Phenotyping the ideotypes of two maize landraces from Madeira archipelago using morpho-agronomic traits and zein pattern

Madeira Archipelago holds specific maize genetic resources whose populations, representing field diversity, were previously classified into four main landrace groups. The ISOPs 0061 and 0070, with common names of “Milho Sequeiro” and “Milho Branco” yellow and white maize, respectively, represent the ideotypes of two of these landraces. These ideotypes have now been analyzed using morpho-agronomic and biochemical traits, to phenotype these landraces. The variation of nine of the ten morpho-agronomic traits was used to separate the landraces ideotypes. However, the seven traits of seed biochemical composition did not allow to segregate the landraces ideotypes. This is not the case of zein pattern, which polymorphism shows to be specific for each ideotype. The original ideotypes populations were regenerated twice under low input conditions. Zein patterns of the original and regenerated accessions were compared, using two electrophoresis techniques. The lab-on-a-chip electrophoresis showed that the standard SDS-PAGE zein pattern with six fractions could be separated into eighteen (ISOP 0061) and twenty (ISOP 0070) protein bands. In contrast, no significant changes were detected in the zein pattern structure of the initial and regenerated accessions of both landraces ideotypes. The chip electrophoresis showed to be a suitable technique to screen and characterize a large number of individuals and accessions of the germplasm collections, due to its reproducibility. In particular, the zein patterns can be used to phenotype ideotypes and establish a formula representing their structure, allowing to detect changes in landrace structure, occurring as a result of gene bank management actions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Phenotypic flexibility and drought avoidance in taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott)

Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) is a substantial staple food in most of the tropical regions. Prolonged exposure to drought impairs crop production worldwide. Tolerant crops have the best capability to cope and avoid drought, through phenotypic flexibility mechanisms. The water use efficiency (WUE) is well known in taro crops, but very scarce information is available relating to their nutrient efficiency (NER) in drought conditions. Our work provided pertinent information about the physiological variation of seven taro accessions subjected to seven months of drought, by recording the differences for nutrient allocation, chlorophyll canopy, biomass loss, and stress intensity. Significant relationships between control and drought treatments on WUE (+85%), total plant biomass (TPB, -26.8%), chlorophyll content index (CCI, +1.8%), and nutrient harvest index (NHI, +0.2%) were detected. Drought led to a generalized loss of TPB as drought avoidance strategy, although distinct phenotypic flexibility was observed through the root: shoot ratio (R:S) and stress index (SI) from the corm and shoot organs. The nutrient allocation from the corms to shoots, with NER increase registered in drought conditions, can be a valuable tool to complement the TPB and WUE productivity traits, to be used in taro breeding programs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change: A Synopsis of Coordinated National Crop Wild Relative Seed Collecting Programs across Five Continents

The Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change Project set out to improve the diversity, quantity, and accessibility of germplasm collections of crop wild relatives (CWR). Between 2013 and 2018, partners in 25 countries, heirs to the globetrotting legacy of Nikolai Vavilov, undertook seed collecting expeditions targeting CWR of 28 crops of global significance for agriculture. Here, we describe the implementation of the 25 national collecting programs and present the key results. A total of 4587 unique seed samples from at least 355 CWR taxa were collected, conserved ex situ, safety duplicated in national and international genebanks, and made available through the Multilateral System (MLS) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Plant Treaty). Collections of CWR were made for all 28 targeted crops. Potato and eggplant were the most collected genepools, although the greatest number of primary genepool collections were made for rice. Overall, alfalfa, Bambara groundnut, grass pea and wheat were the genepools for which targets were best achieved. Several of the newly collected samples have already been used in pre-breeding programs to adapt crops to future challenges.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prospeção e caracterização dos recursos genéticos de macieira, Malus domestica Borkh, na Madeira

A Madeira possui condições agroecológicas únicas, que permitem o desenvolvimento de grande diversidade de espécies frutícolas. A macieira é uma fruteira tradicional na Madeira que se distribui pelas suas freguesias montanhosas, desde o Oeste, Achadas da Cruz, até o Este, Faial. O cultivo da macieira desenvolve-se em pequenos pomares, que albergam uma diversidade de cultivares, cuja produção é consumida em fresco ou utilizada na produção de sidra. A prospeção e inventariação dos recursos genéticos desta fruteira procura aprofundar os conhecimentos sobre a sua diversidade, tendo resultado no registo de 10 variedades de conservação no Catálogo Nacional de Variedades, entre as quais o Pero Domingos, a Maçã Barral, a Maçã Cara de Dama e o Pero Calhau. Os dados desta inventariação são disponibilizados, através das plataformas GRIN-Global e GBIF. Está em curso um projeto que visa a valorização destas variedades locais, através da sua caracterização morfo-agronómica e nutricional. O presente trabalho apresenta os resultados preliminares da caracterização morfométrica de 4 dessas variedades. Os parâmetros utilizados incluem o hábito de crescimento, época de floração, frutificação e colheita, e 10 caracteres morfológicos do fruto. Os resultados obtidos permitem-nos inferir que as 4 variedades são distintas entre si e apresentam características agronómicas que lhes conferem valor comercial. Adicionalmente, o fruto do Pero Domingos foi analisado em relação a 5 parâmetros nutricionais e físico-químicos, e à sua aptidão para consumo em fresco ou processado (desidratado, compotas, sidra). O Pero Domingos apresentou um bom tempo de conservação no pós-colheita. No entanto, recomenda-se o seu uso na produção de sidra ou confeção de compotas até 1 semana de pós-colheita. O teor de sólidos solúveis variou significativamente nas compotas. O pH da sidra diminuiu significativamente com a profundidade da coluna na pipa.Madeira has ideal agroecological conditions, allowing the development of a great diversity of fruits. The apple tree is a traditional fruit tree of Madeira, distributed in the mountainous parishes of Madeira, between West (Achadas da Cruz) and the East (Faial) of the island. The cultivation of the apple tree takes place in small orchards that shelter a high diversity of local cultivars whose production is used for fresh consumption or cider production. Since 2006, the survey of these genetic resources has sought to deepen the knowledge about the diversity of the apple tree, having resulted in the registration of 10 landraces in the National Catalog of Varieties, among them Pero Domingos, Maçã Barral, Maçã Cara de Dama and Pero Calhau. The results of this survey was available, through the GRIN-Global and GBIF platforms. A project is currently undertaken to perform the morph-agronomic and nutritional characterization of these varieties. The goal of the present work is to show the data of the characterization of these 4 varieties, using characters linked with the growth habit, flowering, fruiting and harvest season, and 10 morphological fruit characters. It was observed that these varieties are distinct and have agronomic features that give them a commercial value. At same time, Pero Domingos fruits were analyzed using 5 nutritional and physical-chemical parameters, as well as its aptitude for fresh or processed consumption (dehydrated fruits, jam, cider). Fruits shown good post-harvest durability. However, best apples for cider or jams should be harvested for less than a week. Soluble solids content varied significantly in the processed apple, with a gradual increase in jam, jelly and marmalade. The pH of the cider decreased significantly with the depth of storage column in the cask.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio