Explore the vast range of titles available.

We describe the first reported intergeneric, which naturally occurs between two subspecies belonging to different genera, Dactylorhiza fuchsii subsp. sooana (genus Dactylorhiza) and Pseudorchis albida subsp. tricuspis (genus Pseudorchis), as x Pseudorhiza nieschalkii (Senghas) P.F.Hunt nothosubsp. siculorum H.Kertész & N.Anghelescu, 2020. The hybrid was found and digitally photographed for the first time by Hajnalka Kertész in June, 2020, within Terra Siculorum, in one of the Natura 2000 protected areas, known as Harghita Madaras, ROSCI00090. Following detailed morphometric analysis using 67 characters and molecular karyological analyses, we identified this unique specimen as an intergeneric hybrid, new to science. The hybrid, an F.sub.1 generation plant, most likely representing a single intergeneric pollination event, is phenotypically intermediate between its parental species in most of the characters scored, but it significantly closely resembles Pseudorchis albida subsp. tricuspis parent. Since several individuals of the parental species occurred in near proximity, within 1-10 meters distance, we suggest that the production of this hybrid required a minimum travel distance of ca 1-10 meters, by the pollinators and frequent exchange of pollen between the parental species was very likely. The parental species and the hybrid, which display a considerable synchronicity in their flowering time, overlap in the pollinator community, sharing various species of Hymenopterans and Dipterans, very abundant in the heathland. This Terra Siculorum hybrid is thus best described as a rarely occurring intergeneric hybrid that shows strong Pseudorchis albida subsp. tricuspis parental dominance in inheritance patterns.

Key message A major QTL responsible for self-incompatibility was stably identified in two F.sub.2 populations. Through fine mapping and qRT-PCR analysis, ARK3 emerged as the most promising candidate gene, playing a pivotal role in regulating self-incompatibility in Brassica oleracea. Self-incompatibility (SI) is a common phenomenon in Brassica oleracea species, which can maintain genetic diversity but will also limit seed production. Although the S locus has been extensively studied in Arabidopsis and some Brassicaceae crops, map-based cloning of self-incompatibility genes has not been conducted in Brassica oleracea, such as cauliflower and broccoli. In the present study, we identified a major co-localized QTL on chromosome C6 that control SI in two F.sub.2 populations derived from intervarietal crosses: broccoli x cauliflower (CL_F.sub.2) and cauliflower x Chinese kale (CJ_F.sub.2). Subsequently, this QTL was narrowed down to 168.5 Kb through fine mapping using 3,429 F.sub.2:3 progenies and 12 available KASP markers. Within this 168.5 Kb region, BolC6t39084H, a homologue of Arabidopsis ARK3, could be a candidate gene that plays a key role in regulating SI in B. oleracea species. This finding can pave the way for an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying SI, and will contribute to the seed production of B. oleracea vegetables.

We describe the first reported intergeneric, which naturally occurs between two subspecies belonging to different genera, Dactylorhiza fuchsii subsp. sooana (genus Dactylorhiza) and Pseudorchis albida subsp. tricuspis (genus Pseudorchis), as x Pseudorhiza nieschalkii (Senghas) P.F.Hunt nothosubsp. siculorum H.Kertész & N.Anghelescu, 2020. The hybrid was found and digitally photographed for the first time by Hajnalka Kertész in June, 2020, within Terra Siculorum, in one of the Natura 2000 protected areas, known as Harghita Madaras, ROSCI00090. Following detailed morphometric analysis using 67 characters and molecular karyological analyses, we identified this unique specimen as an intergeneric hybrid, new to science. The hybrid, an F.sub.1 generation plant, most likely representing a single intergeneric pollination event, is phenotypically intermediate between its parental species in most of the characters scored, but it significantly closely resembles Pseudorchis albida subsp. tricuspis parent. Since several individuals of the parental species occurred in near proximity, within 1-10 meters distance, we suggest that the production of this hybrid required a minimum travel distance of ca 1-10 meters, by the pollinators and frequent exchange of pollen between the parental species was very likely. The parental species and the hybrid, which display a considerable synchronicity in their flowering time, overlap in the pollinator community, sharing various species of Hymenopterans and Dipterans, very abundant in the heathland. This Terra Siculorum hybrid is thus best described as a rarely occurring intergeneric hybrid that shows strong Pseudorchis albida subsp. tricuspis parental dominance in inheritance patterns.

Hydraulic redistribution (HR) enhances water resources for neighboring crops in silvopastoral agroforestry (AF). Here, we tested whether and to what extent water stressed shallow-rooted neighboring plants benefit from water redistributed by deep-rooted poplar plants. We conducted trace experiments with deuterated water (.sup.2H.sub.2O) in greenhouse soil column experiments. We measured hydraulic lift (HL) by poplars grown at two levels of soil drying and estimated the amount of hydraulically lifted water. In a parallel experiment we grew poplars and barley (Hordeum vulgare) in two columns connected via a small cross-rooting segment. Soil moisture measurements and stable isotope signatures of soil and xylem water proved the occurrence of HL in poplar. Additionally, stable isotopes proved the transport of water from deep roots of poplars to shallow roots of barley. In conclusion, the experiments showed that poplars are capable to redistribute water during drought spells and that this water can facilitate plant growth of shallow-rooted crops. This result implies evidence for an enhanced soil water supply of plants in agroforest systems under drought conditions.

Using full-spectrum LED lights, six light treatments of 11 h, 12 h, 13 h, 14 h, 15 h, and CK (greenhouse natural light) were designed to examine the response of Populus euramericana plantlets to light duration in the greenhouse. Every 15 days during the 150-day experiment, plantlet height (H), ground diameter (GD), number of nodes (NN), number of leaves (NL), and the relative chlorophyll content(SPAD) were measured. The response of plantlets to different light durations was demonstrated by establishing and screening growth models, and rhythm and relative chlorophyll content were statistically analyzed. The light duration had a significant effect on the H and GD of Populus euramericana, and their growth was positively correlated with light duration. The short full-spectrum LED lighting duration will affect the rhythm and prematurely halt the growth of H, but the GD will continue to expand. The Gomperz model has the best fitting effect for the growth of Populus euramericana plantlets under LED lighting, with all R2s values greater than 0.89. Long light duration has a greater growth potential, and the rapid growth lasts longer. The delay in the cessation of the increase in the NN was a result of the increased illumination time. Compared with natural light, LED light lessens the NL. Poplar plantlets will have a lower SPAD value if the light duration exceeds 14 h. In the process of growing plantlets in the greenhouse, both light quality and light duration should be considered. In actual production, a combination of natural and artificial light can improve efficiency.

×Leymotrigia bergrothii is a presumed hybrid of Leymus arenarius and Elytrigia repens. This article investigates the hybrid origin and genome composition of this species. These plants are sterile, do not undergo pollination, and do not produce seeds; occasionally, underdeveloped stamens containing abortive pollen grains form in individual spikelets. The karyotype analysis of root meristem cells revealed a diploid chromosome number of 49 in ×L. bergrothii, reported here for the first time. Subsequently, we examined the intragenomic polymorphism of the transcribed spacer ITS1 in several species of Elytrigia, Elymus, Leymus, Hordeum, and Psathyrostachys, and compared the ribotype patterns of these species with those of ×L. bergrothii. It is shown that the St-ribotype variants found in Elytrigia repens and Elytrigia pseudocaesia, as well as the ribotypes of the La family, which dominate in the genome of Leymus arenarius, correspond to major ribotypes in ×L. bergrothii. The ribotypes of the St and La families are present in the nuclear genome of ×L. bergrothii in almost equal proportions. A comparison of intron and exon sequences of the trnL gene in the chloroplast DNA of Leymus arenarius, Elytrigia repens, and ×L. bergrothii showed that this region in ×L. bergrothii is identical or very close to that of Elytrigia repens, suggesting that Elytrigia repens was the cytoplasmic donor to ×L. bergrothii. Thus, our study confirms the hypothesis that this species represents a sterile first-generation hybrid of Leymus arenarius and Elytrigia repens, reproducing vegetatively.

An initial cross of V. darrowii ‘Johnblue’ (Darrow’s blueberry) × V. vitis-idaea ‘Red Sunset’ (lingonberry) produced more than 30 true intersectional diploid hybrids as confirmed by molecular markers. The most vigorous of these hybrids was extensively evaluated. This hybrid, US 2535-A, was floriferous and morphologically intermediate to the respective parents. Examination of pollen suggested low male fertility. Numerous crosses using the hybrid as a female reflected similarly low fertility and potential crossing barriers. Stylar examination suggested blockage of pollen tube growth in self-pollinations and significantly retarded growth in backcross pollinations. Nonetheless, two confirmed hybrid offspring were produced using the F[sub.1] hybrid as a female in crosses with V. vitis-idaea and V. darrowii , respectively. In a second set of crosses utilizing additional V. darrowii and V. vitis-idaea genotypes, another 23 verified hybrids in seven parental combinations were produced. Hybrids such as the ones presented offer the potential for generating de novo interspecific fruit types in blueberry and/or broadening the adaptation of lingonberry.

A growing empirical literature uses patent citations as a quality-adjusted measure for innovation, despite concerns about the validity of this measure. This paper links patents with objective measures of improvements in the quality of patented inventions—measured through performance in field trials for hybrid corn—to examine three potential factors that influence citations: (1) improvements in performance, (2) citing practices of patent attorneys, and (3) citing practices of patent examiners. This analysis reveals that citations are robustly correlated with performance, which confirms that citations are a useful quality-adjusted measure for innovation. The citing practices of patent attorneys and examiners, however, also influence citations. Patent attorneys cite early patents, which help establish the patentability of an invention; this practice may inflate citation counts for early patents, particularly for inventions that have only recently become patentable. Attorneys also add self-citations; our analysis indicates that self-citations are an indicator of follow-on invention. By comparison, examiner-added citations are typically unrelated to improvements in performance or follow-on invention. Data and the online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2016.2688 . This paper was accepted by Lee Fleming, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Pearl millet is a nutritionally rich, climate-resilient cereal, but its large-scale utilization is constrained by rapid rancidity in flour, caused by lipid hydrolysis and oxidation. While nuclear variation for rancidity traits is studied, the contribution of cytoplasmic genomes remains less understood. This study assessed the influence of male-sterile (A1) and maintainer (B) cytoplasms on rancidity-associated traits in hybrids derived from iso-nuclear A/B pairs crossed with diverse restorers. A total of 64 hybrids were evaluated across two locations for alcoholic acidity, and activity of enzymes - lipase, lipoxygenase and peroxidase. Analysis of variance revealed significant effects of A-lines, explaining the largest share of variability (15.9-47.7%). Cytoplasmic effects were non-significant for alcoholic acidity but highly significant for enzymatic activities, contributing up to 27.8% of total variation in peroxidase. A-cytoplasm consistently enhanced lipase, lipoxygenase and peroxidase compared to B-cytoplasm, suggesting greater predisposition to rancidity. Strong cytoplasm × nuclear interactions were evident, with A-line × cytoplasm effects accounting for up to 24% of variation. Three hybrid nuclear backgrounds (IPMA 287 × 1138R, IPMA 267 × 1142R and IPMA 267 × 1233R) in A1-cytoplasm showed favourable rancidity profiles with reduced enzyme activities, highlighting scope for further exploitation. Cytoplasmic background significantly influences rancidity-related enzymes in pearl millet, with A1-cytoplasm linked to faster lipid degradation. These findings emphasize the need to consider genetic background × cytoplasm interactions in breeding strategies to reduce rancidity in pearl millet.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the losses in the process, survival, uniformity and growth during an entire short rotation of a clonal planting of Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla in Brazil as a function of the different morphological characteristics of the seedlings considered a proxy of seedling quality. Seedlings were classified in descending order of quality by the following treatments: A > B > C. Treatment D was composed of prime seedlings 180 days old in the nursery. Treatment A and B experienced a mortality rate of 3% 30 days after planting, while seedlings C and D showed a mortality rate of 8%. Throughout the entire planting process, treatment C had the highest total losses of 24%, which was 15% higher than the average of the other three treatments. The quality of seedlings, as determined by the IQD, positively correlated with stem diameter, leaf biomass, and PH50 at 60 days of age. However, these relationships lost significance at later ages, and the DQI could not explain the variation in volume and stand uniformity (PV50) along the rotation. Despite early differences, from 36 to 64 months, only old seedlings (Treat. D) showed a difference in wood volume to the other treatments.