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14 pages, 1108 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Trait Loci Mapping of First Pod Height in Faba Bean Based on Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS)

by Shubao Lou, Changcai Teng, Wanwei Hou, Xianli Zhou, Hongyan Zhang and Yujiao Liu

Agronomy 2024, 14(9), 2013; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14092013 - 4 Sep 2024

Viewed by 552

Abstract

Candidate genes related to first pod height (FPH) traits in faba bean plants are crucial for mechanised breeding. However, reports on quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping related to the FPH of faba bean are few, thus limiting the high-quality development of the faba [...] Read more.

Candidate genes related to first pod height (FPH) traits in faba bean plants are crucial for mechanised breeding. However, reports on quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping related to the FPH of faba bean are few, thus limiting the high-quality development of the faba bean industry to a certain extent. The identification and screening of candidate genes related to FPH is extremely urgent for the advancement of mechanised breeding for faba bean. In this study, a high-density genetic linkage map was constructed using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) of an F₃ population and QTLs (genes) related to FPH were identified. The genetic linkage map contained seven linkage groups with 3012 SNP markers with an overall length of 4089.13 centimorgan (cM) and an average marker density of 1.36 cM. Thirty-eight QTLs for the first pod node (FPN) and FPH were identified (19 each for FPN and FPH). The 19 QTLs associated with FPN were located on chromosomes 1L, 1S, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6; the 19 QTLs associated with FPH were located on chromosomes 1L, 1S, 2, 3, 5, and 6. There was a co-localisation interval of qFPN6-1 and qFPH6-1 on chromosome 6. By annotating the QTL qFPH6-1 interval, 36 genes that may be related to FPH were identified, these genes are related to plant growth and development. The results provide a basis for the precise location of QTLs related to FPH and could accelerate the breeding of faba bean varieties adapted to mechanised harvesting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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17 pages, 3766 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Toward the Development of Garlic Varieties: The First Attempts

by Ricardo Julián Licea-Moreno, Ángeles Rodríguez-Haro and Juan Antonio Marín-Martínez

Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1812; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081812 - 17 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1329

Abstract

Despite garlic (Allium sativum L.) being recognized as the second most important species in the Allium genus, a limited number of varieties are available worldwide. Aiming to develop new purple garlic varieties, a representative sample was used to determine the extent of [...] Read more.

Despite garlic (Allium sativum L.) being recognized as the second most important species in the Allium genus, a limited number of varieties are available worldwide. Aiming to develop new purple garlic varieties, a representative sample was used to determine the extent of phenotypic variability for commercially desirable characteristics. Initially, 360 bolting bulbs were selected based on their size and abundant external scales. After further assessment, 243 bulbs were discarded due to undesirable traits such as light purple color, numerous small cloves, or damage from Fusarium spp. and mites. Although garlic reproduces asexually, each bulb was considered to represent a distinct family. Thus, 117 families were planted in a randomized complete block design during the 2021–2022 growing season. Physiological, morphological, and phenological traits were assessed for each family, along with damages caused by pests and pathogens. As a result of these evaluations, 103 families were selected for a second trial the following season. Due to increased selection pressure, only 23 families remained in the program at the end of the second trial. High variability was observed for most traits, with a strong influence from family lineage. Environmental conditions significantly impacted the performance of the families, highlighting the need to evaluate them under diverse environments. The high variability within the selected sample indicates a strong potential for developing new garlic varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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19 pages, 5887 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

IIIVmrMLM Provides New Insights into the Genetic Basis of the Agronomic Trait Variation in Chickpea

by Maria Duk, Alexander Kanapin, Ekaterina Orlova and Maria Samsonova

Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1762; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081762 - 12 Aug 2024

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Abstract

Chickpea is a staple crop for many nations worldwide. Modeling genotype-by-environment interactions and assessing the genotype’s ability to contribute adaptive alleles are crucial for chickpea breeding. In this study, we evaluated 12 agronomically important traits of 159 accessions from the N.I. Vavilov All [...] Read more.

Chickpea is a staple crop for many nations worldwide. Modeling genotype-by-environment interactions and assessing the genotype’s ability to contribute adaptive alleles are crucial for chickpea breeding. In this study, we evaluated 12 agronomically important traits of 159 accessions from the N.I. Vavilov All Russian Institute for Plant Genetic Resources collection. These included 145 landraces and 13 cultivars grown in different climatic conditions in Kuban (45°18′ N and 40°52′ E) in both 2016 and 2022, as well as in Astrakhan (46°06′ N and 48°04′ E) in 2022. Using the IIIVmrMLM model in multi-environmental mode, we identified 161 quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) with stable genetic effects across different environments. Furthermore, we have observed 254 QTN-by-environment interactions with distinct environment-specific effects. Notably, five of these interactions manifested large effects, with R² values exceeding 10%, while the highest R² value for stable QTNs was 4.7%. Within the protein-coding genes and their 1 Kb flanking regions, we have discerned 22 QTNs and 45 QTN-by-environment interactions, most likely tagging the candidate causal genes. The landraces obtained from the N.I Vavilov All Russian Institute for Plant Genetic Resources collection exhibit numerous favorable alleles at quantitative trait nucleotide loci, showing stable effects in the Kuban and Astrakhan regions. Additionally, they possessed a significantly higher number of Kuban-specific favorable alleles of the QTN-by-environment interaction loci compared to the Astrakhan-specific ones. The environment-specific alleles found at the QTN-by-environment interaction loci have the potential to enhance chickpea adaptation to specific climatic conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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16 pages, 3393 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Sample Size Estimation for Measuring Quantitative Characteristics in DUS Testing of Shiitake Mushrooms

by Shan Deng, Meiyan Zhang, Aiai Li, Li Ren, Yiying Zhang, Hong Zhao, Yu Zhang, Chunyan Song, Ruixi Han, Qi Tan, Yunxia Chu and Hairong Chen

Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1130; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061130 - 25 May 2024

Viewed by 965

Abstract

The sampling technique is commonly used in research investigations to more accurately estimate data with greater precision, at a lower cost and in less time. In plant DUS (distinctness, uniformity, and stability) testing, many quantitative characteristic data usually need to be obtained through [...] Read more.

The sampling technique is commonly used in research investigations to more accurately estimate data with greater precision, at a lower cost and in less time. In plant DUS (distinctness, uniformity, and stability) testing, many quantitative characteristic data usually need to be obtained through individual measurements. However, there is currently no scientific method for determining the appropriate sampling size. The minimum number of testing samples for DUS testing was calculated based on the theory of sample size in descriptive studies and was validated through simple random sampling. The results show that the quantitative characteristics for the edible mushroom Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) in DUS testing were uniform. The calculated results show that 10 fruiting bodies for a single measurement were sufficient. Furthermore, the outcomes of the random sampling revealed that the mean of 10 samples did not significantly differ from the mean of all data. When the sample size exceeded 10, Cohen’s kappa statistic suggested that the conclusion of distinctness was very close to the near-perfect agreement. Reducing the number of samples did not affect the uniform assessment. This study suggests that the theory of sample size in descriptive studies could be applied to calculate the minimum sample size in DUS testing, and for Shiitake DUS testing, measuring 10 fruiting bodies was sufficient. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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14 pages, 5519 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Quality Traits in Relation to Mechanical Harvesting for Screening Excellent Materials in Gossypium barbadense L. Germplasm Resources

by Feng Lin, Meng Wang, Nan Zhao, Yubo Zhang, Weiran Wang, Jing Yang, Sumei Wan, Jianping Li, Alifu Aierxi, Guodong Chen and Jie Kong

Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 891; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050891 - 24 Apr 2024

Viewed by 822

Abstract

Sea Island cotton is renowned for its superior fiber quality. Although mechanical harvesting has the potential to significantly increase efficiency and reduce the production cost of Sea Island cotton, there is still little research in this area. In this study, we analyzed 240 [...] Read more.

Sea Island cotton is renowned for its superior fiber quality. Although mechanical harvesting has the potential to significantly increase efficiency and reduce the production cost of Sea Island cotton, there is still little research in this area. In this study, we analyzed 240 Sea Island cotton germplasm resources and evaluated 19 traits related to mechanical harvesting. The coefficient of variation ranged from 5.42% to 66.96%, and the genetic diversity index spanned from 1.57 to 2.07. In most traits studied, there was a strong correlation between the height of the first fruiting branch and the defoliation rate. The 19 traits were categorized into 6 factorial groups by principal component analysis, in which the defoliation factor contributed the most (30.89%). The cluster analysis divided the 240 cotton accessions into four main groups, with the second group exhibiting favorable mechanical harvesting characteristics such as higher defoliation rate and first fruit branch height. Using stepwise regression, a model was constructed with the joint evaluation score F-value as the response variable and eight traits (X₁: PH, X₂: SNB, X₃: SBN, X₄: MBL, X₅: AFBM, X₇: MLIA, X₈: NB, and X₁₃: 15 d DR) as predictors: Y = −7.2 + 0.01X₁ + 0.23X₂ + 0.192X₃ + 0.038X₄ + 0.007X₅ + 0.014X₇ + 0.025X₈ + 2.952X₁₃. Selected materials suitable for machine harvesting, such as MoShi729, were identified. This study provides valuable theoretical insights into the mechanical harvesting of Sea Island cotton germplasm resources and identifies promising materials for targeted breeding and improvement programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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15 pages, 4095 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nutritional Enhancement of Polimaize Lines: Integrating Native Mexican Maize Alleles into High-Yield Varieties

by Guadalupe Oyoque-Salcedo, Sergio Arias-Martínez, Oscar Giovanni Gutiérrez-Cárdenas, José Luis Montañez-Soto, Ernesto Oregel-Zamudio and Jesús Rubén Torres-García

Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030403 - 20 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1141

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated Polimaize lines, named Polimaize, through the integration of alleles from the Native Blue Corn (NBC-JIQ), a local Mexican maize variety indigenous to the northeast region of Michoacán, Mexico, into elite maize lines curated by the International Maize and [...] Read more.

In this study, we evaluated Polimaize lines, named Polimaize, through the integration of alleles from the Native Blue Corn (NBC-JIQ), a local Mexican maize variety indigenous to the northeast region of Michoacán, Mexico, into elite maize lines curated by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). This crossbreeding aimed to enhance the nutritional profile of maize, particularly in terms of antioxidants and anthocyanins, which are scarce in elite lines. Our results demonstrated a significant increase in these compounds in the Polimaize lines, with variations due to heterosis. Despite these nutritional improvements, some traits showed decreased concentrations compared to parent lines, notably in sucrose and tryptophan, suggesting a potential trade-off. The study also found significant heritability in amino acids and tryptophan, while hexose sugars showed no substantial heritability. The Polimaize variety exhibited high starch content heritability, comparable to elite lines. Field trials confirmed Polimaize’s promising yield and agronomic traits, highlighting its potential for enhancing consumer health and contributing to sustainable agriculture through enriched crop nutritional quality. This project underscores the value of integrating local race alleles into elite lines, offering genetic diversity in maize cultivation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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17 pages, 9676 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Genetic Diversity in Black Gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) for Pre-Harvest Sprouting Tolerance

by Jyotsna Verma, Padmavati G. Gore, Jyoti Kumari, Dhammaprakash P. Wankhede, Sherry R. Jacob, Arun Kumar Thirumani Venkatesh, Ramakrishnan M. Nair and Kuldeep Tripathi

Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 197; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010197 - 16 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1602

Abstract

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a condition triggered by environmental factors, particularly prevalent in humid conditions, leading to substantial yield losses in black gram. While the potential for genotypic PHS tolerance exists, it has not been thoroughly assessed in black gram. Hence, the present [...] Read more.

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a condition triggered by environmental factors, particularly prevalent in humid conditions, leading to substantial yield losses in black gram. While the potential for genotypic PHS tolerance exists, it has not been thoroughly assessed in black gram. Hence, the present study aimed to delve into the genetic variation for PHS tolerance in diverse black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) germplasm, and also to comprehend the impact of various physical and physiological traits on PHS. A diverse set of 112 black gram accessions collected across the phytogeographical zones of India were examined for their seed and pod characteristics. Water absorption by pods and seeds and fresh-seed germination was calculated by following the standard procedure given by the International Seed Testing Association. The alpha-amylase activity was measured on dry seeds (0 h), 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after germination of each accession, using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer, and hard-seededness was measured using a texture analyzer machine. The results showed a wide range in PHS tolerance and FSG, and 13 accessions were found to be PHS-tolerant (PHS value < 10%). An indicator of PHS, seed germination in a pod, ranged from 2.75% in IC485641 (highly tolerant to PHS) to 95.85% in IC530501 (highly susceptible to PHS). Correlation and multivariate analysis revealed that PHS was positively correlated with water imbibition by pod and seed, fresh-seed germination and alpha-amylase activity. PHS-tolerant accessions showed a slow increase in alpha-amylase activity, in contrast to PHS-susceptible accessions. The utilization of alpha-amylase activity as a biochemical marker has the potential for evaluating PHS tolerance across various black gram accessions. The identified PHS-tolerant accessions can be used as donors in crop improvement programs aimed at developing PHS-tolerant black gram varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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19 pages, 2489 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Characterization of Durum Wheat Resistance against Septoria Tritici Blotch under Climate Change Conditions of Increasing Temperature and CO₂ Concentration

by Rafael Porras, Cristina Miguel-Rojas, Ignacio J. Lorite, Alejandro Pérez-de-Luque and Josefina C. Sillero

Agronomy 2023, 13(10), 2638; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102638 - 18 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2057

Abstract

Wheat interactions against fungal pathogens, such as Zymoseptoria tritici, are affected by changes in abiotic factors resulting from global climate change. This situation demands in-depth knowledge of how predicted increases in temperature and CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) will affect wheat— [...] Read more.

Wheat interactions against fungal pathogens, such as Zymoseptoria tritici, are affected by changes in abiotic factors resulting from global climate change. This situation demands in-depth knowledge of how predicted increases in temperature and CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) will affect wheat—Z. tritici interactions, especially in durum wheat, which is mainly grown in areas considered to be hotspots of climate change. Therefore, we characterized the response of one susceptible and two resistant durum wheat accessions against Z. tritici under different environments in greenhouse assays, simulating the predicted conditions of elevated temperature and [CO₂] in the far future period of 2070–2099 for the wheat-growing region of Córdoba, Spain. The exposure of the wheat—Z. tritici pathosystem to elevated temperature reduced disease incidence compared with the baseline weather conditions, mainly affecting pathogen virulence, especially at the stages of host penetration and pycnidia formation and maturation. Interestingly, simultaneous exposure to elevated temperature and [CO₂] slightly increased Z. tritici leaf tissue colonization compared with elevated temperature weather conditions, although this fungal growth did not occur in comparison with baseline conditions, suggesting that temperature was the main abiotic factor modulating the response of this pathosystem, in which elevated [CO₂] slightly favored fungal development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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12 pages, 1135 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Source of Rice with a Low Amylose Content and Slow In Vitro Digestion for Improved Health Benefits

by Pichayaporn Srinang, Sirimaporn Khotasena, Jirawat Sanitchon, Sompong Chankaew, Sanun Jogloy and Tidarat Monkham

Agronomy 2023, 13(10), 2622; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102622 - 16 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3080

Abstract

Rice provides 70% of dietary carbohydrates and other essential nutrients. Breeding for consumer preferences and health benefits are the main considerations. Rice with a low amylose content offers a good cooking quality with its soft and sticky texture but fast starch digestibility with [...] Read more.

Rice provides 70% of dietary carbohydrates and other essential nutrients. Breeding for consumer preferences and health benefits are the main considerations. Rice with a low amylose content offers a good cooking quality with its soft and sticky texture but fast starch digestibility with a high sugar release. Therefore, to provide health benefits, it is important to identify rice varieties with slow starch digestibility and a low amylose content. A total of 167 indigenous upland rice germplasms were analysed for amylose content (AC) and in vitro starch digestibility. The results showed that 167 upland rice genotypes were mostly low in AC, which was related to a soft and sticky texture during cooking. Based on the glutinous and non-glutinous types, thirteen and nine indigenous upland rice germplasms were selected with a lower AC than RD6 and KDML105 (check varieties). The in vitro starch digestibility and the hydrolysis were different at each time point and different in each variety. In the glutinous group, ULR155, ULR138, ULR308, and ULR241 released less sugar and had slower starch digestibility than RD6. In the non-glutinous group, ULR219 and ULR264 showed lower AC, slower digestion, and lower sugar release than KDML105. The results suggest that six indigenous upland rice varieties will provide a rice source to accommodate consumer preferences while also offering health benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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10 pages, 1360 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Grain Protein in Tropical Sorghum Accessions from the NPGS Germplasm Collection

by Hugo E. Cuevas, Kamaranga H. S. Peiris and Scott R. Bean

Agronomy 2023, 13(5), 1330; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13051330 - 10 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1692

Abstract

The development of higher nutritional sorghum varieties requires the identification of high protein content germplasm that expands the genetic diversity of breeding programs. Therefore, a near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy method was developed to predict the protein concentration of whole-grain sorghum with R² = [...] Read more.

The development of higher nutritional sorghum varieties requires the identification of high protein content germplasm that expands the genetic diversity of breeding programs. Therefore, a near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy method was developed to predict the protein concentration of whole-grain sorghum with R² = 0.83, root-mean-square error of prediction = 1.44%, and bias = 0.16%. We evaluated 228 tropical accessions from West and Central Africa maintained by the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) of the United States for protein content for three years. The analysis found that the protein concentrations among accessions varied from 5.05 to 15.00% with an average of 10.24%. Correlation analysis between years revealed changes in protein content and ranking across years for multiple accessions. However, heritability of protein concentration was moderately high (H² = 0.81) indicating most of the observed variation could be determined by genetic differences among accessions. Sixteen tropical accessions with the highest protein concentration (>12.84%) may be used in breeding programs for the development of new and improved nutritional varieties. This assessment documented the range of natural variation for protein content in the NPGS sorghum tropical germplasm collection that could be used to enhance breeding programs focused on biofortification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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17 pages, 4093 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GmERF54, an ERF Transcription Factor, Negatively Regulates the Resistance of Soybean to the Common Cutworm (Spodoptera litura Fabricius)

by Linyan Cai, Rui Qin, Xiao Li, Xinyu Liu, Deyue Yu and Hui Wang

Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020596 - 18 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1926

Abstract

Soybean is attacked by various herbivorous insect pest species during the whole course of its life cycle in the field. It is important for soybean production to improve insect resistance by identifying and utilizing soybean endogenous insect-resistant genes. The ethylene-responsive transcription factor (ERF) [...] Read more.

Soybean is attacked by various herbivorous insect pest species during the whole course of its life cycle in the field. It is important for soybean production to improve insect resistance by identifying and utilizing soybean endogenous insect-resistant genes. The ethylene-responsive transcription factor (ERF) plays a significant role in plant biotic and abiotic stresses; however, few studies focus on its role in insect resistance in soybean. Here, based on our previous common cutworm (CCW)-induced soybean transcriptome data, a soybean ERF gene GmERF54 was cloned, which responded to CCW feeding. Transcriptional analysis revealed that GmERF54 was ubiquitous in all soybean tissues and was expressed differently in insect-resistant and insect-susceptible soybean cultivars. RNA interference of GmERF54 increased the resistance to CCW, while the overexpression of GmERF54 decreased the resistance to CCW in transgenic soybean hairy roots compared with their controls. GmERF54 was localized to the nucleus, had transcriptional activation activity, and interacted with AP2/ERF GmPLT2. Several putative hormone response elements were predicted in the promoter sequence of GmERF54. Four putative elements were only found in the GmERF54 promoter sequence of insect-resistant cultivar Wanxianbaidongdou (WX), but not in the insect-susceptible cultivar Nannong 99-10 (99-10). GmERF54 promoter sequences of WX and 99-10 were cloned into the pCAMBIA1381z vector containing the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene to generate GmERF54_WX:GUS and GmERF54_99-10:GUS recombinant vectors, respectively. GUS staining of soybean hairy roots containing GmERF54_WX:GUS and GmERF54_99-10:GUS showed that GmERF54 was induced by CCW attack and both MeJA (methyl jasmonate) and IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) treatments. Alleles in insect-resistant and insect-sensitive cultivars responded to these inductions differently. Overall, our results reveal that GmERF54 may be involved in the regulation of soybean resistance to CCW. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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27 pages, 5010 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Spectral Reflectance Indices’ Performance to Identify Seawater Salinity Tolerance in Bread Wheat Genotypes Using Genotype by Yield*Trait Biplot Approach

by Ahmed M. S. Elfanah, Mohamed A. Darwish, Adel I. Selim, Mahmoud M. A. Shabana, Omnya M. A. Elmoselhy, Rania A. Khedr, Abdelraouf M. Ali and Magdi T. Abdelhamid

Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020353 - 26 Jan 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2057

Abstract

Salinity stress harms crop yield and productivity worldwide. This study aimed to identify genotypes with higher grain yield and/or salinity tolerance from forty bread wheat genotypes evaluated under seawater diluted at 4.0, 8.0, or 12.0 dS/m or control (0.4 dS/m) in the 2019/20 [...] Read more.

Salinity stress harms crop yield and productivity worldwide. This study aimed to identify genotypes with higher grain yield and/or salinity tolerance from forty bread wheat genotypes evaluated under seawater diluted at 4.0, 8.0, or 12.0 dS/m or control (0.4 dS/m) in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. Six elite genotypes, namely 6, 16, 31, 33, 34, and 36, were chosen and tested in a lysimeter under diluted seawater stress in 2020/21. The results showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) among the genotypes for the traits grain yield (GY), harvest index (HI), chlorophyll content index (CCI), chlorophyll fluorescence parameter Fv/Fm, and their interaction with salinity treatments. Additionally, significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) were detected among ten genotypes for all agronomic traits along with spectral reflectance indices (SRI), e.g., curvature index (CI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), triangular vegetation index (TVI), modified chlorophyll absorption reflectance index (MCARI), and their interaction with salinity treatments. Genotype by traits (GT) and genotype by yield*trait (GYT) biplots are useful for genotypes screening and selection based on grain yield and other associated traits (agronomic, physiological traits, and spectral reflectance indices combinations) as well as genotypes by stress tolerance indices (GSTI). In conclusion, this study identified that genotypes 6, 16, 31, 33, 34, and 36 in the 2019/20 season and genotypes 2 and 1 performed better than Kharchia 65 and Sakha 8 in the 2020/21 season, which detected as superior genotypes and might be recommended for sowing and/or inclusion in the breeding program in salt-affected soils. It was possible to draw the conclusion that spectral reflectance indices were efficient at identifying genotypic variance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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19 pages, 2383 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GEM Project-Derived Maize Lines Crossed with Temperate Elite Tester Lines Make for High-Quality, High-Yielding and Stable Silage Hybrids

by Milica Perisic, Alden Perkins, Dayane Cristina Lima, Natalia de Leon, Bojan Mitrovic and Dusan Stanisavljevic

Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010243 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2662

Abstract

Maize silage is fundamental for high milk production in dairy farming. The incorporation of new genetic diversity into temperate maize germplasm has the potential to improve adapted cultivars, and it could be especially useful for improving the nutrition of silage varieties. The goal [...] Read more.

Maize silage is fundamental for high milk production in dairy farming. The incorporation of new genetic diversity into temperate maize germplasm has the potential to improve adapted cultivars, and it could be especially useful for improving the nutrition of silage varieties. The goal of this study is to assess the potential for lines from the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) project to compete with commercial silage hybrids when crossed with elite temperate-adapted testers. We examined 35 GEM-derived hybrids along with five commercial checks in seven environments across three years in trials that were arranged in randomized complete block designs. Hybrids were compared based on their potential for conversion into animal productivity units: milk yield per hectare (Milk ha⁻¹) and milk yield per ton of silage (Milk t⁻¹). Broad phenotypic variation was observed for both traits, and the broad-sense heritability of Milk ha⁻¹ and Milk t⁻¹ were 0.24 and 0.31, respectively. Five out of six hybrids in the top 15%, based on a multi-trait stability index, were GEM-derived hybrids. The large proportions of phenotypic variance attributed to genotype by environment interactions (GEI) for quality traits suggests that local adaptation should be leveraged for silage breeding that make use of GEM-derived materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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19 pages, 615 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Salicylic Acid Improves Agro-Morphology, Yield and Ion Accumulation of Two Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes by Ameliorating the Impact of Salt Stress

by Syeda Afia Fairoj, Md. Moshiul Islam, Md. Ariful Islam, Erin Zaman, Milia Bente Momtaz, Md. Saddam Hossain, Nilufar Akhtar Jahan, Shahjadi-Nur-Us Shams, Tahmina Akter Urmi, Md Asadujjaman Rasel, Md. Arifur Rahman Khan, Mohammed Zia Uddin Kamal, G. K. M. Mustafizur Rahman, Md. Nasimul Bari, M. Moynul Haque and Yoshiyuki Murata

Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010025 - 22 Dec 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3588

Abstract

Wheat growth, development and yield are severely affected by a wide range of abiotic stresses, and salt stress is a vital and increasing abiotic stress. Salicylic acid (SA) is a phenolic phytohormone involved in plant physiological processes. Hence, we have conducted an experiment [...] Read more.

Wheat growth, development and yield are severely affected by a wide range of abiotic stresses, and salt stress is a vital and increasing abiotic stress. Salicylic acid (SA) is a phenolic phytohormone involved in plant physiological processes. Hence, we have conducted an experiment to explore the roles of exogenous SA in mitigating salt stress in two wheat genotypes. There were eight treatments comprising (i) control, (ii) 0.5 mM SA, (iii) 1.0 mM SA, (iv) 1.5 mM SA, (v) salinity (12 dS m⁻¹), (vi) salinity + 0.5 mM SA, (vii) salinity + 1.0 mM SA and (viii) salinity + 1.5 mM SA with two wheat genotypes viz G 200-4 and BARI gom-25. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with five replications. During the vegetative stage, salt stress significantly reduced the relative water content (RWC), photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and growth characteristics of both wheat genotypes, while the exogenous application of SA in salt-stressed plants significantly improved the RWC, gas exchange activities and growth performance of both the genotypes. The leaf chlorophyll content was also degraded due to salinity treatment, although it was mitigated by the exogenous application of SA. The imposition of salt significantly reduced the number of days required for maturity, yield-contributing characteristics and the yield of both the wheat genotypes. Salt stress also significantly increased Na⁺ concentrations and the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, while the K⁺ concentrations was decreased significantly in both the wheat genotypes. However, the exogenous application of SA in salt-stressed plants significantly reduced the salt stress effects and increased the growth and yield of wheat genotypes by enhancing RWC, gas exchange activities and photosynthetic pigments and maintaining lower Na⁺ concentrations and a Na⁺/K⁺ ratio. Therefore, the findings of this study suggested that the exogenous application of SA improved the salt tolerance of both wheat genotypes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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The Origin of Spanish Durum Wheat and Olive Tree Landraces Based on Genetic Structure Analysis and Historical Records

by Fernando Martínez-Moreno, José Ramón Guzmán-Álvarez, Concepción Muñoz Díez and Pilar Rallo

Agronomy 2023, 13(6), 1608; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061608 - 14 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2865

Abstract

In this study, the origin of Spanish durum wheat and olive tree landrace collections (preserved in seed banks and ex situ field collections, respectively) was traced throughout different studies on genetic structure analysis of different landrace collections and historical records of plant material [...] Read more.

In this study, the origin of Spanish durum wheat and olive tree landrace collections (preserved in seed banks and ex situ field collections, respectively) was traced throughout different studies on genetic structure analysis of different landrace collections and historical records of plant material circulation of these two crops in the south and east of Spain (the main cultivation areas). Although there were several groups of Spanish durum wheat landraces, they did not cluster geographically and likely came from intense grain circulation within the country and abroad (due to a high seeding rate of about 100 kg/ha and an unstable production) from the 15 to 19th centuries (especially the Maghreb and Sicily). However, Spanish olive tree landraces experienced lower genetic circulation over time and space due to the longevity of the species and the large size of the reproductive material. They can be clearly divided into two groups: those from the south, of Maghrebi origin, which most likely originated during the Islamic expansion of the 8–15th centuries, and those from the east, arriving most likely during Roman times from Italy. The genetic circularity levels of the plant material of these two crops are different. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilizing Genetic Resources for Agronomic Traits Improvement: Series II)

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