Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.4
4.5
Journals
Plants
Special Issues
Genetic Diversity, Germplasm Resources, and Biotechnological Applications for Sustained Crop...
share announcement

Genetic Diversity, Germplasm Resources, and Biotechnological Applications for Sustained 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 2024) | Viewed by 5902

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Wenqiang Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
Interests: rice functional genomics; molecular cell biology; stress tolerance; crops
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Haifeng Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
Interests: wheat; rice; abiotic stress; molecular biology; functional genomics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Along with the increased frequency of extreme weather events around the world, including rising temperatures, more intense rainfall and associated flooding, as well as more intense drought in many regions, developing strategies to continue to improve crop yield and quality has become a major challenge. Accelerating crop improvement through the development of new germplasm resources with increased adaptation to adverse environmental factors is still an effective way to increase grain production. Over the last several decades, the success of many breeding programs has been associated with the utilization of the available genetic diversity within elite germplasm. Germplasm resources are a crucial resource to conserve genetic diversity, and can also provide a source of novel traits essential for sustained crop improvement. In this regard, a better understanding of the genetic diversity of new germplasm and gene resources will contribute to the sustained improvement of plants with increased tolerance to adverse environmental conditions.

The forthcoming Special Issue focuses mainly on exploring the genetic diversity and germplasm resources associated with altered tolerance to environmental stresses. There is particular interest in research on the molecular basis of novel alleles and key traits, and their potential biotechnological applications in molecular breeding. The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a better understanding of genetic diversity, germplasm resources, and new biotechnologies for the development of environmental-stress-tolerant plants for sustained crop improvement.

Dr. Wenqiang Li
Prof. Dr. Haifeng Li
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. 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

  • genetic diversity
  • germplasm resources
  • biotechnological applications
  • crop improvement
  • genes
  • environmental stress tolerance
  • molecular basis

Published Papers (5 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

Jump to: Review

16 pages, 3859 KiB  
Article
Characterization of OsPIN2 Mutants Reveal Novel Roles for Reactive Oxygen Species in Modulating Not Only Root Gravitropism but Also Hypoxia Tolerance in Rice Seedlings
by Bowen Hao, Ruihan Zhang, Chengwei Zhang, Na Wen, Yu Xia, Yang Zhao, Qinying Li, Lei Qiao and Wenqiang Li
Plants 2024, 13(4), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13040476 - 07 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 697
Abstract
Tolerance to submergence-induced hypoxia is an important agronomic trait especially for crops in lowland and flooding-affected areas. Although rice (Oryza sativa) is considered a flood-tolerant crop, only limited cultivars display strong tolerance to prolonged submergence and/or hypoxic stress. Therefore, characterization of [...] Read more.
Tolerance to submergence-induced hypoxia is an important agronomic trait especially for crops in lowland and flooding-affected areas. Although rice (Oryza sativa) is considered a flood-tolerant crop, only limited cultivars display strong tolerance to prolonged submergence and/or hypoxic stress. Therefore, characterization of hypoxic resistant genes and/or germplasms have important theoretical and practical significance for rice breeding and sustained improvements. Previous investigations have demonstrated that loss-of-function of OsPIN2, a gene encoding an auxin efflux transporter, results in the loss of root gravitropism due to disrupted auxin transport in the root tip. In this study, we revealed a novel connection between OsPIN2 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in modulating root gravitropism and hypoxia tolerance in rice. It is shown that the OsPIN2 mutant had decreased accumulation of ROS in root tip, due to the downregulation of glycolate oxidase encoding gene OsGOX6, one of the main H2O2 sources. The morphological defects of root including waved rooting and agravitropism in OsPIN2 mutant may be rescued partly by exogenous application of H2O2. The OsPIN2 mutant exhibited increased resistance to ROS toxicity in roots due to treatment with H2O2. Furthermore, it is shown that the OsPIN2 mutant had increased tolerance to hypoxic stress accompanied by lower ROS accumulation in roots, because the hypoxia stress led to over production of ROS in the roots of the wild type but not in that of OsPIN2 mutant. Accordingly, the anoxic resistance-related gene SUB1B showed differential expression in the root of the WT and OsPIN2 mutant in response to hypoxic conditions. Notably, compared with the wild type, the OsPIN2 mutant displayed a different pattern of auxin distribution in the root under hypoxia stress. It was shown that hypoxia stress caused a significant increase in auxin distribution in the root tip of the WT but not in that of the war1 mutant. In summary, these results suggested that OsPIN2 may play a role in regulating ROS accumulation probably via mediating auxin transport and distribution in the root tip, affecting root gravitropism and hypoxic tolerance in rice seedlings. These findings may contribute to the genetic improvement and identification of potential hypoxic tolerant lines in rice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Diversity, Germplasm Resources, and Biotechnological Applications for Sustained Crop Improvement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2677 KiB  
Article
The Population Divergence and Genetic Basis of Local Adaptation of Wild Soybean (Glycine soja) in China
by Xiaodong Liu, Peiyuan Li, Xiaoyang Ding, Ying Wang, Guangxun Qi, Jiaxin Yu, Yong Zeng, Dezhi Cai, Xuhang Yang, Jiahui Yang, Chunming Xu, Bao Liu, Yingshan Dong and Na Zhao
Plants 2023, 12(24), 4128; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12244128 - 11 Dec 2023
Viewed by 848
Abstract
Glycine soja is the wild relative species of cultivated soybean. In this study, we investigated the population divergence and genetic basis of the local adaptation of wild soybean in China using genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of a population of 72 G. soja accessions. [...] Read more.
Glycine soja is the wild relative species of cultivated soybean. In this study, we investigated the population divergence and genetic basis of the local adaptation of wild soybean in China using genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of a population of 72 G. soja accessions. Using phylogenetic analysis, we observed that G. soja accessions clustered into three distinct groups, each corresponding to a specific geographic region, the northeastern region (NER), central region (CR), and southern region (SR), consistent with previous studies. Notably, we found a significant positive correlation between genetic and geographic distances. Further population structure analysis revealed each group was associated with an ancestral population and a specific geographic area. By utilizing the genome sequencing data of accessions from 16 different locations, we inferred the population history of these wild soybean groups. Our results indicate that the three groups diverged ~25,000 years ago, coinciding with the time of the last glacial maximum. The effective population size of the SR group expanded first, and subsequently, the NER and CR groups expanded approximately 5000 and 2500 years ago, respectively. Moreover, 83, 104, and 101 significant associated loci (SALs) were identified using genome-wide association analysis for annual mean temperature, annual precipitation, and latitude, respectively. Functional analysis of genes located in SALs highlighted candidate genes related to local adaptation. This study highlights the significant role of geographic isolation and environmental factors in shaping the genetic structure and adaptability of wild soybean populations. Furthermore, it emphasizes the value of wild soybean as a crucial genetic resource for enhancing the adaptability of cultivated soybeans, which have experienced a loss of genetic diversity due to domestication and intensive breeding practices. The insights gained from our research provide valuable information for the protection, conservation, and utilization of this important genetic resource. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Diversity, Germplasm Resources, and Biotechnological Applications for Sustained Crop Improvement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 5287 KiB  
Article
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure Analyses in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.) Based on Agro-Morphological and Microsatellite Markers
by K. N. Mallikarjuna, Bhoopal Singh Tomar, Manisha Mangal, Naveen Singh, Deepak Singh, Sachin Kumar, Avinash Tomer, Balraj Singh and Gograj Singh Jat
Plants 2023, 12(19), 3512; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12193512 - 09 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1340
Abstract
Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is an important vine crop of the Cucurbitaceae family and is well known for its high nutritional and medicinal values. However, the genetic variation remains largely unknown. Herein, 96 diverse bitter gourd genotypes were undertaken for diversity [...] Read more.
Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is an important vine crop of the Cucurbitaceae family and is well known for its high nutritional and medicinal values. However, the genetic variation remains largely unknown. Herein, 96 diverse bitter gourd genotypes were undertaken for diversity analysis using 10 quantitative traits, and 82 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Out of 82 SSRs, 33 were polymorphic and the mean polymorphism information content (PIC) value was 0.38. Marker, JY-003 revealed a maximum (0.81) PIC value and, the number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 7 (average 3.46). The value of gene diversity showed the presence of a significant level of polymorphism among these genotypes. The unweighted pair group method (UPGMA) cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into two major clusters of which Cluster I comprised mostly small and medium-fruited genotypes of both M. charantia var. charantia and M. charantia var. muricata, whereas Cluster II included mostly long and extra-long fruited genotypes. Furthermore, these genotypes were divided into six distinct groups based on population structure analysis. The diversity analysis based on 10 quantitative traits revealed that earliness and high-yielding ability were exhibited by the predominantly gynoecious line DBGS-21-06 followed by DBGS-48-00. The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first two components exhibited more than 50% of the total genetic variation. The present study deciphered a higher magnitude of agro-morphological and genetic diversity in 96 bitter gourd genotypes. Therefore, trait-specific genotypes identified in this study could be utilized in breeding programmes directed towards the development of improved cultivars and hybrids of bitter gourd. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Diversity, Germplasm Resources, and Biotechnological Applications for Sustained Crop Improvement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

40 pages, 11212 KiB  
Article
A Comprehensive Genome-Wide Investigation of the Cytochrome 71 (OsCYP71) Gene Family: Revealing the Impact of Promoter and Gene Variants (Ser33Leu) of OsCYP71P6 on Yield-Related Traits in Indica Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
by Bijayalaxmi Sahoo, Itishree Nayak, C. Parameswaran, Mahipal Singh Kesawat, Khirod Kumar Sahoo, H. N. Subudhi, Cayalvizhi Balasubramaniasai, S. R. Prabhukarthikeyan, Jawahar Lal Katara, Sushanta Kumar Dash, Sang-Min Chung, Manzer H. Siddiqui, Saud Alamri and Sanghamitra Samantaray
Plants 2023, 12(17), 3035; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12173035 - 23 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1114
Abstract
The cytochrome P450 (CYP450) gene family plays a critical role in plant growth and developmental processes, nutrition, and detoxification of xenobiotics in plants. In the present research, a comprehensive set of 105 OsCYP71 family genes was pinpointed within the genome of indica rice. [...] Read more.
The cytochrome P450 (CYP450) gene family plays a critical role in plant growth and developmental processes, nutrition, and detoxification of xenobiotics in plants. In the present research, a comprehensive set of 105 OsCYP71 family genes was pinpointed within the genome of indica rice. These genes were categorized into twelve distinct subfamilies, where members within the same subgroup exhibited comparable gene structures and conserved motifs. In addition, 105 OsCYP71 genes were distributed across 11 chromosomes, and 36 pairs of OsCYP71 involved in gene duplication events. Within the promoter region of OsCYP71, there exists an extensive array of cis-elements that are associated with light responsiveness, hormonal regulation, and stress-related signaling. Further, transcriptome profiling revealed that a majority of the genes exhibited responsiveness to hormones and were activated across diverse tissues and developmental stages in rice. The OsCYP71P6 gene is involved in insect resistance, senescence, and yield-related traits in rice. Hence, understanding the association between OsCYP71P6 genetic variants and yield-related traits in rice varieties could provide novel insights for rice improvement. Through the utilization of linear regression models, a total of eight promoters were identified, and a specific gene variant (Ser33Leu) within OsCYP71P6 was found to be linked to spikelet fertility. Additionally, different alleles of the OsCYP71P6 gene identified through in/dels polymorphism in 131 rice varieties were validated for their allelic effects on yield-related traits. Furthermore, the single-plant yield, spikelet number, panicle length, panicle weight, and unfilled grain per panicle for the OsCYP71P6-1 promoter insertion variant were found to contribute 20.19%, 13.65%, 5.637%, 8.79%, and 36.86% more than the deletion variant, respectively. These findings establish a robust groundwork for delving deeper into the functions of OsCYP71-family genes across a range of biological processes. Moreover, these findings provide evidence that allelic variation in the promoter and amino acid substitution of Ser33Leu in the OsCYP71P6 gene could potentially impact traits related to rice yield. Therefore, the identified promoter variants in the OsCYP71P6 gene could be harnessed to amplify rice yields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Diversity, Germplasm Resources, and Biotechnological Applications for Sustained Crop Improvement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 402 KiB  
Review
Crop Landraces and Indigenous Varieties: A Valuable Source of Genes for Plant Breeding
by Efstathia Lazaridi, Aliki Kapazoglou, Maria Gerakari, Konstantina Kleftogianni, Kondylia Passa, Efi Sarri, Vasileios Papasotiropoulos, Eleni Tani and Penelope J. Bebeli
Plants 2024, 13(6), 758; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060758 - 07 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1304
Abstract
Landraces and indigenous varieties comprise valuable sources of crop species diversity. Their utilization in plant breeding may lead to increased yield and enhanced quality traits, as well as resilience to various abiotic and biotic stresses. Recently, new approaches based on the rapid advancement [...] Read more.
Landraces and indigenous varieties comprise valuable sources of crop species diversity. Their utilization in plant breeding may lead to increased yield and enhanced quality traits, as well as resilience to various abiotic and biotic stresses. Recently, new approaches based on the rapid advancement of genomic technologies such as deciphering of pangenomes, multi-omics tools, marker-assisted selection (MAS), genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing greatly facilitated the exploitation of landraces in modern plant breeding. In this paper, we present a comprehensive overview of the implementation of new genomic technologies and highlight their importance in pinpointing the genetic basis of desirable traits in landraces and indigenous varieties of annual, perennial herbaceous, and woody crop species cultivated in the Mediterranean region. The need for further employment of advanced -omic technologies to unravel the full potential of landraces and indigenous varieties underutilized genetic diversity is also indicated. Ultimately, the large amount of genomic data emerging from the investigation of landraces and indigenous varieties reveals their potential as a source of valuable genes and traits for breeding. The role of landraces and indigenous varieties in mitigating the ongoing risks posed by climate change in agriculture and food security is also highlighted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Diversity, Germplasm Resources, and Biotechnological Applications for Sustained Crop Improvement)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop