Genotypic Characteristics Research Articles

Genetic Analysis of Yield, Protein, and Oil Traits in Soybean Diallel Crosses for Enhanced Crop Quality and Productivity

The study was conducted at Sakha Research Station, ARC, Egypt, during three successive seasons from 2021 to 2023. A half diallel cross of fifteen F1 and F2 generations in addition to the six soybean parental genotypes namely, Japanese 13, Giza 111, Crawford, H18L54, Nc92-2231 and Linford were evaluated to determine the genetic behavior of yield and its components traits in both F1 and F2 generations, as well as seed protein and oil contents in F1. Results indicated that mean squares of General Combining Ability (GCA) and Specific Combining Ability (SCA) were significant and highly significant for all the studied characters of soybean genotypes in F1’s and F2’s, except SCA for 100-seed weight in F2’s only. The GCA/SCA ratios were less than unity in all traits, indicating that, the non-additive gene effects seemed to be responsible for the inheritance of these traits. The parental genotypes; H18L54, Nc 92-2231 and Linford seemed to be excellent combiners for days to flowering and maturity; however, Giza 111 and Japanese 13 were good combiners for seed yield. Meanwhile, Giza 111 was a good combiner for protein and oil content; also, H18L54 and Nc 92-2231 were good combiners for protein content. The crosses C7, C9, C10, C11 and C13 were earlier for maturity date, and also showed the most negative significant desirable Ŝij effects. The best (Ŝij) values in F2 were shown in the C1, C5, C8 and C15 crosses for seed yield/plant, these crosses also had the highest seed yield values in F2. The crosses; C5 and C8 showed significant to highly significant positive heterotic effects relative to the better parent for protein% and seed yield per plant. In addition three crosses; C13, C14, and C15 had highly significant positive heterotic effects relative to the better parent for oil % and seed yield per plant.

Phenotypic and genotypic features of children with familial hypercholesterolemia

Dyslipidemia is a metabolic disorder in which the ratio of lipid particles in the blood changes. It is often associated with other conditions and diseases during childhood. Lipid metabolism disorders in children can be divided into two categories: primary, which are inherited from parents or occur de novo, and secondary, which occur during life. Familial hypercholesterolemia is the most common type of primary disorder, characterized by an increase in blood lipoprotein levels. However, the lipid composition in children with established familial hypercholesterolemia can vary. One factor that may contribute to higher lipid levels in these children is the presence of mutations in the apolipoprotein E gene.Purpose of the study was to investigate the phenotypic and genotypic features of children with familial hypercholesterolemia in order to better understand this condition.Materials and methods. Children with a clinical diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia underwent DNA sequencing to identify mutations in genes related to LDLR, APOB, LDLRAP1, and APOE genes.Results. Children with familial hypercholesterolemia most often carry the polymorphism c.388T>C in the ApoE gene (g.45411941T>C, p.Cys130Arg, rs429358). Also, 24.1% of children were found to be isolated carriers of various ApoE haplotypes, which are risk factors for dyslipidemia. In children with a pathogenic mutation characteristic of familial hypercholesterolemia and carriage of polymorphisms in the ApoE gene, the LDL level was statistically higher compared to non-carriers.Conclusion. Carriage of various polymorphisms in the ApoE gene in children with familial hypercholesterolemia may lead to an increase in the already elevated levels of LDL and total cholesterol.

Genotyping of human isolates from human toxoplasmosis outbreak: Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism and Sanger Sequencing.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by infection with Toxoplasma gondii, capable of infecting a wide range of hosts. The parasite exhibits a broad genetic diversity, necessitating genotypic characterization for genotype identification and associations with epidemiological information. Therefore, the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) technique is used for characterization. This study aimed to perform genotypic characterization of isolates from pregnant women infected during a human toxoplasmosis outbreak, comparing the RFLP and Sanger Sequencing methodologies. For this purpose, six human isolates were subjected to conventional PCR, Multiplex PCR, Nested PCR, Enzymatic Digestion, and Sanger Sequencing. Additionally, the standard strains GTI (Type I), PTG (Type II), and CTG (Type III) were also subjected to the same techniques described above. Subsequently, the amplified DNA products were compared with the standard strains. As a result, it was observed that Sanger Sequencing provides the same information as RFLP PCR, as well as the possibility of cost reduction for genotypic characterization, and providing greater agility in issuing results. Additionally, Sanger Sequencing of T. gondii isolates allows for detailed evaluation of nucleotide sequences, including the assessment of SNPs and enzymatic restriction sites, which the RFLP technique does not.

Comprehensive analysis of genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of biotinidase deficiency patients in the eastern region of Türkiye

Background. Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a key role in carboxylation. The formation of free biotin is impaired in biotinidase deficiency (BD), resulting in impaired biotin-dependent carboxylase functions. Based on the percentage of residual serum enzyme activity, BD is classified as partial and profound. Methods. Retrospective data including gender, age, parental consanguinity, family history, biotinidase activity analyses, type of deficiency (partial-profound), physical examination, treatment, and genotypes were evaluated in patients diagnosed with biotinidase deficiency in a single center in the eastern region of Türkiye. Patients whose biotinidase enzyme activity was below 30% with biallelic variants in the BTD gene were diagnosed as BD. Results. A total of 302 patients were included in the study. Parental consanguinity was present in 135 (44.7%) of them. Two hundred eighty-six (94.7%) were diagnosed by neonatal screening, 14 (4.6%) by family screening and two (0.06%) by clinical symptoms. Ninety-two (30.5%) of the patients were followed-up with profound deficiency and 210 (69.5%) with partial deficiency. A total of 306 variants were detected. Twenty different variants (3 novel - 3 rare) and 31 different genotypes were detected. The 3 most frequently detected variants were c.410G>A (p.Arg137His; 47.3%), c.1270G>C (p.Asp424His; 29.7%), and c.38_44delGCGGCTGinsTCC (p.Cys13Phefs*36; 15.3%). The 3 most frequently identified genotypes were c.410G>A (p.Arg137His) / c.1270G>C (p.Asp424His) compound heterozygous (32.4%), c.410G>A (p.Arg137His) homozygous (24.8%), and c.38_44delGCGGCTGinsTCC (p.Cys13Phefs*36) / c.1270G>C (p.Asp424His) compound heterozygous (12.2%). Patients with c.410G>A (p.Arg137His) homozygous variant, c.38_44delGCGGCTGinsTCC (p.Cys13Phefs*36) homozygous variant and c.38_44delGCGGCTGinsTCC (p.Cys13Phefs*36) / c.410G>A (p.Arg137His) compound heterozygous variant were statistically significantly associated with profound deficiency. Compound heterozygosity of c.410G>A (p.Arg137His) / c.1270G>C (p.Asp424His) variants were significantly associated with partial deficiency. Conclusions. The association between the BTD genotype and biochemical phenotype is not always consistent. Our study provides valuable data by adding variants with genotype-phenotype correlations to the literature and three novel variants, which can provide significant guidance in clinical follow-up.

Comparison between PCR-RFLP and sequencing techniques in the analysis of Paracoccidioides spp. biodiversity: limitations and insights into species and variant differentiation.

The study of Paracoccidioides spp. faces significant challenges due to limitations inherent in the molecular biology techniques employed. Recently, new species were described whose geographical and genetic distributions were investigated. The phylogenetic studies have revealed that genotypes originally thought to be exclusive in specific regions from South American countries are now being found in other areas of the continent. This finding indicates a broader geographic distribution of these genotypes than previously recognized. To evaluate two molecular biology techniques employed to identify genotypes of Paracoccidioides spp. strains from a Brazilian culture collection previously identified only by mycological methods. DNA samples from 35 Paracoccidioides spp. strains maintained in a Brazilian culture collection were subjected to amplification and enzymatic digestion with PCR-RFLP of tub1 gene, followed by sequencing of gp43 Exon 2 loci. Strains with species identification discrepancies had their tub1 sequences determined to verify possible nucleotide mutations. The genotypic characterization of Paracoccidioides spp. using PCR-RFLP of the tub1 gene identified 22 isolates as P. brasiliensis sensu stricto, two as P. americana, four as P. restrepiensis, and eight as P. lutzii. Sequencing of the gp43 Exon 2 loci revealed discrepancies in the identification of four P. venezuelensis isolates, previously characterized as P. brasiliensis sensu stricto by PCR-RFLP of tub1. The sequencing of tub1 from P. brasiliensis sensu stricto and P. venezuelensis isolates revealed nucleotide differences in the pyrimidine class (C and T) in their sequences, specifically at the position 176bp. These molecular tools were able to establish the genetic diversity within the Paracoccidioides genus, crucial for taxonomy and epidemiology studies. The finding of presence of P. venezuelensis in Brazil, previously thought to be exclusive to Venezuela, highlights genetic connections and evolutionary divergences within the genus. While the PCR-RFLP of tub1technique showed limitations in identifying P. venezuelensis, sequencing of the gp43 Exon 2 loci was able to accurately identify this genotype. Thus, our findings contribute to the understanding of the molecular epidemiology of PCM and emphasize the need for precise species characterization in mycological research.

Evaluation of genotype characteristics and drug resistance mutations in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B is one of the public health priorities worldwide, especially in the Southwest China. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between genotypes and drug resistance mutations among HBV patients in Southwest China, with the objective of providing guidance for clinical antiviral treatment. A total of 4266 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated in the Qianjiang Hospital of Chongqing University were included in our study from 2014 to 2020. Both genotypes and drug-resistant mutations of CHB patients were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Genotype B and genotype C were the main HBV genotypes in our study. We found 54 mutation patterns, including 9 single-site mutations and 45 multiple-site mutations, accounting for 57.64% and 42.36%, respectively. rtM204I/V/S (485/1936) was the most common single-site mutation type, and rtL180M + rtM204I/V (482/1936) was the most common multiple-site mutation type. 1372 CHB patients were resistant to LAM + LDT, and 342 CHB patients were resistant to ADV. There was only 1 CHB patient who exhibited resistance to LAM + LDT + ADV + ETV, with a specific mutation pattern of rtA181T + rtT184L + rtM204V. Our study demonstrated trends in genetic mutations and drug resistance in CHB patients to enable timely adjustment of antiviral treatment strategies.

Characterizing Escherichia coli carrying plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases to optimize detection in a diagnostic laboratory setting.

Plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases are a cause of acquired cephalosporin resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. However, consensus regarding the optimal detection method is yet to be achieved and varies depending on local epidemiology and laboratory capacity. We determined the acquired genotypic resistance mechanisms of 250 Escherichia coli isolates with a positive AmpC screen, defined as cefoxitin MIC ≥ 8 mg/L and a positive AmpC double- disc diffusion test, using in-house designed high-resolution melt PCR, detecting plasmid-acquired genes from the CIT and DHA families. A proportion of these isolates (n = 170, 68%) underwent further genotypic characterization using whole- genome sequencing (WGS). Of 250 isolates with a positive screening test, 72 (28.8%) were determined to carry an acquired AmpC gene. There was 100% concordance between PCR and WGS in the identification of acquired AmpC genes. The phenotypic criteria were then assessed to determine their utility in predicting acquired AmpC gene carriage. Criteria 1 (cefoxitin MIC > 8 mg/L plus ceftriaxone MIC > 1 mg/L and/or ceftazidime MIC > 1 mg/L) yielded a sensitivity of 93.1% and a specificity of 47.8%. Criteria 2 (cefoxitin MIC > 16 mg/L plus ceftriaxone MIC > 4 mg/L) had a sensitivity of 33.3% and a specificity of 98.9%. DHA genes, whose expression may be induced following antibiotic exposure, were present in 19% of isolates testing susceptible to ceftriaxone (MIC ≤ 1 mg/L) and were significantly more likely than CIT genes to be detected in susceptible isolates (P < 0.0001). These findings highlight the importance of using genotypic methods to detect acquired AmpC resistance in E. coli isolates that meet phenotypic screening criteria.IMPORTANCEDetection of transmissible AmpC resistance remains a challenging problem for diagnostic laboratories, especially in Escherichia coli where the expression of its intrinsic AmpC gene can result in phenotypic resistance patterns indistinguishable from plasmid-mediated resistance. In conjunction with whole- genome sequencing (WGS), we describe the development and performance of a novel melt-curve PCR to identify the two most prevalent plasmid-mediated AmpC gene families: CIT and DHA. We then describe phenotypic testing algorithms that incorporate this PCR and can differentiate these from non-acquired resistance in E. coli. It is important to distinguish these, not only to spare patients from unnecessarily being treated with infection control precautions, but also to identify plasmid-mediated genes, especially of the DHA family, that have been associated with inducible drug resistance to third- generation cephalosporins.

Mutations in the main antigenic sites of VP7 and VP8* from G3P[8] rotavirus a strains circulating in Brazil may impact immune evasion to rotavirus vaccination.

In the post-rotavirus (RVA) vaccination era, uncommon and zoonotic strains have emerged as causative agents of acute gastroenteritis in humans, including the equine-like G3P[8] strains. First identified in 2013, this strain has quickly spread worldwide, reaching the position of the most prevalent genotype in many countries, including Brazil. Here, we report full genotype characterization and phylogenetic analysis of two equine-like G3P[8] strains detected in Goiás, a state in the Cerrado biome of the Brazilian Midwestern region, during the year of 2019. The strains were detected in different socioeconomic and demographic contexts: GO-MR from an asymptomatic adult living in a rural traditional community and GO-H5 from a symptomatic child from the state capital, with access to safe drinking water and essential sanitation services. These strains also displayed different backbone constellations considering the NSP2 gene segment (G3-P [8]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2 for GO-MR and G3-P[8]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N1-T2-E2-H2 for GO-H5). Furthermore, significant mutations in the main epitope sites of the VP7 and VP8* proteins of the detected strains, and other Brazilian G3P[8] viruses, were found with the comparison to RV1 and RV5 vaccine proteins, indicating a potential ability of these viruses to evade vaccine protection, which may contribute to their prevalence both nationally and globally. In summary, this study corroborates the genetic diversity of equine-like G3P[8] DS-1-like strains circulating worldwide, highlights the epidemiological importance of adults as reservoirs of RVA and shows the substantial differences between these emerging strains and the currently used anti-RVA vaccines, which may partially explain their predominance due to potential evasion of vaccine-induced protection.

Some Chemotaxonomic Characteristics of Local Garlic Genotypes

This study was carried out to determine some chemotaxonomic characteristics such as volatile sulfur compounds, mineral content and % protein of 7 garlic genotypes grown in Hatay province. The results revealed that the garlic genotypes have a large variation in terms of sulfur compound, mineral and % protein content. A total of 10 volatile sulfur compounds were detected, mainly diallyl disulphide and its amount in the genotypes varied between 41.51% and 59.48%. The highest value (59.48%) was detected in genotype Altınözü 2. The mineral content of determined in garlic genotypes also differed among genotypes. Genotypes Samandağ 2, Samandağ 3 and Hatay 1 had higher value in terms of Cu, Samandağ 1, Hatay 1 and Hatay 2 had higher value in terms of Zn, Samandağ 2, Altınözü 2, and Hatay 1 had higher value in terms of Na, Samandağ 1, Hatay 1, and Samandağ 3 had higher value in terms of K, Samandağ 1 had higher value in Ca and Fe, Altınözü 2 had higher value in terms of Mn, and Samandağ 2, Hatay 1, and Hatay 2 had high value in terms of Mg. The % protein content of the garlic genotypes varied between 4.77% and 7.71%. It is thought that this study will form a basis for the evaluation of these genotypes in breeding programs.

Textual Analysis of CT and MR images in bladder cancer: The promise and pitfalls in systematic review

Introduction: Textual analysis is a new stage in the development and improvement of radiology. Textual analysis (TA) or radiomics is a method of in-depth study of medical images using specialized computer programs. It`s based on the quantification of invisible features and provides tools for researchers to gain deep insights into tumor morphology.A number of mathematically extracted texture features (TF) can be correlate with morphological, molecular and genotypic characteristics of the studied field of interest. Aim: Analysis of the literature and comparative evaluation of publications to perform challenges and possibilities of texture analysis in bladder cancer. Materials and methods: We searched for scientific publications in the PubMed and Google Scholar information and analytical systems for 2016-2024 by keywords: «bladder cancer», «bladder cancer radiomics», «mri bladder cancer»». As a result, 40 articles were selected for analysis. Results: Our review demonstrates the methodology, challenges, opportunities and prospects of TA CT and MP imagesin bladder cancer.Numerous studies have demonstrated high accuracy of radiomics in local staging and estimation of tumor morphology, as well as in prediction of clinical outcomes. Conclusion: TA in controversial clinical cases is a useful way of increasing theinformationobtainable frommedical images. Further validation of these methodis required however.

RETRACTION: Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of a large, diverse population of maize near-isogenic lines.

L. Morales, A. C. Repka, K. L. Swarts, W. C. Stafstrom, Y. He, S. M. Sermons, Q. Yang, L. O. Lopez-Zuniga, E.Rucker, W. E. Thomason, R. J. Nelson, P. J. Balint-Kurti. "Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of a large, diverse population of maize near-isogenic lines," The Plant Journal 103, no. 3 (2020): 1246-1255. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.14787. The above article, published online on 29 April 2020, in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors; the journal Editor-in-Chief, Katherine Denby; Society for Experimental Biology (SEB); and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed following a report submitted by the authors indicating that the imputation of genotypes outlined in the article caused errors in the reported positions of introgressions in the lines. The authors also declared that some of the pedigree information is inaccurate. As a result, all authors agree that the paper must be retracted. The authors have stated their intention to publish a corrected report with improved analyses of introgression positions.

Clinical and mutational signatures of CRB1-associated retinopathies: a multicentre study

BackgroundTo delineate the clinical and mutational signatures of patients with CRB1-associated retinopathies.MethodsThis multicentre retrospective cohort study involved 40 patients with CRB1 mutations and 40 age-matched and gender-matched inherited retinal diseases...

Relationships Among Origin, Genotype, and Oenological Traits of Brettanomyces Yeasts.

Brettanomyces yeasts play a relevant role in the fermentation industry, showing controversial behavior. There is growing interest in these yeasts in the fermentation industry as beer and bioethanol production, while in winemaking, they are considered spoilage microorganisms mainly used to produce ethyl phenols. These compounds may alter wine's organoleptic characteristics, leading to significant economic loss. In this work, 45 Brettanomyces strains from seven different environments were genotyped and assayed for some oenological characters to investigate the possible relationship among sources of isolation, genotype characterization, and oenological characters. The results of biotyping showed four main clusters which were also distinguished according to the oenological characters. The oenological characters also distinguished the strains based on the isolation source, suggesting an overall relation between origin and biotypes. The negative correlation between fermentation rate and ethyl phenols production in the Brettanomyces population may indicate the adaptation to hostile environments differently from crop strains that showed the opposite behavior. The overall results contribute to clarifying some features of Brettanomyces yeasts, even if further investigations into the ability of these yeasts to colonize winemaking environments are needed.

Isolation and molecular characterization of velogenic Newcastle disease virus genotype VII.1.1 from commercial broilers and wild birds in Matrouh governorate, Egypt

Isolation and molecular characterization of velogenic Newcastle disease virus genotype VII.1.1 from commercial broilers and wild birds in Matrouh governorate, Egypt

Морфофизиологический тестинг Linum ussitatissimum L. в условиях различного уровня хлоридного засоления

The selection of resistant varieties under conditions of abiotic stress is an urgent direction in the adaptive selection of flax. The presented work reflects the assessment of the phenotypic variability of 12 hybrid combinations of flax-longshanks according to the morphophysiological parameters of seedlings under the action of chloride salinization of two levels (E1, E2). The genotypes of flax of the fourth (F4) – fifth (F5) generations were used as objects of research. Significant differences (p&gt;0.05, p&gt;0.01, p&gt;0.001) between hybrid populations and media were revealed for most of the studied indicators. Genotypic features (G) caused the formation of flax combinations of dry shoot mass, chlorophyll content in cotyledon leaves (16.2 -37.7%), medium – raw shoot mass and chlorophyll content (30.6 – 50.0%), interaction of genotype and medium – root length, germination index (26.8 – 45.5%). The negative effect of two environmental conditions on seed germination and further development of flax seedlings has been established. By root length Gen1, Gen5, Gen9, Gen10, Gen11; shoot length – Gen1, Gen2, Gen3, Gen7, Gen12; raw root weight – Gen1, Gen4, Gen5, Gen10; dry root weight – Gen1, Gen4, Gen5; the crude mass of the shoot is Gen1, Gen5; the dry mass of the shoot is Gen1, Gen4, Gen5, Gen7; the chlorophyll content is Gen2, Gen8. Resistance to salt stress in two environmental conditions was characterized by 41.6% of combinations in shoot length, 33.3% in raw root weight, dry shoot weight, 25.0% in dry root weight, 16.6% in raw shoot weight, chlorophyll content, which can be recommended for further breeding work when developing an adaptive strategy for creating new flax varieties -dolgunts in the soil and climatic conditions of the Tyumen region. Keywords: FLAX, HYBRIDIZATION, STABILITY INDEX, SPAD-502 PLUS, SELECTION

Water Use Efficiency Characteristics and Their Contributions to Yield in Diverse Sugarcane Genotypes with Varying Drought Resistance Levels Under Different Field Irrigation Conditions

Drought is the major abiotic constraint affecting sugarcane productivity and quality worldwide. This obstacle may be alleviated through sugarcane genotypes demonstrating good water use efficiency (WUE) performance. This study aims to investigate the WUE characteristics of various sugarcane genotypes under different soil water availability levels. Plant and ratoon field experiments were conducted using a split-plot randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plots were assigned three types of irrigation: (1) rainfed conditions (RF), (2) field capacity conditions (FC), and (3) half-available water (½ AW). The subplots consisted of six sugarcane genotypes with varying levels of drought resistance, i.e., KK3, UT13, Kps01-12, KKU99-03, KKU99-02, and UT12. Data on yield, stalk numbers, stalk diameter, height, and WUE were collected throughout the crop cycle for both plant and ratoon crops. For the plant crop, the net photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and leaf area index (LAI) were recorded during the crop period. In both plant and ratoon crops, the WUE in the RF treatment was lower than in the FC and ½ AW treatments during the drought stress period 4 months after planting (MAP). In the recovery phase, the WUE in the ½ AW treatment fell between the FC and RF treatments. The RF treatment exhibited the lowest WUE compared to the other two water regime treatments at the maturity stage. The drought-resistant genotypes KK3 and UT13 maintained high WUE values throughout both the drought and recovery periods and exhibited outstanding LAIs at 4 and 6 MAP. A significant relationship existed between WUE and LAI during these periods. Moreover, WUE was positively correlated with cane yields and yield components, such as stalk weight, shoot diameter, and height, during recovery and tiller number and height during ripening. Therefore, WUE and LAI are efficient parameters for supporting and maintaining growth and yield during water deficit and recovery phases under rainfed conditions.

Assessing population structure and morpho-molecular characterization of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) for elite germplasm identification.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), known for its adaptability and high yield potential, is vital in global edible oil production. Estimating genetic diversity is a key pre-breeding activity in crop breeding. The current study comprised of 48 genotypes which were assessed for their biometrical traits at department of Oilseeds, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, during the rainy season of 2022. The lines were subsequently characterised using 103 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for molecular diversity analysis. The results indicated that the net nucleotide distances indicated varying genetic divergence, with subpopulations II and V showing the highest (0.056) and I and IV the lowest (0.014). Subpopulation IV exhibited the highest heterozygosity (0.352), while subpopulation III had the lowest heterozygosity and a low Fst (0.173). Principal components analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis were employed for assessing the morphological diversity, facilitating genotype grouping and parent selection for breeding programs. The first four components cumulatively accounted for 86.72% of the total variation. Cluster Analysis grouped 48 sunflower genotypes into three clusters based on genetic diversity. COSF 13B stands out for its high head diameter, oil content, seed yield, and oil yield based on mean performance of morphological data. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) mirrored the groupings from the Neighbor Joining method, with the first three components explaining 27.24% of the total variation. Molecular data analysis identified five distinct clusters among the germplasm. By integrating morphological and molecular marker data with genetic distance analysis, substantial diversity was revealed with the genotypes RHA 273 and GMU 325 consistently demonstrated high oil yield per plant. The genotypes GMU 477, GMU 450, COSF 13B, RHA 102, CMS 1103B, and RHA GPR 58 have been identified as suitable parents for enhancing oil content in sunflower breeding programs. These findings also aid in selecting SSR markers for genotype characterization and in choosing diverse parents for breeding programs.

Unveiling environmental transmission risks: comparative analysis of azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus clinical and environmental isolates from Yunnan, China.

Azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus poses a significant clinical challenge globally. Our previous epidemiological analysis revealed a remarkably high frequency (~80%) of azole-resistant A. fumigatus in Yunnan's greenhouse environments, prompting increased local and regional research for targeted control strategies. In this study, we analyzed 94 clinical A. fumigatus isolates from Yunnan, comparing their susceptibility profiles and genotypic characteristics with environmental strains previously isolated. While the overall frequency of azole resistance in clinical isolates was lower than that in environmental samples, a significant prevalence of cross-resistance, with varying resistance patterns based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels was observed, which exceeded rates in other regions of China. Specific mutation combinations in the cyp51A gene were linked to elevated MIC values in clinical and/or environmental samples, while some resistant strains with wild-type cyp51A remain unexplained, indicating a need for further investigation into their resistance mechanisms. The differences in unique genetic elements and the distinct genetic differentiation observed between clinical and environmental isolates can be attributed to Yunnan's unique geomorphology and potential genotype importation from other provinces and abroad. Extensive allele exchanges and sharing contributed to the selection of azole-resistant clinical isolates, suggesting a common environmental origin, and the transmission routes of local drug-resistant strains cannot be excluded. These findings emphasize the imperative for regional and targeted surveillance to monitor resistance trends and guide effective antifungal therapy, and management strategies to mitigate invasive aspergillosis risk in this region.IMPORTANCEAzole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus is a major global health concern, with particularly high rates (~80%) observed in Yunnan's greenhouse environments. This study compares azole resistance in 94 clinical isolates from Yunnan with environmental strains, revealing lower clinical resistance but significant cross-resistance and distinct resistance patterns. Specific mutations in the cyp51A gene were associated with elevated minimum inhibitory concentration values, though some resistant strains had wild-type cyp51A, highlighting the need for further research. The unique genetic profiles and potential external genotype influences in Yunnan emphasize the need for targeted regional surveillance. Effective monitoring and control strategies are essential to manage and mitigate the risk of invasive aspergillosis.

Characterization of high-yielding aman rice genotypes through genetic and agronomic analysis

ABSTRACT Rice (Oryza sativa L.) holds immense global significance, serving as a staple food crop that sustains billions of people and supports livelihoods across diverse cultures and economies, including Bangladesh. For food security in Bangladesh, there is a significant demand for high-yielding Aman rice varieties. We assessed genetic variability of 16 Aman rice genotypes, including 11 promising Aman lines and 5 established Aman cultivars in Bangladesh, with the aim of identifying high-yielding genotypes through a three-year field experiment. The examined genotypes displayed notable variations in both yield and agronomic traits contributing to yield, as evidenced by their greater range of coefficients of variance and genetic variability components. Traits such as effective tillers per hill (ET), filled grains per panicle (FG), plant height (PH) at 80 days after transplanting, and panicle length (PL) demonstrated notable correlations with grain yield (GY) throughout the three-year evaluation. Moreover, the higher broad-sense heritability (H 2) observed in ET, FG, PH, and PL traits suggested a substantial influence of genetic factors on the variability of the Aman rice genotypes. Principal component analysis based biplot and heatmap analyses revealed that the advanced lines BU acc4 and BU acc5 had higher harvest index and relatively greater GY compared to the other Aman rice varieties. These promising Aman lines could prove to be valuable materials for future multi-location yield trials or ongoing and forthcoming breeding programs aimed at enhancing high-yielding Aman rice cultivars.

Water Relations and Physiological Traits Associated with the Yield Components of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Water stress in agricultural systems may occur slowly or abruptly. Plant reactions to stress differ with regard to its level and duration. The level of plant susceptibility to water deprivation primarily depends on the management of the water content and metabolism adjustments. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between water-based plant parameters and the yield components of 90 genotypes of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Since the loss of water is frequently used as a selection criterion to assess drought tolerance, the relationships between the yield and leaf water content, osmotic potential, and gas exchange characteristics were examined. Genotypes 1, 25, 34, 36, 42, 43, 46, 57, 66, 73, and 90 showed 33–45% larger numbers of grains/plant, 19–25% higher weights of grains/plant, and 4% higher thousand grain weights compared to other genotypes. The higher values of the yield components were accompanied by 20–30% lower leaf water content, 39–52% lower osmotic potential, and 4–39% lower water use efficiency. The principal component analysis revealed that the wheat genotypes had noticeable differences in a few physiological parameters that depended on the sowing date. Electrolyte leakage showed a substantial correlation with the sowing date, suggesting that it may not be a suitable factor for the prediction of drought tolerance. The factors that distinguished the examined genotypes the most were the leaf water content, osmotic potential, and water use efficiency. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between the mentioned parameters and yield components. As a result, these parameters may be helpful in genotype characterization in relation to water stress susceptibility, offering a trustworthy plant selection test.