Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.3
3.2
Journals
Life
Special Issues
Effects of Environmental Factors on Challenges of Plant Breeding
share announcement

Effects of Environmental Factors on Challenges of Plant Breeding

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2025) | Viewed by 15887

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Katalin Magyar-Tábori

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Institute of Nyíregyháza, Institutes for Agricultural Research and Educational Farm (IAREF), University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 12, 4400 Nyiregyháza, Hungary
Interests: plant breeding; crop improvement; plant biotechnology; plant biology; food science; evolutionary biology; molecular biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Nóra Mendler-Drienyovszki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Institutes of the Centre for Agricultural and Applied Economic Sciences, University of Debrecen, 4400 Nyíregyháza, Hungary
Interests: plant breeding; crop improvement; plant biotechnology; plant biology; food science; evolutionary biology; molecular biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change, including global warming, has led to new challenges as well as new opportunities in agriculture and plant breeding. In addition to emerging new biotic risks, including invasive weeds, insects and diseases that threaten many plants, abiotic stressors such as drought and high temperatures are also expected to increase. Plant breeders have to fit their breeding aims to mitigate these harmful effects. However, new conditions have created new facilities in expanding the growing area of some field and horticultural crops, and/or growing season, especially the sowing date.

Due to all of the above, autumn-sown varieties of traditionally spring-sown plants are playing an increasingly important role in crop production, especially, but not restricted to, under a temperate climate. Autumn-sown crops—compared to spring varieties—can be characterized by earlier ripening, lower production risk, higher yield and trouble-free harvesting.

In this Special Issue, we aim to provide a platform for original research papers, short communications, and reviews related to breeding results, including conventional (field, green house, laboratory) and new (molecular genetics, marker assisted selection, etc.) breeding methods. Studies on the physiological background of plants responses to an altered environment (low temperature, frost, photoperiod, etc.) related to winter hardiness are highlighted. High-quality comparison of the performance of autumn/spring-sown genotypes with different sowing dates and informative descriptions of new cultivars, including new cultivation technology, are also welcome, in order to spread valuable information about varieties that can be sown in autumn.

Dr. Katalin Magyar-Tábori
Dr. Nóra Mendler-Drienyovszki
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plant breeding
  • winter hardiness
  • sowing time
  • adaptation to cold/frost
  • physiology of cold/frost tolerance
  • snow cover

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (8 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

24 pages, 3385 KiB  
Article
Unraveling Genetic Variation and Inheritance Patterns in Newly Developed Maize Hybrids for Improving Late Wilt Disease Resistance and Agronomic Performance Under Artificial Inoculation Conditions
by Nasr A. Ghazy, Mayasar I. Al-Zaban, Fatmah Ahmed Safhi, Maha Aljabri, Doaa A. Kafsheer, Imen Ben Abdelmalek, Mohamed M. Kamara, Elsayed Mansour and Salem Hamden
Life 2024, 14(12), 1609; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14121609 - 5 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1066
Abstract
Late wilt disease caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthiopsis maydis represents a major threat to maize cultivation in the Mediterranean region. Developing resistant hybrids and high-yielding offers a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution to mitigate yield losses. Therefore, this study evaluated genetic variation, [...] Read more.
Late wilt disease caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthiopsis maydis represents a major threat to maize cultivation in the Mediterranean region. Developing resistant hybrids and high-yielding offers a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution to mitigate yield losses. Therefore, this study evaluated genetic variation, combining abilities, and inheritance patterns in newly developed twenty-seven maize hybrids for grain yield and resistance to late wilt disease under artificial inoculation across two growing seasons. The results indicated highly significant variations among assessed hybrids for all measured traits. Combining ability analysis identified IL-306, IL-304, and IL-303 as excellent combiners for grain yield and late wilt resistance, positioning them as superior candidates for hybrid development. Additionally, IL-302 was identified as a strong general combiner for earliness, and IL-307 and IL-309 demonstrated potential for producing short-statured hybrids critical for improving lodging tolerance and maximizing yield. Specific combining ability effects indicated promising earliness, yield, and disease-resistance hybrids, including IL-303×T2 and IL-306×T1. GGE biplots presented optimal line×tester combinations, offering strategic guidance for hybrid development. The principal component analysis demonstrated strong associations between grain yield, late wilt resistance, and key agronomic traits, such as ear length and kernel number. The observed robust positive association between grain yield, late wilt resistance, and yield attributes suggests selection potential for improving maize productivity. Moreover, the genotypic correlations revealed that earlier silking, taller plants, and higher kernel counts were strongly linked to enhanced yield potential. Genetic parameter estimates indicated a predominance of non-additive genetic effects for most traits, with moderate to high broad-sense heritability suggesting substantial genetic contributions to phenotypic variance. This research provides valuable insights to support the development of disease-resistant and high-yielding maize hybrids addressing critical food security challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Factors on Challenges of Plant Breeding)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 2319 KiB  
Article
Comparative Performance of Ionic and Agro-Physiological Traits for Detecting Salt Tolerance in Wheat Genotypes Grown in Real Field Conditions
by Muhammad Usman Tahir, Salah El-Hendawy and Nasser Al-Suhaibani
Life 2024, 14(11), 1487; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14111487 - 15 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 867
Abstract
Studying the physiological mechanisms underlying the traits associated with salt tolerance in genotypes could lead to the discovery of new genetic resources for salt tolerance. In this study, the mechanisms of salt tolerance were evaluated, based on ionic, physiological, and agronomic traits in [...] Read more.
Studying the physiological mechanisms underlying the traits associated with salt tolerance in genotypes could lead to the discovery of new genetic resources for salt tolerance. In this study, the mechanisms of salt tolerance were evaluated, based on ionic, physiological, and agronomic traits in four varieties that differ in their salt tolerance and in 18 F8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) grown in real field conditions. The salt tolerance of plant materials was assessed under both normal (3.5 mM NaCl) and high salinity stress (150 mM NaCl) conditions for two consecutive years. Different growth and physiological traits were assessed 75 days after sowing, while ion contents in the shoots, grain yield, and its components were determined at the maturity stage. Multivariate analysis was used to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of salt tolerance across various genotypes and traits. The ANOVA results showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05 and 0.001) among salinity, genotypes, and their interactions for all ionic and agro-physiological traits, with a few exceptions. Salinity stress resulted in a considerable increase in Na+ content and canopy temperature (CT), with a simultaneous decrease of 11.3% to 94.5% in other ionic and agro-physiological traits compared to the control treatment. However, the salt-tolerant genotypes showed minimal increases in Na+ content and CT, as well as decreases in other ionic and agro-physiological traits when compared to salt-sensitive genotypes under salinity stress. All ionic and agro-physiological traits exhibited strong correlations with each other under salinity stress, but these correlations were weak or insignificant under control conditions. The principal component analysis identified Na+ and CT as negative indicators and other ionic and agro-physiological traits as positive indicators for salt tolerance under salinity stress. The negative indicators were strongly linked to salt-sensitive genotypes, while the positive indicators were closely associated with salt-tolerant genotypes. Heatmap clustering, using multiple traits, successfully differentiated the salt-tolerant genotypes from the salt-sensitive ones. The salt-tolerant group showed a significant reduction in Na+ content by 36.9%, in CT by 10.0%, and in HI by 16.7%, along with an increase of 6.3–51.4% in other ionic and agro-physiological traits compared to the salt-sensitive group. In conclusion, the mechanisms associated with Na+ exclusion and high K+/Na+ and Ca2+/Na+ ratios, as well as chlorophyll and relative water content, along with low CT, resulted in significant improvements in growth and yield under salinity stress conditions. Given that the effectiveness of various ionic and agro-physiological traits in evaluating salt tolerance in wheat has been proven in real field conditions, these traits will play a key role in the development of salt-tolerant wheat genotypes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Factors on Challenges of Plant Breeding)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1714 KiB  
Article
A Novel Solid Media-Free In-Planta Soybean (Glycine max. (L) Merr.) Transformation Approach
by Muhammad Waqar Khan, Aaqib Shaheen, Xuebin Zhang, Yaser Hassan Dewir and Nóra Mendler-Drienyovszki
Life 2024, 14(11), 1412; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14111412 - 1 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1432
Abstract
Soybean’s lengthy protocols for transgenic plant production are a bottleneck in the transgenic breeding of this crop. Explants cultured on a medium for an extended duration exhibit unanticipated modifications. Stress-induced somaclonal variations and in vitro contaminations also cause substantial losses of transgenic plants. [...] Read more.
Soybean’s lengthy protocols for transgenic plant production are a bottleneck in the transgenic breeding of this crop. Explants cultured on a medium for an extended duration exhibit unanticipated modifications. Stress-induced somaclonal variations and in vitro contaminations also cause substantial losses of transgenic plants. This effect could potentially be mitigated by direct shoot regeneration without solid media or in-planta transformation. The current study focused primarily on developing a rapid and effective media-free in-planta transformation technique for three soybean genotypes (Wm82) and our newly developed two hybrids, designated as ZX-16 and ZX-3. The whole procedure for a transgenic plant takes the same time as a stable grown seedling. Multiple axillary shoots were regenerated on stable-grown soybean seedlings without the ectopic expression of developmental regulatory genes. An approximate amount of 200 µL medium with a growth regulator was employed for shoot organogenesis and growth. The maximal shoot regeneration percentages in the Wm82 and ZX-3 genotypes were 87.1% and 84.5%, respectively. The stable transformation ranged from 3% to 8.0%, with an average of 5.5%. This approach seems to be the opposite of the hairy root transformation method, which allowed transgenic shoots to be regenerated on normal roots. Further improvement regarding an increase in the transformation efficiency and of this technique for a broad range of soybean genotypes and other dicot species would be extremely beneficial in achieving increased stable transformation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Factors on Challenges of Plant Breeding)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3245 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Impact of Chemical Mutagens on the Phenological and Biochemical Characteristics of Two Varieties of Soybean (Glycine max L.)
by Anas Hamisu, Bhupendra Koul, Ananta Prasad Arukha, Saleh Al Nadhari and Muhammad Fazle Rabbee
Life 2024, 14(7), 909; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14070909 - 22 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1514
Abstract
Mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency are the most important factors determining the success of mutation breeding, a coherent tool for quickly enhancing diversity in crops. This study was carried out at Lovely Professional University’s agricultural research farm in Punjab, India, during the year 2023. [...] Read more.
Mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency are the most important factors determining the success of mutation breeding, a coherent tool for quickly enhancing diversity in crops. This study was carried out at Lovely Professional University’s agricultural research farm in Punjab, India, during the year 2023. The experimental design followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The experiment aimed to assess the effect of three chemical mutagens, sodium azide (SA), ethyl methyl sulphonates (EMSs), and methyl methane sulfonate (MMS), at three different concentrations (0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6%), in SL958 and SL744 soybean varieties to select the mutant exhibiting the highest yield. The data were collected and analysed using a two-way ANOVA test through SPSS software (version 22), and the means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) at the 5% level of significance. Between the two varieties, the highest seed germination percentage (76.0% seedlings/plot) was recorded in SL958 (0.4% SA), while the lowest (30.33% seedlings/plot) was observed in 0.6% MMS as compared to the control (53% and 76% in SL744 and SL958 at 10 days after sowing, respectively). Several weeks after sowing, the average plant height was observed to be higher (37.84 ± 1.32 cm) in SL958 (0.4% SA) and lower (20.58 ± 0.30 cm) in SL744 (0.6% SA), as compared to the controls (SL958: 26.09 ± 0.62 cm and SL744: 27.48 ± 0.74 cm). The average leaf count was the highest (234.33 ± 3.09 tetrafoliate leaves/plant) in SL958 (0.4% SA) while it was the lowest (87 leaves/plant) in 0.6% MMS as compared to the control (SL744 180.00 ± 1.63 and SL958 160.73 ± 1.05). The highest total leaf areas recorded in the SL958 and SL744 M1plants were 3625.8 ± 1.43 cm2 and 2311.03 ± 3.65 cm2, respectively. Seeds of the SL958 variety treated with 0.4% SA resulted in the development of tetrafoliate leaves with a broad leaf base and the maximum yield (277.55 ± 1.37 pods/plant) compared to the narrow pentafoliate leaves obtained through the treatment with EMS. Meanwhile, in the SL744 variety, the same treatment led to tetrafoliate leaves with a comparatively lower yield of 206.54 ± 23.47 pods/plant as compared to the control (SL744 164.33 ± 8.58 and SL958 229.86 ± 0.96). The highest protein content (47.04 ± 0.87% TSP) was recorded in the SL958 (0.4% SA) M2 seeds followed by a content of 46.14 ± 0.64% TSP in the SL744 (0.4% SA) M2 seeds, whereas the lowest content (38.13 ± 0.81% TSP) was found in SL958 (0.6% MMS). Similar observations were recorded for the lipid and fibre content. The 0.4% SA treatment in SL958 proved to be efficient in generating the highest leaf area (tetrafoliate leaves) and a reasonable yield of M1 (the first generation after mutation) plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Factors on Challenges of Plant Breeding)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 2335 KiB  
Article
Molecular Diversity and Combining Ability in Newly Developed Maize Inbred Lines under Low-Nitrogen Conditions
by Mohamed M. Kamara, Elsayed Mansour, Ahmed E. A. Khalaf, Mohamed A. M. Eid, Abdallah A. Hassanin, Ahmed M. Abdelghany, Ahmed M. S. Kheir, Ahmed A. Galal, Said I. Behiry, Cristina Silvar and Salah El-Hendawy
Life 2024, 14(5), 641; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14050641 - 17 May 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1865
Abstract
Nitrogen is an essential element for maize growth, but excessive application can lead to various environmental and ecological issues, including water pollution, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss. Hence, developing maize hybrids resilient to low-N conditions is vital for sustainable agriculture, [...] Read more.
Nitrogen is an essential element for maize growth, but excessive application can lead to various environmental and ecological issues, including water pollution, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss. Hence, developing maize hybrids resilient to low-N conditions is vital for sustainable agriculture, particularly in nitrogen-deficient soils. Combining ability and genetic relationships among parental lines is crucial for breeding superior hybrids under diverse nitrogen levels. This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity of maize inbred lines using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and evaluate their combining ability to identify superior hybrids under low-N and recommended conditions. Local and exotic inbred lines were genotyped using SSR markers, revealing substantial genetic variation with high gene diversity (He = 0.60), moderate polymorphism information content (PIC = 0.54), and an average of 3.64 alleles per locus. Twenty-one F1 hybrids were generated through a diallel mating design using these diverse lines. These hybrids and a high yielding commercial check (SC-131) were field-tested under low-N and recommended N conditions. Significant variations (p < 0.01) were observed among nitrogen levels, hybrids, and their interaction for all recorded traits. Additive genetic variances predominated over non-additive genetic variances for grain yield and most traits. Inbred IL3 emerged as an effective combiner for developing early maturing genotypes with lower ear placement. Additionally, inbreds IL1, IL2, and IL3 showed promise as superior combiners for enhancing grain yield and related traits under both low-N and recommended conditions. Notably, hybrids IL1×IL4, IL2×IL5, IL2×IL6, and IL5×IL7 exhibited specific combining abilities for increasing grain yield and associated traits under low-N stress conditions. Furthermore, strong positive associations were identified between grain yield and specific traits like plant height, ear length, number of rows per ear, and number of kernels per row. Due to their straightforward measurability, these relationships underscore the potential of using these traits as proxies for indirect selection in early breeding generations, particularly under low-N stress. This research contributes to breeding nitrogen-efficient maize hybrids and advances our understanding of the genetic foundations for tolerance to nitrogen limitations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Factors on Challenges of Plant Breeding)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 1459 KiB  
Article
Combining Genetic and Phenotypic Analyses for Detecting Bread Wheat Genotypes of Drought Tolerance through Multivariate Analysis Techniques
by Mohammed Sallam, Abdelhalim Ghazy, Abdullah Al-Doss and Ibrahim Al-Ashkar
Life 2024, 14(2), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14020183 - 25 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2280
Abstract
Successfully promoting drought tolerance in wheat genotypes will require several procedures, such as field experimentations, measuring relevant traits, using analysis tools of high precision and efficiency, and taking a complementary approach that combines analyses of phenotyping and genotyping at once. The aim of [...] Read more.
Successfully promoting drought tolerance in wheat genotypes will require several procedures, such as field experimentations, measuring relevant traits, using analysis tools of high precision and efficiency, and taking a complementary approach that combines analyses of phenotyping and genotyping at once. The aim of this study is to assess the genetic diversity of 60 genotypes using SSR (simple sequence repeat) markers collected from several regions of the world and select 13 of them as more genetically diverse to be re-evaluated under field conditions to study drought stress by estimating 30 agro-physio-biochemical traits. Genetic parameters and multivariate analysis were used to compare genotype traits and identify which traits are increasingly efficient at detecting wheat genotypes of drought tolerance. Hierarchical cluster (HC) analysis of SSR markers divided the genotypes into five main categories of drought tolerance: four high tolerant (HT), eight tolerant (T), nine moderate tolerant (MT), six sensitive (S), and 33 high sensitive (HS). Six traits exhibit a combination of high heritability (>60%) and genetic gain (>20%). Analyses of principal components and stepwise multiple linear regression together identified nine traits (grain yield, flag leaf area, stomatal conductance, plant height, relative turgidity, glycine betaine, polyphenol oxidase, chlorophyll content, and grain-filling duration) as a screening tool that effectively detects the variation among the 13 genotypes used. HC analysis of the nine traits divided genotypes into three main categories: T, MT, and S, representing three, five, and five genotypes, respectively, and were completely identical in linear discriminant analysis. But in the case of SSR markers, they were classified into three main categories: T, MT, and S, representing five, three, and five genotypes, respectively, which are both significantly correlated as per the Mantel test. The SSR markers were associated with nine traits, which are considered an assistance tool in the selection process for drought tolerance. So, this study is useful and has successfully detected several agro-physio-biochemical traits, associated SSR markers, and some drought-tolerant genotypes, coupled with our knowledge of the phenotypic and genotypic basis of wheat genotypes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Factors on Challenges of Plant Breeding)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 4415 KiB  
Article
Death and Dying: Grapevine Survival, Cold Hardiness, and BLUPs and Winter BLUEs in North Dakota Vineyards
by Bülent Köse, Andrej Svyantek, Venkateswara Rao Kadium, Matthew Brooke, Collin Auwarter and Harlene Hatterman-Valenti
Life 2024, 14(2), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14020178 - 25 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1718
Abstract
A total of fourteen diverse, interspecific hybrid grapevines (Vitis spp.) were evaluated for their adaptability to North Dakota winter conditions using differential thermal analysis (DTA) of low-temperature exotherms (LTE) and bud cross-sectional assessment of survival techniques. This research was conducted in two [...] Read more.
A total of fourteen diverse, interspecific hybrid grapevines (Vitis spp.) were evaluated for their adaptability to North Dakota winter conditions using differential thermal analysis (DTA) of low-temperature exotherms (LTE) and bud cross-sectional assessment of survival techniques. This research was conducted in two vineyard locations in eastern North Dakota. This work demonstrates the use of DTA for monitoring and selecting cultivars capable of withstanding sub-zero temperatures. These results were assessed for quantitative genetic traits. High heritability was observed for bud LTE traits and may thus be a useful target for cold hardiness breeding programs; however, it is necessary to ensure that variance is reduced when pooling multiple sample events. After DTA sampling, grapevines were assessed for survival of primary and secondary dormant buds using cross-sectional visual evaluation of death. ‘Valiant’ had the greatest primary bud survival (68%), followed by ‘Frontenac gris’, ‘Crimson Pearl’, and ‘King of the North’. These varieties are among those with potential for production in eastern North Dakota’s environment. The newly evaluated relationships between traits and the heritability of DTA results provide valuable tools to grapevine breeders for the development of cold-tolerant genotypes for future climatic challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Factors on Challenges of Plant Breeding)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

20 pages, 4859 KiB  
Article
Leaf Morphological and Epidermal Traits Variability along Environmental Gradients in Ten Natural Populations of Pistacia lentiscus
by Abdelghafour Doghbage, Safia Belhadj, Fathi Abdellatif Belhouadjeb, Hassen Boukerker, Jean Philippe Mevy, Thierry Gauquelin, Alain Tonetto, Saifi Merdas, Bakria Touati, Fethi Saimi, Rafik Rahem, Arezki Derridj, Feriel Foulla Hassen and Walid Soufan
Life 2023, 13(7), 1617; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13071617 - 24 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2932
Abstract
The species belonging to the genus Pistacia possess ecological, economic, and medicinal value. They show a very high ecological plasticity. This research is a contribution to the study of the intraspecific diversity and variability of 10 populations of Pistacia lentiscus in different bioclimates. [...] Read more.
The species belonging to the genus Pistacia possess ecological, economic, and medicinal value. They show a very high ecological plasticity. This research is a contribution to the study of the intraspecific diversity and variability of 10 populations of Pistacia lentiscus in different bioclimates. Nine locations in Algeria and one site in France have been selected in order to understand the strategies developed by this species under extreme conditions, including altitude and aridity, and to identify the adaptive processes that can be observed based on the morphological and ultrastructural features of the leaf. As a result of this research, we have collected a large quantity of important information on morphological and microphytodermal leaf variability for the ten studied populations. The statistical analyses showed a very important difference in the studied characteristics between these populations. It has been demonstrated that environmental factors also have a significant impact on the heterogeneity of most measured leaf features. Moreover, the observations with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) enabled us to highlight new characteristics of the studied species, such as the glandular trichomes on the leaflets and embedded stomata in the epidermis. These criteria could supplement the existing morphological characteristics used in the systematic classification of the Pistacia genus. Overall, the studied species have shown xeromorphy features, which give them the opportunity to be used in desertification mitigation programs, due to their ability to withstand conditions of extreme aridity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Factors on Challenges of Plant Breeding)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-8
Back to TopTop