Model Plants and Crop Improvement

Within the past decade, there has been an explosion of research in both the public and private sectors regarding the use of plant genetic models to improve crop yield. Bringing together experts from across the globe, Model Plants and Crop Improvement provides a critical assessment of the potential of model plant species for crop improvement. The first comprehensive summary of the use of model plant systems, the book delineates the model species' contribution to understanding the genomes of crop species. The book provides an in-depth examination of the achievements and limitations of the model paradigm. It explores how continued research in models can contribute to the goal of delivering the outputs of molecular biology to crops. Covering the major genetic models such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Lotus japonicus, and Medigago, the book goes on to discuss applications to food plants of global importance including rice, canola, and legumes. The book introduces the evolutionary, genetic, genomic, and morphological attributes of B. distachyon that make it such an attractive new model plant system. As the post-genomic era dawns, a key question to address is how this growing body of genetic and biological information can be extended beyond the model to the modeled species. This book takes you one step closer to applying modeling results to crops in the field

Genetic characterization of Turkish cultivated emmer wheat [ Triticum turgidum

Ozbek, Orhan/0000-0002-7388-0542WOS: 000321045900012Nineteen landrace populations of Turkish cultivated emmer wheat [Triticum turgidum L. ssp. dicoccon (Schrank) Thell.] were characterized in terms of three isoenzyme [Endopeptidase-1, Aminopeptidase-1 and Aminopeptidase-2] systems, by isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis. For overall loci, the mean number of alleles and effective alleles were observed as 2.00 and 1.37, respectively. The mean value of gene diversity and average gene diversity, in overall loci, were detected as 0.23 and 0.07, respectively. Actual genetic differentiation and gene flow between different populations were calculated as 0.19 and 0.11, respectively. Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analyses indicated that eco-geographical variables have significant effects on isoenzyme genetic diversity. Landraces that have desirable agronomical and immunological resistance traits that makes them adaptable to climate change and different eco-geographical conditions are important genetic resources to utilise for the improvement of future crops of modern wheat varieties. There is a need to assess the genetic structure and genetic composition of important agronomical characters and to determine the magnitude of the genetic diversity currently conserved in the germplasm of landraces, both in farm fields and in ex situ collections and finally, strategies for the effective use of landraces, particularly of emmer wheat, should be planned and implemented in Turkey were discussed.Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Central Research Institute for Field Crops, Ankara, TurkeyGida Tarim Ve Hayvancilik BakanligiThis project was a part of the master thesis of Ozlem Ozbek and was supported by The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Central Research Institute for Field Crops, Ankara, Turkey