Trait Values Research Articles

African Cultivated, Wild and Weedy Rice (Oryza spp.): Anticipating Further Genomic Studies.

Rice is a staple crop in sub-Saharan Africa, and it is mostly produced by Asian cultivars of Oryza sativa that were introduced to the continent around the fifteenth or sixteenth century. O. glaberrima, the native African rice, has also been planted due to its valuable traits of insect and drought tolerance. Due to competition and resistance evolution, weedy rice has evolved from O. sativa and O. glaberrima, posing an increasing threat to rice production. This paper provides an overview of current knowledge on the introduction and domestication history of cultivated rice in Africa, as well as the genetic properties of African weedy rice that invades paddy fields. Recent developments in genome sequencing have made it possible to uncover findings about O. glaberrima's population structure, stress resilience genes, and domestication bottleneck. Future rice genomic research in Africa should prioritize producing more high-quality reference genomes, quantifying the impact of crop-wild hybridization, elucidating weed adaptation mechanisms through resequencing, and establishing a connection between genomic variation and stress tolerance phenotypes to accelerate breeding efforts.

Evolution, identification, evaluation, and characterization of a stable salinity tolerant sugarcane variety CoG 7

From the fluff generated during 2005, after the preliminary experiments (2005–2007), a promising clone G2005047 has been identified. It showed moderate resistance to red rot (3.6 on a 9-scale scoring system), less susceptibility to shoot borer (13.25%) and internode borers (25.35%), and resistance to woolly aphid (0%). In the Advanced Yield Trials (2008–2011), it showed advantages over check for cane yield (CY) (11.79%), commercial cane sugar percent (CCSP) (0.35%), and sugar yield (SY) (20.33%). To ascertain its large-scale cultivation suitability, it has experimented under adaptive research trials (2012–2014) at farmers’ fields. It exhibited 18.04%, 1.27%, and 19.55% supremacy over the check Co 86032 for CY, CCSP, and SY respectively. The stability of G2005047 under salinity was ascertained through a multi-environment-based experiment (2015–2017). AMMI (Additive Main-effects and Multiplicative Interactions) and GGE (Genotype × Genotype-Environment interaction) biplots were utilized. ANOVA revealed that the genotypic variation exerted the most significant effect followed by genotype × environment interaction and environment. G2005047 had the highest mean values for yield and quality traits with minimal ASV (AMMI stability value) (2.38:CY; 0.57: CCSP; & 0.58:SY) indicating its good-yielding ability and stability. AMMI I, AMMI II, and GGE biplots confirmed the stability of G2005047. In the jaggery quality assessment trials (2018 and 2019), it yielded 37.1% increased jaggery over the check. Also, the clone G2005047, exhibited moderate resistance to red rot disease, less susceptibility to shoot borer (13.25%) and internode borer (25.35%), and resistance against sugarcane woolly aphid (SWA). Due to supremacy for yield, quality, better performance under salinized situations, and tolerance to disease and pests, the clone G2005047 was released as a variety CoG 7 in 2022.

Evaluation of memory drought stress effects on storage compounds seedlings of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and in-silico analysis of glutathione reductase

In breeding programs, stress memory in plants can develop drought stress tolerance. Memory stress, as an approach, can keep stress data by activating tolerance mechanisms. This research was conducted to evaluate some physiologically effective mechanisms in inducing memory drought stress in the seeds that were exposed to water stress three times in four treatments including rainfed, 33%, 66%, and 100% of field capacity (FC). After the production of the seeds, the third-generation seeds were placed under different irrigation treatments, seed and seedling traits, starch to carbohydrate ratio in seed, protein concentration and glutathione reductase were investigatied in a factorial format based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that percentage of changes from the lowest to the highest value for traits including seed vigor, seed endosperm weight, seed coat weight, accelerated aging, cold test, seedling biomass and seedling length were 25, 37, 65, 65, 55, 77, 55, 65 and 79, respectively and germination uniformity was 3.9 times higher than the lowest amount. According to the deterioration percentage, seed vigor and the percentage of seed germination in cold test data, it can be reported that seed production by 100% FC was not appropriate for rainfed plots. However, considering the the appropriate results in the percentage of germination for a cold test, germination uniformity percentage, and the lowest accelerated aging seeds, seed production under the rainfed conditions with 33% FC watering can be recommended. In-silico analysis was coducted on Glutathione reductase (GR) enzymes in Gossypium hirsutum. It is clear that GR has a Redox-active site and NADPH binding, and it interacts with Glutathione S transferase (GST). So, memory drought stress through inducing physiological drought tolerance mechanisms such as starch-to-carbohydrate ratio and GR can determine the suitable pattern for seed production for rainfed and low rainfall regions in a breeding program. Our study thus illustrated that seed reprduction under 33% FC equipped cotton with the tolerance against under draught stress from the seedling stage. This process is done through activating glutathione reductase and balancing the ratio of starch to carbohydrates concentration.

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.

Recombination fraction in pre-recombinant inbred lines (PRERIL) - revisiting a century old problem in genetics

BackgroundTraditional recombinant inbred lines (RILs) are generated from repeated self-fertilization or brother-sister mating from the F1 hybrid of two inbred parents. Compared with the F2 population, RILs cumulate more crossovers between loci and thus increase the number of recombinants, resulting in an increased resolution of genetic mapping. Since they are inbred to the isogenic stage, another consequence of the heterozygosity reduction is the increased genetic variance and thus the increased power of QTL detection. Self-fertilization is the primary form of developing RILs in plants. Brother-sister mating is another way to develop RILs but in small laboratory animals. To ensure that the RILs have at least 98% of homozygosity, we need about seven generations of self-fertilization or 20 generations of brother-sister mating. Prior to homozygosity, these lines are called pre-recombinant inbred lines (PRERIL). Phenotypic values of traits in PRERILs are often collected but not used in QTL mapping. To perform QTL mapping in PRERILs, we need the recombination fraction between two markers at generation t for t < 7 (selfing) or t < 20 (brother-sister mating) so that the genotypes of QTL flanked by the markers can be inferred.ResultsIn this study, we developed formulas to calculate the recombination fractions of PRERILs at generation t in self-fertilization, brother-sister mating, and random mating. In contrast to existing works in this topic, we used computer code to construct the transition matrix to form the Markov chain of genotype array between consecutive generations, the so-called recurrent equations.ConclusionsWe provide R functions to calculate the recombination fraction using the newly developed recurrent equations of ordered genotype array. With the recurrent equations and the R code, users can perform QTL mapping in PRERILs. Substantial time and effort can be saved compared with QTL mapping in RILs.

Durum wheat from North African countries (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt) in the southern planar zone of the Dagestan Republic conditions

In 2022-2023 at the Dagestan experimental station of the All-Russian Research Institute branch, under irrigated conditions during winter sowing 615 samples of durum wheat from North African countries (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt) were studied for a set of breeding valuable traits (earliness, resistance to fungal diseases, productivity, height plants, lodging, number of grains per ear, weight of grain per ear and weight of 1000 grains). Standard varieties are k-66674 Odari, k-67482 Yarina (Krasnodar region), k-32453 Derbentskaya black-eared (Dagestan). Productive durum wheat varieties with high adaptive potential have been identified (k-16221, k-16242 and k-54550 from Algeria), which can be used for genetic research and in practical breeding to improve existing varieties and create new ones.

Who is afraid of modelling time as a continuous variable?

Abstract Most models of ecological and eco‐evolutionary processes involve creating trajectories of something, be it population densities, average trait values, or environmental states, over time. This requires decision‐making regarding how to represent the flow of time in models. Most ecologists are exposed to continuous‐time models (typically in the form of ordinary differential equations) as part of their training, especially since the famous Lotka‐Volterra predator–prey dynamics are formulated this way. However, few appear sufficiently well trained to produce their own work with continuous‐time models and may lack exposure to the true versatility of available methods. Specifically, knowledge that discrete individuals can be modelled in continuous time using the Gillespie algorithm is not as widespread as it should be. I will illustrate the flexibility of continous‐time modelling methods such that researchers can make informed choices, and not resort to discretizing time as a ‘default’ without a clear biological motivation to do so. I provide three example‐based tutorials: (1) a comparison of deterministic and stochastic dynamics of the Lotka‐Volterra predator–prey model, (2) an evaluation of matelessness in a hypothetical insect population (and of selection to mate more often by either searching more efficiently or by shortening the ‘time out’ after each mating) and (3) within‐season density dependence followed by a birth pulse leading to Beverton‐Holt or Ricker dynamics depending on whether the deaths of conspecifics help reduce the mortality of others or not (compensatory mortality). I highlight properties of the exponential distribution that, while counter‐intuitive, are good to know when deriving expected lifetime reproductive success or other similar quantities. I also give guidance on how to proceed if the so‐called memorylessness assumption does not hold in a given situation, and show how continuous and discrete times can be freely mixed if the biological situation dictates this to be the preferred option. Continuous‐time models can also be empirically fitted to data, and I review briefly the insight this gives into the so‐called ‘do hares eat lynx?’ paradox that has been plaguing the interpretation of the Hudson Bay hare and lynx dataset.

Change in functional trait diversity mediates the effects of nutrient addition on grassland stability

Abstract Nutrient enrichment impacts grassland plant diversity such as species richness, functional trait composition and diversity, but whether and how these changes affect ecosystem stability in the face of increasing climate extremes remains largely unknown. We quantified the direct and diversity‐mediated effects of nutrient addition (by nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) on the stability of above‐ground biomass production in 10 long‐term grassland experimental sites. We measured five facets of stability as the temporal invariability, resistance during and recovery after extreme dry and wet growing seasons. Leaf traits (leaf carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and specific leaf area) were measured under ambient and nutrient addition conditions in the field and were used to construct the leaf economic spectrum (LES). We calculated functional trait composition and diversity of LES and of single leaf traits. We quantified the contribution of intraspecific trait shifts and species replacement to change in functional trait composition as responses to nutrient addition and its implications for ecosystem stability. Nutrient addition decreased functional trait diversity and drove grassland communities to the faster end of the LES primarily through intraspecific trait shifts, suggesting that intraspecific trait shifts should be included for accurately predicting ecosystem stability. Moreover, the change in functional trait diversity of the LES in turn influenced different facets of stability. That said, these diversity‐mediated effects were overall weak and/or overwhelmed by the direct effects of nutrient addition on stability. As a result, nutrient addition did not strongly impact any of the stability facets. These results were generally consistent using individual leaf traits but the dominant pathways differed. Importantly, major influencing pathways differed using average trait values extracted from global trait databases (e.g. TRY). Synthesis. Investigating changes in multiple facets of plant diversity and their impacts on multidimensional stability under global changes such as nutrient enrichment can improve our understanding of the processes and mechanisms maintaining ecosystem stability.

Genetic evaluation of udder health traits in the Spanish Holstein Cows

The aims of this study were to estimate the genetic parameters of clinical mastitis (CM) and somatic cell score (SCS) traits, and to compare the performance of genetic evaluations of CM traits using univariate and bivariate analyses (CM-SCS). Data was edited according to the Udder Health Golden Standard harmonization and then, 6 CM traits and 6 SCS traits were considered, as the result of combining 3 lactation classification (1, 2, ≥ 3) and 2 milking periods (early, late). The linear mixed animal models included the ratio of period at risk as a covariate, herd-year of calving, month of calving, and lactation-age as fixed effects, and the permanent environmental effect for traits of ≥ 3 lactations. Prevalence of CM in early lactation was similar regardless the lactation number (5-6%) and the estimated heritabilities were 0.01. Prevalences in late lactation ranged from 10% to 24% and heritabilities ranged from 0.03 to 0.05. Estimated heritabilities of SCS ranged from 0.06 to 0.16 with univariate analyses. Somatic cell count (therefore its log-transformation SCS) showed higher probability of identify correctly healthy cows than infected cows but there was still up to 36% of healthy cows for CM not detected by SCS. Genetic correlations between CM-SCS traits ranged from 0.36 to 0.95, and SCS in lactation 3 and later did not add extra information to SCS in second lactation for predicting CM. Regarding reliabilities of estimated breeding value (EBV) for CM traits, bivariate CM-SCS analyses led to substantial increases with respect to the single-trait model for sires (7-12% more in first lactation and 16-28% more for second lactation). Sire's rank correlations for CM between univariate and bivariate analyses (0.47-0.92) suggest that discarding sires could be more accurate than selecting candidates for sires of dams. We can conclude that SCS in first lactation could be useful to supplement CM data in first and second lactations to improve udder health genetic evaluation.

Organizational Virtue Ethics and Moral Distress among Healthcare Workers.

AbstractMoral distress is traditionally defined as situations where one knows the right thing to do but external constraints make it nearly impossible to pursue the right course of action. Many interventions to mitigate moral distress focus on making healthcare workers more resilient or courageous in the face of adverse circumstances. While these "virtue cultivation" responses might be valuable traits for individuals, I want to argue that cultivating virtue is at best an incomplete strategy for dealing with moral distress in an organizational setting. The individualistic character of these approaches ignores how an organization's policies may be contributing to many morally distressing situations. I will argue that resources from the virtue tradition can still play a valuable theoretical role in addressing moral distress in healthcare settings if we transpose them to the organizational level. The policies of a hospital or healthcare institution can be seen as virtuous to the degree that they further the organization's goals of medicine. Organizational virtue ethics can then illuminate the issue of moral distress in healthcare organizations. If an organization's policies contribute to its members suffering from moral distress, then that policy may well inhibit the organization from carrying out its mission of providing excellent healthcare. Organizations should respond to moral distress and seek ways to mitigate if not eliminate it.

Genome-wide association study of fiber quality traits in US upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

A GWAS in an elite diversity panel, evaluated across 10 environments, identified genomic regions regulating six fiber quality traits, facilitating genomics-assisted breeding and gene discovery in upland cotton. In this study, an elite diversity panel of 348 upland cotton accessions was evaluated in 10 environments across the US Cotton Belt and genotyped with the cottonSNP63K array, for a genome-wide association study of six fiber quality traits. All fiber quality traits, upper half mean length (UHML: mm), fiber strength (FS: gtex-1), fiber uniformity (FU: %), fiber elongation (FE: %), micronaire (MIC) and short fiber content (SFC: %), showed high broad-sense heritability (> 60%). All traits except FE showed high genomic heritability. UHML, FS and FU were all positively correlated with each other and negatively correlated with FE, MIC and SFC. GWAS of these six traits identified 380 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) including 143 MTAs on 30 genomic regions. These 30 genomic regions included MTAs identified in at least three environments, and 23 of them were novel associations. Phenotypic variation explained for the MTAs in these 30 genomic regions ranged from 6.68 to 11.42%. Most of the fiber quality-associated genomic regions were mapped in the D-subgenome. Further, this study confirmed the pleiotropic region on chromosome D11 (UHML, FS and FU) and identified novel co-localized regions on D04 (FU, SFC), D05 (UHML, FU, and D06 UHML, FU). Marker haplotype analysis identified superior combinations of fiber quality-associated genomic regions with high trait values (UHML = 32.34mm; FS = 32.73gtex-1; FE = 6.75%). Genomic analyses of traits, haplotype combinations and candidate gene information described in the current study could help leverage genetic diversity for targeted genetic improvement and gene discovery for fiber quality traits in cotton.

Improvement of dairy characters in farms and breeding value of the breeding bulls when assessing the quality of offspring

The article presents studies on comparison of the levels of precocity and milk productivity indicators of the daughters of Holstein bulls, who are evaluated for the quality of offspring simultaneously in two breeding plants of the Moscow region. According to the official ratings of breeding values, the bulls were divided into groups of "improving" and "worsening". The ratio of the daughters of the "best" and "worst" breeding bulls was 511:568 and 160:127 heads over the farms. It was determined which values of the differences in the "daughter – mother" indicators were increased in groups of officially evaluated bulls that received ratings of "improvers" and "deteriorators" according to the characteristics in these two breeding plants. The bulls being tested were fixed individually, and according to the number of pairs as the main ones. At the first insemination, the daughters of the "improving" group of bulls had 6.5–8.5 kg increased live weight of, but were relatively older by 0.36–0.6 months. According to the milk yield trait, the total yield of milk fat and protein, highly rated fathers in breeding plants were significantly inferior to competitors with low breeding value in milk yield by 688–1136 kg, according to the difference "mother – daughter" in the total yield of milk fat and protein per lactation – by 43.1–97.3 kg. In one of the farms, the "daughter – mother" differences in milk yield in all bull clusters increased by 599–1275 kg of milk; according to mass fat fraction (MFF) — by 0.02–0.20% and for mass protein fraction (MPF) — by 0.19–0.31%; in another farm, the increase in milk yield was by 43.8–1551 kg of milk and 0.05–0.13% according to the MPF. The daughters of the "worst" fathers in terms of MFF and MPF significantly outperformed the group of daughters of the "best" fathers in terms of "daughter–mother" differences by 35.6 and 61.7 kg of total milk protein and fat output over 305 days of lactation. At the same time, there were no significant differences between daughters and peers. The relativity of the official definition of the values of the breeding value of breeding bulls has been proved. It is proposed, regardless of the "commercial" and previously conducted estimates of breeding bulls, to take into account the indices of pedigrees and types of selection when breeding them. Conclusions are drawn about the significant influence of the factor and selection methods on the values of milk production traits; in order to save growing costs, it is proposed to optimize the live weight and age of insemination of heifers in farms.

Test results of new breeding potato hybrids in the conditions of the Volga-Vyatka region

In the period from 2016 to 2022 in the conditions of the Kirov region, an assessment of hybrid potato combinations was carried out according to the most important traits - high productivity and yield, marketable and consumer qualities of tubers. New potato hybrids bred by the Falenki Breeding Station – branch of the FARC North-East were used as the objects of the research: 6-17 (‘Gornyak’ x ‘Manifest’); 15-17 (428-05 x ‘Manifest’); 33-17 (132-07 x ‘Manifest’); 72-17 (‘Gornyak’בIrbitsky’); 78-17 (‘Udacha’ x 428-05); 120-17 (‘Utyonok’בReggi’); 25-16 (‘Kupalinka’ x 428-05). They were noted as the most promising ones according to the results of the research of 2016-2022. The medium-early ‘Nevsky’ cultivar approved for use in the Kirov region was used as a standard. According to the methodological guidelines of the potato breeding process, phenological observations, productivity assessment (on day 65), total and commercial yields were carried out in the nursery, and the chemical composition of tubers was determined. As a result, on average, over three years of testing for a complex of economically valuable traits, a promising breeding number 33-17 was identified – a significant excess of the total yield (29.9 t/ha) over the standard ‘Nevsky‘ cultivar was 14.6 t/ha. The tubers are oval with a red, slightly reticulated skin, the eyes are small, unpainted, the flesh is white. In addition, when evaluating the productive capabilities of potato hybrids, the coefficient of adaptability of breeding number 33-17 was 1.40, which makes it possible to recommend it for cultivation in this region in order to obtain stable yields.

Differential responses of community‐level functional traits to mid‐ and late‐season experimental drought in a temperate grassland

Abstract Extreme precipitation events are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change. This climatic shift is impacting the structure and dynamics of natural communities and the key ecosystem services they provide. Changes in species abundance under these conditions are thought to be mediated by functional traits, morpho‐physiological characteristics of an organism that impact its fitness. Future environmental conditions may, therefore, favour different traits to those in present‐day communities. After 6 years of manipulated precipitation levels, including drought (−50% of ambient precipitation), irrigation (+50% of ambient precipitation), and control (ambient precipitation), we measured five key functional traits (plant height, leaf dry matter content [LDMC], leaf thickness, specific leaf area [SLA], and leaf phosphorus concentration) in 586 individual vascular plants to study the effects of precipitation changes on community‐weighted functional traits. Additionally, we tested whether the precipitation change effects on the traits depend on the time of the growing season. As expected, reduced precipitation impacted community composition only for the late‐season timing, after the seasonal field mowing, but led to a significant change in all community‐level plant traits between season timings. Under drought, communities shifted towards shorter individuals with thicker but small leaves and lower phosphorous content. Overall, a combination of community reassembly and intraspecific variation contributed to community‐weighted differences between control and drought plots for plant height, SLA, and LDMC traits. Species turnover was the main driver of community‐weighted means (CWMs) shifts in all traits in the late‐season but SLA. Whereas all traits showed variations at the community level with drought, SLA and LDMC were the most responsive traits at the species level. Nevertheless, our results suggest underestimation of intraspecific variation due to sensitive species lower abundance under stress. No differences in CWMs of functional traits were observed between control and irrigated plots. Synthesis: Our findings suggest that functional trait composition of grassland communities may shift under climate change‐induced drought, depending on the growing season timings. Trait‐based attempts to predict ecosystem functioning must account for such temporal variation in community trait values.

Genome‐Wide Association Studies Predicted Drought Stress Occuring at Anthesis and Post‐Anthesis Stages in Novel Diverse Germplasm of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

ABSTRACTThis study employed genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) to identify the crucial marker–trait associations (MTAs) for agronomic and physiological traits in bread wheat grown under full irrigation and 40% reduced irrigation. One hundred twenty‐four genotypes derived from three‐way crosses of landraces and synthetic bread wheat were evaluated for 2 years in the field conditions of CIMMYT Obregon, Mexico. Irrigation was not provided at anthesis and post‐anthesis stage for the drought treatment, and data of 12 traits were recorded. Most of the traits were reduced significantly under drought conditions except for vigour, wax and spike length (SL); genotypes were significantly different for the eight traits except for days to heading (DTH), number of grains spike−1 (NGS), normalized difference in vegetation index (NDVI) and canopy temperature depression (CTD); and differences were also significant for five traits between the years. Moreover, GY was significantly and negatively correlated with wax and CTD. Our GWAS results indicated 117 significant (p ≤ 0.001) MTAs distributed on all the wheat chromosomes except chromosomes 4B and 4D explaining 10%–21.5% of the phenotypic variation of the corresponding traits. Moreover, 22 MTAs were recorded for grain yield and explaining the phenotypic variations up to 14.7% with one common association under both irrigated and drought conditions. Additionally, we also identified the associations for NDVI, CTD and SL at chromosome 1B, suggesting that genotypes are sustaining superior grain yield through better values of traits like NDVI, CTD, and SL under the challenging conditions of anthesis and post‐anthesis drought stress.

Mycorrhizal inoculation alters rhizosphere fungal community and root morphology to improve drought tolerance of resource-acquisitive but not resource-conservative Quercus species

The mutualistic association between mycorrhizal fungi and plants is well known to improve plant drought resistance. However, the influence of external inoculants on the interactions between soil microbial communities and plant functional traits and how these interactions improve plant drought tolerance under drought stress remain unclear. We conducted a pot inoculation experiment to assess the effect of two inoculated fungal strains (Clitopolius hobsonii NL-19 and C. sp. HSL-YX-7-A) on morphological traits and rhizosphere fungal communities of eight Quercus species seedlings. Plant and soil fungal traits were measured 2 months after inoculation and then underwent a short-term (33 days) drought rewetting treatment. The biomass of all tree species reduced significantly under drought stress followed by rewetting (drought treatment) compared with that in the control treatment (well-watered); however, inoculated mycorrhizal fungi (drought + mycorrhizal inoculation treatment) increased the biomass of five Quercus species (growth-promoting species (GPS) exhibiting a significant increase in biomass under mycorrhizal inoculation treatment than under the uninoculated treatment during drought stress, characterized by a resource-use acquisitive strategy) and had no effect on the other three Quercus species (non-growth-promoting species (NGPS) exhibiting no significant difference in biomass between mycorrhizal inoculation and uninoculated treatments during drought stress, characterized by a resource-use conservative strategy). The leaf traits of the two species groups (GPS and NGPS) varied little among the three treatments. The values of most root traits (e.g., specific root length and root length) of GPS increased significantly under drought and drought + mycorrhizal inoculation treatments compared with those in the control, whereas relatively minor variations were observed in NGPS among the three treatments. The fungal community composition and functional groups (primary trophic modes) in the drought treatment were altered for NGPS but not for GPS; additionally, they changed in the drought + mycorrhizal inoculation treatment for GPS but not for NGPS when compared with those in the drought treatment. Furthermore, the drought tolerance of GPS was improved directly by fungal functional groups (i.e., Pathotroph-Saprotroph- Symbiotrophs proliferation) and indirectly by root traits (e.g., increased specific root length), whereas NGPS may adapt to drought stress through other pathways (e.g., physiological and biochemical regulation). Overall, drought and mycorrhizal inoculation affected the root traits and fungal community structure of Quercus seedlings, which rely on plant resource-use strategies. Our results provide new insights into the relationship between plant resource-use strategies and soil microbes for improving plant performance under drought stress.

Experimental evolution suggests rapid assembly of the 'selfing syndrome' from standing variation in Mimulus guttatus.

Ecological and evolutionary changes are likely to occur rapidly when outcrossing populations experience pollinator loss. However, the number and identify of plant traits that will respond to this form of selection, as well as the overall predictability of evolutionary responses, remain unclear. We experimentally evolved 20 large replicate populations of Mimulus guttatus for 10 generations under three treatments: pure outcrossing, mixed mating (10% outcrossing) and pure selfing. These populations were founded from the same genetically diverse and outcrossing natural population. After 10 generations, all measured traits evolved with flower size, phenology, and reproductive traits diverging consistently among mating system treatments. Autogamy increased dramatically in the selfing treatment, but the magnitude of adaptation only becomes clear once inbreeding depression is factored out. Selfing treatment plants evolved reduced stigma-anther separation, and also exhibited declines in flower size and per-flower reproductive capacity. Flower size also declined in selfing populations but this was driven mainly by inbreeding depression and cannot be attributed to adaptation towards the selfing syndrome. Generally, the mixed mating populations evolved trait values intermediate to the fully selfing and outcrossing populations. Overall, our experimental treatments reiterated differences that have been documented in interspecific comparisons between selfing and outcrossing species pairs. Given that such contrasts involve species separated by thousands or even millions of generations, it is noteworthy that large evolutionary responses were obtained from genetic variation segregating within a single natural population.

Direct in vitro propagation of avian germ cells from an embryonic gonad biorepository

Direct introduction of cryopreserved embryonic gonadal germ cells (GGC) into a sterile chicken surrogate host to reconstitute a chicken breed has been demonstrated as a feasible approach for preserving and utilizing chicken genetic resources. This method is highly efficient using male gonads; however, a large number of frozen female embryonic gonads is needed to provide sufficient purified GGC for the generation of fertile surrogate female hosts. Applying this method to indigenous chicken breeds and other bird species is difficult due to small flock numbers and poor egg production in each egg laying cycle. Propagating germ cells from the frozen gonadal tissues may be a solution for the biobanking of these birds. Here, we describe a simplified method for culture of GGC from frozen embryonic 9.5 d gonads. At this developmental stage, the germ cells are autonomously shed into medium, yielding hundreds to thousands of mitosis-competent germ cells. The resulting cultures of GGC have over 90% purity, uniformly express SSEA-1 and DAZL antigens and can re-colonize recipient's gonads. The GGC recovery rate from frozen gonads are 42% to 100%, depending on length of cryopreservation and the breed or line of chickens. Entire chicken embryos can also be directly cryopreserved for later gonadal isolation and culture. This storage method is a supplementary approach to safeguard local indigenous chicken breeds bearing valuable genetic traits and should be applicable to the biobanking of many bird species.

Variability of genetic diversity of spring barley by hordeincoding locus over a 40-year period of scientific breeding in the Krasnoyarsk Territory

The article discusses and summarizes the results of studies of polymorphism of hordeins (HRD) of spring barley by electrophoresis at the Krasnoyarsk Research Institute of Agriculture (KNIISH) for the period from 1988 to 2021. The analysis of the dynamics of the genetic diversity of barley varieties from the ecological and breeding nurseries of the KNIISKh, released and approved for use in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, showed a significant narrowing of the frequency of occurrence and the loss of a number of alleles characteristic of the conditions of the Yenisei Siberia, and the appearance of rare variants for the Siberian region. Based on long-term observations of the composition of hordeins of breeding samples (promising and rejection) created in different areas of breeding, a number of alleles were found to be associated with economically valuable traits.

ВОСТРЕБОВАННОСТЬ СРЕДНЕПОЗДНИХ СОРТОВ ЯРОВОЙ МЯГКОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ В УСЛОВИЯХ ЗАУРАЛЬЯ

The objective of the study is to determine the characteristics and advantages of mid-late varieties for sustainable harvesting of food grain in the region based on long-term variety testing. Objectives: to study the economically valuable indicators of spring wheat varieties and to identify the advantages of late-ripening varieties. The object of the study is mid-late ripening spring soft wheat varieties, including the Raduga variety bred by the Kurgan Research Institute of Agriculture. Predecessors are fallow and provo-cative backgrounds: sowing on stubble and late sowing date. Observations and assessments are carried out in accordance with the Methodology of state variety testing. The studies were carried out at the Kurgan Research Institute of Agriculture – a branch of the Ural FRC of the Ural Branch of the RAS. Mid-late varieties, when sown at different times, excluding extremely late ones, showed an advantage in a number of economically valuable traits. The mid-late Raduga variety allows obtaining consistently high indicators in various weather conditions. For the period 2017–2023, with a yield of 1.22–5.53 t/ha, the excess over the Uralosibirskaya standard was 0.24 t/ha, with annual fluctuations from 0.08 to 0.53 t/ha. In arid conditions of 2020–2021 it was 0.15–0.20 t/ha. The variety responds to fertilizers and the use of fungicides. The grain quality met the GOST requirements for valuable wheat or a good filler. The gluten content in the grain, depending on the conditions, ranges from 23 to 37 %, protein – 14.7–15.7 % (2021–2023). Raduga, thanks to its genetically determined resistance to diseases, exceeded the standard in yield in three sowing pe¬riods by an average of 1.27 t/ha during the years of rust epiphytotics, demonstrating a resistance of 1.5 points versus 5 points for the standard.Against the background of mass germination of grain on the root in 2023, the percentage of sprouted grains in Raduga was 14.5 versus 40 % in the Uralosibirskaya standard. It is included in the list of breeding achievements for 7 and 9 regions of Russia.