Performance of Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.) Genotypes with Respect to Morphological, Yield and Quality Traits at Two Localities of Nepal

Lettuce is cultivated as minor crop in Nepal. However, people are becoming more health conscious in these days and demand for salad is increasing in food. The demand of lettuce is also gradually increasing but relatively few farmers are involved in this crop due to the lack of high-yielding and good quality genotypes. The research was conducted at two locations of Nepal; Kavre and Kaski with the aim of evaluating the performance of seven different hybrid lettuce genotypes in terms of its morphology, yield, and quality. The research was laid out on Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications at each location. Two types of lettuce were used on the research i.e. head type and leaf type. Among the head type, genotype Iceberg performed better with more plant spread (51 cm), head diameter (14.7 cm) and yield (738.4 g at Kavre and 725.8 g at Kaski) than other head type lettuce genotypes and among leaf type variety Green Oak was recorded with highest numbers of leaves (67 at Kavre and 40 at Kaski) and yield (572.3 g at Kavre and 641.9 g at Kaski). So, among head type lettuce genotypes Iceberg performed better as this had better plant spread, large head diameter, more yield and sweet flavor. Among leaf type genotypes Variety Green Oak was found most suitable for Nepali Market as this variety had highest number of leaves and yield among leaf type lettuce genotypes.

Rice Commercialisation, Agrarian Change and Livelihood Trajectories: Transformations on the Fogera Plain of Ethiopia

Rice was considered a minor crop in Ethiopia, rarely consumed by many households in Sub-Saharan Africa. In recent decades, however, it has become the most rapidly growing staple food source in the country. This paper presents an historical analysis of rice commercialisation and the observed agrarian changes that have resulted from its introduction and spread in Ethiopia. The paper analyses the role of the state, private actors and development partners in promoting improvements in rice production and value chain upgrading, as well as examines the impacts of small-scale commercialisation on local livelihoods and rural economies.

Genome-wide association study and its applications in the non-model crop Sesamum indicum

Background Sesame is a rare example of non-model and minor crop for which numerous genetic loci and candidate genes underlying features of interest have been disclosed at relatively high resolution. These progresses have been achieved thanks to the applications of the genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach. GWAS has benefited from the availability of high-quality genomes, re-sequencing data from thousands of genotypes, extensive transcriptome sequencing, development of haplotype map and web-based functional databases in sesame. Results In this paper, we reviewed the GWAS methods, the underlying statistical models and the applications for genetic discovery of important traits in sesame. A novel online database SiGeDiD (http://sigedid.ucad.sn/) has been developed to provide access to all genetic and genomic discoveries through GWAS in sesame. We also tested for the first time, applications of various new GWAS multi-locus models in sesame. Conclusions Collectively, this work portrays steps and provides guidelines for efficient GWAS implementation in sesame, a non-model crop.

Rise and fall of Stachys annua (L.) L. in the Carpathian Basin: a historical review and prospects for its revival

Stachys annua (L.) L., a melliferous archaeophyte plant became a dominant weed of the cereal stubbles of the Carpathian Basin in the medieval three-field system. By the middle of the nineteenth century, this plant provided more than two-thirds of the Hungarian honey production, and its high quality monofloral honey turned into a characteristic brand of the Hungarian apiculture. Recognizing its importance, S. annua also briefly became a minor crop cultivated in “bee gardens” and arable fields in the late nineteenth century, possibly also in response to the first signs of its upcoming decline. Starting with the advent of the steam plough, the twentieth century has brought a drastic decline for S. annua due to a combination of deeper and earlier tillage operations, agrochemicals, and new competing weed species (in particular the common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia). The last remnant stands of this previously dominant weed species are of considerable ecological and historical value as farmland biodiversity hotspots. These sites are important refuge for rare weeds, wild pollinators (including bumblebees), and declining farmland birds, which could be targeted by eco-schemes under the European Union’s (EU’s) greening Common Agricultural Policy. The rediscovery of the cropping potential of S. annua and the development of an appropriate technology would also allow its cultivation as a valuable bee forage, catch crop, green cover, or oilseed plant in the future.

Analyses of genetic diversity and population structure of anchote (Coccinia abyssinica (Lam.) Cogn.) using newly developed EST-SSR markers

Anchote (Coccinia abyssinica (Lam.) Cogn.) is a perennial root crop belonging to Cucurbitaceae family. It is endemic to Ethiopia and distributed over wide range of agro-ecologies. For further improvement and efficient conservation of this crop, characterization of its genetic diversity and its pattern of distribution is a vitally important step. Expressed sequence tags-simple sequence repeats (EST-SSRs) markers were developed from publicly available watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] ESTs in the GenBank database. Among those novel markers, eight were polymorphic and subsequently used for genetic diversity and population structure analyses of 30 anchote accessions collected from western Ethiopia. A total of 24 alleles were obtained across the eight polymorphic loci and 30 accessions that revealed moderate level of genetic diversity in this minor crop. Among the eight loci, locus CA_06 was the most informative with six alleles and polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.76. The accessions showed about threefold variation in terms of genetic diversity, with expected heterozygosity (He) ranging from 0.15 (accession An) to 0.44 (accession Dg). Other accessions with higher genetic diversity include Ar and Gu (He = 0.43 and 0.41, respectively). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that the variation within accessions and among accessions accounted for 84.7% and 15.3% of the total variation, respectively. The study revealed low but significant population differentiation in this crop with no clear pattern of population structure. The EST-SSR markers developed in this study are the first of their kind for anchote and can be used for characterization of its wider genetic resources for conservation and breeding purposes.

Historical Review of Faba Bean Improvement in Western Canada

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) was considered a minor crop in the Canadian prairies until recently, but its potential for cultivation is increasing due to its positive environmental impact and economic value. This review provides a historical summary of faba bean improvement in western Canada. Although traditional breeding methods have proved useful, in the last decade faba bean improvement has benefited from advances in genetics, biochemistry and molecular breeding tools. The overall breeding goal is to develop high yielding germplasm with improved agronomic characteristics that will be of economic value to the emerging faba bean sectors, including the plant protein industry. To maximize value and acceptance by producers, processors and the food industry as a source of protein and dietary fibre, future faba bean varieties need to be high-yielding, have diverse seed size classes, disease resistance, genetically low vicine-convicine concentration, and have wider adaptation to different agro-ecological zones of Canada. The experiences over the last 40 years of faba bean improvement in western Canada may be useful to other breeding programs globally located in regions with similar agroecology. In the past 10–15 years, faba bean genetic development in Canada has benefited greatly from research and development interactions with most of the faba bean research programs in northern Europe.

Potential Health Benefits of Kiwifruits: The King of Fruits

Fruits are the essential element of the balanced nutritious diet. The kiwifruit (Actinidai deliciosa) is originally a native crop of China, hence also knows as the Chinese gooseberry. The kiwifruit appears to be of ovoid shape with slightly brown, hairy skin peel and macaque outlook. Kiwi is observed as a comparably minor crop with 0.2% of fruit production. Currently, Italy, New Zealand and Chile are the world’s top kiwi producing countries. The kiwifruit is a small fruit that hold replete of flavors and health benefits. It is enriched with a tart sour and sweet flavor with bright green flesh and small edible black seeds. The kiwifruit has been recognized as a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants. It has already been proven that, the kiwi fruit is an abundant source of potassium , magnesium and vitamin E. Kiwifruit is also known as an Immunity Booster. The kiwis accommodate various health aids and are also used as medication to treat Hair Health, Asthma, Eye and Skin Health, and also Depression. This article provides some information about the kiwi fruit and its various health benefits

Functional Validation of Glutamine synthetase and Glutamate synthase Genes in Durum Wheat near Isogenic Lines with QTL for High GPC

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum) is a minor crop grown on about 17 million hectares of land worldwide. Several grain characteristics determine semolina’s high end-use quality, such as grain protein content (GPC) which is directly related to the final products’ nutritional and technological values. GPC improvement could be pursued by considering a candidate gene approach. The glutamine synthetase (GS)/glutamate synthase (GOGAT) cycle represents a bottleneck in the first step of nitrogen assimilation. QTL for GPC have been located on all chromosomes, and several major ones have been reported on 2A and 2B chromosomes, where GS2 and Fd-GOGAT genes have been mapped. A useful and efficient method to validate a putative QTL is the constitution of near-isogenic lines (NILs) by using the marker found to be associated to that QTL. Here, we present the development of two distinct sets of heterogeneous inbred family (HIF)- based NILs segregating for GS2 and Fd-GOGAT genes obtained from heterozygous lines at those loci, as well as their genotypic and phenotypic characterizations. The results allow the validation of the previously identified GPC QTL on 2A and 2B chromosomes, along with the role of these key genes in GPC control.