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The present study was carried out to evaluate and characterize, for the first time, the genetic potential of a collection of onion (Allium cepa L.) local accessions from the arid region of southern Tunisia. The genetic diversity among 135 onion individuals, belonging to 23 accessions, was evaluated using microsatellite (SSR) markers and phenotypic information. A total of 35 alleles were generated with 11 SSRs. The polymorphic information content (PIC) value ranged from 0.08 to 0.95, with an average PIC of 0.43. The expected heterozygosity averaged 0.37, and the observed heterozygosity averaged 0.42. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that 79% of genetic variation existed within individuals. Structure and cluster analysis grouped the accessions into two major clusters: landraces and pre-breeding lines. For the phenotypic traits evaluated, field trials were conducted in two different environments. Significant differences among accessions were shown, and for most traits, there was also a significant environmental effect and a significant interaction between environment and accession. Great variability was found for all the traits that could be exploited to create new varieties of onion adapted to local conditions by selecting appropriate parents in hybridization breeding.

The assessment of genetic diversity and structure of a gene pool is a prerequisite for efficient organization, conservation, and utilization for crop improvement. This study evaluated the genetic diversity and population structure of 24 Tunisian melon accessions, by using 24 phenotypic traits and eight microsatellite (SSR) markers. A considerable phenotypic diversity among accessions was observed for many characters including those related to agronomical performance. All the microsatellites were polymorphic and detected 30 distinct alleles with a moderate (0.43) polymorphic information content. Shannon’s diversity index (0.82) showed a high degree of polymorphism between melon genotypes. The observed heterozygosity (0.10) was less than the expected heterozygosity (0.12), displaying a deficit in heterozygosity because of selection pressure. Molecular clustering and structure analyses based on SSRs separated melon accessions into five groups and showed an intermixed genetic structure between landraces and breeding lines belonging to the different botanical groups. Phenotypic clustering separated the accessions into two main clusters belonging to sweet and non-sweet melon; however, a more precise clustering among inodorus, cantalupensis, and reticulatus subgroups was obtained using combined phenotypic–molecular data. The discordance between phenotypic and molecular data was confirmed by a negative correlation (r = −0.16, p = 0.06) as revealed by the Mantel test. Despite these differences, both markers provided important information about the diversity of the melon germplasm, allowing the correct use of these accessions in future breeding programs. Together they provide a powerful tool for future agricultural and conservation tasks.

The cliff rose (Armeria maritima), like other halophytes, has a phenolics-based antioxidant system that allows it to grow in saline habitats. Provided that antioxidant properties are usually accompanied by antimicrobial activity, in this study we investigated the phytochemicals present in a hydromethanolic extract of A. maritima flowers and explored its antifungal potential. The main phytocompounds, identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, were: hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid, 3-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-acrylic acid ethyl ester, and benzeneacetaldehyde. The antifungal activity of the extract and its main constituents—alone and in combination with chitosan oligomers—was tested against six pathogenic taxa associated with soil-borne diseases of plant hosts in the family Cucurbitaceae: Fusarium equiseti, F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Neocosmospora falciformis, N. keratoplastica, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. In in vitro tests, EC90 effective concentrations in the 166−865 μg·mL−1 range were obtained for the chitosan oligomers–A. maritima extract conjugate complexes, lower than those obtained for fosetyl-Al and azoxystrobin synthetic fungicides tested for comparison purposes, and even outperforming mancozeb against F. equiseti. In ex situ tests against S. sclerotiorum conducted on artificially inoculated cucumber slices, full protection was achieved at a dose of 250 μg·mL−1. Thus, the reported results support the valorization of A. maritima as a source of biorationals for Cucurbitaceae pathogens protection, suitable for both organic and conventional agriculture.

Key message Loci on LGIV, VI, and VIII of melon genome are involved in the control of fruit domestication-related traits and they are candidate to have played a role in the domestication of the crop. The fruit of wild melons is very small (20–50 g) without edible pulp, contrasting with the large size and high pulp content of cultivated melon fruits. An analysis of quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling fruit morphology domestication-related traits was carried out using an in vitro maintained F 2 population from the cross between the Indian wild melon “Trigonus” and the western elite cultivar ‘Piel de Sapo’. Twenty-seven QTL were identified in at least two out of the three field trials. Six of them were also being detected in BC1 and BC3 populations derived from the same cross. Ten of them were related to fruit morphological traits, 12 to fruit size characters, and 5 to pulp content. The Trigonus alleles decreased the value of the characters, except for the QTL at andromonoecious gene at linkage group (LG) II, and the QTL for pulp content at LGV. QTL genotypes accounted for a considerable degree of the total phenotypic variation, reaching up to 46%. Around 66% of the QTL showed additive gene action, 19% exhibited dominance, and 25% consisted of overdominance. The regions on LGIV, VI, and VIII included the QTL with more consistent and strong effects on domestication-related traits. QTLs on those regions were validated in BC2S1, BC2S2, and BC3 families, with “Trigonus” allele decreasing the fruit morphological traits in all cases. The validated QTL could represent loci involved in melon domestication, although further experiments as genomic variation studies across wild and cultivated genotypes would be necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

Background Adult height is a cumulative indicator of living standards with mean height increasing with a greater socio-economic level. Guatemalan adult women have the lowest mean height worldwide. The country’s population is ethnically divided between indigenous and non-indigenous groups. This study aims to identify trends in the mean height for indigenous and non-indigenous adult women born between 1945 and 1995 in Guatemala and the association with individual, household and environmental factors. Methods We used pooled data of adult women from five Demographic and Health Surveys. Mixed-effects multilevel linear regression models estimate the mean height associated with the explanatory variables. Mean height was modelled as a function of birth year cohort, wealth, education, geo-administrative regions and elevation. Results The mean height increased 0.021 cm per year on average. The annual increase for indigenous women was 0.027 cm, while 0.017 cm for non-indigenous women. Height is associated with household wealth and women’s education level. We found an interaction effect between ethnicity and household wealth, with indigenous women at the lowest quintile 0.867 cm shorter than the corresponding non-indigenous group. Height is associated with the geo-administrative region, those women in western regions being shorter than those in the metropolis. Mean height is reduced 0.980 cm for each 1000 m increase in elevation. Conclusions Guatemalan women have grown only 1 cm over half century, a slow improvement between 1945 and 1995, a period characterised by political instability and civil war. There are persistent inequalities in women’s height associated with socio-economic status, education and attributes of the geographical context. These aspects need to be considered when implementing strategies to encourage growth. Further research is required to understand the evolution of adult height and the standard of living in post-war Guatemala.

A half-diallel cross study of seven melon inbred lines was carried out. The seven parents and their 21 F1 hybrids were evaluated for precocity of maturity, average weight per fruit, and fruit quality (fruit size, rind thickness, and soluble solids). The Diallel analysis was investigated for breeding values of these melon genotypes via general and specific combining ability, relationships between general and specific combining ability, and heterosis for the evaluated traits. The analysis of variance of the traits evaluated indicated highly significant differences among genotypes, suggesting the presence of adequate genetic variation for breeding. Additive genetic effects were most important with respect to fruit weight, while genetic dominance and epistasis effects mainly controlled fruit quality traits (fruit size, rind thickness, and TSS). Parent 1 (P1) and parent 3 (P3) had significant positive general combining ability effects for fruit weight. Also, P3 had positive general combining ability effects for fruit length and diameter, and cavity diameter. P3 was found to show maximum significant GCA in the desirable direction for all the traits except for TSS. Evaluation of heterosis (%) revealed that hybrid P1 × P3 can be considered as the best-performing hybrid for average fruit weight, TSS, and precocity, which also exhibited the highest positive and significant SCA effect for these traits. These results suggested that, among the melon genotypes studied, there is the potential to generate superior new varieties in hybrid production.

The performance of snake melon [Cucumis melo var. flexuosus (L.)] in organic farming was studied under high biotic and salt stress conditions. Soilborne diseases (mainly caused by Macrophomina phaseolina and Neocosmospora falciformis), combined with virus incidence [Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), and Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV)] and Podosphaera xanthii attacks, reduced yield by more than 50%. Snake melon susceptibility to M. phaseolina and Monosporascus cannonballus was proved in pathogenicity tests, while it showed some degree of resistance to Neocosmospora keratoplastica and N. falciformis. On the contrary, salt stress had a minor impact, although a synergic effect was detected: yield losses caused by biotic stress increased dramatically when combined with salt stress. Under biotic stress, grafting onto the melon F1Pat81 and wild Cucumis rootstocks consistently reduced plant mortality in different agroecological conditions, with a better performance compared to classic Cucurbita commercial hybrids. Yield was even improved under saline conditions in grafted plants. A negative effect was detected, though, on consumer acceptability, especially with the use of Cucurbita rootstocks. Cucumis F1Pat81 rootstock minimized this side effect, which was probably related to changes in the profile of sugars, acids, and volatiles. Grafting affected sugars and organic acid contents, with this effect being more accentuated with the use of Cucurbita rootstocks than with Cucumis. In fact, the latter had a higher impact on the volatile organic compound profile than on sugar and acid profile, which may have resulted in a lower effect on consumer perception. The use of Cucumis rootstocks seems to be a strategy to enable organic farming production of snake melon targeted to high-quality markets in order to promote the cultivation of this neglected crop.

BackgroundMaternal nutrition in preconception and early pregnancy influences fetal growth. Evidence for effects of prenatal maternal nutrition on early child development (ECD) in low-income and middle-income countries is limited.ObjectivesTo examine impact of maternal nutrition supplementation initiated prior to or during pregnancy on ECD, and to examine potential association of postnatal growth with ECD domains.DesignSecondary analysis regarding the offspring of participants of a maternal multicountry, individually randomised trial.SettingRural Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala, India and Pakistan.Participants667 offspring of Women First trial participants, aged 24 months.InterventionMaternal lipid-based nutrient supplement initiated preconceptionally (arm 1, n=217), 12 weeks gestation (arm 2, n=230) or not (arm 3, n=220); intervention stopped at delivery.Main outcome measuresThe INTERGROWTH-21st Neurodevelopment Assessment (INTER-NDA) cognitive, language, gross motor, fine motor, positive and negative behaviour scores; visual acuity and contrast sensitivity scores and auditory evoked response potentials (ERP). Anthropometric z-scores, family care indicators (FCI) and sociodemographic variables were examined as covariates.ResultsNo significant differences were detected among the intervention arms for any INTER-NDA scores across domains, vision scores or ERP potentials. After adjusting for covariates, length-for-age z-score at 24 months (LAZ24), socio-economic status, maternal education and FCI significantly predicted vision and INTER-NDA scores (R2=0.11–0.38, p<0.01).ConclusionsPrenatal maternal nutrition supplementation was not associated with any neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 2 years. Maternal education, family environment and LAZ24 predicted ECD. Interventions addressing multiple components of the nurturing care model may offer greatest impact on children’s developmental potential.Trial registration numberNCT01883193.

The sexual expression of watermelon plants is the result of the distribution and occurrence of male, female, bisexual and hermaphrodite flowers on the main and secondary stems. Plants can be monoecious (producing male and female flowers), andromonoecious (producing male and hermaphrodite flowers), or partially andromonoecious (producing male, female, bisexual, and hermaphrodite flowers) within the same plant. Sex determination of individual floral buds and the distribution of the different flower types on the plant, are both controlled by ethylene. A single missense mutation in the ethylene biosynthesis gene , is able to promote the conversion of female into hermaphrodite flowers, and therefore of monoecy (genotype ) into partial andromonoecy (genotype ) or andromonoecy (genotype ). We phenotyped and genotyped, for the locus, a panel of 207  accessions, including five inbreds and hybrids, and found several accessions that were repeatedly phenotyped as PA (partially andromonoecious) in several locations and different years, despite being . A cosegregation analysis between a SNV in and the PA phenotype, demonstrated that the occurrence of bisexual and hermaphrodite flowers in a PA line is not dependent on , but conferred by an unlinked recessive gene which we called . Two different approaches were performed to map the gene in the genome of : bulk segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq) and genome wide association analysis studies (GWAS). The BSA-seq study was performed using two contrasting bulks, the monoecious M-bulk and the partially andromonoecious PA-bulk, each one generated by pooling DNA from 20 F2 plants. For GWAS, 122 accessions from USDA gene bank, already re-sequenced by genotyping by sequencing (GBS), were used. The combination of the two approaches indicates that maps onto a genomic region expanding across 32.24-36.44 Mb in chromosome 1 of watermelon. Fine mapping narrowed down the locus to a 867 Kb genomic region containing 101 genes. A number of candidate genes were selected, not only for their function in ethylene biosynthesis and signalling as well as their role in flower development and sex determination, but also by the impact of the SNPs and indels differentially detected in the two sequenced bulks.

This research describes the proportion of children in four low‐ and middle‐income countries with adequate dietary practices at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age and how these practices changed over time using the World Health Organisation and UNICEF's infant young child feeding (IYCF) indicators. The associations between the IYCF indicators and anthropometric z‐scores from 6 to 24 months, and between the IYCF indicators and the family care indicators (FCIs) at 24 months are described. This was a longitudinal study of offspring from participants in the Women First Preconception Maternal Nutrition Trial conducted in Sud‐Ubangi, Democratic Republic of Congo; Chimaltenango, Guatemala; Belagavi, North Karnataka, India; and Thatta, Sindh Province, Pakistan. The frequency of the minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum adequate diet (MAD) increased between 6 and 24 months, but even at 24 months MAD remained below 50% at all sites. MDD (β = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.04−0.22) and MMF (β = 0.10; 95% CI = 0.03−0.17) were positively associated with length‐for‐age z‐score at 24 months. All IYCF indicators were positively associated with mean total FCI score: MDD (proportion ratio [PR] = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.02−1.07), MMF (PR = 1.02; 95% CI = 1.01−1.04), MAD (PR = 1.05; 95% CI = 1.02−1.08). Although there are multiple barriers to young children having an adequate diet, our results support a positive association between familial interactions and improved IYCF feeding practices. The infant young child feeding (IYCF) indicators increased from 6 to 24 months in young children in rural settings of four low‐ and middle‐income countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala, India and Pakistan, but the percentage of children who met the minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and minimum acceptable diet remained below 50% at 24 months. MDD and minimum meal frequency were positively associated with length‐for‐age z‐scores at 24 months (solid lines), and the total family care indicator score was positively associated with all three IYCF indicators at 24 months (dashed lines). Key messages Minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF) and minimum adequate diet (MAD) increased from 6 to 24 months of age, but MAD remained below 50% frequency at all sites at 24 months. MDD and MMF were positively associated with length‐for‐age z‐scores at 24 months. The total family care indicator score was positively associated with all three infant young child feeding indicators at 24 months.