Phylogeographic structure of common sage (Salvia officinalis L.) reveals microrefugia throughout the Balkans and colonizations of the Apennines

Studying the population-genetic and phylogeographic structures of a representative species of a particular geographical region can not only provide us with information regarding its evolutionary history, but also improve our understanding of the evolutionary processes underlying the patterns of species diversity in that area. By analysing eight highly polymorphic microsatellite loci and two chloroplast DNA regions, we have investigated the influence of Pleistocene climate fluctuations on the evolutionary history of Salvia officinalis L. (common sage). The populations with the highest genetic diversity were located in the central parts of the Balkan distribution range. A large group of closely related haplotypes was distributed throughout the Balkans and the central Apennines, while the private lineage occupied the southern Apennines. In addition, two highly differentiated lineages were scattered only over the Balkans. The results suggest that a single refugium of the studied species from the last glacial period was located in the central part of the range in the Balkans. Numerous microrefugia, probably spanning several glaciation cycles, were scattered across the Balkans, while colonisation of the Apennines from the Balkans occurred at least on two occasions

Genomics-assisted breeding in four major pulse crops of developing countries: present status and prospects

The global population is continuously increasing and is expected to reach nine billion by 2050. This huge population pressure will lead to severe shortage of food, natural resources and arable land. Such an alarming situation is most likely to arise in developing countries due to increase in the proportion of people suffering from protein and micronutrient malnutrition. Pulses being a primary and affordable source of proteins and minerals play a key role in alleviating the protein calorie malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and other undernourishment-related issues. Additionally, pulses are a vital source of livelihood generation for millions of resource-poor farmers practising agriculture in the semi-arid and sub-tropical regions. Limited success achieved through conventional breeding so far in most of the pulse crops will not be enough to feed the ever increasing population. In this context, genomics-assisted breeding (GAB) holds promise in enhancing the genetic gains. Though pulses have long been considered as orphan crops, recent advances in the area of pulse genomics are noteworthy, e.g. discovery of genome-wide genetic markers, high-throughput genotyping and sequencing platforms, high-density genetic linkage/QTL maps and, more importantly, the availability of whole-genome sequence. With genome sequence in hand, there is a great scope to apply genome-wide methods for trait mapping using association studies and to choose desirable genotypes via genomic selection. It is anticipated that GAB will speed up the progress of genetic improvement of pulses, leading to the rapid development of cultivars with higher yield, enhanced stress tolerance and wider adaptability

RAPD markers and black pine [Pinus nigra Arnold] intraspecies taxonomy - evidence from the study of nine populations

Although intraspecies researches within the black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) have a long tradition, the intraspecies taxonomy, classification and chorology are still unclear. Among the numerous reasons that have caused this situation the most important are: the absence of a study that would completely cover the whole range of this species, the impossibility of connection of results of the existing detailed studies of certain areas, and the high variability of traits which have been used so far. Since the characteristics of the molecular systematic techniques could make possible the research free of the mentioned shortages, the intention of this study was to determine the relationships among nine populations of black pine using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). The obtained results were compared to the recent results of the morphological and anatomical analysis of the leaves of the same populations. The RAPD results clearly divided the Croatian populations from populations of Austria (subsp. nigra) and Turkey (subsp. pallasiana), while among Croatian populations, as in previous study, the existence of several groups (subsp. illyrica, subsp. dalmatica and transitional population between them) was noticed. It is assumed that the optimisations conducted in this study will finally make possible estimating the relationships on the level of the whole range of the black pine and the classification based on molecular traits that are probably less dependent on environmental influences than it has been the case with the characteristics mostly used so far

Identification of QTLs influencing agronomic traits in Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. II. Chlorine and potassium content

Yield increase in processing cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) is positively correlated with an increase in number of fruit-bearing branches. Multiple lateral branching (MLB) is a metric trait controlled by at least five effective factors. Breeding efficacy might be improved through marker-assisted selection (MAS) for MLB. Experiments were designed to independently confirm previously determined linkage of molecular markers (L18-2-H19A SNP, CSWTAAA01 SSR, CSWCT13 SSR, W7-2 RAPD and BC-551 RAPD) to MLB, and to determine their utility in MAS. These markers were present in significantly higher frequency than expected (1, presence:3, absence; p <0.001) in BC 2 plants selected based on a high MLB phenotype (BC 2PHE). However, markers that were considered selectively neutral fit the expected segregation of donor parent DNA in BC 2 progeny. Markers linked to MLB were used in MAS of BC 1 and BC 2 plants to produce BC 2MAS, and BC 3MAS progeny. Means for MLB in MAS populations were compared with backcross populations developed through phenotypic selection (BC 2PHE, BC 3PHE) and by random mating where no selection had been applied (BC 2RND, BC 3RND). Statistical analysis showed no significant differences ( p <0.001) between means of phenotypic (BC 2PHE = 3.02, BC 3PHE = 3.29) and marker-aided selection (BC 2MAS = 3.12, BC 3MAS = 3.11) for MLB. However, both phenotypic and MAS population means were significantly higher than the random control (BC 2RND = 2.27, BC 3RND = 2.41) for MLB. Thus, given the observed response to selection and the rapid life-cycle of cucumber (4 months), markers linked to MLB when used in MAS will most likely be effective tools in cucumber improvemen

Influencing combustion quality in Miscanthus sinensis Anderss.: identification of QTLs for calcium, phosphorus and sulphur content

Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses for combustion-related traits including calcium, phosphorus and sulphur content have been carried out using two years of field trial data. Nine putative QTLs were detected using the Multiple QTL Model approach and the programme MapQTL 4.0. Two QTLs were found for calcium, two for sulphur and five for phosphorus. Out of the QTLs for phosphorus, P1 is probably the same locus as P3, and P2 as P4, although their confidence intervals do not agree. Ca1 was also consistently detected. These results may constitute the first step in developing a Marker-Assisted Selection programme in Miscanthus for combustion-related trait

Identification of QTLs influencing agronomic traits in Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. I. Total height, flag-leaf height and stem diameter

We have developed the first quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses for agronomic traits in a cross between F1.1 (P1) and F1.7 (P7) entries of Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. Both lines are offspring of the cross between MS-90-2 and MS-88-110. A map based on random amplified polymorphic DNA markers previously constructed was used to perform the QTL analyses. This map was developed using a new mapping strategy that has been designated offspring cross. Eleven QTLs were detected for height, panicle height and diameter using the programme mapqtl 4.0 and the multiple QTL method. QTL significance was determined using several analyses, including Kruskal-Wallis analyses, empirical determination of LOD critical values using permutation tests, QTLs validation with field data over 2 years and co-localization of QTLs for correlated traits. The results obtained could be the first step in developing a marker-assisted selection programming in this species for biomass productio