In Planta Genetic Transformation to Produce CRISPRed High-Oleic Peanut

In contrast to its normal-oleic counterpart, high-oleic peanut has better keeping quality and multiple health benefits. Breeding high-oleic peanut through conventional means is a tedious process generally requiring several years. Genome editing may shorten the duration. In this study, node injection method was used to transform normal-oleic Huayu 23, a popular peanut cultivar having loss-of-function FAD2A, with CRISPR/Cas9 construct targeting FAD2B, and two peanut mutants with over 80% oleic acid and 442A insertion in FAD2B were obtained. As a genotype-independent, simple and easy method for peanut genetic transformation, node injection has great potential in factional analysis of genes and in peanut varietal improvement.

Bayesian Hierarchical Models for Measuring Varietal Improvement in Tobacco Yield and Quality

We measure the economic impact of varietal improvement and technological change in flue-cured tobacco across quantity (e.g., yield) and quality dimensions under a voluntary quality constraint. Since 1961, flue-cured tobacco breeders in the United States have been subject to the Minimum Standards Program that sets limits on acceptable quality characteristics for commercial tobacco varieties. We implement a Bayesian hierarchical model to measure the contribution of breeding efforts to changes in tobacco yields and quality between 1954 and 2017. The Bayesian model addresses limited data for varieties in the trials and allows easy generation of the necessary parameters of economic interest.

Current and Prospective Strategies in the Varietal Improvement of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Specially Heterosis Breeding

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) is an herbaceous crop and plays an important role as common spices and vegetables. Pepper (Capsicum spp.) is one of the most cost-effective and agricultural vegetables in the world. The most significant characteristics of peppers, as spices and in various pharmacological uses, are pungency and oleoresin (color). Cabsicum annuum L. is widely used as a medicinal herb and in the Mediterranean diet (at the present, C. annuum var. acuminatum Fingerh. and Capsicum frutescens L. are considered synonyms of C. annuum L.). Capsicum annuum includes a wide range of carotenoids including capsanthin, capsorubin, beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein, fanthophyl, and xanthophyll, and capsaicinoid. However, it remains limited in production due to the lack of development in varieties especially under severe climatic circumstances such as drought, high temperature, or salt. Some reports were provided through distinct traditional approaches for genetic improvement. A combination of traditional and molecular breeding, especially breeding for heterosis, might be a good option for developing a novel genotype for ecologically adversely affected niche adaption. This review summarizes the current chilli breeding approaches with their drawbacks and highlights some recent classical efforts for the improvement of the crop. This would be the milestone for the breeders in the planning of a successful chilli breeding program to combat the adverse ecological condition. Thus, the information gathered in this article might be considered as the cornerstone of Chilli breeders at their ongoing and sustainable future programs as well.

Genetic Diversity and Utilization of Cultivated Eggplant Germplasm in Varietal Improvement

Eggplant is the fifth economically most important vegetable in the Solanaceae family after tomato, potato, chili, and tobacco. Apart from the well-cultivated brinjal or aubergine eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), two other underutilized eggplant species, the African eggplant (S. macrocarpon L.) and the scarlet eggplant (S. aethiopicum L.), were also cultivated with local importance where the leaves and fruits are used for food and medicinal purposes. The major objectives of the eggplant breeding program are to improve fruit quality, increase yield performance through heterosis breeding, and introduce pest and disease resistances from wild relatives. Europe and Asia hold a wide collection of germplasm resources with significant potential for genetic improvement. While cultivated eggplant is susceptible to several fungi and bacteria, many wild relatives offer potential resistance to these pathogens. In this paper, we review the genetic resources and diversity of cultivated eggplant and its wild relatives. As a point of departure, we examine the economic importance, domestication, taxonomy characterization, and relationships of the crop and its wild relatives. The importance of evaluating and safeguarding wild relatives is highlighted, as crop wild relatives are highly underrepresented. A key section in this study is an overview dedicated to genetic resources, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, pre-breeding, and breeding for sustainable eggplant production.

Enhancing Abiotic Stress Tolerance to Develop Climate-Smart Rice Using Holistic Breeding Approach

Agricultural land and resources reduced annually because of climate change thus it is necessary to further increase the productivity of the major staple food rice to sustain food security worldwide. However, rice productivity enhancement is one of the key challenges in abiotic stress-prone environments. The integration of cutting-edge breeding approaches and research management methods in the current varietal improvement pipelines can make a step-change towards varietal improvement for the abiotic stress-prone environments. Proper implementation of breeder’s equations in the crop improvement pipeline can deliver a higher rate of genetic gain. Single Seed Descent based Rapid Generation Advance (RGA) technique in field and greenhouse is the most promising innovations and low-cost, high-throughput marker-assisted selection approaches are applied for rapid and efficient selection for abiotic stress-tolerances. Also improving efficiency, intensity, and accuracy of selection and reducing breeding cycle time through holistic rice breeding that can play an important role in developing climate-smart abiotic stress-tolerant rice for target environments. This information can use as the future direction for rice breeders and other researchers.

Correction to: The contribution of the international Rice Genebank to varietal improvement and crop productivity in Eastern India

A Correction to this paper has been published: 10.1007/s12571-020-01135-7

Heterosis for seed, oil yield and quality of some different hybrids sunflower

Twenty-one hybrids of sunflower were produced by crossing 7 introduced cytoplasmic male sterile lines (CMS-lines) with 3 restorer lines (RF-lines) using line × tester mating design. The twenty-one hybrids, three restorers, seven maintainer lines (B-lines) were evaluated. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design of three replications. Mean squares due to genotypes, parents (P), crosses (C), lines (L), testers (T), P vs. C, for stearic acid and line × tester for palmitic acid. The inbred lines and their F1 hybrids differed significantly in their mean values of the traits under study. The variances due to specific combining ability (SCA) were higher than general combining ability (GCA) variances for all the studied traits, showing non-additive type of gene action controlling the traits. Non-additive type of gene action can be utilized for varietal improvement through heterosis breeding. Heterosis values for seed yield plant−1 were positive and highly significant relative to both the parental mean (17.68–72.38%) and the better parent (−2.86–56.842%). Significantly and negative heterosis was recorded in the case of linoleic acid relative to the parental mean (−81.24 to −38.02%) and better parent (−66.24–22.87%). With oleic acid, the heterotic effect ranged from −14.18 to 39.59% (parental mean) and from −15.06 to 38.72% (better parent). Therefore, these results are valuable for the improvement of quantitative as well as qualitative traits in sunflower breeding material to fulfill the edible oil requirements.

Evaluation d’utilités attendues des attributs de cultivars de l’igname: base d’une gestion locale de l’agrobiodiversité de Dioscorea spp au Sud-ouest des Savanes Sèches au Togo (Afrique de l’Ouest)

Objectif : La présente étude vise à évaluer et à prioriser le niveau de satisfaction des utilités attendues des cultivars d’igname auprès 1032 acteurs locaux de la filière igname au Sud-ouest des Savanes Sèches au Togo. Méthodologie et résultats: Le brainstorming, le scoring et les avis d’experts, ont permis la définition de quinze descripteurs d’utilités des cultivars, dont les notes d’appréciation ont révélé une corrélation positive significative entre attributs. L’ensemble des attributs a été priorisé en trois classes selon la loi 80/20 (la loi de Pareto). Valeur marchande, nom de cultivar à connotation d’image et gros et longs tubercules ont constitué la principale classe d’attributs avec des notes moyennes d’utilités significatives et respectivement de 9,52 ; 7,28 et 2,28. Ils ont satisfait à 63,91% des utilités cumulées attendues des attributs de tous les cultivars. De tous, le lieu de production à image de qualité (0,80) et la résilience aux divers stresseurs, (0,34) ont été faiblement apprécié. Les effets de l’âge et du sexe des participants sur les notes d’appréciation de l’utilité n‘ont pas été perçus. Conclusion et application des résultats: Les utilités cumulées attendues ont été satisfaites à 63,91% par 20% des attributs en culture d’igname et une faible atteinte d’utilité cumulée de 36,07% par 80% du reste des attributs. De futurs programmes d’amélioration variétale pourront prendre en compte la satisfaction des utilités attendues des ignames. Une piste de production labélisée des tubercules et de leurs transformations élargies aux potentialités de tous les cultivars peuvent constituer une application à envisager sur la base des présents résultats et limiter ainsi l’érosion génétique de la culture d’igname. Mots clés : ignames, attributs, priorisation, utilités attendues, Savanes Sèches, Togo. Gnon et al., J. Appl. Biosci. 2020 Evaluation d’utilités attendues des attributs de cultivars de l’igname : base d’une gestion locale de l’agrobiodiversité de Dioscorea spp au Sud-ouest des Savanes Sèches au Togo (Afrique de l’Ouest) 15765 Evaluation of expected utilities of yam cultivar attributes : a local base for agrobiodiversty management of Dioscorea spp in Southwest Dry Savannahs in Togo (West Africa) ABSTRACT Objectives: The present study aims to evaluate and prioritize the level of satisfaction of the expected utilities of yam cultivars by local actors of the yam sector in the South-West of Dry Savannah in Togo. Methodology and results: The scoring and the expert opinions, allowed the definition of fifteen cultivar attribute descriptors by 1032 actors of the yam sector followed by their prioritization in three distinct classes by the law 80/20. The average utilities of the main attributes: market value, cultivar name with image connotation and large and long tubers were respectively 9.52; 7.28 and 2.28. They represented 63.91% of the expected cumulative utilities of all attributes. The effects of age and sex on expected utility ratings were not seen in this study. Conclusion and application of the findings: 20% of the attributes fulfilled 63.91% of cumulative utilities expected in yam culture and posing the problem of the low cumulative utility of 36.07% by 80% of the attributes. Thus, future research to improve a satisfaction of utilities of the 80% of attributes is necessary. Future varietal improvement programs, may take into account the satisfaction of the expected utilities of yams. A path of labeled production of tubers and their transformations extended to the potential of all cultivars may constitute an application to be considered on the basis of the present results and thus limit the genetic erosion of the yam crop. Keywords: yams, attributes, prioritization, expected utilities, Dry Savannahs, Togo.