Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces in Catalonia, a Mesoamerican germplasm hotspot to be preserved

[EN] Several landraces of common bean with high organoleptic value have resisted the rapid expansion of improved cultivars in Catalonia, in north-eastern Spain. To establish strategies for their preservation and use, we employed RAPD and AFLP markers to investigate the genetic variability within 15 landraces and to identify their original gene pools. A higher percentage of Mesoamerican landraces was found in Catalonia (40%) than in the rest of the Iberian Peninsula, or in Europe (approx. 20%). This is probably due to the exclusion of Catalonia from early trade with the American colonies and stronger commercial links with the Caribbean during the nineteenth century. Our results confirm that Catalan consumers prefer white-seeded common bean varieties of Mesoamerican origin. The landrace ‘Castellfollit del Boix’ showed 69.6% polymorphic RAPD primers, with 53.2% polymorphic bands, while at the other extreme ‘Tavella Brisa’ showed 47.8% polymorphic primers with 25.3% polymorphic bands. An AFLP approach yielded similar results. The high genetic variability found in ‘Castellfollit del Boix’, one of the landraces most threatened, suggests a considerable amount of introgression from improved inbreds.This work was supported by a research grant from CICYT (AGL0035-01).Sanchez, E.; Sifres Cuerda, AG.; Casañas, F.; Nuez Viñals, F. (2007). Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces in Catalonia, a Mesoamerican germplasm hotspot to be preserved. Journal of Horticultural Science. 82(4):529-534. https://doi.org/10.1080/14620316.2007.11512269S529534824Rodrigo, A. P. (2000).Caracterización Morfoagronómica y Bioquímica del Germoplasma de la Judía Común (Phaseolus vulgarisL.) de España.Ph.D. Thesis, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, Spain. 251 pp

First Report of Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus Infecting Cucumber and Zucchini in Algeria

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades, cofunded with FEDER funds (project nos. AGL2017-85563-C2-1-R and RTA2017-00061-0O3-03 [INIA]) and the programa para grupos de investigacion de excelencia from the Conselleria d'Educacio, Investigacio, Cultura i Esport, (Generalitat Valenciana) (Prometeo Program 2017/078). A. Kheireddine thanks the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union for her mobility project (KA107 2018-20). C. Saez is a recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from Generalitat Valenciana, cofunded by the Operational Program of the European Social Fund (FSECV 2014-2020) (grant no. ACIF/2016/188). Plant Dis. 104: 1264, 2020; published online as https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-19-2091PDN.Accepted for publication 19 December 2019.Kheireddine, A.; Sáez-Sánchez, C.; Sifres Cuerda, AG.; Picó Sirvent, MB.; López Del Rincón, C. (2020). First Report of Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus Infecting Cucumber and Zucchini in Algeria. Plant Disease. 104(4):1264-1264. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-19-2091-PDNS12641264104

First Report of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus infecting Zucchini in Morocco

This work was supported by Projects E_RTA2013-00020-C04-03, and RTA2017-00061-C03-03 from the Spanish Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias (INIA) cofunded with FEDER funds and the Prometeo Program 2017/078 from the Generalitat Valenciana. C. Sáez is a recipient of a predoctoral fellowship (ACIF/2016/188) from Generalitat Valenciana.Sifres Cuerda, AG.; Sáez-Sánchez, C.; Ferriol Molina, M.; Selmani, E.; Riado, J.; Picó Sirvent, MB.; López Del Rincón, C. (2018). First Report of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus infecting Zucchini in Morocco. Plant Disease. 102(5):1045-1045. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-17-1600-PDNS10451045102

Comparison of protocols for DNA extraction from Cannabis sativa seeds

Cannabis sativa is an important crop cultivated both for industrial (var. sativa) and medicinal and recreational (var. indica) purposes. Cultivation of var. indica plants is generally forbidden and this difficults genetic studies. An alternative is the extraction of DNA from seed embryos. In order to develop an efficient protocol for DNA extraction of C. sativa seeds we have tested six DNA extraction methods in seeds and leaves of a C. sativa var. sativa accession. We found that the best protocol is the CTAB-modified with phenol:chlorophorm:isoamyl washing, which allowed a large quantity of high quality DNA per seed. This method was tested in seeds of three C. sativa var. indica accessions and seven SSR markers tested could be amplified successfully. In summary, we have developed a highly efficient method for DNA extraction of individual seeds of C. sativa. This method will be useful for genetic studies in this species.Soler Aleixandre, S.; Sifres Cuerda, AG.; Llosa, ER.; Llamas, M.; Vilanova Navarro, S.; Prohens Tomás, J. (2013). Comparison of protocols for DNA extraction from Cannabis sativa seeds. Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca : Horticulture. 70(1):265-266. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/60239S26526670

Angolan vegetable crops have unique genotypes of potential value for future breeding programmes

[EN] A survey was carried out in Angola with the aim of collecting vegetable crops. Collecting expeditions were conducted in Kwanza-Sul, Benguela, Huila and Namibe Provinces and a total of 80 accessions belonging to 22 species was collected from farmers and local markets. Species belonging to the Solanaceae (37 accessions) and Cucurbitaceae (36 accessions) families were the most frequently found with pepper and eggplant being the predominant solanaceous crops collected. Peppers were sold in local markets as a mixture of different types, even different species: Capsicum chinense, C. baccatum, C. frutescens and C. pubescens. Most of the eggplant accessions collected belonged to Solanum aethiopicum L. Gilo Group, the so-called 'scarlet eggplant'. Cucurbita genus was better represented than the other cucurbit crops. A high morphological variation was present in the Cucurbita maxima and C. moschata accessions. A set of 22 Cucurbita accessions from Angola, along with 32 Cucurbita controls from a wide range of origins, was cultivated in Valencia, Spain and characterised based on morphology and molecularity using a set of 15 microsatellite markers. A strong dependence on latitude was found in most of the accessions and as a result, many accessions did not set fruit. The molecular analysis showed high molecular variability and uniqueness in the collected accessions, as shown by their segregation from the set of global controls. In summary, the material collected is quite valuable because of its uniqueness and the potential of the breeding characteristics it possesses.This work, project A1/039611/11, was funded by the Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for the Development).Domingos, J.; Fita, A.; Picó Sirvent, MB.; Sifres Cuerda, AG.; Daniel, IH.; Salvador, J.; Pedro, J.... (2016). Angolan vegetable crops have unique genotypes of potential value for future breeding programmes. South African Journal of Science. 112(3):114-125. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/97771S114125112

Maternal Embryo Effect Arrest 31 (MEE31) is a moonlighting protein involved in GDP-D-mannose biosynthesis and KAT1 potassium channel regulation

[EN] Due to anthropogenic global warming, droughts are expected to increase and water availability to decrease in the coming decades. For this reason, research is increasingly focused on developing plant varieties and crop cultivars with reduced water consumption. Transpiration occurs through stomatal pores, resulting in water loss. Potassium plays a significant role in stomatal regulation. KAT1 is an inward-rectifying potassium channel that contributes to stomatal opening. Using a yeast high-throughput screening of an Arabidopsis cDNA library, MEE31 was found to physically interact with KAT1. MEE31 was initially identified in a screen for mutants with delayed embryonic development. The gene encodes a conserved phosphomannose isomerase (PMI). We report here that MEE31 interacts with and increases KAT1 activity in yeast and this interaction was also confirmed in plants. In addition, MEE31 complements the function of the yeast homologue, whereas the truncated version recovered in the screening does not, thus uncoupling the enzymatic activity from KAT1 regulation. We show that MEE31 over expression leads to increased stomatal opening in Arabidopsis transgenic lines. Our data suggest that MEE31 is a moonlighting protein involved in both GDP-D-mannose biosynthesis and KAT1 regulation.This work was supported by grant PID2019-104054GB-I00 financed by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Spain (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033).González-García, A.; Kanli, M.; Wisowski, N.; Montoliu-Silvestre, E.; Locascio, AAM.; Sifres Cuerda, AG.; Gómez, M.... (2024). Maternal Embryo Effect Arrest 31 (MEE31) is a moonlighting protein involved in GDP-D-mannose biosynthesis and KAT1 potassium channel regulation. Plant Science. 338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.11189733

The endangered future of organoleptically prestigious European landraces: Ganxet bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as an example of a crop originating in the Americas

The environmental and cultural diversity of Southwest Europe favored the diversification of crops arriving from America, giving rise to many new landraces. Gastronomy played an important role in their evolution. These landraces would later be substituted by genetically improved varieties, but some, like the Ganxet bean cultivated in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, have survived thanks to their superior sensory qualities. The distinctive flat and extremely hooked shape of the Ganxet seed has facilitated the detection of altered germplasm yielding less hooked seeds. In the present study, the use of RAPD and ALFP markers has enabled us to estimate the variability of Ganxet entries, determine the sources of introgression, and discuss the dangers menacing European landraces with superior organoleptic qualities. The low variability among prototypical Ganxet lines increased as less and less hooked materials were included in the analysis. The more productive Great Northern-type germplasm was found to be the main source of introgression in Ganxet. Successful introgression of more productive improved germplasm into landraces is probably a general phenomenon. So, in the absence of morphological markers, objective studies of the organoleptic value of landraces and thorough description using genetic markers become essential to ensure that the growing commercial interest in superior landraces is not reduced to a mere marketing operation.Sánchez, E.; Sifres Cuerda, AG.; Casañas, F.; Nuez Viñals, F. (2008). The endangered future of organoleptically prestigious European landraces: Ganxet bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as an example of a crop originating in the Americas. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 55(1):45-52. doi:10.1007/s10722-007-9213-xS4552551Beebe SE, Ochoa I, Skroch P, Nienhuis J, Tivang J (1995) Genetic diversity among common bean breeding lines developed for Central America. Crop Sci 35:1178–1183Benham JJ (2001) Genographer, version 1.6.0. Montana State University, USABio-Rad Laboratories (2002) Quantity One (Quantification software). User guide for version 4.4. Windows and Macintosh. The Discovery Series, Hercules, CA, USABosch L, Casañas F, Sánchez E, Pujola M, Nuez F (1998) Selection L67, a Pure Line with True Seed Type of the Ganxet Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) inbred. HortScience 33:905–906Brandolini GA (1968) European races of corn. Proc. 24th. Annu. Corn and Sorgum Res. Conf. Washington D.C. ASTA Publ No. 24:36–48Casañas F, Bosch L, Sánchez E, Romero del Castillo R, Valero J, Baldi M, Mestres J, Nuez F (1998) Características de la alubia Ganxet (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) y acciones para su conservación. Investigación Agraria: Prod. Prot. Veg. 13:43–55Casañas F, Bosch L, Pujolà M, Sánchez E, Sorribas X, Baldi M, Nuez F (1999) Characteristics of a common bean landrace (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) of great culinary value and selection of a commercial inbred line. J Sci Food Agric 79:693–698Cattan-Toupance I, Michalakis Y, Neema C (1998) Genetic structure of wild bean populations in their South-Andean centre of origin. Theor Appl Genet 96:844–851Dice LR (1945) Measures of the amount of ecologic association between species. Ecology 26:297–302Doyle JJ, Doyle DL (1990) Isolation of plant DNA from fresh tissue. Focus 12:1315Edwards RJ, Leng ER (1965) Classification of some indigenous maize collections from southern and southeastern Europe. Euphytica 14:161–169Eichenberger K, Gugerli F, Schneller JJ (2000) Morphological and molecular diversity of Swiss common bean cultivars (Phaseolus vulgaris L., Fabaceae) and their origin. Bot Helv 110:61–77Esquinas-Alcázar J, Nuez F (1995) Situación taxonómica, domesticación y difusión del tomate. In: Nuez F (ed) El Cultivo del Tomate, Mundiprensa, pp 15–42Felsenstein J (1994) Phylogeny Inference Package (PHYLIP), version 3.6. University of Washington, Seattle, USAFreyre R, Rios R, Guzmán L, Debouck DG, Gepts P (1996) Ecogeograhic distribution of Phaseolus spp. (Fabaceae) in Bolivia. Econ Bot 50:195–215Graham GC, Henry RJ, Redden RJ (1994) Identification of navy bean varieties using random amplification of polymorphic DNA. Aust J Exp Agric 34:1173–1176Haley SD, Miklas PN, Afanador L, Kelly JD (1994) Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker variability between and within gene pools of common bean. J Amer Soc Hort Sci 119:122–125Lanteri S, Acquadro A, Quagliotti L, Portis E (2003) PAPD and AFLP assessment of genetic variation in a landrace of pepper (Capsicum annum L.) grown in North-West Italy. Genet Resour Crop Evol 50:723–735Lioi L, Piergiovanni AR, Pignone D, Puglisi S, Santantonio M, Sonnante G (2005) Genetic diversity of some surviving on-farm Italian common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces. Plant Breed 124:576–581Miklas PN, Kelly JD (1992) Identifying bean DNA polymorphisms using the Polymerase Chain Reaction. Ann Rep Bean Improv Coop 35:21–22Negri V, Tosti N (2002) Genetic diversity within a common bean landrace of potential economic value: its relevance for on-farm conservation and product certification. J Genet Breed 56:113–118Nowosielski J, Podyma W (2001) Molecular research on genetic diversity of Polish varieties and Landraces of Phaseolus. In: Swiecicki W, Naganowska B, Wolko B (eds) Broad variation and precise characterization limitation for the future. Proceedings of the XVIth EUCARPIA Genetic Resources Section workshop, Poznan, Poland, May 2001, pp 247–252Page RDM (1996) TREEVIEW: an application to display phylogenetic trees on personal computers. Comput Appl Biosci 12: 357–358Piergiovanni A, Taranto G, Losavio FP, Pignone D (2006) Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces from Abruzzo and Lazio regions (Central Italy). Genet Resour Crop Evol 53:313–322Pujolà M, Casañas F, Bosch L, Almirall A, Sánchez E, Nuez F (2004) Creaminess and chemical composition in dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): the roles of protein and starch. Proceedings of the 5th European Conference on Grain Legumes: legumes for the benefit of agriculture nutrition and environment, Dijon. n. 397Rebourg C, Gouesnard B, Charcosset A (2001) Large scale molecular analysis of traditional European maize populations. Relationships with morphological variation. Heredity 86:574–587Sánchez E (2003) Variabilitat de la mongeta Ganxet (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): determinació de tipologies i selecció de línies comercials. Ph. D. Thesis, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona. Also available in Santalla M, Rodiño AP, de Ron AM (2002) Allozyme evidence supporting southwestern Europe as a secondary center of genetic diversity for the common bean. Theor Appl Genet 104:934–944Skroch PW, Nienhuis J (1995) Qualitative and quantitative characterization of RAPD variation among snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) genotypes. Theor Appl Genet 91:1078–1085Skroch PW, Nienhuis J, Beebe S, Tohme J, Pedraza F (1998) Comparison of Mexican common bean (P. vulgaris L.) core and reserve germplasm collections. Crop Sci 38:488–496Sicard D, Nanni L, Porfiri O, Bulfon D, Papa R (2005) Genetic diversity of Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Phaseolus coccineus L. landraces in central Italy. Plant Breed 124:464–472Sokal RR, Michener CD (1958) A statistical method for evaluating systematic relationships. Univ Kans Sci Bull 38:1409–1438Tosti N, Negri V (2005) On-going on-farm microevolutionary processes in neighbouring cowpea landraces revealed by molecular markers. 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Pattern of genetic variability of Solanum habrochaites in its natural area of distribution

The tomato wild relative species Solanum habrochaites (previously known as Lycopersicon hirsutum) is a potential source of novel genes for tomato breeding. It shows resistance to many diseases and pests, cold tolerance and fruit quality traits. This species inhabits the western Andean slopes at high elevations from central Ecuador to central Peru. In this study the genetic variation of S. habrochaites was studied using 91 accessions from the whole range of distribution of this species. To this end, we employed two kinds of markers: 9 SSRs and 6 AFLP combinations. The Principal Coordinate Analysis based on AFLP data showed the existence of clinal genetic variation from north to south. The accessions of the different geographic groups were sequentially arranged in the first axis from north to south and a clear separation between them was found. The groups from the centre of the area of distribution showed the highest variation and heterozygosis. The ones from the margins showed lower variability and presented higher homozygosis. The morphotypes typicum and glabratum considered by Müller constituted the extreme forms of the continuous variation in the pubescence grade. These differences in pubescence were not associated with the homozygosis grade. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.Sifres Cuerda, AG.; Blanca Postigo, JM.; Nuez Viñals, F. (2011). Pattern of genetic variability of Solanum habrochaites in its natural area of distribution. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 58(3):347-360. doi:10.1007/s10722-010-9578-0S347360583Baker HG (1955) Self-compatibility and establishment after long-distance dispersal. Evolution 9:347–348Belkhir K, Borsa P, Chikhi L, Rafaste N, Bonhomme T (1996) Genetix 4.04 Logiciel sours Windous TM pour la genetique des populations. Laboratoire Génome, populations, interactions, Université de Montpellier II, Montpellier. Website http://www.genetix.univ-montp2.fr/genetix/genetix.htmBenham J, Jeung JU, Jasieniuk M, Kanazin V, Blake T (1999) Genographer: a graphical tool for automated fluorescent AFLP and microsatellite analysis. Department of Plant Science, Montana State University, BozemanBernacchi D, Beck-Bunn T, Eshed Y, Lopez J, Petiard V, Uhlig J, Zamir D, Tanksley S (1998) Advanced backcross QTL analysis in tomato. I. Identification of QTLs for traits of agronomic importance from Lycopersicon hirsutum. Theor Appl Genet 97:381–397Bornet B, Goraguer F, Joly G, Brachard M (2002) Genetic diversity in European and Argentinian cultivated potatoes (Solanum tuberosum subsp. tuberosum) detected by inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs). Genome 45:481–484Bouxin G (2005) Ginkgo, a multivariate analysis package. J Veg Sci 16:355–359Cavalli-Sforza LL, Edwards AWF (1967) Phylogenetic analysis: models and estimation procedures. Evolution 32:550–570Coulibaly S, Pasquet R, Papa R, Gepts P (2002) AFLP analysis of the phenetic organization and genetic diversity of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. reveals extensive gene flow between wild and domesticated types. Theor Appl Genet 104:358–366Ercolano MR, Sebastiano A, Monti L, Frusciante L, Barone A (2005) Molecular characterization of Solanum habrochaites accessions. J Genet Breed 59:15–20Excoffier L, Laval G, Schneider S (2005) Arlequin (version 3.0): an integrated software package for population genetics data analysis. Evol Bioinform Online 1:47–50Felsenstein J (1993) PHYLIP (Phylogeny Inference Package) v3.69. Department of Genome Sciences and Department of Biology. University of Washington. Washington. EEUU. Website http://www.evolution.genetics.washington.edu/phylip.htmlFerriol M, Pico B, Nuez F (2003) Genetic diversity of a germplasm collection of Cucurbita pepo using SRAP and AFLP markers. 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CNRS Website http://www.bioinformatics.org/~tryphon/populations/Leite G, Picanco M, Guedes R, Zanuncio J (2001) Role of plant age in the resistance of Lycopersicon hirsutum f. glabratum to the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Sci Hortic 89:103–113Mantel N (1967) The detection of disease clustering and a generalized regression approach. Cancer Res 27:209–220Momotaz A, Scott JW, Schuster DJ (2005) Searching for silverleaf whitefly and begomovirus resistance genes from Lycopersicon hirsutum accession LA1777. Acta Hort 695:417–422Monforte A, Tanksley S (2000) Development of a set of near isogenic and backcross recombinant inbred lines containing most of the Lycopersicon hirsutum genome in a L. esculentum genetic background: a tool for gene mapping and gene discovery. Genome 43:803–813Müller CH (1940) A revision of the genus Lycopersicon. United States Department of Agriculture. Misc Publ No 382Nei M (1973) Analysis of gene diversity in subdivided populations. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 70:3321–3323Nuez F, Prohens J, Blanca JM (2004) Relationships origin, and diversity of Galapagos tomatoes: implications for the conservation of natural populations. Am J Bot 91:86–99Nuez F, Diez MJ, Valcarcel JV, Cebolla-Cornejo J, Perez A, Soler S, Rosello S, Adalid A, Galiana L, Sifres A, Pico B, Blanca JM, Frutos R (2008) Genetic resources of Lycopersicon at the institute for the conservation and improvement of the agrodiversity. Acta Hortic 789:293–297Peralta IE, Spooner DM, Knapp S (2008) The taxonomy of tomatoes: a revision of wild tomatoes (Solanum section Lycopersicon) and their outgroup relatives in sections Juglandifolium and Lycopersicoides. Syst Bot Monogr 84:1–186 + 3 platesPhillips N, Larson S, Drost D (2008) Detection of genetic variation in wild populations of three Allium species using amplified fragment length polymorphisms. 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Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Centre, University of Alberta, Alberta. http://www.ualberta.ca/~fyeh/index.htmYoung KR, Reynel C (1997) Huancabamba region, Perú and Ecuador. In: Davis SD, Heywood VH, Herrera-MacBryde O, Villa-Lobos J, Hamilton AC (eds) Centres of plant diversity: a guide and strategy for their conservation, 3: North America, Middle America, South America, Caribbean Island. IUCN, CambridgeZuriaga E, Blanca J, Nuez F (2009a) Classification and phylogenetic relationships in Solanum section Lycopersicon based on AFLP and two nuclear gene sequences. Genet Resour Crop Evol 56:663–678Zuriaga E, Blanca J, Cordero L, Sifres A, Blas-Cerdan W, Morales R (2009b) Genetic and bioclimatic variation in Solanum pimpinellifolium. Genet Resour Crop Evol 56:39–5

Stress treatments and in vitro culture conditions influence microspore embryogenesis and growth of callus from anther walls of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Production of doubled haploids (DHs) is a convenient tool to obtain pure lines for breeding purposes. Until now, the easiest and most useful approach to obtain pepper DHs is via anther culture. However, this method has an associated possibility of producing calli from anther wall tissues that would be coexisting in the anther locule with embryos derived from microspores. Using two established protocols for anther culture, Dumas de Vaulx et al. (Agronomie 2:983-988, 1981) and Supena et al. (Sci Hort 107:226-232, 2006a; Plant Cell Rep 25:1-10, 2006b) callus and embryo development was assessed in four sweet pepper cultivars. For all genotypes tested, the protocol of Dumas de Vaulx et al. (Agronomie 2:983-988, 1981) promoted both embryo development and callus growth, whereas the protocol of Supena et al. (Sci Hort 107:226-232, 2006a; Plant Cell Rep 25:1-10, 2006b) produced no callus but only embryos. However, differences in embryo production were observed among these genotypes. In parallel, anthers were exposed to a 35 °C inductive heat shock for 4, 8, 12 and 16 days, prior to culture at 25 °C. The duration of the heat shock had significant effects in embryo production, but also in callus generation. Callus generation increased with prolonged exposures to 35 °C. Embryo and callus origin was analyzed by flow cytometry, light microscopy and molecular markers. Tests conducted demonstrated a gametophytic origin for all of the embryos tested, and a sporophytic origin for all of the calli. Together, our results reveal that culture conditions have a significant influence on the presence of calli derived from anther walls, which could be minimized by reducing heat shock exposure and/or using a shed-microspore approach. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.We acknowledge Mrs. Nuria Palacios for her excellent technical work, as well as the staff of the COMAV greenhouses for their valuable help. We specially thank Dr. Mark Pieper for his advice on English writing style. This work was supported by the following grants to JMSS: AGL2010-17895 from Spanish MICINN, ACOMP/2012/168 from Generalitat Valenciana, and PAID-05-11 1909 from Universitat Politecnica de Valencia.Parra Vega, V.; Renau Morata, B.; Sifres Cuerda, AG.; Seguí Simarro, JM. (2013). Stress treatments and in vitro culture conditions influence microspore embryogenesis and growth of callus from anther walls of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture. 112(3):353-360. doi:10.1007/s11240-012-0242-6S353360112

Incidence and genetic diversity of cucurbit viruses in the Spanish Mediterranean area

[EN] Viral infections on cucurbits fields can cause major economic losses. Monitoring of the main producing areas is essential to identify both prevalent and emerging viruses. For two consecutive years (2019-2020), the presence and molecular diversity of 9 aphid- and whitefly-transmitted viruses in the main cucurbits producing areas of the Spanish Mediterranean basin and other important regions were studied. In analyses of symptomatic plants, watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) were found to be prevalent in all the monitored areas, regardless of the crop and the farming conditions. Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus (MWMV) and tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) were also found at lower rates, mainly in mixed infections with WMV. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted to determine the molecular variability of the different isolates. Whereas the sequences of CABYV, MWMV and ToLCNDV isolates all clustered within their corresponding Mediterranean clade, new viral variants of WMV and CMV were found. Concretely, 7 new WMV profiles and a reassorting CMV isolate (IB-IB-IA) were observed. Moreover, the complete genome of the newly described WMV isolates was sequenced. Further studies should be done to determine if these new variants spread to new areas and if they can overcome the previously described resistances.Agencia Estatal de Investigacion, Grant/Award Number: PID2020-116055RB (C21 and C22) and PRE2018-083466; Generalitat Valenciana, Grant/Award Number: PROMETEO/2021/072.López-Martín, M.; Sifres Cuerda, AG.; Gómez-Guillamón, ML.; Picó Sirvent, MB.; Pérez De Castro, AM. (2024). Incidence and genetic diversity of cucurbit viruses in the Spanish Mediterranean area. Plant Pathology. 73(2):431-443. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.1382543144373