Breeding Programs Research Articles

Seed Source Selection for Improvement of Growth and Wood Traits in 10-Year-Old Fraxinus griffithii C. B. Clarke Trees Planted in Northern Highlands of Thailand

Fraxinus griffithii C. B. Clarke is introduced from Taiwan to Thailand by the Royal Project Foundation beginning of the 1980s for highland rehabilitation. To improve the growth traits and tree form characteristics, a tree breeding program for this species has been initiated. In the present study, we evaluated the among seed sources variations in growth traits (diameter at 1.3 m above the ground [DBH] and tree height) and wood traits (basic density [BD], modulus of elasticity [MOE], modulus of rupture [MOR], and compressive strength parallel to the grain [CS]) of 10-year-old F. griffithii trees originated from 15 seed sources planted in highland areas of Thailand. The mean values of measured trees were 7.25 cm in DBH, 11.59 m in tree height, 0.76 g/cm3 in basic density, 9.74 GPa in MOE, 100.78 MPa in MOR, and 38.46 MPa in CS, respectively. Broad-sense heritability ranged from 0.13 to 0.16 in growth traits and 0.02 to 0.85 in wood traits. As a result of principle component analysis and cluster analysis, 15 seed sources were classified into three groups. Of the three groups, one showed good performance in both growth and wood traits. Significant phenotypic and genetic correlations were found between growth traits and between wood traits. However, no significant correlations were found between growth and wood traits. Based on the results, it is concluded that progeny with good performance of both growth and wood traits can be produced from the combinations of superior seed sources tested in the present study.

Gene flow stimulates recovery of reproductive fitness in a captive bred insect

Abstract Captive breeding can be a useful tool for the management of threatened species, but such programs often begin with a bottleneck which may lower reproductive fitness by increasing inbreeding and allowing deleterious alleles to increase in frequency by reducing effective population size. Dryococelus australis, the Lord Howe Island stick insect, is a critically endangered insect that has been bred at the Melbourne Zoo in Melbourne, Australia, since shortly after the species was rediscovered in 2001. We analysed a long‐term dataset of phenotypic measurements from this captive breeding program to determine whether reproductive fitness has declined in captivity. We found a clear signal of decline in direct (egg hatching success) and indirect (egg and nymph size) fitness indicators over time. We compared a captive line descended from the original program founders to a new hybrid line that has recent wild ancestry. The hybrid line showed an immediate improvement in egg hatch rate, suggesting the potential for genetic rescue. Egg and nymph size did not show as dramatic a change, although this line had only existed for just over a single generation at the time of data collection. These results argue strongly for the regular sourcing of new genetic material from the wild D. australis population to counteract fitness declines in captivity. Aside from benefiting the captive population, this would also improve the prospects of establishing new wild populations in the future, using individuals sourced from captivity.

Associations between milk infrared-predicted plasma biomarkers of stress resilience and fertility in dairy cattle: insights for enhancing breeding programs and herd management

Fertility is a crucial aspect of dairy herd efficiency and sustainability. Among factors influencing fertility in dairy cattle, metabolic stress and systemic inflammation of animals are of main relevance, especially in the postpartum stage when ovarian activity begins and cows are inseminated. Our study aimed to infer the associations between milk infrared-predicted blood biomarkers of stress resilience and fertility traits, namely the interval from calving to first service (iCF), days open (DO), and the pregnancy rate at first service (PRF) in a multi-breed population of 89,097 dairy cows. The blood metabolites (15 blood biomarkers related to hepatic damage and function, oxidative stress, and inflammation/innate immunity) were predicted using milk Fourier-transform mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy. A gradient boosting machine (GBM) approach with leave-one-batch-out cross-validation (R2 range from 0.45 to 0.82) was implemented to an independent calibration database of 1,367 lactating cows reared in 5 herds. Calibration equations were then applied to a population database of 1,799,186 MIR milk spectral data, that were then merged with fertility data collected by the Breeders Federation of Alto Adige (Bolzano province, Italy) generating a final database of 285,145 records. The 2 databases were merged according to the milk test day (and thus the MIR spectrum) closest to the date of insemination. The interval fertility traits were fitted as the hazard of either receiving the first service after calving at time t for iCF or becoming pregnant after calving at time t for DO in a Cox proportional-hazards model. Statistical analyses were performed including in the model the number of lactations, year of calving, and herd as fixed effects. The independent effect of the MIR-based predictions of metabolites was also included with each metabolite evaluated separately and discretized into 7 levels based on percentiles. Pregnancy rate at first service, on the other hand, was analyzed using logistic regression and the same explanatory variables. The metabolites linked to liver function and damage, such as aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase, had a relevant influence on iCF and DO in terms of the hazard ratio (HR). Relevant results were also obtained for the biomarkers related to oxidative stress and inflammation/innate immunity. Specifically, increasing levels of ceruloplasmin, total reactive oxygen metabolites, and advanced oxidation protein products resulted in a relevant decrease in the HR of cows becoming pregnant. The logistic regression analysis did not reveal any significant effect of the aforementioned biomarkers on PRF, indicating that the effects of the stress response mainly concern the resumption of the ovarian cycle after calving. The results for the associations of the predicted biomarkers of the stress response with iCF and DO were consistent with expected physiological patterns. In conclusion, the predicted biomarkers investigated revealed to be promising novel phenotypes for assessing animal health and welfare, in the view of enhancing fertility in dairy cattle also through selective breeding, thus improving the overall efficiency of dairy herds.

Assessment of genetic diversity and heterotic alignment of CIMMYT and IITA maize inbred lines adapted to sub‐Saharan Africa

AbstractDespite the breeding efforts by many institutions, maize (Zea mays L.) productivity in sub‐Saharan Africa is still low. A limited number of productive maize hybrids have been developed partly due to a lack of knowledge on the diversity and heterotic relationship of the germplasm, especially in public breeding programs. Understanding the extent of diversity, structure, and heterotic grouping of available maize germplasm originating from different breeding programs is important to enhance long‐term genetic gain in hybrid maize breeding programs by optimizing heterotic pools using modern breeding tools. Information about the genetic structure of the available germplasm could help breeders design effective breeding strategies to improve yield. This study was conducted to determine the genetic diversity, population structure, and heterotic alignment among 187 elite maize inbred lines from the IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture) and CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center) maize breeding programs. The inbred lines were genotyped with 9857 Diversity Array Technology sequencing based single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Hierarchical clustering revealed three major groups, with some subgroups consistent with the selection history, and pedigree of the inbred lines. Three broad groups were detected: two consisting of CIMMYT lines and a mixed group consisting of both CIMMYT and IITA inbred lines. The STRUCTURE analysis revealed six subpopulations (fixation index value = 0.58), which depicts a moderate genetic diversity among the materials. Population 2 comprises the highest number of genotypes (102) from both programs. More than 89% of the elite lines had homozygosity exceeding 95%, with the remaining lines requiring further inbreeding through repeated self‐pollination. There was inconsistency in the predetermined heterotic groups' alignment between CIMMYT and IITA elite inbred lines. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that 96% of the total variation was accounted for by differences within groups, with the remaining 4% representing the variation between groups. This suggests that the two programs can benefit from germplasm exchange for the improvement of maize productivity.

Genome‐Wide Association Mapping and Genomic Prediction of Septoria nodorum Blotch Resistance in Central European Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

ABSTRACTSeptoria nodorum blotch (SNB) is a fungal disease of wheat caused by the necrotrophic fungus Parastagonospora nodorum (Berk.), considered as one of the most devastating fungal diseases affecting winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The complex inheritance of resistance to SNB poses significant challenges to breeding programmes. Improving selection precision and identifying novel resistance QTLs are crucial for enhancing SNB resistance. This study investigated strategies for crop genetic improvement, including genome‐wide association mapping (GWAS) and genomic prediction (GP), within a practical breeding programme. A population of 1500 winter wheat breeding lines was phenotyped for SNB resistance over 5 years across 19 geographical locations under natural infection conditions. Despite highly unbalanced breeder's data, medium to high heritabilities for SNB resistance were achieved. GWAS identified 11 significant marker‐trait associations for SNB resistance across Chromosomes 2A, 2B, 4B, 4D, 5D and 7B. GP fivefold cross‐validation analysis revealed a predictive ability of 0.52 for SNB resistance. The resistant wheat genotypes and SNP markers identified in this study will be valuable assets for future breeding efforts to enhance SNB resistance in wheat.

Phased T2T genome assemblies facilitate the mining of disease-resistance genes in Vitis davidii

Abstract Grape is an important fruit crop, and its production faces significant threat from diseases, resulting in substantial economic loss. Wild grape relatives are valuable resources for the restoration of disease-resistance loci. However, available resistance loci in wild grape genomes remain largely unexplored. In this study, we assembled two phased genomes, including a high resistant Chinese wild grape, Vitis davidii Föex, and a susceptible cultivar, V. vinifera L. cv. “Manicure Finger”. We detected a total of 36,688 structural variations (SVs), with the genes associated with heterozygous SVs showing an enrichment in allele-specific expression (ASE). Furthermore, we identified eight subgroups of R genes and found that 74.2% of R genes overlap with transposable elements (TEs). Among R genes, NBS-type genes exhibit higher expression profiles in the wild grape genome compared with those in the grape cultivar. Additionally, five specific NBS-type R gene clusters were identified in the wild grape genome that are absent in the cultivar. Through genetic mapping, we identified four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with grape white rot resistance based on the Vitis davidii genome, within which six NBS-type R genes exhibit differential expression between wild and cultivated grapes. Overall, our study revealed the landscape of resistance genes in grape genomes, providing valuable genetic resources for further breeding programs.

Unravelling genetic variability for yield and contributing characteristics in green gram [vigna radiata (L.) wilczek] germplasm

Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] is an essential crop for food, feed, and income generation in rice-based farming systems across Southeast Asia and other regions. Its popularity stems from its good taste, high nutritional value, and ease of digestion, making it a promising crop for enhancing livelihoods. However, despite its significance, mungbean productivity remains low, primarily due to environmental stresses and a lack of sufficient genetic variability. This study examines the variability, heritability, phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation, and genetic advance among yield-contributing traits in green gram germplasm. A total of 450 germplasm lines were evaluated alongside check varieties, revealing significant variation, with the analysis of variance showing notable differences across nearly all traits. The mean sum of squares for the germplasm was highly significant for all phenotypic traits. Several traits exhibited high estimates of heritability and genetic advance, viz., the number of branches/ plants, number of clusters/ plants, number of pods/ clusters, pod length, test weight, and seed yield/plant, indicating their potential for direct selection in breeding programs. These findings suggest that additive gene effects play a dominant role in controlling these traits, with minimal environmental influence, making simple phenotypic selection an effective approach. The results provide valuable insights for advancing green gram breeding programs focused on improving yield and quality through targeted hybridization and trait selection.

Unveiling the Spectacular Performance of Diverse Chrysanthemum Varieties in Flowering, Quality and Yield

A comprehensive research initiative conducted in Jhalawar 2019-20 focused on evaluating the genetic diversity and performance of various chrysanthemum varieties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability and assess the varietal performance of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev) under the specific agro-climatic conditions of Jhalawar. The study sought to identify high-performing varieties and quantify key genetic traits relevant to yield and quality characteristics, with the goal of supporting selection efforts for enhanced chrysanthemum production in the region. This investigation was conducted at the Floriculture and Landscaping block of the College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar, Rajasthan. The experimental work was carried out during the winter season of the year 2019-20, capitalizing on the local climate to evaluate varietal responses under Jhalawar conditions. The experiment employed a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with multiple replications to ensure robust data. Different chrysanthemum varieties were planted in designated plots, and observations on traits such as flower yield, flower quality, and growth parameters were recorded periodically. Statistical analysis, including ANOVA, was performed to detect significant differences among the varieties. This analysis helped in identifying high-performing varieties suited for Jhalawar conditions and provided insights into genetic variability for potential selection and breeding programs. Ten different genotypes were carefully chosen for the study, including Marigold, Poornima Pink, Dall White, Calcutta Shantini, Karnool, Poornima Red, Dall Yellow, Poornima White, Poornima Yellow and Dundi for in-depth analysis.A randomised block design with three replications was used in the experiment. Cultivar 'Calcutta Shantini' exhibited the maximum days taken to first flower bud emergence of plant (51.50 days) and the maximum number of flowers per plant (269.90). Conversely, cv. 'Dall Yellow' showed the shortest duration to fifty percent flowering (67.64 days). Notably, cv. 'Dundi' displayed the maximum flower diameter (7.47 cm), while cv. 'Poornima Pink' had the longest flower stalk (13.09 cm). Remarkably, cv. 'Marigold' demonstrated the highest flower fresh weight (63.67 gm), dry weight (14.41 gm), and shelf life (4.67 day).

Genetic diversity assessment of cucumber landraces using molecular signatures

Genetic profiling of the biodiversity in cultivated crop plants is necessary to preserve important genes and utilize them in a breeding program. Cucumber is used as a model plant to study various characteristics of Cucurbitaceae. Its adaptation to a wide range of climatic conditions suggested analyzing the landraces. The present study was conducted to evaluate the differences, at the genetic level, among landraces spanning five continents. DNA extracted from fifty-six landraces selected from USDA germplasm bank to cover a global representative sample of world cucumber landraces was used for polymerase chain reaction using twenty-eight polymorphic expressed sequence tags simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers. Twenty-eight EST-SSR markers covering all seven chromosomes yielded 98 bands with an average of 3.42 bands per marker. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.00 (EC35) to 0.74 (EC17) with an average of 0.34. Six clusters provided an appropriate summary of the variation among the landraces, with the two largest groups including 32 (Asiatic) and 17 (European and American) landraces, respectively. Four small groups, three with two members, and one with one member (PI 525155-Egypt) were dissimilar to the two main groups. Landraces from the same region were often clustered together. Genetic similarity of the landraces was revealed by marker banding patterns. The locations of genetic diversity for cucumber landraces can be identified from this study.

Insights into Adaption and Growth Evolution: Genome–Wide Copy Number Variation Analysis in Chinese Hainan Yellow Cattle Using Whole–Genome Re–Sequencing Data

Copy number variation (CNV) serves as a crucial source of genomic variation and significantly aids in the mining of genomic information in cattle. This study aims to analyze re–sequencing data from Chinese Hainan yellow cattle, to uncover breed CNV information, and to elucidate the resources of population genetic variation. We conducted whole–genome sequencing on 30 Chinese Hainan yellow cattle, thus generating 814.50 Gb of raw data. CNVs were called using CNVnator software, and subsequent filtering with Plink and HandyCNV yielded 197,434 high–quality CNVs and 5852 CNV regions (CNVRs). Notably, the proportion of deleted sequences (81.98%) exceeded that of duplicated sequences (18.02%), with the lengths of CNVs predominantly ranging between 20 and 500 Kb This distribution demonstrated a decrease in CNVR count with increasing fragment length. Furthermore, an analysis of the population genetic structure using CNVR databases from Chinese, Indian, and European commercial cattle breeds revealed differences between Chinese Bos indicus and Indian Bos indicus. Significant differences were also observed between Hainan yellow cattle and European commercial breeds. We conducted gene annotation for both Hainan yellow cattle and European commercial cattle, as well as for Chinese Bos indicus and Indian Bos indicus, identifying 206 genes that are expressed in both Chinese and Indian Bos indicus. These findings may provide valuable references for future research on Bos indicus. Additionally, selection signatures analysis based on Hainan yellow cattle and three European commercial cattle breeds identified putative pathways related to heat tolerance, disease resistance, fat metabolism, environmental adaptation, candidate genes associated with reproduction and the development of sperm and oocytes (CABS1, DLD, FSHR, HSD17B2, KDM2A), environmental adaptation (CNGB3, FAM161A, DIAPH3, EYA4, AAK1, ERBB4, ERC2), oxidative stress anti–inflammatory response (COMMD1, OXR1), disease resistance (CNTN5, HRH4, NAALADL2), and meat quality (EHHADH, RHOD, GFPT1, SULT1B1). This study provides a comprehensive exploration of CNVs at the molecular level in Chinese Hainan yellow cattle, offering theoretical support for future breeding and selection programs aimed at enhancing qualities of this breed.

Characterization, phylogeny and recombination of Rhynchosia yellow mosaic virus infecting Rhynchosia minima, a wild relative of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) from India.

Rhynchosia minima grown at Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur, India, showed yellow mosaic symptoms on leaves and were suspected to be caused by begomovirus(es). Leaves from five different plants (Rhm1-Rhm5) were tested for the presence of four viruses in PCR. PCR assays revealed the presence of mungbean yellow mosaic India virus in four samples, whereas one sample (Rhm2) was negative. Processing of Rhm2 sample using rolling circle amplification and restriction digestion indicated the presence of DNA molecules of ~ 2.6-2.7kb. These molecules were sequenced after cloning and found to be of 2741 and 2658 nucleotides in size. BLAST analysis revealed that DNA-A (OQ269467) and DNA-B (OQ269468) molecules of rhynchosia yellow mosaic virus (RhYMV) with 99.09% and 93.74% nucleotide similarity with DNA-A (KP752090) and DNA-B (KP752091) of the RhYMV isolate, respectively. These sequences had a genome organization typical of legume-infecting Old World bipartite begomoviruses. Full genome sequences obtained from Rhm2 are, therefore, considered to be an isolate of RhYMV, designated as RhYMV-IN-Knp. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that RhYMV-IN-Knp was grouped with other isolates of RhYMV followed by Cajanus scarabaeoides yellow mosaic virus. DNA-A of RhYMV-IN-Knp showed two recombination events. The Old World bipartite begomovirus squash leaf curl China virus (AM260205) was identified as the major parent, whereas New World bipartite begomovirus rhynchosia golden yellow mosaic Yucatan virus (EU021216) was identified as the minor parent. RhYMV holds the potential of infecting cultivated legume crops, therefore regular monitoring is crucial especially for pigeonpea breeding programs.

Fine mapping of QGPC.caas-7AL for grain protein content in bread wheat.

A major stable QTL, QGPC.caas-7AL, for grain protein content of wheat, was narrowed down to a 1.82-Mb inter on chromosome 7AL, and four candidate genes were predicated. Wheat grain protein content (GPC) is important for end-use quality. Identification of genetic loci for GPC is helpful to create new varieties with good processing quality and nutrients. Zhongmai 578 (ZM578) and Jimai 22 (JM22) are two elite wheat varieties with different contents of GPC. In the present study, 262 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between ZM578 and JM22 were used to map the GPC with high-density wheat Illumina iSelect 50K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Seven quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified for GPC on chromosomes 3AS, 3AL, 3BS, 4AL, 5BS, 5DL and 7AL by inclusive composite interval mapping, designated as QGPC.caas-3AS, QGPC.caas-3AL, QGPC.caas-3BS, QGPC.caas-4AL, QGPC.caas-5BS, QGPC.caas-5DL and QGPC.caas-7AL, respectively. Among these, alleles for increasing GPC at QGPC.caas-3AS, QGPC.caas-3BS, QGPC.caas-4AL and QGPC.caas-7AL loci were contributed by ZM578, whereas those at the other three loci were from JM22. The stable QTL QGPC.caas-7AL was fine mapped to a 1.82-Mb physical interval using secondary populations from six heterozygous recombinant plants obtained by selfing a residual RIL. Four genes were predicted as candidates of QGPC.caas-7AL based on sequence polymorphism and expression patterns. The near-isogenic lines (NILs) with the favorable allele at the QGPC.caas-7AL locus increased Farinograph stability time, Extensograph extension area, extensibility and maximum resistance by 19.6%, 6.3%, 6.0% and 20.3%, respectively. Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) marker for QGPC.caas-7AL was developed and validated in a diverse panel of 166 Chinese wheat cultivars. These results provide further insight into the genetic basis of GPC, and the fine-mapped QGPC.caas-7AL will be an attractive target for map-based cloning and marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding programs.

Genome-wide association for agro-morphological traits in a triploid banana population with large chromosome rearrangements

Abstract Banana breeding is hampered by the very low fertility of domesticated bananas and the lack of knowledge about the genetic determinism of agronomic traits. We analysed a breeding population of 2 723 triploid hybrids resulting from crosses between diploid and tetraploid M. acuminata parents, which was evaluated over three successive crop-cycles for 24 traits relating to yield components and plant, bunch and fruit architectures. A subset of 1 129 individuals was genotyped-by-sequencing revealing 205 612 single nucleotide polymorphisms. Most parents were heterozygous for one or several large reciprocal chromosomal translocations, which are known to impact recombination and chromosomal segregation. We applied two linear mixed models to detect associations between markers and traits: (i) a standard model with a kinship calculated using all SNPs and (ii) a model with chromosome-specific kinships that aims at recovering statistical power at alleles carried by long non-recombined haplotypic segments. For 23 of the 24 traits, we identified one to five significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for which the origin of favourable alleles could often be determined among the main ancestral contributors to banana cultivars. Several QTLs, located in the rearranged regions, were only detected using the second model. The resulting QTL landscape represents an important resource to support breeding programs. The proposed strategy for recovering power at SNPs carried by long non-recombined rearranged haplotypic segments is an important methodological advance for future association studies in banana and other species affected by chromosomal rearrangements.

Reducing amylose content in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using a novel Wx-D1 null allele generated by chemical mutagenesis.

Amylose has a major influence over starch properties and end-use quality in wheat. The granule-bound starch synthase I, encoded by Wx-1, is the single enzyme responsible for amylose synthesis. Natural null mutants of Wx-1 appear at extremely low frequencies, particularly in the Wx-D1 locus, where only four spontaneous null variants have been identified, with different geographic origins. The current study identified an induced Wx-D1 null mutant (M4-9484) from the M4 generation of an ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized population of wheat cv. 'SM126'. The sequencing showed that the complete Wx-D1 ORF sequences of 'SM126' and M4-9484 were 2862 bp long and that there was one SNP mutation between them. The mutation was located at the RNA splice site within the junction of exon 8 and intron 8, which led to abnormal transcription of Wx-D1, with five different aberrant transcripts being identified in the mutant. The Wx-D1 null allele resulted in amylose and total starch content being decreased in M4-9484 in comparison with the wild-type 'SM126', with higher swelling capacity and being fully pasted at higher temperatures than the wild-type parent. The mutation of the Wx-D1 null gene affects the formation of amylose directly, resulting in significantly altered starch properties. This discovery offers valuable insights for enhancing wheat starch quality and contributes to the diversification of starch characteristics. It also deepens our understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying amylose synthesis, thereby supporting breeding programs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Computer Vision‐Based Methodology to Estimate Fruit Colour Diversity in Ornamental Pepper (Capsicum spp.)

ABSTRACTFruit colour diversity within different ripening stages confers ornamental value for pepper plants. Using images can be helpful in analysing the fruit colour‐related genetic diversity and enable selecting accessions for ornamental purposes by avoiding subjectiveness. This study aimed to evaluate the phenotypic diversity among accessions of ornamental pepper using image processing techniques to identify fruit colours. Photos from 40 fruits from each of 12 accessions were captured by a camera from a smartphone. Separate channels and colour indices were extracted from the images to analyse the accessions using both dendrogram and principal components analysis. Dendrogram analysis allowed separating accessions with predominance of dark fruits from those whose fruits showed lighter and more vivid colours, with a cophenetic correlation coefficient of 0.811. The VARI and NGRDI vegetation indices were efficient in discriminating fruits with a predominance of green colour, and the BGI could be used to discriminate accessions with predominantly reddish‐brown fruits. The proposed method can be used in small‐scale breeding programs for accurately assessing the development of varieties regarding their fruit colour diversity.

Breeding of new kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) cultivars with yellow (golden) fleshed and superior characteristics

The most widely cultivated species globally is Actinidia deliciosa cv. ‘Hayward’. However, in recent years, consumers have shown greater demand for new varieties with novel flesh colour, flavour and appearance in international markets. To meet these expectations, one breeding study was started in 2016 at the University of Guilan in Iran to develop new kiwifruit cultivars with superior characteristics. In this breeding program, 201 female and 534 male hybrid genotypes were obtained from combinations of six different parents using the controlled cross-breeding technique. The evaluations were carried out over three consecutive stages. In the first stage, 201 female hybrid genotypes and control (‘Golden’) were evaluated based on 25 phenological and pomological traits. In the second stage, hybrids passed the desired threshold values in 7 key attributes were selected. Sensory testing in the next stage evaluated these selected hybrid genotypes more. As a result of the first stage, 30 hybrid genotypes with fruit weight (90 ≥ g) were selected. Then, in the second stage, 21 hybrids that showed acceptable dry matter, hue angle, flesh firmness, soluble solid content, acidity, and ascorbic acid were selected. Finally, 13 hybrid genotypes received high scores in sensory testing, and just two hybrid genotypes represented a 100% of novelty with positive texture. These genotypes were selected as potential cultivar candidates. In future studies, fruit yield, disease/pest resistance, and post-harvest performance trials of the 13 selected candidates will be evaluated at different sites. Thus, the ones that give the best results will be introduced to kiwifruit growers.

Genetic improvement of indigenous cattle breeds in Ethiopia: A systematic review of the Fogera cattle open nucleus breeding scheme

Fogera cattle are one of the valuable indigenous milk-type local breeds of Ethiopia, widely adapted to the area around Lake Tana in the Amhara region. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the performance of the Fogera cattle breed under an open nucleus breeding scheme. The review was done systematically by collecting published and unpublished data sources on the breed. The overall milk yield of the nucleus Fogera cattle herd was 2.26±0.794L/day. From the total herd, the top 10% and 25% of them produced daily milk yields of 3.31 and 2.87L, respectively, and some elite cows gave an average of 5.45±0.73L/day with a maximum yield of 8L/day. The predicted 305-day milk yield for the top 10% and 25% of the total herd was 883.64 and 772.83L, respectively. The average lactation milk yield and lactation length were reported to be 489±184L and 243±72.79 days, respectively. The respective heritability estimates for the aforementioned traits were 0.20±0.23 and 0.27±0.001. The birth and weaning weights (at 8 months of age) of village Fogera cattle born from community-based breeding programmes (CBBP) were 23.77±.21 and 85.89±1.07kg, respectively. The average weaning age for the CBBP herds was reduced to 8 months. The overall calf mortality in the nucleus herd was 3%. The CBBP demonstrated that it could act as a significant entry point for ensuring the conservation and restocking efforts of this breed as a country asset.

Using Multi-Sensor Data Fusion Techniques and Machine Learning Algorithms for Improving UAV-Based Yield Prediction of Oilseed Rape

Accurate and timely prediction of oilseed rape yield is crucial in precision agriculture and field remote sensing. We explored the feasibility and potential for predicting oilseed rape yield through the utilization of a UAV-based platform equipped with RGB and multispectral cameras. Genetic algorithm–partial least square was employed and evaluated for effective wavelength (EW) or vegetation index (VI) selection. Additionally, different machine learning algorithms, i.e., multiple linear regression (MLR), partial least squares regression (PLSR), least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM), back propagation neural network (BPNN), extreme learning machine (ELM), and radial basis function neural network (RBFNN), were developed and compared. With multi-source data fusion by combining vegetation indices (color and narrow-band VIs), robust prediction models of yield in oilseed rape were built. The performance of prediction models using the combination of VIs (RBFNN: Rpre = 0.8143, RMSEP = 171.9 kg/hm2) from multiple sensors manifested better results than those using only narrow-band VIs (BPNN: Rpre = 0.7655, RMSEP = 188.3 kg/hm2) from a multispectral camera. The best models for yield prediction were found by applying BPNN (Rpre = 0.8114, RMSEP = 172.6 kg/hm2) built from optimal EWs and ELM (Rpre = 0.8118, RMSEP = 170.9 kg/hm2) using optimal VIs. Taken together, the findings conclusively illustrate the potential of UAV-based RGB and multispectral images for the timely and non-invasive prediction of oilseed rape yield. This study also highlights that a lightweight UAV equipped with dual-image-frame snapshot cameras holds promise as a valuable tool for high-throughput plant phenotyping and advanced breeding programs within the realm of precision agriculture.

Realized genetic gain with reciprocal recurrent selection in a Eucalyptus breeding program

Realized genetic gain with reciprocal recurrent selection in a Eucalyptus breeding program

Approaches for Genetic Analysis of Chickpea Genotypes under Late Sown Condition

Investigation of the genetic potential of chickpeas is crucial in order to achieve durable and high-yielding genotypes. The goal of this study is to identify the genetic potential and personality traits associated. Evaluation of thirty-six desi genotypes of chickpea under late sown condition revealed that substantial degree of variation was present, while three traits viz., Leaf pattern, flower colour, seed shape and plant pigmentation were found monomorphic, whereas foliage colour, seed surface were dimorphic,polymorphic traits were noted in leaflet size, plant growth habit, plant height, seed colouring, days to 50% flowering and days to maturity. Magnitude of genotypic coefficient ofvariations, high heritability along with high genetic advance as percentage of mean recorded forharvest index, number of seeds per plant, number of pods per plant and number of effective pods per plant.Correlation and path analysis revealed biological yield, 100 seed weight, seed per plant, harvest Index and plant height are the mostimportant characters,while imparting selection as these exhibited strong association and maximum positive direct effects on seed yield per plant.Intra cluster D2 values showed that most diverse genotypes were Phule G13110 and PG 0104, hybridization program between these genotypes may generate desirable sergeants for various yield attributing traits. Genotypes GL 12021, PG 158, PG 0104, JG 24, H 12-62, IPC 2010-134, GNG 2261, GL29098, BG 3067, IPC 2012-98, Phule G13110 and RVSSG 38 were present in more than one PCs hence contributed maximum towards yield and can be used in various breeding programmes for yield improvement under late sown condition.