Identification of sources of resistance to scald () and of related genomic regions using genome-wide association in a mapping panel of spring barley.

Barley is an important crop worldwide known for its adaptation to harsh environments and used in multiple forms as feed, food and beverages. Its productivity is affected by major abiotic and biotic stresses. Scald caused by hemibiotrophic fungus is a major foliar disease in many parts of the world.

CGIAR Barley Breeding Toolbox: A diversity panel to facilitate breeding and genomic research in the developing world.

Breeding programs in developing countries still cannot afford the new genotyping technologies, hindering their research. We aimed to assemble an Association Mapping panel to serve as CGIAR Barley Breeding Toolbox (CBBT), especially for the Developing World. The germplasm had to be representative of the one grown in the Developing World; with high genetic variability and be of public domain.

Shedding Light on Races of the Spinach Fusarium Wilt Pathogen, f. sp. .

Two pathogenicity groups of f. sp. , the causal agent of Fusarium wilt of spinach (), were described recently based on virulence of isolates on proprietary spinach inbreds.

Genetic Diversity, Structure, and Selective Sweeps in Associated With the Domestication of Cultivated Spinach.

Genotype-by-sequencing (GBS) was used to explore the genetic diversity and structure of , and the selective sweeps involved in domestication of cultivated spinach, , from . A total 7,065 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated for 16 and 76 accessions placed the accessions in one group, 1, and the 76 accessions, which originated from Central Asia, in two distinct groups, 2 and 3. The 2 group shared greater genetic identity with the accessions, 1, than the 3 group.

Genome Wide Association Mapping of Spot Blotch Resistance at Seedling and Adult Plant Stages in Barley.

Barley spot blotch (SB) caused by is one of the major constrains to barley production in warmer regions worldwide. The study was undertaken to identify and estimate effects of loci underlying quantitative resistance to SB at the seedling and adult plant stages. A panel of 261 high input (HI-AM) barley genotypes consisting of released cultivars, advanced breeding lines, and landraces, was screened for resistance to SB.

Genome Wide Association Mapping of Seedling and Adult Plant Resistance to Barley Stripe Rust ( f. sp. ) in India.

Barley stripe rust is caused by f.sp. , (Psh), occurs worldwide, and is a major disease in South Asia.

The Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Slt2 mitogen-activated protein kinase ortholog, SMK3, is required for infection initiation but not lesion expansion.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play a central role in transferring signals and regulating gene expression in response to extracellular stimuli. An ortholog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall integrity MAPK was identified in the phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Disruption of the S.

Microsatellite markers used for genome-wide association mapping of partial resistance to in a world collection of .

The fungal pathogen causes stem rot of oilseed rape () worldwide. In preparation for genome-wide association mapping (GWAM) of sclerotinia resistance in , 152 accessions from diverse geographical regions were screened with a single Canadian isolate, #321. Plants were inoculated by attaching mycelium plugs to the main stem at full flower.

Plant breeding can be made more efficient by having fewer, better crosses.

Background: Crop yields have to increase to provide food security for the world's growing population. To achieve these yield increases there will have to be a significant contribution from genetic gains made by conventional plant breeding. However, the breeding process is not efficient because crosses made between parental combinations that fail to produce useful varieties consume over 99% of the resources.

Phenotypic and Molecular Diversity of Cochliobolus sativus Populations from Wheat.

Spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus, is a devastating foliar disease of wheat in Nepal and in the Northern Great Plains of the United States. However, limited information on variation in virulence and genetic structure of C. sativus from wheat is available.

Trichothecene profiling and population genetic analysis of Gibberella zeae from barley in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Gibberella zeae, the principal cause of Fusarium head blight (FHB) of barley, contaminates grains with several mycotoxins, which creates a serious problem for the malting barley industry in the United States, China, and Europe. However, limited studies have been conducted on the trichothecene profiles and population genetic structure of G. zeae isolates collected from barley in the United States.

A global perspective of the richness and evenness of traditional crop-variety diversity maintained by farming communities.

Varietal data from 27 crop species from five continents were drawn together to determine overall trends in crop varietal diversity on farm. Measurements of richness, evenness, and divergence showed that considerable crop genetic diversity continues to be maintained on farm, in the form of traditional crop varieties. Major staples had higher richness and evenness than nonstaples.