Genetic diversity and distance among Iranian and European alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) genotypes

Alfalfa is the best known fodder crop with high ability of biological nitrogen fixation and drought tolerance in dry, Pannonian region of east Austria. Different morphological and physiological characteristics of 18 alfalfa genotypes from different geographical origins, 8 Iranian ecotypes and 10 European cultivars were evaluated under irrigated and rainfed conditions during 2006-08 cropping seasons. The objectives of this study were to measure genetic distance and divergence among genotypes and to classify them based on morphological and physiological characters. Cluster analysis differentiated Iranian ecotypes and European cultivars from each other under irrigated condition, and when data averaged across two environments (irrigated and rainfed). However, under rainfed conditions small changes occurred in grouping of genotypes due mainly to differential responses of the genotypes to rainfed condition. Considerable genetic distance observed between Iranian and European genotypes. Different crossing programs are recommended between Iranian and European genotypes to develop new alfalfa cultivars

Quantifizierung des Stickstoffs in Wurzeln und Wurzelausscheidungen von Soja

The below ground N allocation of organic soybean was examined in two experiments conducted in Eastern Austria. During early development, individual soybean plants were labelled with a 15N-enriched urea solution by the petiole-feeding method. The 15N enrichment of these plants and surrounding soil relative to their natural 15N abundance was determined at plant maturity. The proportion of soil N derived from roots was calculated from root and soil N isotope data. Total below ground plant N, including rhizodeposits, amounted to between 6 to 48 % of total plant N. The proportion of total plant N allocated below ground was inversely related to shoot N content

Suitability of drought tolerance indices for selecting alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) genotypes under organic farming in Austria

In eastern Austria, alfalfa is usually grown as a rainfed crop in crop rotations in organic farming systems, where year-to-year rainfall fluctuations cause different levels of drought stress. To identify the suitability of different alfalfa genotypes and drought tolerance indices, 18 contrasting alfalfa genotypes were evaluated under irrigated and rainfed conditions at the research station of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria, during 2006-08. The first study year (2006) was considered as the establishment year. Five drought tolerance selection indices were estimated based on shoot dry matter, total biomass yield and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) data. The correlation between irrigated and rainfed performances increased (from r=-0.17 to 0.56) with decreasing stress intensity from the first to the second year. Genotypes Sitel, Plato ZS, Vlasta and NS-Banat were the best genotypes based on their performance under both conditions. Drought tolerance selection indices TOL and SSI showed high correlations (r = 0.32 to 0.81) only with rainfed performance, and SSI was the index that best identified genotypes with high yield potential under rainfed conditions. Indices STI and GMP were the ones that best identified genotypes with high performance under both conditions

Advances in oil crops research-classical and new approaches to achieve sustainable productivity

The world production of main oil crops is steadily increasing, mainly due to population growth and increased use of oil crops in bio-fuel production and in edible vegetable oils. From the perspective of sowing area in the world, oil crops are only preceded by cereals in importance. Edible or industrial oils are extracted from seeds, fruits or mesocarp, and nuts of both annual and perennial species. Oil can be obtained from about 40 different crops, but soybean, sunflower, olive tree, and rapeseed have a major importance in the total world trade. The purpose of the Research Topic “Advances in Oil Crops Research—Classical and New Approaches to Achieve Sustainable Productivity” is to provide the reader compiled information of the latest research results about different aspects of oil crops. This research topic incorporates 23 publications including 19 research papers, three review articles, and one perspective.Fil: Miladinović, Dragana. Institute Of Field And Vegetable Crops; SerbiaFil: Vollmann, Johann. University Of Natural Resources And Life Sciences; AustriaFil: Molinero Ruiz, Leire. Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible; EspañaFil: Torres, Myriam Mariela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Mendoza - San Juan. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Juan; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza; Argentin

Biological nitrogen fixation and growth parameters correlations of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) genotypes under organically managed fields with limited irrigation

To identify the effective characters and their relative importance in improvement of BNF, two separate field experiments were conducted under irrigated and rain-fed organic managements of dry, Pannonian region of east Austria. The experiments were laid out in an α-lattice design with two replications and 18 genotypes (eight Iranian ecotypes and ten European cultivars). Plant height was positively and significantly correlated with leaf area index (LAI) and shoot dry matter (DM) under both conditions. Positive correlations were found between biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and shoot DM (r = 0.61** and 0.87**, irrigated and rain-fed management, respectively). Regarding correlation coefficients, high yielding genotypes had taller plants and denser stands, especially under rain-fed condition. In path analysis, all direct effects of BNF components were positive in both conditions, while some of the indirect effects were negative. These can be regarded in selection models to avoid undesirable negative effects. Plant height and LAI can be considered as primary selection criteria for improving shoot DM, while crop re-growth and plant height, with antonymous effects, were more important for improving root dry matter

Notes on archaeobotany, etymology and lexicology of the genus Camelina Crantz

The genus Camelina Crantz, colloquially referred to as false flax, belongs to the family Brassicaceae Burnett (syn. Cruciferae Juss.) and comprises several herbaceous species originating in Near East, Asia Minor and South Europe. C. sativa (L.) Crantz, usually referred to as camelina, false flax and goldof-pleasure, is one of the most ancient oil crops. The archaeological evidence of its presence in diverse ancient cultures and local agricultures is rich and enables tracing its spread throughout various ages and across the Old World. It is most likely that camelina followed common flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) during its spatial and temporal distribution, possibly adapting its growing habit to that of the latter and surviving as its weed-like companion. This may be confirmed by the etymology of the Greek word denoting camelina, consisting of χώμα (ground) and λινάριον (flax), depicting a lower competing ability of camelina when growing together with the flax crop. The material testimony of camelina ranges from Neolithic (eight millennia ago) to Roman and Medieval times and from Karakorum in Mongolia, over Armenia and Baltic coastline to the Iberian Peninsula. The common names denoting camelina in numerous ethnolinguistic families distinct the dark yellow or rusty colour of its flowers and seeds. This may be seen in modern languages, such as the Indo-European, with the German leindotter, the Italian dorella, the Russian ryzhik or the Sorbian žołtk, and the Uralic languages, with the Finnish ruistankio and the Hungarian sárgarepce

High-throughput screening of soybean di-nitrogen fixation and seed nitrogen content using spectral sensing

Symbiotic di-nitrogen fixation of grain legumes has a substantial impact on crop performance, harvest product quality, and nitrogen (N) balance of crop rotations, particularly under organic management regimes. In soybean breeding, selection for increased nitrogen fixation is desirable for improving seed protein content and N balance of cropping systems. However, the lack of high-throughput screening methods for direct measurement of N2 fixation rates prohibits practical breeding efforts. Therefore, hyperspectral canopy reflectance measurement as a field-based phenotyping method was evaluated in three environments for indirect estimation of N fixation and uptake of soil nitrogen in a set of early maturity soybean genotypes exhibiting a wide range in seed protein content. Reflectance spectra were collected in repeated measurements during flowering and early seed filling stages. Subsequently, various spectral reflectance indices (SRIs) were calculated for characterizing nitrogen accumulation of individual genotypes. Moreover, prediction models for seed protein content as an end-of-season target trait were developed utilizing full spectral information in partial-least-square regression (PLSR) models. A number of N-related SRIs calculated from spectral reflectance data recorded at the beginning of the seed filling stage were significantly correlated to seed protein content. The best prediction of seed protein content, however, was achieved in PLSR models (validation R2 = 0.805 across all three environments). Environments lower in initial soil mineral N content appeared as more favorable selection sites in terms of prediction accuracy, because N fixation is not masked by soil N uptake in such environments. Hyperspectral reflectance data proved to be a valuable method for determining genetic variation in crop N accumulation, which might be implemented in highthroughput screening protocols for N fixation in plant breeding programs

Genetic variation and relationships among spring camelina (Camelina sativa, Brassicaceae) accessions of different origin

Camelina sativa L. is one of the oldest crops of the Brassicaceae family, first domesticated in the region of south-eastern Europe. It has regained interest as a very promising alternative oilseed crop with broad adaptability, a wide range of tolerances to pests and diseases, and low-input requirements. The genetic diversity in spring camelina proved to be limited, so the identification and characterization of genetic variations in germplasm originating from different sources is considered very useful for development of efficient breeding programmes. The aim of the study was to use SSR markers in order to investigate genetic variation of twenty spring camelina accessions of different origin and estimate their genetic relatedness. Forty-five individual samples were taken from each accession and used for amplification of SSR markers P4C11, P6E4 and LIB19. Percentage of polymorphic loci, number of alleles, effective number of alleles, expected heterozygosity and Shannon's information index were used to estimate genetic variation. The accessions expressed different levels of genetic variation. The highest variability was found in cultivar Zavolzskij, breeding line CK2X-7, cultivar NS Zlatka and breeding line CK2X-9. The most uniform were cultivar Pernice, and population Maslomania. AMOVA (analysis of molecular variance) showed that 64% of the total genetic variation was attributed to variance within accessions and 36% to variance among them. IBased on genetic distance, accessions were divided in two clades, which both were further divided in two subclades. Genetic distance analysis indicated that there was overlapping in certain breeding programs and exchange of breeding germplasm

Marker-assisted selection for soybean organic breeding

Marker-assisted selection (MAS) is a valuable tool in crop breeding, including organic breeding. The application of molecular markers allows rapid screening at early developmental stages as well as more accurate and efficient identification and selection of plants with desired traits. Besides accelerating breeding, this approach reduces the need for extensive field trials and multiple generations of selection. Considering that organic breeding emphasizes sustainable practices and minimal environmental impact, MAS can reduce the need for excessive land, water, and resources typically required for conventional breeding. In addition, it can help breeders to develop organic-compliant varieties by targeting specific traits and preserving organic standards, providing more efficient and sustainable strategies for organic production systems. Molecular markers were used to screen ECOBREED soybean germplasm harbouring traits relevant to organic farming, such as cadmium accumulation, supernodulation and disease tolerance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Diaporthe complex. Genotypes with low cadmium accumulation should be used in organic food production to improve food safety, while supernodulation in soybean could be an important trait showing potential for increased nitrogen fixation. Molecular screening of genotypes for disease resistance is especially important in organic farming where chemical interventions are limited, offering an efficient and sustainable strategy for organic production