Search Results (1,745)

The daily milk yield (DMY) is defined as the sum of milk produced during morning, midday, and evening milkings. This metric is the key parameter for quantifying a cow’s absolute production level and serves as the foundation for calculating economic traits such as 305-day total milk yield, fat yield, and protein yield, making it essential for evaluating lactation performance. Based on the data cleaning pipeline, 2992 valid records were retained from 3332 initial records through rigorous quality-control screening, this study systematically evaluated three critical lactation traits—daily milk yield and its milk components (milk fat percentage and milk protein percentage)—using complete lactation records from Huaxi cows and estimated their phenotypic and genetic parameters. Non-genetic factors (parity, season, and mature body weight) were corrected via the MIXED procedure coupled with a multi-trait animal model. The results showed that all considered non-genetic factors significantly influenced the lactation traits (p < 0.05), while daily milk yield (DMY), milk fat percentage (FP), and milk protein percentage (PP) all exhibited moderate to high heritability (0.29–0.38) (p < 0.01). Genetic evaluation of DMY and its milk components provides quantitative evidence for precision selection and optimized mating decisions in the Huaxi dairy population, thereby accelerating genetic progress in milk production, improving herd profitability, and promoting the development of the regional dairy industry. Full article

Nannorrhops ritchieana (Mazri) forests are found in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Oman. These forests are ecologically and economically important to local communities and exhibit complex spatial distributions. This research examines the distribution of Mazri forests and their responses to varying phosphorus levels across different climatic zones. We collected data from 508 plots in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan, gathering 500 g of soil from each plot for phosphorus analysis, along with measurements of abundance and various traits. A distribution map was constructed to assess the impact of phosphorus levels on Mazri forest distribution and traits across climatic zones. Using a PCA biplot, we visualized the abundance and density and studied the effects of different climatic and environmental factors. Our findings suggest that phosphorus levels do not significantly influence the distribution of Mazri forests, which vary across different climatic regions. Forests are stable in the eastern wet mountain zone (EWMZ) and northern dry mountain zone (NDMZ), although without a significant pattern. A weak positive correlation was observed in the western dry mountain zone (WDMZ). In contrast, the Sulaiman piedmont zone (SPMZ) presented minor variations in abundance, indicating that phosphorus, in conjunction with other edaphic and climatic factors, affects Mazri forest distribution and abundance. Further research is needed to investigate the combined effects of various soil nutrients and climatic factors on the distribution, abundance, and functional traits of Mazri forests across different regions. Full article

Leaf rust, a devastating fungal disease caused by Puccinia triticina (Pt), severely impacts wheat quality and yield. Identifying genetic loci for wheat leaf rust resistance, developing molecular markers, and breeding resistant varieties is the most environmentally friendly and economical strategy for disease control. This study utilized a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of Doumai and Shi4185, combined with the wheat 90 K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) chip data and maximum disease severity (MDS) of leaf rust from four environments, to identify adult plant resistance (APR) loci through linkage mapping. Additionally, kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers suitable for breeding were developed, and genetic effects were validated in a natural population. In this study, 5 quantitative trait loci (QTL) on chromosomes 1B (2), 2A and 7B (2) were identified through inclusive composite interval mapping, and named as QLr.lfnu-1BL1, QLr.lfnu-1BL2, QLr.lfnu-2AL, QLr.lfnu-7BL1 and QLr.lfnu-7BL2, respectively, explaining 4.54–8.91% of the phenotypic variances. The resistance alleles of QLr.lfnu-1BL1 and QLr.lfnu-1BL2 originated from Doumai, while the resistance alleles of QLr.lfnu-2AL, QLr.lfnu-7BL1 and QLr.lfnu-7BL2 came from Shi4185. Among these, QLr.lfnu-1BL2, QLr.lfnu-7BL1 and QLr.lfnu-7BL2 overlapped with previously reported loci, whereas QLr.lfnu-1BL1 and QLr.lfnu-2AL are likely to be novel. Two KASP markers, QLr.lfnu-2AL and QLr.lfnu-7BL, were significantly associated with leaf rust resistance in a diverse panel of 150 wheat varieties mainly from China. Totally, 34 potential candidate genes encoded the NLR proteins, receptor-like kinases, signaling kinases and transcription factors were selected as candidate genes for the resistance loci. These findings will provide stable QTL, available breeding KASP markers and candidate genes, and will accelerate the progresses of wheat leaf rust resistance improvement through marker-assisted selection breeding. Full article

Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski has been introduced to many countries due to its ornamental and economic value. However, it has been listed in the world’s 100 worst alien invasive species due to its invasive nature. This species easily escapes cultivation and forms dense ground covers. It reproduces asexually through ramet formation from stem fragments. It also produces a large number of viable seeds that establish extensive seed banks. The movement of stem fragments and the dispersal of seeds, coupled with human activity, contribute to its short- and long-distance distribution. S. trilobata grows rapidly due to its high nutrient absorption and photosynthetic abilities. It exhibits high genetic and epigenetic variation. It can adapt to the different habitats and tolerate various adverse environmental conditions, including cold and high temperatures, low and high light irradiation, low nutrient levels, waterlogging, drought, salinity and global warming. S. trilobata has powerful defense systems against herbivory and pathogen infection. These systems activate the jasmonic acid signaling pathway, producing several defensive compounds. This species may also acquire more resources through allelopathy, which suppresses the germination and growth of neighboring plants. These life history traits and defensive abilities likely contribute to its invasive nature. This is the first review to focus on the mechanisms of its invasiveness in terms of growth, and reproduction, as well as its ability to adapt to different environmental conditions and defend itself. Full article

The MADS-box transcription factors play essential roles in various processes of plant growth and development. Here, we identified 107 MADS-box genes in Osmanthus fragrans Lour. genome (OfMADS), encoding proteins ranging from 61 to 608 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into five subfamilies: MIKC*, MIKCC, Mα, Mβ, and Mγ, with conserved motif architectures within subfamilies. Tandem and whole-genome duplications were identified as key drivers of OfMADS expansion. Cis-regulatory element analysis revealed enrichment for hormone response and developmental regulatory motifs, implicating roles in growth and flowering processes. Transcriptome dynamics across six floral developmental stages (bolting to petal shedding) uncovered 78 differentially expressed OfMADS genes, including 16 exhibiting flower-specific expressions. Integrated metabolome profiling demonstrated robust correlations between critical OfMADS regulators and scent metabolites. This nexus suggests a potential role of these OfMADS in regulating specialized metabolite biosynthesis pathways. Our multi-omics study provides insights into the regulatory hierarchy of OfMADS in coordinating floral morphogenesis and the accumulation of economically significant metabolites in O. fragrans. These findings establish a foundation for subsequent functional validation and molecular breeding of horticultural traits. Full article

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is a widely cultivated and economically important fruit crop with increasing consumer demand worldwide. Nowadays, in Uzbekistan, strawberry cultivation surpasses that of many other fruits and vegetables in terms of production volume. However, most genetic studies have focused on a limited set of cultivars, leaving a substantial portion of varietal diversity unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic variability and heritability among selected strawberry cultivars, as well as correlations between certain valuable agronomic traits, using molecular and statistical approaches. Polymorphism analysis was performed, using 67 gene-specific SSR markers, through PCR, and allele variations were observed in 46.3% of the markers analyzed. Among them, 31 markers displayed polymorphic bands, identifying fifty alleles, with one to four alleles per marker. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA 11 software, while statistical evaluations included AMOVA (GenAIEx), correlation (OriginPro), and descriptive statistics based on standard agronomic methods. Additionally, the degree of cross-compatibility and pollen viability among the cultivars were studied, and their significance for cultivar hybridization was analyzed. The highest fruit weight was observed in the Cinderella cultivar (26.2 g), and a moderate negative correlation (r = −0.688) was found between fruit number and fruit weight. These findings demonstrate the potential of molecular tools for assessing genetic diversity and provide valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at developing improved strawberry cultivars with desirable agronomic traits. Full article

Guava (Psidium guajava L.), a perennial species native to tropical regions of the Americas, holds significant economic value and plays an important role in the global fruit industry. Although several reference genomes have been published, population-level genomic studies remain limited, hindering genetic improvement efforts. In this study, we conducted whole genome re-sequencing of 62 guava accessions, primarily from Southern China and Brazil. A total of 4,887,006 high-quality SNPs and 731,469 InDels were identified for population genomic analyses. Phylogenetic and population structure analyses revealed subgroupings that largely corresponded to geographic origins. The data indicated that extensive hybridization between accessions from Brazil and or within China has contributed to the development of many dominant commercial varieties. Genetic diversity analyses showed that Brazilian accessions exhibited higher nucleotide diversity and more rapid linkage disequilibrium decay than those from China. Environmental factors and artificial selection likely imposed selective pressures that shaped guava’s adaptability and agronomic traits. A preliminary genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified PgMYB4 as a candidate gene potentially associated with fruit flesh color. These findings provide novel insights into the genetic diversity, population history, and domestication of guava, and lay a valuable foundation for future breeding and improvement strategies. Full article

The green macroalgae Ulva Linnaeus, 1753, also known as sea lettuce, is one of the most ecologically and economically significant algal genera. Its representatives occur in marine, brackish, and freshwater environments worldwide and show high adaptability, rapid growth, and marked biochemical diversity. These traits support their ecological roles in nutrient cycling, primary productivity, and habitat provision, and they also explain their growing relevance to the blue bioeconomy. This review summarizes current knowledge of Ulva biodiversity, taxonomy, and physiology, and evaluates applications in food, feed, bioremediation, biofuel, pharmaceuticals, and biomaterials. Particular attention is given to molecular approaches that resolve taxonomic difficulties and to biochemical profiles that determine nutritional value and industrial potential. This review also considers risks and limitations. Ulva species can act as hyperaccumulators of heavy metals, microplastics, and organic pollutants, which creates safety concerns for food and feed uses and highlights the necessity of strict monitoring and quality control. Technical and economic barriers restrict large-scale use in energy and material production. By presenting both opportunities and constraints, this review stresses the dual role of Ulva as a promising bioresource and a potential ecological risk. Future research must integrate molecular genetics, physiology, and applied studies to support sustainable utilization and ensure safe contributions of Ulva to biodiversity assessment, environmental management, and bioeconomic development. Full article

Melon has great economic importance in Brazil, and flower development is the basis for fruit and seed production. The objective of this study was to elucidate the variability of flowering characteristics and to compare qualitative and quantitative reproductive variations in relation to pollen viability and stigmatic receptivity in 21 genotypes, which includes 15 Brazilian accessions. In addition, we evaluated the influence of time on the growth of the pollen tube and its arrival at the ovule in vivo at different intervals (1 h, 2 h, 3 h) after hand pollination in three commercial varieties, one exotic accession, and two intervarietal hybrids, by epifluorescence technique. Three groups were distributed by the clustering method of Scott–Knott at 5% probability; group III included only commercial varieties for the flower width descriptor. C. melo germplasm presented 81% andromonoecious plants and 19% trimonoecious plants. Through the multivariate strategy, these 21 genotypes were distributed into six groups with distinct reproductive characteristics, and male flowering was accelerated compared to female flowering. Regarding pollen viability, it was greater than 95% according to staining methods. Pollen germination rate in vivo was affected by time, with an almost 12.5% increase between 1 h and 3 h after hand pollination, and the in vivo pollen germination in hybrids was lower than in commercial varieties. Brazilian accessions, despite stability in pollen viability and stigma receptivity, have great differences in reproductive terms, such as variations in the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of floral pieces and flowering. This work contributes to the knowledge on varieties, hybrids, exotic accession, and Brazilian melon germplasm by characterizing some of their main agricultural traits, such as reproduction floral biology, and opens up prospects for yield evaluation in plant breeding programs. Full article

Tanacetum balsamita L. is a medicinal and aromatic plant of high economic value, yet its tissue culture and micropropagation protocols remain poorly developed. This study evaluated and compared two in vitro culture systems, semisolid medium (SS) and Temporary Immersion System (TIS), for enhancing biomass production and growth performance, in terms of relative growth rate (RGR), photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll content, antiradical capacity, and anatomical development. The results demonstrated that the TIS significantly improved RGR, photosynthetic performance, and antiradical activity, and promoted the anatomical development that facilitated greenhouse acclimatization. Machine learning (ML) models, including Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and Random Forest (RF), were employed to predict morphological and biochemical traits. MLP achieved the highest predictive accuracy (R² > 0.95) and lowest error metrics for complex, nonlinear traits such as chlorophyll content and antiradical activity, whereas RF excelled in predicting morphological traits with more uniform variance, such as leaf number and shoot length. Overall, this study demonstrates that the TIS provides a high-yield, economically crucial strategy for the micropropagation of T. balsamita, and that integrating ML-based predictive modeling can enhance parameter optimization and phenotyping precision. This combined approach offers a valuable framework for advancing tissue culture research in medicinal and aromatic plants through both production efficiency and data-driven decision-making. Full article

Reducing nitrogen (N) fertilizer input while sustaining maize yield and alleviating nitrogen leaching is a significant challenge due to economic and practical feasibility, as well as the environmental friendliness of this process. However, it remains unclear whether reducing nitrogen by using a blend of slow/controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer (SCRNF) with urea at an equal nitrogen rate can achieve the desired yield and mitigate nitrogen leaching. A field experiment consisting of four treatments (240 kg·N·hm⁻², 100% urea, CK; 240 kg·N·hm⁻², 50% N from urea and 50% N from SCRNF, N100%; 192 kg·N·hm⁻², 50% N from urea and 50% N from SCRNF under 20% N reduction, NR20%; 144 kg·N·hm⁻², 50% N from urea and 50% N from SCRNF under 40% N reduction, NR40%) was conducted in Shanxi from 2019 to 2021. In this study, we explored the effects of a mixture of SCRNF and urea on grain yield, yield components, main agronomic traits, nitrogen partial factor productivity, and content of nitrate/ammonium nitrogen in soil in maize under decreasing amounts of nitrogen fertilization. The results showed that the mixture of SCRNF and urea can improve spring maize yield under reduced nitrogen input, with its yield and yield component factors generally performing better than those of the control. The yield of the NR20% treatment was highest in 2020 and 2021, increasing by 8.8% and 11.7% over CK, respectively; the NR20% and NR40% treatments had no significant impact on the main agronomic traits of spring maize, such as plant height, leaf area, shoot biomass, and SPAD value of the ear leaf, compared with CK; the NR20% and NR40% treatments significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced nitrogen partial factor productivity but reduced nitrate and ammonium nitrogen in 0~200 cm soil over the three years compared with CK. Therefore, reducing nitrogen input by 20% with 50% N from urea and 50% N from biodegradable film-coated urea was an appropriate nitrogen fertilizer management measure for mitigating environmental risks without compromising maize yield in North China. Full article

Abdominal fat is a key indicator of chicken meat quality. Excessive deposition not only reduces meat quality but also decreases feed conversion efficiency, making the breeding of low-abdominal-fat strains economically important. Genomic selection (GS) uses information from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and high-throughput sequencing data. It estimates genomic breeding values (GEBVs) from genotypes, which enables early and precise selection. Given that abdominal fat is a polygenic trait controlled by numerous small-effect loci, this study combined population genetic analyses with machine learning (ML)-based feature selection. Relevant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were first identified using a combined GWAS and linkage disequilibrium (LD) approach, followed by a two-stage feature selection process—Lasso for dimensionality reduction and recursive feature elimination (RFE) for refinement—to generate the model input set. We evaluated multiple machine learning models for predicting genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs). The results showed that linear models and certain nonlinear models achieved higher accuracy and were well suited as base learners for ensemble methods. Building on these findings, we developed a Dynamic Adaptive Weighted Stacking Ensemble Learning Framework (DAWSELF), which applies dynamic weighting and voting to heterogeneous base learners and integrates them layer by layer, with Ridge serving as the meta-learner. In three independent validation populations, DAWSELF consistently outperformed individual models and conventional stacking frameworks in prediction accuracy. This work establishes an efficient GEBV prediction framework for complex traits such as chicken abdominal fat and provides a reusable SNP feature selection strategy, offering practical value for enhancing the precision of poultry breeding and improving product quality. Full article

Cotton is a vital economic crop, and cotton fiber serves as the primary raw material for the textile industry. Lignin in cotton fiber is closely associated with fiber quality. Lignin is synthesized through the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway, where the cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene CAD6 plays a significant role. In this study, we obtained successfully transformed overexpression plants by constructing an overexpression vector and performing genetic transformation and tissue culture. To verify the function of the GhCAD6 gene in upland cotton, we analyzed the agronomic traits, fiber quality, cell wall structure, and lignin content of GhCAD6-overexpressing plants. Our results indicate that the GhCAD6 gene is predominantly expressed during the stages of fiber elongation and secondary wall synthesis. Overexpression of the GhCAD6 gene resulted in increased plant lignin content and fiber upper half mean length, boll number per plant, fiber uniformity index, strength, and lint were improved. The fiber surface was smoother, and the fiber cell wall was more compact. These findings demonstrate that the GhCAD6 gene positively regulates lignin synthesis and fiber quality formation, contributing to the enhancement of cotton fiber quality. Full article

To identify molecular markers associated with wool traits in fine-wool sheep, we examined genetic polymorphisms in the NOTCH2 and CD1A genes in 944 Subo Merino sheep in this study. Subsequently, we performed association analyses between mutation sites in the NOTCH2 and CD1A genes and wool traits using SAS 9.4 software, followed by linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis of different mutation sites using Haploview 4.2 software. Additionally, bioinformatics tools were employed to predict the potential impacts of missense mutations on protein secondary and tertiary structures. Finally, quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to assess the expression levels of the NOTCH2 and CD1A genes. Genetic analysis revealed six polymorphic sites in NOTCH2 and CD1A, all of which were missense mutations. Two SNPs in NOTCH2 (SNP1 and SNP2) showed significant associations with the coefficient of variation of fibre diameter, and SNP1 was also associated with greasy fleece weight. Four SNPs in CD1A (SNP3–SNP6) were significantly associated with fibre diameter standard deviation, and SNP3, SNP4, and SNP5 were additionally associated with crimp number. LD analysis revealed that SNP3, SNP4, and SNP5 were closely linked. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the mutations caused alterations in the secondary and tertiary structures of the NOTCH2 and CD1A proteins. qPCR results showed that the CD1A gene was highly expressed in the fine wool fibre group compared with the ultra-fine wool fibre group. In conclusion, this study revealed a genetic association between NOTCH2 and CD1A and wool traits. The results are expected to provide a theoretical foundation for breeding wool traits in Subo Merino sheep, thereby enhancing the economic value of fine wool. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to identify genes linked to phenotypic traits in Apis cerana cerana through a genome-wide association study. Methods: Genomic data was collected from 116 workers across 12 regions in Guizhou Province, China, and 15 morphological traits were measured, including proboscis length, femur length, tibia length, tarsus length, tarsus width, tergite III and IV length, sternite III length, wax mirror length on sternite III, wax mirror slanted length on sternite III, wax mirror interval on sternite III, sternite VI length, sternite VI width, forewing length, forewing width, and cubital index. Then, a genome-wide association study was performed on these traits. Results: The analysis identified 12 SNPs significantly associated with tergite III and IV length, along with 2 SNPs linked to wax mirror length on sternite III, and 7 SNPs related to the wax mirror interval on sternite III. Eleven candidate genes for tergite III and IV length, two genes for wax mirror length on sternite III, and seven genes for wax mirror interval on sternite III were identified. These genes encode proteins involved in Longitudinals, Zinc, Lamin, BTB/POZ, Dyneins, and Phospholipases. Conclusions: The discovered SNPs and their corresponding genes may regulate the lateral and longitudinal development of the tergum and sternum in the A. c. cerana. Continued in-depth research on these aspects will help clarify how these SNPs regulate the tergum and sternum, thereby enhancing economic returns for beekeepers and promoting the conservation of germplasm resources in the native Apis cerana cerana. Full article