Syngenta

About: Syngenta is a company organization based out in Basel, Switzerland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Gene. The organization has 4724 authors who have published 6036 publications receiving 164311 citations. The organization is also known as: Syngenta & Syngenta AG.

Wet Seed Treatment with Peroxyacetic Acid for the Control of Bacterial Fruit Blotch and Other Seedborne Diseases of Watermelon.

Abstract: Prevention of seed transmission of Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli into the transplant house or field is the most effective control of bacterial fruit blotch of watermelon currently available. Peroxyacetic acid was evaluated as a disinfectant that might efficaciously eradicate A. avenae subsp. citrulli from contaminated seed and also be efficacious against other seed-transmitted diseases of watermelon. Peroxyacetic acid at low concentrations eliminated A. avenae subsp. citrulli, Fusarium oxysporum, and Didymella bryoniae from microbial suspensions. Treatments of seed contaminated with A. avenae subsp. citrulli and D. bryoniae with peroxyacetic acid at 1,600 μg/ml and higher for 30 min were effective in preventing seed transmission of bacterial fruit blotch and gummy stem blight. Hydrochloric acid treatments at 10,000 μg/ml, while effective in eliminating seed transmission to watermelon seedlings, can adversely affect seed germination, especially with triploid seed. Efficacious dosages of peroxyacetic acid can be applied safely to freshly harvested triploid watermelon seed without concerns for reduction in seed quality. A most effective wet seed treatment protocol involved a 30-min treatment with peroxyacetic acid at 1,600 μg/ml followed by seed drying at low humidity in a 40°C drying oven for 48 h.

Wheat quality improvement at CIMMYT and the use of genomic selection on it.

Abstract: The International Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT) leads the Global Wheat Program, whose main objective is to increase the productivity of wheat cropping systems to reduce poverty in developing countries. The priorities of the program are high grain yield, disease resistance, tolerance to abiotic stresses (drought and heat), and desirable quality. The Wheat Chemistry and Quality Laboratory has been continuously evolving to be able to analyze the largest number of samples possible, in the shortest time, at lowest cost, in order to deliver data on diverse quality traits on time to the breeders for making selections for advancement in the breeding pipeline. The participation of wheat quality analysis/selection is carried out in two stages of the breeding process: evaluation of the parental lines for new crosses and advanced lines in preliminary and elite yield trials. Thousands of lines are analyzed which requires a big investment in resources. Genomic selection has been proposed to assist in selecting for quality and other traits in breeding programs. Genomic selection can predict quantitative traits and is applicable to multiple quantitative traits in a breeding pipeline by attaining historical phenotypes and adding high-density genotypic information. Due to advances in sequencing technology, genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism markers are available through genotyping-by-sequencing at a cost conducive to application for genomic selection. At CIMMYT, genomic selection has been applied to predict all of the processing and end-use quality traits regularly tested in the spring wheat breeding program. These traits have variable levels of prediction accuracy, however, they demonstrated that most expensive traits, dough rheology and baking final product, can be predicted with a high degree of confidence. Currently it is being explored how to combine both phenotypic and genomic selection to make more efficient the genetic improvement for quality traits at CIMMYT spring wheat breeding program.

Identifying key knowledge needs for evidence‐based conservation of wild insect pollinators: a collaborative cross‐sectoral exercise

Abstract: In response to evidence of insect pollinator declines, organisations in many sectors, including the food and farming industry, are investing in pollinator conservation. They are keen to ensure that their efforts use the best available science. We convened a group of 32 ‘conservation practitioners’ with an active interest in pollinators and 16 insect pollinator scientists. The conservation practitioners include representatives from UK industry (including retail), environmental non-government organisations and nature conservation agencies. We collaboratively developed a long list of 246 knowledge needs relating to conservation of wild insect pollinators in the UK. We refined and selected the most important knowledge needs, through a three-stage process of voting and scoring, including discussions of each need at a workshop. We present the top 35 knowledge needs as scored by conservation practitioners or scientists. We find general agreement in priorities identified by these two groups. The priority knowledge needs will structure ongoing work to make science accessible to practitioners, and help to guide future science policy and funding. Understanding the economic benefits of crop pollination, basic pollinator ecology and impacts of pesticides on wild pollinators emerge strongly as priorities, as well as a need to monitor floral resources in the landscape.