Polytechnic University of Valencia

About: Polytechnic University of Valencia is a education organization based out in Valencia, Spain. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Population. The organization has 16282 authors who have published 40162 publications receiving 850234 citations.

Introgressiomics: a new approach for using crop wild relatives in breeding for adaptation to climate change

Abstract: The need to boost agricultural production in the coming decades in a climate change scenario requires new approaches for the development of new crop varieties that are more resilient and more efficient in the use of resources. Crop wild relatives (CWRs) are a source of variation for many traits of interest in breeding, in particular tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. However, their potential in plant breeding has largely remained unexploited. CWRs can make an effective contribution to broadening the genetic base of crops and to introgressing traits of interest, but their direct use by breeders in breeding programs is usually not feasible due to the presence of undesirable traits in CWRs (linkage drag) and frequent breeding barriers with the crop. Here we call for a new approach, which we tentatively call ‘introgressiomics’, which consists of mass scale development of plant materials and populations with introgressions from CWRs into the genetic background of crops. Introgressiomics is a form of pre-emptive breeding and can be focused, when looking for specific phenotypes, or un-focused, when it is aimed at creating highly diverse introgressed populations. Exploring germplasm collections and identifying adequate species and accessions from different genepools encompassing a high diversity, using different strategies like the creation of germplasm diversity sets, Focused identification of germplasm strategy (FIGS) or gap analysis, is a first step in introgressiomics. Interspecific hybridization and backcrossing is often a major barrier for introgressiomics, but a number of techniques can be used to potentially overcome these and produce introgression populations. The generation of chromosome substitution lines (CSLs), introgression lines (ILs), or multi-parent advanced inter-cross (MAGIC) populations by means of marker-assisted selection allows not only the genetic analysis of traits present in CWRs, but also developing genetically characterized elite materials that can be easily incorporated in breeding programs. Genomic tools, in particular high-throughput molecular markers, facilitate the characterization and development of introgressiomics populations, while new plant breeding techniques (NPBTs) can enhance the introgression and use of genes from CWRs in the genetic background of crops. An efficient use of introgressiomics populations requires moving the materials into breeding pipelines. In this respect public–private partnerships (PPPs) can contribute to an increased use of introgressed materials by breeders. We hope that the introgressiomics approach will contribute to the development of a new generation of cultivars with dramatically improved yield and performance that may allow coping with the environmental changes caused by climate change while at the same time contributing to a more efficient and sustainable agriculture.

Effect of pH on Color and Texture of Food Products

Abstract: Color and texture are important quality characteristics and major factors affecting sensory perception and consumer acceptance of foods. pH has an important effect on pigments (e.g., chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins, etc.) responsible for fruit color, vegetables and meat color. Also pH has a great impact on water-holding capacity and tenderness of muscle foods that are improved at acidic conditions below the typical pH of post-mortem. Moreover, during processing of food, the pH value affects many phenomena and processes such as protein properties as denaturizing, gelification, enzymatic activities, growth and mortality of microorganisms, germinating or inactivation of bacterial spores and chemical reactions such as the Maillard reaction. Thus, knowledge of pH effects and its control during processing is necessary to produce safe, high-quality and value-added products. The goal of this paper is to identify the effect of pH on color and texture of food products to show the importance of control this parameter.

Scientists have most impact when they’re free to move

Abstract: An analysis of researchers' global mobility reveals that limiting the circulation of scholars will damage the scientific system, say Cassidy R. Sugimoto and colleagues.