Germination Capacity Research Articles

Targeted mutagenesis of BnTTG1 homologues generated yellow-seeded rapeseed with increased oil content and seed germination under abiotic stress

Yellow seed is one desirable trait with great potential to improve seed oil quality and yield. The present study surveys the redundant role of BnTTG1 genes in the proanthocyanidins (PA) biosynthesis, oil content and abiotic stress resistance. Stable yellow seed mutants were generated after mutating BnTTG1 by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system. Yellow seed phenotype could be obtained only when both functional homologues of BnTTG1 were simultaneously knocked out. Homozygous mutants of BnTTG1 homologues showed decreased thickness and PA accumulation in seed coat. Transcriptome and qRT-PCR analysis indicated that BnTTG1 mutation inhibited the expression of genes involved in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways. Increased seed oil content and alteration of fatty acid (FA) composition were observed in homozygous mutants of BnTTG1 with enriched expression of genes involved in FA biosynthesis pathway. In addition, target mutation of BnTTG1 accelerated seed germination rate under salt and cold stresses. Enhanced seed germination capacity in BnTTG1 mutants was correlated with the change of expression level of ABA responsive genes. Overall, this study elucidated the redundant role of BnTTG1 in regulating seed coat color and established an efficient approach for generating yellow-seeded oilseed rape genetic resources with increase oil content, modified FA composition and resistance to multiple abiotic stresses.

Preliminary Evaluation of Minor Cereals as Non-Traditional Brewing Raw Materials

Recently, “minor” cereals have been gaining interest due to their distinctive characteristics, not only in terms of nutritional and health potential, but also because of their hardiness. To date, the use of several of these cereals for the production, both at artisan and industrial level, of foods such as pasta and bakery products has already been well established, whereas their investigation for the production of malt and beer has been more limited. In this work, a preliminary analysis of the malting aptitude of einkorn, tritordeum, food-grade sorghum and teff was evaluated. Grain quality parameters that influence the processes of malting and transformation into alcoholic beverages were evaluated, i.e., thousand-kernel weight, test weight, total protein and starch content, falling number, germination capacity, germination energy and amylase activity. Grain analyses showed, on average, satisfactory values for alcoholic fermented beverage production in all the cereal species examined (mainly in tritordeum), whereas the amylase activity of the malts produced was lower than that revealed in barley malt. Fermented drinks derived from these minor cereals, therefore, could be interesting for the light and gluten-free beer markets.

Influence of amendment type and re-cutting on biomass production and germination capacity of Artemisia annua L. in Burkina Faso

Influence of amendment type and re-cutting on biomass production and germination capacity of Artemisia annua L. in Burkina Faso

Exploring life-history traits of an endangered plant (Vicia biennis L.) to support the conservation of marginal populations

We aimed to investigate the reproduction-related traits of Vicia biennis L., an endangered and poorly known wetland species in its western marginal populations (in Hungary), and discuss the conservational and ecological implications. We measured the mass, viability, and physical dormancy of half-year-old seeds in five in-situ collected seed lots, while potential seed longevity (i.e., seed bank type) was estimated from repeatedly germinating subsamples from four ex-situ collected seed lots for 3–8 years. Plant survival, flowering, and seed production were studied in different light-, irrigation-, and competition conditions in a botanical garden experiment. We found that 1) half-year-old seeds have a high germination capacity (78–100%), 2) and high level of physical dormancy (72–100%) in all examined Hungarian populations, and 3) the seeds can preserve their germination capacity for more than five years, although their viability sharply decreases, probably falling below 10% within ten years, when they are stored at room temperature. The results of the botanical garden experiment suggested that 1) the species is annual, not biennial; 2) it shows strong sensitivity to precipitation and low competitiveness for water; and 3) it can produce hundreds of seeds even in suboptimal (dry or shady) conditions. Although the species was found to be well-adapted to a temporally heterogeneous environment, its future vulnerability can increase depending on the duration of dry seasons. Further investigation of genetic diversity and soil seed bank is needed to estimate the actual vulnerability of the species while strengthening the populations through seed sowing, and additional vegetation control in the habitats is suggested.

Impact of eco-physiological factors on the weed seed germination and emergence: A review on its role in weed management

Dormancy is a typical feature of many weed seed populations, which makes forecasting the time and magnitude of weed emergence difficult. The mean minimum temperatures required for undergoing germination of different weed seeds varies considerably depending on the place of their origin as well as the season on which the plants grow. For instance, the temperature requirement for the germination of summer weeds was observed to be 40% higher than for the winter weeds. Decreasing the water potential from 0 Mpa (mega pascal) to -1.0 Mpa tends to reduce the germination capacity of many weed seeds with some seeds totally failing to germinate at -1.0 Mpa (Chloris truncate, Retama raetam). The effects of planting depth on seed germination and seedling growth of Aframomum citratum on varied soil types indicated that sowing depth greatly influenced the plant's cumulative germination percentage and early growth. The seeds of Sysimbrium officinale (L.), a summer annual species, displayed greater sensitivity to nitrates and lost dormancy throughout the winter. The germination of Thlaspi arvense was also discovered to be stimulated by nitrate only in the presence of light. Tilling the surface of soil has a positive impact in the weed seed germination, however if the tillage depth increases more than 9cm, it tends to lower down the germination of several weed species. However, weed seeds of Bernard grass are among the exceptions in which they germinate better at a shallow depth (2cm). The nature and the thickness of the mulching component influence the germination of weed seeds. Thicker mulches and mulching materials like pearl millet resulted in a greater suppression of the weed seed germination due to an increased allelopathic effects.

Vigor and Viability Testing of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Local Mutant Germplasm of Padang Pariaman through Gamma Irradiation

As a genetic resource, local rice can provide insight into the inheritance of favorable traits. Local rice varieties have naturally been tested for resistance to pests and diseases, high yields, good rice quality (including class 1 quality), and a taste that people like, but also have some disadvantages, such as long life and high plant height that easily collapses. For this reason, the characteristics of local rice varieties that have these advantages are improved using the gamma-ray induced mutation technique. Before planting in the field, it is necessary to test the vigor and viability of local rice genotypes (Oryza sativa L.) Padang Pariaman seeds first. In this study, researchers used three different rice varieties, namely: "Madang Pulau", "Putiah Papanai", and "Banang Kuniang" and gamma irradiation, with radiation doses of 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 Gy. Based on the results of the study, the local rice seed varieties of Padang Pariaman Regency and the dose of gamma irradiation had a significant effect on maximum germination, while germination speed, germination capacity, vigor index, and growth uniformity were significantly affected by the dose of gamma irradiation. Gamma irradiation with doses of 400-600 Gy resulted in a more significant decrease in seed vigor and viability compared to irradiation with doses of 100-300 Gy.

Global warming could shorten the seed lifespan of pioneer tree species and thus natural regeneration window of damaged areas

Prolonged periods without precipitation in spring prevent timely and rapid germination of pioneer tree seeds and could lead to an accelerated loss of germination capacity (reduced lifespan). To get knowledge about the shortening of seed lifespan and, thus, the shortening of natural regeneration windows under climate change, an experiment was conducted. Seeds of Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula, Populus tremula, Salix caprea, Larix decidua, Pinus sylvestris, and Picea abies were exposed to temperatures of 15 °C, 25 °C (past or present climate), and 40 °C (future climate) with low or high humidity for a period of 3 months. Regardless of air humidity, the initial germination percentage of Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula, Larix decidua, and Pinus sylvestris seeds decreased only slightly by 5–15% over the 91-day period when stored at 15 °C and 25 °C. For Populus tremula and Salix caprea, time windows of maximum 14–49 days and 42–91 days were identified, respectively.However, as climate change progresses with rising temperatures and increasing absolute air humidity values, the window of opportunity for successful germination will shorten for all studied tree species. In the moist air humidity variant of 40 °C, the germination percentage dropped to 0% after 42 days for Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula, and Larix decidua. The natural regeneration window will be reduced by half from more than three months to about three weeks under climate change. The lifespan of Populus tremula and Salix caprea seeds will be shortened to 1 week. For Picea abies, the time window will shorten to a maximum of 28 days.

Efficiency of Seed Bio-Priming Technique for Drought Management in Mungbean

Drought stress is considered a severe treat to crop production as it adversely affects the morpho-physiological, biochemical and molecular functions of plants especially in short duration crops like mungbean. Water stress during the growth phase (called terminal drought) has become a threat to mungbean productivity. To reduce stress, “biopriming” has emerged as a new agricultural and sustainable technology. Biopriming is a coating process or treatment with PGPR, which is good at hydration control and improves pre-germination preparation without the appearance of radicles. Biopriming significantly increased Mungbam yield and composition and modulated the activity of antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbic acid and all phenolics) by 8 - 12% under normal and drought conditions. Seed application will increase the germination capacity of mung bean production and the plant will eventually tolerate drought stress.

GROWTH RESPONSE OF TWO LOCAL UPLAND RICE CULTIVARS (ORYZA SATIVA L.) ON SALINITY

Increasing the number of inhabitants in Indonesia led to the limited agricultural land so that the paddy fields become narrow and limited, the limited paddy fields caused agricultural production in Indonesia to decline while demand increased. Tidal land cultivation is still rarely performed due to the high salt content (NaCl). The purpose of this study is to obtain upland rice cultivars that are tolerant of salinity stress. The study was conducted in November to December 2019 at the Seed and Science Technology Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tadulako. The study was arranged using a completely randomized design (CRD) of two factors where the first factor consisted of two levels, namely Logi, and Tako, while the second factor consisted of five levels, namely 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, and 0.9% were repeated three times. The results showed that tako cultivars have a good tolerance to salinity stress compared to logi cultivars, tako cultivars have the fastest germination time and germination capacity above 80%. At a concentration of 0.5% can not inhibit the growth of upland rice, but at a concentration of 0.9% can inhibit the growth of upland rice.

Effect of Iron (Fe) heavy metal content at different pH on the germination of seven soybean varieties in Indonesia

Greater use of acid soil has expanded the area under cultivation for soybeans; however, acid soil is associated with heavy mineral toxicity, including Iron (Fe). This investigation looked at how well soybean seeds germinated in media containing heavy metal Fe and how the pH of the media affected the viability of soybean seeds. This research was conducted at the Seed and Plant Breeding Laboratory at the University of Lampung, Indonesia. The experimental design was a randomized block design. The first factor was seven soybean local varieties – Grobogan, Anjasmoro, Derap 1, Detap 1, Dena 1, Deja 1, and Dega 1 – and the second factor was heavy metal Fe solution pH of 6–7 and 4.5 and without heavy metal Fe (control). Seed viability in heavy metal Fe medium was assessed using radicle emergence, germination capacity or percentage, germination speed, number of normal seedlings, normal seedling hypocotyl length, main root length of regular seedlings, and normal shoot dry weight. This research found that heavy metal Fe affected soybeans’ seeds’ viability in pH 6–7 and 4.5. The observed data showed that all seeds’ viability variables in media with heavy metal Fe, both in pH 6–7 and in pH 4.5, differ from the control media. The seed viability in media heavy metal Fe pH 6–7 was not significantly different from the control media, but in pH 4.5, the difference is significant. Soybean varieties’ characteristics also influence how heavy metal Fe in different pH affects seed viability. Overall, Anjasmoro, Deja, Grobogan, and Dega were the types that consistently demonstrated resistance or adaptation to heavy metal Fe existence, while Dena, Derap, and Detap are susceptible to heavy metal Fe existence. Seed viability in Iron medium is not always related to seed physical performance; therefore, before planting soybean in acid soil, it is recommended to conduct a seed viability test.

What Do Cross-Range Germination, Growth, and Interaction Studies Reveal about the Behaviour of an Expansive Plant Species?

Understanding the invasion potential of any plant species is crucial for early detection in habitat conservation, particularly when observing their expansion within their native region. As a test species, we utilised Allium ursinum L., a dominant clonal species in early spring forest floors. We compared the species’ germination capacity in native (Hungarian) and non-native (North American) soils, its seedling growth, and competing performances with two co-occurring dominant species, Melica uniflora Retz. and Carex pilosa Scop., in ten soil types and three soil compositions, respectively. Additionally, the competitive interactions of A. ursinum with Convallaria majalis L., a species already introduced in North America, were assessed under three moisture conditions. The results revealed that A. ursinum exhibited enhanced germination in non-native soils, while its shoot growth was most vigorous in control soil. When grown in soils with different co-dominant species, A. ursinum seedlings exhibited varying growth rates, significantly influenced by solar radiation intensity. A. ursinum shoots displayed superior growth in soil collected from C. pilosa stands compared to soil originating from its own stands. Notably, A. ursinum effectively competed against C. majalis in moderate soil moisture conditions. Furthermore, increasing sand content improved the competitive ability of A. ursinum against C. pilosa and M. uniflora. Based on our findings, A. ursinum possesses an invasion potential for particular North American habitats. However, the extent of its potential is dependent upon soil and climatic conditions. Under medium moisture regime, A. ursinum might outcompete the already established C. majalis from its habitats. Additionally, it can potentially displace native species with comparable ecological characteristics, such as C. pilosa and M. uniflora, especially in loose soils. Similar cross-range seed germination, growth, and paired competition experiments with potential competitor species are highly recommended as these can not only elucidate its native range expansion but also various growth scenarios for its agricultural cultivation.

The black-backed jackal as a seed disperser

Black-backed jackal Lupulella mesomelas consume fruits and their seeds, yet their seed dispersing ability is poorly understood. We extracted, identified and counted seeds from 150 jackal scat samples, and quantified the viability and germination capacity of ingested seeds, using tetrazolium viability tests and germination trials. We recovered 336 seeds of Grewia occidentalis, 1025 seeds of Pappea capensis, 362 seeds of Diospyros lycioides, 296 seeds of Vachellia karroo and 2 seeds of an unknown species from the scats. Seed viability and germination of three species tested (G. occidentalis, P. capensis and D. lycioides) were significantly lower than uningested seeds, but many seeds did survive ingestion by jackal and germinated successfully. Our study confirms that jackal do play a role in endozoochory and provides the first evidence of reduced germination of these dispersed seeds, broadening our understanding of the ecological role of this heavily persecuted mesopredator.

Effect of contaminated water on seed germination traits of crops

Lead (Pb) is one of the noxious trace metal element (TME) contaminants in the environment. In this work, we conducted a comparative physiological response study through some germination parameters between four cereals (Triticum durum, Triticum aestivum, Hordeum vulgare, and Zea mays) grown on a nutrient solution for 10 days and treated with three increasing levels of lead acetate (0.15, 0.3, and 0.6 g/L) in order to evaluate the impact of different lead concentrations on the germination capacity of these species. The results showed that lead has an abiotic stress effect on the four varieties examined at 0.3 g/L and 0.6 g/L. We recorded a significant to very highly significant effect in all the parameters studied. In the underground parts, in particular, a highly significant reduction in precocity of germination was recorded in Triticum durum, Triticum aestivum, Hordeum vulgare, and Zea mays. There was also a highly significant to very highly significant decrease in germination percentage in durum wheat, soft wheat, and maize. Under the most severe stress conditions (0.6 g/L), the barley variety showed stress tolerance with a germination rate of 92%. According to the findings of this study, the varieties examined can be grouped into two categories: variants that are susceptible to metal stress (Triticum durum, Triticum aestivum, and Zea mays) and varieties that are tolerant to lead exposure (Hordeum vulgare).

Effect of salinity on the germination of three species of the Acacia genus (A. karroo, A. saligna, and A. tortilis)

Abstract This scientific paper explores the impact of soil salinity on plant growth, with a particular focus on the relationship between salt tolerance and seed germination. To investigate this, three species of Acacia (Fabaceae), namely A. karroo, A. saligna, and A. tortilis, were selected, and their seeds were collected from Algeria. To overcome seed coat inhibition, seeds were treated with concentrated sulphuric acid, followed by a wash with distilled water before being sown in a culture medium containing varying concentrations of salt, specifically sodium chloride (NaCl) ranging from 0 to 600 mM. The germination tests were conducted over a 21-day period, with measurements taken at intervals of three days, and both the final germination percentage (FGP) and mean germination time (MGT) were calculated. The results showed that at 600 mM NaCl concentration no germination occurred during the experiment. The germination rates exhibited three phases, an initial latency phase, a second exponential phase of accelerated germination, and a third plateau phase. A. karroo seeds demonstrated the highest salt tolerance, germinating under high salinity conditions of 400 mM NaCl, with a FGP of 66%. In contrast, A. tortilis showed significantly lower salt tolerance, with only 20% germination at the same concentration. A. saligna had the lowest salt tolerance, with germination only occurring under 150 mM NaCl concentration and with a FGP of only 18%. Based on these findings, the rank order of the studied species in terms of decreasing tolerance to high salinity conditions, as determined by their respective germination capacities, is as follows: A. karroo > A. tortilis > A. saligna. Although A. saligna was the most sensitive species, it was still categorized as a salt-tolerant glycophyte. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the impact of salt stress on Acacia species and could contribute to the development of salt-tolerant crops in the future.

Optimization of Seed Priming Techniques for Seed Enhancement in Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)

Seed invigoration treatments are crucial for enhancing germination and seedling growth, particularly under adverse environmental conditions. Various techniques, such as hydropriming, seed hardening, osmopriming, and pre-sowing dry heat treatments have been proved to improve seed quality. Sunflower is an important oilseed crop, however, its area is now confined to specific niches and therefore any efforts to increase its production and bring back its glory are highly welcome. Sunflower crop is highly susceptible to environmental stresses further limiting its cultivation. Hence identification and standardization of suitable techniques to improve the germination capacity and planting value of sunflower especially under stress conditions is the need of the hour. The present study is taken up in aged and fresh seeds of two sunflower hybrids viz., DRSH-1 and GK-2002 to standardize hydropriming, thermo priming and pre-chilling treatments so as to the enhance planting value when sown under sub optimal conditions. It was found that hydropriming for 16 hrs, thermopriming for 6hrs at 35oC and pre chilling for 7 days at 10oC showed highest improvement in the seed quality parameters like germination percentage, seedling vigour indices I and II, field emergence and speed of germination. These findings offer promising avenues for improving seed quality and viability in sunflower.

Investigation of Major Storage Fungal Pathogens Associated with Seeds of Some Crops

The storage fungi damage the grains in several ways; they reduce the germination capacity, produce undesirable odor and kernel discoloration, decrease the food value, and also produce toxins that are injurious to the health of consumers. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the presence, and determine the identity, and incidences of major fungal pathogens associated with crop seeds. Totally fifty-eight seed samples of nine crops were used to investigate the presence and incidence of fungi associated with them in Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media. Results of the study revealed that a total of 9 fungi belonging to 8 genera viz. Penicillium sp., Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Bipolaris sp., Botrytis sp., Alternaria sp., Ascochyta sp., Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizopus sp. were isolated from samples. The infection percentage varied from 0-100% in samples of seed multiplication store. Most varieties of crops showed 100% infection followed by 97.5% (HB1307 of barley and Alidoro of wheat), 95% (Kingbird of wheat and RIB13/14 of nug), 90% (Kuncho of teff), 50% (Holetta-1 11/12 of gomenzer), 20% (Ginchi-1 11/12 of nug and Yellow Dodola15/16 of gomenzer), 10% (Shambu 17/18 of oat), and 5% (Shambu 11/12 of oat, S-67 17/18 of gomenzer and Fogera 10/11 of nug) except linseed samples 0%. In general, seed-borne fungi were present in most seed samples of cereals, oils, and legume crops. Some of the identified fungi are potential producers of mycotoxins, thus their presence is important in terms of reduced food safety for humans and animals. In addition, some seed-borne fungi were also the causal agents of diseases of the roots, stems, and leaves of crops. Fungal incidence of seed was highly associated with storage conditions of the independent variables, such as temperature and relative humidity of storage. So, it is suggested that the management of fungal growth, mycotoxin production, and fungal contamination incidence of seed should be investigated and confirmed with additional studies.

Environmental conditions predetermine quality, germination, and innate antioxidants pool in sea oat (Uniola paniculata L.) seeds

Secondary metabolites such as antioxidants are critical components that protect seeds from stress damage during seed development, desiccation, and ex-situ storage. Antioxidants are essential determinants of seed quality, longevity, and persistence. Understanding the environmental factors that regulate the accumulation, content, and function of antioxidant pools in sea oat seeds is critical for gene banking and understanding the environmental impacts on seed quality. Germination, viability, and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) were analyzed on seeds from 18 sea oat populations from the US Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. We first assessed baseline TEAC, followed by TEAC performed on imbibed seeds for 36 h at 35/25°C during the day and night, respectively. Then, we analyzed the relationship of the antioxidant pools from these 18 sea oat populations to sampling site environmental classifications. Higher baseline antioxidants were common in regions with extreme environmental conditions corresponding to sea oat populations growing at latitudinal extremes characterized by warmer and colder temperatures. Baseline antioxidants did not correlate with prevailing seed germination. However, higher concentrations of antioxidants following imbibition were associated with poor seed germination in warmer conditions. Our results indicate that climatic conditions and environmental components associated with temperatures and precipitation may largely influence the innate pool of antioxidants in sea oat seeds. Also, a high amount of antioxidants following sea oat seed imbibition suggest seed damage or poor viability influenced by environmental stress conditions during seed development.

Evaluation of Different Geographic Provenances of Silver Fir (Abies alba) as Seed Sources, Based on Seed Traits and Germination

The evaluation of the diversity of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) populations and the reproductive traits of the trees are of great importance for the conservation of genetic resources and forest management. Therefore, important reproductive characteristics of A. alba from seven Romanian provenances, considered as different geographical populations, were evaluated. Significant differences between the provenances were observed for the female cones, seed morphology, and germination. Due to the relatively low germination of silver fir seeds, germination tests were conducted to identify treatments that can stimulate the germination capacity. Thus, the seed germination capacity was determined using four different stimulation treatments and the data were compared with those of untreated seeds, designed as the control. Considerable differences were recorded not only depending on the seed provenances, but also regarding the treatments applied to stimulate germination (Atonik biostimulator, scarification, acetone, H2SO4). The biostimulator seed treatment gave the highest germination percentage, while sulfuric acid caused the lowest germination. The research also revealed that not all the forest seed sources provide high-quality reproductive material. Furthermore, for some of the seed resources, even the germination stimulation treatments did not result in adequate germination. The findings are pertinent and valuable for identifying suitable forest populations as seed sources, as well as for their use in silver fir reforestation programs.

PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF BIODEGRADABLE CRYOGELS BASED ON POLYVINYL ALCOHOL AND POTATO STARCH FOR USE IN SOIL EROSION CONTROL

Compositions for the formation of three-component elastic cryogels based on the aqueous solutions of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and potato starch are proposed. It is shown that the viscosity of aqueous solutions depends both on the kind of polymer and on the total content of polymers in the system. The elasticity modulus of three-component cryogels depends on the concentration of starch in them and increases from 5 to 15 kPa with the addition of starch in the amount of 1-5 wt. %. By introducing a dispersed material (soil) into the matrix of two-and three-component cryogels, due to the high adhesion of the polymer to the filler, the filled cryogels were obtained, with the elasticity modulus 16 times higher than that of cryogels without the filler. The introduction of potato starch in the amount of 5 wt. % into PVA cryogel caused an increase in the time of its complete drying by 24 h, and an increase in its destruction during exposure in water by 5% within a week. Two-component cryogels exhibited sharply different types of behaviour during storage in water: PVA cryogel did not lose its mass, while mass loss by the cryogel of potato starch was 11% within a week. A decrease in the mass of three-component cryogels by 75-89% due to the loss of moisture and destruction was demonstrated in the soil test under the action of aboriginal soil microflora. The mass loss by the two-component cryogel based on PVA was 60%. Soil testing for phytotoxicity after the destruction of three-component cryogels revealed a decrease in the germination capacity of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) by 2-10% with respect to the reference experiment, depending on starch content, while for the reference two-component PVA cryogel the corresponding decrease was by 18%. Cryostructuring of the upper soil layer by PVA cryogel caused an increase in the dry above-ground mass of plants by 3.2% in comparison with the reference, while the cryogel with potato starch caused an increase by 7.1%, and cryogel based on PVA and potato starch gave 9.4%.

ASSESSMENT OF THE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF NEW SUGARCANE HYBRIDS USING PRINCIPAL COMPONENT AND CLUSTER ANALYSES

With a cultivated area of approximately 800 thousand hectares distributed in 15 states, sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is one of the main crops in Mexico. Despite its socioeconomic importance, the genetic base of this crop has been reduced in recent decades, making the production system vulnerable to both biotic and abiotic stresses. For this reason, the Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Córdoba initiated a varietal selection program in 2009. In this study, morphological and agronomic attributes of 20 advanced hybrids were analyzed during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 growing seasons to determine genetic variability based on principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. Commercial cultivars widely planted in the area of influence of the Córdoba Campus (CP 72-2086, Mex 79-431, Mex 69-290 and Mex 05-204) were used as reference samples. In terms of agronomic indicators, most of the new hybrids showed higher averages than the commercial control cultivars. The hybrids COLPOSCCMex 09-50 and COLPOSCCMex 09-66 showed better germination capacity. The average height of the tallest milling stems was presented by the hybrids COLPOSCCMex 09-341 (318.1 cm) and COLPOSCCMex 09-93 (311.85 cm). The hybrid COLPOSCCMex 09-289 showed outstanding values for five variables: diameter (36.43 mm), °Brix (21.89 %), stem height (149.33 cm), leaf width (5.36 cm) and number of leaves (11.15). Morphological characterization was carried out according to 54 descriptors, combining categorical and continuous traits that were easy to observe, with a high degree of differentiation and low environmental influence. Principal component and cluster analyses showed the distribution of hybrids into five groups. These results show promising sugarcane lines with high yields, which can contribute to genetic diversity in agroecological zones where they can be adapted.