Diverse Cultivars Research Articles

研究小集会｢大豆｣開催の趣旨 大豆加工食品の美味しさに関する研究 大豆育種の現状と展望 枝豆

Soybeans are rich in proteins and lipids and are often called “meat of the field.” Green soybeans, which are immature soybeans, are also highly nutritious and contain high levels of carotene and vitamin C. In Japan, green soybeans used to be harvested and consumed from May to November; however, with the development of freezing and storage technologies, they are now available throughout the year. Globally, there has been an increase in the consumption of the green soybean food, edamame, which originated in Japan, along with tofu and soy sauce. Currently, there are more than 400 unique green soybean varieties in Japan; nonetheless, studies investigating the components that determine green soybean palatability at the genetic level are scarce. During the Soybean Research Session of the 69th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Food Science and Technology in 2022, the results and future prospects of the present study were presented by Dr. Tomoki Hoshino from the Department of Food, Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture at Yamagata University, who is currently developing new varieties of green soybean cultivars by analyzing the genes that determine consumer palatability.

Photosynthetic Response of Blueberries Grown in Containers.

Recently, there has been increased interest in container blueberry production as a viable alternative to open-field blueberry planting. Container production of blueberries offers numerous advantages, among these, a lack of limitation by suboptimal soil conditions in the open field and the ability to control substrate pH, drainage, and organic matter. The photosynthetic response for three container-grown Southern highbush blueberry (interspecific Vaccinium hybrids) cultivars including 'Jewel', 'Meadowlark', and 'Victoria' and a rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum) 'Baldwin', were measured during the spring and summer of 2022. It was hypothesized that the three cultivars evaluated would have different photosynthetic responses. The objective of this study was to determine the photosynthetic activity of different blueberry cultivars during the first year of crop establishment. A series of measurements were conducted every 2 h throughout the day and for different dates using a gas exchange data analyzer on newly matured fully expanded leaves located in the top middle section of the canopy for each cultivar. The response curves showed that net photosynthesis (A) became saturated at moderate light, with saturation occurring at a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 1932 µmol m-2 s-1. At this point, the rate of CO2 assimilation was approximately 16.84 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1. No differences in (A) were found among cultivars. Overall, the attained values of photosynthesis provide a strong conceptual basis for understanding the cultivar variation response when grown in containers; therefore, the containerized system may serve as a production system for early fruiting blueberries in Alabama, USA.

Utilizing resequencing big data to facilitate Brassica vegetable breeding: tracing introgression pedigree and developing highly specific markers for clubroot resistance

Clubroot caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae is a devastating disease of Cruciferous crops. Developing cultivars with clubroot resistance (CR) is the most effective control measure. For the two major Brassica vegetable species B. rapa and B. oleracea, several commercial cultivars with unclear CR pedigrees have been intensively used as CR donors in breeding. However, the continuous occurrence of CR-breaking makes the CR pedigree underlying these cultivars one of the breeders' most urgent concerns. The complex intraspecific diversity of these two major Brassica vegetables has also limited the applicability of CR markers in different breeding programs. Here we first traced the pedigree underlying two kinds of CR that have been widely applied in breeding by linkage and introgression analyses based on public resequencing data. In B. rapa, a major locus CRzi8 underlying the CR of the commercial CR donor ‘DegaoCR117’ was identified. CRzi8 was further shown to have been introgressed from turnip (B. rapa ssp. rapifera) and that it carried a potential functional allele of Crr1a. The turnip introgression carried CRbc, sharing the same coding sequence with the CRb that was also identified from chromosome C07 of B. oleracea CR cultivars with different morphotypes. Within natural populations, variation analysis of linkage intervals of CRzi8, PbBa8.1, CRb, and CRbc yielded easily resolved InDel markers (> 20 bp) for these fundamental CR genes. The specificity of these markers was tested in diverse cultivars panels, and each exhibited high reliability in breeding. Our research demonstrates the value of the practice of applying resequencing big data to solve urgent concerns in breeding programs.

Investigation of Fruit Growth Patterns, Olive Fly Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) Infestation, and Genetic Diversity in Italian Olive Cultivars

The olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Rossi, 1790) poses a significant threat to oliviculture worldwide, despite extensive chemical control measures. The susceptibility of olive (Olea europaea L.) to this pest varies among cultivars, with fruit size being a key factor of interest, as it can be assessed using non-destructive automated technologies. In this study, we investigated the oviposition preferences of the olive fruit fly in six Italian olive cultivars, tracking fertile and sterile punctures in relation to the diametric growth of the drupe. Additionally, we assessed the genetic diversity among cultivars using SSR markers, aiming to uncover a potential correlation between variation in the genetic diversity patterns and infestation levels. The results revealed that the relationship between fruit size and infestation level is non-linear and varies across different cultivars. The co-inertia analysis (COIA) performed on the genetic and infestation datasets revealed possible shared patterns of diversity and relationships between the two datasets. This study emphasizes the complex and diverse nature of the interaction between the olive fruit fly and its host, underscoring the importance of comprehending non-linear relationships to develop accurate genotypic-specific predictions and models.

The Self-incompatibility Locus and Chloroplast DNA Regions of Prunus domestica Reflect the Origin and Genetic Diversity of Traditional Cultivars

A traditional cultivar, Besztercei Bt.2, and a clone of an autochthonous landrace (Nemtudom P3) of the hexaploid European plum (Prunus domestica) were studied to highlight their breeding perspectives. Five self-incompatibility ribonuclease (S-RNase) alleles were detected in both cultivars, with one allele shared. DNA sequence analysis confirmed it as a new, previously unidentified allele in P. domestica, which we labeled as S18. This allele was found to share ∼99% identity with the Prunus spinosa SB-RNase allele. Because Prunus species are readily hybridizing, sequence variations in 10 chloroplast DNA regions and nuclear internal transcribed spacers were studied to check if ‘Nemtudom P3’ and ‘Besztercei Bt.2’ are indeed P. domestica. The majority-rule consensus tree of maximum likelihood and Bayesian inferences confirmed it, and also indicated genetic differentiation with ‘Nemtudom P3’ and ‘Besztercei Bt.2’ forming a statistically supported subclade within the P. domestica germplasm. Our results pointed to some regions of the P. domestica chloroplast genome (trnS-trnG-trnG, trnC-ycf6, and trnD-trnT) that can be used to detect intraspecific variations. The proportion of parsimony informative characters compared with the total length of amplified regions was the highest in the case of nrITS with 12.1%. The S-genotyping of 68 wild-growing Nemtudom trees showed the genetic consequences of long-term vegetative propagation and occasional crossing between Besztercei and Nemtudom accessions. Controlled pollinations confirmed the self-compatibility of ‘Nemtudom P3’. By clarifying their phylogenetic position, and characterizing the S-locus, our results will help breeding P. domestica cultivars and pave the way to understanding how the S-locus works in a hexaploid Prunus species.

Buddleja Cultivar Identification Using Microsatellite Markers

Buddleja (butterfly bush) is a genus of common landscape plants in temperate and subtropical gardens. Substantial breeding has led to a wealth of diverse cultivars with varied pedigrees. Molecular markers would be useful tools for breeders and others studying butterfly bush to identify cultivars. We evaluated SSR markers developed in Buddleja to fingerprint 11 cultivars to determine whether they were useful in cultivar identification. Markers Bud_03, Bud_10, and Bud_13 were polymorphic across all genotypes in the study and capable of accurate cultivar identification. These markers may be useful to breeders for intellectual property protection and to identify cultivars in instances of mislabeling.

Growth, varietal development and cultivar diversity in seed production chain of cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) in India

India with a contribution of about 90% to the global production ranks first in the world in cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba [L.] Taub.) production. It is an important feed, fodder, food and industrial crop grown in arid and semiarid regions of West and North-West India specifically, Rajasthan, accounted for about 87.7% of the production and 91.5% of the acreage during 2020–21. India is also the major exporter of guar gum or derivatives in the international market and during 2022–23, earned valuable foreign exchange worth US $617.14 million by exporting 0.41 million tonnes (mt) of guar gum. During 2020–21 area, production and yield were reduced by 34.6%, 34.0% and 17.1%, respectively, over that of the 2010–11. The compound annual growth rate during the last five years of the decade was-12.4%, -17.5 and -5.7% for acreage, production and yield, respectively. Despite negative CAGR for area during the last twenty years, the production and yield of cluster bean increased with a CAGR of 4.5 and 5.1%. A total of 39 forage or grain type varieties of cluster bean were released and notified during 1976–2023. Varieties HG 2-20 (14.1–45.2%; 8/8) followed by RGC 1038/Guar Karan (1.4–16.7%; 8/8); HG 365 (0.3–10.0%, 8/8) and RGC 1033 (14.9–62.0%; 7/8) were the major contributors with highest frequency of occurrence in the top-most five varieties in the seed chain. Seed requirement for the next five years was assessed. Timely availability of adequate quantityof quality seed at affordable price requires holistic approach involving researchers and developmental personnel responsible for production of seed from both public and private sector.

Evaluation of the Content of Micro- and Macroelements in Raspberries Depending on the Species, Cultivar Variety, and Geographical Environment.

The study aimed to analyse the macro- and micro-nutrient content in fruits of Rubus species (R. idaeus, R. occidentalis, R. chamaemorus, and R. chingii) and their varieties or hybrids from different regions. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry with deuterium background correction was used to measure concentrations of nine essential elements (K, Mg, Ca, Na, Mn, Fe, Cr, Zn, and Cu) and two heavy metals (Pb, Cd). Chemometric analysis compared the elemental profiles. Results confirmed raspberries as a rich source of macroelements (K, Mg) and microelements (Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr). The 'Bristol' cultivar consistently had the highest Fe content regardless of origin. Cr presence was observed in black raspberries for the first time. Previously observed relationships like K-Na antagonism and Cr/Zn, Fe/Zn synergism were found in raspberry fruits. Factor and cluster analyses demonstrated species and geographical diversity among Polish raspberry samples and clear separation of R. chingii from China. Raspberry fruits, due to the rich complex of polyphenols, are classified as superfoods, and the content of bioelements determined in them guarantees coverage of the daily requirement for macro- and microelements (RDA depending on the element: 5.6-204% for R. idaeus, 8.8-469, 4% for R. occidentalis, and 1.4-67.2% for R. chamaemorus), finally confirming this opinion.

Six Express Sequence Tag-Simple Sequence Repeat Primers Reveal Genetic Diversity in the Cultivars of Three Zanthoxylum Species.

Zanthoxylum (Sichuan pepper), with its rich cultivars, has long been widely cultivated in China for its unique seasoning and medicinal uses, but most of its cultivars have similar morphological characteristics. Therefore, we hypothesized that the genetic diversity of Zanthoxylum cultivars is low because of their apomixis and long cultivation history. In this study, we aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of three Zanthoxylum species on the cultivar level based on express sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) primers. In total, 121 samples of three Zanthoxylum species (Z. bungeanum, Z. armatum and Z. piperitum) were collected from different areas in China for genetic diversity analysis. A total of six specificity and polymorphism EST-SSR primers, which we selected from among 120 primers based on two transcriptomes (Z. bungeanum, Z. armatum) in our earlier study, were used to evaluate genetic diversity based on capillary electrophoresis technology. The results of our analysis using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) indicated that most of the samples are clustered in one clade in the UPGMA dendrogram, and the average genetic distance was 0.6409. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that Z. piperitum may have a closer genetic relationship with Z. bungeanum than with Z. armatum. An analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) showed that the genetic variation mainly stemmed from individuals within populations; the genetic differentiation coefficient (PhiPT) was 0.429, the gene flow (Nm) between populations was 0.333, and the differences among populations were not significant (p > 0.001). For the intraspecific populations of ZB, the percentage of genetic variation was 53% among populations and 47% within populations, with non-significant differences between populations (p > 0.001). The genetic differentiation coefficient (PhiT) was 0.529, and the gene flow (Nm) was 0.223. For the intraspecific populations of ZA, the results indicated that the percentage of genetic variation was 29% among populations and 71% within populations, with non-significant differences between populations (p > 0.001); the genetic differentiation coefficient (PhiPT) was 0.293, and the gene flow (Nm) was 0.223. Through genetic structure analysis (GSA), we predicted that these 121 samples belonged to two optimal subgroups, which means that all the samples probably originated from two gene pools. Above all, this indicated that the genetic diversity of the 121 Zanthoxylum samples was relatively low at both the species and cultivar levels, a finding which was consistent with our initial assumptions. This study provides a reference, with molecular-level data, for the further identification of Zanthoxylum species.

Whole-genome sequencing of diverse wheat accessions uncovers genetic changes during modern breeding in China and the United States.

Breeding has dramatically changed the plant architecture of wheat (Triticum aestivum), resulting in the development of high-yielding varieties adapted to modern farming systems. However, how wheat breeding shaped the genomic architecture of this crop remains poorly understood. Here, we performed a comprehensive comparative analysis of a whole-genome resequencing panel of 355 common wheat accessions (representing diverse landraces and modern cultivars from China and the United States) at the phenotypic and genomic levels. The genetic diversity of modern wheat cultivars was clearly reduced compared to landraces. Consistent with these genetic changes, most phenotypes of cultivars from China and the United States were significantly altered. Of the 21 agronomic traits investigated, 8 showed convergent changes between the 2 countries. Moreover, of the 207 loci associated with these 21 traits, more than half overlapped with genomic regions that showed evidence of selection. The distribution of selected loci between the Chinese and American cultivars suggests that breeding for increased productivity in these 2 regions was accomplished by pyramiding both shared and region-specific variants. This work provides a framework to understand the genetic architecture of the adaptation of wheat to diverse agricultural production environments, as well as guidelines for optimizing breeding strategies to design better wheat varieties.

Pollen viability, self-incompatibility, and a very singular S-allele structure between the reasons for the limited potential productivity of traditional Basque cider apple varieties

Cider regions conserve a broad diversity of traditional cultivars for which knowledge has hardly evolved. Key aspects of their reproductive biology are barely known, hindering improvement in orchard management and resulting in highly variable yields. In this study, we characterized key aspects of the reproductive biology of some traditional apple cultivars from the Basque-style cider-producing area in northern Spain (Basque Country and Navarre). We tested for pollen quality, self-compatibility, and cross-compatibility (S-genotyping). The pollen quality was good except for Urtebete, Errezila, Reineta Encarnada, and triploid varieties. Self-pollination results confirm the need for pollinators, as only Moko and Txalaka showed certain self-compatibility. Regarding S-genotyping, the population proved very singular, with an atypically high frequency of S26, a frequent allele within crabapples, and the appearance of a novel unpublished allele (S60). The knowledge generated for this variety pool will contribute to a better choice of suitable pollinators, preventing the use of popular crabapple varieties that are demonstrated to be partly incompatible with them, and will lead to an increase in potential yields in the region.

Evaluation of karyotype diversity in Indian traditional aromatic rice cultivars through EMA-based non-fluorescent Giemsa and fluorescent DAPI staining

Evaluation of karyotype diversity in Indian traditional aromatic rice cultivars through EMA-based non-fluorescent Giemsa and fluorescent DAPI staining

Quantifying the roles of intraspecific and interspecific diversification strategies in forage cropping systems

Increases in extreme weather events from climate change are likely to hinder forage crop production. Cropping system diversification may be a strategy for improving productivity and enhancing yield stability of forage production systems in the face of climate change, yet farmers are often constrained by their operations as to what strategies they can readily adopt. Moreover, the type of diversity necessary to provide desired outcomes and the potential tradeoffs from such outcomes are largely unknown. We compared three strategies to increase cropping system diversity via intercropping in winter annuals, summer annuals, and perennials in a three-year forage crop experiment conducted in New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont, USA. For each crop type, three diversification strategies, (1) cultivar diversity (Intraspecific), (2) crop species diversity (Interspecific), and (3) both cultivar and species diversities (Intra+Inter), were compared against a control of a single cultivar of a single species (Baseline). Measured responses included yield, weed biomass, forage nutritive value, and yield stability. Across all crop types, yields in Interspecific and Intra+Inter treatments were 15% and 14% greater than the Baseline treatment, respectively. Species diversity had the greatest effect on performance in perennials, which we partially attribute to temporal diversity indicated by differences in biomass composition across harvests within a season. Perennial diversity treatments that contained species diversity had lower weed biomass, lower crude protein, and greater fiber content than the Baseline or Intraspecific treatments. Stability analysis of yields across growing conditions showed that perennial crop yields were consistently greater in the Inter and Intra+Inter treatments than the Baseline treatment. In the summer annuals, yields of the Intra+Inter treatment were greater than yields of the Baseline treatment in sub-optimal environments (20th percentile of the environmental index), whereas, in winter annuals yields in the Intra+Inter treatment were greater than yields of the Baseline treatment in optimal environments (80th percentile of the environmental index). Across crops, strategies of species diversity had a greater impact on responses than cultivar diversity and no additional benefits were detected in strategies that also incorporated cultivar diversity. Benefits of mixtures could be further enhanced by selecting specific traits that maximize both functional and response diversity. Future research should aim to develop guidelines for species and trait compatibility in mixtures and appropriate seeding rates to optimize performance.

Effect of Drought Stress on Leaf Productivity and Liquor Quality of Tea: A Review

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) is a highly valued plant known for its refreshing taste, medicinal properties, and health benefits. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree belonging to the Theaceae family. The productivity and quality of tea leaves and liquor are strongly influenced by edaphic and environmental factors. However, the cultivation of tea faces significant challenges due to the increasing occurrence of drought associated with global warming and climate change. In this review, we have summarized the potential effects of drought on the growth, productivity, and liquor quality of tea. Drought exerts substantial impacts on the physiological, biochemical, and morphological features of tea plants. For instance, under drought stress, there is a reduction in leaf activity, including chlorophyll production, photosynthetic rate, and CO2 uptake. Drought periods also lead to decreased shoot initiation and extension rates. However, it is important to note that responses to drought can vary depending on factors such as tea variety, cultivar diversity, agricultural management practices, and study techniques. While drought-induced biochemical damage may occur, it is often reversible, and the plant can recover upon rehydration. Irrigation strategies employed during dry periods have been shown to have a significant positive effect on tea yields, making it a promising option for enhancing productivity in drought-prone regions. Furthermore, the cultivation of drought-tolerant tea cultivars, along with the application of micro and macro-nutrients, as well as hormone treatments, can contribute to improving the post-drought recovery process. Studying the influence of drought on tea productivity offers an opportunity for frontier research, aiming to understand the intricate relationship between tea leaf productivity and liquor quality. Additionally, investigating the factors that contribute to stress recovery in tea plants holds promise for enhancing cultivation practices and ensuring the sustainability of tea production in the face of changing climatic conditions.

Diagnosis of table grapes sold at retail in Pelotas - RS

Table grapes are among the most consumed and commercialized fruits in the world and that has increased considerably in recent years. Table grape production in Pelotas is concentrated in the summer, and the grapes that are consumed in other seasons are from other states or even countries. The present work objective is to develop a research about the main table grapes sold in the retail of Pelotas and their qualitative characteristics. In each season of the year, samples were collected from all cultivars available in four previously selected retailers were carried out, with at least 2 bunches per cultivar, in order to analyze the following variables: bunch and berry mass, bunch length, length and diameter of berry, soluble solids (SS) and titratable acidity (AT). Of the grapes sold at retail in Pelotas, the fine ones represent more than 60% in all the periods studied when compared to American and hybrid grapes. The traditional varieties Italia, Red Globe, Niagara Rosada and Benitaka, are the most commonly found. Spring was the season in which the greatest diversity of cultivars was found. New cultivars such as Arra15®, Sable Seedless® and Sweet Celebration® are slowly being introduced. Some cultivars were outside the commercialization standard, in terms of maturity and bunch size.

Crop cultivar mixtures stabilize productivity, partly via facilitation, when conditions are less benign

Context of problemCrop cultivar mixtures can increase and stabilize productivity; however, their effects on year-to-year temporal stability are positive in some cases, and neutral or negative in others. This inconsistency is not understood, in part because the mechanisms underlying the effects of diversity on stability are not clear, and in part because we do not understand the role of the abiotic environment on the functioning of crop mixtures. Objective of research questionTo test whether maize cultivar mixtures increase maize productivity and temporal yield stability compared to monocultures, in benign vs. less benign conditions, our objective was to explore the role of facilitation in the overall effect of crop diversity. MethodsWe performed two field experiments comparing mixtures of up to eight cultivars to monocultures over five years at Zhangye with irrigated conditions and with higher organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium, and over four years at Lishu with rainfed conditions without irrigation, and with lower soil fertility. Water supply at Zhangye was 18.5% higher than at Lishu and the water supply at Lishu was dependent on precipitation with greater year-to-year variation. ResultsAt the Lishu site, productivity was 18.3% lower than at the Zhangye site, and the temporal stability of aboveground biomass for cultivar mixtures was 31.5% higher than that of monocultures. This increase in temporal stability in mixtures corresponded to 6.9% greater productivity overall and 48.1% less variation in productivity than in monocultures at the Lishu site. Complementarity effects were positive and facilitation was much more important at the Lishu site. Temporal stability of aboveground biomass was also positively correlated with complementarity effects (P < 0.05) and facilitation (P < 0.01). There was no evidence of enhanced stability or facilitation at the Zhangye site. ConclusionsOur findings emphasize that cultivar mixtures enhance ecosystem functioning under less benign conditions with lower productivity, in part via facilitation, but not under more productive benign conditions. Implications or significanceOur study highlights that increasing crop cultivar diversity may better respond to more abiotically stressful and fluctuating conditions, and provides insight into why crop cultivar mixtures vary in their effects on stability.

Basic leucine zipper gene VvbZIP61 is expressed at a quantitative trait locus for high monoterpene content in grape berries.

The widely appreciated muscat flavor of grapes and wine is mainly attributable to the monoterpenes that accumulate in ripe grape berries. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for grape berry monoterpene content, an F1 mapping population was constructed by a cross between two grapevine genotypes, one with neutral aroma berries (cv. 'Beifeng') and the other with a pronounced muscat aroma (elite Vitis vinifera line '3-34'). A high-density genetic linkage map spanning 1563.7cM was constructed using 3332 SNP markers that were assigned to 19 linkage groups. Monoterpenes were extracted from the berry of the F1 progeny, then identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Twelve stable QTLs associated with the amounts of 11 monoterpenes in berries were thus identified. In parallel, the levels of RNA in berries from 34 diverse cultivars were estimated by RNA sequencing and compared to the monoterpene content of the berries. The expression of five genes mapping to stable QTLs correlated well with the monoterpene content of berries. These genes, including the basic leucine zipper VvbZIP61 gene on chromosome 12, are therefore considered as potentially being involved in monoterpene metabolism. Overexpression of VvbZIP61 in Vitis amurensis callus through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation significantly increased the accumulation of several monoterpenes in the callus, including nerol, linalool, geranial, geraniol, β-myrcene, and D-limonene. It is hypothesized that VvbZIP61 expression acts to increase muscat flavor in grapes. These results advance our understanding of the genetic control of monoterpene biosynthesis in grapes and provide important information for the marker-assisted selection of aroma compounds in grape breeding.

D-Pinitol Content and Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activities of Five Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. Cultivars.

Diabetes mellitus is a major challenge for global health, and Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. (B. spectabilis) is a widely used herbal remedy with diverse cultivars traditionally used for diabetes treatment. However, the comparative efficacy of these cultivars remains ambiguous. This study aimed to evaluate the D-pinitol content and DPPH radical-scavenging activity of methanolic leaves extracts of five B. spectabilis cultivars. Furthermore, the effects of these cultivars on various parameters, including blood glucose levels, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, lipid profiles, liver enzymes, renal function markers, and histopathological changes, were assessed in STZ-induced diabetic rats after one month of oral daily treatment. All tested cultivars demonstrated significant improvements in the measured parameters, albeit to varying extents. Notably, the LOE cultivar, distinguished by its orange bracts, exhibited the highest efficacy, surpassing the effectiveness of glibenclamide, an antidiabetic medication, and displayed the highest concentration of D-pinitol. These findings underscore the importance of carefully selecting the appropriate B. spectabilis cultivar to maximize the antidiabetic efficacy, with a particular emphasis on the correlation between antidiabetic activity and D-pinitol concentrations.

Let-Us Investigate; A Meta-Analysis of Influencing Factors on Lettuce Crop Yields within Controlled-Environment Agriculture Systems.

Climate change-related impacts have hampered the productivity of agricultural lands in recent times, affecting food security globally. Novel technology-based agricultural production systems such as controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) are a way to reduce the impact of climatic variation and pests that harm current global crop production and ensure consistent crop development. These systems often use artificial lighting and soilless mediums to produce crops. This meta-analysis has investigated the key influencing factors on crop production within these systems, using previous studies on lettuce (the most cultivated crop in these systems) to understand what affects yield within CEA. This analysis has found that on average, CEA systems yield twice that of field-based agriculture (3.68 kg m-2 vs. 1.88 kg m-2), with the most influencing factors being the variety of cultivars grown, the season, the nutrient delivery method, and the lighting type. The cultivation time for this study was 40 days, with 94% of papers having trial periods of 70 days or less, much lower than field-based agriculture (60-120 days). Vertical farming (stacked vertical CEA cultivation) studies were found to especially drive up yield per area (6.88 kg m-2). The results of this meta-analysis are useful for starting to understand the key influencing factors on CEA growth and highlight the breadth of research ongoing in the CEA industry.

Genetic diversity, population structure, and genome-wide association analysis of ginkgo cultivars.

Ginkgo biloba is an economically valuable tree worldwide. The species has nearly become extinct during the Quaternary, which has likely resulted in reduction of its genetic variability. The genetic variability is now conserved in few natural populations in China and a number of cultivars that are, however, derived from a few ancient trees, helping the species survive in China through medieval times. Despite the recent interest in ginkgo, however, detailed knowledge of its genetic diversity, conserved in cultivated trees and cultivars, has remained poor. This limits efficient conservation of its diversity as well as efficient use of the existing germplasm resources. Here we performed genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) on 102 cultivated germplasms of ginkgo collected to explore their genetic structure, kinship, and inbreeding prediction. For the first time in ginkgo, a genome-wide association analysis study (GWAS) was used to attempt gene mapping of seed traits. The results showed that most of the germplasms did not show any obvious genetic relationship. The size of the ginkgo germplasm population expanded significantly around 1500years ago during the Sui and Tang dynasties. Classification of seed cultivars based on a phylogenetic perspective does not support the current classification criteria based on phenotype. Twenty-four candidate genes were localized after performing GWAS on the seed traits. Overall, this study reveals the genetic basis of ginkgo seed traits and provides insights into its cultivation history. These findings will facilitate the conservation and utilization of the domesticated germplasms of this living fossil plant.