Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Baojun Zhao, Shengtao Gao, Mingyang Zhao, Hongyu Lv, Jingyu Song, Hao Wang, Qifan Zeng, Jing Liu
Summary: This study investigates the mitochondrial genomes of three marine mussels and suggests that the absence of atp8 in some bivalve species might be due to annotation difficulties rather than actual gene loss. The study also provides evidence that mitochondrial genes may contribute to the adaptation of Mytilidae to different environments.
Article
Plant Sciences
Hannes Becher, Robyn F. Powell, Max R. Brown, Chris Metherell, Jaume Pellicer, Ilia J. Leitch, Alex D. Twyford
Summary: The study investigated genome size variation within and between species of British eyebrights and found significant intraspecific genome size variation. It demonstrated the utility of treating genome size as the outcome of polygenic variation, which may be influenced by ongoing hybridization and population subdivision.
Article
Plant Sciences
Rithesh B. Natarajan, Pooja Pathania, Hardeep Singh, Anuradha Agrawal, Rajkumar Subramani
Summary: Genome size variation is an important attribute in evolutionary and species characterization. This study provides reliable information on the genome size and ploidy level of wild Musa species, which could be used in taxonomic and crop improvement programs.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ge-Ran Hutang, Yan Tong, Xun-Ge Zhu, Li-Zhi Gao
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the genome size variation and evolution in the genus Eragrostis. The results suggest that the genome size variation in Eragrostis is mainly caused by polyploidization and may be an adaptation to various environments. The adaptation and conservatism are manifested in the genome size variation in this genus.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anubhab Khan, Kaushalkumar Patel, Harsh Shukla, Ashwin Viswanathan, Tom van der Valk, Udayan Borthakur, Parag Nigam, Arun Zachariah, Yadavendradev Jhala, Marty Kardos, Uma Ramakrishnan
Summary: Habitat fragmentation leads to small populations, increasing the risk of inbreeding depression. Small populations can reduce inbreeding depression by purging deleterious recessive alleles. The study on Indian tiger populations found differences in inbreeding levels and mutation load between small and large populations.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Yongjuan Jiao, Guangyan Feng, Linkai Huang, Gang Nie, Zhou Li, Yan Peng, Dandan Li, Yanli Xiong, Zhangyi Hu, Xinquan Zhang
Summary: In this study, comparative genomic analyses and phylogenetic inferences were conducted on 14 cp genomes of Dactylis glomerata from the Mediterranean and Eurasia. The results revealed that the main divergence time of D. glomerata dates back to the Miocene era, and nine highly variable regions were identified among the subspecies based on cp sequence divergence.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Juanita Gutierrez-Valencia, Marco Fracassetti, Robert Horvath, Benjamin Laenen, Aurelie Desamore, Andreas D. Drouzas, Magne Friberg, Filip Kolar, Tanja Slotte
Summary: The study found that intra-sexual competition shapes the evolution of pollen-expressed genes, with the intensity of sexual selection decreasing as self-fertilization rates increase.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lorena Derezanin, Asta Blazyte, Pavel Dobrynin, David A. Duchene, Jose Horacio Grau, Sungwon Jeon, Sergei Kliver, Klaus-Peter Koepfli, Dorina Meneghini, Michaela Preick, Andrey Tomarovsky, Azamat Totikov, Joerns Fickel, Daniel W. Forster
Summary: Species of the mustelid subfamily Guloninae have diverse adaptations in feeding ecologies, reproductive strategies, and morphology. By comparing the genomes of different species, we identified multiple candidate loci associated with traits such as diet, body condition, and reproduction. Our study highlights the importance of considering various types of genomic variations in the identification of adaptive loci.
Article
Plant Sciences
Haixia Jiang, Dongliang Guo, Jiali Ye, Yanfang Gao, Huiqing Liu, Yue Wang, Min Xue, Qingcheng Yan, Jiaxun Chen, Lepeng Duan, Gongze Li, Xiao Li, Liqiong Xie
Summary: Genomic imprinting causes biased expression of maternally and paternally inherited alleles in the triploid endosperm of flax, with a total of 248 candidate imprinted genes identified. These imprinted genes are not well conserved among plant species and contribute to intraspecific variation in flax, with some undergoing positive selection during domestication. Imprinted genes related to flax functions, including seed size and weight, were found to have undergone positive selection and could provide insights into the function and genomic variation of imprinted genes in the flax population.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Susann Plath, Evelyn Klocke, Thomas Nothnagel
Summary: Asparagus wild relatives have the potential to enhance the genetic variability and develop new cultivars with desirable traits in garden asparagus. A detailed cytogenetic characterization of these resources is necessary for their efficient utilization in breeding.
Article
Plant Sciences
Xiao-Yu Luo, Tang-Jie Nie, Heng Liu, Xue-Fei Ding, Ying Huang, Chun-Ce Guo, Wen-Gen Zhang
Summary: This research studied five taxa of Delphinium subg. Anthriscifolium using chromosome counting, chromosomal measurement, and karyotype symmetry. The basic chromosome number of all taxa was x = 8. Four taxa were diploid with 2n = 16, while one taxon was tetraploid with 2n = 32. Variations in interchromosomal and intrachromosomal asymmetry were observed among the taxa. Diploid and tetraploid genome sizes were also different. This study provided the first report on the karyotype and genome size of several taxa and revised the classification of Delphinium anthriscifolium based on cytological and morphological data.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lifeng Wang, Xuepeng Sun, Yajun Peng, Ke Chen, Shan Wu, Yanan Guo, Jingyuan Zhang, Haona Yang, Tao Jin, Lamei Wu, Xiaomao Zhou, Bin Liang, Zhenghong Zhao, Ducai Liu, Zhangjun Fei, Lianyang Bai
Summary: This study reports the genome characteristics and variation of tetraploid Chinese sprangletop, which exhibits high resistance to herbicides. Population genomic analysis reveals the spread of Chinese sprangletop from southern and southwestern provinces to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
Article
Plant Sciences
Nolan Bornowski, Kathryn J. Michel, John P. Hamilton, Shujun Ou, Arun S. Seetharam, Jerry Jenkins, Jane Grimwood, Chris Plott, Shengqiang Shu, Jayson Talag, Megan Kennedy, Hope Hundley, Vasanth R. Singan, Kerrie Barry, Chris Daum, Yuko Yoshinaga, Jeremy Schmutz, Candice N. Hirsch, Matthew B. Hufford, Natalia Leon, Shawn M. Kaeppler, C. Robin Buell
Summary: High-quality genome assemblies of maize stiff-stalk inbreds were created, revealing extensive collinearity among these inbreds and unique components in the maize pangenome. While representing only a proportion of variation in the original stiff-stalk pool, these inbreds showed significant genetic and genomic variation, supporting the potential for continued breeding success in this pool.
Review
Cell Biology
Xiuchun Lin
Summary: Structural variations in the genome are closely related to human health and disease. Detecting and identifying pathogenic synonymous mutations is crucial for studying disease mechanisms and implementing personalized medicine.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Joyce N. Njuguna, Lindsay V. Clark, Alexander E. Lipka, Kossonou G. Anzoua, Larisa Bagmet, Pavel Chebukin, Maria S. Dwiyanti, Elena Dzyubenko, Nicolay Dzyubenko, Bimal Kumar Ghimire, Xiaoli Jin, Douglas A. Johnson, Hironori Nagano, Junhua Peng, Karen Koefoed Petersen, Andrey Sabitov, Eun Soo Seong, Toshihiko Yamada, Ji Hye Yoo, Chang Yeon Yu, Hua Zhao, Stephen P. Long, Erik J. Sacks
Summary: Accelerating biomass improvement is a major goal of Miscanthus breeding, and genomic-enabled breeding tools like MAS and genomic selection can effectively improve the efficiency of Miscanthus breeding. This study conducted GWA and genomic prediction in Miscanthus sacchariflorus, identifying significant SNPs and candidate genes related to biomass yield. The study also showed that with adequate sample sizes, genomic selection can be beneficial for improving the population of M. sacchariflorus.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sulisa Nansai, Prachaya Srisanga, Trevor R. Hodkinson, Chalermpol Suwanphakdee
NORDIC JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Lucy M. Slatter, Susanne Barth, Chloe Manzanares, Janaki Velmurugan, Iain Place, Daniel Thorogood
Summary: This study investigated the genetic control of self-compatibility in perennial ryegrass through self-pollination of an F-2 population, revealing a new self-compatibility locus on LG 6. This discovery provides additional resources for breeding perennial ryegrass, highlighting the complexity and evolutionary significance of the pollen-stigma recognition process.
Article
Plant Sciences
N. Curran, D. Grogan, D. Milbourne, S. L. Byrne, E. O'Riordan, M. Hanley, J. Grant, T. R. Hodkinson, S. Barth
BIOLOGIA PLANTARUM
(2020)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jose J. De Vega, Abel Teshome, Manfred Klaas, Jim Grant, John Finnan, Susanne Barth
Summary: Miscanthus is a commercial lignocellulosic biomass crop known for high biomass productivity, resilience, and photosynthetic capacity at low temperatures, making it suitable for temperate marginal land. Different phenotypic responses were observed among Miscanthus genotypes from different species under drought stress, while biomass yield was higher in flooded conditions. Despite variations in differentially expressed genes, shared molecular processes were regulated during drought stress across Miscanthus species.
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Alexandra Miricescu, Tomas Byrne, Catherine M. Doorly, Carl K. Y. Ng, Susanne Barth, Emmanuelle Graciet
Summary: The article discusses the assessment of barley tolerance to waterlogging and compares two different screening methods. The results show that these two methods provide similar results in qualitatively ranking varieties as tolerant or sensitive, while also affecting plants differently.
Article
Microbiology
Anna K. Hoyer, Trevor R. Hodkinson
Summary: The study revealed significant heterogeneity in the root endophyte community across different sites and individual plants. Combining culture-dependent and -independent methods is recommended for accurate determination of root fungal species richness. High inter-plant variation in fungal species richness emphasizes the need to reconsider the scale at which endophyte communities are described.
Article
Microbiology
Anindita Lahiri, Brian R. Murphy, Trevor R. Hodkinson
Summary: The study investigated the microbial characteristics of Fraxinus excelsior populations in different sources, environments, and tissues using culture dependent and culture independent approaches. Significant differences were found in the diversity and composition of endophytes, with higher species richness and Shannon index values in leaf material and the French population. Seed and leaf microbiome communities were distinct, with a strong influence of Fraxinus species identity on fungal community composition.
Article
Plant Sciences
Dong-Wei Zhao, Trevor R. Hodkinson, John A. N. Parnell
Summary: This study reconstructs the phylogenetic tree of Camellia and identifies ten clades within the genus. The findings also suggest that Camellia has an early evolutionary history, with the clade Corallina being the earliest and most widespread. This research provides new insights into the evolutionary relationships and systematics of Camellia.
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Erika Soldi, Emma Fuller, Anna M. M. Tiley, Archie K. Murchie, Trevor R. Hodkinson
Summary: The outbreak of Ash sawfly (Tomostethus nigritus) larvae, a pest native to Europe, has caused severe defoliation of Ash trees in Ireland. The cause and control methods of this outbreak remain unknown.
Article
Forestry
Tomas Byrne, Niall Farrelly, Colin Kelleher, Trevor R. Hodkinson, Stephen L. Byrne, Susanne Barth
Summary: Picea sitchensis, or Sitka spruce, is a forestry species of interest both for conservation and as a productive crop. This study analyzed the genetic diversity and differentiation of this species across its native range using genotyping-by-sequencing. The results showed low levels of genetic differentiation across the broader environmental gradient, but island effects were observed on geographically distant populations. The findings provide valuable information for breeders and researchers in terms of breeding programs, scientific studies, and climate change adaptation.
Article
Microbiology
Anna Kaja Hoyer, Hans Jorgen Lyngs Jorgensen, Trevor Roland Hodkinson, Birgit Jensen
Summary: Endophyte isolates from a wild relative of barley showed varying degrees of protection against the pathogens Fusarium culmorum and Pyrenophora teres. Five endophytes significantly reduced symptoms of F. culmorum, while three endophytes significantly reduced symptoms of P. teres. Seed treatment with these endophytes exhibited both root and leaf protection against the pathogens.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rajas Shinde, Anga Hackula, Richard O. Shea, Susanne Barth, Jerry D. Murphy, David M. Wall
Summary: Future energy systems require dispatchable renewable energy to balance high shares of intermittent renewables in electrical grids. Biogas from anaerobic digestion can generate electricity on-demand. High-rate methanogenic reactors, such as the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB), can quickly respond to variations in feeding. Experimental trials validated the feasibility of operating the UASB in a demand-driven manner, demonstrating its flexibility and potential to provide positive and negative balance to the power grid.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michelle M. P. McKeon-Bennett, Trevor R. Hodkinson
Summary: In response to the impacts of climate change and global population growth on traditional food production, agricultural industries and government agencies are investing time and funding into researching sustainable and carbon-friendly processes. High-yield low-cost technologies like indoor agriculture are shifting the focus from traditional intensification of land use and pesticide-based crop yield promotion. Development of organic growth media to replace single-use materials is a key priority, with alternatives like Sphagnum moss being introduced.
CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Erika Soldi, Catelyn Casey, Brian R. Murphy, Trevor R. Hodkinson
Article
Horticulture
Patricia Coughlan, James C. Carolan, Ingrid L. I. Hook, Lisa Kilmartin, Trevor R. Hodkinson