Molecular breeding

About: Molecular breeding is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2120 publications have been published within this topic receiving 56908 citations.

Novel plant breeding techniques and risk assessment.

Abstract: In recent years, novel plant breeding techniques (NPBTs) have emerged, and safety assessment of the novel plant(s) generated using the NPBTs has drawn the attention of many stakeholders. The notable characteristics of the novel plants are as follows: firstly, it is almost impossible to distinguish from the natural mutations in the conventional counterparts, because site-directed nuclease (SDN) and oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis (ODM) could introduce short indel(s) in the targeted region(s) of the chromosomes. Secondly, the genome constitution of novel plants is almost identical to that of their conventional counterparts, eventually becoming indistinguishable by the introduction of only unmodified gene(s) from sexually compatible species to the target host plant. Thirdly, it is possible to generate new plants that have the desired traits, but without introducing genes. These plants will have some modified bases in their genome by selecting null-segregant(s) from heterozygous transgenic plants or by other epigenetic methods. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and many countries developing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have concluded that novel plants developed using SDN, ODM, cisgenesis, intragenesis, or null-segregant techniques are treated in the same manner as non-genetically modified (GM) plants or may even have less strict risk assessments depending on the case. Additionally, grafting and agro-infiltration are methods that can be used to avoid or reduce the burden of current strict GMO risk assessment. The risk assessments of some of the novel plants have already been performed and those of commercially important plants are expected to be performed in the near future. Hence, it is necessary to develop a competitive and practical NPBT that can mitigate the concern and revulsion toward GMOs in Korea.

LIVESEED boosting organic seed and plant breeding across Europe

Abstract: The European project LIVESEED (www.liveseed.eu) is based on the concept that cultivars adapted to organic systems are key for realizing the full potential of organic agriculture in Europe. LIVESEED will help to establish a level playing field in the organic seed market across Europe, improve the competitiveness of the organic seed and breeding sector, and encourage greater use of organic seeds by farmers. LIVESEED will improve guidelines for cultivar testing and strategies for ensuring seed health. It will develop innovative breeding approaches suited to organic farming. Finally, it will investigate socio-economic aspects relating to the use and production of organic seed and their interaction with relevant (EU) regulations. The LIVESEED project (2017 – 2021) is coordinated by IFOAM EU with FiBL for scientific coordination and consists of 35 partners and 14 third linked parties from 18 European countries. LIVESEED received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 727230 and by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) under contract number 17.00090. By connecting several networks LIVESEED will combine co construction and exchange of knowledge integrating biological, technical, legal, organisational, financial and political aspects as well as market development to facilitate fast upscaling and outreach of various tailor made socio-technical, evidence based, innovation tracks. LIVESEED will generate (i) a tool box of measures and interventions to match production and demand of organic seed, (ii) validated options for competent authorities to reduce the number of derogation for untreated conventional seed, (iii) develop technical solutions for national databases of organic seed including an interface to a European wide router database to increase the transparency on the availability of organic seed, (iv) analyse in depth formal and informal seed chains, (v) explore various business models including checklists for setting up new multiplication and breeding initiatives, (vi) produce technical factsheet on the best practice guidelines for seed production for major crops including vegetative plant propagation material, and (vii) an develop organic seed quality strategy including quality control of farm saved seeds and efficiency of seed exchange networks. With respect to organic plant breeding LIVESEED will provide new concepts for designing and implementing decentralized breeding initiatives for organic and low-input agriculture through (i) establishing networks across Europe (e.g. for apple, brassica vegetables) and fostering public-private partnerships, (ii) combining farmer, value chain or community based system breeding with functional trait-based and molecular breeding approaches, (iii) identifying trade-offs between resilience traits and sensory and nutritional quality, (iv) developing breeding schemes for heterogeneous cultivars and species mixtures, and (v) elaborating different financing models. Considering the plant as a mega organism, including the above and below ground associated microorganism, has the potential to evoke a paradigm shift in plant breeding, and will be elucidated in case studies.

Application of Pedimap: a pedigree visualization tool to facilitate the decisioning of rice breeding in Sri Lanka.

Abstract: The development of rice cultivars with desirable traits is essential. The decision-making is a crucial step in rice breeding programs. Breeders can make efficient and pragmatic decisions if an organized pedigree visualization platform is available for the accessions and cultivars in rice breeding germplasm. In the present study, the available data of all the rice varieties released by Rice Research and Development Institute, Sri Lanka, and the related landraces and genotypes were arranged in Pedimap, a pedigree visualization tool. Pedimap can showcase pedigree relationships, phenotypic, and molecular data. The identity by descent probabilities were calculated using FlexQTL software and included in the Pedimap database. The parentage selection based on the variations of phenotypic traits, selection of marker alleles for molecular breeding, and detection of the founders of genetic effects can be swiftly conducted using Pedimap. However, the power of harnessing the value of Pedimap for making breeding decisions relies on the availability of data for the traits, markers, and genomic sequences. Thus, it is imperative to characterize the breeding germplasms using standard phenomic and genomic characterization procedures such as the assessment of before organized into Pedimap. Thereby, the worldwide breeding programs can benefit from each other to produce improved varieties to meet global challenges.

Acquisition method of soybean-protein-content-related QTLs (quantitative trait loci) and molecular markers, molecular markers and application thereof

Abstract: The invention provides two soybean-protein-content-related QTLs (quantitative trait loci) and molecular markers, and an acquisition method and application of the molecular markers. The QTLs are respectively positioned on linkage groups A2 and N and are respectively positioned by the molecular markers Satt409 and Satt584. The 5'-3' primer of the molecular marker Satt409 is disclosed as SEQ ID NO.3, and the 3'-5' primer is disclosed as SEQ ID NO.4. The 5'-3' primer of the molecular marker Satt584 is disclosed as SEQ ID NO.5, and the 3'-5' primer is disclosed as SEQ ID NO.6. The acquisition method of the molecular markers comprises the following steps: by respectively using the corresponding soybean individual genome DNA as a template, carrying out PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification by using the 5'-3' primers and 3'-5' primers, and separating the PCR amplification products by polyacryloyl ammonia gel electrophoresis to obtain the target molecular markers. The obtained molecular markers can be used for soybean molecular breeding.