Superior Germplasm Research Articles

Diversity analysis, nutrition, and flavor evaluation of amino acids in Chinese native geese germplasms

Background and Aim: As living standards improve and consumption patterns shift, the market for goose meat continues to grow because of its exceptional dietary quality and distinctive flavor. The composition and content of amino acids are critical for determining the nutritional value and flavor of meat. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional value and flavor of 10 Chinese native geese germplasms based on their amino acid content and composition. Materials and Methods: A total of 568 geese from 10 Chinese native geese germplasms reared under identical conditions were slaughtered at 10 weeks of age. The pectoralis and thigh muscles (thighs) were collected to determine the amino acid content using an amino acid analyzer. Subsequently, diversity, variance, cluster, and principal component analyses were performed to identify superior germplasm with improved nutrition and flavor. Results: The results revealed 17 amino acids in goose meat, with Glutamate and Aspartate being the most abundant. The amino acid scores of goose meat exceeded the values recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization. The Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index (1.72–2.07) indicated a high degree of diversity in amino acid content among geese germplasms. The pectoralis exhibited significantly higher amino acid content (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) than the thigh, except for the essential amino acids to total amino acids ratio (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). The 10 germplasms were categorized into four clusters, with Wanxi (WX) and Taizhou (TZ) geese grouped in Cluster I, displaying significantly higher nutritional value and flavor (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) than other germplasms. Conclusion: Germplasms with superior nutritional value and flavor (WX and TZ) were identified among 10 Chinese native geese germplasms, providing valuable insights for the conservation of existing germplasms and the cultivation of new goose breeds with improved meat quality. Keywords: amino acids, diversity analysis, flavor, geese germplasms evaluation, nutrition.

Comprehensive quality assessment of 296 sweetpotato core germplasm in China: A quantitative and qualitative analysis

The potential for improving sweetpotato quality remains underutilized due to a lack of comprehensive quality data on germplasm resources. This study evaluated 296 core germplasms, revealing significant phenotypic diversity across 24 quality traits in both stem tips and roots. Landraces had higher sugar content in roots, while wild relatives showed increased total flavonoid and phenol contents. Accessions with red-orange flesh were rich in sugars and carotenoids, whereas those with purple flesh had higher dry matter, flavonoids, and phenols. The accessions were classified into three clusters: high sugars and carotenoids, high phenolic compounds, and high starch. A comprehensive quality scoring model identified SP286 and SP192 as superior for stem tips and roots, respectively. Near-infrared spectroscopy, combined with a random forest algorithm, enabled rapid screening of superior germplasm, achieving prediction accuracies of 97 % for stem tips and 98 % for roots. These findings offer valuable resources and high-throughput models for enhancing sweetpotato quality.

Genetic Diversity and Genome-Wide Association Study of Pleurotus pulmonarius Germplasm

Pleurotus pulmonarius is prized by consumers for its distinct flavor, strong aroma, and dense, crispy texture. Although China has extensive germplasm resources for P. pulmonarius, only a limited number of cultivars are commercially available. A comprehensive evaluation and detailed analysis of P. pulmonarius germplasm, alongside the exploration of superior germplasm resources, are essential for developing new varieties. In this study, we resequenced the genomes of 47 P. pulmonarius strains collected nationwide, identifying a total of 4,430,948 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci. After filtering based on minor allele frequency and data integrity, 181,731 high-quality SNP markers were retained. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the strains into six clusters, with strains from similar geographical regions clustering together. Most CBS strains formed a single cluster; cultivated varieties exhibited higher genetic similarity, whereas wild strains displayed greater diversity. Principal component analysis (PCA) and population structure analyses, using the same SNP markers, corroborated the phylogenetic findings. DNA fingerprinting, derived from 369 core SNPs, further underscored the genetic diversity among strains. Significant morphological variation was observed, with strains in groups ZP, CBS, and WHLJ exhibiting notably higher yields and cap widths compared to other groups. Correlation analysis revealed associations among various phenotypes, while genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified multiple SNP markers within candidate genes linked to agronomic traits, most of which were controlled by multiple genes. This research offers a molecular-level characterization and evaluation of P. pulmonarius germplasm resources, providing a scientific basis for enriching available germplasm and advancing breeding materials.

Mechanism of formation of hybrid abalone(Haliotis discus hannai and H. fulgens) heterosis on growth trait based on allele-specific expression analysis

To elucidate the formation mechanism of heterosis in hybrid abalone on growth traits, RNA sequencing was utilized to analyze the transcriptome of hybrid abalone(Haliotis discus hannai ♀ × H. fulgens ♂) with obvious growth differences and some allele-specific expression (ASE) genes related to growth phenotype were identified. The results revealed the following: Nine ASE genes with specific expression were identified in the rapid-growth and slow-growth groups, with six ASE genes unique to the rapid-growth group (CDK13, CROCC, Mfsd2a, Mrps30, MRPL43, NRXN1) and six unique to the slow-growth group (Irgc, OAT, ACVR1, MYLK, MCM3AP, PCDHA8), while three ASE genes were common to both groups (Ttn, DHX8, LOC112566895). The ratio of ASE_SNP reads to total reads in the rapid-growth group tended to be less than 0.5. In contrast, it tended to be greater than 0.5 in the slow-growth group, and individuals in the rapid-growth group exhibited favorable traits toward alternative alleles. In contrast, those in the slow-growth group favored reference alleles. Results suggested that hybrid abalone's superior growth traits tend to originate from the paternal parent (H. fulgens). This study provides insights into gene identification and selection for superior growth traits in hybrid abalone, as well as a theoretical basis for understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating growth traits, thereby advancing the development of abalone genetic improvement and the identification of superior germplasm resources.

Exploring Genetic Variation and Trait Correlations in ‘Shiqian Taicha’ Tea Based on Comprehensive Analyses of Morphological and Biochemical Diversity

This study explores the genetic variation and trait correlations within a collection of 52 ‘Shiqian Taicha’ tea germplasms originating from Shiqian County, Guizhou Province, China. The ‘Shiqian Taicha’ landraces exhibit substantial genetic diversity and are characterized by unique morphological and biochemical attributes. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H’) values for the morphological traits ranged from 0.37 to 2.06, with an average value of 1.02, which suggests a greater level of genetic diversity than those of other domestic tea germplasms. The biochemical analysis demonstrated considerable variation, with coefficients of variation (CVs) for biochemical components ranging from 3.73 to 54.05% (mean CV: 20.35%). In addition, 25 germplasms had epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) contents ≥ 10%. The correlation analysis revealed significant associations between morphological traits and biochemical components, with particularly positive correlations between the leaf texture and key biochemical components such as total catechins (TC) and EGCG (p < 0.01). The clustering analysis, which was based on morphological and biochemical profiles, further categorized the tea germplasms into distinct groups. Notably, SWD-G, SLD005, SWXD005, and SWD004 were identified as superior germplasms with comprehensive biochemical qualities and high EGCG contents. These unique resources have potential for the cultivation of specific tea varieties with regional characteristics.

Geographical variation and genetic diversity of Parashorea chinensis germplasm resources.

Parashorea chinensis is a rare monodominant species in southwest China known for its production of high-quality timber, is facing decline due to its narrow distribution, human interference and habitat destruction. However, there are no reports on genetic diversity and geographical variation of phenotypic traits of P. chinensis. In this study, phenotypic characters and genetic diversity of 15 germplasms resources from five provenances in southwest China were investigated, and their relationships with geographical and environmental factors was discussed. Our results revealed a rich phenotypic diversity among the germplasms, with variation coefficients ranging from 3.63% to 45.49%. Among the studied germplasms, NP03 from Napo and ML02 from Mengla region exhibited superior phenotypic traits. Notably, NP03 also demonstrated the highest genetic diversity. Genetic differentiation analyses including genetic differentiation coefficient (0.6264) and gene flow (0.3736) illustrated that genetic variation was most prevalent among populations. Furthermore, redundancy analysis showed that temperature related factors (maximum air temperature, annual mean temperature and minimum air temperature) significantly affected phenotypic variation. Similarly, altitude, longitude, latitude, annual mean precipitation and the minimum air temperature significantly impacted the level of genetic diversity. The molecular variation of the natural population of P. chinensis followed a certain geographical pattern. Our finding indicated abundant phenotypic variation among P. chinensis germplasms. However, populations exhibited low levels of genetic diversity alongside high genetic differentiation, potentially contributing to the species' rarity. Based on our results, NP03 and ML02 germplasm could be used as the parents for breeding superior germplasm of P. chinensis. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into germplasm diversity and conservation, genetic improvement, and utilization of P. chinensis.

Evaluation of confectionary sunflower germplasm accessions and their derived hybrids

AbstractConfectionary sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) has gained popularity due to its utilization in roasting as snacks, poultry, bird food, and bakery products. However, seed quality of confectionary sunflower differs from non-oil seed types. In the present study, 71 sunflower accessions were selected for the evaluation of seed quality traits. Significant genetic variability was observed for traits such as 100-seed mass and seed length, as indicated by high genotypic coefficients of variability. Genotypic correlation analysis revealed a positive association between 100-seed mass and seed size, protein content, and oleic acid content. Path coefficient analysis based on genotypic and phenotypic correlations suggested that accessions with high sugar content may be selected to develop superior germplasm for confectionary products. Biplot analysis was conducted to identify suitable accessions with favorable confectionary traits. Accessions ‘Hybrid 100’, ‘GOR101’, and ‘Odesskijj112’ exhibited high sugar content, while ‘Yawn’ demonstrated comparatively higher oleic acid content. Accessions ‘Vinimik 6931’ and ‘HA 305’ displayed high 100-seed mass, while seed length was greater in accessions ‘Comet’ and H. × multiflorous. Combining ability analysis were performed to assess the breeding value of accessions. ‘Comet’ exhibited the highest general combining ability (GCA) effects for seed yield per plant, head diameter and 100-achene mass; while ‘G.OR.104’ had positive GCA for achene yield per plant but negative combining ability for other traits. ‘Tenissiei’ displayed positive GCA for all traits. Among the testers, accession ‘Universal’ showed positive GCA for seed yield per plant, while ‘HA-292’ exhibited positive GCA for head diameter. The accessions with higher values for confectionary traits and positive general combining ability effects for yield related traits may be further exploited in confectionary sunflower breeding programs as parents.

Haplotype-resolved genome and mapping of freezing tolerance in the wild potato Solanum commersonii.

Solanum commersonii (2n = 2x = 24, 1EBN, Endosperm Balance Number), native to the southern regions of Brazil, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina, is the first wild potato germplasm collected by botanists and exhibits a remarkable array of traits related to disease resistance and stress tolerance. In this study, we present a high-quality haplotype-resolved genome of S. commersonii. The two identified haplotypes demonstrate chromosome sizes of 706.48 and 711.55Mb, respectively, with corresponding chromosome anchoring rates of 94.2 and 96.9%. Additionally, the contig N50 lengths are documented at 50.87 and 45.16Mb. The gene annotation outcomes indicate that the haplotypes encompasses a gene count of 39 799 and 40 078, respectively. The genome contiguity, completeness, and accuracy assessments collectively indicate that the current assembly has produced a high-quality genome of S. commersonii. Evolutionary analysis revealed significant positive selection acting on certain disease resistance genes, stress response genes, and environmentally adaptive genes during the evolutionary process of S. commersonii. These genes may be related to the formation of diverse and superior germplasm resources in the wild potato species S. commersonii. Furthermore, we utilized a hybrid population of S. commersonii and S. verrucosum to conduct the mapping of potato freezing tolerance genes. By combining BSA-seq analysis with traditional QTL mapping, we successfully mapped the potato freezing tolerance genes to a specific region on Chr07, spanning 1.25Mb, with a phenotypic contribution rate of 18.81%. In short, current research provides a haplotype-resolved reference genome of the diploid wild potato species S. commersonii and establishes a foundation for further cloning and unraveling the mechanisms underlying cold tolerance in potatoes.

Determination of the Best Performing Sri Lankan Maize Landraces Based on the Kernel Nutritional Composition

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most widely cultivated cereal crops in the world as well as in Sri Lanka. Data on the nutritional composition of maize is beneficial for the food and feed industry, but there is a lack of information regarding this avenue in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the suitable landraces with higher nutritional composition among the different landraces by evaluating nutritional parameters using the rank summation index. The maize kernels derived from 42 local landraces were used and the responses were with varieties Bhadra (Control) and Pacific. The proximate composition was analyzed using Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and carbohydrate content and energy were determined using the calculation method. Subsequently, the data were analyzed by performing ANOVA and the rank summation index (RSI) to identify the best performer among the landraces. The results revealed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) among the nutritional components for moisture, ash, fiber, fat, protein, carbohydrates, and energy among the tested landraces. Accordingly, the maize landraces SEU 22, SEU 31, and SEU 2 were identified as the superior germplasms regarding nutritional composition compared with Bhadra, as they exhibited the lowest RSI of 85, 88, and 89, respectively. Therefore, these maize landraces were recommended for future breeding programs for the development of nutritionally enriched maize grains and for sustainable production where land limitation is a challenge.

Productive and reproductive performance of cattle in the tropical part of India

The assessment of productive and reproductive traits helps in identifying animals with superior germplasm in comparison to their population mean which helps in selecting animals for breeding purposes. The early detection of low- performing animals based on the parameters considered for the evaluation of productive and reproductive traits in the study can help in culling animals at an early age, thus saving the cost of maintenance or losses for dairy farmers. Overall, it was observed that the productive and reproductive performance of cross-bred cows was better as compared to the buffaloes and non-descript cows. Therefore, the study advises taking the following steps; record keeping, regular testing for various diseases, balanced ration, maintenance of proper hygiene, availability of nearby veterinary services, and upgradation of non- descript animals to exploit maximum production potential at farmers’ level.

High-throughput near-infrared spectroscopy analysis of nutritional composition in sweet potato stem tips

Leaf-vegetable sweet potato is a nutritious food source, with stem tips as the harvest organ. However, the lack of rapid quantitative approaches for quality evaluation of stem tips largely limits the genetic improvement of leaf-vegetable sweet potato. This study aimed to establish a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) methodology for the rapid analysis of both proximate (cellulose, crude protein, and soluble sugar) and functional (chlorogenic acid, total flavonoid content, and total phenolic content) components in the stem tips. Leveraging a dataset of 140 representative germplasm samples, we developed six robust NIRS models through the optimization of calibration sets and variable selection. These models exhibited exceptional accuracy, with high determination coefficients on calibration (R2C = 0.95–0.98), cross-validation (R2CV = 0.93–0.96), external validation (R2V = 0.91–0.95), and the ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD = 6.78–9.72). Overall, the NIRS models developed through this research facilitate high-throughput profiling of nutritional composition in stem tips, thereby enabling the swift identification of superior germplasm suited for leaf-vegetable sweet potato production.

Estimation of Biochemical Parameters in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Genotypes

Background: Cicer arietinum (L.), is a legume being grown world wide as a good source of vegan protein. It is a vital part of human feed. Quantification of biochemical parameters of seed is one of the requirements for breeding programmes to develop cultivars suitable for human consumption and food industry. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate chickpea genotypes on the basis of biochemical parameters to select superior germplasm for further crop improvement. Methods: In this investigation, seventy-one chickpea genotypes employed for different biochemical parameters analysis including protein, total free amino acid and sugar content, reducing and non-reducing sugar, phytic acid, total phenol, flavonoid and tannin content along with DPPH radical scavenging activities. Result: Genotypes showed substantial variation for different biochemical parameters. Maximum seed protein content was found in genotype JG315 (25.1%) and lowest in SAGL-152344 (14.3%), whilst content of amino acid ranged between 2.4 mg/g (SAGL-152318) to 9.51 mg/g (SAGL-152330). Maximum phytic acid content was evident in genotype SAGL22-122 (20.7 mg/g) and lowest in JG315 (4.78 mg/g). Range of total phenol content varied between 0.72mg/g (RVSSG 92) to 1.91 mg/g (ICCV20116).

Unveiling Drought-Resilient Latin American Popcorn Lines through Agronomic and Physiological Evaluation.

Water stress can lead to physiological and morphological damage, affecting the growth and development of popcorn. The objective of this study was to identify the yield potential of 43 popcorn lines derived from a Latin American germplasm collection, based on agronomic and physiological traits, under full irrigation (WW) and water deficit conditions (WS), aiming to select superior germplasm. The evaluated agronomic traits included the ear length and diameter, number of grains per row (NGR) and rows per ear (NRE), grain yield (GY), popping expansion (EC), volume of expanded popcorn per hectare (VP), grain length (GL), width, and thickness. The physiological traits included the chlorophyll, anthocyanin, and flavonoid content in the leaves. The genetic variability and distinct behavior among the lines for all the agronomic traits under WW and WS conditions were observed. When comparing the water conditions, line L292 had the highest mean for the GY, and line L688 had the highest mean for the EC, highlighting them as the most drought-tolerant lines. A water deficit reduced the leaf greenness but increased the anthocyanin content as an adaptive response. The GY trait showed positive correlations with the VP, NGR, and GL under both water conditions, making the latter useful for indirect selection and thus of great interest for plant breeding targeting the simultaneous improvement of these traits.

Effect of different concentrations of resveratrol on nuclear maturation and in-vitro development competence of oocytes of Nili Ravi buffalo.

Buffaloes are considered animals of the future with the ability to survive under unfavorable conditions. However, the lack of access to superior germplasm poses a significant challenge to increasing buffalo production. Resveratrol has been shown to improve oocyte quality and developmental competence in various animals during in vitro embryo development. However, limited information is available on the use of resveratrol to improve the in vitro maturation and development competence of Nili Ravi buffalo oocytes. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the influence of different concentrations of resveratrol on the maturation, fertilization, and development of buffalo oocytes under in vitro conditions. Oocytes were collected from ovaries and subjected to in vitro maturation (IVM) using varying concentrations of resveratrol (0 µM, 0.5 µM, 1 µM, 1.5 µM, and 2 µM), and the maturation process was assessed using a fluorescent staining technique. Results indicated no significant differences in oocyte maturation, morula rate, and blastocyst rate among the various resveratrol concentrations. However, the cleavage rate notably increased with 1 µM and 1.5 µM concentrations of resveratrol (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the study suggests that adding 1 µM of resveratrol into the maturation media may enhance the cleavage and blastocyst hatching of oocytes of Nili Ravi buffaloes. These findings hold promise for advancing buffalo genetics, reproductive performance, and overall productivity, offering potential benefits to the dairy industry, especially in Asian countries.

In vitro tetraploid induction and plant regeneration of Pinellia ternata, a pearl-like herb

Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) is a widely used Chinese medicinal herb in many countries globally. However, asexual reproduction causes the germplasm of P. ternata to degrade, and there is limited research on genetic breeding. The objective of this study is to induce tetraploid ‘Pearl’ P. ternate plants by treating leaves and tubers with colchicine to acquire superior germplasm resources. The in vitro medium for autotetraploid plants was optimized through orthogonal experiments. Subsequently, the morphology, tissues, and cells of diploid and tetraploid plants were compared. The results indicated that the number of chromosomes in diploid plants was 2n = 2x = 66, while the tetraploid plants were 2n = 4x = 132 by somatic chromosome counting and flow cytometry analysis. The leaf was more suitable than the tuber for polyploid induction, and the maximum induction rate was 29.49% when leaves were treated with a 0.05% colchicine solution for 96 h. In MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg·L− 1 6-BA, 0.1 mg·L− 1 NAA, and 1.0 mg·L− 1 KT, tetraploid leaves successfully developed into plantlets with roots, achieving a 100% transplant survival rate. Tetraploid P. ternata exhibited larger and denser leaves, thicker petioles, and larger stomata but had shorter plants compared to diploid. Meanwhile, tetraploid leaves produced a greater number of tubers. This study induced tetraploids in P. ternata and established an artificial tetraploid rapid propagation system for P. ternata. It provided the theoretical foundation and experimental support for its genetic breeding and variety enhancement.

Comparison and Genetic Variation Analysis of Important Fruit Traits in Jujube F1 Hybrids by Different Male Parents

The research on the genetic predisposition of key quality traits of fruit in jujube hybrid populations is a fundamental and crucial aspect in the field of jujube genetic breeding. In this study, the jujube hybridization experiments were conducted with the same female parent and different male parents since 2015, and a total of 238 strains were created in two F1 hybrid populations. The genetic variation of fruit external traits and intrinsic quality was analyzed and compared after the hybrid offspring results were stable in 2022. This study can provide a theoretical basis for selecting hybrid-breeding parents, predicting offspring traits, and innovating excellent germplasm resources by investigating the impact of different male parental configurations on the genetic variation of fruit traits in jujube hybrid offspring and identifying superior germplasm resources. The results showed that the inheritance of fruit shape, fruit size, and fruit-intrinsic nutrition-quality traits were quantitative traits controlled by multiple genes, and the offspring populations conformed to normal distribution or partial normal distribution. The six traits of fruit shape in offspring populations exhibited a segregation from their parents. The coefficients of variation of fruit size and intrinsic nutrition quality values ranged from 6.94% to 35.34%. Five intrinsic nutrition-quality traits exhibited significant separation at the super-parental level. This result indicated a rich genetic diversity in offspring traits in two hybrids offsprings. The fruit shape, fruit size, and titratable acidity of jujube hybrid offspring were mainly influenced by the male parent. It was found that the correlation between the single-fruit weight, length, and diameter, as well as the correlation between the fruit length and fruit transverse diameter, was very stable and significantly positive through the correlation analysis. More attention should be paid to fruit length when studying fruit shape, as a significant correlation was found between fruit length and fruit shape index. Finally, 10 superior hybrids were founded and selected as breeding materials for further breeding. Therefore, this study provides a theoretical basis for the early selection of hybrid breeding and the development and application of jujube germplasm resources.

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure Analysis of Excellent Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Germplasm Resources

This study analyzed the genetic diversity, population structure, and cluster analysis of 129 sugar beet germplasm resources to screen superior germplasms for breeding using the 27 simple sequence repeat (SSR) and 33 pairs of insertion–deletion (InDel) molecular markers. After integrating the phenotypic variation of 16 descriptive and 4 qualitative phenotypic variables, the genetic variation levels of the 129 sugar beet germplasms’ phenotypic traits were analyzed using the principal component analysis (PCA), correlation analysis, and analysis of variance methods. The genetic diversity examination of molecular markers showed a polymorphism information content (PIC) of 0.419–0.773 (mean = 0.610). Moreover, the mean number of effective alleles detected via the SSR and InDel markers was 3.054 and 2.298, respectively. Meanwhile, the PIC ranged from 0.130 to 0.602 (mean = 0.462). The population structure analysis revealed the most appropriate K-value, indicating three populations (K = 3). The genetic distances of the 129 germplasm resources ranged from 0.099 to 0.466 (mean = 0.283). The cluster analysis results demonstrated that the germplasms were grouped into three primary classes. Based on the analysis of variance, the two qualitative features with the highest coefficients of variation were petiole width (16.64%) and length (17.11%). The descriptive trait root length index (1.395) exhibited the greatest genetic diversity. The PCA reduced the 20 phenotypic traits into five principal components, contributing 51.151%. The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the future selection and breeding of superior sugar beet germplasm resources.

Nutritional, antioxidants and protein profiling of leaves of Moringa oleifera germplasm

This study aimed to select elite germplasm based on nutritional, antioxidants and protein profiling of leaves of Moringa oleifera germplasm. Principal components analysis (PCA) using the fifteen nutritional traits of thirty-four accessions of M. oleifera indicated that 74.70 % variability was accounted for the first six principal components (PCs) with eigenvalues ≥1. The first principal component (PC1) had an eigenvalue of 3.6 and explained 23.90 % of the total variation. Nitrogen, protein, magnesium, iron, zinc, calcium and potassium had high positive eigenvectors in PC1. The second component (PC2) explained 15.27 % of the total variance with an eigen value of 2.29 and positively correlated to copper, calcium, phosphorus and total phenols. Protein content was significantly and highly correlated with nitrogen content in leaves (r = +1.0). High magnitude and significant correlation were found between FRAP and DPPH (r = +0.9). The thirty-four germplasm were investigated in this study on quality parameters at ICAR-Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Godhra, Gujarat, India and grouped in five main clusters. Distance estimates based on the fifteen qualitative traits ranged from 2734.15 to 3868.43. The cluster V had maximum mean values for nutrients (mg/100 g dw) iron (81.76),zinc (7.66), manganese (27.13), calcium (4470.58), magnesium (1068.28), sulfur (3758.68), nitrogen (4615.84), potassium (1558.51), protein (29.40 g/100 g), total phenols (900.21 mg GAE/100 g fw), DPPH (31.17 µmol (TE)/g fw) and FRAP (50.42 µmol (TE)/g fw). The germplasm CHES D_40 and CHES D_45 (cluster V) could be utilized for further exploration based on their nutritional, antioxidants and protein content and for conservation of nutritionally superior germplasm.

Establishment of a general prediction model for protein content in various varieties and colors of peas using visible-near-infrared spectroscopy

Non-destructive and swift detection of protein content in peas holds significant importance for screening superior germplasm resources. This study aimed to construct a general detection model of pea protein content. Spectral detection data of pea proteins were analyzed across three bands: 400 ∼ 982 nm, 982 ∼ 2520 nm, and 400 ∼ 2520 nm. The spectral data were preprocessed by 16 different methods. The successive projections algorithm (SPA) and uninformative variables elimination (UVE) algorithms were used to screen characteristic wavelengths. Pea protein content prediction models were established by using partial least squares regression (PLSR) and extreme learning machine (ELM). Following analysis, the best modeling band was 400 ∼ 982 nm. The optimal prediction model was multiplicative scatter correction (MSC)-SPA-ELM. The correlation coefficients for the calibration and validation sets were 0.8851 and 0.8595, respectively, with root mean square errors of 0.8933 g/100 g and 1.0565 g/100 g.The ratio of error range (RER) was 9.23. These results suggest that this study offers a viable solution for non-destructive and rapid pea protein detection across diverse regions, varieties, and colors.

Sensory Determination of Peach and Nectarine Germplasms with Instrumental Analysis.

The flavour and mouthfeel of peaches are crucial qualities of peach germplasm resources that significantly influence consumer preferences. In this study, we utilized 212 peach germplasm resources from the Nanjing Peach Resource Repository, National Fruit Germplasm facility, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences as materials for sensory analysis, electronic nose analysis, and composition analysis via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In the sensory analysis, we divided 212 peach germplasms into three clusters based on hierarchical cluster analysis (d = 5). No.27, No.151, and No.46 emerged as the most representative of these clusters. The electronic nose was used to conduct an evaluation of the aroma profiles of the 212 peach germplasms, revealing that the primary distinguishing factors of peach aroma can be attributed to three sensors: W1S (methane), W1W (terpenes and organosulfur compounds), and W5S (hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds). The primary differences in the aromatic substances were characterized by sensors W2W (aromatic compounds, sulphur, and chlorine compounds) and W1C (aromatic benzene). The HPLC analysis indicated that the persistence of peach sensory characteristics was positively correlated with acids and sourness and negatively correlated with sweetness and the ratio of sugar to acids. The overall impression of the 212 peach germplasms revealed a negative correlation with acids, while a positive correlation was observed between the overall impression and the ratio of sugar to acids. Therefore, this study substantially contributes to the preliminary screening of the analysed specific characteristics of peach germplasms such as No.27, No.46, No.151, and No.211. These selections may provide valuable information for the potential creation of superior germplasm resources.