Multi-environment association study highlights candidate genes for robust agronomic quantitative trait loci in a novel worldwide Capsicum core collection.

Investigating crop diversity through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on core collections helps in deciphering the genetic determinants of complex quantitative traits. Using the G2P-SOL project world collection of 10 038 wild and cultivated Capsicum accessions from 10 major genebanks, we assembled a core collection of 423 accessions representing the known genetic diversity. Since complex traits are often highly dependent upon environmental variables and genotype-by-environment (G × E) interactions, multi-environment GWAS with a 10 195-marker genotypic matrix were conducted on a highly diverse subset of 350 Capsicum annuum accessions, extensively phenotyped in up to six independent trials from five climatically differing countries. Environment-specific and multi-environment quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected for 23 diverse agronomic traits. We identified 97 candidate genes potentially implicated in 53 of the most robust and high-confidence QTLs for fruit flavor, color, size, and shape traits, and for plant productivity, vigor, and earliness traits. Investigating the genetic architecture of agronomic traits in this way will assist the development of genetic markers and pave the way for marker-assisted selection. The G2P-SOL pepper core collection will be available upon request as a unique and universal resource for further exploitation in future gene discovery and marker-assisted breeding efforts by the pepper community.

Functions and Mechanisms of Brassinosteroids in Regulating Crop Agronomic Traits.

Brassinosteroids (BRs) perform crucial functions controlling plant growth and developmental processes, encompassing many agronomic traits in crops. Studies of BR-related genes involved in agronomic traits have suggested that BRs could serve as a potential target for crop breeding. Given the pleiotropic effect of BRs, a systematic understanding of their functions and molecular mechanisms is conducive for application in crop improvement. Here, we summarize the functions and underlying mechanisms by which BRs regulate the several major crop agronomic traits, including plant architecture, grain size, as well as the specific trait of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legume crops. For plant architecture, we discuss the roles of BRs in plant height, branching number, and leaf erectness and propose how progress in these fields may contribute to designing crops with optimal agronomic traits and improved grain yield by accurately modifying BR levels and signaling pathways.

Effects of appropriate low-temperature treatment on the yield and quality of pigmented potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers.

Temperature is one of the important environmental factors affecting plant growth, yield and quality. Moreover, appropriately low temperature is also beneficial for tuber coloration. The red potato variety Jianchuanhong, whose tuber color is susceptible to temperature, and the purple potato variety Huaxinyangyu, whose tuber color is stable, were used as experimental materials and subjected to 20 °C (control check), 15 °C and 10 °C treatments during the whole growth period. The effects of temperature treatment on the phenotype, the expression levels of structural genes related to anthocyanins and the correlations of each indicator were analyzed. The results showed that treatment at 10 °C significantly inhibited the potato plant height, and the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic parameters in the leaves were reduced, and the enzyme activities of SOD and POD were significantly increased, all indicating that the leaves were damaged. Treatment at 10 °C also affected the tuberization of Huaxinyangyu and reduced the tuberization and coloring of Jianchuanhong, while treatment at 15 °C significantly increased the stem diameter, root-to-shoot ratio, yield and content of secondary metabolites, especially anthocyanins. Similarly, the expression of structural genes were enhanced in two pigmented potatoes under low-temperature treatment conditions. In short, proper low temperature can not only increase yield but also enhance secondary metabolites production. Previous studies have not focused on the effects of appropriate low-temperature treatment during the whole growth period of potato on the changes in metabolites during tuber growth and development, these results can provide a theoretical basis and technical guidance for the selection of pigmented potatoes with better nutritional quality planting environment and the formulation of cultivation measures.

Induced genetic diversity through mutagenesis in wheat gene pool and significant use of SCoT markers to underpin key agronomic traits.

BACKGROUND: This research explores the efficacy of mutagenesis, specifically using sodium azide (SA) and hydrazine hydrate (HZ) treatments, to introduce genetic diversity and enhance traits in three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes. The experiment entails subjecting the seeds to different doses of SA and HZ and cultivating them in the field for two consecutive generations: M1 (first generation) and M2 (second generation). We then employed selective breeding techniques with Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers to select traits within the wheat gene pool. Also, the correlation between SCoT markers and specific agronomic traits provides insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying mutagenesis-induced changes in wheat. RESULTS: In the study, eleven genotypes were derived from parent varieties Sids1, Sids12, and Giza 168, and eight mutant genotypes were selected from the M1 generation and further cultivated to establish the M2 generation. The results revealed that various morphological and agronomical characteristics, such as plant height, spikes per plant, spike length, spikelet per spike, grains per spikelet, and 100-grain weight, showed increases in different genotypes from M1 to M2. SCoT markers were employed to assess genetic diversity among the eleven genotypes. The bioinformatics analysis identified a correlation between SCoT markers and the transcription factors ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3) and VIVIPAROUS1 (VP1), crucial for plant development, growth, and stress adaptation. A comprehensive examination of genetic distance and the function identification of gene-associated SCoT markers may provide valuable insights into the mechanisms by which SA and HZ act as mutagens, enhancing wheat agronomic qualities. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the effective use of SA and HZ treatments to induce gene diversity through mutagenesis in the wheat gene pool, resulting in the enhancement of agronomic traits, as revealed by SCoT markers. The significant improvements in morphological and agronomical characteristics highlight the potential of mutagenesis techniques for crop improvement. These findings offer valuable information for breeders to develop effective breeding programs to enhance wheat quality and resilience through increased genetic diversity.

Chromosome-level reference genome and resequencing of 322 accessions reveal evolution, genomic imprint and key agronomic traits in adzuki bean.

Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) is an important legume crop cultivated in over 30 countries worldwide. We developed a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome of adzuki bean cultivar Jingnong6 by combining PacBio Sequel long-read sequencing with short-read and Hi-C technologies. The assembled genome covers 97.8% of the adzuki bean genome with a contig N50 of approximately 16 Mb and a total of 32 738 protein-coding genes. We also generated a comprehensive genome variation map of adzuki bean by whole-genome resequencing (WGRS) of 322 diverse adzuki beans accessions including both wild and cultivated. Furthermore, we have conducted comparative genomics and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on key agricultural traits to investigate the evolution and domestication. GWAS identified several candidate genes, including VaCycA3;1, VaHB15, VaANR1 and VaBm, that exhibited significant associations with domestication traits. Furthermore, we conducted functional analyses on the roles of VaANR1 and VaBm in regulating seed coat colour. We provided evidence for the highest genetic diversity of wild adzuki (Vigna angularis var. nipponensis) in China with the presence of the most original wild adzuki bean, and the occurrence of domestication process facilitating transition from wild to cultigen. The present study elucidates the genetic basis of adzuki bean domestication traits and provides crucial genomic resources to support future breeding efforts in adzuki bean.

Advancements in multi-omics for nutraceutical enhancement and traits improvement in buckwheat.

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum spp.) is a typical pseudocereal, valued for its extensive nutraceutical potential as well as its centuries-old cultivation. Tartary buckwheat and common buckwheat have been used globally and become well-known nutritious foods due to their high quantities of: proteins, flavonoids, and minerals. Moreover, its increasing demand makes it critical to improve nutraceutical, traits and yield. In this review, bioactive compounds accumulated in buckwheat were comprehensively evaluated according to their chemical structure, properties, and physiological function. Biosynthetic pathways of flavonoids, phenolic acids, and fagopyrin were methodically summarized, with the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis. Although there are classic synthesis pathways presented in the previous research, the metabolic flow of how these certain compounds are being synthesized in buckwheat still remains uncovered. The functional genes involved in the biosynthesis of flavonols, stress response, and plant development were identified based on multi-omics research. Furthermore, it delves into the applications of multi-omics in improving buckwheat's agronomic traits, including: yield, nutritional content, stress resilience, and bioactive compounds biosynthesis. While pangenomics combined with other omics to mine elite genes, the regulatory network and mechanism of specific agronomic traits and biosynthetic of bioactive components, and developing a more efficient genetic transformation system for genetic engineering require further investigation for the execution of breeding designs aimed at enhancing desirable traits in buckwheat. This critical review will provide a comprehensive understanding of multi-omics for nutraceutical enhancement and traits improvement in buckwheat.

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum spp.) is considered as promising and sustainable nutrient crop for abundant flavonoids, phenolic acids and fagopyrum production with impressive biosynthetic capacity.The chemical structure, properties, physiological function, and biosynthesis pathways of these bioactive components are summarized.The comprehensive information of multi-omics including genome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolism for buckwheat nutraceutical traits improvement has been concluded.The pangenomics combined with other omics to mine elite genes, and regulatory network and mechanism of specific agronomic traits and biosynthetic of bioactive components are explored.

Genetic diversity of grain yield traits and identification of a grain weight gene SiTGW6 in foxtail millet.

KEY MESSAGE: Agronomic traits were evaluated in 1250 foxtail millet accessions, and a crucial gene SiTGW6 governing grain yield was identified. Elite haplotypes and dCAPS markers developed for SiTGW6 facilitate molecular breeding. A comprehensive evaluation of phenotypic characteristics and genetic diversity in germplasm resources are important for gene discovery and breeding improvements. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of 1250 foxtail millet varieties, assessing seven grain yield-related traits and fourteen common agronomic traits over two years. Principal component analysis, correlation analysis, and cluster analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between 1000-grain weight and grain width with grain yield, emphasizing their importance in foxtail millet breeding. Additionally, we found that panicle weight positively correlated with 1000-grain weight but negatively correlated with branch and tiller numbers, indicating selection factors during domestication and breeding. Using this information, we identified 27 germplasm resources suitable for high-yield foxtail millet breeding. Furthermore, through an integration of haplotype variations and phenotype association analysis, we pinpointed a crucial gene, SiTGW6, responsible for governing grain yield in foxtail millet. SiTGW6 encodes an IAA-glucose hydrolase, primarily localized in the cytoplasm and predominantly expressed in flowering panicles. Employing RNAseq analysis, we identified 1439 differentially expressed genes across various SiTGW6 haplotypes. Functional enrichment analysis indicating that SiTGW6 regulates grain yield through the orchestration of auxin and glucan metabolism, as well as plant hormone signaling pathways. Additionally, we have identified elite haplotypes and developed dCAPS markers for SiTGW6, providing valuable technical tools to facilitate molecular breeding efforts in foxtail millet.

StCoExpNet: a global co-expression network analysis facilitates identifying genes underlying agronomic traits in potatoes.

KEY MESSAGE: We constructed a gene expression atlas and co-expression network for potatoes and identified several novel genes associated with various agronomic traits. This resource will accelerate potato genetics and genomics research. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the world's most crucial non-cereal food crop and ranks third in food production after wheat and rice. Despite the availability of several potato transcriptome datasets at public databases like NCBI SRA, an effort has yet to be put into developing a global transcriptome atlas and a co-expression network for potatoes. The objectives of our study were to construct a global expression atlas for potatoes using publicly available transcriptome datasets, identify housekeeping and tissue-specific genes, construct a global co-expression network and identify co-expression clusters, investigate the transcriptional complexity of genes involved in various essential biological processes related to agronomic traits, and provide a web server (StCoExpNet) to easily access the newly constructed expression atlas and co-expression network to investigate the expression and co-expression of genes of interest. In this study, we used data from 2299 publicly available potato transcriptome samples obtained from 15 different tissues to construct a global transcriptome atlas. We found that roughly 87% of the annotated genes exhibited detectable expression in at least one sample. Among these, we identified 281 genes with consistent and stable expression levels, indicating their role as housekeeping genes. Conversely, 308 genes exhibited marked tissue-specific expression patterns. We exemplarily linked some co-expression clusters to important agronomic traits of potatoes, such as self-incompatibility, anthocyanin biosynthesis, tuberization, and defense responses against multiple pathogens. The dataset compiled here constitutes a new resource (StCoExpNet), which can be accessed at https://stcoexpnet.julius-kuehn.de . This transcriptome atlas and the co-expression network will accelerate potato genetics and genomics research.

Advancements and Prospects of Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) in Maize.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have emerged as a powerful tool for unraveling intricate genotype-phenotype association across various species. Maize (Zea mays L.), renowned for its extensive genetic diversity and rapid linkage disequilibrium (LD), stands as an exemplary candidate for GWAS. In maize, GWAS has made significant advancements by pinpointing numerous genetic loci and potential genes associated with complex traits, including responses to both abiotic and biotic stress. These discoveries hold the promise of enhancing adaptability and yield through effective breeding strategies. Nevertheless, the impact of environmental stress on crop growth and yield is evident in various agronomic traits. Therefore, understanding the complex genetic basis of these traits becomes paramount. This review delves into current and future prospectives aimed at yield, quality, and environmental stress resilience in maize and also addresses the challenges encountered during genomic selection and molecular breeding, all facilitated by the utilization of GWAS. Furthermore, the integration of omics, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, epigenomics, and phenomics has enriched our understanding of intricate traits in maize, thereby enhancing environmental stress tolerance and boosting maize production. Collectively, these insights not only advance our understanding of the genetic mechanism regulating complex traits but also propel the utilization of marker-assisted selection in maize molecular breeding programs, where GWAS plays a pivotal role. Therefore, GWAS provides robust support for delving into the genetic mechanism underlying complex traits in maize and enhancing breeding strategies.

Association between Reactive Oxygen Species, Transcription Factors, and Candidate Genes in Drought-Resistant Sorghum.

Drought stress is one of the most severe natural disasters in terms of its frequency, length, impact intensity, and associated losses, making it a significant threat to agricultural productivity. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), a C4 plant, shows a wide range of morphological, physiological, and biochemical adaptations in response to drought stress, paving the way for it to endure harsh environments. In arid environments, sorghum exhibits enhanced water uptake and reduced dissipation through its morphological activity, allowing it to withstand drought stress. Sorghum exhibits physiological and biochemical resistance to drought, primarily by adjusting its osmotic potential, scavenging reactive oxygen species, and changing the activities of its antioxidant enzymes. In addition, certain sorghum genes exhibit downregulation capabilities in response to drought stress. Therefore, in the current review, we explore drought tolerance in sorghum, encompassing its morphological characteristics and physiological mechanisms and the identification and selection of its functional genes. The use of modern biotechnological and molecular biological approaches to improving sorghum resistance is critical for selecting and breeding drought-tolerant sorghum varieties.

[Genetic diversity of SP1 population of space mutagenized Pueraria montana].

To explore the mutagenic effect of the space environment on Pueraria montana and select the elite germplasm with good growth conditions and high isoflavone content, this study observed the agronomic traits, determined the flower isoflavone content, and labeled amplified fragment length polymorphism(AFLP) fluorescent molecular markers of 79 P. montana plants exposed to space mutagenesis(SP1 group) and 10 control plants of P. montana(CK group). Excel 2019, SPSS 25.0, NTSYSpc-2.11F, and Popgen 32 were employed to analyze the genetic diversity and perform the cluster analysis. The results showed that the SP1 group presented changed leaf hairy attitude and flower structure and higher CV and H' of quantitative traits than the CK group. The cluster analysis screened out five plants in the SP1 group. Ten P. montana plants in the SP1 group had higher content of 6″-O-xylosyl-tectoridin and tectoridin in the flowers than the control group, with the total content of both exceeding 11%. After clustering, 9 plants in the SP1 group were separated. Nine pairs of polymorphic primers were screened out frrom 64 pairs of primers. A total of 1 620 polymorphic loci were detected, with the average percentage of polymorphic loci(PPL) of 83.33%. The average Nei's gene diversity index(H) and Shannon's information index(I) were 0.192 2 and 0.305 2, respectively. After clustering, 4 plants in the SP1 group were screened out. According to the above results, plants No. 30, No. 66, and No. 89 in the SP1 group were subjected to greater mutagenic effect by the space environment and presented better growth and higher flower isoflavone content. Moreover, plant No. 30 showed the flower structure variation and flower weight two times of that in the CK group. These plants can be used as key materials for the subsequent experiments.

Whole-Genome Resequencing of Worldwide Wild and Domestic Sheep Elucidates Genetic Diversity, Introgression, and Agronomically Important Loci.

Domestic sheep and their wild relatives harbor substantial genetic variants that can form the backbone of molecular breeding, but their genome landscapes remain understudied. Here, we present a comprehensive genome resource for wild ovine species, landraces and improved breeds of domestic sheep, comprising high-coverage (∼16.10×) whole genomes of 810 samples from 7 wild species and 158 diverse domestic populations. We detected, in total, ∼121.2 million single nucleotide polymorphisms, ∼61 million of which are novel. Some display significant (P < 0.001) differences in frequency between wild and domestic species, or are private to continent-wide or individual sheep populations. Retained or introgressed wild gene variants in domestic populations have contributed to local adaptation, such as the variation in the HBB associated with plateau adaptation. We identified novel and previously reported targets of selection on morphological and agronomic traits such as stature, horn, tail configuration, and wool fineness. We explored the genetic basis of wool fineness and unveiled a novel mutation (chr25: T7,068,586C) in the 3'-UTR of IRF2BP2 as plausible causal variant for fleece fiber diameter. We reconstructed prehistorical migrations from the Near Eastern domestication center to South-and-Southeast Asia and found two main waves of migrations across the Eurasian Steppe and the Iranian Plateau in the Early and Late Bronze Ages. Our findings refine our understanding of genome variation as shaped by continental migrations, introgression, adaptation, and selection of sheep.

Mapping QTLs for Super-Earliness and Agro-Morphological Traits in RILs Population Derived from Interspecific Crosses between Pisum sativum × P. fulvum.

Earliness in crop plants has a vital role in prevention of heat-induced drought stress and in combating global warming, which is predicted to exacerbate in the near future. Furthermore, earliness may expand production into northern areas or higher altitudes, having relatively shorter growing season and may also expand arable lands to meet global food demands. The primary objective of the present study was to investigate quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for super-earliness and important agro-morphological traits in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from an interspecific cross. A population of 114 RILs developed through single-seed descent from an interspecific cross involving Pisum sativum L. and P. fulvum Sibth. et Sm. was evaluated to identify QTLs for super-earliness and important agro-morphological traits. A genetic map was constructed with 44 SSRs markers representing seven chromosomes with a total length of 262.6 cM. Of the 14 QTLs identified, two were for super-earliness on LG2, one for plant height on LG3, six for number of pods per plant on LG2, LG4, LG5 and LG6, one for number of seeds per pod on LG6, one for pod length on LG4 and three for harvest index on LG3, LG5, and LG6. AA205 and AA372-1 flanking markers for super-earliness QTLs were suggested for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in pea breeding programs due to high heritability of the trait. This is the first study to map QTLs originating from P. sativum and P. fulvum recently identified species with super-earliness character and the markers (AA205 and AA372-1) linked to QTLs were valuable molecular tools for pea breeding.

Recent advances and future perspectives in early-maturing cotton research.

Cotton's fundamental requirements for long periods of growth and specific seasonal temperatures limit the global arable areas that can be utilized to cultivate cotton. This constraint can be alleviated by breeding for early-maturing varieties. By delaying the sowing dates without impacting the boll-opening time, early-maturing varieties not only mitigate the yield losses brought on by unfavorable weathers in early spring and late autumn but also help reducing the competition between cotton and other crops for arable land, thereby optimizing the cropping system. This review presents studies and breeding efforts for early-maturing cotton, which efficiently pyramid early maturity, high-quality, multiresistance traits, and suitable plant architecture by leveraging pleiotropic genes. Attempts are also made to summarize our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying early maturation, which involves many pathways such as epigenetic, circadian clock, and hormone signaling pathways. Moreover, new avenues and effective measures are proposed for fine-scale breeding of early-maturing crops to ensure the healthy development of the agricultural industry.

Genome-wide association study reveals genomic loci influencing agronomic traits in Ethiopian sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) landraces.

Uncovering the genetic basis of agronomic traits in sorghum landraces that have adapted to various agro-climatic conditions would contribute to sorghum improvement efforts around the world. To identify quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) associated with nine agronomic traits in a panel of 304 sorghum accessions collected from diverse environments across Ethiopia (considered to be the center of origin and diversity), multi-locus genome-wide association studies (ML-GWAS) were performed using 79,754 high quality single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Association analyses using six ML-GWAS models identified a set of 338 significantly (LOD ≥ 3)-associated QTNs for nine agronomic traits of sorghum accessions evaluated in two environments (E1 and E2) and their combined dataset (Em). Of these, 121 reliable QTNs, including 13 for flowering time (DF), 13 for plant height (PH), 9 for tiller number (TN), 15 for panicle weight (PWT), 30 for grain yield per panicle (GYP), 12 for structural panicle mass (SPM), 13 for hundred seed weight (HSW), 6 for grain number per panicle (GNP), and 10 for panicle exertion (PE) were consistently detected by at least three ML-GWAS methods and/or in two different environments. Notably, Ethylene responsive transcription factor gene AP2/ERF, known for regulation of plant growth, and the sorghum Terminal flower1/TF1 gene, which functions in the control of floral architecture, were identified as strong candidate genes associated with PH and HSW, respectively. This study provides an entry point for further validation studies to elucidate complex mechanisms controlling important agronomic traits in sorghum. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-023-01381-5.

Effect of Soil Drought Stress on Selected Biochemical Parameters and Yield of Oat × Maize Addition (OMA) Lines.

Plant growth and the process of yield formation in crops are moderated by surrounding conditions, as well as the interaction of the genetic background of plants and the environment. In the last two decades, significant climatic changes have been observed, generating unfavorable and harmful impacts on plant development. Drought stress can be considered one of the most dangerous environmental factors affecting the life cycle of plants, reducing biomass production and, finally, the yield. Plants can respond to water deficit in a wide range, which depends on the species, genetic variability within the species, the plant's ontogenesis stage, the intensity of the stress, and other potential stress factors. In plants, it is possible to observe hybrids between different taxa that certain traits adopted to tolerate stress conditions better than the parent plants. Oat × maize addition (OMA) plants are good examples of hybrids generated via wide crossing. They can exhibit morphological, physiological, and biochemical variations implemented by the occurrence of extra chromosomes of maize, as well as the interaction of maize and oat chromatin. The initial goal of the study was to identify OMA lines among plants produced by wide crossing with maize. The main goal was to investigate differences in OMA lines according to the Excised Leaf Water Loss (ELWL) test and to identify specific biochemical changes and agronomic traits under optimal water conditions and soil drought. Additionally, detection of any potential alterations that are stable in F2 and F3 generations. The aforementioned outcomes were the basis for the selection of OMA lines that tolerate growth in an environment with limited water availability. The molecular analysis indicated 12.5% OMA lines among all tested descendants of wide oat-maize crossing. The OMA lines significantly differ according to ELWL test results, which implies some anatomical and physiological adaptation to water loss from tissues. On the first day of drought, plants possessed 34% more soluble sugars compared to control plants. On the fourteen day of drought, the amount of soluble sugars was reduced by 41.2%. A significant increase of phenolic compounds was observed in the fourteen day of drought, an average of 6%, even up to 57% in line 9. Soil drought substantially reduced stem biomass, grains number, and mass per plant. Lower water loss revealed by results of the ELWL test correlated with the high yield of OMA lines. Phenolic compound content might be used as a biochemical indicator of plant drought tolerance since there was a significant correlation with the high yield of plants subjected to soil drought.

Screening and Identification of Garlic Leaf Blight (Pleospora herbarum)-Resistant Mutants Induced by Ethyl Methane Sulphonate.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a popular condiment used as both medicine and food. Garlic production in China is severely affected by continuous cropping and is especially affected by leaf blight disease. Garlic is sterile, so it is very important to develop specialized genotypes, such as those for disease resistance, nutritional quality, and plant architecture, through genetic modification and innovation. In this experiment, we applied the induction method using EMS to mutate garlic cloves of cultivar G024. From the mutations, 5000 M0 mutants were generated and planted in the field. Then, 199 M1 mutant lines were screened according to growth potential and resistance to leaf blight. From M2 to M3, 169 generational lines were selected that grew well and were resistant to leaf blight in the field. Thereafter, their resistance to leaf blight was further analyzed in the lab; 21 lines resistant to leaf blight that had good growth potential were identified, among which 3 mutants were significantly different, and these were further screened. Also, transcriptome analysis of two mutants infected with Pleospora herbarum, A150 and G024, was performed, and the results revealed 2026 and 4678 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively. These DEGs were highly enriched in hormone signaling pathway, plant-pathogen interaction, and MAPK signaling pathway. Therefore, the results provide a theoretical and technical basis for the creation of garlic germplasm resistant to leaf blight.

The biological functions of peptide signaling in plant and the advances on its utilization for crop improvement.

As the important signaling molecules in plants, peptides at femtomolar levels are recognized and bound by the corresponding plasma membrane-localized receptor-like kinases. This triggers the peptide-receptor-mediated intercellular signal transduction for regulation of the stem cell growth and proliferation, modulation of the development of plant organs (such as roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits) as well as coordinating plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. With the advancement of in-depth research, an increasing number of studies have revealed the crucial role of peptides in regulating agronomic traits of various crops, including rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), potato (Solanum tuberosum) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). These findings suggest the great potentials of utilizing the peptide signaling for genetic improvement of crops. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the biological function and molecular mechanism of peptide-receptor signaling in plants, and highlight the advances in research of peptides in regulating crop yield, quality and resistance. Then, we discuss the strategies for the application of peptide signaling in crop improvement. Finally, we point out some future directions for peptide research in plant.

[Comparison of growth and quality of wild and cultivated Artemisia stolonifera].

This paper aims to compare the difference of growth and quality between wild and cultivated Artemisia stolonifera, thereby providing references for further development and utilization of A. stolonifera. The wild and cultivated A. stolonifera from different altitudes were collected, and the agronomic characters, moxa yield, volatile components, flavonoids, and phenolic acids were determined. The results showed that the cultivated species were taller and stronger, with more leaves and branches, than the wild species. The moxa yield and combustion quality of wild products were higher than those of cultivated products. The content of main volatile components in cultivated products was higher than that in wild products. The content of flavonoids and phenolic acids in wild products was higher than that in cultivated products. At high altitude, the ignition performance, combustion persistence, comprehensive combustion performance, and heat release during combustion of the wild and cultivated A. stolonifera. were optimal. At middle altitude, the content of main characteristic volatile components and flavone phenolic acids in the leaves of the cultivated and wild A. stolonifera were the highest. At low altitude, the combustion quality and the content of the above components of the cultivated A. stolonifera decrease significantly. Considering the combustion quality and the content of the internal components of the leaf lint, the middle and high altitude areas are suitable for the artificial cultivation of A. stolonifera.

A SNP-based genetic dissection of versatile traits in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

The continuous increase in global population prompts increased wheat production. Future wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding will heavily rely on dissecting molecular and genetic bases of wheat yield and related traits which is possible through the discovery of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in constructed populations, such as recombinant inbred lines (RILs). Here, we present an evaluation of 92 RILs in a bi-parental RIL mapping population (the International Triticeae Mapping Initiative Mapping Population [ITMI/MP]) using newly generated phenotypic data in 3-year experiments (2015), older phenotypic data (1997-2009), and newly created single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker data based on 92 of the original RILs to search for novel and stable QTLs. Our analyses of more than 15 unique traits observed in multiple experiments included analyses of 46 traits in three environments in the USA, 69 traits in eight environments in Germany, 149 traits in 10 environments in Russia, and 28 traits in four environments in India (292 traits in 25 environments) with 7584 SNPs (292 × 7584 = 2 214 528 data points). A total of 874 QTLs were detected with limit of detection (LOD) scores of 2.01-3.0 and 432 QTLs were detected with LOD > 3.0. Moreover, 769 QTLs could be assigned to 183 clusters based on the common markers and relative proximity of related QTLs, indicating gene-rich regions throughout the A, B, and D genomes of common wheat. This upgraded genotype-phenotype information of ITMI/MP can assist breeders and geneticists who can make crosses with suitable RILs to improve or investigate traits of interest.