Important Traits Research Articles

A million-cow genome-wide association study of productive life in U.S. Holstein cows

BackgroundProductive life (PL) of a cow is the time the cow remains in the milking herd from first calving to exit from the herd due to culling or death and is an important economic trait in U.S. Holstein cattle. The large samples of Holstein genomic evaluation data that have become available recently provided unprecedented statistical power to identify genetic factors affecting PL in Holstein cows using the approach of genome-wide association study (GWAS).MethodsThe GWAS analysis used 1,103,641 Holstein cows with phenotypic observations on PL and genotypes of 75,282 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The statistical tests and estimation of SNP additive and dominance effects used the approximate generalized least squares method implemented by the EPISNPmpi computer program.ResultsThe GWAS detected 5390 significant additive effects of PL distributed over all 29 autosomes and the X–Y nonrecombining region of the X chromosome (Chr31). Two chromosome regions had the most significant and largest cluster of additive effects, the SLC4A4-GC-NPFFR2 (SGN) region of Chr06 with pleiotropic effects for PL, fertility, somatic cell score and milk yield; and the 32–52 Mb region of Chr10 with peak effects for PL in or near RASGRP1 with many important immunity functions. The dominance tests detected 38 significant dominance effects including 12 dominance effects with sharply negative homozygous recessive genotypes on Chr18, Chr05, Chr23 and Chr24.ConclusionsThe GWAS results showed that highly significant genetic effects for PL were in chromosome regions known to have highly significant effects for fertility and health and a chromosome region with multiple genes with reproductive and immunity functions. SNPs with rare but sharply negative homozygous recessive genotypes for PL existed and should be used for eliminating heifers carrying those homozygous recessive genotypes.

Meat tenderness in Australian lamb: Data editing, environmental variation and their effects in genetic parameter estimation

Breeding for meat quality increases the value of lambs and requires reliable genetic parameters to achieve balanced genetic progress. Meat tenderness, accomplished by selecting for lower shear force, is an important eating quality trait because of its relationship with consumer satisfaction. Factors influencing shear force, include the pH and temperature decline post-mortem which can contribute towards higher shear force values and increased variation across contemporary groups. This study explored if genetic parameters for shear force change when post slaughter covariates and heterogeneous variance are corrected for, using data from 32,223 animals from different sheep breeds. Results showed that removing extreme individuals and contemporary groups with high mean shear force values reduced residual variance, followed by a smaller reduction in additive genetic variance and little effect on heritability. Results show that edited data performed better at predicting progeny performance and reduced potential bias introduced in the genetic evaluation due to data quality. The effect of including post-slaughter covariates in the genetic analysis was tested by estimating different model predictability through regression of estimated breeding values against offspring performance, showing that the model including hot carcass weight performed better followed by the one including both carcass weight and C-site fat depth. Our results highlight that historic and current in-plant recording practices do not provide the capacity to account for non-genetic factors associated with abattoir environment that might be impacting the ability to accurately calculate shear force breeding values. In that sense, genetic evaluation can be improved by applying more rigorous data editing.

Machine Learning Approach to Support Taxonomic Discrimination of Mayflies Species Based on Morphologic Data.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) offer objective solutions in the elaboration of taxonomic keys, such as the processing of large numbers of samples, aiding in the species identification, and optimizing the time required for this process. We utilized ML to study the morphological data of eight species of Americabaetis Kluge 1992, a diverse genus in South American freshwater environments. Decision trees were employed, examining specimens from the Museu de Entomologia da Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFVB/Brazil) and literature data. Eleven morphological traits of taxonomic importance from the literature, including frontal keel, shape of the mouthparts, and abdominal color pattern, were analyzed. The decision tree obtained with the Gini algorithm effectively differentiates eight species (40% of the known species), using only eight morphological characters. Our analysis revealed distinct groups within Americabaetis alphus Lugo-Ortiz and McCafferty 1996a, based on variations in abdominal tracheae pigmentation. This study introduces a novel approach, integrating AI techniques, biological collections, and literature data for aid in the Americabaetis species identification. It provides a valuable tool for taxonomic research on contemporary and extinct mayflies.

Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals the Genetic Architecture of Growth and Meat Production Traits in a Chicken F2 Resource Population.

For genomic selection to enhance the efficiency of broiler production, finding SNPs and candidate genes that define the manifestation of main selected traits is essential. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for growth and meat productivity traits of roosters from a chicken F2 resource population (n = 152). The population was obtained by crossing two breeds with contrasting phenotypes for performance indicators, i.e., Russian White (slow-growing) and Cornish White (fast-growing). The birds were genotyped using the Illumina Chicken 60K SNP iSelect BeadChip. After LD filtering of the data, 54,188 SNPs were employed for the GWAS analysis that allowed us to reveal significant specific associations for phenotypic traits of interest and economic importance. At the threshold value of p < 9.2 × 10-7, 83 SNPs associated with body weight at the age of 28, 42, and 63 days were identified, as well as 171 SNPs associated with meat qualities (average daily gain, slaughter yield, and dressed carcass weight and its components). Moreover, 34 SNPs were associated with a group of three or more traits, including 15 SNPs significant for a group of growth traits and 5 SNPs for a group of meat productivity indicators. Relevant to these detected SNPs, nine prioritized candidate genes associated with the studied traits were revealed, including WNT2, DEPTOR, PPA2, UNC80, DDX51, PAPPA, SSC4D, PTPRU, and TLK2. The found SNPs and candidate genes can serve as genetic markers for growth and meat performance characteristics in chicken breeding in order to achieve genetic improvement in broiler production.

Identification and characterization of QSFS.sau-MC-5A for sterile florets genetically independent of fertile ones per spike in wheat.

A major and stable QTL for sterile florets per spike and sterile florets per spikelet was identified, it was mapped within a 2.22-Mb interval on chromosome 5AL, and the locus was validated using two segregating populations with different genetic backgrounds. Both the number of fertile florets per spike (FFS) and the number of sterile florets per spike (SFS) significantly influence the final yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and a trade-off theoretically exists between them. To enhance crop yield, wheat breeders have historically concentrated on easily measurable traits such as FFS, spikelets per spike, and spike length. Other traits of agronomic importance, including SFS and sterile florets per spikelet (SFPs), have been largely overlooked. In the study, reported here, genetic bases of SFS and SFPs were investigated based on the assessment of a population of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) population. The RIL population was developed by crossing a spontaneous mutant with higher SFS (msf) with the cultivar Chuannong 16. A total of 10 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified, with QSFS.sau-MC-5A for SFS and QSFPs.sau-MC-5A for SFPs being the major and stable ones, and they were co-located on the long arm of chromosome 5A. The locus was located within a 2.22-Mb interval, and it was further validated in two additional populations based on a tightly linked Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) marker, K_sau_5A_691403852. Expression differences and promoter sequence variations were observed between the parents for both TraesCS5A03G1247300 and TraesCS5A03G1250300. The locus of QSFS.sau-MC-5A/QSFPs.sau-MC-5A showed a significantly positive correlation with spike length, florets in the middle spikelet, and total florets per spike, but it showed no correlation with either kernel number per spike (KNS) or kernel weight per spike. Appropriate nitrogen fertilizer application led to reduced SFS and increased KNS, supporting results from previous reports on the positive effect of nitrogen fertilizer on wheat spike and floret development. Based on these results, we propose a promising approach for breeding wheat cultivars with multiple fertile florets per spike, which could increase the number of kernels per spike and potentially improve yield. Collectively, these findings will facilitate further fine mapping of QSFS.sau-MC-5A/QSFPs.sau-MC-5A and be instrumental in strategies to increase KNS, thereby enhancing wheat yield.

Vasil Yakovych Yuriev: Life and scientific heritage (on the 150th anniversary of his birth)

The article discusses the main stages of life and scientific activities of the renowned and respected academician-breeder Vasyl Yakovych Yuriev. His name is inextricably linked with the activities of the Ukrainian Research Institute of Plant Breeding, Selection, and Genetics (now Yuriev Plant Production Institute of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine). It is shown that in his scientific work, Vasyl Yakovych paid special attention to the collection of initial material, the selection of parental forms for crossing, developed methods for testing hybrids and varieties at different stages of the selection process, and demonstrated the advantages of the method of selecting pure lines from local wheat populations compared to the ineffective method of mass selection. Based on this method, under his leadership, many high-yielding valuable varieties of winter and spring wheat, rye, millet, barley, and corn were developed. To study the patterns of inheritance of important valuable traits in wheat, V. Ya. Yuriev used intervarietal and interspecies crosses of the diallel type. Many studies have been conducted in the field of breeding varieties for disease and pest resistance and immunity. In recognition of his scientific achievements, the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine established the Vasyl Yakovych Yuriev Prize, which is awarded for the highest achievements in the field of selection and genetics.

ADAR1 Promotes Myogenic Proliferation and Differentiation of Goat Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells.

As one of the most important economic traits for domestic animal husbandry, skeletal muscle is regulated by an intricate molecular network. Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR1) involves various physiological processes and diseases, such as innate immunity and the development of lung adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, gastric cancer, etc. However, its role in skeletal muscle growth requires further clarification. Here, we explored the functions of ADAR1 in the myogenic process of goat skeletal muscle satellite cells (MuSCs). The ADAR1 transcripts were noticeably enriched in goat visceral tissues compared to skeletal muscle. Additionally, its levels in slow oxidative muscles like the psoas major and minor muscles were higher than in the fast oxidative glycolytic and fast glycolytic muscles. Among the two common isoforms from ADAR1, p110 is more abundant than p150. Moreover, overexpressing ADAR1 enhanced the proliferation and myogenic differentiation of MuSCs. The mRNA-seq performed on MuSCs' knockdown of ADAR1 obtained 146 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 87 upregulated and 59 downregulated. These DEGs were concentrated in muscle development and process pathways, such as the MAPK and cAMP signaling pathways. Furthermore, many DEGs as the key nodes defined by protein-protein interaction networks (PPI), including STAT3, MYH3/8, TGFβ2, and ACTN4, were closely related to the myogenic process. Finally, RNA immunoprecipitation combined with qPCR (RIP-qPCR) showed that ADAR1 binds to PAX7 and MyoD mRNA. This study indicates that ADAR1 promotes the myogenic development of goat MuSCs, which provides a useful scientific reference for further exploring the ADAR1-related regulatory networks underlying mammal skeletal muscle growth.

Heritability and Genetic Correlations of Carcass and Meat Quality Traits in White and Brown Strains of Japanese Quail

Successful breeding programs for Japanese quails rely on accurately estimating genetic parameters linked to economically important traits such as body weight, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. The objective of the present study was to evaluate body weight (BW) characteristics, carcass attributes, and their genetic correlations with select meat quality traits in two strains of Japanese quail (white and brown). A total of 530 quail chicks, with 265 from each strain, were included in the analysis. At six weeks of age, the quails were slaughtered, and carcass traits as well as amino acid profiles were measured. For BW traits, the heritability (h2) estimates ranged from 0.27 at d 1 to 0.36 at d 42. The h2 estimated for carcass traits ranged from 0.19 for liver weight, to 0.42 for carcass yield (CY). The h2 estimated for drip loss (DL) of meat quality was 0.21, and the h2 estimate was 0.35 for the meat's ultimate Ph (Phu). White quail quails recorded the heaviest weight of all carcass traits. Also, white quails had the highest water-holding capacity (WHC), yellowness (b*), and lightness (L*) with the lowest level of DL, cooking losses (CL), and redness (a*) in muscles compared with brown quails. A high genetic correlation of 0.32 was noted between CW carcass weight (CW) and b*. For the pHU, a negative correlation of -0.11 was exhibited with BW. In contrast, L* appeared to have a positive but smaller relationship with CW and CY. High negative correlations were noted for b* with BW and CY -0.24 and -0.27, respectively. The CW showed a moderate relationship (0.19) with CL. In conclusion, the current study revealed that the white quail strain had high BW, as well as the finest carcass traits and meat quality. Therefore, white plumage Japanese quail might be preferred as a meat-producing strain. Keywords: Amino acid, Carcass, Genetic correlation, Meat quality, Heritability, Quail

Inheritance Analysis for Quantitative Traits in F2 Populations of Mustard Genotypes Grown Under Heat Stress Environments

Genetic variability is the basic requirement for improving crops which further leads to progress in crop breeding. This study was carried out to determine the inheritance pattern of various agronomically important traits in F2 populations of mustard genotypes. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic variability for agro-morphological traits under control conditions (CC) and heat stress environments (HS) and provide the future strategies to improve this important oilseed crop. The experiment was conducted at the Botanical Garden, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. During 2022-23, a total of 27 genotypes including nine parental mustard genotypes and eighteen F2 progenies were grown under control and heat stress conditions. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The analysis of variance for the genotypes, treatments, and F2 progenies revealed significant differences (P≤0.05) in most of the studied characters, highlighting the importance of genetic variations in the evaluated breeding materials of mustard for stress breeding. When estimating heritability for different characters, including seed yield plant-1, it was found that F2 crosses showed varying levels of heritability for different characteristics, ranging from low to moderate and high. This implies that careful selection may be conducted for traits that have low heritability, especially for seed yield.; however, those characters which showed high heritability would be selected at early generation stage to improve the characters.

Use of KASP technologies for the identification of alleles of polyphenoloxidase genes of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Aim. Characterization of recombinant inbred lines F7 Luzanivka odeska/Odeska chervonokolosa by polyphenol oxidase (PPO) genes using KASP technologies and detection of the associations of allelic differences in Ppo genes with agronomically important traits of common wheat. Methods. Competitive allele-specific PCR (KASP). Phenological observations, elements of yield structure. Results. The polymorphism of the parental genotypes and the population of recombinant inbred lines for Ppo-A1 and Ppo-D1 genes was evaluated. A polymorphism between parental forms on the Ppo-D1 gene was detected. A comparison of the data of KASP-analysis of lines with the results of evaluation of lines by eight agronomic traits of wheat was carried out. Conclusions. Differences in the alleles of the Ppo-D1 gene did not affect the traits duration of a period prior to heading, plant height, productive tillering, grain number per spike, thousand-grain weight, productive tiller number per unit area and grain yield. An increase in the grain weight per spike was observed in lines with a favorable Ppo-D1a allele. The selection of genotypes with the Ppo-D1a allele, which corresponds to the low activity of the PPO enzyme, does not have a negative effect on the agronomically important characteristics of wheat.

Exploring Genetic Variability, Trait Associations and Path Coefficient Analysis in Pea (Pisum sativum L.) to Advance Breeding Strategies

The experiment was conducted at seed breeding farm, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, JNKVV, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India during the rabi season (November, 2019–April, 2020) to estimate the parameters of genetic variability, assess the correlation among traits, and estimate direct and indirect effects. The ANOVA revealed that the mean sum of squares due to genotypes was highly significant for all the traits. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation for all the characters. High values of phenotypic coefficient of variation and genotypic coefficient of variation were observed for most of the traits, while moderate values of phenotypic coefficient of variation and genotypic coefficient of variation were recorded for 100 seed weight, pod length, days to 50% flowering and days to first flower opening. High heritability with high genetic advance as a % of mean was recorded for most of the traits. Moderate heritability and high genetic advance were recorded for the number of primary branches plant-1, secondary branches plant-1 and pod length, indicating the control of additive gene action. Meanwhile, high heritability with moderate genetic advance for days to maturity showed non-additive gene action. Correlation coefficients and path analysis for phenological and quantitative traits indicated that the most important traits are number of seeds plant-1, number of effective pods plant-1, biological yield plant-1 and harvest index. Hence, directional selection through these traits may effectively improve seed yield and its attributes.

Exploring the wild almond, Prunus arabica (Olivier), as a genetic source for almond breeding

During the process of almond (Prunus dulcis) domestication, essential traits, which gave plants the plasticity for facing unstable environmental conditions, were lost. In general, the domestication process often narrows the natural genetic diversity. Modern selections (i.e., breeding programs) dramatically accelerated this genetic bottleneck trend to a few successful almond cultivars, which are presently the founders of most commercial cultivars worldwide. The concept of utilizing wild species as a source for important traits and for the enrichment of the gene pool was deeply discussed in previous studies. However, in almonds and other Prunus species, deliberate utilization of wild species as a genetic resource for breeding programs is quite rare. To address these significant challenges, we generated an interspecific F1 population between the Israeli almond cultivar Um el Fahem (UEF) and a specimen of a local wild almond species, Prunus arabica (P. arabica), originating from the Judea desert. This interspecific F1 population possesses high phenotypic variability, and sixteen segregating traits were phenotyped. Among the segregating traits, we were able to genetically associate six agriculturally important traits, such as leaf chlorophyll content (LCC), flower size, and fruit size. The alleles for Self-Compatibility (SC) and kernel bitterness were previously mapped in almond and were reexamined on the background of the distinctive wild genetic material of P. arabica. Finally, phenotypic interactions between traits were suggested, such as rootstock perimeter and canopy area that were positively correlated with total yield in the F1 population. This study is a first step towards developing a well-characterized almond interspecies genetic population. The availability of such a genetic tool with detailed phenotypic analysis is crucial to address and explore the profound influence of almond wild species in Prunus genetic research and breeding. By using the interspecific population as the infrastructure, we show the advantages and importance of utilizing wild relatives.

Genome-wide association analysis reveals novel candidate loci and a gene regulating tiller number in orchardgrass

Tillers are specialized lateral shoots arising from axillary buds at basal nodes, and are also an important agronomic trait that determines the aboveground biomass and grain yield of various gramineous crops. So far, few genes have been reported to control tiller formation and most have been in the annual crop rice (Oryza sativa). Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) is an important perennial forage crop with great economic and ecological value, but its genes regulating tillering have remained largely unknown. In the present study, we used a natural population of 264 global orchardgrass germplasms to determine genes associated with quantitative variation in tiller number through genome-wide association study analysis. A total of 19 putative loci and 55 genes associated with tiller number were thus identified. Additionally, 26 putative differentially expressed genes with tiller number, including DgCYC-C1, were identified by RNA-seq and genome-wide association study analysis. DgCYC-C1 which is involved in cell division, was overexpressed, revealing that DgCYC-C1 positively regulates tiller number. These results provide some new candidate genes or loci for the improvement of tiller number in crops, which might advance new sustainable strategies to meet global crop production challenges.

Identification of Genomic Regions Associated with Differences in Flowering Time and Inflorescence Architecture between Melastoma candidum and M. normale.

Understanding the genetic basis of species differences in flowering time and inflorescence architecture can shed light on speciation and molecular breeding. Melastoma shows rapid speciation, with about 100 species formed in the past few million years, and, meanwhile, possesses high ornamental values. Two largely sympatric and closely related species of this genus, M. candidum and M. normale, differ markedly in flowering time and flower number per inflorescence. Here, we constructed an F2 population between M. candidum and M. normale, and used extreme bulks for flowering time and flower number per inflorescence in this population to identify genomic regions underlying the two traits. We found high differentiation on nearly the whole chromosome 7 plus a few regions on other chromosomes between the two extreme bulks for flowering time. Large chromosomal inversions on chromosome 7 between the two species, which contain flowering-related genes, can explain recombinational suppression on the chromosome. We identified 1872 genes with one or more highly differentiated SNPs between the two bulks for flowering time, including CSTF77, FY, SPA3, CDF3, AGL8, AGL15, FHY1, COL9, CIB1, FKF1 and FAR1, known to be related to flowering. We also identified 680 genes with one or more highly differentiated SNPs between the two bulks for flower number per inflorescence, including PNF, FIL and LAS, knows to play important roles in inflorescence development. These large inversions on chromosome 7 prevent us from narrowing down the genomic region(s) associated with flowering time differences between the two species. Flower number per inflorescence in Melastoma appears to be controlled by multiple genes, without any gene of major effect. Our study indicates that large chromosomal inversions can hamper the identification of the genetic basis of important traits, and the inflorescence architecture of Melastoma species may have a complex genetic basis.

INDETERMINATE DOMAIN Transcription Factors in Crops: Plant Architecture, Disease Resistance, Stress Response, Flowering, and More

INDETERMINATE DOMAIN (IDD) genes encode plant-specific transcription factors containing a conserved IDD domain with four zinc finger motifs. Previous studies on Arabidopsis IDDs (AtIDDs) have demonstrated that these genes play roles in diverse physiological and developmental processes, including plant architecture, seed and root development, flowering, stress responses, and hormone signaling. Recent studies have revealed important functions of IDDs from rice and maize, especially in regulating leaf differentiation, which is related to the evolution of C4 leaves from C3 leaves. Moreover, IDDs in crops are involved in the regulation of agriculturally important traits, including disease and stress resistance, seed development, and flowering. Thus, IDDs are valuable targets for breeding manipulation. This review explores the role of IDDs in plant development, environmental responses, and evolution, which provides idea for agricultural application.

Molecular markers and their importance for pig production and breeding: an overview

The DNA polymorphisms are changes in the sequence of nucleotide bases that result in genetic differences among two or more individuals. These polymorphisms have been used as molecular markers and contribute to studies in swine related to genetic diversity, pedigree analysis, selection, and discovery of genomic regions controlling economically important traits. Among the molecular markers, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) and Copy Number Variations (CNVs) have been most studied in pigs mainly due to their greater abundance in the genome, ease of detection and possibility of automation. The knowledge and application of information from molecular marker shave contribute to a more efficient and competitive pig production. Furthermore, in pig breeding programs, the molecular markers are especially important to allow higher efficiency in selection for traits with low heritability, difficult or expensive to measure, sex-limited, and that express later in the animal’s life, resulting in a higher prediction accuracy for these traits. Considering the relevance of DNA molecular markers for the development of pig production and the advances in research in this area, we aimed to present an overview of the main research results related to the discovery, contribution and implementation of molecular markers in pig breeding and production. This review contextualizes and summarizes important results and recent findings in order to update the reader and stimulate future research based on the identification and relevance of molecular markers applied to pig production.

Non-Targeted Metabolomics of Serum Reveals Biomarkers Associated with Body Weight in Wumeng Black-Bone Chickens.

Growth performance is an important economic trait of broilers but the related serum metabolomics remains unclear. In this study, we utilized non-targeted metabolomics using ultra-high-performance liquid phase tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) to establish metabolite profiling in the serum of Chinese Wumeng black-bone chickens. The biomarker metabolites in serum associated with growth performance of chickens were identified by comparing the serum metabolome differences between chickens that significantly differed in their weights at 160 days of age when fed identical diets. A total of 766 metabolites were identified including 13 differential metabolite classes such as lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and their derivatives, and organoheterocyclic compounds. The results of difference analysis using a partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model indicated that the low-body-weight group could be differentiated based on inflammatory markers including prostaglandin a2, kynurenic acid and fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFA), and inflammation-related metabolic pathways including tryptophan and arachidonic acid metabolism. In contrast, the sera of high-body-weight chickens were enriched for riboflavin and 2-isopropylmalic acid and for metabolic pathways including riboflavin metabolism, acetyl group transfer into mitochondria, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. These results provide new insights into the practical application of improving the growth performance of local chickens.

Character Counts: Psychometric-Based Credit Scoring for Underbanked Consumers

Psychometric-based credit scores measure important personality traits that are characteristic of good borrowers’ behaviors. While such data can potentially improve credit models for underbanked consumers, the utility of psychometric data in consumer lending is still largely understudied. The present study contributes to the literature in this respect, as it is one of the first studies to evaluate the efficacy of psychometric-based credit scores for predicting future loan defaults among underbanked consumers. The results from two culturally diverse samples of loan applicants (Sub-Saharan Africa, n = 1113; Western Europe, n = 1033) found that psychometric scores correlated significantly with future loan defaults (Gini = 0.28–0.31) and were incrementally valid above and beyond the banks’ own credit scorecards. These results highlight the theoretical basis for personality in financial behaviors, as well as the practical utility that psychometric scores can have for credit decisioning in general and the facilitation of financial inclusion for underbanked consumer groups in particular.

A Review on Integrating Bioinformatics Tools in Modern Plant Breeding

Bioinformatics has become integral to modern plant breeding, facilitating the analysis of large-scale genomic data, identifying key genetic markers, and enabling precision breeding techniques such as genomic selection. Advances in sequencing technologies and computational tools have accelerated the pace of crop improvement, allowing for the rapid identification of genes associated with important agronomic traits, including yield, stress tolerance, and disease resistance. The integration of bioinformatics in plant breeding also presents significant challenges, particularly in terms of data management, multi-omics integration, and the interpretation and validation of complex datasets. The role of emerging trends such as pangenomics, metagenomics, and epigenomics in expanding the scope of plant breeding, as well as the increasing importance of artificial intelligence and machine learning in enhancing predictive accuracy and optimizing breeding strategies. Personalized plant breeding and precision agriculture are identified as promising approaches for tailoring crop varieties to specific environments and farming practices, driven by bioinformatics tools that enable detailed analysis of genomic and phenotypic data. Ethical considerations and data privacy issues are also addressed, emphasizing the need for transparent and equitable practices in the collection, sharing, and use of genomic data. The importance of collaborative efforts and global initiatives in advancing bioinformatics-driven plant breeding, with a focus on fostering international cooperation, building capacity in developing regions, and ensuring open access to bioinformatics resources. As the field continues to evolve, bioinformatics will play a Important role in developing sustainable agricultural systems capable of meeting the demands of a growing global population while mitigating the impacts of climate change. The current applications, challenges, and future prospects of bioinformatics in plant breeding, offering insights into the critical role of this field in shaping the future of agriculture.

Economic values of some important traits for smallholder dairy production in Central Ethiopia

Economic values of some important traits for smallholder dairy production in Central Ethiopia