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Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement
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Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 46054

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ranjith Pathirana

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Guest Editor
Plant & Food Research Australia Pty Ltd, Waite Campus Research Precinct – Plant Breeding Building #WT46, Waite Rd, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia
Dr. Francesco Carimi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Division of Palermo, National Research Council, Corso Calatafimi, 414, I-90129 Palermo, Italy
Interests: plant cell biology; plant biotechnology; somatic embryogenesis; genetic diversity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Traditional plant breeding helped to increase food production dramatically over the last 50 years, and countries managed to stay ahead of race between population growth and food production. However, sustaining these gains in crop productivity and adapting to climate change are becoming urgent concerns in modern times. In fact, yield increases of our major cereals have slowed down in the past 20 years. Developing crop cultivars that meet the present day requirements of agriculture and horticulture is challenging, as they need to provide sustainable food and healthful nutrition for populations, and at the same time environmentally friendly and resilient to climate change. Plant biotechnology is seen as the breakthrough technology that can help to meet this challenge in this next phase of plant breeding. Plant biotechnologies that help toward developing new varieties and traits within plants include cell and tissue culture manipulation, marker-assisted selection, transgenic crops, genomics and molecular farming. Cell and tissue culture technologies provide a range of applications in the creation, conservation, and utilization of genetic variability of crops, such as in vitro pollination and embryo rescue for distant hybridization, production of haploids and doubled haploids, in vitro mutagenesis and somaclonal variation, in vitro selection, germplasm preservation (in vitro for medium term and cryopreservation for long term) and exchange, protoplast fusion for producing somatic hybrids. and gene manipulation to produce transgenic or gene-edited plants.

High-resolution genetic analysis has allowed physical mapping and positional gene cloning for traits of interest, while molecular markers are allowing characterization of germplasm and finding duplicates and gaps in collections. They are becoming indispensable in some breeding programs for early culling of unwanted material in perennial crops, for marker-assisted selection, development of saturated linkage maps and pyramiding genes in introgressive breeding. Despite the strict laws governing genetically modified crops, transgenic varieties of maize, soybean, rapeseed, cotton, tomato, potato, papaya, etc. are occupying over 190 million hectares in some 26 countries grown by 17 million farmers, bringing in both economic and environmental benefits and at the same time some social controversy. This Special Issue will consider all these biotechnological advancements for crop improvement, characterization, and conservation as well as papers on social, environmental, and global aspects of plant biotechnology commercialization. We hope to have a good balance between highly domesticated ancient crop species as well as new and underutilized crops that have potential for meeting future challenges in agricultural production in a changing climate and a shrinking space for cultivation.

Dr. Ranjith Pathirana
Dr. Francesco Carimi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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
  • genetic markers
  • marker-assisted selection
  • genomics
  • mutagenesis
  • transgenic crops
  • climate change
  • in vitro culture
  • tissue culture
  • variation

Published Papers (18 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

18 pages, 2435 KiB  
Editorial
Plant Biotechnology—An Indispensable Tool for Crop Improvement
by Ranjith Pathirana and Francesco Carimi
Plants 2024, 13(8), 1133; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13081133 - 18 Apr 2024
Viewed by 508
Abstract
Traditional plant breeding has helped to increase food production dramatically over the past five decades, and many countries have managed to produce enough food for the growing population, particularly in the developing world [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

14 pages, 5322 KiB  
Article
Increased Zygote-Derived Plantlet Formation through In Vitro Rescue of Immature Embryos of Highly Apomictic Opuntia ficus-indica (Cactaceae)
by Angela Carra, Caterina Catalano, Ranjith Pathirana, Maurizio Sajeva, Paolo Inglese, Antonio Motisi and Francesco Carimi
Plants 2023, 12(15), 2758; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12152758 - 25 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 970
Abstract
O. ficus-indica (prickly pear cactus) is an important forage and food source in arid and semiarid ecosystems and is the most important cactus species in cultivation globally. The high degree of apomixis in the species is a hindrance in plant breeding programs where [...] Read more.
O. ficus-indica (prickly pear cactus) is an important forage and food source in arid and semiarid ecosystems and is the most important cactus species in cultivation globally. The high degree of apomixis in the species is a hindrance in plant breeding programs where genetic segregation is sought for the selection of superior genotypes. To understand if in ovulo embryo rescue could increase the proportion of zygotic seedlings, we compared the mature seed-derived seedlings with those regenerated from in vitro embryo rescue at 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 post-anthesis days (PADs) in four Italian cultivars. The seedlings were classified as apomictic or zygotic based on molecular marker analysis using inter-sequence single repeat (ISSR) primers. Multiple embryos were recovered from all the cultured immature ovules, and plantlets were regenerated and acclimatized to the field post hardening, with success rates ranging from 62% (‘Senza spine’) to 83% (‘Gialla’). The level of polyembryony differed among cultivars and recovery dates, with the highest being ‘Rossa’, producing 4.8 embryos/ovule at 35 PADs, and ‘Gialla’, the lowest, with 2.7 at 40 PADs. The maximum number of embryos observed within a single ovule was 14 in ‘Trunzara bianca’. ISSR analysis revealed that ovule culture at 35 PADs produced the highest percentage of zygotic seedlings in all the cultivars, from 51% (‘Rossa’) to 98% (‘Gialla’), with a high genotype effect as well. Mature seeds produced much fewer seedlings per seed, ranging from 1.2 in ‘Trunzara bianca’ to 2.0 in ‘Rossa’ and a lower percentage of zygotic seedlings (from 14% in ‘Rossa’ to 63% in ‘Gialla’). Our research opens a pathway to increase the availability of zygotic seedlings in O. ficus-indica breeding programs through in ovulo embryo culture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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13 pages, 1124 KiB  
Article
Genotype × Environment Interaction and Stability Analysis of Selected Cassava Cultivars in South Africa
by Assefa B. Amelework, Michael W. Bairu, Roelene Marx, Mark Laing and Sonja L. Venter
Plants 2023, 12(13), 2490; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132490 - 29 Jun 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1240
Abstract
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important root crop worldwide. It is adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions, exhibiting differential genotypic responses to varying environmental conditions. The objectives of this study were: (1) to examine the effect of genotype, environment [...] Read more.
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important root crop worldwide. It is adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions, exhibiting differential genotypic responses to varying environmental conditions. The objectives of this study were: (1) to examine the effect of genotype, environment and genotype × environment interaction (GEI) on fresh root yield (FRY) and dry matter content (DMC); and (2) to identify superior genotypes that exhibit high performance for the traits of interest using the genetic tools of additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and genotype stability index (GSI) analysis. Eleven cassava genotypes were evaluated in a randomized complete block design at six trial sites in South Africa. The combined analysis of variance based on AMMI revealed significant genotype, environment and GEI for the traits. The percentage variation due to GEI was higher than the percentage variation due to genotype for FRY, reflecting differential genotypic responses across the experimental sites. The proportion of variance due to genotype variation was larger for DMC. Genotype stability index (GSI) showed that UKF3 (G6), 98/0002 (G2) and P4/10 (G5) were the highest yielding and most stable genotypes for FRY, and 98/0002 (G1), UKF3 (G6) and UKF9 (G11) were the highest yielding and most stable genotypes for DMC. Cultivars 98/0002 and UKF3 were identified as providing high stability with superior fresh root yield and DMC. These genotypes could be recommended to farmers for food, feed and industrial applications without the need for further breeding. The AMMI-2 model clustered the testing environments into three mega-environments based on the winning genotypes for FRY and DMC. Mabuyeni (KwaZulu-Natal), Shatale (Mpumalanga) and Mandlakazi (Limpopo) would be the best testing sites in future cassava-genotype evaluation and breeding programs. This study provides a baseline for a future study on the GEI of cassava varieties, using a larger set of genotypes, factoring in seasonal variation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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14 pages, 1295 KiB  
Article
Agromorphological and Physiological Performance of Ethiopian Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Genotypes under Different Agroecological Conditions
by Shiferaw Girsil Tigist, Julia Sibiya, Assefa Amelework and Gemechu Keneni
Plants 2023, 12(12), 2342; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122342 - 16 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1232
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to assess the agronomic performance of common bean genotypes, previously selected for their response to infestation, by Mexican bean weevil and to identify promising lines that can be used as parents in a downstream breeding program. Field [...] Read more.
The objectives of this study were to assess the agronomic performance of common bean genotypes, previously selected for their response to infestation, by Mexican bean weevil and to identify promising lines that can be used as parents in a downstream breeding program. Field experiments were conducted using 144 genotypes under three different agro-ecologies in an unbalanced incomplete block design with three replications. Data on 15 agro-morphological traits were collected, and multivariate methods were used to examine the patterns of variation among the genotypes. The genotypes revealed a high level of phenotypic diversity for all agronomic traits. Six principal components, which contributed 84% of the total variation among the genotypes, were identified. The 15 agro-morphological traits classified the genotypes into three distinct major clusters and sub-clusters. The clustering patterns of the genotypes were according to the seed size, whereby the small and medium beans were distinctly separated from the large-seeded beans. The study established the existence of considerable genetic variations among common bean genotypes. Unique genotypes, such as Nasir, Awash Melka, and RAZ-36 from Cluster I, RAZ-2, RAZ-11, and RAZ-42 from Cluster II, and SER-125, SCR-15, MAZ-200, MAZ-203, and RAZ-120 from Cluster III, were selected based on their distinct agronomic performance. The selected genotypes could be useful for the common bean breeding program. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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14 pages, 843 KiB  
Article
The Metabolic Profile of Young, Watered Chickpea Plants Can Be Used as a Biomarker to Predict Seed Number under Terminal Drought
by Sarah J. Purdy, David Fuentes, Purushothaman Ramamoorthy, Christopher Nunn, Brent N. Kaiser and Andrew Merchant
Plants 2023, 12(11), 2172; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112172 - 30 May 2023
Viewed by 1177
Abstract
Chickpea is the second-most-cultivated legume globally, with India and Australia being the two largest producers. In both of these locations, the crop is sown on residual summer soil moisture and left to grow on progressively depleting water content, finally maturing under terminal drought [...] Read more.
Chickpea is the second-most-cultivated legume globally, with India and Australia being the two largest producers. In both of these locations, the crop is sown on residual summer soil moisture and left to grow on progressively depleting water content, finally maturing under terminal drought conditions. The metabolic profile of plants is commonly, correlatively associated with performance or stress responses, e.g., the accumulation of osmoprotective metabolites during cold stress. In animals and humans, metabolites are also prognostically used to predict the likelihood of an event (usually a disease) before it occurs, e.g., blood cholesterol and heart disease. We sought to discover metabolic biomarkers in chickpea that could be used to predict grain yield traits under terminal drought, from the leaf tissue of young, watered, healthy plants. The metabolic profile (GC-MS and enzyme assays) of field-grown chickpea leaves was analysed over two growing seasons, and then predictive modelling was applied to associate the most strongly correlated metabolites with the final seed number plant−1. Pinitol (negatively), sucrose (negatively) and GABA (positively) were significantly correlated with seed number in both years of study. The feature selection algorithm of the model selected a larger range of metabolites including carbohydrates, sugar alcohols and GABA. The correlation between the predicted seed number and actual seed number was R2 adj = 0.62, demonstrating that the metabolic profile could be used to predict a complex trait with a high degree of accuracy. A previously unknown association between D-pinitol and hundred-kernel weight was also discovered and may provide a single metabolic marker with which to predict large seeded chickpea varieties from new crosses. The use of metabolic biomarkers could be used by breeders to identify superior-performing genotypes before maturity is reached. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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17 pages, 4009 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Polyploidization of Brassolaeliocattleya Hybrid Orchid
by Joe Abdul Vilcherrez-Atoche, Jéssica Coutinho Silva, Wellington Ronildo Clarindo, Mateus Mondin and Jean Carlos Cardoso
Plants 2023, 12(2), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12020281 - 07 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1723
Abstract
The Cattleya (Orchidaceae–Laeliinae subtribe) intergeneric hybrids, such as Brassolaeliocattleya (Blc.), have great ornamental value, due to their compact-size, with large and high color diversity of flowers. Artificial induction of polyploidy brings agronomic, ornamental and genetic benefits to plants. Polyploidization efficiency [...] Read more.
The Cattleya (Orchidaceae–Laeliinae subtribe) intergeneric hybrids, such as Brassolaeliocattleya (Blc.), have great ornamental value, due to their compact-size, with large and high color diversity of flowers. Artificial induction of polyploidy brings agronomic, ornamental and genetic benefits to plants. Polyploidization efficiency depends on factors, such as the type of antimitotic, polyploidization method, concentrations, exposure times and type of explant. This study aimed to develop a protocol to polyploidize Blc. orchids, by testing two types of explants (seeds and protocorms), concentrations and exposure times to colchicine. The effects of colchicine on the in vitro development of explants were also investigated. The responses of explants to colchicine depended on the concentrations, exposure time and the interaction of these factors. Flow cytometric analysis evidenced high endopolyploidy and allowed the separation of polyploidized (4C, 8C and 16C peaks) from non-polyploidized (only 2C and 4C peaks) plants. The highest percentage of polyploid plants was regenerated from protocorms (16.4%) treated with colchicine instead of seeds (3.2%). Protocorms treated with colchicine at 500–750 μM for 18 h resulted in the best percentage of polyploidization. Additionally, in vitro natural polyploidization using protocorms was reported (11.5%). Cytological analyses allowed an estimation of the number of chromosomes of the parents (≡70), polyploidized (≡140) and non-polyploidized progeny (≡70). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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14 pages, 2680 KiB  
Article
Somaclonal Variation for Genetic Improvement of Starch Accumulation in Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Tubers
by Walaa M. R. M. Adly, Gniewko Niedbała, Mohammad E. EL-Denary, Mahasen A. Mohamed, Magdalena Piekutowska, Tomasz Wojciechowski, El-Sayed T. Abd El-Salam and Ahmed S. Fouad
Plants 2023, 12(2), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12020232 - 04 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2149
Abstract
Starch content is one of the major quality criteria targeted by potato breeding programs. Traditional potato breeding is a laborious duty due to the tetraploid nature and immense heterozygosity of potato genomes. In addition, screening for functional genetic variations in wild relatives is [...] Read more.
Starch content is one of the major quality criteria targeted by potato breeding programs. Traditional potato breeding is a laborious duty due to the tetraploid nature and immense heterozygosity of potato genomes. In addition, screening for functional genetic variations in wild relatives is slow and strenuous. Moreover, genetic diversity, which is the raw material for breeding programs, is limited due to vegetative propagation used in the potato industry. Somaclonal variation provides a time-efficient tool to breeders for obtaining genetic variability, which is essential for breeding programs, at a reasonable cost and independent of sophisticated technology. The present investigation aimed to create potato somaclones with an improved potential for starch accumulation. Based on the weight and starch content of tubers, the somaclonal variant Ros 119, among 105 callus-sourced clones, recorded a higher tuberization potential than the parent cv Lady Rosetta in a field experiment. Although this somaclone was similar to the parent in the number of tubers produced, it exhibited tubers with 42 and 61% higher fresh and dry weights, respectively. Additionally, this clone recorded 10 and 75% increases in starch content based on the dry weight and average content per plant, respectively. The enhanced starch accumulation was associated with the upregulation of six starch-synthesis-related genes, namely, the AGPase, GBSS I, SBE I, SBE II, SS II and SS III genes. AGPase affords the glycosyl moieties required for the synthesis of amylose and amylopectin. GBSS is required for amylose elongation, while SBE I, SBE II, SS II and SS III are responsible for amylopectin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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17 pages, 5042 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Resistance to Foliar Pathogens Based on Genotyping-by-Sequencing of a Para Rubber Diversity Panel and Progeny of an Interspecific Cross
by C. Bindu Roy, Shashi N. Goonetilleke, Limiya Joseph, Anu Krishnan, Thakurdas Saha, Andrzej Kilian and Diane E. Mather
Plants 2022, 11(24), 3418; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11243418 - 07 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1208
Abstract
Para rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) are the largest major source of natural rubber in the world. Its major pathogens are Phytophthora spp., Corynespora cassiicola, and Colletotrichum spp. A rubber diversity panel of 116 clones using over 12,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms [...] Read more.
Para rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) are the largest major source of natural rubber in the world. Its major pathogens are Phytophthora spp., Corynespora cassiicola, and Colletotrichum spp. A rubber diversity panel of 116 clones using over 12,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from DArTSeq genotyping revealed clear phylogenetic differences in clones that originated from different geographical regions of the world. An integrated linkage map constructed with an F1 progeny of 86 from an interspecific cross between H. brasiliensis and H. benthamiana using 23,978 markers [10,323 SNPs and 13,655 SilicoDArTs] spanned 3947.83 cM with 0.83 cM average marker-interval. The genome scaffolds that were anchored to the linkage map, covering 1.44 Gb of H. brasiliensis reference genome, revealed a high level of collinearity between the genetic map and reference genome. Association analysis identified 12 SNPs significantly associated with the resistance against Phytophthora, Corynespora, and Colletotrichum in six linkage groups: 2, 6, 12, 14, 17, and 18. Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR marker assays were developed for those 12 SNPs, screened with 178 individuals, and detected clear separation between two genotypes. Within the proximity to those SNPs, 41 potentially key genes that have previously been reported to associate with plant disease resistance were predicted with high confidence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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19 pages, 7157 KiB  
Article
Gamma Radiation Induced In-Vitro Mutagenesis and Isolation of Mutants for Early Flowering and Phytomorphological Variations in Dendrobium ‘Emma White’
by Rubina Sherpa, Ramgopal Devadas, Sadashiv Narayan Bolbhat, Tukaram Dayaram Nikam and Suprasanna Penna
Plants 2022, 11(22), 3168; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223168 - 18 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2423
Abstract
In vitro mutagenesis offers a feasible approach for developing new orchid cultivars through genetic manipulation. In the present study, protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) were exposed to gamma rays (10, 20, 40, 60, 80 Gy) to study in vitro growth responses and induction of mutants [...] Read more.
In vitro mutagenesis offers a feasible approach for developing new orchid cultivars through genetic manipulation. In the present study, protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) were exposed to gamma rays (10, 20, 40, 60, 80 Gy) to study in vitro growth responses and induction of mutants in Dendrobium ‘Emma White’. Both proliferation and regeneration of PLBs decreased progressively with increasing doses, except for a significantly enhanced growth response at 10 Gy. The optimal dose of gamma radiation for mutagenesis was found in the range 10 to 25 Gy based on the growth reduction curve. Analysis using a high-throughput cell analyzer revealed a significant reduction in nuclear DNA content at > 40 Gy doses. At 10 Gy treatment, the growth attributes, such as root length, plant height and leaf number, were significantly increased by 36%, 26% and 20%, respectively, compared to the control. This increase was significant over other tested doses as well. Testing of random amplified polymorphic DNA markers revealed the presence of detectable polymorphism among gamma mutant plantlets with a polymorphism information content value at 0.41. The gamma-ray-induced earliness in flower development was observed within 294 days post ex vitro growth of 10 Gy mutant compared to the control plants flowered after 959 days. Our results highlight the significance of gamma radiation in inducing enhanced growth, morphological variations and early floral initiation in Dendrobium, providing a basic framework for mutation breeding and improvement of orchids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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13 pages, 8200 KiB  
Article
Chili Pepper AN2 (CaAN2): A Visible Selection Marker for Nondestructive Monitoring of Transgenic Plants
by Sun-Hyung Lim, Da-Hye Kim, Myeong-Cheoul Cho and Jong-Yeol Lee
Plants 2022, 11(6), 820; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11060820 - 19 Mar 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2847
Abstract
Selecting transformed plants is generally time consuming and laborious. To develop a method for transgenic plant selection without the need for antibiotics or herbicides, we evaluated the suitability of the R2R3 MYB transcription factor gene CaAN2 from purple chili pepper (Capsicum annuum [...] Read more.
Selecting transformed plants is generally time consuming and laborious. To develop a method for transgenic plant selection without the need for antibiotics or herbicides, we evaluated the suitability of the R2R3 MYB transcription factor gene CaAN2 from purple chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) for use as a visible selection marker. CaAN2 positively regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis. Transient expression assays in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaves revealed that CaAN2 actively induced sufficient pigment accumulation for easy detection without the need for a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein as a cofactor; similar results were obtained for tobacco leaves transiently co-expressing the anthocyanin biosynthesis regulators bHLH B-Peru from maize and R2R3 MYB mPAP1D from Arabidopsis. Tobacco plants harboring CaAN2 were readily selected based on their red color at the shoot regeneration stage due to anthocyanin accumulation without the need to impose selective pressure from herbicides. Transgenic tobacco plants harboring CaAN2 showed strong pigment accumulation throughout the plant body. The ectopic expression of CaAN2 dramatically promoted the transcription of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes as well as regulators of this process. The red coloration of tobacco plants harboring CaAN2 was stably transferred to the next generation. Therefore, anthocyanin accumulation due to CaAN2 expression is a useful visible trait for stable transformation, representing an excellent alternative selection system for transgenic plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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13 pages, 2556 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Chromosome Associations during Early Meiosis in Wheat Lines Carrying Chromosome Introgressions from Agropyron cristatum
by Pilar Prieto, Carmen Palomino, Zuny Cifuentes and Adoración Cabrera
Plants 2021, 10(11), 2292; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112292 - 25 Oct 2021
Viewed by 1882
Abstract
Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L. Gaertn., genome P), included in the Triticeae tribe (family Poaceae), is one of the most important grasses in temperate regions. It has been valued as a donor of important agronomic traits for wheat improvement, including tolerance to [...] Read more.
Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L. Gaertn., genome P), included in the Triticeae tribe (family Poaceae), is one of the most important grasses in temperate regions. It has been valued as a donor of important agronomic traits for wheat improvement, including tolerance to cold, drought, and high salinity, as well as resistance to leaf rust, stripe rust, and powdery mildew. For successful incorporation of beneficial alleles into wheat, it is essential that recombination between wheat and A. cristatum chromosomes occurs. In this work, we analysed chromosome associations during meiosis in wheat lines carrying chromosome introgressions from A. cristatum chromosomes 5P and 6P in the presence and absence of Ph1 locus using fluorescence in situ hybridisation. The results showed that the Ph1 locus does not affect chromosome associations between A. cristatum and wheat chromosomes because there were no interspecific chromosome associations; therefore, no recombination between chromosomes from wheat and Agropyron were observed in the absence of the Ph1 locus. The 5P and 6P A. cristatum chromosomes do not have a suppressor effect on the Ph1 locus. Wheat univalents in metaphase I suggest that Agropyron chromosomes might carry genes having a role in wheat homologous chromosome associations. Putative effect of the Agropyron genes on wheat chromosome associations does not interact with the Ph1 locus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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9 pages, 637 KiB  
Article
Powdery Mildew Resistance Genes in Single-Plant Progenies Derived from Accessions of a Winter Barley Core Collection
by Antonín Dreiseitl and Zdeněk Nesvadba
Plants 2021, 10(10), 1988; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10101988 - 23 Sep 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1522
Abstract
The main problems of crop gene banks comprise heterogeneity of accessions, resulting from mechanical admixtures or out-crossing during their multiplication, and especially the mislabeling of accessions. These discrepancies can adversely affect the results of many expensive research and breeding projects that are based [...] Read more.
The main problems of crop gene banks comprise heterogeneity of accessions, resulting from mechanical admixtures or out-crossing during their multiplication, and especially the mislabeling of accessions. These discrepancies can adversely affect the results of many expensive research and breeding projects that are based on the use of gene bank resources. To tackle these problems, 860 single-plant progenies (SPPs) of 172 accessions of the Czech winter barley core collection were grown and tested with a set of 53 isolates representing the global virulence/avirulence diversity of powdery mildew. Seventy-one resistance phenotypes encompassed the diversity of known specific resistances and their combinations. Based on testing groups of five SPPs, 94 accessions had one phenotype found in all five SPPs (homogeneous accessions), whereas in 78 accessions (45.3%) more than one phenotype was identified (heterogeneous accessions). In three varieties, specific resistances against the whole set of isolates were detected, but due to high adaptability of the pathogen, they are not recommended for breeding resistant cultivars. Selected SPPs were integrated in the gene bank and are now a reliable source of genotypically pure seed with defined powdery mildew resistance genes that can be used by breeders and researchers. The results obtained can be used to verify authenticity of accession genotype and pedigree, particularly for older varieties for which no other original criteria are available. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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12 pages, 3306 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Key Genes Involved in Weevil Resistance in the Hexaploid Sweetpotato
by Kanoko Nokihara, Yoshihiro Okada, Shinichiro Ohata and Yuki Monden
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1535; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081535 - 27 Jul 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2330
Abstract
Because weevils are the most damaging pests of sweetpotato, the development of cultivars resistant to weevil species is considered the most important aspect in sweetpotato breeding. However, the genes and the underlying molecular mechanisms related to weevil resistance are yet to be elucidated. [...] Read more.
Because weevils are the most damaging pests of sweetpotato, the development of cultivars resistant to weevil species is considered the most important aspect in sweetpotato breeding. However, the genes and the underlying molecular mechanisms related to weevil resistance are yet to be elucidated. In this study, we performed an RNA sequencing-based transcriptome analysis using the resistant Kyushu No. 166 (K166) and susceptible Tamayutaka cultivars. The weevil resistance test showed a significant difference between the two cultivars at 30 days after the inoculation, specifically in the weevil growth stage and the suppressed weevil pupation that was only observed in K166. Differential expression and gene ontology analyses revealed that the genes upregulated after inoculation in K166 were related to phosphorylation, metabolic, and cellular processes. Because the weevil resistance was considered to be related to the suppression of larval pupation, we investigated the juvenile hormone (JH)-related genes involved in the inhibition of insect metamorphosis. We found that the expression of some terpenoid-related genes, which are classified as plant-derived JHs, was significantly increased in K166. This is the first study involving a comprehensive gene expression analysis that provides new insights about the genes and mechanisms associated with weevil resistance in sweetpotato. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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19 pages, 2428 KiB  
Article
From Traditional Breeding to Genome Editing for Boosting Productivity of the Ancient Grain Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter]
by Muhammad Numan, Abdul Latif Khan, Sajjad Asaf, Mohammad Salehin, Getu Beyene, Zerihun Tadele and Ayalew Ligaba-Osena
Plants 2021, 10(4), 628; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10040628 - 25 Mar 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5696
Abstract
Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) is a staple food crop for 70% of the Ethiopian population and is currently cultivated in several countries for grain and forage production. It is one of the most nutritious grains, and is also more resilient to [...] Read more.
Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) is a staple food crop for 70% of the Ethiopian population and is currently cultivated in several countries for grain and forage production. It is one of the most nutritious grains, and is also more resilient to marginal soil and climate conditions than major cereals such as maize, wheat and rice. However, tef is an extremely low-yielding crop, mainly due to lodging, which is when stalks fall on the ground irreversibly, and prolonged drought during the growing season. Climate change is triggering several biotic and abiotic stresses which are expected to cause severe food shortages in the foreseeable future. This has necessitated an alternative and robust approach in order to improve resilience to diverse types of stresses and increase crop yields. Traditional breeding has been extensively implemented to develop crop varieties with traits of interest, although the technique has several limitations. Currently, genome editing technologies are receiving increased interest among plant biologists as a means of improving key agronomic traits. In this review, the potential application of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) technology in improving stress resilience in tef is discussed. Several putative abiotic stress-resilient genes of the related monocot plant species have been discussed and proposed as target genes for editing in tef through the CRISPR-Cas system. This is expected to improve stress resilience and boost productivity, thereby ensuring food and nutrition security in the region where it is needed the most. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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44 pages, 546 KiB  
Review
Modifications of Phytohormone Metabolism Aimed at Stimulation of Plant Growth, Improving Their Productivity and Tolerance to Abiotic and Biotic Stress Factors
by Beatrycze Nowicka
Plants 2022, 11(24), 3430; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11243430 - 08 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1455
Abstract
Due to the growing human population, the increase in crop yield is an important challenge for modern agriculture. As abiotic and biotic stresses cause severe losses in agriculture, it is also crucial to obtain varieties that are more tolerant to these factors. In [...] Read more.
Due to the growing human population, the increase in crop yield is an important challenge for modern agriculture. As abiotic and biotic stresses cause severe losses in agriculture, it is also crucial to obtain varieties that are more tolerant to these factors. In the past, traditional breeding methods were used to obtain new varieties displaying demanded traits. Nowadays, genetic engineering is another available tool. An important direction of the research on genetically modified plants concerns the modification of phytohormone metabolism. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art research concerning the modulation of phytohormone content aimed at the stimulation of plant growth and the improvement of stress tolerance. It aims to provide a useful basis for developing new strategies for crop yield improvement by genetic engineering of phytohormone metabolism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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23 pages, 1936 KiB  
Review
Genome Editing for Sustainable Crop Improvement and Mitigation of Biotic and Abiotic Stresses
by Mohd Fadhli Hamdan, Chou Khai Soong Karlson, Ee Yang Teoh, Su-Ee Lau and Boon Chin Tan
Plants 2022, 11(19), 2625; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11192625 - 06 Oct 2022
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5354
Abstract
Climate change poses a serious threat to global agricultural activity and food production. Plant genome editing technologies have been widely used to develop crop varieties with superior qualities or can tolerate adverse environmental conditions. Unlike conventional breeding techniques (e.g., selective breeding and mutation [...] Read more.
Climate change poses a serious threat to global agricultural activity and food production. Plant genome editing technologies have been widely used to develop crop varieties with superior qualities or can tolerate adverse environmental conditions. Unlike conventional breeding techniques (e.g., selective breeding and mutation breeding), modern genome editing tools offer more targeted and specific alterations of the plant genome and could significantly speed up the progress of developing crops with desired traits, such as higher yield and/or stronger resilience to the changing environment. In this review, we discuss the current development and future applications of genome editing technologies in mitigating the impacts of biotic and abiotic stresses on agriculture. We focus specifically on the CRISPR/Cas system, which has been the center of attention in the last few years as a revolutionary genome-editing tool in various species. We also conducted a bibliographic analysis on CRISPR-related papers published from 2012 to 2021 (10 years) to identify trends and potential in the CRISPR/Cas-related plant research. In addition, this review article outlines the current shortcomings and challenges of employing genome editing technologies in agriculture with notes on future prospective. We believe combining conventional and more innovative technologies in agriculture would be the key to optimizing crop improvement beyond the limitations of traditional agricultural practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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27 pages, 3745 KiB  
Review
Will Plant Genome Editing Play a Decisive Role in “Quantum-Leap” Improvements in Crop Yield to Feed an Increasing Global Human Population?
by Anton V. Buzdin, Maxim V. Patrushev and Eugene D. Sverdlov
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1667; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081667 - 13 Aug 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4070
Abstract
Growing scientific evidence demonstrates unprecedented planetary-scale human impacts on the Earth’s system with a predicted threat to the existence of the terrestrial biosphere due to population increase, resource depletion, and pollution. Food systems account for 21–34% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) [...] Read more.
Growing scientific evidence demonstrates unprecedented planetary-scale human impacts on the Earth’s system with a predicted threat to the existence of the terrestrial biosphere due to population increase, resource depletion, and pollution. Food systems account for 21–34% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Over the past half-century, water and land-use changes have significantly impacted ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, biodiversity, and climate. At the same time, food production is falling behind consumption, and global grain reserves are shrinking. Some predictions suggest that crop yields must approximately double by 2050 to adequately feed an increasing global population without a large expansion of crop area. To achieve this, “quantum-leap” improvements in crop cultivar productivity are needed within very narrow planetary boundaries of permissible environmental perturbations. Strategies for such a “quantum-leap” include mutation breeding and genetic engineering of known crop genome sequences. Synthetic biology makes it possible to synthesize DNA fragments of any desired sequence, and modern bioinformatics tools may hopefully provide an efficient way to identify targets for directed modification of selected genes responsible for known important agronomic traits. CRISPR/Cas9 is a new technology for incorporating seamless directed modifications into genomes; it is being widely investigated for its potential to enhance the efficiency of crop production. We consider the optimism associated with the new genetic technologies in terms of the complexity of most agronomic traits, especially crop yield potential (Yp) limits. We also discuss the possible directions of overcoming these limits and alternative ways of providing humanity with food without transgressing planetary boundaries. In conclusion, we support the long-debated idea that new technologies are unlikely to provide a rapidly growing population with significantly increased crop yield. Instead, we suggest that delicately balanced humane measures to limit its growth and the amount of food consumed per capita are highly desirable for the foreseeable future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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14 pages, 1042 KiB  
Review
Advances in Genomics Approaches Shed Light on Crop Domestication
by Yang Zhao, Mengfan Feng, Dev Paudel, Tofazzal Islam, Aliya Momotaz, Ziliang Luo, Zifan Zhao, Ni Wei, Sicheng Li, Qing Xia, Bowen Kuang, Xiping Yang and Jianping Wang
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1571; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081571 - 30 Jul 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4808
Abstract
Crop domestication occurred ~10,000–12,000 years ago when humans shifted from a hunter–gatherer to an agrarian society. Crops were domesticated by selecting the traits in wild plant species that were suitable for human use. Research is crucial to elucidate the mechanisms and processes involved [...] Read more.
Crop domestication occurred ~10,000–12,000 years ago when humans shifted from a hunter–gatherer to an agrarian society. Crops were domesticated by selecting the traits in wild plant species that were suitable for human use. Research is crucial to elucidate the mechanisms and processes involved in modern crop improvement and breeding. Recent advances in genomics have revolutionized our understanding of crop domestication. In this review, we summarized cutting-edge crop domestication research by presenting its (1) methodologies, (2) current status, (3) applications, and (4) perspectives. Advanced genomics approaches have clarified crop domestication processes and mechanisms, and supported crop improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)
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