Analysis Of Traits Research Articles

Breed differentiation in northern Ethiopian cattle: The application of univariate and multivariate analyses of phenotypic traits.

The aim of this study was to characterize and differentiate the Adwa, Arado, Medenes, and Begait cattle breeds in northern Ethiopia via univariate and multivariate analyses of phenotypic traits. Sixteen qualitative characteristics and nine morphometric traits were recorded for a total of 946 (604 females and 342 males) purposively selected adult cattle. The frequency, general linear model (GLM), and canonical discriminant (CANDISC) analysis procedures of the Statistical Analysis Software (SAS 9.0) were used to analyze the data. Qualitatively, Medenes and Begait, cattle breeds from lowland agroecology and livestock-based production systems, possess a convex facial profile, relatively larger dewlap, naval flap, and perpetual sheath, as well as more uniform and lighter body colors than the Adwa and Arado cattle breeds, which are from the midland agroecology and mixed crop-livestock production systems. Morphometrically, clear differences were observed among all of the studied cattle breeds, where the Begait, Medenes, Arado, and Adwa cattle breeds were ordered in descending order according to their overall body size. Moreover, multivariate analysis revealed significant differences among the breeds where each breed was placed under a separate group. However, such phenotypic distinctions among the four cattle breeds do not necessarily indicate genetic dissimilarities. Therefore, further inclusive genetic characterization studies involving the use of representative samples from the Adwa and Medenes cattle breeds are recommended to quantify the degree of genetic relationships among these breeds. Moreover, owing to the unknown breed-level population size, urgent conservation programs as well as genetic improvement strategies are needed to ensure sustainable utilization.

Genetic basis analysis and genome prediction of swimming performance traits in juvenile spotted sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus)

The swimming performance of fish is crucial for their survival, playing a significant role in enhancing disease resistance and facilitating stress recovery, particularly in aquaculture fish. Understanding the genetic basis of fish swimming performance is essential for its integration as a key trait in selection breeding programs, especially for deeper offshore aquaculture. Spotted sea bass, an economically important aquaculture fish species in China, exhibits euryhaline and eurythermic characteristics and has demonstrated substantial potential for deep-sea aquaculture. Therefore, in our study, the absolute critical swimming speed (a.Ucrit) of juvenile spotted sea bass were assessed, ranging form 24.50 cm s−1 to 65.00 cm s−1, and this range enabled the identification of individuals with superior and inferior swimming abilities within the test population. Based on whole-genome resequencing, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were conducted for three phenotypes of swimming performance, identifying 25 associated SNPs and 85 candidate genes, indicating that it is a polygenetic trait influenced by multiple biological processes. The heritability estimates for a.Ucrit and relative critical swimming speed (r.Ucrit) were 0.21 ± 0.08 and 0.22 ± 0.08, respectively. Furthermore, the impact of various genomic selection (GS) models and SNP densities on prediction accuracy of swimming performance was evaluated using genomic prediction (GP). The SVM model is recommended for continuous trait prediction of swimming performance, especially when SNP densities ranges between 500 and 50 K, as it provides more accurate, efficient and stable predictions. Our research further enhances the understanding of the genetic basis of fish swimming performance and holds promise for improving productivity in deep-sea aquaculture through genomic selection.

Association Analysis of Yield-Related Traits in Rice Following the Introduction of Brown Planthopper Resistant Genes

Association Analysis of Yield-Related Traits in Rice Following the Introduction of Brown Planthopper Resistant Genes

A comparative analysis of economic traits between purebred and synthesized sheep breeds in dry and harsh environments of Iran

The present study aimed to compare economic traits of Baluchi as an indigenous purebred and Iran-Black and Arman as synthesized breeds of sheep in Iran. Data of Baluchi, Iran-Black and Arman were collected from the Abbas Abad Breeding Station located in Mashhad, Iran. The studied pre-weaning traits included birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and survival from birth to weaning (SU). The studied reproductive traits included litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), total litter weight at birth (TLWB), and total litter weight at weaning (TLWW). Data was analyzed using the generalized linear model (GLM) procedure in SAS software. The least square means were compared using a Tukey test at a significance level of 0.05. The least square means for BW were 3.87, 3.71 and 3.75kg, for WW were 20.06, 20.86 and 20.98kg, and for SU were 88.26, 82.94 and 90.26 percent in Baluchi, Iran-Black and Arman sheep, respectively. The least square means for LSB and LSW were 1.31, 1.59, 1.57 lambs born per ewe and 1.17, 1.31, 1.42 lambs weaned per ewe for Baluchi, Iran-Black and Arman sheep, respectively. The least square means for TLWB in purebred and synthetic breeds differed significantly, with values of 5.66kg, 6.25kg, and 6.31kg for Baluchi, Iran-Black and Arman sheep, respectively. Furthermore, the least square means for TLWW was 28.94kg, 32.16kg and 33.67kg per ewe in Baluchi, Iran-Black and Arman sheep, respectively. The results obtained in this study indicated that TLWW in Iran-Black and Arman ewes increased by approximately 11.13% and 16.34% compared to Baluchi ewes, respectively. It can be concluded that crossbreeding Baluchi sheep with foreign breeds to create synthetic breeds has had a positive impact on the efficiency of the sheep industry in Iran.

Quantitative Trait Loci Analysis of Leaf Size Traits Using the Recombinant Inbred Lines Derived from a Cross between ‘Odae’ and ‘Unbong40’

Quantitative Trait Loci Analysis of Leaf Size Traits Using the Recombinant Inbred Lines Derived from a Cross between ‘Odae’ and ‘Unbong40’

Genetic improvement of important agronomic traits in Chinese wheat breeding over the past 70 years

BackgroundUnderstanding the genetic improvement patterns of agronomic traits in Chinese wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding is essential for devising future breeding strategies. However, a systematic analysis of the genetic improvement of important traits in Chinese wheat is lacking. This study aimed to provide insights into the improvement progress of yield-related traits in the Chinese wheat breeding process and clarify the selection pressure on important agronomic traits in different agroecological zones. Phenotypic evaluations of 481 wheat accessions including 157 Chinese landraces (CLs) and 324 modern Chinese cultivars (MCCs), were carried out in multiple locations and years.ResultsThe population structure analyses showed that all accessions could be basically divided into CLs and MCCs subpopulations. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the negative correlation between grain number per spike and thousand-grain weight gradually decreased while thousand-grain weight, grain number per spike, and effective tiller number exhibited synergistic improvements during the modern breeding process. Phenotypic differences among MCCs released from the 1950s to the 2000s indicated that grain number per spike and grain weight-related traits increased linearly, whereas plant height and effective tiller number decreased significantly. Furthermore, since the 1950s, the heading date, flowering date, and maturity date have become earlier, while the spike length and spikelet number per spike have not changed significantly with the advancement of breeding years. The annual genetic gain analysis of agronomic traits showed that plant height had the greatest increase (‒0.96%), followed by thousand-grain weight (0.38%), while the lowest for grain number per spike (0.13%). Phenotypic difference analysis of CLs and MCCs with different geographical origins further revealed that heading date, flowering date, plant height, thousand-grain weight, grain width, and grain thickness experienced strong selection with the same trend in seven agroecological zones. Among zones, the northern winter wheat zone experienced the strongest selection pressure, and plant height and thousand-grain weight were strongly selected in all zones.ConclusionsThis study reveals that CLs and MCCs in China with obvious phenotypic differences, plant height and thousand-grain weight were strongly selected during wheat breeding, and further improvement of wheat in China will inevitably involve a continuous increase in grain number per spike.

Genetic analysis of grain yield and related traits of extra-early orange maize inbred lines and their hybrids under drought and rain-fed conditions

Genetic analysis of grain yield and related traits of extra-early orange maize inbred lines and their hybrids under drought and rain-fed conditions

Multivariate analysis for agronomic, physiological, macro, and micronutrient traits of exotic vegetable amaranth genotypes

The genus amaranth is comprised of 60–70 species. This climate hardy plant is grown as a vegetable as well as cereal crop in many areas of the world. Current study multivariate analysis was used to characterize the exotic vegetable amaranth genotypes. The experiment was conducted in the research area of Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan under RCBD design with three replications of 50 exotic amaranth genotype. 22 different variables were investigated for the principal component and cluster analysis using different software packages in R studio. According to the results of principal component analysis the first five PCs had eigenvalues greater than one and they explained the 84.59% diversity in exotic vegetable amaranth accessions. First two principal components explained 57.31% of variation. Traits that loaded highly for first PC include moisture (-0.892), carbohydrates (0.938), energy (0.920), stomatal conductance (0.803), net photosynthesis (0.795) and dry weight (0.770). The traits which impacted the second PC highly include protein (0.692), fat (-0.571), nitrogen (0.692), calcium (0.545), phosphorus (0.908), zinc (0.960), iron (0.826) and potassium (0.872). For future breeding program the selection based on these results will be effective for crop enhancement drive in exotic vegetable amaranth genotypes. Hierarchical clustering was done and dendrogram split the 50 genotypes into 5 groups using silhouette method. The pairwise clustering revealed that intra cluster distance is smaller than inter cluster distance. The maximum inter cluster distance was observed between cluster I and II (9.88); between cluster I and III (9.47); between cluster II and IV (9.27).Clinical trial number Clinical trial number not applicable.

Comparative Analysis of the Morphological Traits of Cucumis melo Seed Remains Discovered in the Graveyard of the Haihun Marquis in Nanchang and Modern C. melo Seeds Using Scanning Electron Microscopy.

The graveyard of the Haihun Marquis in Nanchang is the largest and best-preserved Han Dynasty mausoleum discovered in China. Within the tomb's beam bank (M1), archaeologists have uncovered a variety of plant remains, such as melon seeds, the traits and origins of which warrant timely investigation. Cucumis melo L. has a long history of being cultivated and consumed in China. In this study, macroscopic identification techniques, scanning electron microscopy, and cluster analyses of the seeds of ancient C. melo and 16 varieties of modern melons (9 with thick skin, 6 with thin skin, and 1 thick/thin-skinned hybrid) were performed to compare their morphological trait indexes and seed coat ultrastructures. Through the measurement of various morphological parameters (length, width, upper one-third width, lower one-third width, thickness, and surface area) of each type of melon seed and subsequent cluster analysis of the morphological data, the ancient melon was determined to belong to the same cluster as the C. melo varieties "Lvbao", "Huangpi", "Boyang No. 9", "Malianzhuang", "Yangjiaomi", and "Zhimami", exhibiting the closest affinity to the thin-skinned types, particularly "Huangpi", "Malianzhuang", and "Zhimami". Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the epidermal ultrastructure revealed that the reticulated morphology of the seed coat of the ancient melon closely resembled that of the thin-skinned melon. Consequently, we hypothesize that the melon seeds excavated from the graveyard of the Haihun Marquis belong to the thin-skinned type of melon.

The determination of the mechanical, optoelectronic, structural and transport attributes of double perovskite A2InGaBr6 (A=K, Rb, Cs) halides for renewable energies: A DFT study.

Safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives to lead-based perovskites include lead-free halide perovskites, which retain good optoelectronic capabilities while reducing environmental toxicity. They also align better with ecological and regulatory standards for green technologies. In this manuscript, we have presented the first principles analysis of the physical traits of A2InGaBr6 (A=K, Rb, Cs). The exchange-correlation effects are treated with mBJ potential. The structural characteristic of A2InGaBr6 (A=K, Rb, Cs) was assessed through the volume optimization curves, formation energies and tolerance factor. The elastic properties of the studied halides are analyzed through elastic constants. The electronic band structures revealed indirect bandgaps for K2InGaBr6, Rb2InGaBr6, and Cs2InGaBr6. The optical properties indicate promising potential in the fabrication of optoelectronic devices for A2InGaBr6 (A=K, Rb, Cs). The transport properties for the studied halides are computed using the BoltzTraP code, which reveals that these halides are promising candidates for thermoelectricity.

The Characterization of the Morphological and Molecular Traits of Phaseolus coccineus in the Aniene Valley: Insights into Genetic Diversity and Adaptation

This study aimed to characterize the genetic diversity and morphological traits of 32 populations of Phaseolus coccineus collected from the Aniene Valley. Quantitative seed trait analyses revealed that Mandolone accessions exhibited significantly higher seed weights and dimensions compared to Fagiolone accessions. Specifically, Mandolone accessions showed an average weight of 189.48 g per 100 seeds, with seed heights and lengths averaging 14.38 mm and 23.84 mm, respectively. In contrast, Fagiolone accessions had an average seed weight of 174.13 g, with seed heights and lengths of 13.95 mm and 22.58 mm, respectively. Molecular analysis, conducted using 9 polymorphic SSR loci, identified 53 alleles across 320 genotypes, with a mean expected heterozygosity (He) of 0.695. This indicated that there was high genetic variability within the Aniene Valley populations. The genetic diversity analysis revealed two genetic clusters corresponding to the Mandolone and Fagiolone landraces. This was supported by UPGMA, PCoA, and STRUCTURE analyses. This study highlights the need to conserve the genetic diversity within these landraces and provides a basis for the development of conservation strategies for P. coccineus germplasms in the singular ecological context of the Aniene Valley.

Enhancing Fruit Retention and Juice Quality in ‘Kinnow’ (Citrus reticulata) Through the Combined Foliar Application of Potassium, Zinc, and Plant Growth Regulators

Improving fruit quality and reducing pre-harvest fruit drop are critical goals for Citrus reticulata production in Pakistan, where climatic and nutritional challenges affect yield and juice quality. This study evaluated the combined effects of plant growth regulators (salicylic acid and indole acetic acid) and nutrients (potassium and zinc) on fruit drop and juice volume in Citrus reticulata L. Field trials were conducted at three locations in Punjab, Pakistan (Layyah, Faisalabad, and Sargodha) using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five replications per treatment. Nutrients (K and Zn at 100 mg/L each) and growth regulators (SA at 100 mg/L and IAA at 5 mg/L) were applied individually or in combination at three growth stages. Statistical analyses, including PCA, ANOVA, and GGE biplot, were used to identify the most effective treatments for improving fruit juice quality and reducing fruit drop. The combined foliar application of SA + K + Zn was the most effective across all parameters, except fruit drop, juice citric acid contents, and juice pH, which were negatively affected. The highest juice potassium content was observed with K application. The PCA and GGE biplot analysis indicated that the Sargodha orchard performed best, with the SA + K treatment being the most effective there, while SA + K + Zn showed the best results at Layyah and Faisalabad for reducing fruit drop, enhancing juice volume, and improving fruit quality. However, individual fruit, juice, and juice nutrient contents traits analyses revealed that the most significant improvements in fruit and juice quality were observed at the Sargodha site instead of Layyah and Faisalabad. The treatment SA + K + Zn proved to be the most stable and consistent in enhancing citrus fruit and juice quality across all three selected locations. The findings suggest that adopting the SA + K + Zn treatment could be a practical approach for citrus farmers aiming to enhance crop yield and fruit quality, thereby supporting agricultural productivity and export potential in Pakistan.

Sequential introgression of a carotenoid processing gene underlies sexual ornament diversity in a genus of manakins.

In a hybrid zone between two tropical lekking birds, yellow male plumage of one species has introgressed asymmetrically replacing white plumage of another via sexual selection. Here, we present a detailed analysis of the plumage trait to uncover its physical and genetic bases and trace its evolutionary history. We determine that the carotenoid lutein underlies the yellow phenotype and describe microstructural feather features likely to enhance color appearance. These same features reduce predicted water shedding capacity of feathers, a potential liability in the tropics. Through genome-scale DNA sequencing of hybrids and each species in the genus, we identify BCO2 as the major gene responsible for the color polymorphism. The BCO2 gene tree and genome-wide allele frequency patterns suggest that carotenoid-pigmented collars initially arose in a third species and reached the hybrid zone through historical gene flow. Complex interplay between sexual selection and hybridization has thus shaped phenotypes of these species, where conspicuous sexual traits are key to male reproductive success.

Integrative multivariate analysis of agro-chemical and genotypic traits in Indian catmint (Nepeta cataria L.) half-sib populations

This investigation conducted a comprehensive multivariate analysis on thirty half-sib populations of Nepeta cataria L., derived from natural populations based on oil yield. The study addresses the lack of comprehensive data on genetic, phenotypic, and chemical diversity in Nepeta cataria, which is essential for material selection and for conducting effective breeding programs. A substantial amount of phenotypic diversity was observed for all eleven quantitative traits measured in the present study. The phenotypic diversity was assessed using Euclidean distance-based agglomerative hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) which showed more than 50 % diversity existing among the studied populations. These methods delineated the populations into three primary clusters, where herb yield was a key discriminator. The GC and GC/MS-based chemical profiling of these populations identified eleven major phytochemicals. Though, significant variances in the concentrations of various nepetalactone isomers were noted, correlating with the phenotypic clusters, the major differentiation was observed for cis-trans Nepetalactone (73.45%–93.20 %). Three distinct chemical clusters were defined, each characterized by unique chemical signatures. Molecular diversity was evaluated using 21 Start Codon Targeted Polymorphic (SCoT) and 20 CAAT box-derived DNA Polymorphic (CBDP) markers, revealing high levels of polymorphism. Populations were again grouped into three clusters. A correlative Mantel test performed to determine the association between agro-chemical and genotypic traits revealed minimal correlation between them, indicating a complex interplay between genetic makeup and phenotypic traits across these populations. This study underscores the genetic and chemical diversity within Nepeta cataria half-sib populations, providing insights that could influence future breeding and conservation efforts. The distinct clustering based on agronomic, chemical, and genotypic data highlights the potential for targeted selection and breeding programs within this species. Future research should focus on integrating these findings into breeding strategies for enhancing commercial cultivation.

Brain multi-omic Mendelian randomisation to identify novel drug targets for gliomagenesis.

Genetic variants associated with molecular traits that are also associated with liability to glioma can provide causal evidence for the identification and prioritisation of drug targets. We performed comprehensive two-sample Mendelian randomisation (Wald ratio and/or IVW) and colocalisation analyses of molecular traits on glioma. Instrumentable traits (QTLs P < 5×10-8) were identified amongst 11 985 gene expression measures, 13 285 splicing isoforms and 10 198 protein abundance measures, derived from 15 brain regions. Glioma summary-level data was extracted from a genome-wide association meta-analysis of 12 496 cases and 18 190 controls. We found evidence for causal effect of 22 molecular traits (across 18 genes/proteins) on glioma risk. Thirteen molecular traits have been previously linked with glioma risk and five were novel; HBEGF (5q31.3) expression and all glioma [OR 1.36 (95%CI 1.19-1.55); P = 4.41×10-6]; a CEP192 (18p11.21) splice isoform and glioblastoma [OR 4.40 (95%CI 2.28-8.48); P = 9.78×10-4]; a FAIM (3q22.3) splice isoform and all glioma [OR 2.72-3.43; P = 1.03×10-5 to 1.09×10-5]; a SLC8A1 (2p22.1) splice isoform and all glioma [OR 0.37 (95%CI 0.24-0.56; P = 5.72×10-6]; D2HGDH (2q37.3) protein and all glioma [OR 0.86 (95%CI 0.80-0.92); P = 5.94×10-6)]. We provide robust causal evidence for prioritising genes and their protein products in glioma research. Our results highlight the importance of alternative splicing as a mechanism in gliomagenesis and as an avenue for exploration of drug targets.

Genetic Analysis of Key Traits for Sheath Blight Resistance and Yield Improvement in Rice (Oryza sativa)

Rice (Oryza sativa) is a staple crop for more than half of the global population, with significant production in India. However, rice production suffers yield losses of 25-30% due to diseases, particularly sheath blight (ShB), caused by Rhizoctonia solani. This study evaluated genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance in ShB resistance and yield-related traits in 360 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) across two seasons (dry season of 2022-23 and wet season of 2023) at ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad. Traits such as plant height, lesion height, relative lesion height, and panicle number showed high heritability (&gt;80%) and genetic advance (&gt;30%), indicating their strong genetic influence and responsiveness to selection. These traits, especially relative lesion height, were identified as key indicators for breeding ShB resistance. In contrast, grain yield under inoculated conditions showed lower heritability, reflecting environmental effects and suggesting that indirect selection through stable, heritable traits may be more effective. This research offers a foundation for breeding high-yielding, disease-resistant rice cultivars, advancing sustainability in ShB-prone regions by maintaining stable yields even under pathogen pressure.

Genome-wide association analysis and genomic prediction of salt tolerance trait in soybean germplasm.

Soybean is an important protein and oil crop, and improving yield has traditionally been a major breeding goal. However, salt stress is an important abiotic factor that can severely impair soybean yield by disrupting metabolic processes, inhibiting photosynthesis, and hindering plant growth, ultimately leading to a decrease in productivity. This study utilized phenotypic and genotypic data from 563 soybean germplasms sourced from over 20 countries. Employing four distinct models-we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using four models, including MLM, MLMM, FarmCPU, and BLINK in GAPIT 3, we conducted a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associated with salt tolerance in soybean. Subsequently, these identified SNP were further analyzed for candidate gene discovery. Using 34,181 SNPs for genomic prediction (GP) to assess prediction accuracy. Our study identified 10 SNPs significantly associated with salt tolerance, located on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 7, and 16. And we identified 11 genes within a 5 kb window upstream and downstream of the QTLs on chromosomes 1, 3, and 16. Utilizing the GWAS-derived SNP marker sets for genomic prediction (GP) yielded r-values greater than 0.35, indicating a higher level of accuracy. This suggests that genomic selection for salt tolerance is feasible. The 10 identified SNP markers and candidate genes in this study provide a valuable reference for screening and developing salt-tolerant soybean germplasm resources.

Allelic variation at the PPD-A1 locus and its associations with heading time and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) agronomic traits in the northern Black Sea region

Aim. The identification of Ppd-1-alleles in winter bread wheat varieties of various origin, including the ones of Ukrainian plant breeding and recombinant-inbred lines Orenburgskaya 48//Cappelle Desprez/2В Chinese Spring, and the evaluation of the effects of allele Ppd-А1_del303, including the interaction with different alleles of gene Ppd-B1, by the duration of the period before heading and the related agronomically valuable traits. Methods. DNA extraction, allele-specific PCR, agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, phenological observations, evaluation of frost resistance in seedlings, and analysis of morphobiological traits and elements of yield structure. Statistical analysis of the obtained data was carried out in Microsoft Excel. The significance of the difference between samples was assessed by Fisher's F test. A difference of p &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all indicators. Results. The marking of 30 varieties of different origin and 64 recombinant-inbred lines of Orenburgskaya 48//Cappelle Desprez/2B Chinese Spring winter bread wheat was carried out to identify the alleles of the Ppd-A1 gene. The polymorphism of varieties and populations of recombinant-inbred lines in the northern Black Sea region (Odesa) was evaluated for ten traits: frost resistance of plants in the seedling phase, winter hardiness, duration of the period before heading, plant height, grain number per spike, grain weight per spike, thousand grain weight, number of productive tillers per unit area, harvest index and grain yield. The comparison of the lines evaluation data in terms of agronomic traits and the results of the genotypes identification allowed us to identify the influence of Ppd-A1 gene alleles and various combinations of the alleles of Ppd-A1 and Ppd-B1 genes on these traits. Conclusions. A higher prevalence of the Ppd-A1_del303 allele was found both among varieties and recombinant-inbred lines. The genetic differences by the Ppd-A1 gene (Ppd-A1_del303 or Ppd-A1b) are significantly related only to frost resistance of seedlings in the absence of significant differences in other traits. The interaction between Ppd-A1b and Ppd-B1c alleles contributed to the acceleration of early maturity and the formation of the highest indicators of grain weight per spike, thousand grain weight, harvest index, and grain yield. The replacement of the Ppd-A1b allele with Ppd-A1_del303 led to a decrease in the effect of the dominant Ppd-B1c allele on accelerating heading and negatively affected the grain weight per spike, thousand grain weight, harvest index and grain yield compared to the Ppd-A1b Ppd-B1c genotype.

Constructing training sets for genomic selection to identify superior genotypes in candidate populations

Key messageApproaches for constructing training sets in genomic selection are proposed to efficiently identify top-performing genotypes from a breeding population.Identifying superior genotypes from a candidate population is a key objective in plant breeding programs. This study evaluates various methods for the training set optimization in genomic selection, with the goal of enhancing efficiency in discovering top-performing genotypes from a breeding population. Additionally, two approaches, inspired by classical optimal design criteria, are proposed to expand the search space for the best genotypes and compared with methods focusing on maximizing accuracy in breeding value prediction. Evaluation metrics such as normalized discounted cumulative gain, Spearman’s rank correlation, and Pearson’s correlation are employed to assess performance in both simulation studies and real trait analyses. Overall, for candidate populations lacking a strong subpopulation structure, a ridge regression-based method, referred to as MSPERidge,\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\ ext{MSPE}}^{\ ext{Ridge}},$$\\end{document} is recommended. For candidate populations with a strong subpopulation structure, a heuristic-based version of generalized coefficient of determination CDmean(v2)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\left({\ ext{CD}}_{\ ext{mean}(\ ext{v}2)}\\right)$$\\end{document} and a D-optimality-like method that maximizes overall genomic variation (GVoverall)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$({\ ext{GV}}_{\ ext{overall}})$$\\end{document} are preferred approaches for the primary objective of plant breeding. For populations with a large number of candidates, a proposed ranking method (GVaverage\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\ ext{GV}}_{\ ext{average}}$$\\end{document}) can first be used to down-scale the candidate population, after which a heuristic-based method is employed to identify the best genotypes. Notably, the proposed CDmean(v2)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\ ext{CD}}_{\ ext{mean}(\ ext{v}2)}$$\\end{document} has been verified to be equivalent to the original version, known as CDmean\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\ ext{CD}}_{\ ext{mean}}$$\\end{document}, but its implementation is much more computationally efficient.

Learning to Hunt on the Go: Dietary Changes During Development of Rhinolophid Bats.

Mammals may experience physical changes from birth, and their diet varies at different stages of life. This study investigates the impact of development on the diet composition of three horseshoe bats: Rhinolophus euryale, R. hipposideros, and R. ferrumequinum in the Basque Country, north of the Iberian Peninsula. The diets of juvenile and adult individuals of each species were obtained by analysing their droppings using metabarcoding and then compared at (1) the taxonomic and (2) prey trait levels (size, flying speed, hardness). The diets of juvenile and adult individuals of R. euryale and R. hipposideros showed significant differences at the taxonomic level and regarding prey traits. In contrast, in the case of R. ferrumequinum, we could only observe discernible diet patterns through the trait analysis. Additionally, we discovered a shared pattern: younger individuals tend to feed on easier-to-hunt and/or handle smaller and smoother prey. The varying degrees of dissimilarity between juvenile and adult diets observed in this study suggest that the relative importance of psychomotor development, foraging strategies, prey discrimination, and/or spatial learning may differ among species. These findings contribute to conservation efforts, especially by recognising the dietary needs of juveniles for their survival and successful development.