Preliminary Evidence of a Horizontal Transfer of Paramutation Phenomenon at the Gene in Maize ( L.).

Paramutation, a specific epigenetic phenomenon first identified in by Alexander Brink in the 1950s, has since been observed in different plant and animal species. What sets paramutation apart from other gene silencing processes is its ability for one silenced allele (referred to as paramutagenic) to silence another allele (paramutable) in trans. The resultant silenced allele (paramutated) remains stable across generations, even after separating from the paramutagenic allele, and acquires paramutagenic properties itself.

Genetic Improvement of (L.) Crantz: Opportunities and Challenges.

In recent years, a renewed interest in novel crops has been developing due to the environmental issues associated with the sustainability of agricultural practices. In particular, a cover crop, (L.) Crantz, belonging to the Brassicaceae family, is attracting the scientific community's interest for several desirable features.

Study of Seed Ageing in Maize Mutant and Two Possible Approaches to Restore Seed Germination.

Phytic acid (PA) is a strong anti-nutritional factor with a key antioxidant role in countering reactive oxygen species. Despite the potential benefits of () mutants, the reduction of PA causes pleiotropic effects, e.g.

The Potential of Mutant in Maize ( L.): A Sustainable Solution to Non-Renewable Phosphorus.

Background: Phosphorus is an essential component of fertilizers and feed and in recent decades has become one of the main sustainability issues as a non-renewable resource. In plant seeds, the main reserve of phosphorus is phytic acid, a strong anti-nutritional factor for monogastrics and a pollutant of cultivated lands. The reduction of phytic acid in cereal seeds has become a major challenge in breeding programs to increase the nutritional quality of foods and feeds and to improve the environmental phosphorus sustainability in agriculture.

Priming Treatments with Biostimulants to Cope the Short-Term Heat Stress Response: A Transcriptomic Profile Evaluation.

Plant stress induced by high temperature is a problem in wide areas of different regions in the world. The trend of global warming is going to enhance the effects of heat stress on crops in many cultivation areas. Heat stress impairs the stability of cell membranes and many biological processes involving both primary and secondary metabolism.