Plant Growth Habit Research Articles

Approaches for Genetic Analysis of Chickpea Genotypes under Late Sown Condition

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

Positive Effects of Growth Retardants on Castor (Ricinus communis L.)

The perennial growth habit of castor plants (Ricinus communis L.) limits mechanical harvest because the plant grows very tall, when the environmental conditions are favorable and produces green flush interfering with mechanical harvesting. In order to prevent excessive growth plant growth, retardant are applied to modifying crop architecture. Present investigation was designed to study the effect of growth retardants on growth and yield parameters. The experiment was conducted at the regional agricultural research station, Palem farm of Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University, Nagarkurnool district, Telangana, taking locally available tall variety PCH-111. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replicates in Kharif, 2019. Treatments comprises of water spray, ethrel@500 ppm, ethrel@1000 ppm, CCC@1.5ml/lit, CCC@2.0 ml/lit and CCC@2.5 ml/lit and sprayings were done at expanding leaf in the 6th node of the primary stem, expanding leaf on the 8th node of the primary stem, appearance of the first inflorescence, one expanding leaf in a secondary stem after the appearance of the first inflorescence, and appearance of the second inflorescence. Results revealed that, plant growth retardants are effective in reducing plant height, whereas no spray recorded significant superior value for plant height (70.73 cm). For leaf number, there is no much deviations though ethrel treatment enhanced senescence in older leaves, newly developed leaves compensated the number but there was reduction in LAI, which were 1.70 and 2.18, respectively, in ethrel spray of 1000 ppm and 500 ppm. The yield reduction is lower in ethrel treatment due to lower capsule formation and lower spike length at higher concentration of ethrel. Hence, it is concluded that, retardant accelerates natural senescence and thus, acting as defoliants overcoming difficulties in mechanical harvesting.

A single nucleotide substitution introducing premature stop codon within CsTFL1 explains the determinate-2 phenotype in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

The determinate growth habit of plants reduces the number of internodes and shortens the main stem by terminating the shoot apical meristem through a transition to inflorescence. Understanding the genetic basis of this habit can help optimize crop yield and cultivation technology for vegetable breeding. This study aimed to identify the determinate-2 (de-2) gene responsible for the determinate growth habit in the W-sk cucumber line. Termination of the main stem in the W-sk line occurred between 14 and 23 internodes, depending on cultivation conditions. Resequencing of the W-sk genome identified a novel SNP in the cucumber TERMINAL FLOWER1 (CsTFL1) gene, explaining the de-2 phenotype. This was verified with a CAPS-T marker cosegregation with determinate growth in the F2:3 population, and this polymorphism is unique among genotyped indeterminate cucumber cultivars or breeding lines. Crossing the W-sk line with the G421 line with the determinate (de) gene confirmed the allelism of both genes. An SNP in CsTFL1 in the W-sk line introduced a premature stop codon, resulting in the putative deletion of 13 amino acids, possibly causing determinate growth habit. Overall, this study provides insights into the genetic basis of cucumber plant growth architecture and advances in cucumber breeding.

Obtainment of intraspecific hybrids in strictly cleistogamous Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.

Bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.), one of the Near Eastern founder crops, is an annual cleistogamous legume domesticated during the Neolithic period. Originally used for human consumption, over time it was replaced by other pulses and downgraded to a fodder crop. When coupled with a small degree of cross hybridization, cleistogamy confers evolutive plasticity to the plant species. The aim of the present work consisted in setting up optimal conditions to overcome the existing cross hybridization barriers in V. ervilia. Genotypes of Turkish origin, characterized by an erect growth habit were crossed with Italian counterparts characterized by high seed production. A detailed cyto-histological analysis of flower development was undertaken to determine the optimal stage for emasculation and manual cross. Ninety-eight crosses were carried out and the hybrid nature of the putative F1 progenies was assessed by SSR (simple sequence repeat) DNA markers. Fifty-five seeds were obtained of which only five gave rise to hybrid plants. Among these, only three turned out to be fertile and two of which generated a consistent number of F2 seeds whose plants were assessed in greenhouse for seed production and plant growth habit. Most of the evaluated traits showed mean values of the F2 plants intermediate between the two initial parents, confirming that intraspecific hybridization is not only possible but also useful to exploit the diversity confined in different bitter vetch populations.

Polyploidization Impact on Plant Architecture of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

Plant architecture includes traits such as plant height, stem diameter, and branching pattern, which have significant impacts on yield and fruit quality. Polyploidization can bring changes in plant architectural traits in different crops along with other agronomic and biochemical attributes; however, the specific physiological and biochemical mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we utilized five watermelon lines: ‘91E7’, ‘Zhengzhou No. 3’, ‘Fanzu No. 1’, ‘Shenlong’, and ‘Houlv’, along with their corresponding autopolyploid derivatives (diploid, autotriploid, and autotetraploid) to compare plant architecture differences in different polyploidy watermelon plants. The results showed that the growth habits of diploid, triploid, and tetraploid watermelon plants were noticeably different. Triploid and tetraploid watermelon plants had greater stem diameters and larger leaf sizes. The leaf angle was also larger in polyploid watermelons than in their diploid ancestor lines. Although vine length was significantly higher in diploid watermelon, there was no significant difference in node number, indicating that the short vine length was due to the short internodal length. The major differences between diploid and polyploid watermelon plants were found in the branching pattern, as diploid watermelon lines have more branching compared to their polyploid sister lines. Furthermore, we examined the phytohormone content of diploid, triploid, and tetraploid ‘Fanzu No. 1’. The reasons for the selection of this material are its robust growth and profuse branching habit, which cause visible differences among the ploidy levels. Hormone analysis showed distinct variations in abscisic acid in the nodal and stem regions, gibberellin in the auxiliary bud regions, and brassinosteroids in the apical meristematic regions. The correlation coefficient also strongly correlated these hormones with architecture-related traits. Our findings indicated that gibberellin, ABA, and brassinosteroids might be associated with variations in plant architectural traits like branching, vine length, internodal length, stem thickness, and leaf angle among different ploidy levels of watermelon. The exogenous application of GA3 showed a positive effect on branching, whereas ABA showed a negative effect on branching. The application of brassinosteroid at the apical meristem demonstrated its effect on leaf angle, leaf size, and internodal length. The results of this study can provide a theoretical reference and valuable insights into the link between plant architecture and ploidy levels.

Phenotypic Diversity of Pomegranate Cultivars: Discriminating Power of Some Morphological and Fruit Chemical Characteristics

In modern agricultural production, where a small number of commercial cultivars dominate, the collection, evaluation, and preservation of germplasm are important tasks to reduce the erosion of genes and preserve biodiversity. The aim of this study is to characterize the morphological and fruit chemical properties of the pomegranate germplasm grown on the East Adriatic coast, including the commercial cultivars ‘Hicaznar’, ‘Granada’, and ‘Wonderful’, and to highlight the characteristics with the greatest discriminating power. The characterization of the tree, leaf, flower, arils, seed, and juice was carried out using the UPOV descriptor. The colors of the peel, arils, and juice were analyzed according to the CIEL*a*b* method, total soluble solids were measured using refractometers, and total acidity was determined by titration with 0.1 M NaOH. The research results showed significant diversity between the cultivars, which were grouped into several clusters using an unsupervised analysis technique. Factors such as plant vigor, plant growth habit, predominant number of leaves per node on young shoots, crown type, fruit shape, fruit shape in cross-section, peel weight, total aril weight, aril weight, number of arils per fruit, seed length and width, seed yield, total acidity, TSS/TA ratio, and color parameters of the peel, arils, and juice showed high variability, indicating their strong discriminating power in determining the phenotypic diversity of pomegranate.

Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization and Expression Profile of F-Box Protein Family Genes Shed Light on Lateral Branch Development in Cultivated Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

F-box proteins are a large gene family in plants, and play crucial roles in plant growth, development, and stress response. To date, a comprehensive investigation of F-box family genes in peanuts, and their expression pattern in lateral branch development has not been performed. In this study, a total of 95 F-box protein family members on 18 chromosomes, named AhFBX1-AhFBX95, were identified in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), which were classified into four groups (Group I–IV). The gene structures and protein motifs of these peanut FBX genes were highly conserved among most FBXs. We found that significant segmental duplication events occurred between wild diploid species and the allotetraploid of peanut FBXs, and observed that AhFBXs underwent strong purifying selection throughout evolution. Cis-acting elements related to development, hormones, and stresses were identified in the promoters of AhFBX genes. In silico analysis of AhFBX genes revealed expression patterns across 22 different tissues. A total of 32 genes were predominantly expressed in leaves, pistils, and the aerial gynophore tip. Additionally, 37 genes displayed tissue-specific expression specifically at the apex of both vegetative and reproductive shoots. During our analysis of transcriptome data for lateral branch development in spreading and erect varieties, namely M130 and JH5, we identified nine deferentially expressed genes (DEGs). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results further confirmed the expression patterns of these DEGs. These DEGs exhibited significant differences in their expression levels at different stages between M130 and JH5, suggesting their potential involvement in the regulation of lateral branch development. This systematic research offers valuable insights into the functional dissection of AhFBX genes in regulating plant growth habit in peanut.

Morphological Characterization of Elite Indian Bean Genotypes of Bundelkhand Region

The morphological characterization of Indian bean genotypes of Bundelkand region was conducted at Vegetable Research Farm, RLBCAU, Jhansi during kharif season 2020-21. A total of 21 genotypes of Indian bean were collected from various districts of Uttar Pradesh. The randomized block design with two replications was used and morphological characterization was conducted. Observations were recorded on ten morphological characters selected from DUS. Dolichos bean germplasm exhibits significant diversity in various qualitative traits, including plant growth habit (ranging from pole to bush), stem colour variations (green, dark green, and purple), diverse flower colours (purple, white, and dark purple), leaf vein colours (light green, green, and purple), distinct leaf densities (sparse, intermediate, and dense), pod colours encompassing green, light green, white, purple, and dark purple, as well as pod characteristics such as curvature (straight, curved, and highly curved) and shape (straight, intermediate, and curved).

Dose-dependent physiological effects of UV-C radiation on seashore paspalum

Positive effects of ultraviolet-C (UV–C) radiation on plants have been documented in previous literature with a focus on extending shelf life and reducing disease development. However, its effect on plant growth habits has been scarcely explored, especially in turfgrass where a compact shoot growth is a desirable trait. Seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) is a warm-season perennial turfgrass requiring low fertilizer and pesticide inputs. This project aimed to test the effects of different doses of UV-C radiation on growth and performance of seashore paspalum cv. Seastar. Here, we provide evidence of dose-dependent effects. Lower UV-C doses (6 s and 1 min daily) improved the performance of seashore paspalum, as manifested by higher tiller density, reduced clipping yields, increased chlorophyll level on selected dates as well as enhanced photosynthetic efficiency compared to control. Contrastingly, higher doses (6 min and 30 min daily) resulted in severe damage with 30-min treatment being lethal to seashore paspalum, causing marked declines in all measured parameters. This is the first time that UV-C-induced growth response was reported in turf. Conclusions drawn from this study would shed light into the effects of UV-C radiation on the growth and performance of seashore paspalum and offer exciting potential for the utilization of UV-C at non-lethal dosage in turfgrass management.

High efficiency white emission in Na3Ba2Ca(PO4)3:Eu2+, Mn2+ phosphors for urban ecological lighting

The white-light-emitting devices (WLEDs) for urban ecological lighting remain the challenge. The current urban lighting system destroys the growth habits of plants and leads to inhibition of plant growth, reduced branching, smaller leaf area and reduced total dry weight due to excessive blue light. In this work, a series of blue-green and red dual-emission Na3Ba2Ca(PO4)3:Eu2+, Mn2+ phosphors have been successfully synthesized by the high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The crystal structure, the occupancy of the dopant ions and the luminescence characteristics were carefully investigated. The excitation and emission spectra as well as the decay lifetime confirm the effective energy transfer from Eu2+ to Mn2+, which leads to a tunable luminescence with greatly reduced blue emission. Especially, the optimal Na3Ba2Ca(PO4)3:0.02Eu2+, 0.11Mn2+ phosphor demonstrates a high internal quantum yield of 99.7%. At 150 °C, the luminescence intensity of Na3Ba2Ca(PO4)3:0.02Eu2+, 0.11Mn2+ can maintain 64.5% of room temperature intensity. In addition, the WLED device fabricated with Na3Ba2Ca(PO4)3:Eu2+, Mn2+ phosphor shows white light emission with CIE coordinates of (0.3800, 0.3852), rendering index (Ra) of 65.4 and correlated color temperature (CCT) of 3640 K. These results confirm that the Na3Ba2Ca(PO4)3:Eu2+, Mn2+ phosphor can be applied as a white light source in the urban ecological field.

Exploring the benefits of wild plants in dietary nutrition: investigating perspectives, choices, health impacts and sustainable practices

BackgroundThis ethnobotanical study in Dunyapur, District Lodhran, Pakistan, focuses on traditional medicinal knowledge, exploring 41 plants across 28 families. The research involves 496 informants from diverse backgrounds, including farmers, herbalists, housewives, teachers, and shopkeepers. The prevalence of herbs (68%) aligns with their accessibility and rapid regrowth, shaping the local medicinal landscape. The study investigates socio-demographic features, emphasizing the importance of considering the community's diverse perspectives.MethodsThe research employs quantitative ethnobotanical data analysis, introducing various indices like PPV, FUV, FIV, RFC, UV, and RI. The analysis of plant growth habits underscores the dominance of herbs, and the method of preparation evaluation identifies decoction as the most common (23%). Leaves (27%) are the most utilized plant part, and Resedaceae stands out with the highest FUV (0.38). FIV highlights the ecological and cultural significance of Poaceae, Boraginaceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae.ResultsThe RFC values range from 0.016 to 0.032, with Cucumis melo having the highest value (0.032), indicating its frequent citation and cultural significance. The study reveals specific plants like Melia azedarach, Peganum harmala and Salvadora oleoides with high PR values for skin issues, reflecting their widespread acceptance and effectiveness. Oligomeris linifolia emerges with the highest UV (0.38), emphasizing its greater significance in local traditional practices. Leptadenia pyrotechnica records the highest RI (9.85), underlining its exceptional importance in the community's traditional pharmacopeia.ConclusionThe findings offer a holistic understanding of ethnobotanical knowledge in Dunyapur, emphasizing the role of local contexts and ecological factors in shaping traditional plant uses. The study contributes valuable insights into the diverse practices within the community, laying the foundation for sustainable integration of traditional knowledge into broader healthcare frameworks.

Morphological Characterization and Diversity Assessment of Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] Genotypes using DUS Descriptors as per PPV and FRA, 2001

Background: Variety characterization is the foremost important step that should be done by breeders to classify a variety into distinct groups. A significant technique for locating and assessing several genotypes for the registration, protection and production of seeds of superior quality is the Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) characterization. Consequently, the current investigation aimed to use DUS descriptors to describe and assess the variance present in mungbean genotypes. Methods: One hundred forty-two mungbean genotypes were examined using 21 agro-morphological qualitative DUS descriptors in a randomized block design with two replications across two seasons, kharif 2021 and kharif 2022. Result: In the twenty-one DUS traits that were examined, four characters’ plant growth habit, leaf shape, leaf size and seed size exhibited trimorphic variance. Three characters (plant habit, stem pubescence and pod pubescence) were found to be identical among all genotypes while fourteen characters displayed dimorphic variance. All of the mungbean genotypes displayed a significant degree of variance for all DUS characteristics. Based on the UPGMA method of clustering, the dendrogram classified all the one hundred forty-two genotypes into three major clusters. The presence of variation among the genotypes under study was demonstrated by the further classification of these primary clusters into five sub-clusters. The majority of the genotypes were found in cluster II (121 genotypes), which was followed by cluster I (18 genotypes) and cluster III (3 genotypes).

Association of quantitative traits and genetic diversity in Ethiopian sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) genotypes

To enhance sesame yield, it is important to utilize diverse parents in breeding programs and implement an effective selection procedure, which exploits the association of quantitative traits. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to explore the correlation among quantitative traits and assess genetic variability and diversity using both qualitative and quantitative traits. Correlation coefficients indicated a noteworthy (P < 0.001) positive phenotypic (rp) and genotypic (rg) correlation between seed yield and various traits: plant height (rp = 0.60; rg = 0.58), length of the capsule-bearing zone (rp = 0.77; rg = 0.80), number of capsules on the main stem (rp = 0.80; rg = 0.85), primary branches (rp = 0.66; rg = 0.66), and capsules per plant (rp = 0.90; rg = 0.91). In contrast, a negative correlation (P < 0.001) was observed between yield and bacterial blight disease severity, both phenotypically (rp = −0.60) and genotypically (rg = −0.76). The analysis of path coefficients indicated that the most substantial positive direct effect on yield (0.77) was attributed to capsules per plant, whereas other traits associated with yield exhibited a significant indirect influence on yield through capsules per plant. Qualitative traits exhibited diversity, except for plant growth type, plant growth habit, and stem branching. Shannon-Weaner (H) and Simpson (1-D) diversity indices were higher for interior corolla color (H = 1.63; 1-D = 0.66), seed color (H = 1.50; 1-D = 0.46), and capsule beak type (H = 1.08; 1-D = 0.50). The analysis of variance indicated a notable variation among the examined genotypes regarding quantitative traits, excluding internode length. The plant materials were divided into five clusters through cluster analysis, where clusters I to V consisted of 21, 29, 4, 4, and 6 genotypes, respectively. The current study has shown that the yield of sesame can be enhanced through indirect selection for traits associated with yield, particularly the highest number of capsules per plant. Furthermore, examinations of genetic diversity confirmed the presence of variability within the assessed genotypes, providing valuable insights for upcoming sesame breeding programs.

Genome-Wide Association Study and Genomic Selection for Plant Growth Habit in Peanuts Using the USDA Public Data

Genome-Wide Association Study and Genomic Selection for Plant Growth Habit in Peanuts Using the USDA Public Data

Agro-morphological Characterization of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes

The study was conducted in field conditions that suitable to typical growth and all trait expression. A set of 30 wheat genotypes was evaluated for 10 agro-morphological traits in the rabi season 2022-2023. The experiment followed Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two replications and along with three different date of sowing. For the present study data was recorded on the basis of DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability) guidelines. Phenotypic assessment revealed variability in different morphological traits like Plant growth habit, Foliage colour, Flag leaf length, Flag leaf width, Ear time of emergence, Ear Shape, Ear Density, Ear colour, Grain colour and Grain shape. Most of the morphological traits found an adequate level of variability.These established descriptors serve as valuable markers for characterizing the wheat, facilitating genotypes utilization and conservation efforts.

Morphological characterization of selected cowpea [&lt;i&gt;Vigna unguiculata&lt;/i&gt; (L.) Walp.] accessions from International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria

Characterization of available germplasm is a necessary step to facilitate breeding programs worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize twenty accessions of Cowpea from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria. The accessions were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The morphological characters of seedlings were assessed following the International Board for Plant Genetic Resource cowpea descriptor list (IBPGR) and twenty-nine descriptors were used. Eighteen accessions showed semi-erect habits while two showed erect plant growth habits. The number of Days to first flowering among the selected accessions was 35-45 while the number of days to first pod was 37-47. Peduncle length was observed to be 12-35 cm, Pod length was 10.61-22.81 cm while seed length was 6.10-9.93 cm among sampled accessions. Morphological assessment of the accessions showed a dendogram of three clusters with six (A), nine (B) and four (C) accessions respectively. One accession TVu-12501 formed an outgroup owing to the uniqueness of its terminal petiole length. The cluster analysis substantiated the existence of diversity among the twenty accessions for the morphological traits studied and posits TVu-12501 accession as a morphologically superior accession to be studied further for selection in breeding programmes in the West African region.

Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants and implications for food security

Even though our world is home to a wide variety of plant species, only a small portion have been used by humans as food. This shows that many plant species in our world have not been successfully domesticated and explored. Wild edible plants are among these underutilized plant resources. Wild edible plants are often consumed, particularly during times of food scarcity, poverty, extreme weather, or political unrest. However, due to various environmental factors, wild edible plants and the related indigenous knowledge are currently in decline. Therefore, documenting such potentially valuable underutilized resources must be an urgent issue in order to implement conservation actions. This study aimed to determine the diversity of wild edible plants, the parts of the plants that are used, the methods of preparation, and the time of harvesting and consumption in Ensaro District, North Shewa Zone, and Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data on the diversity of wild edible plant species, their growth habits, the parts of the plants that are used, preparation methods, habitats, and factors that pose a threat to them. The socioeconomic characteristics of the informants were also documented. SigmaPlot software version 15 was used for statistical analysis. Analysis of Variance (P < 0.05) was used to examine the correlation between sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics and the indigenous knowledge of informants regarding wild edible plants. Forty-three species of wild edible plants were documented in the study area. Moraceae, Fabaceae, and Tiliaceae were the most popular families of wild edible plants. The most prevalent plant growth habits were shrubs, and the most commonly utilized plant parts were fruits. Indigenous knowledge was positively correlated with the socio-demographic characteristics of informants, with the exception of household income. A higher number of species, genera, and families of wild edible plants were recorded at mid-altitudes (1500-2000 meters above sea level). The use of wild edible plants is still common in the study area. Some wild edible plants are utilized during normal times when staple food is available, while others such as Snowdenia polystachya, Eleusine coracana, Urtica simensis, and Medicago polymorpha are consumed during times of famine. If wild edible plants are managed properly, they can be used for food security. Therefore, local communities must collaborate with natural resource administrators to effectively manage wild edible plant resources before they become critically endangered.

Analysis of the Structural Organization and Expression of the Vrn-D1 Gene Controlling Growth Habit (Spring vs. Winter) in Aegilops tauschii Coss.

The duration of the vegetative period is an important agronomic characteristic of cereal crops. It is mainly influenced by the Vrn (response to vernalization) and Ppd (response to photoperiod) genes. In this work, we searched for alleles of several known genes of these two systems of response to external conditions in 15 accessions of Aegilops tauschii Coss. (syn. Ae. squarrosa L.), with the aim of studying the impact these alleles have on the vegetative period duration and growth habit. As a result, three allelic variants have been found for the Vrn-D1 gene: (i) one intact (winter type), (ii) one with a 5437 bp deletion in the first intron and (iii) one previously undescribed allele with a 3273 bp deletion in the first intron. It has been shown that the spring growth habit of Ae. tauschii can be developed due to the presence of a new allele of the Vrn-D1 gene. Significant differences in expression levels between the new allelic variant of the Vrn-D1 gene and the intact allele vrn-D1 were confirmed by qPCR. The new allele can be introgressed into common wheat to enhance the biodiversity of the spring growth habit and vegetative period duration of plants.

Morphological characteristics and variability of traditional starch forming coix (Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen) populations from Mindanao Island, Philippines

Abstract. Bon SG, Antesco GP, Enicola EE. 2023. Morphological characteristics and variability of traditional starch forming coix (Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen populations from Mindanao Island, Philippines. Biodiversitas 24: 4382-4391. Adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen (Rom.Caill.) Stapf) is an underutilized crop in the Philippines with high potential. Characterization and elucidation of the available variability among the local adlay populations are essential information for its improvement and better utilization. The study aimed to characterize the qualitative morphological traits of 34 traditional adlay populations from Mindanao Provinces and assess diversity by the Shannon Index and similarity by multivariate clustering. Results showed that all populations shared the same morphotypes in five descriptors but were variable for the rest. Six populations showed intense leaf anthocyanin coloration, and 23 expressed upright growth habits. Three types of leaf blade colors were observed, while the intensity of anthocyanin coloration of culms was expressed in four types. Most populations had semi-pubescent or highly pubescent leaves, generally intermediate leaf orientation and non-glaucous leaves. Immature grains were generally light green but expressed four color types at maturity, mostly circular with furrows on the surface. Diversity Indices (H') ranged from low to high. Leaf blade pubescence, anthocyanin coloration of culm, and mature grain color had high H' values. Cluster analysis showed that the variability was narrow, where overall clustering achieved 0.50 similarity. At 0.65 similarity, three groups can be derived with three populations as outliers. Clustering can be attributed to the differences in seedling color, anthocyanin coloration, plant growth habit, immature grain color, mature grain color, and shape. The study established the morphological description of the qualitative traits of traditional Philippine adlay and assessed diversity to be generally intermediate, where populations can be clustered into subgroups according to the degree of morphotype similarities. Clustering, however, was not related to provenances. It is recommended to conduct further geographic germplasm sampling, marker-based characterization, and agronomic evaluation to dissect further the genetic diversity and crop potential of the local adlay populations.

Development and characterization of F1 hybrids involving cultivated and related species of okra

Related species of any crop posses the traits of economic importance. It is important to involve the related wild species in the breeding programme to transfer the traits of economic importance to the cultivated species of crop plants. Further, the characterization of interspecific F1 hybrids is required to know the expression of various traits in both parents and their interspecific hybrid. Cultivated species of okra Abelmoschus esculentus was used to develop two interspecific F1 hybrids independently with two wild species, namely A. moschatus and A. tuberculatus. Both the related species were used as the pollen parent and the cultivated okra as the female parent. The interspecific hybrids were intermediate for days to 50% flowering, first flowering node, flower length, fruit length, fruit diameter, internodal length and plant height. The characteristics like early plant vigor, plant growth habit, flower petal color, fruit color and apex shape of fruit for both the interspecific hybrids were similar to cultivated okra parent.