Review of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae as venereal pathogens in horses.

Three bacteria extensively acknowledged as venereal pathogens with the potential to induce endometritis include Taylorella equigenitalis, the causative agent of contagious equine metritis (CEM), specific strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and certain capsule types of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The United Kingdom's Horserace Betting Levy Board recommends pre-breeding screening for these bacteria in their International Codes of Practice and >20 000 samples are tested per annum in the United Kingdom alone. While the pathogenesis and regulatory importance of CEM are well established, an evaluation of the literature pertaining to venereal transmission of P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae was lacking. The aim of this review was to evaluate published literature and determine the significance of P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae as venereal pathogens in horses. Literature definitively demonstrating venereal transmission was not available. Instead, application of molecular typing methods suggested that common environmental sources of contamination, such as water, or fomites be considered as modes of transmission. The presence of organisms with pathogenic potential on a horse's external genitalia did not predict venereal transmission with resultant endometritis and reduced fertility. These findings may prompt further investigation using molecular technologies to confirm or exclude venereal spread and investigation of alternative mechanisms of transmission are indicated.

Molecular Mapping and Transfer of Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for Sheath Blight Resistance from Wild Rice Oryza nivara to Cultivated Rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Sheath blight (ShB) is the most serious disease of rice (Oryza sativa L.), caused by the soil-borne fungus Rhizoctonia solani Kühn (R. solani). It poses a significant threat to global rice productivity, resulting in approximately 50% annual yield loss. Managing ShB is particularly challenging due to the broad host range of the pathogen, its necrotrophic nature, the emergence of new races, and the limited availability of highly resistant germplasm. In this study, we conducted QTL mapping using an F2 population derived from a cross between a partially resistant accession (IRGC81941A) of Oryza nivara and the susceptible rice cultivar Punjab rice 121 (PR121). Our analysis identified 29 QTLs for ShB resistance, collectively explaining a phenotypic variance ranging from 4.70 to 48.05%. Notably, a cluster of four QTLs (qRLH1.1, qRLH1.2, qRLH1.5, and qRLH1.8) on chromosome 1 consistently exhibit a resistant response against R. solani. These QTLs span from 0.096 to 420.1 Kb on the rice reference genome and contain several important genes, including Ser/Thr protein kinase, auxin-responsive protein, protease inhibitor/seed storage/LTP family protein, MLO domain-containing protein, disease-responsive protein, thaumatin-like protein, Avr9/Cf9-eliciting protein, and various transcription factors. Additionally, simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers RM212 and RM246 linked to these QTLs effectively distinguish resistant and susceptible rice cultivars, showing great promise for marker-assisted selection programs. Furthermore, our study identified pre-breeding lines in the advanced backcrossed population that exhibited superior agronomic traits and sheath blight resistance compared to the recurrent parent. These promising lines hold significant potential for enhancing the sheath blight resistance in elite cultivars through targeted improvement efforts.

Relationships of the wild peanut species, section Arachis: A resource for botanical classification, crop improvement, and germplasm management.

PREMISE: Wild species are strategic sources of valuable traits to be introduced into crops through hybridization. For peanut, the 33 currently described wild species in the section Arachis are particularly important because of their sexual compatibility with the domesticated species, Arachis hypogaea. Although numerous wild accessions are carefully preserved in seed banks, their morphological similarities pose challenges to routine classification. METHODS: Using a high-density array, we genotyped 272 accessions encompassing all diploid species in section Arachis. Detailed relationships between accessions and species were revealed through phylogenetic analyses and interpreted using the expertise of germplasm collectors and curators. RESULTS: Two main groups were identified: one with A genome species and the other with B, D, F, G, and K genomes. Species groupings generally showed clear boundaries. Structure within groups was informative, for instance, revealing the history of the proto-domesticate A. stenosperma. However, some groupings suggested multiple sibling species. Others were polyphyletic, indicating the need for taxonomic revision. Annual species were better defined than perennial ones, revealing limitations in applying classical and phylogenetic species concepts to the genus. We suggest new species assignments for several accessions. CONCLUSIONS: Curated by germplasm collectors and curators, this analysis of species relationships lays the foundation for future species descriptions, classification of unknown accessions, and germplasm use for peanut improvement. It supports the conservation and curation of current germplasm, both critical tasks considering the threats to the genus posed by habitat loss and the current restrictions on new collections and germplasm transfer.

Potential of tetraploid wheats in plant breeding: A review.

Domestication syndrome, selection pressure, and modern plant breeding programs have reduced the genetic diversity of the wheat germplasm. For the genetic gains of breeding programs to be sustainable, plant breeders require a diverse gene pool to select genes for resistance to biotic stress factors, tolerance to abiotic stress factors, and improved quality and yield components. Thus, old landraces, subspecies and wild ancestors are rich sources of genetic diversity that have not yet been fully exploited, and it is possible to utilize this diversity. Compared with durum wheat, tetraploid wheat subspecies have retained much greater genetic diversity despite genetic drift and various environmental influences, and the identification and utilization of this diversity can make a greater contribution to the genetic enrichment of wheat. In addition, using the pre-breeding method, the valuable left-behind alleles in the wheat gene pool can be re-introduced through hybridization and introgressive gene flow to create a sustainable opportunity for the genetic gain of wheat. This review provides some insights about the potential of tetraploid wheats in plant breeding and the genetic gains made by them in plant breeding across past decades, and gathers the known functional information on genes/QTLs, metabolites, traits and their direct involvement in wheat resistance/tolerance to biotic/abiotic stresses.

Review of Crop Wild Relative Conservation and Use in West Asia and North Africa.

Ensuring global food security in the face of climate change is critical to human survival. With a predicted human population of 9.6 billion in 2050 and the demand for food supplies expected to increase by 60% globally, but with a parallel potential reduction in crop production for wheat by 6.0%, rice by 3.2%, maize by 7.4%, and soybean by 3.1% by the end of the century, maintaining future food security will be a challenge. One potential solution is new climate-smart varieties created using the breadth of diversity inherent in crop wild relatives (CWRs). Yet CWRs are threatened, with 16-35% regarded as threatened and a significantly higher percentage suffering genetic erosion. Additionally, they are under-conserved, 95% requiring additional ex situ collections and less than 1% being actively conserved in situ; they also often grow naturally in disturbed habitats limiting standard conservation measures. The urgent requirement for active CWR conservation is widely recognized in the global policy context (Convention on Biological Diversity post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, UN Sustainable Development Goals, the FAO Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA, and the FAO Framework for Action on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture) and breeders highlight that the lack of CWR diversity is unnecessarily limiting crop improvement. CWRs are not spread evenly across the globe; they are focused in hotspots and the hottest region for CWR diversity is in West Asia and North Africa (WANA). The region has about 40% of global priority taxa and the top 17 countries with maximum numbers of CWR taxa per unit area are all in WANA. Therefore, improved CWR active conservation in WANA is not only a regional but a critical global priority. To assist in the achievement of this goal, we will review the following topics for CWRs in the WANA region: (1) conservation status, (2) community-based conservation, (3) threat status, (4) diversity use, (5) CURE-CWR hub: (ICARDA Centre of Excellence), and (6) recommendations for research priorities. The implementation of the recommendations is likely to significantly improve CWRs in situ and ex situ conservation and will potentially at least double the availability of the full breadth of CWR diversity found in WANA to breeders, and so enhance regional and global food and nutritional security.

Omics-driven utilization of wild relatives for empowering pre-breeding in pearl millet.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Pearl millet wild relatives harbour novel alleles which could be utilized to broaden genetic base of cultivated species. Genomics-informed pre-breeding is needed to speed up introgression from wild to cultivated gene pool in pearl millet. Rising episodes of intense biotic and abiotic stresses challenge pearl millet production globally. Wild relatives provide a wide spectrum of novel alleles which could address challenges posed by climate change. Pre-breeding holds potential to introgress novel diversity in genetically narrow cultivated Pennisetum glaucum from diverse gene pool. Practical utilization of gene pool diversity remained elusive due to genetic intricacies. Harnessing promising traits from wild pennisetum is limited by lack of information on underlying candidate genes/QTLs. Next-Generation Omics provide vast scope to speed up pre-breeding in pearl millet. Genomic resources generated out of draft genome sequence and improved genome assemblies can be employed to utilize gene bank accessions effectively. The article highlights genetic richness in pearl millet and its utilization with a focus on harnessing next-generation Omics to empower pre-breeding.

Relationship between wintering site and survival in a migratory waterbird using different migration routes.

When wintering at different sites, individuals from the same breeding population can experience different conditions, with costs and benefits that may have implications throughout their lifetime. Using a dataset from a longitudinal study on Eurasian Spoonbills from southern France, we explored whether survival rate varied among individuals using different wintering sites. In the last 13 years, more than 3000 spoonbills have been ringed as chicks in Camargue. These birds winter in five main regions that vary in both migratory flyway (East Atlantic vs. Central European) and migration distance (long-distance vs. short-distance vs. resident). We applied Cormack-Jolly-Seber models and found evidence for apparent survival to correlate with migration distance, but not with flyway. During the interval between the first winter sighting and the next breeding period, long-distance migrants had the lowest survival, independently of the flyway taken. Additionally, as they age, spoonbills seem to better cope with migratory challenges and wintering conditions as no differences in apparent survival among wintering strategies were detected during subsequent years. As dispersal to other breeding colonies was rarely observed, the lower apparent survival during this period is likely to be partly driven by lower true survival. This supports the potential role of crossing of natural barriers and degradation of wintering sites in causing higher mortality rates as recorded for a variety of long-distance migrants. Our work confirms variation in demographic parameters across winter distribution ranges and reinforces the importance of longitudinal studies to better understand the complex demographics of migratory species.

Mainstreaming production and nutrient resilience of vegetable crops in megacities: pre-breeding for terrace cultivation.

Modern megacities offer convenient lifestyles to their citizens. However, agriculture is becoming increasingly vulnerable, especially during unexpected public health emergencies such as pandemics. Fortunately, the adaptability of terrace vegetables cultivation presents an opportunity to grow horticultural crops in residential spaces, bringing numerous benefits to citizens, including enhanced nutrition and recreational engagement in the cultivation process. Although certain planting skills and equipment have been developed, the citizens tend to sow some seeds with unknown pedigree, it is rare to find new plant varieties specifically bred for cultivation as terrace vegetables. To expand the genetic basis of new breeding materials, elite parents, and varieties (pre-breeding) for terrace cultivation, this review not only discusses the molecular breeding strategy for the identification, creation, and application of rational alleles for improving horticultural characteristics including plant architecture, flavor quality, and ornamental character, but also assesses the potential for terrace cultivation of some representative vegetable crops. We conclude that the process of pre-breeding specifically for terrace cultivation environments is vital for generating a genetic basis for urban terrace vegetable crops.

Genetic enhancement of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] germplasm through wide hybridization.

Introduction: The introgression of genetic material from one species to another through wide hybridization and repeated back-crossing, plays an important role in genetic modification and enriching the cultivated gene-pool with novel genetic variations. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus [(L.) Moench)] is a popular vegetable crop with high dietary fibre and protein, rich in essential amino acids, lysine and tryptophan. The wild Abelmoschus genepool has many desirable traits like ornamental value, short internodal length, more number of productive branches, extended bearing, perennation tendency, reduced fruit length (more consumer preferred trait), high mucilage content (medicinal value), abiotic stress tolerances such as drought, high temperature and biotic stress resistances such as okra Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV) and Enation Leaf Curl Virus (ELCV) diseases. The repeated use of elite breeding lines led to narrowing of the genetic base of the okra crop, one of the major factors attributed to breakdown of resistance/ tolerance to biotic stresses. YVMV and ELCV are the two major diseases, causing significant yield loss in okra. Hence, wide hybridization was attempted to transfer tolerance genes from wild species to the cultivated genepool to widen the genetic base. Material and methods: The screening of germplasm of wild Abelmoschus species at hotspots led to the identification of tolerant species (Abelmoschus pungens var. mizoramensis, A. enbeepeegeearensis, A. caillei, A. tetraphyllus and A. angulosus var. grandiflorus), which were further used in a wide-hybridization programme to generate interspecific hybrids with the cultivated okra. Presence of pre- and post-zygotic barriers to interspecific geneflow, differences in ploidy levels and genotype specific variations in chromosome numbers led to varying degrees of sterility in F1 plants of interspecific crosses. This was overcome by doubling the chromosome number of interspecific hybrids by applying Colchicine at the seedling stage. The 113 cross derivatives generated comprising amphidiploids in the F1 generation (30), F3 (14), one each in F2 and F4 generations, back cross generation in BC1F2 (03), BC1F3 (25), and BC2F3 (02), crosses between amphidiploids (27), multi-cross combinations (07) and inter-specific cross (between A. sagittifolius × A. moschatus subsp. moschatus) selfed derivatives at F8 generation (03) were characterized in the present study. Besides they were advanced through selfing and backcrossing. Results and Discussion: The amphidiploids were found to possess many desirable genes with a considerable magnitude of linkage drag. Majority of the wide cross derivatives had an intermediate fruit morphology and dominance of wild characters viz., hispid fruits, stem, leaves, tough fruit fibre, vigorous perennial growth habit and prolonged flowering and fruiting. The fruit morphology of three BC progenies exhibited a high morphological resemblance to the cultivated okra, confirming successful transfer of useful genes to the cultivated okra genepool. The detailed morphological characteristics of the various combinations of Abelmoschus amphidiploids and the genetic enhancement of the genepool achieved in this process is reported here.

Creation and study of emmer (Triticum dicoccum) × triticale hybrids.

Triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) is of great interest as an insurance crop that can ensure the stability of the gross harvest of feed and food grains at a lower cost. In Western Siberia, only winter triticale varieties are cultivated, however, spring triticales are important for cultivation in regions not suitable for winter crops. To create spring varieties with high yields and good grain quality, it is necessary to study and enrich the gene pool, identify donors of economically valuable traits. One of the possible ways to solve this problem can be through the production of secondary hexaploid triticales with the involvement of the tetraploid wild-growing species of emmer wheat Triticum dicoccum (Schrank) Schuebl. The aim of this work was to create and study hybrids of emmer T. dicoccum (Schrank) Schuebl. with hexaploid triticale using genomic in situ hybridization for staining of meiotic chromosomes and analysis of plant productivity elements in F4-F8. DT4, DT5, DT6 plants and the prebreeding F6 forms obtained from them - DT 4/168, DT 5/176 and DT 6/186 - were selected according to the characteristics of the productivity and the nature of the grain in the F4 hybrid population. The offspring of hybrids DT4 and DT5 and prebreeding forms DT 4/168 and DT 5/176 had an increased grain nature (over 750 g/l), but low productivity. The hybrid DT6 and the breeding form DT 6/186 obtained from it had high grain productivity (785 ± 41 and 822 ± 74 g/m2, respectively), but, like the paternal form of triticale UK 30/33, had a reduced nature of the grain. In F8 DT 6/186 plants, 7 homologous pairs of rye chromosomes and from 27 to 30 wheat chromosomes were found in meiosis, which indicates the presence of a complete rye genome and two wheat ААВВ genomes. Rye chromosomes showed stable formation of bivalents in contrast to wheat chromosomes, which caused the presence of aneuploids in plant populations. Thus, hexaploid forms DT 4/168 and DT 5/176 with well-made smooth grain and high grain size were obtained, which can be used as a source of this trait for selection of food-grade triticale. DT 6/186 is a promising form for further breeding in order to obtain high-yielding forms of triticale.

Allele mining through TILLING and EcoTILLING approaches in vegetable crops.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The present review illustrates a comprehensive overview of the allele mining for genetic improvement in vegetable crops, and allele exploration methods and their utilization in various applications related to pre-breeding of economically important traits in vegetable crops. Vegetable crops have numerous wild descendants, ancestors and terrestrial races that could be exploited to develop high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties resistant/tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses. To further boost the genetic potential of economic traits, the available genomic tools must be targeted and re-opened for exploitation of novel alleles from genetic stocks by the discovery of beneficial alleles from wild relatives and their introgression to cultivated types. This capability would be useful for giving plant breeders direct access to critical alleles that confer higher production, improve bioactive compounds, increase water and nutrient productivity as well as biotic and abiotic stress resilience. Allele mining is a new sophisticated technique for dissecting naturally occurring allelic variants in candidate genes that influence important traits which could be used for genetic improvement of vegetable crops. Target-induced local lesions in genomes (TILLINGs) is a sensitive mutation detection avenue in functional genomics, particularly wherein genome sequence information is limited or not available. Population exposure to chemical mutagens and the absence of selectivity lead to TILLING and EcoTILLING. EcoTILLING may lead to natural induction of SNPs and InDels. It is anticipated that as TILLING is used for vegetable crops improvement in the near future, indirect benefits will become apparent. Therefore, in this review we have highlighted the up-to-date information on allele mining for genetic enhancement in vegetable crops and methods of allele exploration and their use in pre-breeding for improvement of economic traits.

Determining the clinical utility of a single pre-breeding examination for predicting subsequent reproductive performance in seasonal pasture-based dairy heifers.

Heifers that conceive early in the breeding season are key to the maintenance of a compact calving pattern in seasonal dairy herds. The purpose of this prospective observational study was to determine whether a single pre-breeding examination is useful in predicting future reproductive and calving performance in dairy heifers. This evaluation was based on a matrix of easily measurable variables which could be applied to seasonal, pasture-based dairy heifers. The matrix variables were; body weight (≥55% mature body weight at mating start date), body condition score (≥3.5), and the presence of a corpus luteum. Seasonal, pasture-based dairy heifers (n = 572) on six commercial dairy farms were examined at an average of 28 days prior to the breeding season. At this examination, they were classified as READY (meeting all three of the above criteria), INTERMEDIATE (meeting one or two of the above criteria) or PROBLEM (meeting none of the above criteria) based on the matrix and then exposed to a routine artificial insemination (AI) breeding period followed by bull breeding depending on individual farm management. Subsequent pregnancy status was determined by transrectal ultrasonography initially at 30-60 days in calf (DIC), and confirmed at over 60 DIC. After the breeding season, 519 (96%) of heifers were determined to be pregnant, of which 345 (64%) became pregnant within the first three weeks of the breeding season. Farmers collected calving data; including calving difficulty score, from the heifers the following spring. A logistic regression model was used to analyse the association between the matrix categories and the following outcomes: reproductive (21 day submission rate, 1st AI conception rate, 3 wk and 6 wk in calf rate) and calving (assistance and dystocia). Heifers classified as PROBLEM had significantly lower odds of conceiving to the first AI serve and of becoming pregnant within the first three and six weeks of the breeding season (P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, the proposed matrix could be practically useful for classifying heifers prior to the breeding season.

The use of PI 277012-derived Fusarium head blight resistance QTL in winter wheat breeding.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum results in substantial grain yield and quality losses in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Genetic resistance is partial but crucial for effective, integrated management of the disease. Host resistance is conditioned by numerous small effect quantitative trait loci (QTL) that are strongly affected by the environment and genetic background. Qfhb.rwg-5A.1 and Qfhb.rwg-5A.2 (PI 277012 is the source for both genes) are two recently discovered FHB resistance QTL that also occur in spring wheat GP80 (PI 277012 derivative). To transfer the PI 277012 resistance from GP80 to hard winter wheat (HWW), GP80 was first crossed with Novus-4. The F1 hybrid was crossed with SY Monument, following which marker-selected progeny were crossed with, and backcrossed to, ND Noreen. To potential carriers of FHB resistance QTL among the 22 F1 of the ND Noreen cross, simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, Illumina 90 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) haplotypes and greenhouse FHB Type II resistance tests were done. Likely homozygotes for Qfhb.rwg.5A.1 and Qfhb.rwg.5A.2, were selected and backcrossed to ND Noreen. In the B1F1, 131 plants were evaluated for SNP haplotypes, SSR markers and FHB resistance. Nine B1F2:3 lines were derived, and their resistance confirmed in a third greenhouse FHB trial. The results suggested that eight lines had higher resistance and were comparable to GP80 with the Qfhb.rwg-5A.2 markers occurring in all eight and the Qfhb.rwg-5A.1 markers occurring in four lines. The eight selections constitute a valuable HWW resistance breeding resource.

Distance doesn't matter: migration strategy in a seabird has no effect on survival or reproduction.

Migrating animals show remarkable diversity in migration strategies, even between individuals from the same population. Migrating longer distances is usually expected to be costlier in terms of time, energy expenditure and risks with potential repercussions for subsequent stages within the annual cycle. Such costs are expected to be balanced by increased survival, for example due to higher quality wintering areas or lower energy expenditure at lower latitudes. We compared reproductive parameters and apparent survival of lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus) breeding in The Netherlands, whose winter range extends from the UK to West Africa, resulting in one-way migration distances that differ by more than 4500 km. Individuals migrating furthest arrived later in the colony than shorter distance migrants, but still laid in synchrony with the colony and consequently had a shorter pre-laying period. This shorter pre-laying period affected neither egg volumes nor hatching success. We found no relationship between migration distance and apparent survival probability, corresponding with previous research showing that annual energy expenditure and distance travelled throughout the year is similar across migration strategies. Combined, our results indicate an equal fitness payoff across migration strategies, suggesting there is no strong selective pressure acting on migration strategy within this population.

Genotyping of DNA pools identifies untapped landraces and genomic regions to develop next-generation varieties.

Landraces, that is, traditional varieties, have a large diversity that is underexploited in modern breeding. A novel DNA pooling strategy was implemented to identify promising landraces and genomic regions to enlarge the genetic diversity of modern varieties. As proof of concept, DNA pools from 156 American and European maize landraces representing 2340 individuals were genotyped with an SNP array to assess their genome-wide diversity. They were compared to elite cultivars produced across the 20th century, represented by 327 inbred lines. Detection of selective footprints between landraces of different geographic origin identified genes involved in environmental adaptation (flowering times, growth) and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress (drought, cold, salinity). Promising landraces were identified by developing two novel indicators that estimate their contribution to the genome of inbred lines: (i) a modified Roger's distance standardized by gene diversity and (ii) the assignation of lines to landraces using supervised analysis. It showed that most landraces do not have closely related lines and that only 10 landraces, including famous landraces as Reid's Yellow Dent, Lancaster Surecrop and Lacaune, cumulated half of the total contribution to inbred lines. Comparison of ancestral lines directly derived from landraces with lines from more advanced breeding cycles showed a decrease in the number of landraces with a large contribution. New inbred lines derived from landraces with limited contributions enriched more the haplotype diversity of reference inbred lines than those with a high contribution. Our approach opens an avenue for the identification of promising landraces for pre-breeding.

Preliminary Dissection of Grain Yield and Related Traits at Differential Nitrogen Levels in Diverse Pre-Breeding Wheat Germplasm Through Association Mapping.

Development of nutrient efficient cultivars depends on effective identification and utilization of genetic variation. We characterized a set of 276 pre-breeding lines (PBLs) for several traits at different levels of nitrogen application. These PBLs originate from synthetic wheats and landraces. We witnessed significant variation in various traits among PBLs to different nitrogen doses. There was ~ 4-18% variation range in different agronomic traits in response to nitrogen application, with the highest variation for the biological yield (BY) and the harvest index. Among various agronomic traits measured, plant height, tiller number, and BY showed a positive correlation with nitrogen applications. GWAS analysis detected 182 marker-trait associations (MTAs) (at p-value < 0.001), out of which 8 MTAs on chromosomes 5D, 4A, 6A, 1B, and 5B explained more than 10% phenotypic variance. Out of all, 40 MTAs observed for differential nitrogen application response were contributed by the synthetic derivatives. Moreover, 20 PBLs exhibited significantly higher grain yield than checks and can be selected as potential donors for improved plant nitrogen use efficiency (pNUE).

Unlocking the hidden variation from wild repository for accelerating genetic gain in legumes.

The fluctuating climates, rising human population, and deteriorating arable lands necessitate sustainable crops to fulfil global food requirements. In the countryside, legumes with intriguing but enigmatic nitrogen-fixing abilities and thriving in harsh climatic conditions promise future food security. However, breaking the yield plateau and achieving higher genetic gain are the unsolved problems of legume improvement. Present study gives emphasis on 15 important legume crops, i.e., chickpea, pigeonpea, soybean, groundnut, lentil, common bean, faba bean, cowpea, lupin, pea, green gram, back gram, horse gram, moth bean, rice bean, and some forage legumes. We have given an overview of the world and India's area, production, and productivity trends for all legume crops from 1961 to 2020. Our review article investigates the importance of gene pools and wild relatives in broadening the genetic base of legumes through pre-breeding and alien gene introgression. We have also discussed the importance of integrating genomics, phenomics, speed breeding, genetic engineering and genome editing tools in legume improvement programmes. Overall, legume breeding may undergo a paradigm shift once genomics and conventional breeding are integrated in the near future.

A genome-wide analysis suggests pleiotropic effects of Green Revolution genes on shade avoidance in wheat.

A classic example of phenotypic plasticity in plants is the suit of phenotypic responses induced by a change in the ratio of red to far-red light (R∶FR) as a result of shading, also known as the shade avoidance syndrome (SAS). While the adaptive consequences of this syndrome have been extensively discussed in natural ecosystems, how SAS varies within crop populations and how SAS evolved during crop domestication and breeding remain poorly known. In this study, we grew a panel of 180 durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) genotypes spanning diversity from wild, early domesticated, and elite genetic compartments under two light treatments: low R:FR light (shaded treatment) and high R:FR light (unshaded treatment). We first quantified the genetic variability of SAS, here measured as a change in plant height at the seedling stage. We then dissected the genetic basis of this variation through genome-wide association mapping. Genotypes grown in shaded conditions were taller than those grown under unshaded conditions. Interaction between light quality and genotype did not affect plant height. We found six QTLs affecting plant height. Three significantly interacted with light quality among which the well-known Rht1 gene introgressed in elite germplasm during the Green Revolution. Interestingly at three loci, short genotypes systematically expressed reduced SAS, suggesting a positive genetic correlation between plant height and plant height plasticity. Overall, our study sheds light on the evolutionary history of crops and illustrates the relevance of genetic approaches to tackle agricultural challenges.