Plant Genomics

Increased grain yield will be critical to meet the growing demand for food, and could be achieved by delaying crop senescence. Here, via quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, we uncover the genetic basis underlying distinct life cycles and senescence patterns of two rice subspecies,  indica  and  japonica . Promoter variations in the  Stay-Green  ( OsSGR ) gene encoding the chlorophyll-degrading Mg ++ -dechelatase were found to trigger higher and earlier induction of  OsSGR  in  indica , which accelerated senescence of  indica  rice cultivars. The  indica -type promoter is present in a progenitor subspecies  O. nivara  and thus was acquired early during the evolution of rapid cycling trait in rice subspecies.  Japonica OsSGR  alleles introgressed into  indica -type cultivars in Korean rice fields lead to delayed senescence, with increased grain yield and enhanced photosynthetic competence. Taken together, ...

  Increased grain yield will be critical to meet the growing demand for food, and could be achieved by delaying crop senescence. Here, via quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, we uncover the genetic basis underlying distinct life cycles and senescence patterns of two rice subspecies,  indica  and  japonica . Promoter variations in the  Stay-Green  ( OsSGR ) gene encoding the chlorophyll-degrading Mg ++ -dechelatase were found to trigger higher and earlier induction of  OsSGR  in  indica , which accelerated senescence of  indica  rice cultivars. The  indica -type promoter is present in a progenitor subspecies  O. nivara  and thus was acquired early during the evolution of rapid cycling trait in rice subspecies.  Japonica OsSGR  alleles introgressed into  indica -type cultivars in Korean rice fields lead to delayed senescence, with increased grain yield and enhanced photosynthetic competence. Taken tog...

Variety mixtures can provide a range of benefits for both the crop and the environment. Their utility for the suppression of pathogens, especially in small grain crops, is well established and has seen some remarkable successes. However, despite decades of academic interest in the topic, commercial efforts to develop, release and promote variety mixtures remain peripheral to normal breeding activities. Here we argue that this is because simple but general design principles that allow for the optimization of multiple mixture benefits are currently lacking. We therefore review the practical and conceptual challenges inherent in the development of variety mixtures, and discuss common approaches to overcome these. We further consider three domains in which they might be particularly beneficial: pathogen resistance, yield stability and yield enhancement. We demonstrate that combining evolutionary and ecological concepts with data typically available from breeding and variety testing program...

 An affordable lab system uses grass blades to turn cells into cultured meat, by creating a scaffold that animal stem cells can attach to and grow on.