Exploring Endophytic Fungi as Natural Antagonists against Fungal Pathogens of Food Crops.

The yield and quality of cultivated food crops are frequently compromised by the prevalent threat from fungal pathogens that can cause widespread damage in both the pre-harvest and post-harvest stages. This paper investigates the challenges posed by fungal pathogens to the sustainability and yield of essential food crops, leading to significant economic and food security repercussions. The paper critiques the long-standing reliance on synthetic fungicides, emphasizing the environmental and health concerns arising from their widespread and occasionally inappropriate use.

Genomic analyses of agronomic traits in tea plants and related species.

The genus contains three types of domesticates that meet various needs of ancient humans: the ornamental , the edible oil-producing , and the beverage-purposed tea plant . The genomic drivers of the functional diversification of domesticates remain unknown. Here, we present the genomic variations of 625 accessions based on a new genome assembly of var.

Genetic analyses of ancient tea trees provide insights into the breeding history and dissemination of Chinese Assam tea ( var. ).

Chinese Assam tea ( var. ) is an important tea crop with a long history of cultivation in Yunnan, China. Despite its potential value as a genetic resource, its genetic diversity and domestication/breeding history remain unclear.

A novel genotypic selection methodology to create a breeding population for developing drought-tolerant cultivars in tree crops.

With the adverse effects of climate change, selecting the best tolerant varieties to drought stress is highly necessary to sustain the yield and productivity of agricultural crops including tree crops. However, classical drought tolerance selection studies of tree crops have several limitations due to their relatively long lifespan. In this study, we propose a method to identify stable high-yielding trees under changing soil moisture conditions using yield data of existing elite tree populations.

From the Wild to the Cup: Tracking Footprints of the Tea Species in Time and Space.

Tea is one of the world's most popular beverages, known for its cultural significance and numerous health benefits. A clear understanding of the origin and history of domestication of the tea species is a fundamental pre-requisite for effective germplasm conservation and improvement. Though there is a general consensus about the center of origin of the tea plant, the evolutionary origin and expansion history of the species remain shrouded in controversy, with studies often reporting conflicting findings.