Cultivar Type Research Articles

Full-Length Transcriptome Sequencing Analysis and Characterization of Gene Isoforms Involved in Flavonoid Biosynthesis in the Seedless Kiwifruit Cultivar ‘Chengxiang’ (Actinidia arguta)

Kiwifruit an important horticultural crop that is widely cultivated and is known as the king of fruits. Recently, a new seedless kiwifruit cultivar, ‘Chengxiang’ (Actinidia arguta), was discovered by field transplantation. It exhibited distinguishable characteristics such as parthenocarpy, and a unique flavor and appearance when compared to other cultivated type. Flavonoids are known to play an important role in fertility and parthenocarpy in plants. However, the genes responsible for flavonoid biosynthesis in seedless kiwifruit remain largely unknown. Especially, chalcone synthase (CHS), as a key enzyme catalyzing the first committed step in the flavonoid pathway, remains a mystery. In this study, we combined a full-length transcriptome survey by PacBio single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing, CHS gene family analysis, and analysis of the gene expression involved in flavonoid pathways to further enhance the understanding of parthenocarpy. Based on SMRT, we obtained 80,615 high-quality full-length consensus transcripts. In total, 52,406 (90.79%) transcripts were functionally annotated, and more than 80% of the transcripts were longer than 1Kb. Among them, 39,117 (74.64%) transcripts were assigned to GO terms, the majority of which were associated with the cell (19,089, 48.80%) and metabolic process (19,859, 50.77%). Furthermore, 25,289 (48.26%) transcripts were mapped into 129 KEGG pathways. We identified the majority of putative genes as being involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, including 14 key enzyme gene families, such as CHS, chalcone isomerase (CHI), flavonol synthase (FLS), and so on. Moreover, we also identified 13 CHS genes and characterized the CHS gene family in seedless kiwifruit. We further evaluated the expression pattern of 10 flavonoid-related key enzyme genes in flowers using quantitative real-time PCR. This is the first time that the full-length transcriptome have been studied in seedless kiwifruit, and the findings enhance our understanding the molecular mechanisms of parthenocarpy.

Evaluation of the main economic characteristics of a narrow-thallus strain of Neoporphyra haitanensis

It is highly desirable to cultivate elite species to increase their coverage and the industrial efficiency of the economically and ecologically important seaweed, Neoporphyra haitanensis. Here, the main economic characteristics of a narrow-thallus N. haitanensis strain (W28) isolated from a double-haploid population resulting from single somatic cell clone cultivation was analyzed, and the wild type (WT) and new cultivar (MF-2) N. haitanensis strains were used as controls. The average width of W28 thalli was only 0.90 cm after 20 d of cultivation, which was narrower by 0.88 cm and 0.2 cm than thalli of MF-2 and WT, respectively. However, the W28 growth rate (approximately 9.4 cm/d during the vigorous growth period) was greater than those of WT and MF-2, leading to the higher W28 yield. The W28 characteristics of a long growth period and easily released conchospores are similar to those of MF-2. Additionally, the WT thalli rotted when subjected to 30 °C, whereas the morphology of W28 thalli cells showed no obvious damage. Furthermore, the amino acid content in W28 thalli (at approximately 305 mg/g) was greater than those of the WT and MF-2 strains. In conclusion, the present study isolated a new candidate variety of N. haitanensis, with narrow thalli, a high yield (fast-growing), good taste, and high-temperature tolerance, that was also rich in pigments and amino acids. Thus, it met the market demands and global sustainability targets.

Source–sink relations and responses to sink–source manipulations during grain filling in wheat

The source–sink ratio during grain filling is a critical factor that affects crop yield in wheat, and the main objective of this study was to determine the source–sink relations at both the canopy scale and the individual culm level under two nitrogen (N) levels at the post-jointing stage. Nine widely-used cultivars were chosen for analyzing source–sink relations in southwestern China; and three typical cultivars of different plant types were subjected to artificial manipulation of the grain-filling source–sink ratio to supplement crop growth measurements. A field experiment was conducted over two consecutive seasons under two N rates (N+, 150 kg ha−1; N–, 60 kg ha−1), and three manipulations were imposed after anthesis: control (Ct), removal of flag and penultimate leaves (Lr) and removal of spikelets on one side of each spike (Sr). The results showed that the single grain weights in the three cultivars were significantly decreased by Lr and increased by Sr, which demonstrated that wheat grain yield potential seems more source-limited than sink-limited during grain filling, but the source–sink balance was obviously changed by climatic variations and N deficient environments. Grain yield was highly associated with sink capacity (SICA), grain number, biomass, SPAD values, and leaf area index during grain filling, indicating a higher degree of source limitation with an increase in sink capacity. Therefore, source limitation should be taken into account by breeders when SICA is increased, especially under non-limiting conditions. Chuanmai 104, a half-compact type with a mid-sized spike and a long narrow upper leaf, showed relatively better performance in source–sink relations. Since this cultivar showed the characteristics of a lower reduction in grain weight after Lr, a larger increase after Sr, and a lower reduction in post-anthesis dry matter accumulation, then the greater current photosynthesis during grain filling contributed to the grain after source and sink manipulation.

Development of nitrogen efficiency screening system in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and analysis of alfalfa nitrogen efficiency types.

Screening high nitrogen (N) efficiency crops is crucial to utilize resources rationally and reduce N losses. In this research, the biomass, morphological and N-related parameters of 28 alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars were assessed at seedling stage. Then, we selected representative materials to compare the changes in stem-leaf dry weight (SDW), total root length (RL) and plant N accumulation (PNA) during whole period. Lastly, we analyzed the expressions of NRT2 and AMT1 genes of alfalfa cultivars. The correlation coefficients between SDW, PDW, RL, RV, SNA, RNA, and PNA were all in the range of 0.522∼0.996. The coefficient of variations of SDW, PDW, RL, RV, SNA and PNA were all more than 20% under low and medium N levels. Though the comprehensive evaluation and cluster analysis, the comprehensive value of LW6010, Gannong NO.5, Longmu 806, Giant 2, Giant 601, Zhaodong, Crown were greater than 0.5 under low and medium N levels; the comprehensive value of Gannong NO.3, Gannong NO.4, Xinjiangdaye, Xinmu NO.1 were less than 0.5 under low N level, but were greater than 0.5 under medium N level. The comprehensive value of Gannong NO.7 Gannong NO.9, Longmu 801, Gongnong NO.3, Elite, Sadie 10, Giant 551 were greater than 0.5 under low N level, but were lesser than 0.5 under medium N level; and those of Longdong, Gannong NO.8, Gongnong NO.1, Reindee, Goldqueen, Weston, Tourists, Giant 6, Algonquin, Sadie 7 were lesser than 0.5 under low and medium N levels. Four N efficiency types of alfalfa cultivars were classified: (1) Very efficient; (2) Efficient; (3) Anti-efficient; and (4) Inefficient.The SDW, RL and PNA of LW6010 were higher than Longdong in each growth period. The expressions of NRT2 and AMT1 genes were highest for LW6010, and lowest for Longdong. So, N efficiency parameters assessed at seedling stage include: SDW, PDW, RL, RV, SNA and PNA. We developed new classification system of N efficiency types of alfalfa cultivars. It proved its effectiveness on 28 alfalfa in China.

R-IMNet: Spatial-Temporal Evolution Analysis of Resource-Exhausted Urban Land Based on Residual-Intelligent Module Network

The transformation of resource-exhausted urban land is an urgent problem for sustainable urban development in the world today. Obtaining the urban land use type and analyzing the changes in their land use can lead to better management of the relationship between economic development and resource utilization. In this paper, a residual-intelligent module network was proposed to solve the problems of low classification accuracy and missing objects edge information in traditional computer classification methods. The classification of four Landsat-TM/OLI images from 1993–2020 for Jiaozuo city (the first batch of resource-exhausted cities in China) was realized by this method. The results (overall accuracy was 98.61%, in 2020 images) were better than the comparison models (support vector machine, 2D-convolutional neural network, hybrid convolution networks; overall accuracy was 87.12%, 96.16%, 98.46%, respectively) and effectively reduced the loss of information on the edge of the ground objects. On this basis, six main land use types were constructed by combining field surveys and other methods. The characteristics and driving forces of spatial-temporal change in land use were explored from the aspect of social, economic and policy factors. The results showed that from 1993 to 2020 the cultivated land, forest land, water body and other land types in the study area decreased by 690.97 km2, 57.54 km2, 47.04 km2 and 59.43 km2, respectively. The construction land and bare land increased by 839.38 km2 and 15.57 km2, respectively. The transfer of land use types was mainly from cultivated land to construction land, with a cumulative conversion of 920.95 km2 within 27 years. The driving forces of land use in the study area were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and regression analysis. The spatial-temporal evolution of land use types was affected by policy changes, the level of social development and the adjustment in the economy, industry and agriculture structure. The investment in fixed assets and per capita net income in rural areas were the top two influencing factors and their cumulative contribution rate was 94.62%. The findings of this study can provide scientific reference and theoretical support for land use planning, land reclamation in mining areas, ecological protection and sustainable development in Jiaozuo and other resource-exhausted cities in the world.

Separation and Determination of Biophenols in Olive Oil Samples Based on the Official Method of the International Olive Council and Commission Regulation (EU) No. 432/2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the key quality characteristics of olive oil with a main focus on the biophenolic content, its beneficial effects on health and the contribution of various quality characteristics to its health claims, as well as its influence from various parameters. Samples from different traditional oil-producing regions of Greece were initially examined for the most important quality parameters, such as the percentage of free acidity, the number of peroxides and the spectrophotometric investigation in the ultraviolet. The samples were then tested for their biophenolic content, expressed in milligrams of tyrosol, and its derivatives per 20 g of olive oil using the analytical technique high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Then, the biophenol contents of the analyzed samples were compared based on the presented intensities in terms of the variety and the area of cultivation, the altitude, the type of cultivation, the extraction system in the mill and the time interval from olive harvest to oiling. Finally, according to the results, the content of biophenols in olive oil and its health claims were found to be influenced by the various parameters with which they were compared.

Polyphenol Extract from "Greco" Grape Canes: Characterization, Antioxidant Capacity, and Antitumor Effects on Cal-33 and JHU-SCC-011 Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

In the current study, we determined the antioxidant properties of “Greco” grape cane extracts, a typical cultivar of southern Italy. We also explored the anticancer activity of the polyphenol-rich fraction of the extract on head and neck squamous carcinoma cells (HNSCC) and investigated the underlying mechanism. Aqueous extracts were prepared at different pHs and extraction times and the total phenolic and reducing sugar contents were estimated. Radical Scavenging Activity (RSA), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) of the extracts were measured. A polyphenol-rich fraction, accounting for 6.7% by weight and characterized mainly by procyanidins and stilbenoids, was prepared from the extract obtained at pH 7 for 60 min. We demonstrated that the extract exerted a cytotoxic effect on HNSCC cell lines by inducing cell cycle arrest via cyclin downregulation and p21 upregulation, and by triggering apoptosis through caspase cascade activation, PARP-1 cleavage, and an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. We furnished evidence that the polyphenol-rich fraction played the major role in the anticancer activity of the extract. These outcomes highlighted grape canes from the “Greco” cultivar as a valuable source of polyphenols that may represent good candidates for the design of innovative adjuvant therapies in the treatment of HNSCC.

Soybean-Nodulating Rhizobia: Ecology, Characterization, Diversity, and Growth Promoting Functions

The worldwide increase in population continues to threaten the sustainability of agricultural systems since agricultural output must be optimized to meet the global rise in food demand. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is among the regions with a fast-growing population but decreasing crop productivity. Pests and diseases, as well as inadequate nitrogen (N) levels in soils, are some of the biggest restrictions to agricultural production in SSA. N is one of the most important plant-limiting elements in agricultural soils, and its deficit is usually remedied by using nitrogenous fertilizers. However, indiscriminate use of these artificial N fertilizers has been linked to environmental pollution calling for alternative N fertilization mechanisms. Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important legumes in the world. Several species of rhizobia from the four genera,Bardyrhizobium, Rhizobium, Mesorhizobium, andEnsifer(formerlySinorhizobium), are observed to effectively fix N with soybean as well as perform various plant-growth promoting (PGP) functions. The efficiency of the symbiosis differs with the type of rhizobia species, soybean cultivar, and biotic factors. Therefore, a complete understanding of the ecology of indigenous soybean-nodulating rhizobia concerning their genetic diversity and the environmental factors associated with their localization and dominance in the soil is important. This review aimed to understand the potential of indigenous soybean-nodulating rhizobia through a synthesis of the literature regarding their characterization using different approaches, genetic diversity, symbiotic effectiveness, as well as their functions in biological N fixation (BNF) and biocontrol of soybean soil-borne pathogens.

Optimization of Cultivation Type and Temperature for the Production of Balloon Flower (Platycodongrandiflorum A. DC) Sprouts in a Plant Factory with Artificial Lighting

The objective of this study was to determine the efficiency of balloon flower sprout’s saponin production in a plant factory with artificial lighting (PFAL). Balloon flower has been traditionally used as herbal medicine and now, it is used as a medicinal plant as well as a functional food. It is important to establish the cultivation conditions for the stable production of high-quality balloon flower. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of culture systems and temperature conditions on the growth and saponin accumulation of balloon flower sprouts in controlled environment systems. One-year balloon flower roots were cultivated in soil and soilless culture systems at different temperature conditions (20, 25, and 30 °C) for 17 days. The results showed that the shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight of the balloon flower sprouts grown in the soilless culture system at 25 °C were significantly increased by about 1.29 and 1.58 times, respectively, as compared with those of the sprouts grown in a soil culture system. Sprouts grown in the soilless culture system at 25 °C also recorded the highest root fresh weight, whereas there was no significant difference in root dry weight among the treatments. The plant height results showed an increased trend similar to that of the shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight of the balloon flower sprouts. The concentrations of platycodin D3 (Pd-D3), polygalcin D (Pc-D), and total saponin in the shoot parts were highest in the soilless culture system at 20 and 25 °C. The root parts of sprouts grown in the soilless culture system at 30 °C also had higher deapioplatycodin D (Dpd-D) and total saponin concentrations. Overall, these results suggest that a soilless culture system with temperature conditions at 20 and 25 °C is suitable for improving the growth and saponin concentration of balloon flower cultivated in PFALs. Ultimately, our research should be a valuable resource for future research on the production of medicinal plants such as sprouts and should provide basic information to establish methods for enhancing the growth and bioactive compounds in balloon flower.

The genetic editing of GS3 via CRISPR/Cas9 accelerates the breeding of three-line hybrid rice with superior yield and grain quality

Grain size is one of the major traits that determine rice grain yield and quality. The GS3 gene is the first major quantitative trait locus (QTL) that was identified in regulating rice grain length and weight. It was reported that the gs3 allele with a mutation in the organ size regulation (OSR) domain of the GS3 protein produced longer grains. In this study, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology to introduce an edited gs3 allele into our indica maintainer line, Mei1B, to enhance its grain yield and quality. Through molecular analysis and sequencing, a homologous edited-gs3 mutant line without any transgene was obtained in the T1 generation and was named Mei2B. A superior male sterile line Mei2A was generated by backcrossing the cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line Mei1A with Mei2B. Mei2B had a higher grain quality and yield compared to its wild-type Mei1B. Its grain length increased by 7.9%, its length/width ratio increased from 3.89 to 4.19, TGW increased by 6.7%, and grain yield per plant increased by 14.9%. In addition, genetic improvement of other quality traits including brown rice length (6.83 mm), brown rice grain length/width ratio (3.61), matched the appearance standards set for traditional Simiao (silk seedling) type cultivars. Two restorer lines were outcrossed to both Mei1A and Mei2A to produce hybrid rice. Compared to two hybrids of Mei1A, the hybrids of Mei2A had longer grains, higher length/width ratio, TGW, and yield per plant. In addition, the hybrids of Mei2A showed a better grain appearance including better translucency, a lower chalky rice rate, and degree of chalkiness than the hybrids of Mei1A. These results demonstrated that the introduction of an elite gs3 allele into Mei1A via CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology led to significant genetic improvement of the rice grain. The resultant CMS line Mei2A(gs3) displayed much higher grain quality and yield than the original Mei1A. Therefore, our study demonstrated that the targeted genetic improvement via gene editing technology can enhance rice breeding, especially the breeding of three-line hybrid rice.

Impact of the Variety of Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] on Physical, Sensorial and Nutritional Properties of Gluten-Free Breads.

Tef is currently being incorporated into a wide range of foodstuff due to its high nutritional profile. This study tries to fill the information gap on the effect of tef varieties on physico-chemical, nutritional and sensorial quality of gluten-free bread. Maize starch replacement at 50, 75 and 100 g/100 g level by tef flour from three Ethiopian varieties (DZ-Cr-37, DZ-Cr-387 and DZ-01-99) resulted in viable gluten-free breads with acceptable sensory properties, higher mineral content and lower glycemic response. Tef cultivar type and blending level significantly affected bread quality. The 50% and 75% substitution levels and the DZ-Cr-37 variety led to the highest bread volumes with the lowest firmness. Breads made with DZ-01-99 variety were darker and with more reddish crust and crumb hues than those made with the other varieties. Breads from 100% DZ-Cr-37 achieved the highest hedonic scores for color, odor, taste and texture. The Ca, Fe and Mg contents of the breads made with 100% tef were 13, 40 and 30 times, respectively, higher than those of the control bread (100% maize starch), indicating tef could be used as an excellent source of these important minerals. In addition, the rapidly digestible starch content decreased up to 28% in breads fortified with tef flour.

Variability in Solanum species: Morphological characterization

Twenty seven accessions of Solanum belonging to six different species were morphologically characterized using IPGRI descriptor. The wild types could be easily distinguished from the cultivated types based on fruit size and shape. S. viarum was characterized by mottled light green fruits with white stripes which are small sized and globular in shape. Fruits of S. exarmatum (JJK/16-1) were globular, short, dark green in colour with rounded apex that turned scarlet red at physiological maturity. The accessions JRPH 15/176 and 15/111 of S. aethiopicum were characterized by green globular fruits which turned scarlet red on maturity. JJNS 15/21 belonging to S. insanum were characterized by obovate fruits which were dark green with white stripes. The accessions JP13/74, JP13/70, JRPH 15/108, JRPH 15/41 and JRPH 15/21 belonging to S. incanum were characterized by ovoid, dark green fruits with white stripes. Small, round, dark green fruits with white nets were observed in S. indicum. A wide variability was observed in S. melongena accessions for fruit characters. Cluster analysis grouped the accessions into eleven clusters at 70 per cent similarity. S. melongena accessions that bear large fruits and are free from prickles can be selected for heterosis breeding. Keywords: Solanum, morphological traits, variability

Grape Cultivar Identification and Classification by Machine Olfaction Analysis of Leaf Volatiles

Development of electronic technologies for precise identification of fruit crop cultivars in agricultural production provides an effective means for assuring product quality and authentication. The capabilities of discriminating between grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars is essential for assuring certification of varieties sold in world markets. Machine olfaction, based on electronic-nose (e-nose) technologies, is readily available for rapid identification of fruit and vegetative agricultural products. This technology relies on detection of and discrimination between volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from plant parts. It may be used in all stages of agricultural production to facilitate crop maintenance, cultivation, and harvesting decisions prior to marketing. An experimental e-nose device was constructed and tested in combination with five chemometric methods, including PCA, LDA, QDA, SVM, and ANN, as rapid, non-destructive tools for identification and classification of grape cultivars. An e-nose instrument equipped with nine metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensors was utilized to identify and classify five grape cultivars based on leaf VOC emissions using supervised and non-supervised methods. Grape leaf samples were first identified as belonging to specific cultivar types using PCA analyses, which are non-supervised classification methods, with the first two principal components (PC-1 and PC-2) accounting for 89% of the total variance. Four supervised statistical methods were further tested, including DA, QDA, SVM, and ANN, and provided effective discrimination accuracies of 98%, 99%, 92%, and 99%, respectively. These findings confirmed the suitable applicability of an MOS e-nose sensor array with supervised methods for accurate identification of grape cultivars, which is useful for authentication of vine cultivar types for commercial markets.

Inhaled Placental Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Secretome from Two- and Three-Dimensional Cell Cultures Promotes Survival and Regeneration in Acute Lung Injury Model in Mice.

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common clinical problem, leading to significant morbidity and mortality, and no effective pharmacotherapy exists. The problem of ARDS causing mortality became more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Biotherapeutic products containing multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell (MMSC) secretome may provide a new therapeutic paradigm for human healthcare due to their immunomodulating and regenerative abilities. The content and regenerative capacity of the secretome depends on cell origin and type of cultivation (two- or three-dimensional (2D/3D)). In this study, we investigated the proteomic profile of the secretome from 2D- and 3D-cultured placental MMSC and lung fibroblasts (LFBs) and the effect of inhalation of freeze-dried secretome on survival, lung inflammation, lung tissue regeneration, fibrin deposition in a lethal ALI model in mice. We found that three inhaled administrations of freeze-dried secretome from 2D- and 3D-cultured placental MMSC and LFB protected mice from death, restored the histological structure of damaged lungs, and decreased fibrin deposition. At the same time, 3D MMSC secretome exhibited a more pronounced trend in lung recovery than 2D MMSC and LFB-derived secretome in some measures. Taking together, these studies show that inhalation of cell secretome may also be considered as a potential therapy for the management of ARDS in patients suffering from severe pneumonia, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), however, their effectiveness requires further investigation.

Corn Yield in Monoculture and Intercropped with Cover Plants and Aggregates Stability

The cultivation of corn intercropped with cover crops has been increasing in the western region of Paraná. However, more technical information about this type of cultivation is needed. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the yield of corn intercropped with brachiaria and crotalaria and its effect on aggregate stability and soil consistency. The experiment was carried out at the experimental station of Cooperativa Agrícola Mista Rondon (Copagril), in the city of Marechal Cândido Rondon. The experimental design was randomized blocks with 8 replications. There were six treatments for corn cultivation (T1) Corn monoculture (control), (T2) Corn intercropped with Brachiaria (Brachiaria ruzizienses), (T3) Brachiaria in monoculture, (T4) Crotalaria spectabilis (Crotalaria spectabilis) in monoculture, (T5) Corn intercropped with Crotalaria, (T6) Black oats (Avena sativum) in monoculture. Corn yield in intercropping, dry matter added to the soil, aggregate stability and soil consistency were evaluated. The yield of corn intercropped with cover crops was similar to that of corn in monoculture. The cultivation of Brachiaria ruziziensis in monoculture or intercropped with corn produced a large amount of straw and favored soil aggregation. Therefore, the intercropping systems are recommended for the improvement of soil physical properties and the conservation of soil.

Effective specialist or jack of all trades? Experimental evolution of a crop pest in fluctuating and stable environments.

Understanding pest evolution in agricultural systems is crucial for developing effective and innovative pest control strategies. Types of cultivation, such as crop monocultures versus polycultures or crop rotation, may act as a selective pressure on pests' capability to exploit the host's resources. In this study, we examined the herbivorous mite Aceria tosichella (commonly known as wheat curl mite), a widespread wheat pest, to understand how fluctuating versus stable environments influence its niche breadth and ability to utilize different host plant species. We subjected a wheat-bred mite population to replicated experimental evolution in a single-host environment (either wheat or barley), or in an alternation between these two plant species every three mite generations. Next, we tested the fitness of these evolving populations on wheat, barley, and on two other plant species not encountered during experimental evolution, namely rye and smooth brome. Our results revealed that the niche breadth of A.tosichella evolved in response to the level of environmental variability. The fluctuating environment expanded the niche breadth by increasing the mite's ability to utilize different plant species, including novel ones. Such an environment may thus promote flexible host-use generalist phenotypes. However, the niche expansion resulted in some costs expressed as reduced performances on both wheat and barley as compared to specialists. Stable host environments led to specialized phenotypes. The population that evolved in a constant environment consisting of barley increased its fitness on barley without the cost of utilizing wheat. However, the population evolving on wheat did not significantly increase its fitness on wheat, but decreased its performance on barley. Altogether, our results indicated that, depending on the degree of environmental heterogeneity, agricultural systems create different conditions that influence pests' niche breadth evolution, which may in turn affect the ability of pests to persist in such systems.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil of Wild and Cultivated <i>Rosmarinus officinalis</i> from Two Moroccan Localities

This research aimed to measure the impact of provenance on the yield, chemical profile and antimicrobial activity of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil (EO) collected from cultivated and wild plants from two different regions in Morocco (Fez and Figuig). The chemical composition analysis was accomplished utilizing the GC-MS techniques. Sixteen compounds were identified in the EO of both samples, dominated by 1,8-cineole (32.18%), camphor (16.20%) and α-pinene (15.40%) in cultivated type. The α-pinene (51.19) presents the majority compound in the rosemary samples collected from the wild populations.The antimicrobial activity was investigated by using the broth dilution methods against yeast, four bacterial strains and two molds. Rosemary aerial part provided EO with the highest yield and comes from Figuig. The GC-MS analysis demonstrated the existence of two chemotypes of oils: α-pinene as well as 1,8-cineole/camphor/α-pinene. Both EOs showed good antimicrobial activity against all microbial strains. The essential oil produced by Fez plants was the most effective against the selected microorganisms having MIC values of 0.315-2.5 mg/L.

Identification and Characterization of Key Genes Responsible for Weedy and Cultivar Growth Types in Soybean.

In cultivated plants, shoot morphology is an important factor that influences crop economic value. However, the effects of gene expression patterns on shoot morphology are not clearly understood. In this study, the molecular mechanism behind shoot morphology (including leaf, stem, and node) was analyzed using RNA sequencing to compare weedy (creeper) and cultivar (stand) growth types obtained in F7 derived from a cross of wild and cultivated soybeans. A total of 12,513 (in leaves), 14,255 (in stems), and 11,850 (in nodes) differentially expressed genes were identified among weedy and cultivar soybeans. Comparative transcriptome and expression analyses revealed 22 phytohormone-responsive genes. We found that GIBBERELLIN 2-OXIDASE 8 (GA2ox), SPINDLY (SPY), FERONIA (FER), AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 8 (ARF8), CYTOKININ DEHYDROGENASE-1 (CKX1), and ARABIDOPSIS HISTIDINE KINASE-3 (AHK3), which are crucial phytohormone response genes, were mainly regulated in the shoot of weedy and cultivar types. These results indicate that interactions between phytohormone signaling genes regulate shoot morphology in weedy and cultivar growth type plants. Our study provides insights that are useful for breeding and improving crops to generate high-yield soybean varieties.

Determining microclimates, required weather stations, and suitable fruit tree species by using remote sensing techniques: A case study in an arid and subtropical region

To efficiently manage agricultural lands and increase their productivity, the number of meteorological stations needs to be determined, based on the climatic diversity. Darab region in southeastern Iran, which is a hub of agricultural and horticultural production, has only one synoptic station despite its diverse climatic conditions. So, the study's purpose is to determine microclimates, the number of meteorological stations necessary, and the types of plants suitable for cultivation based on landforms, altitudes, and temperatures. The temperature zoning maps were prepared by the IDW method (meteorological stations near the study area) and MODIS satellite image for every month for an average of 15 years (2004–2019). In order to determine the relationship between temperature classes and topographic features, the digital elevation model and topographic position index (TPI) were used, respectively. For each microclimate in the study area, different types of tropical, subtropical, and temperate tree cultivars were determined. According to the results, there are six microclimates in the study area. Correlation results between topography, rainfall and temperature indicate that there is a strong link (R2 = 0.91) between these variables. From these values, 6 classes with 6 microclimates can be determined for the study area, which indicates that 6 meteorological stations are needed. In order to increase productivity, one of the major innovations of this study focused on the relationship between the type of landforms in the region and the type of vegetation. The results showed that canyons, shallow valleys, plains small, open slopes, upper slopes, hills in valleys, and mid-slope ridges are suitable for growing tropical plants; canyons, u-shaped valleys, hills in valleys, and mid-slope ridges are suitable for cultivation of subtropical plants; and upland drainages, canyons, upper slopes, mid-slope ridges, and mountain tops are suitable for cultivation of temperate plants.

Evaluation of Germplasm and Development of Markers for Resistance to Plasmodiophora brassicae in Radish (Raphanussativus L.)

The rapid spread of clubroot disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae threatens radish (Raphanus sativus) production in China because some cultivation types lack clubroot-resistant (CR) genes. However, few molecular markers for clubroot resistance have been developed and used in hybrid breeding programs. In this study, 27 immune and 6 highly resistant accessions were identified among 95 radish inbred lines. The genes Rsa10003637 and Rsa10025569/Rsa10025571 were respectively identified from an XYB36-2 reference genome as the homologs of Crr1 and CRa from Brassica rapa by means of homology and synteny analysis. The association between the degree of clubroot resistance and the genotype of these CR genes suggested that Rsa10025569-H3 can be used as a clubroot-resistant haplotype. The sequence identity of Rsa10025569 in clubroot-resistant lines (CR-60 and CR-88) and clubroot-susceptible lines (CR-10 and CR-35) was 92.47%, and there was a 699 bp insertion at the end of the fourth exon in the clubroot-susceptible line. Association analysis of a BC1F1 population derived from the cross CR-88 (resistance) × CR-10 (susceptible) revealed an apparent correlation between polymorphisms at the Rsa10025569 locus and degree of clubroot resistance. On the basis of the results, molecular marker-assisted selection was used to transfer disease resistance genes to susceptible varieties and a new CR germplasm of Xinlimei was obtained.