaluated, presented the highest SSC. Besides that, the highest 0Brix variability among the genotypes occurred when the fruits were harvested on the fifth and first cluster. Most hybrids originated from dwarf lines did not presented a reduce on 0Brix values during the harvests.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may exhibit distinct behaviors when associated with the same species of host plant, being necessary to understand their ecology, in order to optimize their management and maintenance in germplasm bank. This study aimed to evaluate different AMF associated with Urochloa brizantha (A. Rich.) Stapf by analyzing the symbiosis establishment time, spore multiplication and production of glomalin-related soil protein. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, in a 6 x 5 arrangement (five AMF species, non-inoculated control treatment and five evaluation times). The following aspects were analyzed: plant growth, spore multiplication, mycorrhizal colonization and glomalin production. The highest number of spores occurred for Acaulospora longula and A. colombiana, exhibiting the highest mycorrhizal colonization at 76 days. The inoculation favored the root growth of U. brizantha at 15 days of cultivation, plant height and root dry matter at 60 days and shoot dry matter at 90 days, especially for the Acaulospora species. The inoculation with A. colombiana, A. longula and Paraglomus occultum resulted in increased glomalin at 120 days. Gigaspora margarita and P. occultum did not reach the maximum colonization and spore multiplication, indicating that a period of time longer than 120 days of cultivation is necessary.

Resumo - A conservação de recursos genéticos vegetais é fundamental para o desenvolvimento da agricultura. O desenvolvimento de protocolos eficientes de criopreservação tornou-se uma ferramenta eficaz para conservar espécies vegetais propagadas vegetativamente. Tradicionalmente, os recursos genéticos de videiras têm sido mantidos principalmente em coleções no campo. Como coleções no campo, os acessos de Vitis são vulneráveis a estresses abióticos e ameaças bióticas, como patógenos e pragas. Assim, quando métodos robustos de criopreservação estão disponíveis, há uma oportunidade para preservar coleções por longos períodos de tempo, com segurança e com baixo custo de manutenção. Vários métodos têm sido descritos para Vitis e, até agora, a vitrificação em gotas tem sido o mais efetivo para várias espécies de videira e, parece ser um método promissor para superar as respostas específicas de genótipos/espécies para um determinado protocolo que tem sido o gargalo para o uso generalizado da criopreservação de Vitis. Esse artigo de revisão apresenta informações atualizadas e relevantes sobre o uso da criopreservação como ferramenta complementar para a conservação de recursos genéticos de videira.

Sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] is a multipurpose plant due to the different uses for its roots, leaves, and branches. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ornamental potential of sweet potato accessions from the Germplasm Bank of Embrapa Hortaliças, Brasilia, DF, Brazil. The morphological characterization and evaluation of the ornamental potential used five accessions with distinct leaf shape (CNPH 980, CNPH 1205, CNPH 895, CNPH 796, CNPH 1284) and 12 qualitative and quantitative descriptors [plant type (PT), leaf lobe type (LLT), immature leaf color (ILC), leaf lobe number (LLN), branch color (BC), shape of central leaf lobe (SCLL), petiole pigmentation (PP), mature leaf size (MLS), mature leaf color (MLC), leaf shape (LS), branch yield (BY), and root yield (RY)]. In the evaluation of the ornamental potential, each criterion was scored from 10 (minimum) to 100 (maximum). Leaf lobe number was the trait that pleased the evaluators the most, and the greater the number of lobes, the greater was the ornamental potential. CNPH 980, CNPH 1205, and CNPH 1284 stood out for this trait. CNPH 1284 (almost divided leaf type) had the greatest score and was considered, by the evaluators, as the accession with the most harmonious aesthetics, indicating a great ornamental potential for the consumer market. All accessions studied presented considerable ornamental potential and could be used in floral arrangements or garden beds. Â

Population growth and the high demand for food production has caused environmental degradation losses in biodiversity. The conservation of genetic resources is the most appropriate strategy for maintaining the variability of species of great importance, such as Capsicum. In this study, we describe the characterization of 69 pepper accessions of four Capsicum species from different regions of Brazil on the basis of qualitative and quantitative descriptors and ISSR markers. The 11 quantitative descriptors grouped the 69 populations into five clades. The fruit traits had the greater discrimination power. A strong correlation was detected between some pairs of quantitative descriptors: petiole and fruit length, fruit diameter and fresh fruit mass, leaf length and leaf width, canopy and plant height, stem diameter and plant height, stem diameter and canopy diameter. A negative correlation was also observed between plant height and pericarp thickness. Moreover, the molecular analysis grouped accessions into five clades. The morpho-agronomic and molecular characterization were efficient to estimate the genetic diversity between accessions, being important tools for the knowledge and use of accessions. This study is of great importance to preserve pepper germplasm and to provide data to facilitate the process of the selection in breeding programs.

The objective of this paper is to assess the current situation of forest seed production and conservation in Ecuador, through the analysis of documents. It is noted that there are two strategies for the conservation and/or production of seeds in the country. In situ conservation shows results from the selection of seed sources from different actors: the EcoPAr foundation selected 20 in Andean forests in the Sierra, the Municipality of Quito identified 28, while Solidaridad Internacional installed 33 in Orellana, among others. Ex situ conservation developed alternatives such as: cryopreservation, long term, medium term, in vitro and field. The National Germplasm Bank of The National Autonomous Institute of Agro-Livestock Research has 72 species with 85 accessions, the Bank of the Private Technological University de Loja has 500 species in more than 800 accessions and there are also seven botanical gardens. The efforts made and the different experiences obtained are isolated. There are limitations of constructive and technological infrastructure, human resources, as well as deficiencies in the inter-institutional coordination of inventories and management plans of the forests that have seed sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High performance phenotyping enables non-destructive analysis of plants. • Image phenotyping assists indirect selection of carotenoid-rich lettuces. • Image phenotype has high correlation with the carotenoid content in lettuce. • Phenotyping by image allows to identify genetic backgrounds in germplasm. • Image phenotyping determines the level of biofortification in producing regions. Developing biofortified foods is a goal of genetic breeding programs. However, analysis costs and the time required for leaf sampling in the field are hindrances to this process. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the genetic diversity in red leaf lettuce germplasm and to evaluate the use of image phenotyping for the identification of carotenoid-rich genotypes. The experiment was carried out in 2018 at the Vegetable Experiment Station of the Federal University of Uberlândia-Monte Carmelo campus. Thirty inbred lines of red leaf lettuce were evaluated. All inbred lines resulted from the hybridization of the Belíssima and Uberlândia 10000 cultivars and six successive selfings, carried out from 2013 to 2017. The genealogical method or pedigree is a working procedure used by plant breeders working with plant species whose reproductive system is autogamous and presenting cleistogamy. This method was used to obtain the treatments of the experiment. The cultivar Belíssima (red lettuce) was used as a control, totaling 31 treatments. A conventional method and an aerial image phenotyping using Phantom 4 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) were used to evaluate six different agronomic characteristics and carotenoid levels of each treatment. The results showed substantial genetic diversity within the germplasm bank. Furthermore, high performance image phenotyping was highly correlated with the traditional methodology (r = -0.8732, coefficient of determination = 76.25%) and can therefore be considered an alternative for identifying different genetic backgrounds within a germplasm bank. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) might also be used to monitor biofortification levels in crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the genetic variability of a collection of Jatropha curcas germplasm, represented by 93 accessions, using microsatellite markers. Among the 60 markers tested, five of them detected polymorphisms, with a total of 11 alleles and mean of 2.2 alleles per loci. These five markers enabled the quantification of genetic variability through estimates of expected (He=0.42) and observed (Ho=0.64) heterozygosity, Shannon-Weaver index (H'=0.62), coefficient of inbreeding (f=-0.44) and the formation of 11 clusters. Simultaneously, 14 accessions randomly sampled among the 93 and represented by seven plants each, were analyzed with these same five markers to quantify the within and between variability. Most of the genetic variation (92.58%) was contained within the accessions. These analyses revealed, for the first time, expressive genetic variability to be explored in this collection. The accessions UFVJC 05, 07, 12, 18, and 53 presented expressive variability among them with potential for the constitution of a base population for the breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed germination depends on various biotic and abiotic interactions associated with maternal habitat. The formation of soil seed banks is a key strategy and has ecological implications, especially with regard to species that develop in extreme habitats. When establishing germplasm banks of these species from seeds, seed dormancy becomes one of the main difficulties. In this research, we study Colobanthus quitensis, a species with wide latitudinal and altitudinal distribution, inhabiting extreme environments from southern Mexico to maritime Antarctica. Furthermore, this species has been described to have a secondary dormancy that is dependent on the environment. In order to perform research without needing to have regular access to this species' habitats, it is therefore vital to possess plant material from different populations representing the species distribution. Thus, we evaluated the effects of various pre-germination treatments on germination percentage and time in four populations of the species. A differential and significant effect was evidenced, both among treatments and populations. Acid scarification increased germination percentage and decreased germination time. The best treatments were determined by population, and direct seeding after a brief period of cold stratification (4 °C) allowed us to achieve good germination percentages in at least three of the studied populations. This new evidence allows optimization in the introduction, development, characterization, and availability of plant material of the different C. quitensis populations in the Antarctic Vascular Plant Germplasm Bank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]