Plant Biology

9 April 2021

Comparison of early season crop types for wheat production and nitrogen use efficiency in the Jianghan Plain in China

Rui Yang, Ke Liu, Shiying Geng, Chengxiang Zhang, Lijun Yin, Xiaoyan Wang

Muhammad Riaz –– Interesting study on season-dependent wheat production and N use efficiency

6 April 2021

Comparative analysis of MAPK and MKK gene families reveals differential evolutionary patterns in Brachypodium distachyon inbred lines

Min Jiang, Peng Li, Wei Wang

Pankaj Jaiswal –– The authors show that MAPK subfamily expansion within the species, which may shed light on the phenotype and adaptation of B. distachyon inbred lines to stress environments and treatments. The data provided adds to our understanding of the mitogen-activated protein kinase gene family in plants.

5 April 2021

Magnesium may be a key nutrient mechanism related to Fusarium wilt resistance: a new banana cultivar (Zhongjiao No. 9)

Weifang Hu, Baomei Yang, Zhaohuan He, Guoliang Li

Jasmine Janes –– Magnesium is found to play a role in Fusarium wilt-resistance in banana cultivars.

1 April 2021

Tissue-specific transcriptome analysis of drought stress and rehydration in Trachycarpus fortunei at seedling

Xiao Feng, Zhao Yang, Xiurong Wang

Yu Liang –– this paper gives a useful contribution to drought stress studies

24 March 2021

Subsoiling increases aggregate-associated organic carbon, dry matter, and maize yield on the North China Plain

Ying Shen, Tingting Zhang, Jichao Cui, Siyu Chen, Huifang Han, Tangyuan Ning

Muhammad Riaz –– An interesting study for soil organic C management and crop productivity

24 March 2021

Characterization of spray-dried Gac aril extract and estimated shelf life of β-carotene and lycopene

Benjawan Thumthanaruk, Natta Laohakunjit, Grady W. Chism

Charles Okpala –– This study adds new information about the usage of Custer Dextrin to encapsulate carotenoid compounds, which are prone to oxidation during storage.

22 March 2021

Spatiotemporal dynamics of habitat suitability for the Ethiopian staple crop, Eragrostis tef (teff), under changing climate

Dinka Zewudie, Wenguang Ding, Zhanlei Rong, Chuanyan Zhao, Yapeng Chang

Gerard Lazo –– The manuscript provides a forthcoming need in evaluating crop potential under different climatic changes.

22 March 2021

Combining transcriptome analysis and GWAS for identification and validation of marker genes in the Physalis peruviana-Fusarium oxysporum pathosystem

Gina A. Garzón-Martínez, Francy L. García-Arias, Felix E. Enciso-Rodríguez, Mauricio Soto-Suárez, Carolina González, Aureliano Bombarely, Luz Stella Barrero, Jaime A. Osorio Guarín

Carlos Zuniga-Gonzalez –– This study evaluates eight candidate genes associated with this pathosystem, using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The genes validated here have important implications in the disease progress and allow a better understanding of the defense response in cape gooseberry at the molecular level. Derived molecular markers from these genes could facilitate the identification of tolerant/susceptible genotypes for use in breeding schemes.

19 March 2021

Enzymatic and transcriptomic analysis reveals the essential role of carbohydrate metabolism in freesia (Freesia hybrida) corm formation

Li Ma, Suqin Ding, Xueqing Fu, Zi Yan, Dongqin Tang

Robert Winkler –– The knowledge about the relation of sugar and development in plants is limited; Besides, the new data from a non-model plant are an important contribution.

18 March 2021

Molecular barcode and morphological analysis of Smilax purhampuy Ruiz, Ecuador

Pilar Soledispa, Efrén Santos-Ordóñez, Migdalia Miranda, Ricardo Pacheco, Yamilet Irene Gutiérrez Gaiten, Ramón Scull

Rogerio Sotelo-Mundo –– This contribution presents both morphological and molecular identification methods for the Ecuadorian Sarsaparilla (Smilax purhampuy Ruiz). The plant rhizome or root bulb is used for flavoring and in traditional medicine, and counterfeiting may occur in supplements and powder preparations. This method will be useful in the identification and certification of the origin of natural products.