Editorial: Seed Science and Technology. Volume 49 Issue 3 (2021)

This issue of Seed Science and Technology is a good reflection of the wide scope of the field of study. Species of interest include major cultivated crops as well as wild and native species. Likewise, research topics span a wide array of subjects relevant to those interested in basic seed biology, production, testing, ecology, conservation and biodiversity. Understanding basic mechanisms of seed dormancy and germination remains a major topic of interest. Seed quality and its attributes are also of particular interest, as evidenced by research articles on seed vigour, health, genetic purity and physical characterisation.

Identification of Accession-Specific Variants and Development of KASP Markers for Assessing the Genetic Makeup of Crop Seeds

Background Most crop seeds are F1 hybrids. Seed providers and plant breeders must be confident that the seed supplied to growers is of known, and uniform, genetic makeup. This requires maintenance of pure genotypes of the parental lines and testing to ensure the genetic purity of the F1 seed. Traditionally, seed testing for purity was done with a grow-out test (GOT) in the field, but these tests are time consuming and costly. Seed testing with molecular markers was introduced as a replacement for GOT early in the last decade. Recently, Kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) markers are promising tools for genetic testing of seeds. However, the markers available at that time could be inaccurate and could be used with only a small number of accessions or varieties due to the limited genetic information and reference genomes available. Results Here, we identified 4,925,742 SNPs in 50 accessions of the Brasscia rapa core collection. Furthermore, the total 2,925 SNPs were selected as accession-specific SNPs, considering properties of flanking region harboring accession-specific SNPs and genic region conservation among accessions by NGS analysis. In total, 100 accession-specific markers were developed as accession-specific KASP markers. Based on the results of our validation experiments, the accession-specific markers successfully distinguish individuals from the mixed population including 50 target accessions from B. rapa core collection and outgroup. Conclusions This study provides efficient methods for developing KASP markers to distinguish individuals from the mixture comprised of breeding lines and germplasms from the resequencing data of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa spp. pekinensis).

Characterization of Pigeonpea Genotypes Based on DUS Traits

The research entails morphological characterization of pigeonpea genotypes based on qualitative traits which aids in varietal description and ensure genetic purity. The study was conducted at the Department of Pulses, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during kharif, 2019 and rabi, 2019-2020. The experiment was conducted in Randomized complete block design with two replications. The 68-short duration pigeonpea genotypes were characterized and grouped based on 17 qualitative traits. The morphological characterization revealed that, more variation was identified for traits viz., pattern of streaks on standard petal, plant height, seed colour, seed shape and seed size. Sixty - eight genotypes were subjected to cluster analysis and were grouped into four major clusters with an average similarity of 80%. The similarity coefficient ranged from 0.65 to 1.00. The cluster I consisted of 60 genotypes. Two sub-groups were formed from Cluster I. The sub-group I had 59 genotypes at 84 per cent similarity, whereas the sub-group II consisted of the genotype ICPL19050. Cluster II was made up of six genotypes. The cluster II was divided into two sub-groups at 84 per cent similarity. Clusters III and IV were solitary clusters, each with a single genotype. The characterization of genotypes with specific traits could be used to identify the genotypes, maintenance of genetic purity and to utilize in future breeding programmes.

What about Adaptive Introgression? The Genomic Revolution Is Shaping Scientific and Public Perception

Genetic miscegenation was historically perceived as a maladaptive process or even an imperfection of nature. However, through adaptive introgression, some species can share genes associated with well-adapted traits. Current scientific perceptions on the benefits of adaptive introgression can help to clarify how these paradoxes condition scientific progress and influence public beliefs and decision-making. We carried out a systematic review and bibliometric analysis using artificial intelligence on adaptive introgression evidence. The genomic revolution provided an exponential growing of evidence predominately interpreted as beneficial for species adaptation. We show that this remarkable increase on publications influences public perception in the medium-long term. Despite an initially emotional response, peoples’ final opinion tends to incorporate science-based evidence, although prejudices seem to influence peoples’ polarity opinion. We argue that developing the knowledge on adaptive introgression will allow to scientifically refute theories that promote genetic “purity”, used to justify racism and other forms of discrimination.

Microsatellite Marker Based DNA Fingerprinting of Cotton (Gossypium Spp.) Hybrids and Their Parents

Cotton production in India by vast majority comes from cotton hybrids whose genetic purity is of great significance in seed production chain and trade. Therefore, there is need to develop a rapid, reliable and reproducible technique to assess the genetic purity of cotton hybrids as traditional, morphological traits-based ‘Grow-Out Test’ is resource intensive, time consuming, tedious and not an infallible procedure. In this regard, a study was planned to understand the genetic diversity among the hybrids and their parents, and also to identify SSR markers for confirmation of genetic purity or hybridity. One intra-arboreum hybrid, CICR2 (DS 5 GMS × LD 327 Sel.), four intra-hirsutum hybrids viz., CSHH198 (CSH 19 × CSH 8), CSHH238 (SH 2379 9Y × PIL 8 Sel.), CSHH243 (CSH 2013 × CSH 43), CSHH1862 (GMS 16A × CB 33) and one hirsutum × barbadense hybrid, Phule 388 (RHC-006 × RHCb-001) along with their respective parental lines were selected for molecular characterization. Of the total 215 SSR markers surveyed, 60 markers conveyed polymorphism. The information conveyed by the polymorphic SSR markers was utilized to assess the molecular divergence among the study material. Maximum genetic dissimilarity of 0.66 was noted between Phule 388 and LD 327 (Sel.), and between RHC-006 and DS 5 (GMS). Minimum genetic dissimilarity of 0.07 was observed between CSHH1862 with CB 33, followed by 0.11 between CICR2 with DS 5 (GMS). SSR markers were highly efficient in capturing both intra-species and inter-species level diversity. The clustering and factorial analysis was in congruence with the species of Gossypium. The diploid species genotypes were clustered separately and distinctly from the rest of the genotypes. All the hirsutum hybrids and their respective parents were found closely clustered. The inter-specific hybrid, Phule 388 along with its parents was found grouped closely. The genetic purity of the hybrids was confirmed using identified SSR markers [GH486, BNL1421, BNL3594, JESPR151 for G. hirsutum hybrid CSHH198; GH486, BNL2449, JESPR151, TMB0436 for G. hirsutum hybrid CSHH238; BNL2449, JESPR151, JESPR152 for G. hirsutum hybrid CSHH243; and, GH527, BNL3812, TMB1484, TMB1645, NAU1190, BNL3816 for inter-specific G. hirsutum × G. barbadense hybrid Phule 388]. The SSR markers were efficient in analysis of hybrid seed purity. The information generated in the present study about genetic diversity and genetic purity testing will greatly facilitate quality seed production of these cotton hybrids and thus, better cotton production.

Authentication of the Montanera Period on Carcasses of Iberian Pigs by Using Analytical Techniques and Chemometric Analyses

The potential of two complementary analytical techniques (near infrared spectroscopy, NIRS and gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry, GC-IMS) was used to establish the time that Iberian pigs have been fed on acorns and pasture and to verify their genetic purity. For both techniques it was neither necessary to carry out any chemical treatment in advance nor to identify individual compounds. The results showed that both the NIR spectrum and the spectral fingerprint obtained by GC-IMS were affected by the time that the Iberian pig feeds on natural resources. High percentages of correct classification were achieved in the calibration for both techniques: >98% for the days of montanera and >96% for the breed by NIRS and >99% for the days of montanera and >98% for the breed by GC-IMS. The results obtained showed that NIR spectra taken from intact samples is a quick classification method according to the time of montanera and breed.

Population genetic structure of European wildcats inhabiting the area between the Dinaric Alps and the Scardo-Pindic mountains

Habitat fragmentation and loss have contributed significantly to the demographic decline of European wildcat populations and hybridization with domestic cats poses a threat to the loss of genetic purity of the species. In this study we used microsatellite markers to analyse genetic variation and structure of the wildcat populations from the area between the Dinaric Alps and the Scardo-Pindic mountains in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and North Macedonia. We also investigated hybridisation between populations of wildcats and domestic cats in the area. One hundred and thirteen samples from free-leaving European wildcats and thirty-two samples from domestic cats were analysed. Allelic richness across populations ranged from 3.61 to 3.98. The observed Ho values ranged between 0.57 and 0.71. The global FST value for the four populations was 0.080 (95% CI 0.056–0.109) and differed significantly from zero (P < 0.001). The highest FST value was observed between the populations North Macedonia and Slovenia and the lowest between Slovenia and Croatia. We also found a signal for the existence of isolation by distance between populations. Our results showed that wildcats are divided in two genetic clusters largely consistent with a geographic division into a genetically diverse northern group (Slovenia, Croatia) and genetically eroded south-eastern group (Serbia, N. Macedonia). Hybridisation rate between wildcats and domestic cats varied between 13% and 52% across the regions.

Nucleic Acid Sequence Composition of the Oxford – AstraZeneca Vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222, Vaxzevria)

The vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has been widely used, but its purity has been disputed because of rare side effects. We used Nanopore sequencing to assess the sequence and genetic purity of a vaccine dose. As we were lacking a reference sequence for the antigen cassette, we provide the obtained annotated sequence of the full vector to aid further studies on this topic. Our sample adhered to the published data, was highly pure (>99.97%), and no copy of the E1 gene as a predictor on replication-competent escape mutants was found.

Phenological, Morphological and Yield based Characterization of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Germplasm Lines

Background: The characterization of chickpea genetic resources is a vital step to explore genetic variability in breeding programs. In the present study, we characterized 90 germplasm lines of desi chickpea collected across the Indian chickpea growing region. The identified trait-specific germplasm lines will be used as a valuable genetic resource for the chickpea improvement programme. Methods: An experiment was conducted in augmented design to characterize germplasm lines of chickpea for 13 qualitative and 17 quantitative agro-morphological traits under Bundelkhand agro-climatic conditions. Result: Ample variation was observed for qualitative and quantitative traits. The study revealed that the presences of high variability in qualitative and quantitative traits are useful in the identification of plant genotype for a specific trait, genetic purity analysis, germplasm conservation and also possible use of potential genotype in the breeding program.

Milking economies: Multispecies entanglements in the infant formula industry

In 2016 the Chinese infant formula company Feihe International signed a deal with the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) to process Canadian cows’ and goats’ milk for infant formula export to China. Our purpose in this paper is to understand how this deal – and the new Feihe formula factory located in Kingston, Canada – is underpinned by a series of multispecies entanglements across cow, human and goat mothers in China and Canada. To do so, we analyse official correspondence between the CDC, Feihe and City of Kingston; market reports for the dairy, goat and infant formula industries; and news articles about the Feihe infant formula plant. Conceptually, we develop an anti-colonial, multispecies entanglement framework to chart the violent inclusions, exclusions and typologizations that make milk and formula economies possible. We are specifically interested in how the Feihe–CDC deal (re)configures entanglements across species, nation, race, science and motherhood. To understand these relations, we heuristically imbricate two different sets of entanglements that underpin this deal: milk drinking, empire and genetic purity across race, breed and species; and motherhood, science and technology across humans, goats and cows. We use our threefold entanglement framework to better understand the violence of these imbrications and to work towards a multispecies feminist ethic in the infant formula industry.