Gray leaf spot (GLS) is one of the most damaging foliar diseases in maize. In previous research, we identified the gene, which confers resistance to GLS. This study demonstrates the utility of in breeding resistant maize varieties. Two parental lines of Zhengdan958 (the most widely cultivated hybrid in China), Chang7-2 and Zheng58, were selected for resistance improvement. These lines were crossed with Y32, a donor line high resistance to GLS, followed by six rounds of backcrossing to their respective recurrent parents. Foreground selection was performed in each generation to detect , while background selection was conducted in the BCF generations using a Maize 6 K DNA chip. The converted lines, Chang7-2 and Zheng58 , with a recovery rate of 94.67-96.48%, were crossed to produce the improved hybrid Zhengdan958 . This hybrid exhibited enhanced GLS resistance and an 11.95% higher yield under severe disease stress, while maintaining comparable yield performance under normal growth conditions relative to the original Zhengdan958. This study highlights the breeding potential of for improving GLS resistance in maize.

In peach, a long peduncle can help minimize mechanical damages/physical injuries in the fruit at harvest and can also be useful in postharvest handling and transportation. In view of genetically dissecting the peduncle length (PL) in peach, we have performed a Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) mapping study for PL using a F progeny of 117 individuals from the cross 'PI 91459 [NJ Weeping]' x 'Bounty' (WxBy). The progeny was phenotyped for three years (2011, 2012 and 2014) and the QTL mapping analysis was performed using four methods: Kruskall-Wallis, Interval Mapping, Multiple QTL Mapping and Genome-Wide Composite Interval Mapping. QTL analysis led to the identification of 9 QTLs distributed on linkage groups (LG) 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7. A stable QTL was identified on LG6 (22,978,897 to 24,666,094 bp) and explained up to 63% of the phenotypic variance. Within the genetic interval of the stable QTL on LG6 potential candidate genes with functional annotation encompassing cellular expansion, hormone regulation, transcriptional regulation, developmental processes such as meristem development, and responses to environmental cues were found. The results reported in this study represent the first insight into the genetic basis of PL and a step forward towards the introduction of novel traits in peach commercial breeding in order to minimize the problems related to mechanical damage/injuries to peach fruits that commonly might occur during at harvest and post-harvest processes.

Chickpea (. L) holds the esteemed position of being the second most cultivated and consumed legume crop globally. Nevertheless, both biotic and abiotic constraints limit chickpea production. This legume is sensitive to heat stress at its reproductive stage leading to reduced flowering, flower abortion, and lack of pod formation, therefore emerging as a major limiting factor for yield. Chickpea, predominantly cultivated in semi-arid regions, is frequently subjected to high-temperature stress, which adversely affects its growth and yield. Given the escalating impacts of climate change, the development of heat-tolerant chickpea genotypes is imperative and can be achieved through the integration of advanced biotechnological approaches. The appropriate solution devised by some researchers is the modification of genetic architecture by targeting specific genes associated with tolerance to heat stress and harnessing them in the development of more robust chickpea varieties. Besides this, multi-omics strategies (Genomics, Transcriptomics, Proteomics, and Metabolomics) have made it easier to reveal the distinct genes / quantitative trait loci (QTLs) / markers, proteins, and metabolites correlated with heat tolerance. This review compiles noteworthy revelations and different tactics to boost chickpea tolerance under heat temperatures.

Plant diseases caused by pathogens and pests lead to crop losses, posing a threat to global food security. The secretory pathway is an integral component of plant defense. The exocyst complex regulates the final step of the secretory pathway and is thus essential for secretory defense. In the last decades, several subunits of the exocyst complex have been reported to be involved in plant defense, especially Exo70s. This comprehensive review focuses on the functions of the exocyst Exo70s in plant immunity, particularly in recognizing pathogen and pest signatures. We discussed Exo70's interactions with immune receptors and other immune-related proteins, its symbiotic relationships with microbes, and its role in non-host resistance. Finally, we discussed the future engineering breeding of crops with resistance to pathogens and pests based on our current understanding of Exo70s.

This study is the first to develop a method for cadmium enrichment and identification in sterile rice lines. The important low-cadmium rice resources Luohong 3A and Luohong 4A were discovered. A precise breeding system for low cadmium enrichment in rice was established, leading to the cultivation of Xizi 3, the first low-cadmium rice variety approved by the State. This achievement is significant for solving the problem of excessive cadmium in rice in southern China. In 2024, Xizi 3 was selected as a major agricultural technology by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and a key scientific and technological achievement in China's agricultural and rural areas.

Rice ( L.) is a crucial staple food for most of the world's population. However, it is highly vulnerable to low temperatures, which can induce growth retardation and yield loss. In this study, we aimed to develop SNP- and Indel-based molecular markers for the key cold tolerance-related genes , , and . The marker was designed using a KASP assay, which was effective for fluorescence-based detection, whereas and markers were gel electrophoresis-compatible, enabling easy application without complex equipment. Considering the polygenic nature of cold tolerance, we analyzed combined markers, which exhibited enhanced prediction accuracy compared to single-marker analysis. Based on these markers, we categorized 372 rice cultivars into seven genotypic groups and assessed their genotypic and phenotypic data. The cold-tolerant genotype was absent in the Tongil and cultivars but conferred the highest cold tolerance to cultivars, highlighting the crucial role of in the cold stress response. The genotype and GCG repeat number of are crucial for cold tolerance. Analysis of a doubled haploid population derived from a cross between the '93-11' and 'Milyang352' confirmed that the number of 's GCG repeats significantly influence cold tolerance, followed by . Combining multiple cold-resistant alleles improved overall tolerance and post-stress recovery. Identifying additional alleles associated with cold stress resistance could aid in the selection of Tongil cultivars with enhanced cold tolerance. These markers could potentially contribute to breeding programs for the identification and selection of cold-tolerant rice varieties.

Factors that restrict the development of genetic transformation include the long cycle, extensive requirements for experimental conditions, and low survival and transformation rates. Especially for plants that obtain offspring through sexual reproduction. This study established the genetic transformation methods that are particularly suitable for it. First, a rapid system of adventitious roots was developed using to infect normally growing watermelon stem nodes without requiring plant treatment, enabling the stable genetic transformation of adventitious roots. And the genetic transformation efficiency of adventitious roots reaches 100%. Second, the traditional genetic transformation system was improved using which induces rooting of explants and promotes the regeneration of adventitious buds. The genetic transformation efficiency of adventitious roots reaches 100% and adventitious buds reaches 40%, which is much higher than using Third, in order to achieve shorten the regeneration cycle and high transformation efficiency, the genetic transformation method without tissue culture was established using to infect the seed. This genetic transformation efficiency of transgenic plants reaches 80%, and it is not limited by genotype. This study significantly improves the plant regeneration and low genetic transformation efficiency while promoting the rapid development of watermelon molecular breeding.

The stigma exsertion rate (SER) is a key factor in improving the outcrossing ability of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) lines in rice. In previous studies, we identified 18 SER-QTLs and developed some SER-QTL pyramiding lines (PLs). In this study, 4QL-1 and 4QL-2 were selected from these PLs and crossed with CMS maintainer lines H211B and H212B, respectively, to develop two new CMS maintainer lines, H221B and H222B, and their CMS lines H221A and H222A. The SER of H221B and H222B were 74.7% and 73.1%, respectively, reaching a high SER level. Compared with CMS maintainer lines, the CMS lines consistently exhibited higher SER, which may be related to the delayed flowering time of the CMS lines. Filed experiments showed that outcrossing seed-setting rates of H221A and H222A were significantly higher than those of the original CMS lines, which meets the requirements for hybrid rice seed production. These results confirm that SER is a key factor in enhancing rice outcrossing ability. Our findings demonstrate that pyramiding SER-QTLs is an effective strategy for improving rice SER and increasing outcrossing seed-setting rate.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s11032-024-01522-4.].

Heterosis, a key technology in modern commercial maize breeding, is limited by the narrow genetic base which hinders breeders from developing superior hybrid varieties. By integrating big data and functional genomics technologies, it becomes possible to create new super maize inbred lines that resemble hybrid varieties through the aggregation of multiple QTL parental advantage loci. In this study, we utilized a combination of resequencing and field selfing selection methods to develop three pyramiding QTL lines (PQLs) (PQL4, 6, and 7), each containing 15, 12, and 12 QTL loci respectively. Among the three PQLs, PQL6 (266.78 cm/119.39 cm) demonstrated hybrid-like performance comparable to the hybrid (276.96 cm/127.02 cm) ( < 0.05). Testcross between PQL6 and the parental lines revealed that PQL6 had accumulated and fixed advanced parent alleles for superior traits in plant and ear height. The significant increase in PQL6 plant height primarily resulted from the aggregation of two major effective QTL ( and on chromosomes 2 and 8), indicating that the aggregation of major effective QTL is a key selection indicator. Furthermore, PQL6 exhibited slow vegetative growth but experienced a rapid height increase during the reproductive stage, particularly in the 1-2 weeks before flowering, when its growth rate accelerated and surpassed that of the hybrid varieties. Our study explored the time period and key parameter indicators for molecular breeding of maize, providing a theoretical concept and practices for further complex multi-trait design and aggregation.

Maize, a primary global food crop, is crucial for food security. In recent years, climatic and other abiotic stresses have led to frequent global droughts. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) plays a vital role in the ascorbate-glutathione cycle. Under drought stress, APX effectively scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by plants and maintains the normal growth and development of organisms. This study successfully amplified APX-related genes, and the gene was screened using expression analysis. pCAMBIA3301-ZmAPX2-Bar and pCXB053-ZmAPX2-Bar plant expression vectors were constructed and transformed into the maize inbred line H120. Drought tolerance of plants was analyzed by phenotypic characteristics, physiological and biochemical indices in T generation positive maize seedlings as well as agronomic traits at maturity. Results indicate that boosting APX2 gene expression enhances maize drought resistance by reducing ROS content. This research underpins the exploration of new drought-tolerant maize germplasm and resistance mechanisms.

Spot blotch (SB), a prevalent foliar disease of barley, is caused by the hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen . Predominately occurring in humid growing regions worldwide, SB can result in yield losses of up to 30%. Genetic resistance remains the most effective strategy for disease management; however, most Australian barley cultivars exhibit susceptibility despite the previous identification of major resistance loci. This study investigates the genetic architecture underlying spot blotch resistance within an Australian barley breeding program. Resistance was assessed at both the seedling and adult growth stages using a single conidial isolate (SB61) across two consecutive years. A total of 337 barley lines were genotyped with 16,824 polymorphic DArT-seq™ markers. Two mapping approaches were employed: a single-marker genome-wide association study (GWAS) and a haplotype-based local genomic estimated breeding values (Local GEBV) approach. Both methodologies identified two major resistance-associated regions on chromosomes 3H and 7H, effective across growth stages. Additionally, the haplotype-based Local GEBV approach revealed resistance-associated regions on 1H, 3H, and 6H that were not detected by GWAS. Haplotype stacking analysis underscored the critical role of the 7H region for adult-plant resistance when combined with other resistance haplotypes, suggesting significant gene-by-gene interactions and highlighting the complex, quantitative nature of spot blotch resistance. This research confirms the presence of key resistance loci within Australian barley breeding populations, provides novel insight into the genetic architecture of spot blotch resistance, and emphasises the potential to enhance resistance through haplotype stacking and whole-genome prediction approaches.

Clubroot, caused by , is a globally pervasive soil-borne disease that poses a significant challenge primarily in cruciferous crops. However, the scarcity of resistant materials and the intricate genetic mechanisms within cabbage present major obstacles to clubroot resistance (CR) breeding. In our previous research, we developed an Ogura CMS cabbage variety, "17CR3", which harbors the gene, crucial for CR. The fertility of this variety can be restored through crossing with an Ogura cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) restore line. In the current investigation, offspring from fertile hybrids were utilized as donor parents in backcrossing with five cabbage inbred lines, with the goal of introducing the gene into elite cabbage cultivars possessing superior agronomic traits. Following five years of continuous field selection combined with molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS), we successfully developed BC individuals exhibiting excellent agronomic traits and diverse genetic backgrounds. Whole-genome resequencing revealed a mere 54,213 SNP differences between the genetic makeup of BC individuals and their recurrent parents. The results of inoculation identification demonstrated a high degree of co-segregation between the -specific marker KBrH129J18 and resistance to in both inoculated resistant seedlings and cabbage plants harboring across three distinct regions of China. Additionally, results from Semi-Quantitative RT-PCR experiments revealed minimal to no expression of in the majority of susceptible individuals, underscoring the pivotal role of in conferring CR. Moreover, BC individuals resulting from the cross between "SK308" and "18CR3", which carried , exhibited resistance to clubroot under the natural conditions of disease-prone fields in Wulong, China. In summary, through a combination of traditional breeding methods and MAS, we successfully bred five cabbage inbred lines carrying the gene from diverse genetic backgrounds, thereby establishing a robust foundation for their integration into breeding programs.

Citrus canker is a devastating disease caused by subsp. (), which secretes the effector PthA4 into host plants to trigger transcription of the susceptibility gene , resulting in pustule formation. However, the molecular mechanism underlying CsLOB1-mediated susceptibility to remains elusive. This study identified as a target gene positively regulated by CsLOB1. Cell expansion and cell wall degradation were observed in sweet orange leaves after infection. A total of 69 cellulase genes were retrieved within the genome, comprising 40 endoglucanase genes and 29 glucosidase genes. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that expression levels of , , and were induced by invasion in sweet orange leaves, but not in the resistant genotype Citron C-05. Among them, exhibited the highest expression level, with an over 430-fold increase following infection. Additionally, RT-qPCR analysis confirmed that expression was induced in susceptible genotypes (Sweet orange, Danna citron, Lemon) upon invasion, but not in resistant genotypes (Citron C-05, Aiguo citron, American citron). A Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) at -423 bp was identified in the promoters and exhibits a difference between eight susceptible citrus genotypes and three resistant ones. Moreover, expression was upregulated in -overexpression transgenic lines compared to the wild type. Dual-luciferase reporter assays indicated that CsLOB1 can target the -505 bp to -168 bp region of promoter to trans-activate its expression. These findings suggest that may function as a candidate gene for citrus canker development and may be a promising target for biotechnological breeding of -resistant citrus genotypes.

Increasing planting density is one of the most important strategies for generating higher maize yields. Moderate leaf rolling decreases mutual shading of leaves and increases the photosynthesis of the population and hence increases the tolerance for high-density planting. Few genes that control leaf rolling in maize have been identified, however, and their applicability for breeding programs remains unclear. Here we identified a maize () mutant with extreme abaxially rolled leaves and found that the size of the bulliform cells within the adaxial leaf blade surface increased in the mutant. Bulk segregation analysis mapping in an F population derived from a single cross between and inbred line Gui18421 with normal leaves identified the locus on chromosome 2. Sequential fine-mapping delimited the locus to a 233.56-kb genomic interval containing three candidate genes. Sequence alignment between and Gui18421 identified an 8-bp insertion in the coding region of , which led to a frame shift causing premature transcription termination in mutant. Meanwhile, both deep sequencing and Sanger sequencing showed that was present in Gui18421 but was absent in . A pair of near isogenic lines (NILs) carrying the Gui18421 allele (NIL) and the allele (NIL ) were developed, and the leaves of NIL plants had greater light transmission and photosynthetic rate in the middle and lower canopy than did those of NIL plants under high-density planting. Furthermore, NIL had a higher seed setting rate, more kernels per ear, and an increased kernel weight per ear than NIL, and the grain yield of NIL was not affected as the planting density increased, suggesting that the locus can be used for genetic improvement of high-density planting tolerance. Taken together, the identification of and evaluation of yield-related traits for NIL and NIL provide an excellent target for future maize improvement.

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) of wheat ( L.) is one of the complex traits that result in rainfall-dependent reductions in grain production and quality worldwide. Breeding new varieties and germplasm with PHS resistance is of great importance to reduce this problem. However, research on markers and genes related to PHS resistance is limited, especially in marker-assisted selection (MAS) wheat breeding. To this end, we studied PHS resistance in recombinant inbred line (RIL) population and in 171 wheat germplasm accessions in different environments and genotyped using the wheat Infinium 50 K/660 K SNP array. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 59 loci controlling PHS. Upon comparison with previously reported QTL affecting PHS, 16 were found to be new QTL, and the remaining 43 loci were co-localized with QTL from previous studies. We also pinpointed 12 candidate genes within these QTL intervals that share functional similarities with genes previously known to influence PHS resistance. In addition, we developed and validated two kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers within the chromosome 7B region identified by linkage analysis. These QTL, candidate genes, and the KASP marker identified in this study have the potential to improve PHS resistance of wheat, and they may enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of PHS resistance, thus being useful for MAS breeding.

Previous studies illustrated that two banana GA20 oxidase2 (MaGA20ox2) genes, and , are implicated in controlling banana growth and development; however, the biological function of each gene remains unknown. Ma04g15900 protein (termed MaGA20ox2f in this article) is the closest homolog to the Rice SD1 (encoded by 'green revolution gene', ) in the banana genome. The expression of is confined to leaves, peduncles, fruit peels, and pulp. Knockout of by CRISPR/Cas9 led to late flowering and low-yielding phenotypes. The flowering time of #1 and #2 lines was delayed approximately by 61 and 58 days, respectively, while fruit yield decreased by 81.13% and 76.23% compared to wild type under normal conditions. The endogenous levels of downstream products of GA20 oxidase, GA15 and GA20, were significantly reduced in mutant shoots and fruits, but bioactive GA1 was only significantly reduced in the mutant fruits. Quantitative proteomics analysis identified 118 up-regulated proteins and 309 down-regulated proteins in both #1 and #2 lines, compared to wild type, with the down-regulated proteins primarily associated with photosynthesis, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism. The decreased chlorophyll contents in #1 and #2 lines corroborated the findings of the proteomics data. We propose that photosynthesis inhibition caused by lower chlorophyll contents in mutant leaves and GA1 deficiency in mutant fruits may be the two critical reasons contributing to the late flowering and low-yielding phenotypes of mutants.

Genomic selection-based breeding programs offer significant advantages over conventional phenotypic selection, particularly in accelerating genetic gains in plant breeding, as demonstrated by simulations focused on combating Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat. FHB resistance, a crucial trait, is challenging to breed for due to its quantitative inheritance and environmental influence, leading to slow progress using conventional breeding methods. Stochastic simulations in our study compared various breeding schemes, incorporating genomic selection (GS) and combining it with speed breeding, against conventional phenotypic selection. Two datasets were simulated, reflecting real-life genotypic data (MASBASIS) and a simulated wheat breeding program (EXAMPLE). Initially a 20-year burn-in phase using a conventional phenotypic selection method followed by a 20-year advancement phase with three GS-based breeding programs (GSF2F8, GSF8, and SpeedBreeding + GS) were evaluated alongside over a conventional phenotypic selection method. Results consistently showed significant increases in genetic gain with GS-based programs compared to phenotypic selection, irrespective of the selection strategies employed. Among the GS schemes, SpeedBreeding + GS consistently outperformed others, generating the highest genetic gains. This combination effectively minimized generation intervals within the breeding cycle, enhancing efficiency. This study underscores the advantages of genomic selection in accelerating breeding gains for wheat, particularly in combating FHB. By leveraging genomic information and innovative techniques like speed breeding, breeders can efficiently select for desired traits, significantly reducing testing time and costs associated with conventional phenotypic methods.

This study investigated the potential of extended irradiation combined with immature embryo culture techniques to accelerate generation advancements in safflower ( L.) breeding programs. We developed an efficient speed breeding method by applying light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit specific wavelengths, alongside the in vitro germination of immature embryos under controlled environmental conditions. The experimental design for light treatments followed a 2 × 4 completely randomized factorial design with four replications, incorporating two safflower varieties, Remzibey-05 and Dinçer, and four LED treatments (white, full-spectrum, red + blue + white, and control). A lighting regimen of 22 h of light and 2 h of darkness was applied for all the LED treatments, whereas the control received 18 h of light and 6 h of darkness. Additionally, the immature embryo culture experiment used a 2 × 2 × 4 factorial arrangement, assessing two safflower cultivars, two media types, and four embryo developmental stages, with three replications. The parameters evaluated included plant height, branch number, seed number per plant, seed number per head, time to flower initiation, time to 50% flowering, time to harvest, and germination percentage of in vitro cultured immature embryos at various developmental stages. The harvest time among the light treatments ranged from 50.62 to 73.12 days, with the shortest time achieved under the red + blue + white LED combination and the longest under the control treatment. The plant height, number of seeds per plant, and number of seeds per head were highest under the full-spectrum LED, control and red + blue + white LED combinations, respectively. Immature embryos rescued at 10 days post-pollination presented a 57% germination rate, with an increasing trend in germination as the number of days post-pollination increased. The germination rates did not significantly differ across varieties or hormone treatments. This study demonstrated the potential to achieve six generations per year by combining prolonged illumination with targeted LED lighting and immature embryo culture techniques. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing safflower growth and development and advancing speed breeding in controlled environments.