1,721,438 research outputs found
Genomics-Assisted Crop Improvement: an overview
No full textIn recent years, a truly impressive number of advances in genetics and genomics have greatly enhanced our understanding of structural and functional aspects of plant genomes but at the same time have challenged us with many compelling avenues of investigation. The complete genome sequences of Arabidopsis, rice, sorghum and poplar as well as an enormous number of plant expressed sequence tags (ESTs) have become available. In the next few years, the entire genomes or at least gene space will likely be sequenced for most major crops. However, improved varieties, not sequences per se, contribute to improved economic return to the farmer. Functional genomics and systems biology research are facilitating the identification of gene networks that are involved in controlling genetic variation for agronomically valuable traits in elite breeding populations. Furthermore, combining the new knowledge from genomic research with conventional breeding methods is essential for enhancing response to selection, hence crop improvement. Superior varieties can result from the discovery of novel genetic variation, improved selection techniques, and/or the identification of genotypes with improved attributes due to superior combinations of alleles at multiple loci assembled through marker-assisted selection. Although it is clear that genomics research has great potential to revolutionize the discipline of plant breeding, high costs invested in/associated with genomics research currently limit the implementation of genomics-assisted crop improvement, especially for inbreeding and/or minor crops. A critical assessment of the status and availability of genomic resources and genomics research in model and crop plants, and devising the strategies and approaches for effectively exploiting genomics research for crop improvement have been presented in two volumes of the book. While Volume 1, entitled “Genomics approaches and platforms”, compiles chapters providing readers with an overview of the available genomics tools, approaches and platforms, Volume 2, entitled “Genomics applications in crop improvement”, presents a timely and critical overview on applications of genomics in crop improvement. An overview on the highlights of the chapters of these two volumes has been presented in the present introductory chapter
Genomics-Assisted Crop Improvement, Vol 1: Genomics Approaches and Platforms
Full text linkGenomics research has great potential to revolutionize the discipline of plant breeding. This two-volume set provides a critical assessment of genomics tools and approaches for crop breeding. Volume 1, entitled "Genomics Approaches and Platforms", illustrates state-of-the-art genomics approaches and platforms presently available for crop improvement. Volume 2, entitled "Genomics Applications in Crops", compiles crop-specific studies that summarize both the achievements and limitations of genomics research for crop improvement. We hope that these two volumes, while providing new ideas and opportunities to those working in crop breeding, will help graduate students and teachers to develop a better understanding of the applications of crop genomics to plant research and breeding
Translational Genomics for Crop Breeding: Biotic Stress, Volume 1
Full text linkGenomic Applications for Crop Breeding: Biotic Stress is the first of two volumes looking at the latest advances in genomic applications to crop breeding. This volume focuses on genomic-assisted advances for improving economically important crops against biotic stressors, such as viruses, fungi, nematodes, and bacteria. Looking at key advances in crops such as rice, barley, wheat, and potato amongst others, Genomic Applications for Crop Breeding: Biotic Stress will be an essential reference for crop scientists, geneticists, breeders, industry personnel and advanced students in the field
Translational Genomics for Crop Breeding: Abiotic Stress, Yield and Quality, Volume 2
Full text linkGenomic Applications for Crop Breeding: Abiotic Stress, Quality and Yield Improvement is the second of two volumes looking at the latest advances in genomic applications to crop breeding. This volume focuses on advances improving crop resistance to abiotic stresses such as extreme heat, drought, flooding as well as advances made in quality and yield improvement. Chapters examine advances in such key crops as rice, maize, and sugarcane, among others. Genomic Applications for Crop Breeding: Abiotic Stress, Quality and Yield Improvement complements the earlier volume on biotic stressors and will be an essential purchase for those interested in crop science and food production
Translational Genomics in Crop Breeding for Biotic Stress Resistance: An Introduction
Full text linkBiotic stresses pose a major threat to crop productivity. Crops are challenged by a plethora of biotic
stresses, but only a limited number of key pests and diseases cause the vast majority of economic
losses in a particular crop. Plant protection measures such as application of pesticides and deployment
of resistant gene(s)/quantitative trait loci (QTLs) into cultivars have so far been quite successful
in curtailing the losses; however, these measures have also led to the constant evolution of new
biotypes/pathotypes/strains/races of pest and disease organisms. Hence, there is a continuous need
to identify genomic regions that can impart resistance against these variants. The availability of
large-scale genomic resources in many crop species has enhanced our understanding on the path to
developing host-plant resistance. As a result, numerous race-specific gene(s) and QTLs have now
been identified and cloned with the help of molecular markers. It is quite exciting that these genomic
regions are being introgressed into breeding programs of many crops. The objective of this book is to
critically review the current availability and utilization of genomic tools for major biotic stresses in
important cereals, legumes, vegetables, and tuber and oilseed crop. The book also summarizes the
success stories achieved through application of genomics-assisted breeding (GAB), as well as the
scope for deployment of modem breeding methods such as marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC)
and genomic selection in the era of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, which have the
potential to advance the genetic gains for enhancing resilience against biotic stress. This chapter
summarizes highlights of different chapters included in the book that is expected to be a resource
for young researchers, GAB practitioners, and policy makers for employing better strategies toward
achieving food security
Cloning QTLs in plants
No full textThe utilization of a number of genomics platforms and analytical methods allow us to fine map and clone major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for the genetic control of quantitatively inherited traits. To date, most plant QTLs that were successfully cloned, have been dissected by means of a positional cloning approach within a biparental cross. In some cases, an association between allelic variation at a candidate gene and a phenotype has been established through the analysis of existing genetic accessions. The effectiveness of these strategies can be enhanced by using appropriate genetic materials (e.g. introgression libraries, panels of unrelated accessions, etc.) and the latest developments in forward- and reverse-genetic platforms. Under this respect, the ‘omics’ platforms provide a new paradigm to identifiy candidate genes and clues for their function. Completion of genome sequences and improved bioinformatics will facilitate in silico cross-matching of candidate sequences with QTLs in programmes of positional cloning or association mapping. Several QTLs have been associated to candidate genes solely based on map information and further circumstantial observation, and without completing a formal cloning procedure. Although QTL mapping and cloning have been so far almost synonymous for the dissection of the genetic control of naturally available phenotypic differences, genes involved in controlling quantitative traits could be identified also by combining quantitative genetics with insertional mutagenesis. Although QTL analysis and cloning addressing naturally occurring genetic variation will continue to shed light on mechanisms of plant adaptation, a greater emphasis on approaches relying on mutagenesis and candidate gene validation is likely to accelerate the discovery of the genes underlying QTLs
Progress in understanding drought tolerance: From alleles to cropping systems
Full text linkImproving crop yields under rainfed environments is key to meeting the food security demands of an everincreasing population, but climate change-associated expansion of drought-affected arable land means that resilient crops and agronomic practices are critical. High-throughput plant phenomics and modern genetic approaches must be directed towards precise understanding of factors controlling crop yield. This special issue covers root dynamics, turgor management under desiccation, molecular responses to dehydration, impact of drought on plant development and seed abortion, and adjustment of traits to the most frequent patterns of drought. It also addresses interdisciplinary views for enhancing genetic gains and achieving a more sustainable climate-resilient agronomy
Improving crop performance under drought - cross-fertilization of disciplines
Full text linkBetter crop performance in dry environments is imperative for food security in the face of climate change. This has never been as true as in 2017, but the concern has existed for decades. The four InterDrought conferences held since 1995 have addressed issues associated with crop performance under drought with a clear multi-disciplinary approach. During this time Journal of Experimental Botany has been at the forefront in publishing the underlying experimental science encompassing the disciplines and scales of organization required in drought research. We hope that the papers highlighted here will be useful to, and instrumental for, broadening interdisciplinary understanding of drought tolerance
Comparative analysis of genetic relationships in barley based on RFLP and RAPD markers
No full textGenetic relationships have seldom been analyzed with different types of molecular markers in order to compare the information provided by each marker class. We investigated genetic relationships among nine barley cultivars using separate cluster analyses based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs). Genomic DNA restricted with three enzymes and hybridized with 68 probes revealed 415 RFLPs (74.2% of all bands). Among the 128 primers used for RAPD analysis, 100 provided a reproducible profile, 89 of which revealed 202 polymorphic and 561 monomorphic bands (26.5 and 73.5%, respectively). A nonrandom distribution of 62 RAPDs with a tendency to cluster near centromeric regions was produced when these RAPDs were mapped using 76 doubled-haploid lines derived from a cross between two of the nine cultivars. The correlation between the RFLP and RAPD similarity matrices computed for the 36 pairwise comparisons among the nine cultivars was equal to 0.83. The dendrograms obtained by cluster analyses of the RFLP and RAPD data differed. These results indicate that in barley the information provided by RFLPs and RAPDs is not equivalent, most likely as a consequence of the fact that the two marker classes explore, at least in part, different portions of the genome
Combining ability and heritability of male sterile and restorer lines in Sunflower for oil quality
No full textMar del Plata (Argentina
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