Evaluation of a dill ( L.) gene bank germplasm collection using multivariate analysis of morphological traits, molecular genotyping and chemical composition to identify novel genotypes for plant breeding.

Dill ( L.) is an aromatic herb widely used in the food industry, with several commercial cultivars available with different qualitative characteristics. Commercial cultivars are usually preferred over landraces due to their higher yield and also the lack of improved landraces than can be commercialized.

A comprehensive RNA-Seq-based gene expression atlas of the summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) provides insights into fruit morphology and ripening mechanisms.

Background: Summer squash (Cucurbita pepo: Cucurbitaceae) are a popular horticultural crop for which there is insufficient genomic and transcriptomic information. Gene expression atlases are crucial for the identification of genes expressed in different tissues at various plant developmental stages. Here, we present the first comprehensive gene expression atlas for a summer squash cultivar, including transcripts obtained from seeds, shoots, leaf stem, young and developed leaves, male and female flowers, fruits of seven developmental stages, as well as primary and lateral roots.

Whole-genome resequencing of morphotypes to discover genomic variants associated with morphology and horticulturally valuable traits.

contains two cultivated subspecies, each of which encompasses four fruit-shape morphotypes (cultivar groups). The Pumpkin, Vegetable Marrow, Cocozelle, and Zucchini Groups are of subsp. and the Acorn, Crookneck, Scallop, and Straightneck Groups are of subsp.

Effect οf Genotype and Growing Year on the Nutritional, Phytochemical, and Antioxidant Properties of Industrial Hemp ( L.) Seeds.

L. seeds have been an important source of protein, oil, and dietary fiber for human and animals. Currently, there is a growing interest in the commercial products of these seeds, which are recognized as a legitimate source of medicaments, cosmeceuticals, and nutraceuticals.

Expanding Phaseolus coccineus Genomic Resources: De Novo Transcriptome Assembly and Analysis of Landraces 'Gigantes' and 'Elephantes' Reveals Rich Functional Variation.

Beans are one of the most important staple crops in the world. Runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.) is a small-scale agriculture crop compared to common bean (Phaseolusvulgaris).

Comparative metagenomics reveals alterations in the soil bacterial community driven by N-fertilizer and Amino 16® application in lettuce.

Nutrients in the form of fertilizers and/or other additives such as amino acids, dramatically influence plant development and growth, plant nutrient composition and the level of soil pollution. Moreover, the treatment of soil microbiota is emerging as a new strategy in plant breeding to achieve desirable traits. Thus, integrated study of fertilizer application and soil microbiota might lead to a better understanding of soil-plant interactions and inform the design of novel ways to fertilize plants.

De novo comparative transcriptome analysis of genes involved in fruit morphology of pumpkin cultivars with extreme size difference and development of EST-SSR markers.

The genetic basis of fruit size and shape was investigated for the first time in Cucurbita species and genetic loci associated with fruit morphology have been identified. Although extensive genomic resources are available at present for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), melon (Cucumis melo) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), genomic databases for Cucurbita species are limited. Recently, our group reported the generation of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) transcriptome databases from two contrasting cultivars with extreme fruit sizes.

Identification and evidence of positive selection upon resistance gene analogs in cotton ( L.).

Upland cotton ( L.) is an important fiber crop species, which is intensively plagued by a plethora of phytopathogenic fungi such as f. sp.

DNA barcode ITS2 coupled with high resolution melting (HRM) analysis for taxonomic identification of Sideritis species growing in Greece.

Identification of genotypes in Sideritis is complicated owing to the morphological similarity and common occurrence of natural hybridisation within Sideritis species. Species- and genotype-specific DNA markers are very useful for plant identification, breeding and preservation programs. Herein, a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of ITS2 barcode region coupled with high resolution melting-curve (HRM) analysis was evaluated for an accurate, rapid and sensitive tool for species identification focusing on seven Sideritis species growing in Greece.

Isolation of a CENTRORADIALIS/TERMINAL FLOWER1 homolog in saffron (Crocus sativus L.): characterization and expression analysis.

Genes in the phosphatidyl-ethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) family are instrumental in regulating the fate of meristems and flowering time. To investigate the role of these genes in the monocotyledonous plant Crocus (Crocus sativus L), an industrially important crop cultivated for its nutritional and medicinal properties, we have cloned and characterized a CENTRORADIALIS/TERMINAL FLOWER1 (CEN/TFL1) like gene, named CsatCEN/TFL1-like, the first reported CEN/TFL1 gene characterized from such a perennial geophyte. Sequence analysis revealed that CsatCEN/TFL1 shows high similarity to its homologous PEBP family genes CEN/TFL1, FT and MFT from a variety of plant species and maintains the same exon/intron organization.

Characterization of PROFILIN genes from allotetraploid (Gossypium hirsutum) cotton and its diploid progenitors and expression analysis in cotton genotypes differing in fiber characteristics.

The actin-binding protein profilin (PRF) plays an important role in cell growth and expansion by regulating the organization of the actin filaments. Recent studies have reported association between fiber elongation in cultivated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and PRF expression. In the present study, we cloned four genomic clones from allotetraploid cotton (G.

The study of the E-class SEPALLATA3-like MADS-box genes in wild-type and mutant flowers of cultivated saffron crocus (Crocus sativus L.) and its putative progenitors.

To further understand flowering and flower organ formation in the monocot crop saffron crocus (Crocus sativus L.), we cloned four MIKC(c) type II MADS-box cDNA sequences of the E-class SEPALLATA3 (SEP3) subfamily designated CsatSEP3a/b/c/c_as as well as the three respective genomic sequences. Sequence analysis showed that cDNA sequences of CsatSEP3 c and c_as are the products of alternative splicing of the CsatSEP3c gene.

famRCA-RACE: a rolling circle amplification race for isolating a family of homologous cDNAs in one reaction and its application to obtain NAC genes transcription factors from crocus (Crocus sativus) flower.

We describe an improvement of the RCA-RACE (rolling circle amplification-rapid amplification of cDNA ends) method, called family RCA-RACE (famRCA-RACE). The method is based on the generation of circular cDNA fragments, followed by rolling circle amplification of the circular cDNA using phi29 DNA polymerase and the application of PCR using degenerate outworking primers, designed for a conserved region of homologous genes, that allows the isolation of homologous cDNA sequences expressed in the mRNA preparation in a single polymerase chain reaction (PCR). As an example we present the isolation of seven NAC-like transcription factors cDNA sequences expressed in Crocus sativus flower, used for saffron production.

Cloning, structural characterization, and phylogenetic analysis of flower MADS-box genes from crocus (Crocus sativus L.).

Crocus (Crocus sativus L.) is a crop species cultivated for its flowers and, more specifically, for its red stigmas. The flower of crocus is bisexual and sterile, since crocus is a triploid species.

Heterotopic expression of B-class floral homeotic genes PISTILLATA/GLOBOSA supports a modified model for crocus (Crocus sativus L.) flower formation.

For uncovering and understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling flower development in cultivated Crocus sativus and particularly the transformation of sepals in outer whorl (whorl 1) tepals, we have cloned and characterized the expression of a family of five PISTILLATA/GLOBOSA-like (PI/GLO-like) MADS-box genes expressed in the C. sativus flower. The deduced amino acid sequences of the coded proteins indicated high homology with members of the MADS-box family of transcription factors, and particularly with other members of the PI/GLO family of MADS-box proteins that control floral organ identity.