Genomic Selection in Sugarcane: Current Status and Future Prospects

Sugarcane is a C4 and agro-industry-based crop with a high potential for biomass production. It serves as raw material for the production of sugar, ethanol, and electricity. Modern sugarcane varieties are derived from the interspecific and intergeneric hybridization between Saccharum officinarum, Saccharum spontaneum, and other wild relatives. Sugarcane breeding programmes are broadly categorized into germplasm collection and characterization, pre-breeding and genetic base-broadening, and varietal development programmes. The varietal identification through the classic breeding programme requires a minimum of 12–14 years. The precise phenotyping in sugarcane is extremely tedious due to the high propensity of lodging and suckering owing to the influence of environmental factors and crop management practices. This kind of phenotyping requires data from both plant crop and ratoon experiments conducted over locations and seasons. In this review, we explored the feasibility of genomic selection schemes for various breeding programmes in sugarcane. The genetic diversity analysis using genome-wide markers helps in the formation of core set germplasm representing the total genomic diversity present in the Saccharum gene bank. The genome-wide association studies and genomic prediction in the Saccharum gene bank are helpful to identify the complete genomic resources for cane yield, commercial cane sugar, tolerances to biotic and abiotic stresses, and other agronomic traits. The implementation of genomic selection in pre-breeding, genetic base-broadening programmes assist in precise introgression of specific genes and recurrent selection schemes enhance the higher frequency of favorable alleles in the population with a considerable reduction in breeding cycles and population size. The integration of environmental covariates and genomic prediction in multi-environment trials assists in the prediction of varietal performance for different agro-climatic zones. This review also directed its focus on enhancing the genetic gain over time, cost, and resource allocation at various stages of breeding programmes.

Replenishment and rationalization of seed collections of pumpkin, vegetable marrow and summer squash for ex situ conservation and use for breeding in Armenia

The conservation and sustainable use of crop genetic resources are crucial for food security and economic development, and diverse genetic resources are a critical input in the agricultural production process. To conserve the gene pool of vegetable crops of Armenia, the Scientific Centre of Vegetable and Industrial Crops of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia carried out activities to upgrade storage facilities and optimize the existing seed collections. Newly created long-term and medium-term seed collections of pumpkin, vegetable marrow and summer squash reliably conserve genetic resources of these crops and create a base for undertaking genetic enhancement and base-broadening efforts. A database and application of barcodes and QR-code labels facilitate the search of required accessions, making the stored genetic materials more accessible for users and promoting their wider use in breeding.

The Impact of Foreigners’ Trades on Equity Prices: Evidence from Macedonian Stock Exchange

Emerging countries’ economies are dependent on foreign capital inflows. For policy makers and researchers of particular interest is to understand the nature of these flows and their impact on the domestic capital market. The first significant foreign inflows entered the Macedonian Stock Market at the end of 2004, and stock prices were increased. It was general belief among the investors that foreigners are driving the prices on the Macedonian Stock Market. This study examines the influence of foreign investors’ trades on stock returns in Macedonia using base broadening and price pressure hypotheses. Strong evidence consistent with the base-broadening hypothesis shows that 1% of monthly net inflows as a percentage of last month market capitalization is connected with 7% rise in monthly returns on the Macedonian stock market. The findings do not support the price pressure hypothesis, so the rise in the prices is permanent.

Optimized breeding strategies to harness Genetic Resources with different performance levels

ABSTRACTThe narrow genetic base of elite germplasm compromises long-term genetic gain and increases the vulnerability to biotic and abiotic stresses in unpredictable environmental conditions. Therefore, an efficient strategy is required to broaden the genetic base of commercial breeding programs while not compromising short-term variety release. Optimal cross selection aims at identifying the optimal set of crosses that balances the expected genetic value and diversity. We propose to consider genomic selection and optimal cross selection to recurrently improve genetic resources (i.e. pre-breeding), to bridge the improved genetic resources with elites (i.e. bridging), and to manage introductions into the elite breeding population. Optimal cross selection is particularly adapted to jointly identify bridging, introduction and elite crosses to ensure an overall consistency of the genetic base broadening strategy. We compared simulated breeding programs introducing donors with different performance levels, directly or indirectly after bridging. We also evaluated the effect of the training set composition on the success of introductions. We observed that with recurrent introductions of improved donors, it is possible to maintain the genetic diversity and increase mid- and long-term performances with only limited penalty at short-term. Considering a bridging step yielded significantly higher mid- and long-term genetic gain when introducing low performing donors. The results also suggested to consider marker effects estimated with a broad training population including donor by elite and elite by elite progeny to identify bridging, introduction and elite crosses.

Agenda for VAT Modernization

Chapter 18 sums up the arguments for the widely shared belief that VAT’s role in the tax system primarily is to raise revenue, predictably and efficiently. Accordingly, African VATs would benefit from a thorough review of the standard and non-standard exemptions, exclusions and zero rates, which depress tax collections, distort consumer and producer choices, discriminate against exports, favour imports, greatly increase administrative complexity, and promote tax avoidance. The case for VAT base-broadening is greatly strengthened by the findings of incidence studies that show that the net result of fiscal systems can be equalizing if the revenue from broad-based VATs is used to finance in-kind transfers, such as healthcare and education. Importantly, the emphasis on VAT policy should not detract from the centrality of VAT administration in shaping desirable outcomes. But better VAT design should lay the groundwork for better VAT administration. Last but not least, modernizing VAT systems requires a change in mindsets.

Modernizing VATs in Africa

Tax revenues in most African countries fall far short of what is feasible and necessary to finance basic human and economic development. Domestic tax revenue mobilization is called for, preferably in the form of a broad-based consumption tax, such as the VAT, which is less detrimental to economic growth than an income tax is. Most African VATs, however, are riddled with exemptions, exclusions, and zero rates on domestic goods and services. Hence, base-broadening rather than rate-increasing should be pursued if revenue is the goal. Base-broadening would also make the VATs less distortionary and complicated. The case for base-broadening is strengthened by the findings of incidence studies that show that the net result of fiscal systems can be equalizing if the revenue from broad-based VATs is used to finance in-kind transfers, such as healthcare and education. This highly informative and well-researched book makes the case for modernizing African VAT systems by posing the following questions. What is the role and design of a best-practice VAT? Do African VATs measure up to best practice and how productive are they of revenue? What is being done to mitigate the VAT’s regressive burden distribution? How should VAT be coordinated in regional economic communities? What are non-standard exemptions and how prevalent are they? What treatment is accorded public bodies, immovable property, financial services, and insurance? How are and should small businesses and farmers be treated? Answers to these questions are explored by reference to best practice elsewhere and on the basis of detailed analyses of country-specific VATs.

Manufacturing Component Base Broadening in the Flexible Manufacturing System by Using a Group Technology

The engineering production is currently characterized by frequent changes. These changes are caused because the life cycle of products is shortened. Producers must introduced the upgraded products in a shorter interval. In this article we will focus on identifying the possibilities of production innovation in the flexible manufacturing system. An analysis of the production possibilities of one of the production machines in the flexible production system will be carried out. This production machine is a lathe that produces one basic part of the finished product. We will determine what variants of this component can be manufactured without changing the physical configuration of the machine.

INVESTOR ASING DAN RETURN PASAR: APAKAH INVESTOR ASING MENDESTABILIZE BURSA EFEK INDONESIA

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of the presence of foreign investors on market returns on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. To see the impact of foreign investor trading activities, this study proposes three hypotheses that will be proven. The first hypothesis is that foreign investors will increase portfolio diversification or the so-called base-broadening hypothesis. The second hypothesis is that foreign investors will cause price pressures on stocks or the price pressure hypothesis. The third hypothesis is that foreign investors use certain strategies in their trading, namely the feedback trading strategy. Of the 401 companies selected 32 companies as samples. Furthermore, from the three hypotheses proposed, the only proven hypothesis is the price pressure. Thus, foreign investors can cause destabilize prices on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The destabilize implication is that investors are possible to use negative feedback trading strategies to make a profit. Keywords: base-broadening, price pressure, feedback trading